[RPG]: H3: Pyramid of Shadows, reviewed by Gaffa (3/3)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13942.phtml

David R. Henry's Summary:

A bizarre tribute to the more freeform adventures of D&D's past, in an extradimensional prison where literally anything can, will, and does happen.

Go to the full review for more information.

[rotru]

Great review! I would probably rate it a little higher, but I think your rating is more fair because this type of old-school gonzo tends to be polarizing. Most either love it or hate it. The middling scores help hammer that point home, I think.

Plus you touched on the major selling points for those of us who do enjoy the gonzo.

[Maxwell Luther]

ROTFLMAO!

I don't know which was funnier, the actual encounters in this module or your extremely witty review of them

I'm not a fan of 4e (as many know), but whereas I think the game itself has gone the wrong direction, I am staggered by the brilliant direction the modules have slowly taken, especially this one. I mean, from your description, it is exactly what old tournament modules used to be, and from the sounds of it, a lovingly crafted one at that.

I especially like the rather ingenious explanation of one of the greatest conceits in D&D history: how the hell did 'x' get in here, what sustains it, and why are all these goofy traps present in the first place? It's brilliant and really allows the main strength of D&D, exploration, to take center stage without breaking the immersion of the players. Indeed, there seem to be some truly moments in store for them.

In fact, I might just buy this module to mine for material for a truly old school mega-dungeon. I mean a real, old-fashioned, OD&D 1-20th level monster of a module that starts with the players getting sucked into the place and working their way up the structure for years just to get out again.

Brilliant review. You have inspired me to purchase a 4e product after all the marketing genius of WotC had failed. You bastard...

[Dan Davenport]

Now that was an entertaining review! I'm not in the market for 4e products -- at least, not yet -- but I got a real kick out of your description of this one and how it pays tribute to those gonzo days of yore. Excellent job!

[Gaffa]

Thanks for all the kind words! Hope you all come back to read more of my reviews.

[andreww]

This review has me very tempted to buy it and run it as a glorious one shot nostalgia trip for my group.

[komradebob]

Hmm.

Well, the gonzo does sound interesting, but I bought into 4e because of it being much more mnis'n'maps positive.

From the review, this sounds like an absolute bear to run with grids and markers, much less minis.

Any comments on that?

[capnzapp]

Thank you for showing so clearly the "qualities" of this adventure.

For me, this "H" series baffles me, as for me, it is destroying everything I ever found interesting about D&D.

But I can only assume Wizards did their research, and that the kids out there want this kind of crap.
(I thought this kind of adventures finally died with Gygax)

Myself, I'm concluding the worst parts of 4E isn't some mechanic at all.

It's how these official adventures set up a mind-set on "this is what role playing is supposed to be" that is utterly alien to me.

The reviewer 1 - Wizards 0.

[Gaffa]

Originally Posted by komradebob

Hmm.

Well, the gonzo does sound interesting, but I bought into 4e because of it being much more mnis'n'maps positive.

From the review, this sounds like an absolute bear to run with grids and markers, much less minis.

Any comments on that?

There's battlemaps given for three of the boss encounters (the dragon and two versions of Karavakos). That means the GM gets to draw out the majority of the encounters on their home grid themselves. Given that nearly every room has some odd effect that messes with the player's plans (thick hanging vines, a simple stairway, various auras from statues or whatever), maps are pretty much a necessity (but I'm of the opinion they are anyway for 4.0).

So, yes, lots of stuff to grid out for the GM. A group more interested in the tactical fighting of 4.0 should enjoy the module, as there's literally a new style of battleground in each room, but the GM will be drawing the majority of them.

[Gaffa]

Originally Posted by capnzapp

For me, this "H" series baffles me, as for me, it is destroying everything I ever found interesting about D&D.

What, professionally-done adventures aren't interesting?

But I can only assume Wizards did their research, and that the kids out there want this kind of crap.
(I thought this kind of adventures finally died with Gygax)

Thank goodness they didn't! They're not crap at all. They're delightfully fun. Considering the great difficulties in giving a detailed campaign setting, especially for new GMs (new GMs and new players have been, without a doubt, the main focus of 4.0 so far), what else is Wizards supposed to do? H1 was a bit dull but had a few nice set pieces; H2 gave a great "mini-Underdark" for beginning adventurers to roam around in; H3 is one weirdly awesome set piece after another. Three very different flavors for new players.

Nobody should be buying modules if they're capable of doing their own adventures, as apparently you are. You're not the market. So far the worst that can be said of the Heroic tier modules from Wizards was that H1 was largely boring and had some very illogical bits. H2 was solid, and H3 equally solid, just in a very gelatinous way.

It's how these official adventures set up a mind-set on "this is what role playing is supposed to be" that is utterly alien to me.

Odd, nowhere in the adventures is this attitude presented.