Classic DS Adventures in 4e. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Classic DS Adventures in 4e.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
krosszer0
Aug 30, 2010 16:50:49 So, I've got some time before I start my Dark Sun campaign, but I'm trying to prepare and plan ahead. My plan right now is to run most of the published 4e adventures (Sand Raiders-->Vault of Darom Madar-->Marauders of the Dune Sea-->Lost Cistern of Aravek) and follow that up by running updated versions of the original Dark Sun adventure module series (Road to Urik-->Arcane Shadows-->Asticlian Gambit-->Dragon's Crown), while splicing in other adventures to follow up on individual PC quests and storylines or whatever else.

I was wondering if anyone had advice for this. I never had a chance to play through these old adventures, and I've only browsed over each of them so far to get a feel for the story (rather than crunch). I'm wondering when, level wise, would be most appropriate to run these adventures. Road to Urik sounds, thematically, like a Paragon Tier adventure but I think the 4e versions of most of the enemies in are mid to high heroic tier in range. I'm pretty okay with spacing the adventures out and running sidequests in between if I need to bump my player's levels up, so they don't necessarily have chain together perfectly, I just don't want to have redisign or recreate all of the monsters in any given adventure to make them level appropriate, or run them too early or too late and ruin the spirit of the adventures (when my PCs end up in front of an angry Oba at the end of Asticlian Gambit, I want them to be shaking in their chitin boots, as I believe was the intent of the original adventure).

Also, if anyone knows of any changes in 4e that may neccessitate major plot changes that I ought to plan ahead for, a heads up would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
#2
larslarsen
Aug 30, 2010 23:58:49 Don't have much to add other than to say that I'd be interested in this exact information as well! I just purchased several of the old adventure books from 2nd edition and would love to have some tips on adapting them.
#3
mouthymerc
Aug 31, 2010 6:30:56 I'm looking at adapting the Black Flames-Merchant House of Amketch-Marauders of Nibenay-Black Spine adventure arc for my group. If there is any interest I can throw up my adaptions of the creatures.
#4
d0mm3r
Sep 07, 2010 23:08:45 I am doing almost the same thing, but dumping the characters into Freedom right after Darom Madar. I'd be interested in seeing what others come up with, and once I start the adaptation I'll share my thoughts as well.
#5
Tyranthraxus
Sep 08, 2010 3:31:36 I own a few of the really OLD ones in print. Ill crack them open, remove the dust and silt and see what I can do.

In hard answers, the adventurers normally specified A) Levels and number of characters needed. Thats true of nearly every 2nd ed adventure I can think of.

Monster should have replicas from 2e to 4e. Not all of them mind you, but with the DS Creature Catalogue and the monsters in other mms out there this shouldnt be an issue.

What is the bigger issue to adapting the statted npcs for interaction. This is possible, but I did this a while back to 4e with 'Ruins of Adventure' (2nd module based on the Pool of Radiance Gold Box game). and it took me a LONG time.

Its a lot easier if the npcs are just talkers and not real interacters (combat or otherwise).

Remember characters with themes ALMOST equate the power of a 3rd level character with that extra encounter power they get. Also keep in mind that the DS creatures in that new Catalogue really are tough. Ive already seen a couple that seem to go above and beyond what i thought they might do. I havnt seen a clear tpk monster yet, but I couldnt certainly adpat one to make that so if I needed to.

The great thing about these 2e mods is that they .. to use a pretty poor definition are more 'pure' . You wont see Eladrin ot Tiefs popping up., and there is a wealth of info in some of them. What was old news to that gen, is gonna sound exciting now to the new gen !.. possibly. So it would be great to see these old adventures find new life.

In terms of them commercially re-releasing them.. I dont think so. Some of them MIGHT be available via copyright , but Im guessing the majority the copyright and usage rights are ugly.

What Id personally love to see is either of the original authors write some stuff for the latest version. I know they are no longer employees? but It would be nice to see them back.

Get Brom in for an old times adventure!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 krosszer0 Aug 30, 2010 16:50:49	So, I've got some time before I start my Dark Sun campaign, but I'm trying to prepare and plan ahead. My plan right now is to run most of the published 4e adventures (Sand Raiders-->Vault of Darom Madar-->Marauders of the Dune Sea-->Lost Cistern of Aravek) and follow that up by running updated versions of the original Dark Sun adventure module series (Road to Urik-->Arcane Shadows-->Asticlian Gambit-->Dragon's Crown), while splicing in other adventures to follow up on individual PC quests and storylines or whatever else. I was wondering if anyone had advice for this. I never had a chance to play through these old adventures, and I've only browsed over each of them so far to get a feel for the story (rather than crunch). I'm wondering when, level wise, would be most appropriate to run these adventures. Road to Urik sounds, thematically, like a Paragon Tier adventure but I think the 4e versions of most of the enemies in are mid to high heroic tier in range. I'm pretty okay with spacing the adventures out and running sidequests in between if I need to bump my player's levels up, so they don't necessarily have chain together perfectly, I just don't want to have redisign or recreate all of the monsters in any given adventure to make them level appropriate, or run them too early or too late and ruin the spirit of the adventures (when my PCs end up in front of an angry Oba at the end of Asticlian Gambit, I want them to be shaking in their chitin boots, as I believe was the intent of the original adventure). Also, if anyone knows of any changes in 4e that may neccessitate major plot changes that I ought to plan ahead for, a heads up would be most appreciated. Thanks!
#2 larslarsen Aug 30, 2010 23:58:49	Don't have much to add other than to say that I'd be interested in this exact information as well! I just purchased several of the old adventure books from 2nd edition and would love to have some tips on adapting them.
#3 mouthymerc Aug 31, 2010 6:30:56	I'm looking at adapting the Black Flames-Merchant House of Amketch-Marauders of Nibenay-Black Spine adventure arc for my group. If there is any interest I can throw up my adaptions of the creatures.
#4 d0mm3r Sep 07, 2010 23:08:45	I am doing almost the same thing, but dumping the characters into Freedom right after Darom Madar. I'd be interested in seeing what others come up with, and once I start the adaptation I'll share my thoughts as well.
#5 Tyranthraxus Sep 08, 2010 3:31:36	I own a few of the really OLD ones in print. Ill crack them open, remove the dust and silt and see what I can do. In hard answers, the adventurers normally specified A) Levels and number of characters needed. Thats true of nearly every 2nd ed adventure I can think of. Monster should have replicas from 2e to 4e. Not all of them mind you, but with the DS Creature Catalogue and the monsters in other mms out there this shouldnt be an issue. What is the bigger issue to adapting the statted npcs for interaction. This is possible, but I did this a while back to 4e with 'Ruins of Adventure' (2nd module based on the Pool of Radiance Gold Box game). and it took me a LONG time. Its a lot easier if the npcs are just talkers and not real interacters (combat or otherwise). Remember characters with themes ALMOST equate the power of a 3rd level character with that extra encounter power they get. Also keep in mind that the DS creatures in that new Catalogue really are tough. Ive already seen a couple that seem to go above and beyond what i thought they might do. I havnt seen a clear tpk monster yet, but I couldnt certainly adpat one to make that so if I needed to. The great thing about these 2e mods is that they .. to use a pretty poor definition are more 'pure' . You wont see Eladrin ot Tiefs popping up., and there is a wealth of info in some of them. What was old news to that gen, is gonna sound exciting now to the new gen !.. possibly. So it would be great to see these old adventures find new life. In terms of them commercially re-releasing them.. I dont think so. Some of them MIGHT be available via copyright , but Im guessing the majority the copyright and usage rights are ugly. What Id personally love to see is either of the original authors write some stuff for the latest version. I know they are no longer employees? but It would be nice to see them back. Get Brom in for an old times adventure!