N1 - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

N1 - Against the Cult of the Reptile God

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 04, 2003 16:55:44 I have been reading through this module and am impressed with it overall. It has a great town that starts the adventure with plenty of opportunity to role-play a mystery solver, among hidden intrigue of the true evil's whereabouts. It has filled out NPCs and makes it very easy to DM it well and keep the players searching and guessing. It also has a good dungeon crawl to finish it off, with just enough danger. I'm probably going to tone down the magic and coins though, they seem a little too abundant.

I am starting a new campaign with some rookie players and settled on this one before taking them through the Temple of Elemental Evil, the Slaver series, and final the Queen of the Spiders...granted they stick with it. :-)

What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series?
#2
zombiegleemax
Sep 04, 2003 21:01:39 >What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series?

First of all, if it seems fun and playable, run it!

However, N1 seemed to me a pale shadow of "T1-The Village of Hommlet." Sleepy village is menaced by evil cult, yawn.

If you have the Hommlet/Gatehouse stuff (either in T1 or the bound T1-4), I'd recommend just starting there.
#3
algolei_dup
Sep 05, 2003 4:35:49 I liked Against the Cult of the Reptile God, but my players thought there was "too much roleplaying" involved. At the time, they just wanted to be pointed toward the monsters so they could hack, slash, and plunder their treasure hordes. Having to figure out the cult was too much work for them.

Silly, really. It should have been a fun module, but my players just weren't ready for it--or maybe they were too ready for it, being experienced players and all. Rookie players should enjoy it a lot more.

As for The Village of Hommlet, I've been using it as the [heavily modified] base of my current campaign for most of this year. It's pretty good. The only problem I can see is the XP your players would get out of it: It doesn't seem likely they will advance in level enough to be able to go up against the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Well, that's been my experience, anyway.
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 05, 2003 11:09:09 That is what I guessed would be the case and had gathered from reading around. T1 doesn't give enough experience to tackle the Temple, so I figured I would get them going with N1, then tie that cult into the happenings with the village of Hommlet and the Temple. Run them through a slightly beefed up version of the Village of Hommlet, then they'd be ready to hack'n'slash their way through the Temple.
#5
Zyphus
Sep 05, 2003 11:54:51 Since you are long-range planning, you could also tie it into the Tomb of the Lizard King. Not that low level characters can do much about it, but drop some hints in real early in the campaign and when they return at higher levels have to deal with all the NPCs again. They could round up cultists or beat up people that bullied them at low levels, or a player might surprise you and give a bunch of treasure or otherwise reward someone that showed a small kindness to them when they were just 1st level.

From my experience players don't expect to return to an area after leaving it, but do enjoy seeing the same NPCs again (provided the players didn't do something atrocious).
#6
zombiegleemax
Sep 06, 2003 8:07:33 Another problem with your module order is that a party that can finish T1-4 is too strong for A1-4.
#7
zombiegleemax
Sep 08, 2003 19:54:29
Originally posted by DakranII
I have been reading through this module and am impressed with it overall. It has a great town that starts the adventure with plenty of opportunity to role-play a mystery solver, among hidden intrigue of the true evil's whereabouts. It has filled out NPCs and makes it very easy to DM it well and keep the players searching and guessing. It also has a good dungeon crawl to finish it off, with just enough danger. I'm probably going to tone down the magic and coins though, they seem a little too abundant.

I am starting a new campaign with some rookie players and settled on this one before taking them through the Temple of Elemental Evil, the Slaver series, and final the Queen of the Spiders...granted they stick with it. :-)

What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series?

I loved it when I first played it...wow, that was a long time ago Anyways, I ran it for some people not long aster that and they liked it as well...it is roleplay heavy, but that's the type of game we enjoy:D
#8
devinmdp
Sep 26, 2003 18:33:42 N1 is my second favourite AD&D module of all time. I loved running it and my players loved playing it. It is indeed very RP heavy at the start, and like all mysery stories the players have to be up for it (there are a few combats even in the town, troglodytes in the inn if I remember correctly and a secret room with ghouls somewhere in town).

An absolutely awesome module!

Devin
#9
zombiegleemax
Nov 08, 2003 3:30:15 It may very well be to late, but if you run T-1, then run A1-A4, then return to T2-4, the levels work out pretty well. Just give Madam Dame a reason to celebrate the cleaning out of the Moathouse.
#10
zombiegleemax
Nov 09, 2003 17:41:53 Though i HAVE NEAVER PLAYED IT i HEAR IT IS A GOOD MODULE.
#11
zombiegleemax
Nov 10, 2003 7:25:27 This was the first ever printed module that I played, a very long time ago. Admitedly at the time I was a Hack n Slasher but I thought it was a great module (our small group at the time consisted of the DM and me, the only player, playing two characters a piece) and we had a great time. I would highly recommend it.
#12
zombiegleemax
Nov 11, 2003 0:45:42 It's a fantastic adventure, I ran it in 1E waaaaaaaaaaay back when and then converted it to 2E also waaaaaaaay back when and rewrote it for 3E not too long ago.
#13
zombiegleemax
Nov 14, 2003 5:56:22 Funny...I pulled N1 out and dusted it off just last evening as I'm trying to find a good starter to introduce my 11 y.o. son to the wonders of RP'ing. While I didn't complete reading it (yet), it appears it has a LOT to offer.

Now, if I can just get myself to remember 2ed. (its been at least 18 years!) and get a small group of his friends to round out the party...
#14
zombiegleemax
Dec 16, 2006 0:22:12 I have a 3e conversion of N1: Against the Cult of the Reptile God, but there is no plot or any maps that went with it i was wondering if it would be possible for anyone to direct me to a site that has them?
#15
fulnitus
Dec 18, 2006 8:01:49 The idea of (free) conversions is that you already have a copy of the original. The stuff is not so old that it is copyright free. So, either buy the pdf, find it in a dusty corner of a game store or try getting it at big E.
#16
zombiegleemax
Dec 23, 2006 16:55:47 You're not taking them through the Giants or Drow before fighting Lolth?
#17
goricexii
Dec 24, 2006 7:42:55 I've never played out the N1 module. It looked interesting though.

If you are at all interested in brainstorming stuff about the Temple of Elemental Evil or slaver series please do, I'm finishing off the first and have run the second.
#18
horemheb442
Dec 29, 2006 1:38:23 I ran N1 many years ago. My 16 year old daughter and some friends are playing now as I DM and it may be a good one to start some new characters in. I'll have to look it up, I think I still have it around here somewhere.
I did hit a problem when I was running Temple of Elemental Evil with another, more experienced group. In order to help them survive at lower levels, I gave them some "toys". After killing 2 or 3 parties in it before, I was trying to get them to survive to the lower levels. Well, they did...but now they are so powerful with these toys and higher levels, even doubling the monsters isn't slowing them down, much less making them think it is dangerous.
One of the other DM's in the group said he thought it is because I don't usually do high level adventures as either a DM or a player and don't have the "feel" for it.:raincloud
#19
Elendur
Dec 29, 2006 14:12:10
You're not taking them through the Giants or Drow before fighting Lolth?

By Queen of Spiders he means the compilation Q1-7, not the end module Queen of the Demonweb Pits. Going from A4 straight into the Abyss probably would be a really bad idea...
#20
emeriliath
Jan 02, 2007 13:40:55 N1 was an especially historic module for me. After defeating all of the nasties and saving the town, I set myself up as leader and built a wall around the town, waiting for the day I could build a castle. Afterwards, I looked up in the World of Greyhawk (early version, I believe), to see which kingdom owned the rights to the land. To my disbelief, it was one of the very few places that was marked as not belonging to anyone! This was between Geoff, Gran March, Keoland, and the Valley. I had the marshes drained and became a king at 9th level.

Those were the days. He was the only character out of hundreds in our campaigns who ever became a sovereign. He even expanded the borders after many years....

Another thing you could do is take all of the snake eggs hatch them yourself. Nothing like a charm monster spell....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 04, 2003 16:55:44	I have been reading through this module and am impressed with it overall. It has a great town that starts the adventure with plenty of opportunity to role-play a mystery solver, among hidden intrigue of the true evil's whereabouts. It has filled out NPCs and makes it very easy to DM it well and keep the players searching and guessing. It also has a good dungeon crawl to finish it off, with just enough danger. I'm probably going to tone down the magic and coins though, they seem a little too abundant. I am starting a new campaign with some rookie players and settled on this one before taking them through the Temple of Elemental Evil, the Slaver series, and final the Queen of the Spiders...granted they stick with it. :-) What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series?
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 04, 2003 21:01:39	>What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series? First of all, if it seems fun and playable, run it! However, N1 seemed to me a pale shadow of "T1-The Village of Hommlet." Sleepy village is menaced by evil cult, yawn. If you have the Hommlet/Gatehouse stuff (either in T1 or the bound T1-4), I'd recommend just starting there.
#3 algolei_dup Sep 05, 2003 4:35:49	I liked Against the Cult of the Reptile God, but my players thought there was "too much roleplaying" involved. At the time, they just wanted to be pointed toward the monsters so they could hack, slash, and plunder their treasure hordes. Having to figure out the cult was too much work for them. Silly, really. It should have been a fun module, but my players just weren't ready for it--or maybe they were too ready for it, being experienced players and all. Rookie players should enjoy it a lot more. As for The Village of Hommlet, I've been using it as the [heavily modified] base of my current campaign for most of this year. It's pretty good. The only problem I can see is the XP your players would get out of it: It doesn't seem likely they will advance in level enough to be able to go up against the Temple of Elemental Evil. Well, that's been my experience, anyway.
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 05, 2003 11:09:09	That is what I guessed would be the case and had gathered from reading around. T1 doesn't give enough experience to tackle the Temple, so I figured I would get them going with N1, then tie that cult into the happenings with the village of Hommlet and the Temple. Run them through a slightly beefed up version of the Village of Hommlet, then they'd be ready to hack'n'slash their way through the Temple.
#5 Zyphus Sep 05, 2003 11:54:51	Since you are long-range planning, you could also tie it into the Tomb of the Lizard King. Not that low level characters can do much about it, but drop some hints in real early in the campaign and when they return at higher levels have to deal with all the NPCs again. They could round up cultists or beat up people that bullied them at low levels, or a player might surprise you and give a bunch of treasure or otherwise reward someone that showed a small kindness to them when they were just 1st level. From my experience players don't expect to return to an area after leaving it, but do enjoy seeing the same NPCs again (provided the players didn't do something atrocious).
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2003 8:07:33	Another problem with your module order is that a party that can finish T1-4 is too strong for A1-4.
#7 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2003 19:54:29	Originally posted by DakranII I have been reading through this module and am impressed with it overall. It has a great town that starts the adventure with plenty of opportunity to role-play a mystery solver, among hidden intrigue of the true evil's whereabouts. It has filled out NPCs and makes it very easy to DM it well and keep the players searching and guessing. It also has a good dungeon crawl to finish it off, with just enough danger. I'm probably going to tone down the magic and coins though, they seem a little too abundant. I am starting a new campaign with some rookie players and settled on this one before taking them through the Temple of Elemental Evil, the Slaver series, and final the Queen of the Spiders...granted they stick with it. :-) What are your thoughts and experiences with Against the Cult of the Reptile God followed by those three series? I loved it when I first played it...wow, that was a long time ago Anyways, I ran it for some people not long aster that and they liked it as well...it is roleplay heavy, but that's the type of game we enjoy:D
#8 devinmdp Sep 26, 2003 18:33:42	N1 is my second favourite AD&D module of all time. I loved running it and my players loved playing it. It is indeed very RP heavy at the start, and like all mysery stories the players have to be up for it (there are a few combats even in the town, troglodytes in the inn if I remember correctly and a secret room with ghouls somewhere in town). An absolutely awesome module! Devin
#9 zombiegleemax Nov 08, 2003 3:30:15	It may very well be to late, but if you run T-1, then run A1-A4, then return to T2-4, the levels work out pretty well. Just give Madam Dame a reason to celebrate the cleaning out of the Moathouse.
#10 zombiegleemax Nov 09, 2003 17:41:53	Though i HAVE NEAVER PLAYED IT i HEAR IT IS A GOOD MODULE.
#11 zombiegleemax Nov 10, 2003 7:25:27	This was the first ever printed module that I played, a very long time ago. Admitedly at the time I was a Hack n Slasher but I thought it was a great module (our small group at the time consisted of the DM and me, the only player, playing two characters a piece) and we had a great time. I would highly recommend it.
#12 zombiegleemax Nov 11, 2003 0:45:42	It's a fantastic adventure, I ran it in 1E waaaaaaaaaaay back when and then converted it to 2E also waaaaaaaay back when and rewrote it for 3E not too long ago.
#13 zombiegleemax Nov 14, 2003 5:56:22	Funny...I pulled N1 out and dusted it off just last evening as I'm trying to find a good starter to introduce my 11 y.o. son to the wonders of RP'ing. While I didn't complete reading it (yet), it appears it has a LOT to offer. Now, if I can just get myself to remember 2ed. (its been at least 18 years!) and get a small group of his friends to round out the party...
#14 zombiegleemax Dec 16, 2006 0:22:12	I have a 3e conversion of N1: Against the Cult of the Reptile God, but there is no plot or any maps that went with it i was wondering if it would be possible for anyone to direct me to a site that has them?
#15 fulnitus Dec 18, 2006 8:01:49	The idea of (free) conversions is that you already have a copy of the original. The stuff is not so old that it is copyright free. So, either buy the pdf, find it in a dusty corner of a game store or try getting it at big E.
#16 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2006 16:55:47	You're not taking them through the Giants or Drow before fighting Lolth?
#17 goricexii Dec 24, 2006 7:42:55	I've never played out the N1 module. It looked interesting though. If you are at all interested in brainstorming stuff about the Temple of Elemental Evil or slaver series please do, I'm finishing off the first and have run the second.
#18 horemheb442 Dec 29, 2006 1:38:23	I ran N1 many years ago. My 16 year old daughter and some friends are playing now as I DM and it may be a good one to start some new characters in. I'll have to look it up, I think I still have it around here somewhere. I did hit a problem when I was running Temple of Elemental Evil with another, more experienced group. In order to help them survive at lower levels, I gave them some "toys". After killing 2 or 3 parties in it before, I was trying to get them to survive to the lower levels. Well, they did...but now they are so powerful with these toys and higher levels, even doubling the monsters isn't slowing them down, much less making them think it is dangerous. One of the other DM's in the group said he thought it is because I don't usually do high level adventures as either a DM or a player and don't have the "feel" for it.:raincloud
#19 Elendur Dec 29, 2006 14:12:10	You're not taking them through the Giants or Drow before fighting Lolth? By Queen of Spiders he means the compilation Q1-7, not the end module Queen of the Demonweb Pits. Going from A4 straight into the Abyss probably would be a really bad idea...
#20 emeriliath Jan 02, 2007 13:40:55	N1 was an especially historic module for me. After defeating all of the nasties and saving the town, I set myself up as leader and built a wall around the town, waiting for the day I could build a castle. Afterwards, I looked up in the World of Greyhawk (early version, I believe), to see which kingdom owned the rights to the land. To my disbelief, it was one of the very few places that was marked as not belonging to anyone! This was between Geoff, Gran March, Keoland, and the Valley. I had the marshes drained and became a king at 9th level. Those were the days. He was the only character out of hundreds in our campaigns who ever became a sovereign. He even expanded the borders after many years.... Another thing you could do is take all of the snake eggs hatch them yourself. Nothing like a charm monster spell....