Descent Into the Depths of the Earth

Drow #D1

by E. Gary Gygax

This module contains background information, a large-scale referee's map with a matching partial map for players, referee's notes, special exploration and encounter pieces, a large map detailing a cavern area, encounter and map matrix keys, and an additional section pertaining to a unique new creature for use with this module and the game as a whole. A complete setting for play of ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is contained herein. This module can be played alone, as the first part of a series of three modules (with SHRINE OF THE KUO-TOA, D2, and VAULT OF THE DROW, D3), or as the fourth part of a continuing series of modules which form a special progressive campaign scenario (DUNGEON MODULES G1, G2, G3, D1, D2, D3, and Q1 (QUEEN OF THE DEMONWEB PITS, soon to be released).

Genres: Dungeons and Dragons, Games, Fantasy

16 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the first 3 modules in the series treated the reader/players to wonderfully imaginative and evocative encounters in an ice rift, a volcano, and a wooden fort atop an ancient dungeon with strange temples, tentacle rods, and rivers of lava, the fourth installment in the series is a bit of a letdown. We get a more standard dungeon crawl, albeit with miles and miles of underground trekking. The encounters don't seem as imaginative with the notable exception of the lair of Asberdies, and the new featured creature doesn't even appear in a scripted encounter. The adventure just seems a bit ... mailed in, so to speak, as the author is clearly saving his best stuff for what lies ahead.

[Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming out a few months after the G1-3 (aka "Against the Giants") series, Gygax came out with another trilogy that connects directly to the G series with D1-3. They all came out at the same time, so this and the next two posts will cover this series. D1 is exactly what the title says, a Descent deep into the earth as our party discovered a tunnel at the end of G3 that led down and through which a bunch of Drow escaped.

This module is not the most interesting of them but it does serve as an introduction to the underdark, not only as an environment that is hard to travel, with a labyrinth of passages and a bunch of monster around every corner, but also as a place with its own personality and power struggles going on. In this module, as they descend, players can figure out that the Drow are divided into different factions and that they really don't like Ilithid (Mindflayers).

The adventure has only three set pieces, with the rest of them supposed to be improvised by the DM. We get two encounters, one at a drow checkpoint right at the start and then a mindflayer lair/torture chamber which can lead players to realise the power dynamics of the underdark as well as, in case they defeat the mindflayer, fall into the good graces of the Drow. Finally there is a large cave area where the players get to meet all kinds of underground monsters, from troglodytes to bugbears and ghouls and even a purple work or a lich. This last zone is actually pretty dangerous. And there the adventure ends, basically a bridge from the world above to the underdark civilization in the next two modules, it's still pretty fun and moody.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid dungeon that earned a lot of experience and treasure.

[Neville Ridley-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of firsts. Almost more of a campaign setting than just a module.

Full review here: http://www.dndchronologically.com/mod...