Join Rediscovered Realms as we explore the deadly design and iconic art behind AD&D's Tomb of Horrors—the infamous dungeon that redefined traps, tension, and tabletop terror.
This is a great write-up! Those illustrations are fabulously weird and evocative! I have never run or played in Tomb of Horrors but have always wanted to. As you mentioned, making sure everyone is on board with the gotcha elements and knows ahead of time that a TPK is possible/likely, it sounds like a great one-shot to play with friends.
Thanks Jennifer! Agreed - forewarned is absolutely forearmed in this module. Oh, also, I'll be reaching out to you by tomorrow to get your Forest of Doom to you.
Wow, Tomb of Horrors! Really well-written and researched article! It totally brings back those nostalgic feels. Such a great module. I love White Plume Mountain as well!
still have Tomb of Horrors in the original monochrome, we went through it around 79 ( 2 PCs and a small horde of hirelings) and maybe a couple escaped...it has been a fair number of decades since that session. i do not think 10-14 levels are enough
Loved reading more details on this and I can only imagine the smiles as the creative team watched the first sessions. Them whispering to each other "oh they just reached such and such room" and trying to contain their evil mastermind laughter haha.
Great article as usual J.Q. and a reminder of the only module that we quit due to it just being too hard. As people have noted it seemed to be designed to just kill off as many characters as possible. Our DM eventually cannibalised the story and created his own adventure which was much more enjoyable and meant by level 12 halfling thief didn’t die horribly! 😁
LOL, Dan! Did you guys have to revolt or did the DM agree? I bet there were some salty tears shed throughout the globe from players who worked so hard to get their characters to high-level, only to be summarily & permanently executed by their DM!
We absolutely did. It got to the stage where we refused to go any further as it was just turning into a slaughter! 😆
The DM was understanding enough and I think he quite enjoyed putting his own spin on things, but his version was still very difficult, and I don’t think our party ever fully recovered! 😁
OMG... love the old school D&D art... so folksy, so cool, so perfect for the time.
Totally agree, Dan! I did a few other "THE ART OF" editions you'll probably really dig, then. Here's one: https://www.rediscoveredrealms.com/p/the-art-of-old-school-d-and-d-supplements-monster-and-treasure-assortment
Thanks - it's just such iconic art style and so simple. Love it! Keep up the good fight!
This is a great write-up! Those illustrations are fabulously weird and evocative! I have never run or played in Tomb of Horrors but have always wanted to. As you mentioned, making sure everyone is on board with the gotcha elements and knows ahead of time that a TPK is possible/likely, it sounds like a great one-shot to play with friends.
Thanks Jennifer! Agreed - forewarned is absolutely forearmed in this module. Oh, also, I'll be reaching out to you by tomorrow to get your Forest of Doom to you.
Wow, Tomb of Horrors! Really well-written and researched article! It totally brings back those nostalgic feels. Such a great module. I love White Plume Mountain as well!
Ooh, I hadn't heard of White Plume Mountain - will have to check that out!
classic fun house dungeon White Plume Mountain review
https://youtu.be/S9jEgtqNgHU?si=FnAlcOqeIanQn_J4
Cool, thanks Zimzimdar!
This is a review on the paperback novel.
https://youtu.be/MuKICzw3ugQ?si=4ZvtHCx6uoFwlRBR
still have Tomb of Horrors in the original monochrome, we went through it around 79 ( 2 PCs and a small horde of hirelings) and maybe a couple escaped...it has been a fair number of decades since that session. i do not think 10-14 levels are enough
You talking 79 AD or BC? 😁
BC Before Color
LOL - you win!
congrats Yoda on the win
Loved reading more details on this and I can only imagine the smiles as the creative team watched the first sessions. Them whispering to each other "oh they just reached such and such room" and trying to contain their evil mastermind laughter haha.
MOOhahahahaha!!! ☠️
Great article as usual J.Q. and a reminder of the only module that we quit due to it just being too hard. As people have noted it seemed to be designed to just kill off as many characters as possible. Our DM eventually cannibalised the story and created his own adventure which was much more enjoyable and meant by level 12 halfling thief didn’t die horribly! 😁
LOL, Dan! Did you guys have to revolt or did the DM agree? I bet there were some salty tears shed throughout the globe from players who worked so hard to get their characters to high-level, only to be summarily & permanently executed by their DM!
We absolutely did. It got to the stage where we refused to go any further as it was just turning into a slaughter! 😆
The DM was understanding enough and I think he quite enjoyed putting his own spin on things, but his version was still very difficult, and I don’t think our party ever fully recovered! 😁