tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post2215243094125493271..comments2024-03-28T08:50:57.015+01:00Comments on Beyond Fomalhaut: [REVIEW] Beyond the BorderlandsMelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-26361435125822202852021-02-11T00:56:04.075+01:002021-02-11T00:56:04.075+01:00"I have Dunsany pieces and Poe pieces, but wh..."I have Dunsany pieces and Poe pieces, but where are my Lovecraft pieces?"<br /><br />Even the best go through this imitation phase. Perhaps what makes them the best is that they eventually pass through it, while others don't.HDAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13506175636615989219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-92213573336054341802021-02-10T05:25:01.497+01:002021-02-10T05:25:01.497+01:00Totally a challenge. I've looked through it my...Totally a challenge. I've looked through it myself and it seems good to me: the complexity of B2 without the "monster hotel." I'd say great vanilla, but I'm a rank amateur when it comes to analyzing modules.PMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06294944268720440205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-35044641245751826782021-02-09T15:59:41.756+01:002021-02-09T15:59:41.756+01:00I think it's often also an attempt at cracking...I think it's often also an attempt at cracking what makes something click. If you can rewrite something which is as good or better than the original, then you've proven that you understand it and have gained mastery over it.Ynas Midgardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972628887096890642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-49320426583787353822021-02-09T15:33:36.628+01:002021-02-09T15:33:36.628+01:00It is imitation being the sincerest form of flatte...It is imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. I can't find fault in it, since the first passable module I published was shameless Isle of Dread pastiche. Perhaps you need to rewrite B2 or B1 before finding your own voice.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-52979200217600372272021-02-09T15:31:28.749+01:002021-02-09T15:31:28.749+01:00No, but that sounds like a challenge.No, but that sounds like a challenge.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-48975869438886364382021-02-09T13:30:36.574+01:002021-02-09T13:30:36.574+01:00You don't mean to imply that SWORDDREAM produc...You don't mean to imply that SWORDDREAM products are more concerned with looks and how they will reflect on the author, than with actually good and playable content that is fun?<br /><br />Wait... strike that... :-P<br />Good review, nice tag :)grützihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17707954423703474278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-7403209297011157322021-02-08T17:53:44.728+01:002021-02-08T17:53:44.728+01:00Eh, oh well. By the title I thought the idea was ...Eh, oh well. By the title I thought the idea was to flesh out and explore more of the wilderness around the Keep, not "re-imagine" the original. I don't understand why people keep trying to rewrite what is already written.DHBoggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170439175265397893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-39211403732588980552021-02-08T09:47:35.740+01:002021-02-08T09:47:35.740+01:00I will respectfully disagree. I daresay that with ...I will respectfully disagree. I daresay that with B2 was EGG fulfilling an obligation for the basic D&D product line, whereas in T1 he wrote with passion, wit and heart. All the cynical murder-hobo readings and playings of B2 are an outgrowth of this void in passion & heart. Only due to its wide dissemination has its reached classical status. For the erudite OSR connoisseurs, I think they are projecting greatness into the void that Gary left when producing this bare-bones module. Do not get me wrong: it is a good module, but one that also a Monte Cook could have written. NOBODY was longing for a sequel to B2 (reboots and imitations, but no sequel!), whereas T1 has the audience clamouring for more to this day, with numerous attempts in several media giving it a try.<br /><br />Settembrinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06984331488913431858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-13421943982017519882021-02-07T21:14:35.657+01:002021-02-07T21:14:35.657+01:00I am with Melan on this one --- all the elements f...I am with Melan on this one --- all the elements fo B2 work together beautiful, but it's hard to explain why.<br /><br />Just play it with some players fresh to D&D and watch it come alive and jump-start your DM creativity.<br /><br />Great review Melan.squeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975523149573452984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-15537890244714742852021-02-07T07:11:04.320+01:002021-02-07T07:11:04.320+01:00SWORDDREAM lol. Bravo! SWORDDREAM lol. Bravo! Sacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11382707484272049988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-13049418886131409292021-02-07T06:28:20.853+01:002021-02-07T06:28:20.853+01:00Melan, have you read Ironwood Gorge? Bryce gave it...Melan, have you read Ironwood Gorge? Bryce gave it a glowing review - "Better than B2," he says.PMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06294944268720440205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-39670985854953542242021-02-06T23:02:03.367+01:002021-02-06T23:02:03.367+01:00A new tag has been added; now let me apply it to p...A new tag has been added; now let me apply it to previous reviews...Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-3837811699574744042021-02-06T22:58:52.356+01:002021-02-06T22:58:52.356+01:00Keep on the Borderland is the quintessential D&...<b>Keep on the Borderland</b> is the quintessential D&D module, defining the scope and feel of early 1980s D&D and AD&D (<b>In Search of the Unknown</b> is more of an OD&D relic). The structures it establishes are solid, and the Caves of Chaos remains a cool dungeon consisting of several <i>smaller</i> dungeons. The stacked lair structure allows for difficulty betting, and doesn't overwhelm a completely newbie party. The wilderness side-tracks are fun and deadly. There is a "weird shrine" that's peak Gygaxian. There is rudimentary intrigue at the keep. It is a great intro module in a field that doesn't have many.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-3637192712230770512021-02-06T20:32:55.491+01:002021-02-06T20:32:55.491+01:00Indeed all that glitters is not gold.Indeed all that glitters is not gold.Ynas Midgardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972628887096890642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-52369318295747612412021-02-06T18:49:38.060+01:002021-02-06T18:49:38.060+01:00Can someone please explain what's the big deal...Can someone please explain what's the big deal about Keep on the Borderlands? I have the creeping suspicion it's the case of something fairly mundane gaining mythic proportions just by the reams of perceptions and debris heaped upon it by the passing decades again.Voljahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08826776454392269862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-73080821858555829552021-02-06T16:54:10.675+01:002021-02-06T16:54:10.675+01:00I am more of a B2 man; Hommlet spends too much tim...I am more of a B2 man; Hommlet spends too much time on a mundane village while saying little about the adventures you can have around the place (the wilderness could have been fleshed out more, for instance). But this adventure is very much a B2 followup, and has very little of T1's stuff.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-68406264562286597692021-02-06T16:52:09.818+01:002021-02-06T16:52:09.818+01:00Perhaps there is need of an opposite tag to "...Perhaps there is need of an opposite tag to "gem in the rough"? Hm.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-79812912724132300732021-02-06T16:21:49.113+01:002021-02-06T16:21:49.113+01:00Personally I found this zine very cool looking, bu...Personally I found this zine very cool looking, but I’m totally with you about the “style over substance” motto is starting to get annoying these days. This stuff are being made to sell shiny things to people that like shiny things, not to GMs wanting to play some games with friends. I was deceived so many times before, but I’m starting to notice this and be more aware when I listen to recommendations for the art and style alone. Thanks for this review.Sacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11382707484272049988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-88984543560108401922021-02-06T09:21:19.600+01:002021-02-06T09:21:19.600+01:00Personally, I think the Keep on the Borderlands pa...Personally, I think the Keep on the Borderlands pales in comparison to Hommlet. Hommlet has charm and love in addition to all that is in KotB. So I am always a bit at a loss by all the attempts of second guessing EGG on KotB, where Gary already did Hommlet. Do you see a structural difference, am I missing something?Settembrinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06984331488913431858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-72057641314687100312021-02-06T09:20:12.892+01:002021-02-06T09:20:12.892+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Settembrinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06984331488913431858noreply@blogger.com