Customer Reviews

The Secret of Spiderhaunt (AD&D/Forgotten Realms Adventure)

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This is truely the worst adventure I have had the misfortune of playing! This adventure(the second module in "The Sword of the Dales" trilogy) is just terrible! The whole series is designed badly; there is just no substance to the adventure. As I said about the first adventure the premise is good just not developed.

The module details the players journey towards the ruins of an old mage tower that they are drawn to by dreams that a spirit trapped in the sword is creating. Sounds intriguing right? Sorry the tower consists of about three rooms that didn't bring out a sparkle in my players' eyes! The final encounter is setup horribly and it is the foundation of the entire book. My players laughed when I implied that they might want to touch skulls sitting on coffins. Exact words "What, do you think we're stupid."

The adventure did have one bright spot, a forest gnome village and an NPC called Madarn. The village was well designed except I somewhat doubt that a village of gnomes even forest gnomes would survive in Spiderhaunt Woods.

If you have decided to play this adventure then you should play the last one "The Return of Randal Morn" it is a little better.

This excellent starting module (levels 1-4) for the Forgotten Realms is quite rare... 1995 was when TSR was at the height of its financial troubles, and the print run was shamefully small. When Randal Morn delved into the Tomb of Shraevyn, seeking the dreaded Sword of the Dales, everyone feared that he would become the invincible ruler of Daggerdale. But, since he never returned, and the tomb is rumored to be filled with treasures and dark intrigue, it's perfectly natural that the PCs would want to follow in his footsteps! What they'll find, though, will horrify them, and either make them stronger, or give them good reason to roll those attribute dice again... ;)

The secret of Spiderhaunt is the second in the sword of the dales trilogy. Its a shame that it is out of print, because its pretty fun. If you can, try to get a hold of all three in this trilogy, because it is a good start to a Forgotten realms campaighn to new and old players alike