Delving into the Barrowmaze

Last week I posted a preliminary look at Greg Gillespie's new dungeon adventure, Barrowmaze.  Owing to the fact that the pages were still hot from the laser printer as I wrote it, I wasn't able to delve very deeply into the dungeon, but in the week since, it is fair to say that I've become a Barrowmaze fanatic.  Many in-depth reviews have been already been posted, including a recent one on Grognardia that sums up my take on the adventure perfectly, so I don't feel the need to write another.

What I would like to do is describe what it feels like to descend into the Barrowmaze, which I had the privilege of doing last night as a guest player in Greg's own Barrowmaze campaign (anyone interested can read the session report here).  In short, it's scary as hell.  Remember the first time you ever played D&D when you were a kid?  Recall the apprehension and nervousness you felt when you cautiously descended the steps of your very first dungeon?  That's what this felt like; everything old was new again, and with thirty-three new monsters, many of them new creations, even hoary old veterans will tread carefully and take nothing for granted.  I spent most of last night's session on the edge of my seat; I felt like I was actually in claustrophobic confines of the dungeon with death waiting around the next corner.  The tension was only slightly lessened by Greg's players taunting me by waving donuts in front of the web cam then making yummy noises as they ate them.

Obviously, since the object of the adventure is to explore ancient catacombs beneath a field of barrow mounds, there is a strong undead theme, which is always popular - at least in my gaming group.  Moreover, the dungeon is filled with details that add to the atmosphere and suspense; cursed sarcophagi, mysterious runic tablets, dead gods, dark cults, amphorae and canopic jars, and inscriptions carved in the Black Tongue.  This dungeon isn't just a map filled with static encounters, it is a dynamic and believable setting that draws you in and holds you tight until you run screaming in terror.  Which is exactly what our party did last night - yelled, "Oh, shit, run," then hauled ass out of the dungeon and back to town as fast as our legs would carry us.

The picture above is an example of the excellent and evocative art that profusely decorates the adventure's interior.  I'm not usually keen on lots of art in an adventure module, because it is usually gratuitous and only the GM usually ever sees it.  But in this case, the art so well-illustrates the dungeon that it greatly helps the GM to get into the mood and describe the setting.

This is also a very well-supported adventure; you can go to the Barrowmaze website to download extra goodies, like an expanded map of the barrow moor, a custom character sheet, and I know that Greg is working on barrow geomorphs and stocking tables for parties that hex-crawl in the moors.

So, if you haven't already done so, head on over to RPGNow and pick this gem up - you won't be sorry.

(I couldn't help notice, as I copied the Barrowmaze URL on RPGNow, that many customers who bought it also purchased Megadungeon! so thanks to all of you who have done so.)