Summary
With the release ofQuests From the Infinite Staircase,Dungeons & Dragonshas reintroduced six classic modules for the modern era. These modules were considered some of the best adventures to come from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons era, and they all hold a special place in the history of Dungeons & Dragons.
But as the game has changed, these modules have changed too. These modules have kept their classic feel, but changes have been made to update them for a modern audience. Some of these changes are story beats, while some are mechanics based, but all were made with respect to the original module. These are the differences between the original adventures andQuests From the Infinite Staircase.
6The Lost City
Factions and Fallen Civilizations
The Lost City has always been a module that just screamed for a larger release. Created in 1982 by Tom Moldvay, this adventure may have been intended for characters leveled between first and third level but the amount of lore made it a setting in its own right. The Lost City revolves around the fallen civilization of Cynidicea, a long-forgotten kingdom enclosed in a rotting pyramid with a monstrous god. Cynidiceans wander their fallen world in strange masks while arguing factions vie for what power is left in this dead world. Fun, right?
In the original version of The Lost City, the factions were only available to characters of certain genders. This has been removed and every faction a character can find is open to every and any character, regardless of race or gender.
The factions have also been given more flavor text as they now have their own masks, and their own rituals, and their own politics beyond just hating each other.
Furthermore, the original premise of The Lost City was as a device for new Dungeon Masters to learn how to play. It even included an optional lower level but this lower level was largely unexplained, possibly in an attempt to throw new DMs into the deep end. The new version offers a completed (and optional) sixth level for DMs to sink their teeth into.
5When a Star Falls
Prophecies and Politics
The celestial When a Star Falls was introduced in 1984 by British author Graeme Morris. This adventure about falling stars and evil gnomes charmed American audiences when it made the hop across the Atlantic from the UK. It served as the introduction for the fiendish memory web, and it also introduced players to a more story-inspired style of playing.
The differences between the 1984 version and the Quests From the Infinite Staircase rerelease is primarily story-based. The plot has been tightened up which leads to a more cohesive experience. Despite the vast swaths of ground player characters must cover, the story feels very linear and there’s little possibility of the characters or players becoming confused. The villains have been made appropriately sinister, and the allies appropriately helpful.
The updated Quests From the Infinite Staircase version also introduces a charming slice-of-life subplot for the characters to undertake.
Players are encouraged to seek out a mathematics expert to calculate where the star fell, and it turns out she dwells on a farm. While she works on her calculations players may be asked to do various tasks such as farm chores. This cottagecore-moment is delightful, and adds some levity to the story.
4Beyond the Crystal Cave
Peace and Puzzles
Beyond the Crystal Cave is a unique adventure, especially for its time. Early Dungeons & Dragons was very much a game where players went into a dungeon, killed everything in their way, looted the place, and moved on. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Every game is different, and every style of play is valid provided the players are having fun.
But Beyond the Crystal Cave was an experiment in gameplay that would inspire more roleplay based games. In this adventure, everything could be solved without combat, and players would be rewarded for trying to solve problems without violence.
The changes to Beyond the Crystal Cave are in line with this philosophy: Firstly, the garden is now canonically part of the Feywild, which didn’t exist at the time Beyond the Crystal Cave first was created.
Secondly, the pacifist nature of this adventure is made explicit in the notes for the DM. The encounters have been altered too. How leprechauns are depicted in media is a very long and problematic story, but the leprechauns of Beyond the Crystal Cave are now more in line with mythology.
Finally, the two founders of the gardens have been changed to a pair of female lovers to increase diversity.
3Pharaoh
Pharoahs and Phantoms
Nothing like Pharaoh existed before 1982. It was designed by Tracy and Laura Hickman and sold to TSR so the Hickmans could buy shoes for their children. The impact of Pharoah in the Dungeons & Dragons community is hard to understate.
Pharoah was one of the first adventures that was narratively driven and its popularity would lead to Tracy Hickman being hired at TSR, which in turn would lead to the creation of Ravenloft a year later. When it comes to how important an adventure has been for Dungeons & Dragons, Pharoah is king.
But there have been changes to Pharoah in the 42 years since it burst from its tomb. Firstly, Pharoah has had some culturally insensitive material removed from the adventure. Secondly, a faction called the Tears of Athas has been introduced to the game. This faction is focused on returning the River Athas to the desert, and can be allied with by players.
Players will also encounter a more dangerous pyramid as they search for these potential allies/enemies, as there have been updates to traps and encounters. All the while, players will be able to use a more detailed map to explore, all courtesy of the art update to Pharoah.
2The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
Witches and Wonders
Debuting in 1976, The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth serves as a wonderfully pure example of a dungeon crawl. This adventure sees characters going into the lair of a wicked witch-queen in search of treasure.
Of course, being a dungeon crawl, plenty of danger and drama are found within. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth served as the introduction for a number of monsters, including the ever-popular behir.
The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth also served as the introduction of thewitch-queen Iggwilv, who has gone on to play a large role in the Dungeons & Dragons story as Tasha/Natasha (of Tasha’s Hideous Laughter).
As Iggwilv has been a focus in recent years, the remade version of Lost Caverns has placed more of a focus on the witch-queen. While she makes no appearance herself, she haunts the narrative as the players are being sent into the Caverns at the behest of a noble seeking out an object related to Iggwilv’s great power.
This artifact serves as the focus of the campaign, to the point where if the players fail to retrieve it another team will be sent in. As Dungeons & Dragons has moved into a more story-focused game, this revised version of The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth serves as a dungeon crawl as well as a story-based backstor for Iggwilv.
1Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Spacemen and Spells
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks has always been unique among adventures. It was designed by Gary Gygax in the late 70s as a way to introduce Dungeons & Dragons players to the science-fiction genre. The original story was more of a dungeon crawl than a story, which was the general school of philosophy for early Dungeons & Dragons adventures.
A spaceship has crashed in the mountains and it is up to the party to find the treasures that lurk within. This module has always been acclaimed, even though it is a bit controversial (some people simply don’t like their genres mixing). The rerelease of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks has endeavored to recreate what players loved while trimming away what was less popular.
The rerelease still has all the sci-fi goodness that truly defines this module, but the module has been focused. Empty rooms and floors have been removed, which has condensed the module down to its iconic core. But don’t worry, there are additions as well: a narrative structure has been added.
The spaceship now has lore which can be discovered which encourages players to explore. Dubious allies and mysterious enemies lurk within the Barrier Peaks, all ripe to explore in this new version.
