D&D General Top 5 Best Non-WotC adventures?

[mamba]

Kobold Press published one, The Scarlet Citadel. I haven't played it, though, so can't comment on whether it belongs in the "top 5" list.

Paizo released its Abomination Vault, no idea how good it is, the PF2 version seems popular

paizo.com - Pathfinder Adventure Path: Abomination Vaults (5e)

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

Paizo released its Abomination Vault, no idea how good it is, the PF2 version seems popular

paizo.com - Pathfinder Adventure Path: Abomination Vaults (5e)

The PF2 version is excellent. I can run it with zero modifications.

I'd assume the 5e version is comparable quality.

 

[Shardstone]

The Scarlet Citadel isn't really a megadungeon by the standard definition of the term. it is just a big dungeon. And it isn't very good.


We have been running 5E Rappan Athuk for a while and it is a slog. 5E lacks the necessary focus on resource management to make delving into RA until you have to back out very fun.

I don't think 5E works well for megadungeons at all, and actually works best for "5 room dungeons" and other shot delves IMO.

A Shadowdark version of RA might be interesting, tho...

Disagreed about 5E and megadungeons, but it does require you to completely change how you run megadungeons and the idea of them. Resource management still exists, but it works better if you take an Elden Ring approach, with a few "check points" throughout that can be used to rest or camp at.

 

[Necropolitan]

Does Chains of Asmodeus count?

 

[Enrico Poli1]

Any edition but easily convertible? Not counting TSR's? Not counting Age of Worms and Savage Tide? In no particular order:

• Rappan Athuk
• Reign of Winter
• Caverns of Thracia
• Eyes of the Stone Thief
• The Night Wolf Inn

 

[Raith5]

Dungeons of Drakkenheim. I have been DMing and it is early stages but I think it is really good.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And Ptolus.

Ptolus for sure, although there's probably four or so distinct campaigns in that book. We're currently doing the "main" one, which will eventually involve laying out all the secrets of the setting, changing the world at level 19 and then saving the world at level 20.

But the damned thing is dense with great adventures.

If I were to run it again, I'd probably change a fair amount, but the Freeport Trilogy has exceptionally strong bones.

It may still be on sale for 50 cents at DriveThruRPG, but Goodman Games' 3E (easily convertible to 5E) Dragonfiend Pact is one of my favorite low level adventures of all time. A real classic, playing with classic tropes.

Arcane Library's Ghostlight is a very fun first level romp through the sailors' afterlife. If I were to run it again, I'd probably want to flesh it out some more, but it's extremely strong.

I haven't run it yet, but Barkeep on the Borderlands looks like a blast.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Does Chains of Asmodeus count?

It's DMs Guild content, not WotC, so yes, IMO.

 

[MerricB]

The Scarlet Citadel isn't really a megadungeon by the standard definition of the term. it is just a big dungeon. And it isn't very good.

Likewise, I don't think Rappan Athuk is a megadungeon. It's just a big dungeon.

One thing that I really want with megadungeons is an area for level 1 characters, and I find that several high-profile big or mega dungeons (Undermountain, Rappan Athuk) lack that area! It frustrates me (especially as, if I'm running thing properly, characters will die and new characters will come along).

One of my favourite adventure products is Sly Flourish's Fantastic Adventures - lots of small quests around a central hub. Some people like his second collection more, but I like the more grounded feel of the first one.

I'm actually not too up-to-date with big adventures from other publishers - there is so much time required to run them. I have run Kingmaker in PF1 (and I think it starts well and ends terribly, and the less said about the city building and mass combat systems the better), and also Courts of the Shadow Fey (which requires work but has a lot of good material).

Cheers,
Merric

 

[MerricB]

Paizo released its Abomination Vault, no idea how good it is, the PF2 version seems popular

My group got so frustrated with the PF2 version, but I'm sure it's a large part based on how unforgiving PF2 is. And the early part of AV has a lot of fights where the PCs are outmatched using the PF2 system.

Also TOO MANY FIVE-FOOT CORRIDORS!

(argh).

Cheers!