Greetings on DCC Day! I hope you all made it to your local store and left with arms piled high with DCC loot!
Today we have an insightful new designer diary for you, plus news on clearing yet another stretch goal!
Stretch Goal Update
Thanks to your support, we've cleared our 17th stretch goal. 17!!! Isn't that crazy? We'll add "The Ecology of Thracia" to the exclusive stretch goal booklet that backers (and only backers) receive.
The next stretch goal is an oversized player map for the Island of Thracia. This is a really fun one - we've expanded the overland exploration options considerably already, and this map will make gameplay even easier.
And now some thoughts from one of the designers of the modern conversion of Caverns of Thracia...
Classic Without Being Antique: Fresh Challenges in An Old-School Dungeon
By Bob Brinkman
The conversion of a classic adventure always brings with it some unique challenges. On one side of things are the fans of the original, who wish to see their favorite adventure treated with care and brought up to date for their current system. On the flip side of the coin are the new players, who are wholly unfamiliar with the adventure, who are looking for something that feels familiar while still presenting unique challenges and play. Nobody ever said converting something like Caverns of Thracia would be simple.
Yet, with all its challenges, walking that fine line between new and old school adventure design can be incredibly rewarding. “Caverns” is more than an adventure, it is virtually a self-contained campaign setting. Indeed, there is no need for an adventure “path” other than the halls through which the PCs travel.
Beyond the standard dungeon background of twisting caverns and ancient hallways, there is an underground river to traverse, crags for rappelling, crawlways, guarded doorways, and even the domain of the Dark One himself.
Do your players want a greater sense of wonder? Let them find a hallway where snow and ice fill the air to white-out conditions, stumble across the lair of a giant wolverine, or flee from a pair of trained war-bears.
Are the players tired of simply murder-hobo’ing their way through adventures? Caverns of Thracia gives them the opportunity to make alliances and forge deals with some of the factions. This is no mere dungeon crawl; it is an entire underground kingdom consisting of varied tribes of beast men (minotaurs, lizardmen, gnolls, and more) and their captives, which is consistently invaded by their foes.
The choices the players make truly impact the story as it unfolds. Will they revive the worship of a near forgotten god? If so, what does the return of the Dark One to the greater world mean for the future? Do they befriend a lonely bridge guardian and, if so, what lore might they learn from a being who sees nearly all that occurs within the caverns?
The new content for the adventure pushes things even further, adding another level to the dungeon. This includes a second lost temple and even further hints as to the final fate of the citizens of the kingdom prior to the coming of the Minotaur King. Ancient and mysterious beings, as well as additional strange technologies of the ancients, further add to the lore of this classic adventure.
No matter your preferred system, Caverns of Thracia is ready to challenge your players, with old school twists and turns that feel utterly timeless. This adventure is a classic, without feeling like an antique.
And remember everyone, you can still add dice to your pledge. Help us close out this next stretch goal - and share your favorite dice color while you're at it!
