B10 Night's Dark Terror - A BECMI adventure module review

[@vincepale]

Wait... the map at 2:20 looks like Falcon's Hunting Lodge, really close actually... Seriously, BB, give it a quick google. It is a semi-optional quest location in Dragon of Icespire peak and I'm almost Certain that they intended to pay homage to it, just based on this One Image. My 5e group had what my fiancée said was one of their best fights there against a summoned Thunder Boar monster and a bunch of orcs that came to get revenge. Wow.. Memories.

[@becmiberserker]

Just checked and it looks practically identical. Not played Icespire, but clearly this is homage to an iconic location. I wish I'd known that and mentioned it in the video. In fact...I'm going to pin this post. Thanks!

[@vpuigdoller]

awesome!!

[@Wraithing]

@vincepale - really good shout there! Well spotted.

[@RobinD.]

It is the otherway around B10 was earlier, and some of the maps and images used were reused as soo often elsewhere. A common trait of TSR

[@charlesvincent4127]

Man, I am Glad you're doing these Becmi modules they really highlight how much is missed if you are unfamiliar with them.

[@becmiberserker]

You’re welcome.

[@Rashman101]

I understand now why this module is so beloved. I was too young to fully appreciate it when we first played it. Thanks for this video!

[@becmiberserker]

You're very welcome!

[@tinywarfare9109]

I love TSR UK's output, especially Graeme Morris' work. So a BECMI module form them I knew was going to be great. And this module did not disappoint, going above and beyond and creating a masterpiece. It is just loaded with so much. The battle map and tokens are just great, and I'm lucky enough to have a Warhammer goblin army, so I'm well equipped with miniatures! Great review.

[@stephenclements6158]

I had watched several Nights Dark Terror reviews, read it myself, but I thought I'd see if you added anything new to it. Yep, yep you did. Totally worth my listening.

[@becmiberserker]

Thanks, mate. 🙂

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

This still is my favourite module. I loved running this the other year for my group. They still talk about it now. One of my players still has a hatred for the Iron Ring, and seeks them out even though currently we are miles away in the Minrothad Guilds.

[@davidjkelly1971]

This is on its way from Drive thru! Looking forward to playing this with my daughers :)

[@moodymac]

Great value PDF. Over 30 three hour sessions for our group for less than $10. Art is evocative and unique. Maps are somehow so pleasing to the eye. Writing is tight, book is packed with good stuff, yet so efficent. Checking the weather each day, stopping to care for horses, arguing over when to honour the Chevals request to release the horses.....and then watch in horror as horses fall to their deaths in the mountain ravines. Good review....so much in here.

[@Lowe505]

Dude this is a outstanding video. I will be running this adventure foresure.

[@becmiberserker]

Have fun!

[@Wraithing]

Brilliant overview of an amazing module. Potentially one of the greatest of all time. (wheezes and snickers Beavis & Butt-Head style… hehehehe… Aarth…oll! heheheh)

[@michaelfox8297]

One of the greatest modules ever, followed closely by Red Arrow Black Shield.

[@midshipman8654]

i really like how the “repeating hour glass” design shape of this module. goining between more open ended sections and more narrow focued ones. I think its a really effective way to get at the pros of both styles and mitigating their possible cons as well. open ended stuff can have a problem where things dont get a lot of build up or development. while here it seems like you can really develop a building tension of this slaver wizard and the mystery surrounding the tapestry in a satisfying way. And on the other hand, too linear of an affair can feel railroaded and like you didn’t really have a guiding hand in things, you were just brought to places x, y, and z. While deciding if you want to go after the werewolves or maybe bribe the chevalier in another way seems to make the adventure a little more your own. I think this format makes both aspects not overstay their welcome while highlighting their benefits. And you did a great job at presenting this module too! Very easy to follow and gives a really clear overview of the whole thing!

[@gavinruneblade]

This really is a fun adventure. Even just the opening siege itself is so memorable. Sometimes we used to replay the siege when we wanted a high octane adventure night and didn't want to worry about plot or our main campaign. In my northlands campaign, I reflavored Sukiskyn to be Ethengarian and I have moved the adventure to be near Rhoona in Vestland. My players only just hit 3rd level and they've visited Sukiskyn twice and fought the iron ring once, so the next time they go down the Kings Road instead of a familiar safe place to rest they're going to find goblin raiders coming out of the Trollheim hills.

[@linolourenco5447]

One of the best reviews I’ve seen of this excellent module, I’m running those module , almost finished, and I’ve seen new nuances in this review Really well done

[@becmiberserker]

@@linolourenco5447 Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind comments.

[@firstonesentertainment8575]

This is a great review of a beloved old classic. I ran this adventure so many times in totality but also in parts. Such a gold mine of an adventure.

[@ianlamont9434]

Thanks for this dive into past adventure. I'd forgotten so many things about this module, one of the most satisfying moments for me as DM at the time was the parties frustration as a certain yellow clad figure flew away from the gallery tower leaving the heroes shouting insults at his back from the windows. I also had one of the party captured by the Iron Ring and the rest of the group had to buy him back at a slave auction. This generated a deep hatred for the Iron Ring in a certain halfling who made it his life's mission to eradicate any slavers they met in the future.

[@becmiberserker]

Ooh! Enslaved by the Iron Ring! That’s a great twist. 🙂

[@steveviggiano]

Can't wait to listen to this on my drive home today. I ran this adventure--or at least the part up to where the party returns from Xitiqa--many years ago via play-by-post. When a certain yellow clad figure tried to make his escape, the cleric in the party hit him with a hold person spell. Golthar sank to the ground like a stone, dead upon landing. The game has been in suspended animation for almost ten years now, with the party back at Sukiskyn, waiting for me to resurrect it. Can't remember whether or not Pyotr had passed out yet at the celebration. I do remember Pytor's wife Darya dope slapping the thief in the party for his bad manners.

[@davidferris6709]

Final thread sewn into the tapestry - masterful wording.

[@becmiberserker]

@@davidferris6709 Thank you. ☺️

[@parsivaltrask7453]

Brilliant video. I'm reading this module at the moment with the intent of taking my players through it.

[@Arasaka]

Great review, easily my number one D&D module by a mile.

[@gmdnik]

I bought the module after seeing your review and decided to run a karameikos campaign with my home group (getting the gazetteers in the process thanks to your fabulous reviews!). Does anyone have any experiences if there are any traps when running the BECMI stuff with Old School Essentials?

[@dartanionbrallk9805]

I’ve never played this adventure. After watching your video though, I’m intrigued, and I think I’ll seek out my own copy and run my group through it. Another great video. Well done.

[@ThePandionknight]

This is great. I’m prepping to run this for my group next.

[@dezopenguin9649]

I loved this one back in the day! It was my first experience with what a real campaign looks like, not just a dungeon environment to pit the party against tactically or a hex-crawl, but a genuine fantasy story with a through-line plot, characters, and factions, mixed up with large amounts of player freedom to seek out encounters and clues, particularly during the second and third chapters. The siege was an amazing tactical battle experience, basically worthy of being its own module by that day's standards (particularly considering the tactical map and cardboard tokens) and it was just the initial encounter! I still consider _Rahasia_ (B7) to be my overall favorite B module, but B10 was utterly unique and compelling.

[@becmiberserker]

I’ll be doing B7 in the future.

[@Axiie]

I love watching analyses of modules, and yours has not disappointed. Your style, along with something that feels like mining the old stuff for the core ideas, concepts and principles just feels zen, and something like this offers ways in which more 'from the hip' DM's can store for ideas and mingle in with their own stuff. Loading the creative barrel, so to speak. Side note, and I don't know if I've mentioned this before so apologies if I'm repeating myself, but I'm loving the new art assets you're using. I'll always be a fan of the original flat Berserker head, but the new one gives some proper heavy Conan the King vibes.

[@becmiberserker]

Thanks for these comments. I always wonder how I’m doing comparatively and you’ve eluded to the angle I try to go for. As for the art, I’m really happy with it and have had mostly positive feedback. I credit the artist in the description of all my uploads if you wanted to look him up.

[@joshuawilson8804]

The context helps a lot. I can see why BECMI is beloved. I love it because it explains leveling up to different versions.

[@stevenkennedy4130]

WFRP 1st edition author made this adventure. Good stuff!!

[@brandonkeene1266]

Fantastic review..this module was so ground breaking in many ways. It inspired me to world build and really give npcs life. I loved all of the stuff the British wing created, all their adventures were well written.

[@yapper58]

I just noticed that one of the maps in the 5E introductory adventure Phandalin is a near exact copy of the battle map (Sukiskyn) you showed early in your video. It's the "ranch" out in the forest far outside of town that is raided by orcs in the Phandalin adventure.

[@becmiberserker]

It does look familiar…

[@jeremydurdil556]

I intend to run this for my summer league. Always great stuff BB! Thank you. BECMI Forever! Long Live King Elmore!!

[@newtpondskipper]

Great write up of the module. I have to agree the art style of that era was amazing. It hits the middle ground of not too much or too little detail.

[@becmiberserker]

Absolutely!

[@Bargletheinfamous]

Excellent video! Covering a classic!

[@becmiberserker]

Thank you kindly!

[@damonhawkins1]

Thank you for the great breakdown. I've been on full prep mode for weeks as I start to run this with my face to face group in a few weeks. It's been a dream of mine to run it for years.

[@becmiberserker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ImperialValues]

The illustrations you speak of at 48:08 remind me of the old Lone Wolf adventure books illustrated by Gary Chalk. I was fascinated by both artists.

[@robbabcock_]

It was indeed very ambitious for the time! Thanks for the in-depth review.

[@becmiberserker]

You’re welcome.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

So much adventure just in South of the River!

[@becmiberserker]

That chapter evokes a sense of wonder for me. Probably some nostalgic romanticism wrapped up with it, due to the age I was and D&D being the only escapism at the time, but when I think of NDT, I dwell on the events in this chapter.

[@Newnodrogbob]

SPOILERS!!? NOOO!!!! Just kidding. The module is 38 years old. I know you have to mention it, but I always chuckle imagining someone getting upset about spoilers for a product released in the last century… Nice, thorough review as always. Makes me wish I had had a group to play with back in the day.

[@NemoDtwenty]

Love this module. IMO one of the top 3 ever.

[@graham4885]

It's the pace of the story that makes this module I think.

[@becmiberserker]

It certainly helps.

[@ThePandionknight]

Having previously only run one other adventure for my group, I’m going to be running B10 soon. Your breakdown of Nights Dark Terror has been a massive boon in my understanding of the adventure. Thank you so much.

[@becmiberserker]

@@ThePandionknight You’re more than welcome. 🙂

[@emperorclint]

Another fantastic review....Thanks!! I place module B5 near the end of the Volaga, and it could constitute a large side quest to module B10. Perhaps the goblins and hobgoblins in that adventure could be another tribe in the greater conflict, and the monastery tied to Karameikan lore.

[@agilemonk6305]

Another most excellent video. Thank you. ❤

[@nickgreetham4810]

I noticed at 47:35 the Scange leader is called Hrothgar. This set an inch in my brain, which I eventually scratched by digging out Dungeon magazine issue 25. In the issue is a BECMI adventure by Stephen J Smith called "Hrothgar's Resting Place" set in the Kelvin (or Kelven, maybe a discussion for another day) area. Although Hrothgar seems to have given up his former bandit lifestyle in the adventure set up.

[@becmiberserker]

Wow…good spot!!

[@WizardDeadloss]

Thanks for being both a resource and an motivator. This review couldn't have been timed better for my own playthrough. In fact, I think you've saved it! This is quite a dense module so it was great to have each chapter clearly defined. Might you, by any chance, (cough, cough), be thinking of a review of, say, The Isle of Dread? That classic.

[@becmiberserker]

That will be my next video. Probably within a couple of weeks. Real life is in the way at the moment. 🙂

[@bobkarstenson1792]

Amazing review and suggestions...I've watched it twice and can't wait till the next one. Thank you for the in-depth review and all your effort

[@becmiberserker]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pISSUMTREE]

This was a classic adventure indeed. It came in two styles here in canada. At first it was a shrink wrapped adventure. Later it came in a card stock sleeve. Recently I purchased a POD copy from drive thru. Definitely will be using this to start my Dragonslayer RPG game by greg gillespie....cheers !

[@becmiberserker]

You’re welcome!

[@spartaninvirginia]

Excellent video. I look forward to running this module one day.

[@seanferguson-th6ny]

just discovered your channel and love your focus. I am going through your GAZ series currently and appreciate your attention to detail. 🍻

[@anarionelendili8961]

I have been having a discussion about B10 on the WizardDeadLoss' playthrough and on the Piazza Mystara subforum on how to tweak various things about it. It is a great module, probably the best in BECMI, but it can still be improved. :)

[@TiberiusTheDM]

I'm running a Westmarches Bar game with a simplified 5e system. I'm considering having this be an area just beyond the normal exploration area for 5+ level characters to play. Thanks for doing these reviews!

[@becmiberserker]

@@TiberiusTheDM You’re welcome!☺️

[@docsavage8640]

Sounds great. I'll have to buy the POD. Shame the maps and things are usually ruined then but the module still sounds great to borrow from.

[@paulofrota3958]

Thank you for another great video, sir.

[@davidbrennan660]

It looks a great scenario, thanks for the video.

[@becmiberserker]

No problem!

[@gommechops]

What an amazing review and breakdown of this adventure, some really insightful things here that had me muttering to myself 'Oh God yeah that makes sense'. Very interesting and clear how you break down the elements of the adventure. Lots of helpful pointers on how to write well too throughout all of that. The way you brought Sukiskin into the foreground and showed its development was superb. I for one would avidly watch a post game synopsis but I'm sure you're too busy etc but they are entertaining and educational, goat football anyone? All that detailing is so good in world building. Anyway brilliantly done. I hope you look at the other adventures in Karameikos, their flavour runs through them all so well, something I missed out on at the time as we had migrated to Warhammer and Runequest around then. All those cool hidden ruins and the sense of an untamed wilderness drenched in mysteries from the past, superb stuff.

[@becmiberserker]

Thanks, man. Really appreciate those comments.

[@gommechops]

​@@becmiberserkerit is such an artfully done campaign adventure, each section crafted so cleverly with content and flavour. By the end it feels like something out of King Solomons Mines or Conan. Your point about different outcomes over which faction you side with got me thinking, what if during the chaos there is a confrontation between faction leaders over a rod of hutaakan control. A sceptre of authority maybe? The party become aware of it either through the connivance of a Traldar shaman or a Hutaakan with a conscience. You could weave in a very atmospheric climax of deceit and back stabbing. Especially if the purpose of the rod is to order the undead to kill the other side. Meanwhile some less bloodthirsty types try to carry out their rituals of destroying the creatures. Something like that could see the valley destroyed behind the pcs as they head off to the treasure hoard. Might be possible but it might overshadow the fight with the blob.

[@xavierp7658]

Arguably your best work

[@becmiberserker]

Helped by great subject matter.

[@fleetcenturion]

This sounds like a perfect intro to a Slave Lords campaign.

[@becmiberserker]

Good idea!

[@albertcapley6894]

This is what I wish the pathfinder adventure paths had been like, B10 is mildly linear but it doesn't really feel like it, just the right amount of a push here and there, without sacrificing open endedness. I think the "Kingmaker" series was probably inspired by this module, especially the first adventure, which is probably my favorite PF adventure.

[@anarionelendili8961]

Not too much to add. It is a wonderful adventure module and very much a campaign even on its own. My complaints are pretty similar to the ones already expressed, although there are also some scale issues: Threshold is way too built-up to have mere 550 people, and indeed, GAZ 1 increased it to 5500. Now, whether that x10 to all towns and villages in earlier modules was too much in GAZ 1 can be another debate. I am also not fond of the bald Traldars with their 'Vocals'.

[@GodOfMoxie555]

Damn I need to run this seems awesome

[@dustgraystone9448]

1: I feel that suggestion to have the Hutaakan's solution be then commandong their dead to destroy the Traldar. If they had the ability or were willing to do that, then they likely would have done that before the temple was lost. Granted, I don't really have an alternative aside from just making the Traldar's fail in such a way that it makes things worse somehow. 2: I do feel like the sacrifices were likely done long before the Hutaakan came out of the valley. But once they did, humans were a "better" solution to them.... That said, I wonder if Kartoeba is a "holy" moster to Pflarr?

[@tohitAC0]

Damn! Once we're finished with Rise of the Runelords (pathfinder 1e), I want to go back to BECMI (rules cyclopeadia). I wanna get this adventure module in original form, but it's $599 on eBay.

[@shockerck4465]

It's $11 print on demand on Drivethrurpg.

[@tohitAC0]

@@shockerck4465 I'll definitely settle for PDF😄

[@tohitAC0]

​@@shockerck4465to the PoD store! Lol

[@Mr_Welch]

​@@shockerck4465 Unfortunately the PDF loses most of the goodies it is legendary for.

[@spartaninvirginia]

With DTRPG, you get the maps, and cutout chits as part of the book, so they aren't really useful as play pieces.

[@VMSelvaggio]

This is a wonderful review of the product, I do have one question for you BB, or anyone else in the comment thread: Does the reprinted version on Drivethrurpg have the parts that were originally part of the Cover/Back cover spreads?

[@becmiberserker]

I got a PDF from Drivethru. All the maps and art is there, although the scan quality could do with being updated, as it does blur when zooming in.

[@VMSelvaggio]

@@becmiberserker I will probably GREEN Light a copy of the physical reprint from there, It's like $11 USD + Shipping, plus my birthday is at the end of May! Special treat!

[@SpiritWolf1966]

I enjoy all of BECMI Berserker videos

[@PvtSchlock]

1st level characters can have problems with this adventure so I tend to buff them up with some prior adventures. I like to demonstrate the difference between the north and coastal regions of the Grand Duchy. I style the north as having more resistance to Stephen's emancipation of the serfs and his rule being more de jure. Having the family revolve around the hearth and offerings to ancestors lends itself to lonely woods and rushing rivers. If the children go off to be wage earners, who will keep the hearth? To father wants to become a hungry ghost of a cold hearth. Anyway, whether witch covens, wolf spirits or running timber downriver for sale, beefed up characters seem to stand a better chance with some of the encounters. They're also a bit more involved in the setting. I like to add horse racing, gambling and timber felling to the local routine of manful activities. Boar hunting is a good pastime as well and I likr to add a brother to the Sukyskyn crew ("Vuk Tusk Taker") in case the beefiness of the PC's ain't quite up to par. I could never get where the Gaz was coming from as to the Traldar and here we see it slide decidedly to the Slavic. I downplay or outright rewrite the sections that stand out from this (gnomes especially). Its too bad that "Eye of Traldara" and "Dymrak Dread" were such crap adventures and you basically have to rewrite those to plug into this in tes of expansion. As you suggest, the goblin tribes and gnolls are stand outs and worth building on. Anyhow, thanks for giving my favorite of all time a fine walk through! I'll put in a good word with Branjia and Vuk for you...

[@engbama]

Any advice on getting a copy of these adventures for those of us that didn't live thru this era?

[@becmiberserker]

Try DrivethruRPG. The PDFs are there and a lot of them are print on demand. Print quality can vary I’m told.

[@josephkrausz9557]

​@@becmiberserkerThe B10 print is very good. You can't pull out the maps, though, and it's worthwhile to get the PDF as well.

[@Cynidecia]

The Newschool players would probably Love this.

[@becmiberserker]

I think you’re right.

[@elfbait3774]

Now, I very much want this adventure. I'm not payign the hndreds of dollars it would take to get an oriignal copy, but the POD is there even though it may not be as amazing.

[@myownlittlworld9427]

Would you consider doing an episode on Wrath of the Immortals and the IM series?

[@becmiberserker]

WotI is way off. I’d like to finish the Gazetteer series first. One day!

[@crazyjay2741]

Has this or any similar module been updated for 5e?

[@becmiberserker]

I think there are some fan conversions out there but no official ones.

[@crazyjay2741]

@@becmiberserker Thank you for your reply. It seems I will have to do some digging. I’m very interested in this now

[@becmiberserker]

@@crazyjay2741 You’re welcome ☺️

[@solomani-42]

Very good +1

[@PaladinDusty]

If you said something about this, I missed it. It bothers me some that the Hutakaans and the Traladarans of the valley speak common. I suppose I can understand that this design choice is to ensure that the PCs can easily speak with and ally with the faction of their choice, but for me it doesn't make so much sense. It seems like an isolated ancient civilization would speak a dead language, or at the very least, a nearly unrecognizable archaic form of a modern language.

[@becmiberserker]

@@PaladinDusty I didn’t bring up languages and you make a good point. It might have added another layer of intrigue and culture if greeted by new folk speaking in strange tongues.