RETRO RPG REVIEW: "U1 Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh" by Dave J. Browne and Don Turnbull (Excellence)

[@elliotvernon7971]

This is nostalgic, I remember getting U1 when it came out - it seemed to mirror a wave of dissatisfaction in the early 1980s UK RPG scene with the hack and slay power gamer mentality that was often common at the time. The Scooby Doo story line, followed with the diplomacy required in U2 reflected desires at time for more naturalism and (as people used to say) role playing rather than roll playing.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

I think U1 also balances some of these things well - it exploits the core AD%D gameplay loops well whilst also emphasising non-mechanical elements

[@EOTB1E]

I ran the U series back in the day. Oceanus was a another elf PC's henchman for a long time. Unlike some of the more artsy UK modules, there's decent play in Saltmarsh. 2nd module is where the cheese comes in.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

I think even in U2 and other UK modules there are really nice elements, but the balance is lost compared to here