Review - Castle Amber (OAR5)

Overview and review Goodman Games Original Adventures Reincarnated, volume 5, Castle Amber - a 5E conversion and homage based on Dungeon Module X2: Castle Amber (1981).
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[@swirvinbirds1971]

Tom made some of the best D&D modules of the time.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Not just modules, but game rules and supplements beyond D&D. He is one of those not-sung-enough-about RPG stalwarts, and may he rest in peace, in Yavdlom or wherever he may be.

[@weray7605]

At some point around '04-'08 I found on ye olde internet a DM who had transported [i]Castle Amber[/i] into Ravenloft and had ran it as a Ravenloft game, keeping the module mostly in tact and just changing the tone and atmosphere as he described this and that location and encounter. He gave some examples and recap; it was quite good. I had never liked the module from "back in the day" but I was intrigued and, within a year or two, used it for a Ravenloft adventure for my own group. HUGE success! The change in atmosphere and tone eliminates the fun-house and illogical and silly feeling of the adventure and makes it quite sinister and even rather a little Dark.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

It is pretty sinister! To say nothing of the mists surrounding the castle... When Ravenloft later appeared, there was an element of "here we go again, but with vampires!"

[@ardwulfslair]

I have a notion that if you'd asked Jack Vance who his Jack Vance was, he'd have said Clark Ashton Smith.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

There is a ring of plausibility to that!

[@momokol366]

I went in with limited expectations as I've had little experience with early editions and its adventures, and over all I've enjoyed it. I'm glad that the OAR series has the original publications so I can compare and use in case I want to run them as well. I recently also started looking into Clark Ashton Smiths work and I'm enjoying it so far.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

They are very nicely packaged in that way. It is a little crazy in some of them, where they've included every printing of the modules covered. But the Castle Amber one is spot on - and, as you say, gives you a basis for comparison which can help with adjusting to taste.

[@bryanstephens4800]

Loving these. Glad I found you. This was a wild module to own as a kid.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you! It's a wild one to have as an adult, too:)"

[@enoa4]

Really nice review. I would very much like to see you do other classic modules or Goodman games conversion. Stay safe good sir!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you! I do have on my "to do" list the four other Reincarnated books (and volume 6, when it arrives), as well as the 5E makeover of Tegel Manor, the Tome of Beasts volumes, and some of the campaign adventures put out by Wizards (although I feel they do have enough review coverage already). On the Dungeons & Dragons front, anyway. I might cover certain classic modules and/or books in their own right. Not sure on that one yet, though. At the moment, I'd rather cover "the old stuff" either through the window of something new (for example, this video, where I'm looking back on the original X2 through the window of the Goodman Reincarnated version), or as part of a historical overview (like I've been doing for various editions). There's still a way to go on those! But, maybe - there are a few absolute favourites that I would love to do.

[@ezekielcarpenter-hyland850]

Very good and excellent. Way more positive comments than I could write down. I never leave comments for lots of obviously resons, but you are truly deserving. Please keep sharing your actually valuable experience and insight.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you!

[@Throgmoyd]

Many thanks for this clearly loving review of an updated old module. Really enjoyed your casual-but-informed style of presentation and engaging vocal tone - cheers! :-)

[@WillyMuffinUK]

"Casual but informed" - I like that! I might put it on a card :) Thank-you!

[@kurtoogle4576]

I'm using Goodman Game's Keep on the Borderlands/Search of the Unknown. It is a BEAST of a book, but as a superfan, I kind of love it!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

They do pack stuff in them! Good luck :)

[@simovoutilainen9716]

The Cursed Chateau from LotFP is a good homage to this!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Flame Princess? I haven't checked that game out too much. I'll take a look at this one!

[@stevenkennedy4130]

I had a lot of fun with this one. Thanks for the share!!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

You're welcome!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Well... Something I didn't pick up on during edits and watching back! Of course, I mean "Spoiler Warning", not "Spoler Warning"! Good grief...

[@johndavid2290]

I went over some of your videos. Your style and delivery work really well for reviews. I suggest you the usual click bait top 5 videos and such. Extended lore videos on monsters with your pace and attention to detail might turn well for you. I would try rapid fire small topic videos like I said do a series where you go in depth on a single spell or item for 10-15 And release twice a week. Then make longer lore or review videos every two weeks. You got the goods to be great. Also lighting get some light in that dungeon lol

[@WillyMuffinUK]

@@johndavid2290 Lighting? What's that? 🤣 There are a lot of channels out there doing the lore-type of thing, which I sort of want to avoid because (a) lore on settings doesn't interest me, (b) referees should be smart enough to come up with lore that fits their own settings (I wasn't a fan of Dragon's "Ecology of..." articles for the same reason), and (c) I do not want to limit this channel to D&D. Some good ideas there, though. This isn't my main job, so posting 2-3 times a week on just RPGs probably won't work. But the idea of shorter videos might, depending on the subject!

[@bierthirty]

I'm about to stick my players through here.. they will carouse before a large excursion and wake up at the door of Amber Mansion.. they will need to interact, figure out what's going on and escape the castle. I'm thinking cutting the middle part out and having the silver keys open a gate home, a gate to the tomb, or a gate to avernoiin, depends on what they want to pursue (and the number of keys they use)

[@WillyMuffinUK]

I hope they have fun with it :)

[@johndavid2290]

Loved you pace and detail

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you!

[@ronniejdio9411]

Greatness

[@Cl0ne66]

If line to b see a review of expedition into barrier peaks like this.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

That may happen sooner rather than later...

[@billedens4749]

I would actually set this in the Feywild and couple it with the Wild beyond the Witchlight. On the surface they look like they would fit well together nicely.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Not a bad idea. Not one that I'd personally go for, but I can see how it could work.

[@jamesrickel3814]

More like Clark "Awesome" Smith

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Hah! I like it!

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

Are you a hobbit?

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Funnily enough... No.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

@@WillyMuffinUK Just bustin' chops. Very good vid. Castle Amber is my favorite module.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

@@MarshalTennerWinter It comes pretty high on mine, too :)