Mind Blowing D&D News!

[@spacemancoco]

I'm so glad that you actually have the wherewithal and morals to employ actual dwarves in your videos, rather than using CGI or AI created facsimiles. It says a lot about who you are as a person and I, for one, respect that.

[@euansmith3699]

I hear that those Dwarves are a close-knit society.

[@BDSquirrel]

@@euansmith3699 I also heard that their insults can needle even the most composed of targets.

[@erickent3557]

@@euansmith3699 Many purls of wisdom in this thread

[@mgb360]

I do genuinely find AI generated images pretty off-putting

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@keithcurtis]

Thanks for the shout out on the Goodman Games version. I was lucky enough to be the cartographer on that. It was really cool to have access to all those original materials, update the maps to modern reproduction standards and add a few new flourishes. Great project, and the book itself is full of the history of the module.

[@jamesrowe7538]

I especially love the fact that you still used that crappy blue shade on the main map. very cool

[@andynonimuss6298]

Make sure to acknowledge Gary AND Dave.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Dave didn't have anything to do with Keep. BUT his name should be at the front of the core rulebooks.

[@fleetcenturion]

Proper acknowledgement of D&D's creators, is the one thing you can count on WotC to _not_ do.

[@andynonimuss6298]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Thought you were talking about D&D acknowledgement in general, but yeah agreed about core rulebooks.

[@russellharrell2747]

Dave invented it, Gary codified it. Without either, we would have no D&D.

[@keithkannenberg7414]

@@fleetcenturion Acknowledging the creators seems like an easy thing to do that would cost the company nothing and would earn good will by invoking the patron saint of D&D and RPGs. It's unlikely that many new players would know the history of how TSR kicked Gygax out of the company or how Arneson and Gygax fought over royalties. But they do recognize the name (well, Gygax at least). There shouldn't be any personal issues either because it's not like the people running the company now have connections to those stories. But it makes too much sense so I fully expect Hasbro to not do this.

[@henrycaltagirone3959]

I've got 7 dead fighters in the caves . My brother was my first dm, and he had no mercy 😂❤😊

[@dane3038]

I've lost a few in there. And to this day I hate Kobolds. To the point that they don't even exist in my setting. The reason for that is 100% petty spite that traces back to The Keep...

[@MonkeyJedi99]

There is a reason I have refused to part with any of my AD&D staple-bound modules for the last 40-ish years. Even if I don't use them as written, they are a gold mine of inspiration. Heck, even that weird one, S3 where your adventurers explore an ancient crashed spaceship!

[@maxrobe]

@@MonkeyJedi99 Exploring old tech in D&D was always a thing as the preferred settings in early games were heavily based on Jack Vance stuff, (Dying Earth, etc.)

[@biffstrong1079]

My brother playing Raft the elf got thrown in the dungeon on the Keep for goosing an old lady. We were twelve. I think Ive had characters ripped in half by an owl bear, turned to stone, lost a level to a wight, was wrapped up by a snake staff, killed by an evil beserker we rescued, skewered by a bugbear, gored by a minotaur , dissolved by a gray ooze, and while not finished off by, terrorized by orcs and kobolds, oh and backstabbed by a hermit. Not kermit, a crazy hermit.

[@scoots291]

As you explore the caves you notice 7 dead fighters sprawled along the floor

[@erickling4016]

Dungeon Craft is an important part of a healthy KZbin experience. The single finger reaching back to touch an old classic is a nice gesture, let's see what they do to it before we get too excited. *Arms folded, judging stare initiated*

[@smctunes]

Depends on the finger!

[@bluecarpettiles]

Judging intensifying

[@Hiddenronin]

The Keep on the Borderlands 2025: Where you can't die and no one is really evil! No thanks.

[@jeffdauscha1436]

Kind of worried about this too

[@INCIESSE]

That was my first thought

[@Dinofaustivoro]

And everything is solved on a skill check

[@wrelensmash]

They will replace as many characters with LGBT/black people as possible, there will be some strong smart females saving the day while bumbling guys screw everything up & at the end you will get to rescue an orc family from evil white men.

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

I mean he ain't wrong.

[@daelusraine2989]

Hey! I started my shadowdark sandbox with this very classic! It got outta hand pretty fast and the Orcs wound up taking over multiple caves enslaving the residents and preparing to siege the keep.

[@scottishguard]

My intentions very, very soon. Wazi's fake D&D can go pound sand. #ShadowDark

[@L3monsta]

Same thing happened in my campaign lol. Unfortunately my campaign died of attrition before the siege could take place though.

[@kailenmitchell8571]

I got my Shadow Dark book and thought The Keep would be perfect way to begin.

[@L3monsta]

@@kailenmitchell8571 good on you. I highly recommend blending it with the village of hommlet. The two fit together seamlessly.

[@clintnardoni]

Your Caves of Carnage playlist is excellent and taught me a ton. And the flash back technique you describe in this video to start a game is brilliant.

[@beancounter2185]

I'd be willing to bet that it will be updated to appeal to "modern audiences". Expect to see lots of Fey and new ways to resolve conflict peacefully. I've lost count of the number of times I've read someone on social media complaining about B2 being "problematic"... (or anything TSR made for that matter)

[@craigtucker1290]

More like dumbed-down and desecrated, that is what WotC has been doing with all these nostalgia tributes. They basically pull it out of a different setting, ignore all the lore, and cram it somewhere else. Or worse yet, retcon the lore in a sloppy manner that makes little sense just to appease some fans. Is WotC going to reboot the Greyhawk setting where B2 is from or are they going to cram it into Forgotten Realms as they did with Mordenkainen? Or will it be a retcon like Abeir-Toril or the history and races of elves in Forgotten Relams? No adventure is really problematic, no matter if it is TSR or WotC who produced it (for the most part). They serve as a back bone that often requires some adjustment on the DMs part to fit in the setting, be consistent with the current rules one is using, or adjusted from the PCs have done or where they are at.

[@thethan302]

One of my players slew the leader of one of the orc tribes and became their leader. After he was successful in accomplishing the orcish rite of ascension (read a big brawl); He then took the remainder to the castle and began the process of integrating them into human society. Fun times.

[@michaelmuirhead910]

Huge fan of the Goodman Games versions of these books. My set is almost complete. I don’t want another watered down version from wotc. The more I see of the 2024 update, the less I want it.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

We'll see.

[@mattyboombatty82]

I've made the move to DCC and I'm having an absolute blast!!

[@pgaven9396]

​@@mattyboombatty82MCC isn't bad either....and the Dying Earth is just out of this world...the artwork is untouchable.

[@aqueleK]

A comment to indicate to algorithm that I am interacting with the channel.

[@christopherkelly9153]

Commenting on yours for same.

[@jeffwhittingham5314]

@@christopherkelly9153 Third

[@ericwest2986]

Interacting. Processing. Interacting. Processing.

[@stuartivins7846]

Mmm, C wot you did there...

[@danmiller6274]

I, too, acknowledge your comment to process said algorithm to further advance PDM. For Science!

[@deejaytee]

I find the online community for RPGs is so much better than what I had in the old days. In the old days I might have known like ten people who played. Now I can go to a specific module's Discord and talk to hundreds of different people running the same module, ask them questions, get resources like maps and art and amendments to the module.. it's just fantastic now.

[@DanFromHali]

No kidding. In a world where fandoms are becoming increasingly toxic - I know TTRP's can be incredibly toxic too - I find solace that the online community for the hobby is what it is today.

[@MoragTong_]

Lol...old days? When was that? When I was playing in the 80's there were tons of kids in school playing and in the 90's/early 2000's, you could throw a rock with your eyes closed and hit a house that had a D&D game goin on.

[@murgel2006]

I love every episode where the Angry Dwarf shows up! I'm a happy owner of the GG reprint...

[@TheCastleKeeper]

HackMaster Little Keep on the Borderlands is the best implementation I've seen. Works great with Castles & Crusades.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

That module is a lot of fun.

[@kevoreilly6557]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1happen to really like your interpretation

[@EcowarriorII]

It’s a shame that Goodman games lost the license for this. Their keep on the borderlands is a wonderful. Plus their most recent old school releases Dark Tower, and Caverns of Thracia have both DCC and 5e versions. I would have loved to see DCC versions of their older products.

[@IndyMotoRider]

They went woke. Altered their prologue/tribute to Appendix N and Gygax in the latest printing, and replaced it with a bunch of woke language. Glad I have the older edition.

[@jiml9856]

​@@IndyMotoRideryou can always spot the moron in the room. He's the one crying about things being woke.

[@Iulian111]

​@@IndyMotoRider yes and no. They're going with the flow and did the performative pledge of allegiance to be left alone by the nevrotic parts of the internet. Their actual content is the same as usual. The Goodman Games of today is generally the same it has been and it will continue to be similar when the pendulum swings back to the pre 2016 political discourse and internet.

[@EcowarriorII]

@@Iulian111 or they acknowledge that gaming is for everyone and you can have creative rich fantasy content that can embrace the old school mentality without being offensive, but that’s just my take.

[@Iulian111]

@@EcowarriorII everyone is welcomed to try, not everyone is welcomed to stay. Each table will curate its members and fans will curate what they want to see by choosing what to buy once again. Companies like Vanguard and Blackrock aren't endless money pits, thus crappy and antagonistic actions towards the core audience isn't sustainable on the long run. Also the puritanical offense and victim culture that permeates from the USA is bullshit and it can't go away fast enough. This failed social engineering attempt is thankfully singing its swan song and hopefully things will go bag to the way they were pre 2014-2016.

[@High-Tech-Geek]

4:37 omg, those blue and white graph paper maps brought me back to the 1970s when I started playing D&D.

[@blockmasterscott]

I was thinking that too.

[@ironlurker]

PDM, your ability to write and draw in a journal without any mistakes, whiteout, etc. is mind boggling. Love your content!

[@GabeTetrault]

Into the Borderlands was my first intro into D&D in 6th grade! One of my buddies brought it from home and asked a few of us if we wanted to play. I'm glad that I said yes! Thanks for covering this and for bringing up the flashback mechanic. I'll have to give it a try. Love your videos!! 🔥🐉

[@Merlinstergandaldore]

I have only just recently completed running Phandelver for the first time, and was actually pleased about how well it played. But it doesn't hold a candle to the Classic Keep on the Borderlands. I'm curious about how they'll manage to butcher it in the release. 🤔

[@oskar6661]

It's 2024. When a large, soulless corporation says it's going to "return to..." you should be frightened and saddened...not excited. There is nothing on this world I want less, than these big, 'modern' companies screwing up the classic work of actual, competent game designers/storytellers.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

We'll see!

[@vancan242]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1do we really need to wait and see? Isn’t Tales from the Infinite Staircase a pretty clear example of how they will update it?

[@FamBoren]

@@vancan242 I'm on board with PDM here. We'll see. From my perspective it is the big companies that can keep brands alive, if it weren't for bigger companies D&D would have died with the fall of TSR.

[@MenschWerdeWesentlich]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1Oh, you sweet summer child! Yes, we will.

[@emergentc5398]

Shills gonna shill. Aint got no standard but an inroad to a paycheck.

[@lilcwa]

In the late 70s I had the Basic boxed set with the Holmes blue book, which preceded the “original” Moldvay Basic boxed set; it included B1 In Search of the the Unknown as a stock-it-yourself starter module, which is not as grand as B2 Keep on the Borderlands, but it had its own didactic value to new GMs and players. Thanks for this video. Respect and regards, Chris AKA Li’l C

[@JackMcCarthyWriter]

I also started with the Holmes Boxed set, but it came with chits instead of dice and had B2 instead of B1

[@lancelotscart582]

@@JackMcCarthyWriter The Holmes set originally (1977) had no module, but had Dungeon Geomorphs, Set One: Basic Dungeon, Monster & Treasure Assrtment, Set One: Levels One-Three, and dice. In 1978, the Geomorphs and M&T Assortment were replaced with the module B1: In Search of the Unknown. In 1979, there was both the brief period of dice shortage for TSR (hence the chits) and the replacement of B1 with B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. The dice problem was eventually sorted out, so they were included instead of the chits, and it remained that way until the decision to publish "Dungeons & Dragons" as a distinct product line from "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", and thus the release of the Moldvay edition in 1981. Holmes was always meant both to introduce the game as currently played in 1977, but also to prepare the way to AD&D.

[@JackMcCarthyWriter]

@@lancelotscart582 thanks! I find the history of the various editing interesting. I read somewhere else recently that the Holmes sets with the cuts came out in 1980, but 1979 was always foremost in my memories because i was in kindergarten at the time. We started with the chits but my dad sent away for the dice almost immediately.

[@ogremark5]

@@lancelotscart582 And you could actually read Dr. Holmes' book and learn how to play, unlike OD&D.... It was Dr. Holmes that taught me how to play D&D - NOT Gary Gygax.

[@leptogrammica]

​@@JackMcCarthyWriter I had that version as well. Still have it, actually.

[@rubensduarte4233]

I run The Keep on Borderlands for my kids (10, 8 and 6 years old), using 5e rules, but in an old school style. They convinced the Medusa to wear the cursed helmet of opposite alignment, and ended turning the now good-aligned Medusa their ultimate friend against other cave monsters. How not love teaching kids to play old school styles? 😂

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

That is awesome!

[@BusyBadger]

With WotC's name attached I'm pessimistically pessimistic.

[@jnlsnfamily8747]

perfectly said

[@awesomedude255]

I'm so excited for that "Caves of Carnage" supercut!! And with MORE material too?! Hell yeah.

[@qwaserity]

If you want some nostalgia, go play this in D&D online. It'll bring back fond memories where you enter the first cave and get nearly killed by a trap.

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

The frog had it coming. _ULTIMATE BATTLE:_ _Deathbringer Vs. Miss Piggy_

[@jnlsnfamily8747]

I'd pay to see that

[@richardfields1123]

It wasn't a frog it was a Bullywug Bard. And I accept it was self defence.

[@leste0]

Fun fact: Caves of chaos were also featured on the first D&D next playtest (somewhere back in 2012).

[@robertthompson3077]

Keep on the Borderlands was also a 5 part D&D Encounters series for 4E as well. Plus the 3E silver Anniversary Return to Keep on the Borderlands. It's been redone so many times, not sure why they are doing it yet again

[@chopdog6563]

I love starting my new campaigns en media res. My last one was begun having already defeated a minor goblin chief to recover an artifact, and they were running from the cave collapsing while the chief's minions were trying to exact revenge (while themselves getting buried in the cave if they weren't fast enough.) For my home group starting a campaign with "Roll for initiative" gets my players engaged right away with the characters they spent hours working on. I usualy start my campaigns at level 3 or so.

[@StatsScott]

The idea of starting a game in media res and then doing flashbacks sounds great. My son said one of his friends heard I DM my kids and asked if he could play a game and this seems like a great way to avoid getting too bogged down at first. I was debating a one shot but where they now want a campaign I may try your suggestions in the Keep on the Borderlands video series.

[@jaybakata5566]

I love all Dungeon Craft videos, even more so when they are about the keep on the borderlands! Thanks for the info professor. Can't wait to see your video.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Glad you like them!

[@grotrex76]

Damn hipsters from seattle!

[@Korroth]

Not one penny to Hasbro. Remember the OGL debacle!

[@Apeiron242]

Remember the Mexican orcs. Gay dwarf bakers. Etc.

[@nateshandy2070]

I already bought a PDF copy of the original module way back when I was prepping a Savage Pathfinder game. I never got to use the adventure for that game, but I'm planning to adapt it for Draw Steel... Sometime, lol

[@IAGaldames]

Whats that? Ogl?

[@nateshandy2070]

@@IAGaldames This is a simple question with a shockingly long and complicated answer, but I'm going to TRY to summarize the issue for you After Wizards of the Coast bought Dungeons & Dragons back in 1997, they decided to publish a new edition, what's now called Third Edition. They also (for various reasons) made most of the game 'open source' using a document called the Open Game License (OGL) and an attached System Reference Document (SRD). By attaching the OGL notice to their product, ANYONE could now develop races, classes, subclasses, adventures, even whole settings that were compatible with D&D. Even some of what had previously been established as protected intellectual property was now fair game. Now, this part's important. When the license was first announced, people were skeptical, but Wizards promised, emphatically and repeatedly, that they would NEVER revoke the OGL, that while it might be updated, the wording was chosen to allow licensees to use ANY version of the license, so there was no reason for Wizards to make an update that was less advantageous for licensees. Fast-forward about 23 years. (Some other stuff does happen in there, but we're not going to worry about it now, this is already long enough.) During Christmas Season of 2021, Hasbro (who now owns Wizards of the Coast and therefore D&D), quietly emailed several of the biggest OGL producers about an 'update' of the license. Much of this discussion was locked behind Non-Disclosure Agreements, so just to see what the update was, the licensees had to keep mum about it. But not everyone did. There were leaks, and they sounded terribly alarmist. Wizards was going to try to claim ownership of anything produced under the updated OGL. Wizards was going to take a huge chunk of your revenue (BEFORE expenses and taxes). People didn't believe the leaks, but it soon came out that they were true. News stories were posted, videos were cut, and Wizards... Said... NOTHING. For TWO WEEKS, NOBODY at Hasbro or Wizards said a WORD. Finally a kind of conversation started, with a half-assed apology announcement that was thinly-veiled corp-speak, but the community pushed back, and after about a month, Hasbro gave it up. No update to the OGL, and they also released the 5E SRD under Creative Commons, and you can use whichever you want if you want to publish compatible content. So, that's good news--we won, right? Sort of, but not quite. The real problem is that Hasbro and Wizards (as Professor DM and others like Stephen Glicker of Roll for Combat have been saying for quite a while now) mean to make D&D a digital property--basically a video game. They gave up on the OGL because they don't really care about the tabletop space any longer. They want to "more effectively monetize" (their words) D&D. Since then, they have fired almost their entire writing team and hired a bunch of AI engineers and programmers, so it's hard to argue against that point. As for me personally, I see the direction Hasbro wants to take the game, and I don't want to support it. So I've given them my last penny.

[@jakestaples8498]

I own the Goodman Games Into the Borderlands, but I run most of my adventures at my local game store in Adventurer’s League. I can only run “official” games, and this allows me to run Keep on the Borderlands there. I recently ran Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden as a sandbox campaign. Each week, I gave my players 2 rumors and asked them to choose which one they wanted to pursue the next week. That gave them some choice but also helped me prepare for the next game

[@Hedron-Design]

My first ever game I played a 1st level wizard with a d4 hit points. The party left me in the dark with that damned minotaur and I died in the dark never even seeing it hit me, just hearing it charge. It was a super short game for me. I am still amazed that I went on to keep playing and have been playing since about 85/86 to current day.

[@SupremeCleave]

Hey Professor Dungeon Master, how about these two ideas: 1) If WOTC want to grow the game, offer every school in North America a .99 cent subscription to DND Beyond which incudes the three core rulebooks and a starter adventure. Get the kids playing early and often for cheap. 2) If you buy a special edition hardcover rulebook you get a one time non-transferable code to a DND beyond digital copy. Throw the old timers like me a bone to buy those editions.

[@valkyriebait136]

I was shocked and pleased to hear this myself. After 8 years, between that and the Forgotten Realms books, they're making things I might actually buy.

[@backcountry164]

The Goodman Games version is still available to order through Wal-Mart cheap. My original comment noting this has disappeared for some reason.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Don't know why it disappeared. It wasn't me. Thanks for the comment!

[@backcountry164]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I would never assume it was you. I must have tripped something in the algorithm. Weird, it had upvotes and comments already

[@eboaz]

Amazon still has some of the Goodman Games versions. I just bought one.

[@franktroise4386]

Just got my copy of Keep via WalMart. Thanks for mentioning it was on sale there. 😊

[@dustincoopermusic]

That is cool! You know, back when they were playtesting for 5E (called "D&D Next"), they put in Keep on the Borderlands in the playtest materials, and even talked about the history of it on the D&D podcast. It was interesting for sure. Thanks for the news!

[@waltjames407]

The Keep on the Boarderlands and Caves of Chaos *were* D&D to me for like my entire first year of playing. I would use it as the "starter area" for my campaigns for years as a DM as well. Always loved that particular module.

[@danielbiedess2545]

I agree, going back to the basics and the history is a good thing for wizards. Just being at Gen Con and the 50th anniversary ofD&D. I was surprised there wasn’t more about it. I did see the D&D history museum. As small as it was. Oh well it was great meeting you. On the first day on the mezzanine a little before the mass of humanity went into the dealership hall.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Great meeting you!

[@The_Archlich]

Absolutely chad dwarf telling the hard truths we all don’t want to hear.

[@Redfield70]

Speak for yourself. I want to hear truth always.

[@levig7042]

okay but if kobolds worship dragons and not all dragons are evil... I've never moved past 3.5, but I don't understand why some players have such a boner for 'NO THIS RACE IS EVIL FOREVER ALL THE TIME" its honestly kind of gross.

[@trikepilot101]

"...do you realise who owns him?" : D I missed the "Caves of Chaos." I started one set earlier with "In Search of the Unknown." The system was actually AD&D light, with just enough basic information to play up to 3rd level in the core classes.

[@CountAdolfo]

Keep on the Borderlands was the first module I ran... Circa 45 years ago... and I am stoked to see it return It's a perfect setup, as you said, for sandbox style... and our party was fluid and this happened all the time that the players missed a session...

[@DavMat007]

Can't wait for WotC to take this classic sandbox and turn it into a handholding railroad

[@Shamefulroleplay]

Brilliant news to see that old heritage coming back through to the new game. Wonderful to hear. I gave my group their first OSR game in the caves and they had a heck of a romp through it. I'd love a version of In Search of the Unknown too at some point, but that's a little too esoteric (I used a big word). If not Palace of the Silver Princess wouldn't go amiss either.

[@reneebrissette1492]

I find this to be awesome news. I remember that back in the late 70s, my brother, his friend, my sister and me played this. We had so much fun. During the pandemic (2020) I was the DM with a group of friends from Final Fantasy 14 and we used Roll20. I decided to use that 5E update to the Keep on the Borderlands and ran this with them. They too had so much fun doing it and it brought memories for me when I first played it.

[@mjolasgard2533]

Keep on the Borderlands - enter the caves of Chaos, befriend non-evil non-monsters and find the witch's cat, fluffles. Written by all new authors, doing their best to eradicate any trace of the hand of Gyax on anything in their version of D&D. Buy the new module and get 45 new feats, 37 new subclasses and 70 new spells, all of which will require the DM to rebalance all their future encounters in all other modules. Also... art by ChatGPT.

[@BusyBadger]

Sarcasm like that will get you a seat at my table anytime!

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Inspired by rings of power season 2 where orcs are just misunderstood and want nothing more than to bump uglies with orc chicks and have orc babies and be safe from the evil white elves and humans.

[@Parker8752]

Honestly, fuck Gary Gygax, and in fact fuck anyone who unironically quotes Chivington with his “nits make lice” nonsense. The reason b/x and becmi were the best editions of tsr dnd was that they were the editions Gygax had the least to do with. Kobolds in b/x weren’t necessarily evil; there was no evil alignment in that edition.

[@richsample759]

Yes

[@Big_Mike001]

Gee dude, projecting much? Give it a chance!

[@krs321]

When I first saw the announcement I immediately thought about how excited Professor DM would be.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Yes!!

[@MacLooken9019]

I am sad that Into the Borderlands is no longer in print. So glad I bought a printed version. Prof, I don't know how many times I have seen your Caves of Carnage videos. Great stuff! Looking forward to the supercut. It would be awesome if you filmed a group of players for a rerun of the Shattered Empire campaign with the Haven starting town.

[@jameswhitehouse2713]

I love this channel for DnD advice because it's punchy and too the point. Simplicity in the main thing lacking from TTRPG's and I feel it's what stresses most sessions for time and intimidates newcomers to the hobby. I love the idea of simplified monster statblocks as they greately expedite the Adventure crafting experience. Thanks a bunch professor

[@MemphiStig]

I started playing in college, with guys who'd played all the original modules, so I never got to play them myself. BUT they gave me their copies, and I got to read them all. Loved them, and I consider their stream-lined design and wide-open structures seminal to the core of the game, and in that respect far superior to many of the TSR modules that came later. Also, I sang "Bein' Green" live, like a Sinatra-type singer, drink in hand, in front of a classical audience at the University in the late 90's, who loved it. It was a profound moment of triumph for all us amphibians. (Technically, I'm a reptile, but that night, I was all frog.) Dream on!

[@josephpilkus1127]

I'm currently running a party of five players, all 10-15 y.o.; the sons and daughters of Indonesian-American families who are friends of ours and they are now going into the Caves of Chaos

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Awesome!

[@WhatIsOntheComicRack]

Did someone say "resurrect"?!? A word I thought I would never hear on Dungeon Craft!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Good one.

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

Basic Role playing(not the Chaosium one) does a good tribute to KoBL with their Caves of Chaos..available free online.

[@arheru]

"Basic FANTASY role playing", BFRPG. I fully agree that their version is a great homage. :)

[@darrensullivan2942]

I loved KotB. And if Deathbringer had hung on just a moment longer he would have learned of the frog bard's legendary "rainbow connection".

[@PvtSchlock]

So acknowledge Gary and point out how awful he was a la the last time they spoke of him? Or mention how creative and fun loving the guy who brought the game together? The ratio of page count to loads of possibility and action on modules like G1 and B2 are jaw dropping. I'm not saying he was a genius, but he was on at a moment that mattered and scored some serious MVP for a few years. Wizards needs to be classy and say he created a masterwork with some of his stuff and especially B2.

[@TheRealScience86]

When I was in grad school - 4th edition had just come out. We had an old grognard who was a professor in the History Dept. DMing. He converted Keep on the Borderlands to 4th (which was easy to do in that edition - 4th gets a lot of hate, but it was designed to be easy to DM, which was one of its many overlooked strengths). That might be the most fun I've ever had with a D&D campaign. We had a blast.

[@blampfno]

I feel the same way about DnD as I do about modern Star Wars. Zero faith in a property in the hands of the incompetent hyperpolitical.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I hear you. But I have hope.

[@cp1cupcake]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 You know what they say: hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

[@williamthomas4125]

​@@cp1cupcake"Hope is the denial of reality" - Raistelin Majere. A little excessive, but still a great quote.

[@MrfnordTim]

The Basic Set at 1:59 isn't the original, it's the 2nd. The first version was the blue box that came out just before AD&D and originally came with In Search of the Unknown rather than Keep on the Borderlands (and frequently didn't include dice because they were in short supply - it had numbered chits instead).

[@ogremark5]

Prof didn't say it was the first. He said it was the most played.

[@MrfnordTim]

@@ogremark5 He says it was "the original Basic Set."

[@macoppy6571]

Assign each of the lettered caves to a different player to run as a faction. Yes, even the Owlbear. While the factions pursue PvP dominance, the players are also running traditional PCs into the Caves of Chaos. Keep on the Borderlands: Battle Royale 💪

[@withoutme1918]

I've always wanted to start in media res but felt it confusing or overwhelming for my players 90% of the time. The way you described it in the video is honestly brilliant, I'll be stealing that!

[@scytale6]

Dungeons are so great for adventure settings. Lots of opportunity for traps, suspense, secret exits. The only thing is possible railroading.

[@Turtlpwr]

KZbin autocaptions change “dungeoncraft” to “dungeon crap” and it is making my day.

[@tinywarfare9109]

Listen to the dwarf. Kobolds are never to be trusted and will shiv you at the first opportunity. Regardless of my feelings about 6e, this move makes sense for WotC. There's good reason it's endured for so long. I do hope it does better paying proper respect to EGG than the Anniversary tome did. It would be good if it adopted a layout style like OSE modules, but somehow I don't think they're moving away from their current presentation.

[@williamanderson3185]

That time was magic. The keep of the Borderlands, we were so excited to play these modules.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Love the starter sets and I can't wait for this!

[@mmeewezen]

I love the "flashback"-idea. Would love to hear more about it. Thank you for announcing a bit of good news for D&D, I think we needed that ;)

[@mrlicopoli]

This brings back nightmares. Back in 80 or 81 my older brothers forced me to DM this. Didnt know what the hell i was doing. I think I was 9. Thanks for the great vid!

[@AdamPreset]

I need that video on painting the Deathbringer mini! I am curious to see how you tackle all the tiny skulls under his boots! 💀 💀 💀

[@Decado1628]

Where can one obtain a Deathbringer mini?

[@clone_69]

Most likely with washes, contrast painted and/or dry brush.

[@Kevin-fr2dx]

Because of the Dungeon Craft video about the Goodman Games Keep on the Borderlands update, I decided to buy that book so I can play D&D with my sister and teach her how to play. It looks like its going to be really fun.

[@AnHourOfWolves]

To be fair, mostly only experienced DMs manage to wrap up a session with a complete dungeon section every single time. Mostly they'll be in the middle of a fight by the time the session ends haha ;)

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

True.

[@mattsmith3750]

I'm a huge fan of your Caves of Carnage videos (I basically owe my entire style as a DM to them) so I'm really looking forward to the Supercut. With extra content as well? You spoil us!

[@wolfround13]

Wow this is a great bit of news. Looking forward to the supercut of your Caves of Chaos. Really enjoyed the original videos so can't wait to see them again with additional content.

[@jeffmiller8681]

I still have the original and played it with my kids about 3 years ago. It’s a great module.

[@captcorajus]

I always begin with the PCs 'On the Road' to the keep... a brief exposition as to why they are traveling to the place and then... a small band of bandits attempt to shake them down for a 'toll'.. which, given they usually have little gold left after character creation leads to a brief combat. It gets them into the action quickly, and anticipate what's to come. They can learn about the problem the keep is having with bandits on the road, and learn about the Caves of Chaos, and perhaps do some exploring and gain some experience. I do like your flashback technique used here though. Those can be a lot of fun.

[@michaelcrumlett187]

Scored the Goodman Games version at my FLGS last month. Prepping to run it for my group soon.

[@oz_jones]

Good luck and remember to have fun!

[@michaelwest4325]

I began with the Moldvay box set and B2 with Cook and X1, those and X2 are the only modules I ever played. I got the AD&D books and I have two Dragonlance modules, never played under AD&D rules though. Your Caves of Carnage singularly reignited my interest in B/X and D&D. So hats off! I will play old B2 grim and dark and medieval using rules from the dark ages both the internet!

[@BryanCrossland]

Keep On The Borderlands was also a great starter module for DMs. After getting started with In Search of the Unknown, I got really into DMing with Keep On The Borderlands. I’ve started many a group out on that module.

[@tomdulski3729]

So many wonderful Saturdays playing that module.

[@israelmorales4249]

i like the angry dwarf...i can see myself in him. Aule/Moradin/Torak Bless him

[@JonathanSirico]

I have that box, the book, Keep of the Borderland and the blue book still. I've taught the game to nearly 50 people using that collection. Awesome stuff.

[@lulipe21]

Thank you Alfather for you delivery the Professor to us once more.

[@Strkr3]

Ha! I just bought the keep on the borderlands off ebay like a week ago. My parents got rid of all my first gen manuals and modules years ago and its bothered me for awhile so I have been slowly picking them up here and there. Its so much easier to intro new players with the "Keep" like kids. Thx for this Professor!

[@trevorholman3119]

Man, you just described why someone doesn't need this new crap. This older stuff works fine. WotC can't even do new stuff anymore, they just repackage what's been done.

[@BenC...1975]

They tried doing new stuff but seem to be so far up themselves that it all turns out as smug, back-slapping nonsense. Exhibit #1...Descent Into Avernus. Dreadful!

[@GoGoGlennzilla]

Happy to hear the Keep is back! Also proud to be the "like" number 1,000!

[@jarrettperdue3328]

I wonder if the orcs will wear sombreros and practice pilates to keep well toned? Quest 1: Help the kobold babies put the owlbear hatchling back in its nest.

[@gregbanks5624]

Glossary of Terms was included. Through D&D, reading the Lord of the Rings, and Stan Lee Marvel (Excelsior!) I learned a lot of definitions of words that helped me later in High School and college writing. I swear, growing up before and during the Satanic Panic l learned: History, Math (Ok, primarily through Villains and Vigilantes character creation...), How to work with others, Time Management, Organization, Use Theater of the Mind, How to communicate through describing my actions, etc, etc, etc. Not to mention other cultures through the original Deities and Demigods book. Well, now the Satanic Panic is just funny nestalgia and we are living in all kinds of TTRPG's. All Praise Gary! Thanks Professor!

[@paulprecour3636]

Learned my math with Fantasy Games Unlimited; Space Opera (Light sabers, Lensmen and Dune). Two sessions to simply make a character. Trigonometry required to go through space. Chivalry and Sorcery (Fantasy Europe with Tolkien, Moorcock and Lieber). Two sessions to make a character, three if you wanted to play a Major Arcana mage plus another day explaining to the GM how you figured the magic system out. Calculus needed to arrive at three of your stats. yeesh.

[@gregbanks5624]

@@paulprecour3636Love it! You just cracked open more memories of other systems. Aparrentky only so much RAM left in the OS between my ears...

[@jackregz]

The Original Adventures Reincarnated line (at least for WOTC adventures) never had PDF releases. If you want the deluxe Keep on the Borderlands book, you need to buy it secondhad, sadly.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Good to know.

[@NefariousKoel]

Yeah, WotC forbade them releasing PDFs for their OAR series in the agreement. Naturally.

[@jackregz]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Worth noting that for Dark Tower and Caverns of Thracia, there ARE PDFs.

[@DanFromHali]

I think there are a few adventures from older games that should make an official comeback. I have a number of the Goodman games prints, and the fact that those are my go-to published adventures to run, is a testament to how well made D&D is. Sure there are a few stinkers, but a lot of the TSR modules were designed, and formatted specifically to introduce new game concepts, and expand on D&D mechanics. So modules like Keep on the Borderlands, Dwellers of the Forbidden City, Isle of Dread, and Castle Amber are to this day some of the best adventures I've ever played. And a bunch of them are challenging in a way that is fun for even new players. I think bringing this out as an updated adventure for WOTC could only be a good thing. I'll 100% be looking forward to running this again.

[@sindex]

2:38 - And thanks to Hunter's Entertainment, it's still a time of Kids on Bikes! (seriously, it's a great system)

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

I've been begging WotC to make more sandboxes for YEARS. I'm so glad this is the direction they're going. I find a lot of recent published modules very railroady--unless you run it exactly as-written, you're essentially writing your own adventure from scratch, and the books offer no guidance on how to do this. As a new DM I found it very overwhelming (and disheartening when my players didn't engage with the railroad). This is a step in the right direction for sure.

[@JazzyBassy]

They’ve said that their adventure anthologies are the most successful, and those can be run in a sandbox style by dropping them in your played region. Here is to hoping that the Dragon in Dungeons Anthology also comes with a sandbox setting like Ghosts of Saltmarsh did!

[@Megatron4Life23]

I love Dungeon Craft!!! Best channel on KZbin!!!

[@geniejunkie]

So, I used your bit on "table campaigns" to try my own. I like the declare mechanic, but the players bad at deciding without prompting. But what if players don't really leave themselves enough time to leave the danger zone? My assumption has been you just tell them that they need to start heading back and kind of be the clock watcher? What If they get physical trapped? What If you want to do a cliff hanger? There's been a lot of subtle details I think could fill a follow up video to coincide with this useful up coming book.

[@JRDATX]

This is great news. I look forward to running The Keep on the Borderlands for my friends. I just hope the adventure is organized so it will be useful and usable for DMs.

[@garethhamilton1252]

I guarantee that no matter how good the new starter set might turn out to be there a people already poised over their keyboards ready to slag it off. I’m not expecting a pure unaltered conversion of the original and I’m intrigued to see how this classic is presented to the modern audience and in particular people playing the game for the first time. Having been pleasantly surprised at the treatment Pharaoh and Expedition to the Barrier Peaks got in the last anthology I’m cautiously optimistic that this latest conversion of a classic will be competently handled. Time will tell.

[@RobertWF42]

My first D&D adventure was Keep on the Borderlands, around 1980. Still remember when we discovered the imprisoned medusa.

[@quizzitnizzpin2695]

Note to self: Guard balls when next near Kobolds...

[@oz_jones]

To the tune of "Protect my balls" by South Park

[@JoshuaBeaty]

The most frustrating thing about anything they put out is how much extra work I have to do to make it good. With something like the keep on the borderlands, I have doubts that they'll be able to put enough information at your fingertips to run a sandbox

[@willmendoza8498]

Very nice! Back when 5e was still DnD Next, the playtest materials were all Keep on the Borderlands material. It was fun taking a new generation of players through one of my favorites from the old days. I love my Goodman Games edition, and I will probably pick up the new WotC version when it comes out. That way I can mine them both for my favorite parts and then convert it all to Shadowdark.