T̶a̶l̶e̶s̶ Quests from the Infinite Staircase | D&D 5e

Interested in Quests from the Infinite Staircase? Here's some info on the Infinite Staircase and these older adventures!
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Tales from the Infinite Staircase (2e) - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
B4 The Lost City - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
UK4 When a Star Falls - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
UK1 Beyond the Crystal Cave (1e) - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
Beyond the Crystal Cave (4e) - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
I3 Pharoah - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks - www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
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[@matthewmatis6217]

The Goodman games books are more than conversions , they offer also interviews and historical commentary on the module with designers from TSR, and their 5e conversions usually adds a new level or section of the dungeon .

[@PieCompanyGuitarsdotcom]

Goodman Games is an excellent company, too. I buy as many of their products as I can. Their OARs are getting harder and harder to find.

[@scottg6805]

The original 1e module only really detailed the top 5 levels of the pyramid. The other 5 levels, and the actual underground city, were only presented in a very truncated fashion. The Goodman Games version fleshed out all of the levels, the city, and even the catacombs around the city.

[@Year2047]

Goodman games no longer publishes those books but they now have a new set they will be releasing

[@sambro6657]

Like?

[@Arcboltkonrad13]

@@sambro6657 Things like "The Dark Tower," and "Grimtooth’s Old-School Traps"

[@WWEisnotPunkrock]

Maybe they no longer make them, but they are still available to buy

[@qwerty098cool1]

It's no longer on their site but you can still find them on Amazon being sold by Goodman games.

[@itzybitzyspyder]

Dark Tower. After that is Grimtooth's traps.

[@JKevinCarrier]

I do love those old school modules -- I'm old enough to have played most of them, back in the day. I have very strong memories of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. We went in knowing absolutely nothing about it, and were completely flabbergasted when the robots and laser guns started showing up. The Lost City is another good one. It's more "sandbox-y", in that there isn't really much of a plotline, just a big, interesting environment to explore, and lots of different factions you can get involved with. DungeonCraft did a long video about The Lost City, if people want to see more about it.

[@spencersalerno6354]

I highly recommend Dungeon Crafts Lost City video, one of his best, well done and entertaining. 😊

[@PaulGuy]

I have a module from the tail end of 2e, "Tale of the Comet". It's another scifi adventure where the party gets caught up in a war between aliens who crash landed on your world and the AI robots that are chasing them. I've wanted to run it for like 25 years, but all my groups fizzle out before it can happen.

[@timjackmaster1385]

when your goodman conversions suddenly become small treasures...

[@shazamvondoom325]

I’ve been picking up the OAR series whenever I find them, I have Into the Borderlands, Castle Amber, and Temple of Elemental Evil. I’m running borderlands with my son and some of his friends, and we’ve really enjoyed it so far

[@PetesDracolich]

I love the old modules! OSE really makes it fun to go back & play almost anything. The older rule books have the info scattered all over the place and Thaco... forget about it. With OSE, I can convert almost anything D20 & every module in the past 50 years is ready to run! Ive always had D&D, but never had someone to help me solve its riddles. Now, we have the key to play all D&D editions! The community support through third party game designers & games unify our hobby!

[@nerdaccount]

I think quests from the Infinite staircase sounds like a great cthulu module. Love your show.

[@copperhamster]

I just finished a VTT conversion (using notes from what is basically a 3-4 page 'This monster is from here, replace this monster with this, here's a stat block we made up for that monster, these things should have these DC's attached') of Ghost Tower of Inverness to 5th and I'm really looking forward to running it. I'm also looking forward to these, a couple of these are some of my favorite all time modules I have both played in and run from my old 1st Ed days.

[@dearthditch]

Barrier Peaks was awesome and memorable. It really can’t be replicated unless you have a lost super tech civilization setting.

[@TalismancerM]

The Goodman Games version of Lost City is excellent (I'm running it right now) and extended the module significantly...worth snaffling if you can get it. I'm currently building upside-down terrain for "The Fang" (a huge stalactite with a small dungeon inside) using wire mesh & paper mache for a big flying battle. Should be a blast!

[@TRACTOOOOOOOOOR]

I'd love to hear more about these kinds of books!

[@ThatMainframeDude]

B4 - The Lost City, was the first ever module that I bought. Miss it terribly!

[@JonathanScruggs]

Fun fact. The Extra Life one-shot The Lost Laboratory of Kwalish is a sequel of sorts to The Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. The original Adventure doesn't really have a hook, so you could do the Lost Laboratory, save the ship by slowly letting it sink back down, and then have the players go inside. I thought the Lost Laboratory was fun and quirky.

[@Jorphdan]

Oh neat! Thanks for sharing :D

[@JonathanScruggs]

@@Jorphdan I just realised my phone changed the name. It's meant to be Kwalish as in the Apparatus of Kwalish fame. Sorry about that error.

[@rylanvillard]

I ran that, followed by Infernal Machine Rebuild (as a mini campaign). Both a lot of fun.

[@Dahaka-rd6tw]

@@Jorphdan Hey1 Can you do video about Ghaunadaur somewhere in future? Aisde of being worshipped by Drow, is this guy any different from Juiblex?

[@Jorphdan]

@Dahaka-rd6tw Yep! I made a video here talking a little bit about him. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJ7XdYl_ms6Epc0

[@jimmycunningham8484]

Our DM is running us through some of the old modules and we're having a blast. We still do the save or die mechanics from the old adventures. We just had a local con, Coast COn, where I ran cave A of Keep on the Borderlands using the Shadowdark rpg.

[@RushAss]

I do have the Goodman Games OAR Lost City and they really fleshed it out nicely. They populated the entire city as well as the rest of the cavern containing it. It's now a campaign level adventure taking the characters from levels 1-7 (originally 1-3). This is a boss level publication but yeah, not worth $500 by any stretch. If you can find it for $75 or less, do grab it. EDIT: If you can get your mitts on it, the Goodman Games OAR version of Castle Amber is an absolute gem. They knocked it out of the park with that one. If I was only allowed to keep one of my OAR books, that would be the one. Cheers!

[@Mr_Welch]

Only problem with Castle Amber OAR was the one page you had to flip out to get to the map which was a strange design choice.

[@RushAss]

@@Mr_Welch Agreed, that was a bit ill advised.

[@jamesfoster9613]

I really like how Perkins and the other dev said in the D&D youtube vid tht they're not just converting these, but updating and adding too them. So its a full revamp in some cases, to help add to the 5e/5e REvised lore. I imagine this might mean they add to some that are just part 1 of more, or maybe we'll see more quests from the Infinite Staircase in the future. Still, glad to see more from you!

[@wbbartlett]

The OAR are out of print so you have to go to the 2nd hand market. I picked them all up last year that way. The Lost City was the hardest one to find and cost around $60 iirc. I didn't know The Dark Tower was out already.

[@Jorphdan]

Dark Tower just dropped! Rumor is the next one is Caverns of Thracia!

[@awaytoanywhere699]

Lost city still is available in print in European Union, both online and brick/mortar shops in some Swedish or Danish stores. around 80 usd.

[@thecrookedcleric5112]

Love your content brotha man, yet another jorphdan masterpiece

[@KnicKnac]

The Tasha one is free on D&DB to claim. Weird to find but you can get it.

[@mikeyHustle]

That's just a prequel adventure, not the full one from the book, but it's cool that it's there and free.

[@KnicKnac]

Good to know. Still a fun little adventure

[@solomani5959]

The staircase appears wherever there is a spark of creativity. Selune is the guardian if i recall correctly.

[@Mr_Welch]

The Staircase appears as a framing device back in Tales of the Outer Planes. Like most anthologies it was hit or miss, but the githyanki art was reused multiple times with them being used as goblins. Sadly the information on the staircase was cursory at best.

[@davezenz]

Like the older adventures

[@seanbarber6283]

I love these older adventures.I have been getting my kids into d.ND and running them with them.That I ran when I was younger is pretty awesome

[@Tusitala1967]

I have an extensive collection of old school modules and I convert them all the time. With my latest batch of games, I ran Against the Cult of the Reptile God and we are two adventures into the Against the Slavers series.

[@briancherry8088]

OAR The Lost City is a really great book. It's too bad they are hard to get ahold of now. I would have loved the entire Desert of Desolation series in a book. Even if it was 3 in this book. I am happy it's an anthology of modules, instead of a collection of one-shots like they've been doing recently. But, the tie-in to Planescape would have made a lot of sense. And now I WANT it... .no NEED it.

[@radelc]

That planescape cover looks infinitely more interesting. Good vid.

[@mikegould6590]

There's a certain magic in the older adventures, born of the kind of innocence only inexperience brings. The game was still new to both the creators and the players, so "what couldn't be done" was still being explored. "Expedition" would not be written today given the tribal lines in the RPG community, I think. It's wacky, bends barriers, and isn't ashamed of its quirks.

[@WallyDM]

I feel like I'm also at the point where I could run an old module for 5E. But, with that being said, I'd love to see an updated Against the Cult of the Reptile God in a future anthology!

[@bettinazacar3100]

I have also gotten to the point where I can take any older version and convert it pretty quickly. In fact, I've got several of the old Dungeon magazine adventures and plugged them into my current game.

[@vpuigdoller]

I think expedition to the barrier peaks was also the debut of the Vegepygmy in addition to the Froghemot

[@joyful]

I'm planning to get this. Can't wait. I've been getting more into one-shot adventures instead of running campaigns.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

Thanks for sharing. 🕊️

[@AndICanTalk2]

Great video. I am currently playing in a Barrier Peaks campaign. It has been a ton of fun.

[@joefield8078]

I love ALL Jorphdan videos

[@Geraint3000]

I too love old school modules. I loved Tales from the Yawning Portal and can't quite understand why they haven't produced more 5e versions of AD&D classics. I've been rather disappointed with recent WoTC products of late, so I am very much looking forward to Quests from the Infinite Staircase.

[@Satori2046]

Cant wait to pick this one up !

[@KeithGigliotti]

All these adventures are classics IMO, played all of them as a kid. S3 was a sort of crossover to get folks into Metamorphosis Alpha and perhaps even Gamma World. Early DnD while mostly swords, elves, etc. it had a much heavier science fantasy influence. Gary and Dave were fans of pulpy sword and sorcery as well as science fantasy. It did cause some raised eyebrows but DnD was just starting to "Tolkienize" as they developed AD&D and tried a more commercial approach to grow the brand. LOL I still have players that refuse to play it because heaven forbid genre mixing. Most of us are in our 50s and still deal with this stubborn approach, in fact one of my players gets a bit too adamant about refusing any genre crossing. Easy solution, we play these types of adventures without him. Many of the Far Realms creatures are science fantasy, Mind Flayers etc. Desert series is classic, and the UK adventures...gems for sure. S4 was a big deal, it was a super module with new monsters, magic items, etc. and a precursor to MM2 and Unearthed Arcana. It has a ton of possibilities for side quests and rabbit holes and was a tie into The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (WG4). It's a crazy adventure and the design, branding, and art was a bit odd for AD&D at the time. This looks great. I hope players and DMs who invest in it enjoy it.

[@r4z0rv1n3]

I love the Planescape Tales from the Infinite Staircase

[@AaronQ64]

This just sounds like quests designed from a stair stepper at the WotC gym lol

[@mammonclarke]

I have the expedition book alao. Like you, it is the side by side that is fun. I would like to get the Castle Amber book next. As for Pharoah I had just finished converting it over from 1e to 5e along with the other 2 modules in the series. I had painstakingly converted all the maps, added dynamic lighting everything then found out about this. Ahh FML.😂

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

I'm looking forward to Barrier Peaks, I've skimmed through scans of the original and it's really cool. I haven't really done a big dungeon crawl in my DMing career yet, might be time to change that!

[@user-pd9ch7hj6j]

Thanks 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊excellent as always have a good day.

[@mikecarson7769]

Nice review! Maybe related = WotC has been embracing magical portals and other contrivances in order to allow new content, otherwise impossible within Forgotten Realms

[@PatriceBoivin]

Sounds like WotC is reprinting old modules now that they fired most of their D&D staff

[@tacky4237]

it's a cashgrab "HEY REMEMBER THIS MODULE!?"

[@crimfan]

The Desert series is great.

[@johnhannas3959]

When I use older adventures for newer editions, I call it "Scrubbing off the serial numbers."

[@DavidShepheard]

$500 USD for one book is pretty crazy. It's a shame that WotC didn't let Goodman Games do those books as PDFs and Print on Demand reprints.

[@BigBunky]

Excited about the book!! And love the alt cover.

[@javiernovoa8756]

Love the 4e Beyond the Crystal Cave. Pathfinder does adventure modules much better than D&D 5e which is why I changed over too. I think I might pick this up and convert it to Pathfinder 2e.

[@hcpookieWorkout]

I read somewhere that WotC didn't extend/renew their agreement w/ Goodman, thus no more publishing of the "old school" titles under the Goodman Games' label. As you observed that only applies to WotC content; plenty of other sources exist for more conversions/updates ;) Yeah $500 is stupid - A few hundred MAYBE but yeah no.

[@jamesgordon364]

I love the infinite stair I always thought it would be fun to use as a way or getting to somewhere far far away with no other path. Maybe a forgotten angel locked away in a void is guiding the players through the planes to the foot of the satir on a quest to free it from its banishment.

[@thereluctanthireling]

WoTC did not renew the license agreement with Goodman, so those TSR era OAR’s are now out of print forever.

[@PatriceBoivin]

typical WotC

[@MemphiStig]

You basically say Tsojcanth the same way Luke Gygax says it (with a j), so don't worry.

[@BrianJoyce]

Glad I picked up Goodman Games Versions while they were still available.

[@Katosepe]

I think OSR conversions are tough for D&D just because the play mentality has changed so drastically. Other games I think have an easier time. Still, I'm excited to see what they come up with! I'm in a group playing through Tales from the Yawning Portal and that's been really fun.

[@jamesfoster9613]

Also an abridged version of Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth is now free on D&D Beyond, its the part they've been using at cons I believe?

[@WallyDM]

@12:20 I spy a Rules Cyclopedia!

[@Carnagepwnz]

Picked up Lost City from my FLGS a few months back for $90AUD. Pretty chuffed I did. It's a chonky tome.

[@Xoguran]

I guess they will go for a remake of Vortex of Madness next. Similar premise but involving the A.I. in the Machine of Lum the Mad as both patron and main villain.

[@mrmuffins951]

Where did they say AL is picking back up? That’s exciting!

[@wilbert1865]

Scifi and fantasy are chocolate and peanut butter. Excellent alone, better together.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

I'm annoyed that the Goodman OAR seem to have mostly gone out of print. I still wanted to grab The Lost City and Isle of Dread, but the wallet wasn't ready. I got a couple others, but really wanted those two.

[@Jorphdan]

Yeah I hadn't realized they were out of print. At GenCon 2023 they had a huge booth selling them at 70%-80% off. I wonder if Goodman Games was forced to liquidate with Staircase coming out?

[@jamesalexhowlett]

It’s a bummer because that’s the only Goodman book I’m missing out of the original adventures reincarnated.

[@trollishmc2920]

I have PDFs of all the OAR modules. Just saying... they do exist.

[@nothingiswrong309]

I find it hard to believe that the gods use an infinite staircase. They can afford to take the elevator.

[@GravesRWFiA]

the goodman games version of the expedition to barrier peaks added new levels, are those in the WotC rehash?

[@AlternityGM]

Given that Goodman Games already published Expedition to Barrier Peaks I’m surprised WOTC chose to include it in Infinite Staircase.

[@powerist209]

So any idea for Space Hulk with Barrier Peaks. Maybe artificer in heavy armor going on a ship with residents who may cut it like a tissue paper.

[@garryame4008]

I have the OAR Lost City by Goodman Games. IMO the new wotc version is almost certainly gunna be more efficient page-wise. The OAR one is REALLY big, and half the book is unusable if you plan on running it in 5e. It is quite difficult to use the OAR books at the table :(

[@nickh3205]

At least I got the Goodman games reprints to find out how Wotc changed the old modules to match the 5e game

[@jriggan]

🍻

[@cameronpearce5943]

I love the Infinite Staircase, and I love the adaptations of Greyhawk adventures... but why not just call it Quests from Castle Greyhawk???

[@ochreJ]

I’m interested to see if these are more than just rule-conversions but also add the level of story/mission that modern players expect. I went back and read the original Barrier Peaks and there’s very little more to it than a hack fest.

[@dearthditch]

Yep. I remember a lot of modules were released in threes. A bit later they put all three in one pack. Felt a bit ripped off as a kid since I always bought the originals

[@p5gj]

Adventurers League never stopped, so at 7:58 I am not quite sure what is meant by "and maybe with Adventurers League kicking back up".

[@Jorphdan]

I meant Adventure League was getting wrapped into D&D Beyond, so hopefully getting more love.

[@p5gj]

@@Jorphdan yes, it would be nice to flip a switch when creating a character to make sure it is AL legal.

[@Maniacbob]

I like that they're re-releasing older adventures although I find I really don't care for the framing devices that they use. I have Yawning Portal and have run a couple of the adventures out of there and completely ignored whatever the framing device was there, and I'll do the same with this book if I get it. I too am a little bummed that it isn't tied to Planescape and Tales from the Infinite Staircase. With so much planes stuff happening lately it seemed like a obvious link to continue to expand on that but I guess not. Shame.

[@nightwind67]

A trip to a game store you can buy any those goodman books for around 60 bucks.

[@Jorphdan]

I searched my local stores, no luck! but it's the best place to start!

[@RuneGM]

Im upset that this is how i find out that OAR is now forever out of print. I got my hands on Into the Borderlands for MSRP, but i was looking to get Isle of Dread and Barrier Peak eventually

[@zackaryw8407]

I wish they would bring Greyhawk to 5E

[@nathanpfirman625]

Could you do a video on the calendars of the Forgotten Realms. Like all the holidays of the major religions and stuff?

[@Jorphdan]

Hi! I made this one explained some calendars, but no major holidays. (there are a lot of holidays) O.o' kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvHeXSir9WLeqc

[@WWEisnotPunkrock]

I would be really interested in a comparison of WotC conversion, and GG conversion

[@Jorphdan]

ooo maybe when it comes out we can compare and contrast!

[@steved1135]

Great vid. Thorough, and detailed as always. As a huge Planescape fan and a DM of a still ongoing 2E campaign since the 90's, the OG Tales of the Infinite Staircase is awesome. As is always the case with Monte Cook. This new book seems like a desperate attempt to grab money. Typical.

[@DrBrains123]

It scares me that I didn't know I've been using a 500 dollar book

[@ETthehorse]

So... WOTC Bait and switch with title of their next product and no new ideas. Can't wait to see the IA art!

[@GodwinXZ]

WotC lost out on partnering with Goodman Games on these.

[@CraftedVision]

The Barrier peaks was mentioned in the old DnD movie kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWTYapmmbs6cmassi=fAlvNMaQFkT53R90&t=71

[@Gamerdudegames]

The anthology series hold little value to someone like me, since I'm aware of these earlier adventures and very able to convert them to 5e myself if necessary, but I can see these being a good way to introduce 5e players to old school adventure design, older settings, and possibly even as a gateway into the OSR.

[@rafibausk7071]

How accurate do you think they will be to the original? I'm talking things like wording and descriptions. Like for example will they call the place in the fairy module. The original name or do you think they'll retcon it to be the Faywild?

[@weswtf]

Gamemasters thinks the infinite stair may appear in eve of vecna what do you think?

[@spartaninvirginia]

Weird that I3 is in this, but I4 and I5 aren't.

[@memeslich]

The ph is silent in phnew adventures.

[@user-om1pp5qe5z]

Does anyone know why DND youtubers vids have slowed right down?

[@Jorphdan]

life

[@user-om1pp5qe5z]

@@Jorphdan i thought maybe dnd litigation

[@matthewmatis6217]

I’ll just convert these if I want on my own. I can’t buy WOTC Books anymore .

[@alexandredesrochers1957]

Yeah I like to sub in monsters and reskin DCs. No reason to worry so much about high fidelity adaptations. Not nearly enough time in our lives to waste doing that...

[@schemage2210]

It sounds like it should be a great product, but honestly, we know the type of low effort drivel that we are likely to get on this. Its just the latest anthology to keep the money churning in. If it was a proper tie in to Planescape, maybe this would be more valuable, but it isn't therefore it's not.

[@MemphiStig]

So wait... the same guys who discredit and denigrate the founders and creators of the game are exploiting and reprinting original materials from those founders FOR THEIR OWN PROFIT? I'm shocked at the disgraceful behavior of people I know to be morally and creatively bankrupt. Abject hypocrisy at its most bald-faced. Gotta a lot of gaddam nerve to call people out for objectionable behavior, don't they! For the record, I have absolutely zero moral qualms about downloading the old stuff for free wherever I can find it, and this is exactly why. THEY are reprehensible.

[@artiepavlov6593]

500 $? maybe i should sell mine ...

[@CitanulsPumpkin]

Reprints of old adventures are great, but the fact that 5e has two Planescape books/boxes/whatever out, and neither of those products has any useful mechanical features or guides to help run Planescape is abysmal. I wasn't exactly hopeful for a Factions of Sigil guide half as useful as what was in the Ravnica and Theros books, but I expected them to provide more details on each Faction than a half page column of text that might as well be copy pasted from the 2e books and fan sites that have existed for over 20 years. Seriously. Go back and read the Ravnica and Theros chapters on what the Guilds/gods want from the players, how to use them as both allies and villains, and the tables that let you instantly generate faction politics based hooks and adventures. Everyone complained about Spelljamner not having reprints or updates of the ship combat rules in Saltmarsh. The Planescape books were just as bad. There should have been an entire chapter dedicated to tables full or random and seemingly insane things you could stumble across while traveling the planes, interacting with the Sigil Factions, and wandering up and down the Infinite Staircase.