Through the Valley of the Manticore: OSR Hexcrawl Adventure Review

[@QuestingBeast]

Get Through the Valley of the Manticore in PDF: bit.ly/ManticorePDFOSR Get the 5e version in PDF: bit.ly/ManticorePDF5e Get it in print: bit.ly/ManticorePrint Check out the Game Master and Player Companions from Dragon Shield! bit.ly/DragonShieldRP

[@Hikertrash215]

Apparently the author went to Utah and explored the badlands and slot canyons as inspiration for this. Love how he incorporates real world wilderness experiences into these adventures. He said he's making another hexcrawl and I cant wait to see which environment he goes with next!

[@KILOBify]

The author of this recently started a new Kickstarter for their next adventure: "The Scourge of Northland". It looks terrific.

[@AL-ry5ly]

A manticore is such a good choice for the cover/title. It's a monster that never gets used enough, is super flavorful, and feels different from Tolkien-feeling critters like Dragons and Goblins.

[@DungeonMasterpiece]

Dangit, why did I watch this while drinking on a beach. @questingbeast you burn holes in my wallet!

[@Hikertrash215]

I feel your pain. His news letter gets me each time and I end up with like 3 more PDFs. Can't stop won't stop

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Love your stuff!!

[@sumdude4281]

I could see potential for combining this with Ghost Tower of Iverness and The Lost City in Oreth Greyhawk, Bright Dessert and Abbor Alz region.

[@EricVulgaris]

i was thinking tomb of the black sand!

[@oberondargos5465]

These are wonderful! I recently picked this one up along with Tower Silveraxe and enjoying them a lot and can't wait to throw it at my players. The Kickstarter for the 3rd module is out, The Scourge of the Northlands. It looks very promising.

[@ivanrichmond3524]

This sounds like a really cool one to pick up. I love how it combines a setting with dungeons. It means you have a place that you could run further adventures in, potentially a home base for the PC's, eventually, a homeland to return to after adventuring beyond it, etc., not just a dungeon to explore. I also like the comic book look of the cover. It reminds me of old comics and also kids cartoons I grew up with.

[@vegasgamedude4379]

Just received my copy which I ordered after seeing your review. This is really well produced, great art, love the map and pre-generated characters, and since I live in the desert it's easy to imagine this adventure coming to life. Looking forward to playing it!

[@brianfroeschner6644]

I kind of wish there was a random table on the Manticore's motivations (something it wants, someone it hates, location it protects, etc.). That would spice it up the hex crawl a bit with a bigger bite of randomness.

[@thehubbleton]

This looks great. I really love the art.

[@anthonybird546]

I think I like this one even more than Silveraxe and that's saying something. I think that some of the design quibbles from that one were addressed here in this book as I didn't notice those kinds of things happening here. I think that overall this one has got some stronger, more stand out scenarios than Silveraxe and makes me wonder if his strengths in writing adventures lends towards mid-level adventures.

[@paavohirn3728]

Very cool to hear! I really like the Silveraxe though still going at it.

[@RandomGuyUK]

Great review, thanks.

[@kellydavis3108]

I really love this series of hexcrawls, but felt the treasure and monster placement was a bit off in terms of threat to payoff on Silveraxe. An unguarded closet with a chest of 1,000gp, etc. I personally moved /modified it all a bit and added a few thematic reasons to fully explore before heading to the finale. But layout, art, maps, formatting are all top tier!!!

[@bjhale]

I would love it if the author collaborated with some other writers, specifically with some good dungeon creators. He does a really good job of making good, very gameable overland regions, but the dungeons contained therein could have a lot more interactivity and imagination, in my opinion.

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

This author has a current Kickstarter going on as well.

[@JohnHockersmith]

So was the shadow of tower silveraxe inspired by devil's tower national monument and this one was canyonlands national park? The maps give big national park vibes to me

[@declankonesky38]

I actually like this even more than Silverwaxe

[@edwardnorth4124]

Any idea why the OSE version with the canyon map isn't available?

[@bolicob]

Neat, looks fun

[@JimmiWazEre]

What is this art style called? I was researching it the other day with a view to finding a tutorial on it, and couldn't find a satisfactory answer.

[@lupnasty]

Apologies if I missed it, but are there factions or political dynamics in the base town/fort?

[@malcolmcoull1240]

Sold!

[@geoffdewitt6845]

Man, I could drop this right into my Radiant Citadel campaign!