Treasure Hunt

A TRUE introductory adventure for 1st Edition AD&D, and it uses an innovative 0 level character creation system. Coming right up on RPG Retro Reviews!
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[@AaronAlso]

This idea of starting as 0 level characters was somewhat popular in the early days. I remember several characters starting this way. We never got past 3-4th level, but the discovery of becoming an adventurer was always the funnest part of the story for us.

[@yourseatatthetable]

Back in the 80's my friends and I always liked to start out at zero level and grow into our characters as it was fun. Later I came to understand how it made sense, as rarely are people experienced without having done something to earn that level 1. Every now and then I propose to a group that we should do the same and most grouse or complain. I say, "Well, if your into that Min/Max style, level 0 is as minimum as you can get."

[@zimmejoc]

Sounds like your players are like mine. Mine like to ignore the min side of min/max and focus solely on the max side of things.

[@originaluddite]

I ran a game that started around level 5, as it gave both them and me more options. However, I also wanted them to experience the adversity of low level so ran a 'how you all met' flashback adventure. Yes, technically they knew they'd live, but it did not prevent them from feeling the precariousness of it all.

[@yourseatatthetable]

@@originaluddite I think most of my games usually have the players, who are experienced anyway, usually, starting around 4-5th level for the same reason. Still, there's much to be said for running the occasional bottom rung game. Frankly I've always felt that, despite of the lack of all the bells and whistles of advancing levels, the raw spirit of play is best at the beginning level. I can't speak about 5th edition since I haven't looked it up, but the older version DM Guides have a chapter on 'zero level' characters and what I'd call 'general NPCs or characters'. Such as shop keepers and farmers. It's from these sections that I like player's to focus on at zero level. After all, I say, very few are born a fighter, wizard, or rogue. Start out as an apprentice green grocer, farmgirl, or the son or daughter of a low ranked noble for Level 0. Agree with the players on how much XP should be earned before reaching level 1. (Say, 500 or so), at which point, they can choose the class that they're character will become. Then I can tailor a mini campaign towards that end.

[@zimmejoc]

@@originaluddite that is a great idea. They say the best DMs steal. I'm not the best DM, but I am stealing that idea.

[@cycloneranger7927]

That's my one big gripe about the DND shows on KZbin - Critical Role being the most prominent. These characters show up at 1st level all grizzled with extensive back stories. Isn't the whole point of DND to discover the character's story? The back story should be relatively simple things like "young peasant wants to see the world" or "sister was kidnapped by goblins and hasn't been seen for five years; that's why my ranger hates goblins so much." I'm not such a huge fan of "everybody is a peasant and starts at 0-level," but I understand the appeal of it.

[@ToddVance]

Man I thought level 0 stuff was a new construct! Sounds like this module was an amazingly ground breaking product and yet I never heard of it. Crazy... Drive Thru here I come!

[@maecenus778]

This was the first adventure I ever ran with some friends. It was super easy for me to figure out as a 10 year old kid. Even now, I’m thinking of re-running it, maybe with DCC which has the whole 0 level thing baked in.

[@destroso]

Just ran this for my 7 year old son. He loved it. If you prepare and make any changes you find appropriate you will have fun.

[@benasaro1043]

I just ran my old school group through this module, it was tons of fun!

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Amazing. This is one of the first D&D modules I ever played. Our party didn't make it (in time). I was going to become a cavalier.

[@rmcdudmk212]

Ran thru this module back in the day. Glad I'm not the only one who still remembers this.

[@valeriomeucci8841]

This has been one of my favourite module of all times! Great adventure!

[@cunningwarrior1827]

I used this module when I started my Illefarn campaign. This was a lot of fun and very tense for the characters. I gave them NPC's as cannon fodder and only one died, being killed by the ghoul. (The rest of the NPC's were mauled along with almost all of the players.) From there to Daggerford and many adventures including Dragon Magazine's Citadel by the Sea, which is one of my favorites that the players absolutely hate. Good Review. Thank You!

[@captcorajus]

That sounds like a BLAST. I was thinking the Korinn Isles would most definitely fit GREAT along the Sword Coast. Daggerford, Waterdeep, Neverwinter, all excellent destinations for beginning adventurers

[@stephenparlin9361]

Would love to hear more details about this campaign!

[@garyconway8374]

I also did this Idea of Treasure hunt into Illefarn converted it to 3.5 and also included the beginning of Age or Wyrms into the campaign. My players decided to ditch the old man not go to the manor at all , captured a goblin boat and then got lost at sea. Had them discover Lost Island of Castanimir, By that time a few of the players argued with each other and had to kick a few of them and now running only 2 of the original characters with 2 replacements going a total different direction.

[@cunningwarrior1827]

I ran Treasure hunt, which had the remaining players and the only surviving NPC, landing their boat in Awad (Citadel by the Sea {Dragon #80 or 80 something]), fled the people of that village (I made them all Bob Wheeler morons who at least feed them for 1gp) down a dirt track for the minutes to Daggerford. {Look up Bob Wheeler!!} Using the Under Illefarn banner which started just like the module did, I formed all "Guard Groups" into groups of 10 (I used the Glory of Rome military part) with the rest of the group being filled out by the pre-gens in the back of the module. Many such NPC's came and went as they were arrested, left the military, or were buried 6 feet under. The Players started the sandbox as printed. Then I added almost every 1st-3rd Level Module that I liked. When they were 2nd or 3rd Level they were sent to see what was going on in Awad as the morons were coming into town saying there was a disease being spread leading them to Citadel by the Sea. This Dragon Magazine adventure is one of my favorites I've been running since the month it came out. Not a single group in the dozen or so times I've run it has gotten into the Citadel without figuring out how to do so without getting someone killed. It was a good time. 😀 The players traveled over the mountains, past Illefarn when they all weren't 3rd Level yet into the Dalelands completed a Dalelands module, painfully cleared out Illefarn, and then had to go to Waterdeep as the wizard was now 4th Level and go to the "local" tower of High Sorcery to pass his trials. {Yes, from Dragonlance} There were adventures on the way their and back. The campaign fell apart after that which was almost a year in game time and over 2 years in real time. The players made political enemies in Daggerford and were attacked every month or so by hired street thugs of increasing levels. They went through several adventures from the Book of Lairs I & II, completed a couple of the adventures that came with a CD and many, many adventures from Dungeon Magazine. There were "Guest" players who would grab a NPC for a session or so if someone was in town. I had a good time, and until the end, the players did as well. About Dungeon Magazine. Grab every issue you can find. Most issues before third edition had one or two adventures that were well liked. But my tastes are not yours and you may finds something you love that I did not. Once third edition came, there were adventures paths that took up space as opposed to adventures of a certain level that you could plug in anywhere. It all started with Treasure Hunt which was pretty good and taught the players to think, or at least stack the odds in their favor.

[@mikemckinney7031]

This was a pleasant blast from the past. I played this module with friends back in the day. I liked it because this game my first to start the game as a zero-level character. We loved it the, and I have thought about using adventure as a "New" fresh campaign.

[@larkans.7540]

You got me into old school gaming, thank you. Always keep up the good work cap!

[@captcorajus]

Awww... You're very welcome. Thank you for the kind words of encouragement! They are very much appreciated!

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

I always start characters at level zero. Even if it is a higher-level adventure. The session one mission to get from 0th to 1st can then be thought of as a flashback scene to inform character background.

[@tyreth1380]

Thank you so much for this. I’ve been trying for years to come up with a start at 0 level idea, no idea this existed

[@edwardspaghetti473]

Picked up the POD of this, N1, and U1! Thanks for the heads up about the sale and the great reviews. Do more Hirst Arts videos! 😆

[@mam882002]

I ran my grandson through this module 3 years ago. He had three 0 level PCs he was running and I ran four NPCs with the idea that he could choose which PC he wanted to keep running at the end of this adventure. He was able to make it to the end with two PCs and three NPCs surviving. The group eventually scattered their separate ways but are now coming back together to fend off assassination attempts after pirate and merchant factions within the Korinn Archipelago are wanting to keep the memory of the Sea King buried. This simple adventure is a trove of further expansion and storytelling.

[@kurtoogle4576]

I ran this twice. It was better than expected. Really great art, too!

[@jeffreyraia5804]

Oh, what I would give to climb into a time machine and travel back to the 80's, for when my friends and I would play these modules. D&D back then was special and something completely different from what it is now.

[@captcorajus]

While I certainly lament the passing of time, and loved growing up in the 80s to be sure, D&D is still D&D. People get together, hang out with their friends and roll some dice pretending to be heroes fighting big bad evil guys/ gals. Certainly the influences of the new batch of players both in fiction and life experience is different from ours, but that doesn't make it bad... just because on some levels its not 'how we did it back then." I've had a BUNCH of new players all 20 somethings join my table over the last few years and we've always had a blast!

[@danielrowan4716]

Captain, I ran this in ‘90 as the start to a campaign set in the Korinn Archipelago. The party used the ship the flex the island on. To this day we still recall Hafkriss and Keestake (referred to cheesesteak as we are from the Philly area). This review brings back some awesome memories.

[@danielrowan4716]

Might I suggest reviewing Lost Island of Castanamir?

[@cliffordtreend2797]

This was the very first adventure that I ever ran as a DM...way back when it first came out. After being away from D&D for a few decades, I gathered some folks together to play and used this as module as my starting point. That was three years ago, and aside from two of my players moving out of state, the module has grown into a campaign through the Moonshea Isles. The goddess (Umberlee) is still mad and has teamed up with a few other dieties, Melissandra is currently becoming an underworld kingpin, and my players are trying to discover the corruption taking place in the south of Caftenor. My advice....consider the import of the NPCs (dead and alive) and find creative ways to use them in later adventures. It has worked so far for me.

[@theroguegeneralhunter2206]

Great Video. I love this module. I played it back around 86-87 it was the start of a short lived, but exciting AD&D campaign. The DM made us roll up the characters in the classic "3d6 straight down the line" method. And we had to "Qualify" for any class we wanted to play so most of us were base classes (Fighter, Magic user, Thief, or Cleric) One guy actually qualified for Ranger (back when they were Full Plate wearing "Tanks" that could track). On a side note My original copy of the module was destroyed by water damage, but due to a poor understanding of how Ebay worked back in the early 2000s I now have several copies. :)

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Thanks for making this new video captcorajus. 😀 Listening to your videos makes my chores and teeth cleaning more enjoyable. 😃

[@TheGeekDaddy929]

Yes!!! Something I know nothing of but can’t wait to consume!

[@pez5767]

Why don't more modules include helpful hints for when players go off the rails? Such a great help in this (and all) modules.

[@jonnyb70]

they assume you know what you're doing.

[@agemmemnon100]

Wow! That's the best score yet!

[@animalchandler]

I converted this one to a sci-fi setting using White Star.

[@mlfetlesjdrenbref1306]

So much work in these videos. Love them! Keep it up cap!

[@kevind7396]

I enjoyed this game some 35 years ago. It was easy to run and a nice jumping on point for new players. I appreciate your good work in this review and reviving memories.

[@TallDude73]

I had been looking forward to this review!! My group played this in the early 90s. Good thing I was only 3 years old. ;)

[@hero_time]

Fun review: I like the art samples you included and the overall structure of the review. Cheers Capt!

[@meatybtz]

I still use zero-level adventure structure for new D&D players. It creates a real soft curve introduction to TTRPG where they discover it a piece at a time before rolling into the real adventure. It also makes backstories not just something written on a sheet but an actual part of the game which deeply increases "buy-in" to the world and the adventure for the players.

[@smcc360]

Great review! I really liked Alston's Lands of Mystery, and I bought this based on your recommendation.

[@CausticCatastrophe]

man, this channel is a blast, so glad i found this. What a fun idea!

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@pez5767]

Finally! I've been waiting for you to cover this one. This might be my favorite Old School D&D module.

[@RachelNitsche]

Thanks for the video 🙂I have this adventure printed in German. Bought it ages ago but never could play it as I couldn't find players at the time and later started with the old AD&D starter set. I think I will play it finally 😁👍❤

[@manofaction1807]

Your first True A D and D module product. This one brought on a little confusion, because TSR had an additional issue in their internal politics, because they continued to crank out D and D products, and a widely anticipated cartoon threw everyone for a loop.

[@kernowpolski]

A great review for an interesting concept

[@nad3936]

Excellent review! This seems like a superb module with great art. I'll likely pick up a POD copy.

[@johnscotto5045]

Thank you for this review. This one was a long time coming and was worth the wait. I’m planning to run this as an intro to old school play for the more conventional group of D&D players in my local area. I think, and hope, that this will be a lot of fun for both DM and players as they try something new (that is really old). Thanks again very nice review

[@jdmcdonnell71]

Great review of what sounds like an excellent adventure with one glaring problem. Holy cow what a bad name! Treasure Hunt sounds like a working title someone forgot to change. It's even kinda funny when you think of people saying, "hooray! we're going on a treasure hunt!" Nope! Slave Ship! Must be AD&D.

[@GravesRWFiA]

it's fun to drop experienced characters into this or the gatehouse. players used to getting away with a lot suddenly are drawn up short."what do you mean i missed?"

[@willmistretta]

I'd definitely have to change Keestake's name if I ran this. Otherwise he'd be dubbed Cheesesteak on the spot. ;)

[@user-cx7kg6ok9b]

I can make a good argument for allowing 0 level characters to start with maximum hitpoints. They were captured to be used as slaves. No point in taking the weak, old, decrepit and helpless, so they only take the healthiest. Those who make it this far are the healthiest of all, thus, max hitpoints. The escape vessel looks more like a viking longship than a galley.

[@ricardowilliams76]

I started my current AD&D 2E campaign with this module. My players had a blast, although I changed a few things: 1) Everyone started with 1st level characters. I had a mix of veterans and complete RPG newbies, so I thought it'd be better for my players. 2) Instead of beginning the game as prisoners, they were hired to go to Korinn Archipelago to try and find clues about Sea King Viledel's rumoured long-lost treasure. On the way to the island, their ship was attacked by pirates and caught in a squall in the middle of the combat. This, the PCs shipwrecked on the island as per the module. 3) I removed the undead in the temple; it's too hard for a 1st-level party, and although I have no trouble with PCs death, I was afraid it could result in a TPK. Sorry for the long post and kudos for the review.

[@mycl2336]

Just finished converting this to a 5e(ish) home brew. Looking forward to kicking off a new campaign. I played through the original several times with different groups.

[@harppinaama]

I´m going to run this and N5 Under Illefarn for my players just reading them and prepping.

[@pez5767]

I ran this for a group of 5e gamers, and they loved it. Minimal adjustment was needed to run in 5e. Just as the Captin suggests, I was able to kick off a short campaign using the Korin Archipelago, which has now been included in the 5e Ghosts of Salt Marsh reprint.

[@theroguegeneralhunter2206]

Cool.

[@theroguegeneralhunter2206]

I found the Korin Archipelago on a map of the Moonshae Isles in the Sword Coast Adventurer's guide.

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Another really cool old module is King's Destiny.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

Just ordered a copy of this. I think I'm going to use it to build a funnel around it for a possible upcoming DCC game.

[@captcorajus]

Definitely able to do that!

[@jwraper1498]

Loved it!

[@johnfielder2064]

Love this adventure, its one of my favs, I've ran it three times, as an intro to three campagins and have rewritten it for an intro to a Starfinder game Im going to run.

[@bigulf6712]

this was a great one

[@jackleg2007]

Never heard of the is adventure before today. Suggestion, maybe the ghoul is the cursed corpse of the sculptress.

[@captcorajus]

Great idea!!

[@robertmalinowski6804]

I know its subjective, but what if you did a short video series ranking your favorite 1st edition modules. You could do separate videos according to levels, that also segway into each other. (1-3, 4-6, 6-9, 10-14). A fun thought!

[@jonnyb70]

used it many times. great module.

[@ciscornBIG]

Think about this for a second: how weird would it be to whipped by anything other than a human? It would be surreal before it became unbearably frightening.

[@NecromancyForKids]

I think being whipped by anything, including a human, would be a horrifying experience.

[@just70hq]

@@NecromancyForKids lol right

[@richmcgee434]

@@NecromancyForKids BDSM isn't for everyone, no. Of course, that's not coercive or involuntary either, unlike being abused as a prisoner would be.

[@bluffhavenstudios]

I have used this as a base for a couple of 5e adventures but at 1 level

[@carpma11]

The level zero thing is so much fun. I don't know why other systems besides DCC don't use the funnel.

[@Se7enBeatleofDoom]

Orc pirates are shockingly not more common in gaming. Treasure hunt makes me want to replay Warcraft 2.

[@user-cx7kg6ok9b]

Orcs come out of Tolkien and in his legendarium, they didn't like water. So it follows that, in D&D, you don't find many orc sailors.

[@tabletopgamingwithwolfphototec]

I would absolutely love official level zero rules for 5e or A5e/5.5e

[@AlexKnight009]

* As much as I would like this to be a zero-level module, in truth, it is not. It's actually a 1st level module. I've play-tested it many times, and my final verdict is that it is a 1st level module. If you have your players begin at zero level, no matter how clever or resourceful they are, they just have too few hit points, and they literally die every single time they are hit by an attack that does damage. For some unfortunate reason, zero level characters are always very unlucky. * When they are delt damage, 9 times out of 10 the maximum damage is inflicted upon them, despite the fact that you're rolling dice, and it should be random. I've even switched dice, just to make sure they weren't loaded or biased dice. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome module, and a lot of fun, but only if they player's characters are all 1st level. It gives them more of a fighting chance. This module used to take place in "The World of Greyhawk", but they changed it to "The Forgotten Realms". * A good choice to use as the deity that appears to the characters in the module, would be that deity that is called "Selune". She is the goddess of the moon, stars, navigation, navigators, wanderers, questers, and seekers, The sequel module is a little misleading as well. It's called "Under Illefarn". It claims that it is a zero through 3rd level module. It is not. It is a 3rd level module, plain and simple. There are no two ways about it. Once again, a lot of play-testing. Trust me, it's a 3rd level module. Ignore what it says about it being 0-3. * I'm guessing someone at the T.S.R. Hobbies office made some sort of a typo error. Honest mistake, but this should teach Dungeon Masters to read the published modules thoroughly first, before ever sending a player's character through it, so that the Dungeon Master can determine exactly what level they would like to stamp on the cover of the module. It should be challenging, yes, but not to the extent that it almost qualifies as a "Character-Killer-Module"(or C.K.M.), like "Tomb of Horrors", just to give you one example. May the dice bear you to better fortune. * (Oh, I almost forgot. If you're a D.M. that likes to play D&D mood music in the background while you're running your game, one of the songs you have to include while running the Treasure Hunt adventure, is that song by "Enya" called "The Humming". You could call it "The Song of Selune")

[@brothertaddeus]

YES!! My favorite module. (Also, didn't I recommend you review this a few months ago?)

[@captcorajus]

You and quite a few others have put it on my radar! Thank you for a great recommendation.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks.

[@pez5767]

Helpful Tip! This module segways beautifully to Ghosts of Salt Marsh Check out the review on this channel!

[@captcorajus]

You know I was totally thinking the same thing!!

[@abbbbbbb4482]

I just ran this a few weeks ago to start a new 2E campaign. Things I liked was the setting. I am using the islands for a bunch of other adventures including published one that can easily fit in this area. It does make a good thinking man adventure. The party is too weak to power their way through the adventure. They have to think their way. I didn't care for the 0 level and how you play results in your class. It is easy to see how you get to thief or fighter but they cleric and MU descriptions is weak. So I started the party at -500 exp. They are still apprentices and their masters are sending them to their last test to see if they are ready on another island. They got shanghaied. Spoiler alert! The weakest part of this is the goblins and orcs fighting on the hill but don't fight in the manor. That is where the treasure is and they don't fight????? These are goblins and orcs for crying out loud. The explanation is lame. So once again I changed it that the first battle was where the orcs won control of the island. So only orcs are in the manor. Overall this is a good one and the group liked playing it.

[@captcorajus]

The temple offers a GREAT opportunity for a potential cleric, perhaps inspired in some way by the Goddess.

[@cliffordtreend2797]

@@captcorajus In my game, the cleric actually stole the broken off finger of the statue of the goddess...Umberlee. In the real world my player had given birth the week after we completed this module and I needed a reason to cover for her absence. While everyone else in the party thought that the Cleric was suffering from severe seasickness, she was infact struck infirm by the goddess herself with a malady that I dubbed "Godsmack". To overcome the sickness she had to bring the finger to a Moonwell which Umberlee had corrupted. That was three years ago in our campaign, and her actions were a linchpin in what is becoming a battle between deities for the fate of the world.

[@CDblade]

I had played this module with Dungeon Crawl Classics instead of AD&D and it was fun, though we rushed the ending because of real life time constraints. i ended up with a cleric (who i was going level up as a thief).

[@WarhavenSC]

5:43 -- A magic user with 1d6 HPs?! I shall be the mightiest magic user ever! All you magic users with your 1d4 HPs at first level will bow before my might! **cough**

[@fleetcenturion]

$3.76??? What a ripoff! I pirated the PDF two years ago for free! =P Seriously though, this adventure is an excellent intro, especially for a 1e/OSRIC campaign. This is especially good for starting as a pirate-themed campaign, or if it starts out in Saltmarsh (with Lovecraftian tones). I would keep the Goddess and/or pantheons simple-- probably Greko-Roman and Norse, providing some variety + familiarity, and keeping potential clerics and paladins lawful, without being too restrictive.

[@anathamon]

wish i had discovered this one back in the day!

[@WarhavenSC]

I keep hearing "Cheesesteak." :D

[@cadbane7780]

I played this in 1988

[@johnnyo3535]

well done my liege

[@Alefiend]

You touched on this in your assessment of the module's value, but I wonder what you think of Treasure Hunt as an opener for Dungeon Crawl Classics. Are there any major mechanical conflicts with DCC? How would you change the adventure to suit the 0-level character funnel?

[@captcorajus]

For DCC just ignore the 'character class' and alignment determining aspects of the module and just use DCC's system straight up. Use the 'story' as written.

[@kxkxkxkx]

I find it hilarious that TSR released the rules cyclopedia a few weeks after I stopped playing DnD due to the intentionally fragmented rules spread across a dozen expensive books 😂😂😂

[@captcorajus]

Same.

[@MizakiFelix]

I like the idea to this module, would love to convert it to pathfinder to any suggestions?

[@captcorajus]

Its not that hard. Give them 6hit points, a +0 to attack, Weapon skill in a sling, a dagger, a staff, etc.. Just follow the instructions in the module on when to award class features. You might forgo awarding xp, and just use a Milestone system, where they make 1st level right before descending into the catacombs. Done.

[@MizakiFelix]

@@captcorajus thank you for the advice :-)

[@cosmicquestion9184]

But how do you determine a mage if no one has spells?

[@dane3038]

500xp

[@richmcgee434]

The "shipwrecked former slave" opening has got to be one of the most overused cliches in fantasy fictions, whether it's literary, roleplaying, or other media. I think I dislike it as much as I do because it's so casual about introducing slavery as an element in the setting, which is just not something to be casual about, ever. Then again, many writers who use this tired trope are also prone to using gratuitous sexual assault (often in the same story) so expecting nuanced writing about difficult subjects is pretty much wishful thinking. Why even introduce the slavery element here in the first place? It's virtually meaningless in the story. Just make the PCs regular travelers who've been shipwrecked. Turn the solitary slaver into a survivor from an earlier wreck who plans to kill the characters to keep whatever washes ashore for himself, or who's just slipped into homicidal paranoia from privation and isolation. Shipwrecks are cliche too, but at least it's a cliche without terrible baggage attached to it.

[@captcorajus]

Can't say that I've seen any 'sexual assault' connection in a published module. I'm sure some weirdo DM has done that in the past to be sure, but there's no hint of such a thing here. As for the 'slavery' thing... slavers make great villains. Clearly they're evil and there's no ambiguity about what to do. While not our actual world, in our real life history slavery was frequently a consequence for a conquered people. That such a thing exists in a medieval style fantasy setting isn't that surprising. Of course, each DM should weigh introducing it as a story element for THEIR group. That's a fair assessment, but I don't think it was 'casual' here. I do agree that the troupe is overused, but in this particular module its used to good effect IMHO. Just having them 'shipwrecked' doesn't quite cut it... why are they together in the first place? Where is the immediate conflict? The opening provides TWO obstacles to be overcome ... Halfkris and the weather, and a challenging exploration adventure that will mold the player characters into their adventuring personas follows. Certainly, if you answer the two questions.. why are these 0 level farmers, and tradesfolk together on a ship, and what are the conflicts... you could dispense with the slavery aspect all together.

[@richmcgee434]

@@captcorajus Sexual assault in modules, rare. In the other fiction that overuses this lame cliche, prominent. Goes in hand in hand with slavery throughout an awful lot of fantasy lit and films, and just makes the "you're not a person" element of both all that much worse. As for why the characters are on a ship to be shipwrecked - why does anyone board a ship? Maybe they're settlers headed to a new land, that would explain why they don't know anything about the region they're in. Maybe they're traveling for business, escorting a cargo to its destination. Maybe some of them aren't not "farmers and tradefolk" at all and are sailors instead, which would make escaping via ship in the end of the module a hell of a lot more plausible. Your "immediate conflict" doesn't need to change beyond the half-orc being on the island already as a wreck survivor himself. Heck, you can even leave him as a slaver if you want, it'll give him more reason to not use lethal force on the PCs and give them more reason to kill him without regrets. The environment's still there whether the player's ship was a slave-hauler or a foundered merchantman. Nothing changes except for not making the PCs slaves. For someone who railed against the railroad opening of Vecna Lives you sure are weirdly okay with forcing players to accept that their PCs were enslaved here. I know a lot of people who'd insist on their PC fighting to the death there instead, and others who'd quite rightly want to know how long they've been captives and why they haven't had a chance to attempt escape before this. Saying they're hapless o-level normal people and couldn't do anything about their situation isn't going to fly with a lot of folks, and I doubt you'd actually enjoy it much yourself. There's ways to do in media res openings well. Starting with a thorny subject like slavery and disempowering the players by glossing over earlier escape attempts is pretty much the antithesis of that.