Starting a new pick-up game, which dungeon should I run?

[stonetoflesh]

I'm starting a new lunchtime pick-up OD&D game at work. Past experience tells me that dungeon exploration works best for this kind of play: at the end of a session, PCs leave the dungeon, then whoever shows up the next week goes back in. My trouble is that I can't decide which dungeon I want to run, so I'm appealing to the collective wisdom of several forums for help.

PCs will begin at 1st level. Assume at least 3-4 PCs plus hirelings to start.

I have some experience running Caverns of Thracia and Barrowmaze before. I read through Tomb of the Iron God based on the generally positive reviews I've read. If that module is chosen, I'll probably add lower levels to it later if needed.

If you suggest "Other," please choose something that is free/very cheap and able to be run by a referee with very limited hobby/prep time.

Thanks for your input!

[Vile Traveller]

I'll pick the elephant in the room, B2. There's a reason it was in the Basic D&D boxed sets. The modular dungeons are perfect for 1 session per lair.

[Deleted]

Design your own.

[raisin]

I'd go with gronan's vote too - building your own dungeon to explore is way more fun than reading through someone else's!

If you really don't want to, then I'd go with something weird and new, like Deep Carbon Observatory or Maze of the Blue Medusa.

[verhaden]

Design your own. But if you want to run something pre-made or want to build off something that already exists, Beneath the Ruins is good: www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121630/Beneath-the-Ruins-Psychedelic-Fantasies-1

[Vile Traveller]

New, my hands-down favourite is Anomalous Subsurface Environment, it's mind-blowing.

[retrorob]

Gronan gave the best advice possible - there is nothing more exciting than building your own dungeon and get your players through it. I have never run any official module, though I drew inspiration from some of them, especially the early modules designed for Basic D&D. For me the very best one is In search of the Unknown (B1).

[stonetoflesh]

Thanks for the encouragement to design my own. I don't have much free time for prep (small children and other commitments eat it up!), but maybe I can pull something together to get the ball rolling.

[Greyharp]

I'm another B2 vote. If you're strapped for time this classic really doesn't need a lot of pre-game prep, which is great for a lunch break game.

[DungeonDevil]

Palace of the Vampire Queen (Wee Warriors, 1976), or the original Lost Caverns of Tsojconth [sic].

[simrion]

Not to derail the thread but is this really that different from the commonly available version? original Lost Caverns of Tsojconth

[DungeonDevil]

May 5, 2019 15:41:39 GMT -6 simrion said:

Not to derail the thread but is this really that different from the commonly available version? original Lost Caverns of Tsojconth

Tsojconth (1976): Iggwilv was male; dungeoncrawl only.
Tsojcanth (1982): Iggwilv was female: wilderness+dungeoncrawl.

[doublejig2]

If you're really in a hurry and might again be in this situation in the future, pick up Fighton! Magazine #6, for among other goodies, Jeff Rientz's wicked Holy Crap! I Need a Dungeon RIGHT NOW!

[strangebrew]

I always found it easier to create an adventure rather than read, reread, take notes on to fully understand, and finally remember during play someone else's adventure.

[Deleted]

How about Stonehell Dungeon? The PDF is pretty cheap considering what you get and it doesn't take a huge amount of prep. It's written for Labyrinth Lord but shouldn't be an issue to use for OD&D
www.lulu.com/shop/michael-curtis/stonehell-dungeon-down-night-haunted-halls-ebook/ebook/product-16061291.html

[stonetoflesh]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I decided to go with Tomb of the Iron God to start. It's a relatively small dungeon, easy to prep and modify. I've added clues to other adventure locations, should this lunchtime game prove to have some staying power. For now at least I'll conserve my DIY time for my regular Wilderlands and Traveller campaigns.

[Deleted]

Home Brew!