Egg of the Phoenix
Encyclopedia
Egg of the Phoenix is an adventure module
published in 1987 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
s (PCs) start off investigating a slaver
ring, and must ultimately work to save the entire land of New Empyrea from destruction by the lords of Elemental Evil
. The module includes dungeons, wilderness adventures, time travel
, and extraplanar
journeys.
, with additional design, development, and editing by Paul Jaquays
. The module's cover is by Keith Parkinson
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as an eighty page book, a twenty page booklet, and an unattached outer folder. The booklet contains a map and pre-generated PCs. This module was a linkage of three formerly unlinked scenarios originally published in the RPGA
modules R1 through R4.
reviewed Egg of the Phoenix for Dragon
magazine No. 133. He felt that the first three scenarios were "original, challenging, and entertaining, particularly in their exploitation of the peculiar logic of the AD&D game universe", but had reservations about the final scenario, which "despite having a plausible game rationale and logical self-consistency, strikes me as gross and overly busy rather than lean and elegant". He felt that assembling these tournament scenarios into an epic campaign was not very successful, because Mentzer had not designed them as a sequence, and they originally had nothing to do with one another. He said, "the narrative frame isn't particularly persuasive, nor do the supplemental encounters or transitions match the tone and theme of Mentzer's original tournament designs", and "the introductory motivations for involving the PCs in the epic quest are rather arbitrary". Rolston also noted some careless production errors, such as a number of typos in the first few pages, and that the text refers to the map book as a twenty page center pullout. Despite his complaints that the campaign frame and the production quality were not satisfactory, Rolston concluded by saying: "There's some very good stuff in here: nine sessions or more of solid and occasionally brilliant material. The tournament-based adventures may be the strongest of Mentzer's peculiarly original AD&D game designs."
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
published in 1987 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Plot summary
In Egg of the Phoenix, the player characterPlayer character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s (PCs) start off investigating a slaver
Slaver
Slaver has several meanings:*One who deals in slaves - see slave trade*A slave ship*Saliva, i.e. either the result or act of drooling as opposed to normal salivation....
ring, and must ultimately work to save the entire land of New Empyrea from destruction by the lords of Elemental Evil
Archomental
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, archomentals are powerful exemplary beings of the Elemental Planes and rulers over the elementals. Although they are not truly rulers of their planes, archomentals like to consider themselves as such and often grant themselves regal titles like...
. The module includes dungeons, wilderness adventures, time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
, and extraplanar
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
journeys.
Publication history
I12 Egg of the Phoenix was designed by Frank MentzerFrank Mentzer
Jacob Franklin "Frank" Mentzer III , is an American fantasy author and game designer best known for his work on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was a performing folk musician from 1968 to 1975, and played one concert at the White House during the...
, with additional design, development, and editing by Paul Jaquays
Paul Jaquays
Paul Jaquays is a game designer and artist of table-top role-playing games and video games.Some of his notable works include the Dungeons & Dragons modules "Dark Tower" and "Caverns of Thracia" for Judges Guild; development and design of conversions on games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong for...
. The module's cover is by Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson
Keith Parkinson was an American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book cover and game artwork for games such as EverQuest, Guardians, Magic: The Gathering and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.-Early life:...
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as an eighty page book, a twenty page booklet, and an unattached outer folder. The booklet contains a map and pre-generated PCs. This module was a linkage of three formerly unlinked scenarios originally published in the RPGA
RPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
modules R1 through R4.
Reception
Ken RolstonKen Rolston
Ken Rolston is an American computer game and board game designer best known for his work with West End Games and the hit computer game series The Elder Scrolls...
reviewed Egg of the Phoenix for Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine No. 133. He felt that the first three scenarios were "original, challenging, and entertaining, particularly in their exploitation of the peculiar logic of the AD&D game universe", but had reservations about the final scenario, which "despite having a plausible game rationale and logical self-consistency, strikes me as gross and overly busy rather than lean and elegant". He felt that assembling these tournament scenarios into an epic campaign was not very successful, because Mentzer had not designed them as a sequence, and they originally had nothing to do with one another. He said, "the narrative frame isn't particularly persuasive, nor do the supplemental encounters or transitions match the tone and theme of Mentzer's original tournament designs", and "the introductory motivations for involving the PCs in the epic quest are rather arbitrary". Rolston also noted some careless production errors, such as a number of typos in the first few pages, and that the text refers to the map book as a twenty page center pullout. Despite his complaints that the campaign frame and the production quality were not satisfactory, Rolston concluded by saying: "There's some very good stuff in here: nine sessions or more of solid and occasionally brilliant material. The tournament-based adventures may be the strongest of Mentzer's peculiarly original AD&D game designs."