Red Hand of Doom
Encyclopedia
Red Hand of Doom is a 128-page adventure module
for the 3.5 edition of Dungeons & Dragons
(D&D). It is designed to be used as a generic D&D adventure, which can be dropped into any campaign world, including a personal one. Instructions are given in the first pages of the module on where to place it in the worlds of Greyhawk
, the Forgotten Realms
, and Eberron
, the three primary campaign settings of D&D at the time of release.
The adventure was indicated as appropriate for characters of experience levels six to twelve,
but the designers have stated that it is targeted to levels five to eleven. It is also the first Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons adventure to make significant use of designer notes. The adventure is expected to take players weeks—or even months—to complete.
devoted to the dark goddess Tiamat
and led by the charismatic half-dragon warlord Azarr Kul. To stop the horde, the players have to muster the inhabitants of the Vale, battle hobgoblins, giants, and dragons, and defeat an overwhelming enemy.
since early 2002, and only four adventures had been published for other systems in the intervening years. The publication of Red Hand of Doom marked something of a turning point, as it was the first of six Dungeons & Dragons adventures to be released that year—a publication rate that continued through 2007 and into 2008 at a reduced rate.
Red Hand of Doom was also the first Dungeons & Dragons adventure to include Designer Notes—asides written by the authors to provide additional advice to players and to explain decisions made during the design process, as well as incorporating downloadable content in the form of PDF stat blocks.
The authors regard the adventure as being self-contained and don't intend to continue the story in later publications. The first Dungeon
Adventure Path
for 4th Edition, Scales of War, does start off in the same location, reusing the maps from Red Hand of Doom, but quickly diverges into a history and geography of its own.
and The Keep on the Borderlands
in terms of both content and quality. The inclusion of the Designer Notes was well regarded by critics, as was the provision of downloadable content. The artwork featured throughout the publication received special attention, with Howard Jones describing it as "fabulous".
The generic nature of the campaign was seen as both a strength and a limitation. While it permitted the material to be inserted into existing campaigns
and game worlds
, it was acknowledged that doing so might be a difficult task, and that the publication lacked sufficient information for such a task, especially for non-standard campaigns.
Dungeon Master for Dummies lists Red Hand of Doom as one of the ten best 3rd edition adventures.
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...
for the 3.5 edition of 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...
(D&D). It is designed to be used as a generic D&D adventure, which can be dropped into any campaign world, including a personal one. Instructions are given in the first pages of the module on where to place it in the worlds of Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
, and Eberron
Eberron
Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
, the three primary campaign settings of D&D at the time of release.
The adventure was indicated as appropriate for characters of experience levels six to twelve,
but the designers have stated that it is targeted to levels five to eleven. It is also the first Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons adventure to make significant use of designer notes. The adventure is expected to take players weeks—or even months—to complete.
Plot
The plot of Red Hand of Doom follows a group of adventurers who have entered the Elsir Vale, a thinly populated frontier region. The party uncovers and then is placed in the position of stopping a massive hobgoblin horde who are fanaticallyReligious fanaticism
Religious fanaticism is fanaticism related to a person's, or a group's, devotion to a religion. However, religious fanaticism is a subjective evaluation defined by the culture context that is performing the evaluation. What constitutes fanaticism in another's behavior or belief is determined by the...
devoted to the dark goddess Tiamat
Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)
Tiamat is the name of a powerful draconic goddess in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name is taken from Tiamat, a goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who is substantially different ....
and led by the charismatic half-dragon warlord Azarr Kul. To stop the horde, the players have to muster the inhabitants of the Vale, battle hobgoblins, giants, and dragons, and defeat an overwhelming enemy.
Publication history
Prior to the publication of Red Hand of Doom in 2006, no Dungeons & Dragons adventures had been published by Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
since early 2002, and only four adventures had been published for other systems in the intervening years. The publication of Red Hand of Doom marked something of a turning point, as it was the first of six Dungeons & Dragons adventures to be released that year—a publication rate that continued through 2007 and into 2008 at a reduced rate.
Red Hand of Doom was also the first Dungeons & Dragons adventure to include Designer Notes—asides written by the authors to provide additional advice to players and to explain decisions made during the design process, as well as incorporating downloadable content in the form of PDF stat blocks.
The authors regard the adventure as being self-contained and don't intend to continue the story in later publications. The first Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
Adventure Path
Adventure Path
Adventure Paths are serial adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Though originally applied to the series of Third Edition modules beginning with The Sunless Citadel, the phrase has more recently come to apply nearly exclusively to several lengthy series, each consisting of...
for 4th Edition, Scales of War, does start off in the same location, reusing the maps from Red Hand of Doom, but quickly diverges into a history and geography of its own.
Critical reception
The publication has been generally well received, with reviewers rating it as one of the best adventures in many years and comparing it favorably with both the The Temple of Elemental EvilThe Temple of Elemental Evil
The Temple of Elemental Evil is an adventure module for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1985 for the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
and The Keep on the Borderlands
The Keep on the Borderlands
The Keep on the Borderlands is a Dungeons & Dragons module by Gary Gygax, first printed in December 1979. In it, player characters are based at a keep and investigate a nearby series of caves that are filled with a variety of monsters. Designed to be used with the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set, it...
in terms of both content and quality. The inclusion of the Designer Notes was well regarded by critics, as was the provision of downloadable content. The artwork featured throughout the publication received special attention, with Howard Jones describing it as "fabulous".
The generic nature of the campaign was seen as both a strength and a limitation. While it permitted the material to be inserted into existing campaigns
Campaign (role-playing games)
In role-playing games, a campaign is a continuing storyline or set of adventures, typically involving the same characters. The purpose of the continuing storyline is to introduce a further aspect into the game: that of development, improvement, and growth of the characters. In a campaign, a...
and game worlds
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, it was acknowledged that doing so might be a difficult task, and that the publication lacked sufficient information for such a task, especially for non-standard campaigns.
Dungeon Master for Dummies lists Red Hand of Doom as one of the ten best 3rd edition adventures.