Temple of Death
Encyclopedia
Temple of Death is a Dungeons & Dragons
adventure module designed by David Cook
for use with the D&D Expert Set
.
s to neutralize this threat to the Republic. In Temple of Death, the characters approach the Black Mountains and traverse the Great Pass through them to reach the land of Hule. Having negotiated the Great Pass, the adventurers must cross the "sanctified land" of Hule. Hule is an oppressive totalitarian state in which social orders are carefully defined, and where the Master's stronghold is located. The characters must make their way to Hule's capital without attracting the attention of the Diviners. The adventurers then need to penetrate the Dark Wood to find the Temple of Death. The scenario includes wilderness, town, and dungeon encounters.
, with art by Tim Truman, and was published by TSR in 1983 as a thirty two page booklet with an outer folder. It is the second part of the two part Desert Nomads series, following Master of the Desert Nomads
.
reviewed Temple of Death for White Dwarf
No. 55, giving the module 10 out of 10 overall. Morris felt that David Cook
"constructed a logical, continually challenging, imaginative and vividly portrayed adventure", and declared, "Frankly, I have not seen a better D&D scenario than this." Morris also praised the artwork by Timothy Truman. Morris felt that this module was "perhaps one of the three or four best role-playing supplements for any system" and gave it a superlative rating, adding, "my only regret is that the adventure was designed for Expert
rather than Advanced rules."
Rick Swan reviewed the adventure in The Space Gamer
No. 71. Swan felt that the module "soars with surprises at every turn", with locales such as "a zombie palace made entirely of fungus, a flying ship manned by skeletons, and a ladder of light that extends to the moon." He also found the maps and illustrations "attractive and functional", and said the views of the Temple would help players visualize the unusual structure. He cautioned that, because the adventure is largely set in the wilderness, it will challenge the Dungeon Master
to keep the players headed in the right direction. He felt that the Master is "somewhat of a letdown" as he is "a pretty dull guy in light of what's come before". Swan felt that "the two Desert Nomads adventures can't enjoyably be played on their own" but concluded that "Taken with Masters of the Desert Nomads
, Temple of Death is great fun".
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...
adventure module designed by David Cook
David Cook (game designer)
David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...
for use with the D&D Expert Set
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
.
Plot summary
In Master of the Desert Nomads, the nomad tribes of Sind Desert have rallied together under the leadership of the enigmatic figure known as the Master, and it is the mission of 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 to neutralize this threat to the Republic. In Temple of Death, the characters approach the Black Mountains and traverse the Great Pass through them to reach the land of Hule. Having negotiated the Great Pass, the adventurers must cross the "sanctified land" of Hule. Hule is an oppressive totalitarian state in which social orders are carefully defined, and where the Master's stronghold is located. The characters must make their way to Hule's capital without attracting the attention of the Diviners. The adventurers then need to penetrate the Dark Wood to find the Temple of Death. The scenario includes wilderness, town, and dungeon encounters.
Publication history
Temple of Death was written by David CookDavid Cook (game designer)
David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...
, with art by Tim Truman, and was published by TSR in 1983 as a thirty two page booklet with an outer folder. It is the second part of the two part Desert Nomads series, following Master of the Desert Nomads
Master of the Desert Nomads
Master of the Desert Nomads is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure module designed by David Cook for use with the Expert D&D set.This is the first part of a two-part adventure, with Temple of Death being the second part.-Plot summary:...
.
Reception
Dave MorrisDave Morris
Dave Morris is a British author of gamebooks, novels and comics and a designer of computer games and role-playing games.-Biography:Dave Morris is a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford where he read Physics from 1976-79....
reviewed Temple of Death for White Dwarf
White Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
No. 55, giving the module 10 out of 10 overall. Morris felt that David Cook
David Cook (game designer)
David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...
"constructed a logical, continually challenging, imaginative and vividly portrayed adventure", and declared, "Frankly, I have not seen a better D&D scenario than this." Morris also praised the artwork by Timothy Truman. Morris felt that this module was "perhaps one of the three or four best role-playing supplements for any system" and gave it a superlative rating, adding, "my only regret is that the adventure was designed for Expert
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
rather than Advanced rules."
Rick Swan reviewed the adventure in The Space Gamer
The Space Gamer
The Space Gamer was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the late 70s through the mid-80s...
No. 71. Swan felt that the module "soars with surprises at every turn", with locales such as "a zombie palace made entirely of fungus, a flying ship manned by skeletons, and a ladder of light that extends to the moon." He also found the maps and illustrations "attractive and functional", and said the views of the Temple would help players visualize the unusual structure. He cautioned that, because the adventure is largely set in the wilderness, it will challenge the Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
to keep the players headed in the right direction. He felt that the Master is "somewhat of a letdown" as he is "a pretty dull guy in light of what's come before". Swan felt that "the two Desert Nomads adventures can't enjoyably be played on their own" but concluded that "Taken with Masters of the Desert Nomads
Master of the Desert Nomads
Master of the Desert Nomads is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure module designed by David Cook for use with the Expert D&D set.This is the first part of a two-part adventure, with Temple of Death being the second part.-Plot summary:...
, Temple of Death is great fun".