Friday, April 10, 2015

Free Egyptian Themed OSR Adventure Resource - TM1 The Ogress of Anubis From New Big Dragon Games Unlimited For Your Old School Campaigns


Are you looking for an old school adventure with an ancient Egyptian style theme capable of supporting a wide variety of retroclone system and with an actual challenge to you parties that can be played in one night or stretched into a mini campaign with lots of potential? And do want it for free? 
Well TM1 The Ogress of Anubis just might be your answer for your old school AD&D 1st edition or OSRic style system. 
Fully compatible with a wide variety of retroclone systems as well, this adventure offers thrills,chills, and some really nice twists on the usual themes of the pseudo Egyptian setting. 
Grab It Right
HERE


The plot follows some of the classic OD&D and basic D&D plot outlines that while we've heard as DM a million times but here  are twisted around in something that comes more out of a pulp style weird tale then the usual D&D plot line.

According to the Rpgnow blurb: 

Azeneth believed the life of the high priest (or priestess) should be as comfortable as that of the kings and the gods. She spoke her contempt for her father’s “weakness” loudly and publicly, almost from the time she learned to talk. As she neared her teens, she made it known her plan was to supplant her father and become high priestess of the temple, sometimes claiming it was her place as the incarnation of the goddess Nekhbet.
Many say Azeneth has the power to command serpents, and it was she who sent the asp that killed her father Kemosiri. Regardless, she Azeneth believed the life of the high priest (or priestess) should be as comfortable as that of the kings and the gods. She spoke her contempt for her father’s “weakness” loudly and publicly, almost from the time she learned to talk. As she neared her teens, she made it known her plan was to supplant her father and become high priestess of the temple, sometimes claiming it was her place as the incarnation of the goddess Nekhbet.

Many say Azeneth has the power to command serpents, and it was she who sent the asp that killed her father Kemosiri. Regardless, she seized her position as high priestess of the temple and set about her accumulation of power and wealth. 

Recently, children from the villages around the temple have begun to disappear. Rumors abound that Azeneth is sacrificing them and cannibalizing them because she believes this will make her wealthier, more powerful, and more divine. The people of the villages have begun to refer to Azeneth as the “ogress of Anubis”—believing it was Anubis himself that made this woman mad, and commanded her to consume the children she sacrifices. her position as high priestess of the temple and set about her accumulation of power and wealth. 
Recently, children from the villages around the temple have begun to disappear. Rumors abound that Azeneth is sacrificing them and cannibalizing them because she believes this will make her wealthier, more powerful, and more divine. The people of the villages have begun to refer to Azeneth as the “ogress of Anubis”—believing it was Anubis himself that made this woman mad, and commanded her to consume the children she sacrifices.
All of the usual suspects are in this adventure but its been written in such a way to be dropped into an existing campaign or as a convention style one shot. The module's encounters are weirdly pulpy and highly entertaining. The module works within the plot perimeters but the maps,handouts, rumors tables, allow for play expansion and can quickly be expanded into a mini campaign. Since downloading this one a few years ago, it looks as if new material has been added into the background of it. In fact it looks like a ton of new work has been added to make this one even better.
Includes the following: information for adapting to different OSR rules editions; adventure background; regional overview (small map + info on villages and wandering monsters); information on the temple compound and its vicinity (including wandering monsters); a detailed map of the temple compound; a 4-page detailed encounter key for the temple compound; new monster (animal mummy w/ 7 variants, statted for Oe/BX/1e); "generic" stats for all monsters and NPCs mentioned in the adventure; 12 pre-generated NPCs w/ details; 10 adventure seeds (for continuing adventures in the area); and 8 additional unkeyed maps (7 tombs, 2 caves, 1 sunken city) for use with the adventure seeds.

Everything here is a nice blend of mythological weirdness, old school solid encounters, and the maps and keys for the temple compound could be used for a wide variety of other games. The Animal mummies could easily be used for any old school D&D Egyptian themed game or added into the backdrop of your own campaign world and this is one of the strengths of this particular set of adventure pulpy weirdness thrown into the structure of an old school adventure.
The encounters are balanced, the maps are well done, and the whole adventure has a nice internal Egyptian style mythological tone that is perfect for both an existing D&D style game or as change up to a more old world Egyptian campaign with a touch of high weirdness in the background of it floating around.
Do I think that this adventure is worth the download? In point of fact I actually do. Here's why! This adventure can easily be added into the back drop of your favorite sword and sorcery campaign. The adventure will keep a set of PC's very busy as well. It works with a wide variety of old school retroclone or basic D&D or OD&D games and it could be used as the frame work for an existing game or as a touch stone to a whole mini campaign featuring an Egyptian style game. All in all this is a solid adventure worth your time, energy, and because its free it has a nice touch of the pulp that will challenge your adventurers and keep them coming back to the table for another round. 

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review! And if anybody wants to buy it in print, it's available through Lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-leblanc/old-school-adventures-module-tm1-the-ogress-of-anubis/paperback/product-21095039.html

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  2. Thanks for the comments New Big Dragon, and at some point this is definitely one that I'm going to want to get in print. I've got a ton of stuff to get off of the 'must get' list and this adventure is definitely at the top.

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  3. Thanks for sharing Eric. The little I have read of it looks good!

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  4. Its an old favorite and the author does great quality work. I hope you enjoy Corey. Cheers!

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