System:
Dungeons & Dragons
Code:
#9254
Type:
Accessory
Levels:
all
Author:
John Nephew
Year:
1989
Publisher:
TSR
Format:
64-page book, 32-page book, tri-fold cover
PC1 is the first in a series of 4 accessories that outline traditional "monster" NPCs and the possibility of PC play. While made for the basic D&D gaming system, there is a section included on how to adapt the rules given for advanced D&D play. The conversion process is painless. PC1 includes a 64-page DM booklet which outlines the various creatures and their level advancement, special abilities, spell abilities where needed, and a general background for each different race. There is a 32-page adventure booklet included as well. Most of the adventures included in this booklet are just outlines, there is one included however that is fully developed. So let's get started!
About half of this booklet is dedicated to the various races that can be adapted into NPCs or even PCs. Ability charts are given, hit points and hit dice for the various creatures as they level, spell casting charts, experience progression tables, basically everything you need to create an NPC or play a PC is included. Even a general description of the motivations of each race is included. The various races that are presented are centaurs, dryads, fauns, hsiao (an intelligent race of avians), treants, wood imps, brownies, leprechauns, pixies, sprites, pookas (magical shape-changers), sidhes (fairies), and wooddrakes. Each race description and discussion comes with all the charts are tables mentioned above, along with a general discussion of each race and in many cases how that race gets along with some of the other races.
Besides discussing the various races, the DM's Booklet also discusses fairy magic and many of the abilities available to various races. Also discussed - skills of the various races in this group, new magical items, personalities that are important to know, the woodland realms which these creatures inhabit, how various members of the various races are integrated into a more human-centric campaign world, special equipment required by some of the races, and the ever present glossary and index
After a brief discussion about woodland encounters in general, and the aforementioned discussion of 2nd Edition AD&D Game Adaptation, there are 7 adventures discussed in this 32 page adventure booklet. 6 of the 7 adventures are more like general outlines that are waiting for a DM to fill in with details. The last adventure is well fleshed out and ready to play with a low level character group. There can always be edits and improvements, but as it is, it is good to go. The adventures include:
There adventure ideas are all pretty excellent and just waiting for a intrepid DM to flesh them out. And just by reading through the DM's Booklet, an imaginative DM can come up with dozens upon dozens of adventure ideas to work into his campaign.
There are a lot of additional races covered here. One thing I always personally struggled with as a DM is how in the world to include all these different races that are out there in my campaign world. Most of the time - I just stuck to the basics. But reading this accessory makes me want to go back and redesign certain areas of my campaign world - to flesh these areas out more and include some good guys in the deep dark forest and sprinkle some fairy folk around - just to add some spice to the experience.
Since above I implied that it would be super easy for a DM to come up with "dozens upon dozens of adventure ideas", I should put myself to the challenge. I don't have to come up with dozens and dozens. But I think coming up with 10 adventure ideas based on the DM's booklet should be a fair challenge. I'm not saying they are all going to be GOOD ideas. Just brainstorming here folks. In no particular order:
OK - maybe it wasn't super easy to come up with those, but it wasn't super difficult either. You can do it!
What can I say - I believe that this is a great resource with great ideas about the various races that are covered. And even if the DM never allows PCs to play these races, which is perfectly fine, this is still a great reference which serves to flesh out these various races and add depth to the campaign world. Maybe the DM can even develop some very meaningful NPCs from the vast amount of information presented. Great job!