Realms of Horror

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Realms of Horror
CodeS1-4
TSR product code9209
AuthorsGary Gygax and Lawrence Schick with Wm. John Wheeler
First published1987
Linked modules
S1 S2 S3 S4

Realms of Horror is a "supermodule" compiled from the S–series of Dungeons & Dragons modules, which were four distinct Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition adventure modules, designed for use by Dungeon Masters as pre-made scenarios that are ready to be played with minimal preparation.

Plot summary[edit]

Realms of Horror contains four adventure scenarios collected from previously published modules coded S1 through S4, which have been reformatted into a connected adventure campaign.[1]

Publication history[edit]

The "S," standing for "Special,"[2] in the series' name is the first part of the alphanumeric code used to indicate related modules. The four S–series modules were released over the four-year period between 1978 and 1982.

S1-4 Realms of Horror was written by Gary Gygax and Lawrence Schick with Wm. John Wheeler, with a cover by Larry Elmore, and was published by TSR in 1987 as an 80-page book, a 48-page art booklet, a 16-page map booklet, and an outer folder.[1]

Module Code Authors Release Levels Pages ISBN Dungeon ranking[3]
Tomb of Horrors S1 Gary Gygax 1978[4] 10–14 32 ISBN 0-935696-12-1 3
White Plume Mountain S2 Lawrence Schick 1979 5–10 16 ISBN 0-935696-13-X 9
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks S3 Gary Gygax 1980 8–12 32 ISBN 0-935696-14-8 5
The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth S4 Gary Gygax 1982[5] 6–10 64 ISBN 0-935696-72-5 22
Realms of Horror S1–4 Gary Gygax and Lawrence Schick 1987 Various 144[6] ISBN 0-88038-486-7 N/A

Reception[edit]

All four of the modules were in Dungeon's 2004 article, "The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time"[3]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 113. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
  2. ^ (The Acaeum; Special Series)
  3. ^ a b (Mona; "The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time"
  4. ^ Although commercially released in 1978, Tomb of Horrors was originally used at the first Origins Game Fair. (Denmead; Top 10 D&D Modules I Found in Storage This Weekend)
  5. ^ The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth was actually used first at WinterCon V in 1976, before being published commercially 6 years later. (Schick; Heroic Worlds).
  6. ^ The module actually consists of an 80-page book, a 46-page book, and a 16-page book, rather than all being part of the same book (TSR Archive; Realms of Horror)

References[edit]