This thread is for promoting lesser-known adventures, settings, and modules. I’ll start, and continue adding more as I remember/find them!
Note: I’m not suggesting that no one knows about these modules, only that they aren’t typically on “recommended” lists!
Anyone who knows me will groan, but I do think WFRP one-shots can work nicely as OSR adventures. They often have a heavy social component.
Night of Blood and Rough Night at the Three Feathers are two I’ve run, but a friend recently gave me a collection of more from WFRP 2e, and I think a number of them would be good and are not railroady.
Also, the Knave/Cairn adventure Frozen Temple of Glacier Peak really worked well for my group (though I altered some of it). I really like one of its core surprises.
I enjoyed Elder Oak
the maps! so great. how does it play? looks pretty straightforward. the preview had only one real encounter (elder tree)…
It’s pretty short, but I found it had just enough for a couple sessions. The author wrote up this blurb in a comment that sums it up really well:
It is 26 pages. The whole dungeon is visible in the screenshots, and the village has 7 briefly detailed locations. The book has tools for generating the town and townsfolk as you go.
It probably takes 1-2 sessions to “finish” it.
The dungeon is set up like a real space with a single enemy faction inhabiting it. It has a couple of environmental hazards and some mysterious lore baked into the environment, and a few friendly/neutral NPC interactions.
Goblinpunch The Isles of the Dead, for a post-TPK adventure in the afterlife. (GP is well known, but the adventure I see almost never).
I don’t know exactly what makes something qualify as a “lesser known” adventure, but here are some maybe:
I’m also a big fan (we reviewed it on B2C). Excited about the pricey new module from Tuomas that should be coming very soon…
It’s not unknown, but I’ve rarely seen people praise it. It’s not perfect, but I ran Frozen Temple of Glacier Peak several times and it works really well for my style. I often recommend it.
Seconding rainy city. Adore that setting. Fits into the odd pretty well. I find myself fairly often in that gap between standard fantasy time (medieval / early modern mashup) and 20th century… My mind being in THE LONG 18TH CENTURY and a lil beyond these days.
i loved reading the Rainy CIty zines and find the setting so evocative and rich. It’s full of adventure hooks & factions but I not gotten to the table yet, maybe 2025 is the year.
Haven’t seen it mentioned here but:
Bakto’s Terrifying Cuisine has been a joy to run every time.
Because I saw your “Date of Expiration” Yochai, I was reminded that I really like to run Sision Tower, also by Graphite Prime.
Also Ironwood Gorge. Kinda like B2, but interestingly different and way better written.
I own Ironwood Gorge but have no memory of playing or reading it. Thanks for the bump!
I feel like I see less and less mention of Trilemma Adventures which is a real shame. Michael’s adventure locations are system neutral and amazingly flavorful. You can find links to the paid and free versions at https://trilemma.com/.
I agree that Trilemma isn’t talked about as much as they should be, though I wouldn’t call any of them “lesser known” - Sky-Blind Spire for example is fairly legendary! But you’re right that they aren’t discussed as much these days.
I really had trouble understanding the map of Sky-Blind Spire that’s why I bounced of it. Probably should look at it again
You’re not the only one! It’s spatially very unusual.
You just reminded me that I haven’t used my copy in a while. I might pull it out again for next session.
Evil Wizards in a Cave is one of the best, and no one talks about it.