Against the Cult of the Reptile God

DnDmodule| module_title = Against the Cult of the Reptile God
module_

module_code = N1
module_rules = 1st Ed AD&D
module_character_levels = 1 - 3
module_campaign = Greyhawk
module_authors = Douglas Niles
module_first_published = 1982
series =

"Against the Cult of the Reptile God" is an adventure module for the "Dungeons & Dragons" fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's "World of Greyhawk" campaign setting. The module was published by TSR in 1982 for the first edition "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" rules [Lawrence Schick. "Heroic Worlds" (Prometheus Books, 1991).] . It bears the code N1 and is the first in the N (Novice) series of unrelated adventures for beginning characters. [cite journal | last = Bambra| first = Jim| authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Open Box | format = review | journal =White Dwarf | volume = | issue =Issue 44 | pages = 14 | publisher =Games Workshop | year = 1983 | month = Aug | url = | issn = | accessdate = ]

The module was written by Douglas Niles with cover art by Timothy Truman. It was the first design by Doug Niles after he came to work at TSR. Working from an old brief, Niles completed the module in fours weeks. [cite journal | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =TSR Profiles: Doug Niles | journal =Dragon #108 | volume =Vol. X | issue =No. 11 | pages =66 | publisher =TSR | year = 1986 | month = April | url = | issn =0279-6848 | accessdate = ] There is a printing error in one of the module maps, the maze near the troglodytes has no exit. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Novice Series (N1 - N5)
work =
publisher =The Acaeum
date =
url =http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/modpages/n.html
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-03-23 ]

History

This module had an unusual development history. The concept came about as a result of a re-edit of the original manuscript for The Secret of Bone Hill by Len Lakofka, which had been deemed “unsuitable” as submitted. Kevin Hendryx was assigned the task of editing and made a very extensive rewrite, which also included an expansion upon the original scenario by adding a new dungeon inhabited by an evil cleric and his lizard men minions. When Len heard about the rewrite, however, he contacted Gary Gygax who in turn ordered the design department to simply edit the original submission. Thus, Kevin’s rewritten material was discarded. So as not to waste all of this effort, however, Kevin resubmitted the dungeon and plot as a separate module, Against the Cult of the Reptile God.When Kevin resigned from TSR and went back to Metagaming, he took this proposal with him, reworking it and renaming it to The Kanirvan Conspiracy. But somewhat soon afterwards, Howard Thompson decided to eliminate his design staff, and by early 1983 Metagaming folded, and this proposal was never realized.TSR had not forgotten about the concept, and assigned it to Douglas Niles and in late 1982 the published it as module N1. [Auction of Kevin Hendryx material by Collector's Trove on E-Bay]

Plot

The adventure takes place on the border between the Gran March and the Kingdom of Keoland in the western Flanaess. It is one of the most challenging of the early AD&D modules, featuring a mystery that leads to adventures in town, the wilderness and a dungeon. [cite journal | last =Culotta | first =Paul F. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Forum | journal =Dragon #98 | volume =Vol. X | issue =No. 1 | pages =36 | publisher =TSR | year = 1985 | month = June | url = | issn =0279-6848 | accessdate = ]

Reception

"Against the Cult of the Reptile God" was ranked the 19th greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventure of all time by "Dungeon" magazine in 2004, on the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game. [cite journal|author=Erik Mona, James Jacobs, et al.|title=The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time|journal=Dungeon |volume=#116|publisher= Paizo Publishing| month= November | year=2004]

References

External links

*" [http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/dd1/n1.htm Against the Cult of the Reptile God] " at the TSR Archive