Vault of the Drow

DnDmodule| module_title = Vault of the Drow
module_

module_code = D3
module_rules = 1st Ed AD&D
module_character_levels = 10-14
module_campaign = Greyhawk / Generic AD&D
module_authors = Gary Gygax
module_first_published = 1978
series = G1 G2 G3 D1 D2 D3 Q1

Vault of the Drow is an adventure module for the "Dungeons & Dragons" roleplaying game written by Gary Gygax. The module bears the code "D3" and was published in 1978 by TSR, Inc. for use with the "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" first edition rules. This module was received with considerable praise for its epic scope and detail. [cite journal | last =Turnbull | first =Don | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Open Box: Dungeon Modules | format = | journal =White Dwarf | volume = | issue =Issue 11 | pages =20 | publisher =Games Workshop | year = 1979 | month = Feb/Mar | url = | issn = | accessdate = ] The D-Series modules were given an extensive overview review by British RPG magazine "White Dwarf" wherein it cautioned Dungeon Masters that running this module was unlike any they had run before [cite journal
last =Turnbull
first =Don
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Descent into the Depths of the Earth: Running the new TSR D modules
format =
journal =White Dwarf
volume =
issue =Issue 15
pages =19
publisher =Games Workshop
year = 1979
month = October/November
url =
issn =0265-8712
accessdate = ] .

The module is the third and final in the "Drow" series of adventures that began with D1 - "Descent into the Depths of the Earth", which was followed by D2 - "Shrine of the Kuo-Toa" (later compiled into a single adventure titled simply "Descent Into the Depths of the Earth"). Its setting is Erelhei-Cinlu, an underground stronghold of the drow [Lawrence Schick. "Heroic Worlds" (Prometheus Books, 1991).] .

The "D" series itself is part of a larger overall campaign of adventures set in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The overall campaign begins with the three modules in the "Against the Giants" series (G1, G2, and G3), continues through the "D" series, and concludes with module Q1 - "Queen of the Demonweb Pits". The latter segments of the campaign, including the "D" series and module Q1, are set in a vast network of caverns and tunnels called the Underdark. The entire campaign was eventually combined into a supermodule GDQ1-7 - "Queen of the Spiders" and was voted the single greatest adventure of all time by "Dungeon" magazine in 2004, on the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game. [cite journal |last=Mona| first=Erik|authorlink=Erik Mona|coauthors=James Jacobs|title=The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time|journal=Dungeon |volume=116 |year=2004]

ynopsis

After traveling for league after league into the Underdark, the adventurers come upon the vast subterranean city of the Drow (or "dark elves"), the twisted, corrupt cousins of the surface elves. The adventure is written in a very open-ended fashion, giving the Dungeon Master free rein to script any number of mini-campaigns or adventures taking place inside the Drow capital. An extensive overview of the Drow power structure is given for just this purpose. Eventually, the players may discover an astral gate leading to the plane of the Abyss, leading into the Q1 module.

Module artwork

The initial publication of the module in 1978 featured monochrome cover artwork by David C. Sutherland III. In 1981, however, TSR re-issued the adventure to cooincide with the release of the D1-2 compilation "Descent into the Depths of the Earth". The D1-2 compilation featured color cover artwork, and so Erol Otus was tasked with creating a new color cover for D3 as well (pictured above). Sutherland's interior artwork was retained, and other interior artists for the module include Jeff Dee, David S. LaForce, David A. Trampier, and Otus.

References

*cite book
last = Gygax
first = Gary
authorlink = Gary Gygax
coauthors =
title = Vault of the Drow
publisher = TSR, Inc.
date = 1978
location =
pages = 32
url =
doi =
id = 9021
isbn = 0-935696-07-5

External links

* [http://www.acaeum.com/DDIndexes/ModPages/D.html Drow Series] at the Acaeum.com
* [http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/dd1/d3-alt.htm Vault of the Drow] at the TSR Archive
* [http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=92 Vault of the Drow] at the Pen & Paper RPG Database