For the last three years, I've run a Planescape¹ campaign through almost all of its modules. Now, after successfully finishing it, I want to look back and review these adventures, highlighting the pros and cons of each one.

Each module will be rated in three categories, up to 3 points in each:

• Presentation: how easy is to understand and run the adventure.
• Openness: how open the adventure's scope is, regarding the freedom of choice.
• Quality: Overall quality of the adventure, including the originality and richness of its content, and players' enjoyment.

The full list of currently published reviews is available under the #planescape tag.

Ambushed!

In which the Heroes learn that no place is Safe, and that there's more than one use for a Modron.

• Designer: Monte Cook and Colin McComb
• Source: The Great Modron March², Chapter III
• Party: 4-6 characters of 3rd-5th levels
• Play-time: 1 session
• Locations:
  • Outlands

Overview

Taking off right after the previous chapter, the party is hired by a paladin lord (from the Order of the Planes-Militant) from Excelsior to escort the March through the wilderness of Outlands³ till it reaches Tradegate. Optionally, this adventure could also take place between Ecstasy and Faunel, or even while traveling through Bytopia, Elysium, or the Beastlands. For the latter, you will probably need additional information that can be found in the Planes of Conflict⁴ boxed set.

The reason for the escort is the Tacharim — an evil order of nomadic knights who plan to attack and capture low-ranking modrons for some dark ulterior motives. Paladins, while not fully aware of what the Tacharim need the modrons for, plan to shield the March from their evil devices.

After witnessing (and potentially intervening in) a couple of night-time raids, the characters get a chance to track the Tacharim knights to their base of operations — the Rendering Works. This is the main location of this adventure — a sturdy building guarded by a respectful contingent of trained warriors. Since any head-on attack is most probably doomed to fail, the party must devise a way to infiltrate the structure trying to save the modron prisoners and figure out the Tacharim plans if possible.

What happens from this point onward is completely dependent on the actions of the characters. They are free to request paladins' help for a surprise attack (generate a couple of 3rd-level paladins beforehand), settle on a stealthier approach, or come up with an entirely novel idea altogether. If the characters are lucky enough, they will discover the dark and twisted truth about imprisoned modrons, or even capture some of the Tacharim's high-ups who are currently overseeing the operation.

Whatever the outcome of the adventure is, it's not the last time the party is crossing swords with the black knights, for their evil plans are already in motion in other parts of the Multiverse.

Presentation

🖋️🖋️ useable

The map for the Outlands' route is acceptable despite not having any scale. That is, of course, due to the general nature of travel through the Outlands: the travel time between any two neighboring locations always takes 3d6 days. If needed, some additional information about the Outlands, as well as Excelsior and Tradegate gate-towns can be found in the Player's Primer to the Outlands.⁵

The map of the Rendering Works is of an isometric variety, of good detail, and even has a scale. However, it also has a huge downside — an absolute absence of the grid. Due to this issue, I decided to draw a top-down map myself, to make running this module a more comfortable experience.

The Rendering Works

Openness

☀️☀️☀️ open

A good example of a small-scale sandbox module design. While the party has defined goals, the characters are free to achieve them in any way they deem appropriate. Careful planning is rewarded, and foolish actions could easily lead to the death of some characters or even a TPK.

Quality

★★★ outstanding

Very enjoyable module and a memorable experience for the players. It also starts one of the main threads of the anthology — the Tacharim threat. If you are planning to run just some of the chapters of the Great Modron March, this one is a must.

Notes

Around the time of this adventure (or even earlier, if possible), I recommend introducing the NPC friend of the characters — Xaldra Miloni, a cheerful tiefling girl from the Free League. She will not partake in the action but can provide some useful information and friendly interactions between the adventures. If you wonder what this is all about, you must wait until Chapter V of the anthology.

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1. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17267/Planescape-Campaign-Setting-2e?affiliate_id=850783↩

2. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17302/The-Great-Modron-March-2e?affiliate_id=850783↩

3. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17301/A-Players-Primer-to-the-Outlands-2e?affiliate_id=850783↩

4. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17278/Planes-of-Conflict-2e?affiliate_id=850783↩

5. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/17301/A-Players-Primer-to-the-Outlands-2e?affiliate_id=850783↩