Trilemma Adventures (2019) [+]
Jul 29 2024
Trilemma Adventures is a collection of 48 1- to 3-page no-stat adventures for fantasy RPGs by Michael Prescott. These were originally developed at a regular interval and as he wrote them he eventually developed a world and this book includes a bestiary, magic items, history, gazetteer sections.
Each adventure has an isometric map (more of an illustration with labelled areas). Then the text gives the situation and describes each area and major inhabitants and items. Many adventures have random tables for encounters or spells or monster characteristics. Key words and phrases are in bold and things that are described later in the adventure are in red italics.
The world is one where there was an old mage empire of which there are remnants today (and there was another empire and a war and there are hints in various adventures). Many adventures deal with these remnants since they are ancient and haunted ruins. Some adventures have items or people related to another adventure. In the gazetteer there is a big map showing where each adventure resides (there is also a fairly extensive big underground land).
The various races and monsters are fairly unique (and the appendices collects the various bits scattered in the adventures so you get better descriptions there). For the most part you can substitute your RPG's races and monsters. Since there are no stats here you can substitute with appropriately-leveled creatures, though in general the adventures are more mid- to high-level is my impression.
Thinking about it too many adventures are rather specific to this world, especially background wise and why some monsters are there. As its own emergent campaign world Trilemma Adventures is fine (and there are companion Bestiaries with stats for D&D 5E, D&D B/X, Dungeon World, or Year Zero). As ready-to-run one-shots for my campaign I don't think I'd use more than a few. In the end I had higher hopes that this book would be usable but turns out I'll not be using it in my D&D campaign.
Each adventure has an isometric map (more of an illustration with labelled areas). Then the text gives the situation and describes each area and major inhabitants and items. Many adventures have random tables for encounters or spells or monster characteristics. Key words and phrases are in bold and things that are described later in the adventure are in red italics.
The world is one where there was an old mage empire of which there are remnants today (and there was another empire and a war and there are hints in various adventures). Many adventures deal with these remnants since they are ancient and haunted ruins. Some adventures have items or people related to another adventure. In the gazetteer there is a big map showing where each adventure resides (there is also a fairly extensive big underground land).
The various races and monsters are fairly unique (and the appendices collects the various bits scattered in the adventures so you get better descriptions there). For the most part you can substitute your RPG's races and monsters. Since there are no stats here you can substitute with appropriately-leveled creatures, though in general the adventures are more mid- to high-level is my impression.
Thinking about it too many adventures are rather specific to this world, especially background wise and why some monsters are there. As its own emergent campaign world Trilemma Adventures is fine (and there are companion Bestiaries with stats for D&D 5E, D&D B/X, Dungeon World, or Year Zero). As ready-to-run one-shots for my campaign I don't think I'd use more than a few. In the end I had higher hopes that this book would be usable but turns out I'll not be using it in my D&D campaign.