''Caravans'' is an accessory for the second edition of the ''
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Several different editions of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ...
''
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
, published in 1994.
Contents
''Caravans'' is an
Al-Qadim
Al-Qadim is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game which was developed by Jeff Grubb with Andria Hayday for TSR, Inc., and was first released in 1992. Al-Qadim uses ''One Thousand and One Nights'' as a theme and is ...
adventure in which the eponymous caravan serves to move the characters (levels 5–9) across the High Desert in western
Zakhara
Abeir-Toril is the fictional planet that makes up the ''Forgotten Realms'' ''Dungeons & Dragons'' campaign setting, as well as the Al-Qadim and Maztica campaign settings, and the 1st edition version of the Oriental Adventures campaign setting.
...
. If the
player character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional Character (arts), character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters tha ...
s feed ancient poetry to the Persian rug Ala'i the Hungry during the adventure, Ala'i gives them clues by blacking in parts of its weave. Other encounters include a talking tent, weird lightning on a high rock spire, broom-wielding copper automatons, giant
roc skeletons, bug-eating
centaurs
A centaur ( ; ; ), occasionally hippocentaur, also called Ixionidae (), is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse that was said to live in the mountains of Thessaly. In one version o ...
, and an
efreeti palace beneath the Pit of Ghuls.
Publication history
''Caravans'' was written by
Rick Swan
Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR.
His work for TSR, mostly for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', appeared from 1989 to 1995.
Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin' ...
, and includes a full-color 21" X 30" poster map.
Reception
Allen Varney
Allen Varney (born 1958) is an American writer and game designer. Varney has produced numerous books, role-playing game supplements, technical manuals, articles, reviews, columns, and stories, as well as the fantasy novel ''Cast of Fate'' ( TSR, ...
reviewed ''Caravans'' for ''
Dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
'' magazine #219 (July 1995).
He comments: "Although caravan journeys have long made for romantic adventures, soap operas of the desert, this box actually deals little with caravans in themselves. Rather, its caravan serves as an excuse to move the characters
cross the desert In missing this chance, the sourcebox reads like some old
Spelljammer
''Spelljammer'' is a campaign setting originally published for the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ( 2nd edition) role-playing game, which features a fantastic (as opposed to scientific) outer space environment. Subsequent editions have included ...
adventures where PCs travel through space to another world, then go on an ordinary dungeon adventure."
Varney concludes his review by saying: "That said, I still like this set. Sure, the scenario is linear, and NPCs get some of the best lines, but just guess what's on the
..map. Terrain maps, ship plans, a palace, a mosque? No, a rug! It's a beautiful Persian-style rug with a name, Ala'i the Hungry
..I could talk about the rest of the neat stuff in this box
..but admit it, the rug has already convinced you, right?"
References
Al-Qadim supplements
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1994
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