''Something Wild'' is an adventure module for the 2nd 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 1996.

Plot summary

''Something Wild'' is an adventure in which 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 become involved in a conflict with a god who has escaped from his prison into a collective nightmare, causing maddening dreams and fighting in the streets which threatens to destroy the city of

Sigil A sigil () is a type of symbol used in magic. The term usually refers to a pictorial signature of a spirit (such as an angel, demon, or deity). In modern usage, especially in the context of chaos magic, a sigil refers to a symbolic represen ...

Publication history

''Something Wild'' was designed by Ray Vallese, and published by TSR in 1996. The cover artist was

Robh Ruppel Robh Ruppel is an American artist best known for his work on role-playing game products. Critic Joseph Szadkowski of ''The Washington Times'' has referred to him as a "horror genius". Early life Robh Ruppel grew up in Bellaire, Texas, and atte ...

, the interior two-color artist was DiTerlizzi, the color plates were by

Jeff Miracola Jeff Miracola (born October 10, 1971)Jeff Miracola: Artist and Illustrator: Biography

Alan Pollack Alan Pollack (born 1964 in New Jersey) is an American artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Works Alan Pollack produced interior illustrations for many ''Dungeons & Dragons'' books and ''Dragon (magazine), Dragon'' magazine sin ...

, and

Adam Rex Adam Michael Rex (born May 16, 1973) is an American illustrator and author of Children's literature, children's books from Tucson, Arizona. Career Adam Rex received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona. He has contributed illu ...

, and the conceptual artist was

Dana Knutson Dana Knutson is an artist best known for his work on role-playing game products. Career Dana Knutson has had a long career as an artist on role-playing games. He worked at FASA for 10 years, producing art on numerous works for their ''Star Trek' ...

Reception

Trenton Webb reviewed ''Something Wild'' for ''Arcane'' magazine, rating it a 6 out of 10 overall. He calls the adventure a "wild and tricky bash", but notes that it "coughs up enough connected and comprehensible clues to keep the players on track yet maintains the overall mystery". He also calls it "a fresh but complex scenario that makes vast demands on both referees and players", noting that it draws on some of the newer plans and drops big hints about the next phase of the

Blood War In the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, the term monster refers to a variety of creatures, some adapted from folklore and legends and others invented specifically for the game. Included are traditional monsters such as dragon ...

. According to Webb, the ''

Planescape Campaign Setting The ''Planescape Campaign Setting'' is a boxed set for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. The set was designed by David Cook (game designer), David "Zeb" Cook and published in 1994. It introduced the Planescape setting and was ...

'' boxed set is all that's required to run the adventure, but he also recommends using ''

Planes of Conflict ''Planes of Conflict'' is an accessory for the second edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995. Contents ''Planes of Conflict'' contains six maps and five manuals for use wit ...

'', the first ''Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix'', '' In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil'', '' The Factol's Manifesto'', and

Ravenloft Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a '' pocket dimension'' or demiplane, called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land piece ...

: '' The Nightmare Lands''. He considers the rules and references "beautifully intertwined", with the non-linear encounters "elegantly limited" to keep the players from getting ahead of themselves and ruining the scenario. Webb concludes the review by stating, "''Something Wild'' bristles impressively with ambition, subtly and guile. Yet while it makes an entertaining read, playing the scenario can be too taxing to be fun."

References

Planescape adventures Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1996 {{D&D-stub