''Zienteck'' is an adventure for fantasy

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, 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 these roles within ...

s published by Judges Guild in 1981.

Plot summary

''Zienteck'' is a scenario for character levels 5-9 set in a large dungeon complex. The book includes detailed wandering monster tables and several local wilderness encounters. Beyond the ill-famed Black Angel Woods, legend has it lie the remains of Wizard Zienteck's stronghold – where wizardly books and treasure survived the destruction of Griendal the Dragon. This booklet provides encounter tables for the Black Angel Woods and Dragon Mountains, two new monsters (black angels and fire chameleons), a wilderness map, a Dragon's Lair map, and the info on Zienteck dungeon (including an optional players' map).

Publication history

''Zienteck'' was written by

Mark Harmon Thomas Mark Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor. He is most famous for playing the lead role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in '' NCIS''. He also appeared in a wide variety of roles since the early 1970s. After spending the majority of ...

, and was published by Judges Guild in 1981 as a 32-page book. TSR opted not to renew Judges Guild's license for ''D&D'' when it expired in September 1980. They managed to hold onto their ''AD&D'' license a little while longer, so adventures like ''

The Illhiedrin Book ''The Illhiedrin Book'' is an adventure for fantasy role-playing games published by Judges Guild in 1981. Plot summary ''The Illhiedrin Book'' is an adventure scenario intended for player character A player character (also known as a pl ...

'' (1981), ''Zienteck'' (1981), '' Trial by Fire'' (1981), and

Rudy Kraft Rudy Kraft III is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games. Career Steve Perrin and Rudy Kraft designed the ''RuneQuest'' (1978) mythical fantasy roleplaying game, set in the world of Glorantha created by Greg Stafford, a ...

's '' Portals of Twilight'' (1981) would finish off that line.

Reception

W. G. Armintrout reviewed the adventure in '' The Space Gamer'' No. 55. He commented that "There are a few bright spots – a monster custom-designed by old Zienteck himself, and murals in the dungeon that clue the adventurers in as to what originally went on there. A DM will have few problems running this adventure." He called it "Just a hack-and-slash adventure. All clues are worthless, the wilderness map is 80% unexplained ..and the narrator's idea of wit makes my gorge rise. The only NPCs are the dragons themselves." Armintrout concluded the review by saying, "What a bore! An intrepid 12-year-old could do just as well, and perhaps better. Don't buy ''Zienteck''."

Reviews

* '' Different Worlds'' #17 (Dec 1981)

References

{{reflist Judges Guild fantasy role-playing game adventures Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1981