A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Dungeon Crawl Classics #72: Beyond the Black Gate

Dungeon Crawl Classics #72: Beyond the Black Gate by Harley Stroh is a role playing game supplement published by Goodman Games for use with Dungeon Crawl Classics. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is an adventure for level 5 characters.

The supplement is available as a 36-page PDF from DriveThruRPG and in printed form from sites such as Amazon. The PDF costs $6.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter, two are ads and a fraction of a page is the Open Game License.

The Introduction has some details on how the adventure can be used for higher-level characters then the Adventure Background explains that the Horned King, ruler of the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom and lord of the Wild Hunt, was seduced by an ice giant. The Witches of Ashur now seek to steal his crown. This is followed by some adventure hooks and d5 tables of rumours, legends and superstitions on the Horned King for different classes.

The characters are travelling by ship when the machinations of the witches cause its wreck. They will then travel through some sea caves until they meet the witches, where they will be sent to the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom. It’s explained that encounters are not meant to be balanced; players who expect to cut a bloody swathe through all opposition will end up outmatched by the ice giants. The characters will make their way through the kingdom to the king’s residence, and there deal with him. Which may, or may not, involve doing what they were tasked with.

Conclusion wraps things up and has some potential rewards.

The Horned King provides all the relevant patron details for having the king as patron.

New Magic has some new, and decently powerful, magic items that can be found during the adventure.

Crash of the Sky People is a bonus science-fantasy adventure for 4-8 level 3 characters added for the second printing. Part of a starship crashes into the ground near the characters and they can explore it. It isn’t safe and, if caution isn’t taken, characters may accidentally cause the destruction of a large part of the scenery, including them.

Dungeon Crawl Classics #72: Beyond the Black Gate in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, given the length and number of sections, these would have been useful. Navigation is poor. The text primarily maintains a two-column black and white format – the Conclusion is single column – and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of black and white illustrations, as well as the maps, all of which appear to be custom. Presentation is good.

The main adventure has good and bad parts. Some of the primary foes, which are clearly mythological in nature, are surprisingly weak, and some of the logic is dodgy. Plus, it should be possible for a character to become the new Horned King, yet that isn’t covered. Not finishing off the Horned King has the prospect of being deadly; large masses of dangerous giants rush in as the king leaves the characters to their fate. The ice giants themselves shouldn’t be underestimated; en masse, they can ruin a party’s day. The second adventure is what it sets out to be; an adventure exploring a crashed starship, with all the potential problems that can cause. Including said scenery-wrecking explosion. There’s also a mini-game built into the adventure. Dungeon Crawl Classics #72: Beyond the Black Gate has good and bad points and can be found by clicking here.