Dungeon Crawl Classics #74: Blades Against Death 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 4 characters.
The supplement is available as a 36-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6.99 and is also available in printed form from sites such as Amazon. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one an ad.
Though it isn’t expressly stated anywhere in the adventure, this supplement, which also takes place in Punjar, appears to be set after Jewels of the Carnifex.
The Introduction explains that the adventure is aimed at 6-10 4th level characters who are accompanied by hirelings, or perhaps a smaller party of 5th level characters.
The Adventure Background explains that the adventure involves crossing between life and death and is in three acts. The following section explains that resurrection is difficult in DCC and that playtests had entire parties killed. After this, it’s stated that there are several gods of death. Finally, there is an adventure hook.
Sons of the City: Character Knowledge in Punjar has details on what characters might now.
Player Start: The Hunger Moon Tarot has the characters seek out a witch who will perform a divination for them; different Tarot cards have different benefits.
The Temple of the Moon has characters infiltrating a temple to steal a prized item. This will not be appreciated by the worshippers.
Interlude: Flight from the Temple has thief takers stalking the characters in the streets.
The Charnel Pits was where the bodies of the lower-class members of the city were disposed of, as well as some who were not dead when they entered.
The Realms of the Dead is a single encounter in which the characters have to gamble with Death. This is, naturally, where parties died the most in playtests; Death is, well, deadly.
There are three pages of handouts for this adventure, one inside the front cover then two pages that have four Tarot cards in colour.
The Abbot of the Woods is a bonus adventure. The Introduction states this aimed at 5-8 characters of 1st-3rd level; lower-level characters are advised to have 0-level hirelings; they can function as cannon fodder and a source of replacement characters. A high priest led his followers into the woods, then vanished.
Background explains that as well as physical treasure, there were rumours of more occult treasure to be found, with notes on how to seed the campaign with legends of it.
The Abbot’s Secret explains that the abbot became afraid of dying and sought a, frankly insane, way of defeating death. Successfully, but it drove him mad.
The Abbey of the Woods gives some details of what the abbey is like. The player start is next, then the abbey is described. The characters will need to overcome the abbot.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #74: Blades Against Death in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, given the number of sections and the fact that there are two separate adventures in it, these would have been very useful. Navigation is poor. The text primarily follows a two-column black and white format, though there are two pages where it is a single column triangle and appeared to be free of errors, with one main exception. This is the second printing of the supplement, with the bonus adventure added, and it looks like the Open Game License was accidentally left out. There are a number of black and white illustrations, including maps, up to full page in size, plus the colour Tarot cards, all of which appear to be custom. Presentation is good.
The primary adventure could be considered to be a heist adventure, with more than one target. The final one being Death. It also has the potential to be incredibly lethal; Death, if it attacks, have an attack that either kills instantly, or causes so much damage it’s unlikely any character playing this module will survive. Parties definitely need to be on the upper end of power for the level and hirelings to soak up some of the destruction would be highly useful. This is an interesting, albeit lethal, adventure. The second adventure is a more straightforward dungeon crawl, but again is dangerous. Dungeon Crawl Classics #74: Blades Against Death has a couple of very dangerous adventures in it and it can be found by clicking here.
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