Dungeon Crawl Classics #95: Enter the Dagon 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 40-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, two pages are the front matter, one the Open Game License and two are ads.
The Introduction explains that the adventure is modelled after spell duel tournaments held at Gen Con 2015 and 2016 (and yes, there’s a reason for the similarity between the adventure’s name and Enter the Dragon). Though the spelluser is the focus, that character is outclassed by the other competitors and survival will rest on the shoulders of the others.
Adventure Background explains that the Isle of Dagon is a mysterious isle that can only be visited by the invited, wizards who travel to the island to fight to the death. The isle is run by the Secret Masters and the death matches are described, as is the secret behind the isle. Following this is a summary of the duellists and their retinues and the timeline encounters; both are gone into more detail later. A sidebar describes the insect servitors of the Black Order, who are used for the adventure hook to get the characters involved. The start for the characters on arrival at the isle is then covered.
Section 1: The Isle of Dagon gives general features of the isle, and the treatment of wizards, are followed by details on how non-wizards are treated; a wizard can demand the execution of a non-wizard who isn’t accompanied by their master. Only said master can stay the execution. Non-wizards are free to assault each other, but not wizards. Wandering the isle without the wizard duellist is therefore dangerous. The various locations on the isle are described, which includes the towers the duellists and their retinues are using.
Section 2: Timeline Encounters has the various events that happen on the isle. PCs may not necessarily know about some of these events, and they can all be changed by the characters’ actions. The final entry in the timeline is the duel between the other surviving duellist and, hopefully, the PC wizard.
Appendix A: The Death Matches gives the rules for the spell duels and how they differ from standard ones.
Appendix B: Spell Duellists describes the other entrants and their retinues.
Finally, there are recaps from Gen Con spell duels, including photos.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #95: Enter the Dagon in Review
The PDF is bookmarked but only the major sections are linked. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of error. There are a lot of custom images, including a couple of colour and some photos, as well as many black and white images, including of the other entrants, and maps. Presentation is good.
All told, this is a pretty dangerous adventure. The PC wizard will likely be outclassed in the duels, so the non-wizards will have to work to undermine and cripple the other wizards first. This is dangerous for them, as assaulting a wizard bears the death penalty and, if they aren’t accompanied by their own wizard, they can summarily be put to death at any time by another wizard. Characters will likely have to fight and plan in as underhand way as possible, avoiding direct conflict when it could easily result in their execution – there are a lot of insect servitors. All that is before the secret of Dagon, which is a serious problem. PC deaths are very likely. Dungeon Crawl Classics #95: Enter the Dagon is a difficult, and potentially highly lethal, adventure and can be found by clicking here.
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