A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Gregorius21778: The Crypt of Baron Vraszek

Gregorius21778: The Crypt of Baron Vraszek is a role playing game supplement written and published by Kai Pütz a.k.a Gregorius21778. This is an adventure for use with Lamentations of the Flame Princess and, as such, is covered by the Open Game License with some parts considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available as a 17-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4 but was purchased at a reduced price during a sale. One page is the front cover, around two-thirds of a page is the front matter, half a page the Table of Contents and one the Open Game License. The PDF comes in two versions, the second a more printer-friendly mostly black and white version.

The opening paragraphs explain that the adventure is a dungeon crawl and is aimed at 2-5 characters of 2nd to 4th level; more characters results in crowding, higher levels makes it easy and 1st level characters will probably die. A cleric and a fighter are needed for the best chances of success.

An Early Disclaimer explains that a demonic figure called Baphomet is used in this adventure, with a special type of vampire created for it, but another figure can be substituted. These vampires are not created through bites, but through pacts with dark forces.

Background explains that the titular baron was never content with his position and always wanted more. He called for a warlock to help him become a vampire, but most of his guards turned on him and buried him in the crypt. However, the baron became a vampire and is still able to leave it at night. A sidebar discusses placement of the adventure.

Hooks has several hooks for getting characters involved.

In the Village/In the Ruins has the backstory that characters can learn in the village.

The Crypts Beneath the Ruins starts with a map and wandering monsters before moving onto describing the location. As stated, this is a pretty standard dungeon crawl with a boss monster at the end. This finishes off with experience rewards.

Appendix has four new monsters, a rather nasty mould to contract, details on the vampires and treasure including a magic sword, spellbook and new spell.

Gregorius21778: The Crypt of Baron Vraszek in Review

The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked and the Table of Contents is to a similar level of depth. There are a number of what appear to have been intended to be internal links, including the Table of Contents, as well as external ones, but they don’t work, possibly due to the use of watermarking which has been known to affect things like that. Navigation is good but it clearly was intended to be better. The text maintains a two-column format and a number of minor errors were noticed. There are a number of black and white stock images, as well as the partly-coloured map. Presentation is okay.

This adventure is, as it sets out to be, a small dungeon crawl. This does not mean it’s a safe dungeon crawl, though. There are a number of potentially dangerous hazards as well as the fact it’s filled with undead, hence the need for a cleric. Though the adventure might be aimed at Europe, it could be placed in pretty much any world; it really doesn’t need to semi-standard European setting of LotFP. Gregorius21778: The Crypt of Baron Vraszek is a decent little adventure and it can be found by clicking here.