Dungeon Backdrop: Hidden Redoubt of Gilak Urser (P1) by Creighton Broadhurst is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as a 17-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.75 but was purchased at a reduced price in a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, two are ads, two the front matter and Contents and one the Open Game License. The PDF comes in two versions, one optimised for print and high-end devices and the other for low end devices and mobile.
Using a Dungeon Backdrop is a fairly standard piece explaining how to use this, that the backdrop is intended for use with the Duchy of Ashlar, the Lonely Coast or the Picaroon Peninsula, but is self-contained enough to fit most campaign worlds with a stretch of cliff-fringed coastline. It also explains that location descriptions only cover the basics and that treasure is only minor and level appropriate treasure needs adding.
Dungeon Background explains that the Hidden Redoubt is said to contain much treasure but so far no-one has claimed to have found the place. There are three different potential backgrounds for who Gilak Urser was.
The Adventure Begins has three different adventure hooks for it.
Whispers & Rumours has six rumours. Some are true, one is definitely false but three are potentially false, depending on who Urser was.
The Surrounding Locality looks at the surrounding area with ten pieces of wilderness dressing and ten things to find. A sidebar has a setting note that effective duplicates some of the earlier information.
Notable Locations at a Glance gives an overview of the important locations.
Generic Dungeon Features gives a description of the general features along with ten pieces of dressing and ten things to find, followed by a map of the redoubt.
The redoubt itself is then described. The locations briefly covered earlier are covered in more detail. The pages have the standard two columns, one with the description, the other, GM Notes, partly blank for the GM to add their own notes as well as suggestions related to the associated text.
Aftermath looks at potential further effects in the campaign and resolves the three potential adventure hooks. There are also some suggestions on further adventures.
Dungeon Backdrop: Hidden Redoubt of Gilak Urser (P1) in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked and only sidebars missing. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. The text maintains a two-column format and appears to be free of errors. As well as the map, there are some stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
Though, like others in the series, this has a default setting, given that the default is actually three different settings – all in the same world admittedly – it’s hardly tied to any. It’s just a hidden dungeon in a seaside cliff, so dropping it in anywhere is easy enough. This is also a framework that needs some work, and it can’t be used just out of the box, needing some preparatory work. Dungeon Backdrop: Hidden Redoubt of Gilak Urser (P1) can be found by clicking here.
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