Dungeon Crawl Classics #79.5: Tower of the Black Pearl 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 1 characters.
The supplement is available as a 22-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers and one page is the front matter and Open Game License.
The Introduction explains that a well-rounded party will have the best chance of success and thieves will be useful.
The Adventure Summary states that once a decade the waters of the Empyrean Ocean recede far enough to reveal the top of a tower, once home to a wicked wizard and now known as the resting place of the artefact known as the Black Pearl.
Adventure Hooks has a number of ways of involving the characters.
Judge’s Notes gives the background story and explains that a notorious pirate is looking to sack the Tower of the Black Pearl as he has sold his ship to retire from piracy, ahead of the hangman’s noose.
The Tower of the Black Pearl has a wandering monster chart then describes the tower itself. It contains, amongst other things, an unusual room where the lives of heroes can be snuffed out – quite literally. There are a number of traps and hazards in the tower, plus the pirate and his band.
Further Adventures has options for such, including an optional ending, Dark Age of Heroes, where all the Lawful heroes, those above 5th level, of the world are killed, excluding any PCs.
The final two pages have handouts.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #79.5: Tower of the Black Pearl in Review
The PDF is bookmarked but only the major sections are linked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some black and white illustrations on top of the handouts and maps, though less than usual. Presentation is okay.
The layout of this book is a bit different to most in the line; it’s only single column, not two column, the text is a lot less dense and the book size is smaller. Given this, it’s more expensive than comparable adventures in the series. This adventure seems like it may have originated as a tournament adventure, and possibly not even for DCC originally, and some elements do seem to confirm this; there are more magic items than can usually be found in a DCC adventure. Dungeon Crawl Classics #79.5: Tower of the Black Pearl isn’t a bad adventure, but it feels a bit different, and rather more expensive, than most such, and it can be found by clicking here.
Leave a Reply