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Surviving the Tomb of Horrors: A Deadly Adventure Worth Every Moment
Why this classic D&D module remains an unforgettable experience, even if your characters don’t make it out alive
TSR released The Tomb of Horrors in 1978, and it became an instant hit with Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) players. Designed by Gary Gygax, this game module for high-level characters isn’t your typical hack-and-slash adventure. Instead, Tomb of Horrors requires players to think critically and carefully examine their surroundings. It’s packed with deadly traps and mind-bending riddles that challenge even the most seasoned adventurers before they confront the formidable Lich, Acererak.
Note: Spoilers ahead.
One of my friends recently discovered Tomb of Horrors among his old game files and proposed a one-off adventure for our D&D group, offering to be the Game Master (GM). He cautioned us to roll up characters we wouldn’t mind losing, and we eagerly accepted. I finally had the chance to play Thrax, a high-level fighter I’ve written about in two short stories.
While Tomb of Horrors was originally designed for the classic D&D rules, it has since been updated for the 5th Edition. However, we collectively find the 5th Edition overly complicated, so we used the…