Dungeon Module B2

The Keep on the Borderlands
Among the many published modules a few stand out as widely recognized "classics". B2 The Keep on the Borderlands is one such module and as one of the B series was written to help teach the Basic game. B2 was included in some version of the Basic Box, my copy shown above, was purchased at a used book store a few years ago. As an example of how to set-up a really good D&D mini campaign this has become the hobby's go-to module.  Written by Gary Gygax, one can assume B2 shows us how he suggested we play the game. The module comes as a 28 page booklet wrapped in a card-stock cover with a map printed in blue on the inside. As part of the Basic Box and as an intro module, B2 is written with directions, explanations and advice to make the referee's job easier. The module includes a background history section to set the stage for the players, a Rumor Table to help build interest and spark the imagination, a detailed keep stocked with NPCs (some with their own motives) to serve as both a home-base for PCs and location for role-play, a wilderness area (complete with a couple side-adventure locations) between the keep and the dungeon proper, the Caves of Chaos stocked with monsters of various factions, some more hostile than others and most at-odds with their monster neighbors. The module is by no means linear and really there is very little in the way of plot. It is basically a playground for PCs, what we call a sandbox today. The PCs arrive at the keep, interact with the NPCs there and learn of the dungeon nearby. What they do with this information is up to them. The dungeon itself has several entrances and interconnections and is located far enough away from the keep so as to require a short wilderness travel. I have never run B2, nor been a player in it, but I do use it as a model for some home-brew White Box adventures. Figuring things out for ourselves can be hard work and it is definitely easier when the master shows us how it is done. The downside is that if we just create variations on a template we miss the opportunity to create anew. True imitation of Mr. Gygax would be to use our imagination and create something not done before.