Dungeon Crawl Classics Adventure Path #5: The Shudder Mountains
Link together published DCC Shudder Mountains modules to create your own campaign!
This article is the second in my series for new DCC RPG Judges on using published Goodman Games modules to create a campaign. If you haven’t yet, check out the introduction to this series to get context, tips and to see the other 4 Adventure Paths!
This adventure path is based on the Chained Coffin Hardcover, which contains all the separate books that detail out the Shudder Mountains campaign setting. You will need that product (in physical or PDF form) to run this Adventure Path.
Warning: This article contains many spoilers for the adventures on the path.
Advantages to this Adventure Path:
- The pure atmosphere of the Shudder Mountains can really immerse players.
Disadvantages to this Adventure Path:
- There are only a limited number of published adventures, so resources can be hard to find.
- The ‘fantasy Appalachia’ feeling may not appeal to everyone.
- There aren’t published modules in this setting to cover every level.
- The original Chained Coffin box set is not currently in print, although there is now a hardcover edition that includes the material.
We begin, as always, with a funnel…
Level 0: Sour Spring Hollow
This is the funnel included with the hardcover, and is a great way to get folks into the Shudder Mountains quickly.
Level 1: 7 Beauties
This adventure by Christian Ovsenik is in the 2020 Gongfarmer’s Almanac.
More Level 1 Adventure: Moonricket Bridge from Tales of the Shudder Mountains (included in the hardcover), Gnole House from the DCC RPG Quickstart Rules.
Level 2: O, Death
This adventure by Jeffrey A. Regner is available on the Goodman Games website, linked above.
A young woman becomes caught in a three-way tug-of-war between the man who loves her, and ancient eagle spirit, and Death itself. Travel deep into the mountains, explore the remnants of an ancient civilization, and settle a debt owed since the Ice Age!
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If folks know of any other Level 2 published adventures, or have suggestions on adopting another adventure to the Shudder Mountains, let me know in the comments!
A suggestion from Yuri the Caroler was The Inn at Five Points, which might fit in well here.
Level 3: Death Among The Pines
This one is not included in the Chained Coffin box set, but is the only separately published adventure.
More Level 3 Adventure: The Woeful Caves Under Yander Mountain (included with Chained Coffin Hardcover)
Level 4: The Grave Pool
This is included in Tales from the Shudder Mountains (in the Chained Coffin hardcover).
Level 5: The Chained Coffin
This is the namesake adventure that kicked off this whole setting!
This is a cool adventure, very high concept, with a very epic ending. The wheel prop that is included is a bit pointless, as the information that the PCs need to use the wheel is not clearly presented anywhere they are likely to remember it from.
Lots of memorable things in here.
More Level 5 Adventure: The WitchMan of Darkweather Mountain from Tales of the Shudder Mountains (in the Chained Coffin hardcover). I would recommend running that one first, and Chained Coffin second.
Conclusion
I wish there were more published adventures for the Shudder Mountains, but Chained Coffin is a great one to end on!
I hope you have a great time exploring this unique campaign setting.
Cheers,
Tim
Check Out Adventure Path #6: The JG for more ideas!
