Critical Lit Critical Lit: Tomb of Horrors
Jul 13, 2025
Dive into the harrowing world of Tomb of Horrors, where traps and puzzles reign supreme! The hosts dissect this iconic D&D adventure, reflecting on its historical impact and modern relevance. Discover the strategic dance between players and Dungeon Masters, explore whimsical dungeon designs, and laugh at absurd challenges players face. They also tackle themes of gender dynamics in gaming and the evolution of RPG mechanics. Expect humor, insightful critiques, and a nostalgic journey filled with unexpected twists!
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Purposefully Deadly Puzzle Dungeon
- Tomb of Horrors was created as a deadly, puzzle-focused dungeon rather than a narrative-driven adventure.
- The module's tone reflects early D&D's adversarial designer-versus-player mindset.
Built For Con Play And Character Stacks
- Tomb of Horrors expects players to bring many disposable characters and accept frequent deaths.
- The adventure was designed for convention play and tournament-style contests, not long-term character attachment.
Gygax Running The Module As A Bet
- Dan recounts an apocryphal story that Gary Gygax ran Tomb of Horrors at cons as bets against boastful players.
- If players died, lore says they'd tear up their favorite characters, though Dan doubts the tale's veracity.
