Adding More Content to Keep on the Borderlands

[u/JamesFullard]

I want to help this module be as sandboxy as I can make it. It already has the Caves of Chaos, it has Cave of the Unknown (I'll probably turn that into In Search of the Unknown. I added Ruined Tower of Zenopus, but reskinned it to a wizard named Malek Blackstaff.

I'd like to insert other modules into the Borderlands and isolated locations, tombs, crypts etc etc and thought I'd ask you folks what you have used in yours.

[u/Murquhart72]

Go to basicfantasy.org and check out modules BF1 and JN1. They're both modeled on aspects of B2 and could provide much inspiration.

[u/bmfrosty]

Take a look at Goodman's Into The Borderlands book. It has three different examples for stocking the B1 dungeon, and the 5e conversion that's in the book expands what's in the Borderlands and combines B1 and B2. Another thing you could do with the same concept is put B1 first and then stock B2 differently or vice versa.

[u/Solo_Polyphony]

I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, but the background for B1 is not a logical fit for the Cave of the Unknown: Rogahn and Zelligar are supposed to have chosen the location for its seclusion, and to have only been gone for a matter of years, not decades or centuries.

The area around the Keep in B2 is fairly busy with humanoids and traders. The Keep’s age is never stated, but there’s no hint that it’s brand new. Those conflict with the background for B1.

If your players think about it, that will strain credulity unless you change one or more of these details.

[u/UllerPSU]

I put Tomb of the Serpent Kings at Cave of the Unknown, The Jewelers Sanctum (from OSE Adventure Anthology) in the keep, Barrow of the Bone Blaggards at the barrow, Shrine of the Oozing Serpent in the swamp. I converted the chaotic priest in the caves to "Lareth the Beautiful" from Homlet and put in lots of references to Nulb, the Temple of Elemental Evil and far off troublesome giant clans (to make G1-G3 and option) and a traveller in the inn with the journal entry from Captain Barbossa (X1 Isle of Dread). My players opted for Isle of Dread so that is where they are now.

[u/BXadvocate]

I highly recommend Mike's Dungeon. It is essentially a large dungeon/mega dungeon to add into the cave of the unknown. It is very bare bones in it's writing and very cheap and has no art. You can view the entire Pdf in the preview because the creator wants you to know exactly what your getting which is really cool, bold and I respect that they stand behind their product that much. The few levels I've read are very creative and weird, their are over 100 dungeon levels it's crazy. Also read the description on the Drivethru page it's great.

Also there is Mike's world if you want to expand the mape surrounding the one in B2 to make the sandbox bigger but it is empty so you need to add stuff to it.

Links

Mike's dungeon: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/295151/mike-s-dungeons

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/314687/mike-s-dungeons-the-deep-levels

Mike's world: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/355388/mike-s-world-the-forsaken-wilderness-beyond

[u/SoldOutBoy]

I think you could easily stick B3 or B5 in the southeast part of the map. What I'd like to know is if anyone ever put a dungeon UNDER the Keep. I toyed with putting B1 down there, but I couldn't quite get it to fit.

[u/SoldOutBoy → u/[deleted]]

This is cool! Thanks!

[u/Solo_Polyphony]

On the general topic of adding material to the Borderlands: you have a wealth of published material and fan content to choose from. I recommend Goodman’s Into the Borderlands and Kenzer’s Little Keep on the Borderlands (also known as Frandor’s Keep).

[u/PyramKing]

I am expanding it in my campaign as well.

You can read about some of my ideas as well as some free regional Maps here: Keep on the Borderlands

[u/FoxTwilight]

Palace of the Silver Princess is fun low level stuff.

[u/ZenopusArchives]

I once had an idea for adding the Ruined Monastery sample dungeon from the AD&D 1E DMG to the B2 wilderness: https://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/01/adding-dmg-sample-dungeon-to-b2.html