Ever wonder what it would be like to write an adventure with Gary Gygax? Around the year 2005, Gary started working with a small number of authors on a project to write new material for his world setting (which was totally not called “World of Greyhawk”). Bill Silvey was one of those authors, and this book includes the story of working with Gary as well as the adventure Bill wrote for inclusion in Gary’s campaign world. For obvious legal reasons, none of Gary’s original material is included in Lost Crypt: this module is all Bill’s work. However, those who are interested in Gary’s world setting will be interested to read material that would have been included in it if Gary had lived to see the project through...
The Lost Crypt: A Classic Crawl
by Bill Silvey
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A realm not terribly unlike our own exists in a strange and mostly hospitable nearby plane. While planar travel might overlook this small pocket of reality, an entrance into it exists at the deepest depths of the most storied dungeon complex in the known realms. To enter into it is to step into a world at once familiar and yet more bizarre than our own. Herein is rumored to lie artifacts of great power and treasure beyond imagination. Having explored the uttermost depths and found the entrance, a group of adventurers can thus traverse this place in search of fame and fortune!
Overview
The Lost Crypt can be used as a standalone 5e or Swords & Wizardry adventure or incorporated into a larger dungeon complex or campaign. The adventure is suited for a group of 7th- or 8th-level characters, and should include a good mix of thieves, fighting-men, and magic-users. Clerics could prove useful to cope with the number of undead.
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What to Expect
Almost lost to the pages of history!
The Lost Crypt, originally inspired by master of role playing game adventure himself was almost
lost to the annals of history. Until now! Written by veteran RPG scholar and scribe Bill Silvey,
The Lost Crypt is an old school rules style romp through an ancient tomb and hidden lairs filled
with clever monsters. Originally written for OSR rule is designed to be a challenge for veteran
characters of 7-8th level.
- Authors notes on the inspiration behind the Lost Crypt and his legendary adventures working with Gary Gygax, co-creator of the most famous role playing game in the world!
- Loads of traps, puzzles and adversaries to keep characters on their toes as they navigate the terrors of the Lost Crypt
- Cover and interior art by acclaimed artist Hector Rodriguez.
- Can be played as a stand-alone, one shot adventure or be fit into a larger campaign, or made part of a larger dungeon complex!
- Hand cartography by Ian McGarty of the Silver Bullettes
- An original piece of art from TSR veteran Tracy Lesch whose work is featured in
- Dungeons & Dragons Art and Arcana: A Visual History.
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The Tiny Print Run
Why Indiegogo?
Necromancer Games is continuing the use of this indiegogo crowdfunding method for The Lost Crypt. This method is almost the inverse of how we design our crowdfunding projects on Kickstarter. We call it the 'Tiny Print Run'.
Thus, Indiegogo projects by Necromancer Games will-
- Be short in duration
- Be limited to a single title
- Have options priced between $5-$30
- Design all stretch goals and project bonus' affect the principle reward only (usually both the PDF and the softcover).
- Be the only guaranteed method to get the premium* print copy (NOTE: the softcover versions in this printing will not be sold on our website: see FAQ for explanation).
- Have simple fulfillment process that does not use Backerkit
*Premium means 100 pound glossy interior pages with a thick, glossy cardstock cover. These are the nicest softcover books we have ever sold.
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Why the Tiny Print Run?
Since 2012 our crowdfunding approach has been extravagant in every way. Ambitious with massive page counts, plus numerous add-on options and stretch goals. All supporting a primary title itself as many as 990 pages.
This has resulted in Kickstarter's with memorable pledge rewards that include top-quality hardcover books with sometimes dozens of stretch goal bonuses and add-on extras. These are awesome AND they are expensive to buy for customers like you because they are very expensive to make for publishers like us.
Why not use Kickstarter?
We will still be using Kickstarter, frequently, for our large-scale projects. These smaller projects are happening in response to the feedback we have heard from both fans and 'almost' fans alike. We hear the request for less expensive options for our projects and products all the time. A second frequent desire expressed to us, whether at conventions, on social media or in email, is for a larger selection of smaller, faster-paced adventures that can be completed in 2-3 sessions and not necessitate a full two year campaign.
Additionally, Necromancer Games has grown in both sales and brand awareness. This opportunity will give us the additional resources to invest in the very best books in all of our formats.
Project Reward
With the wishes of the fans in mind, this and future Indiegogo projects will fund standalone projects that are both affordable and fun. This project, as well future Tiny Print Run projects, is narrowly focused with all stretch goals adding resources to the principle reward which traditionally would not be feasible for a publisher our size.
Examples of Enhancements from Higher Funding:
During the 14 day primary project period for The Lost Crypt and after the $1000 goal is met the focus will be to improve the delivered product. There are no special tiered collectors editions or add-on purchase extras. Thus, as total project funding increases the better the final product will be for everybody.
Examples of the planned extras that increased funding would bring to The Lost Crypt:
- Additional commissions for interior color art specific to the adventure.
- The previous Indiegogo project, Mystery at Ravenrock, added 2 interior art pieces and 3 extra creature illustrations for its appendix.
- Printed Player map(s)/Insert. This is one we would love to do but it would require a substantial increase in overall project funding.
- Downloadable Options designed for popular virtual table-top software (The rewards for both How Orcus Stole Christmas! and In Vino Gigantus included the new creature/NPC tokens and player maps).
- High-resolution files of illustrations to share with players at the table.
Project Delivery
PDF Perks
We will email the instructions to all eligible supporters with instructions on accessing PDF items. The PDF files are distributed using Constant Contact service and our web store. You will need to have a customer account on the Necromancer Games website to get your PDF; it's how we keep track of everything and grants unlimited access by you to your reward.
The Indiegogo perk PDF files are 'purchased' at zero cost by supporters (as they are paid for during the Indiegogo promotion) at the Necromancer Games web store using a coupon code. That code we will be sent via Constant Contact to the address provided by Indiegogo. Please contact us with any questions/requests about this.
Softcover Perks
Softcover perks will be mailed to the address provided by us via Indiegogo.
Overseas Shipping
NOTE TO INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: Shipping international has become very expensive. We understand this. Likewise, some countries charge VAT tax or other fees to our customers on receipt. We cannot fraudulently lie about the value of materials we mail out. We are happy to ship you anything regardless of where you live, but we have to stay in business at the same time thus even our lightest books are affected. In the near future we expect to have a print on demand system in place for everyone overseas, It is not ideal, as the final book is not printed at the highest-quality when compared to the ones we fulfill in Indiegogo.
To explain what we mean, please see the shipping calculator for UPS.