Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) is a series of roleplaying adventure modules published by Goodman Games under the d20 open gaming license. It includes more than 50 adventures, and features celebrated game designers such as Michael Mearls, Dave Arneson, Chris Doyle, Adrian Pommier, and Monte Cook, as well as classic TSR artists like Jeff Dee, Jim Roslof, and Jim Holloway. The DCC series harkens back to classic 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons modules in content and style.
The series' design ethos is summed up by the following statement that is included in every DCC:
"Remember the good old days, when adventures were underground, NPCs were there to be killed, and the finale of every dungeon was the dragon on the 20th level? Those days are back. Dungeon Crawl Classics don't waste your time with long-winded speeches, weird campaign settings, or NPCs who aren't meant to be killed. Each adventure is 100% good, solid dungeon crawl, with the monsters you know, the traps you fear, and the secret doors you know are there somewhere."
DCC Adventures
| Number | Title | Levels | Author(s) | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCC# 0 | Legends are Made not Born | 0 | Chris Doyle | ??? | Note that #0 was released far after #1, not before as its numbering suggests. Features a cover by classic TSR artist Erol Otus. |
| DCC# 1 | Idylls of the Rat King | 1-3 | Jeff Quinn | ??? | As of 2006 Idylls of the Rat King been reprinted 3 times, and the 3rd printing features the work of classic TSR artist Jim Holloway. DCC #1 received an Honorable Mention for Best Adventure, ENnies 2003.[1] |
| DCC# 2 | The Lost Vault of Tsathzar Rho | 1 | Michael Mearls | ??? | |
| DCC# 3 | The Mysterious Tower | 3-5 | Joseph Goodman | ??? | Featuring original cover art by Erol Otus. |
| DCC# 3.5 | The Haunted Lighthouse | ??? | Dave Arneson | ??? | Produced exclusively for Gen Con Indy 2003 and features a cover by Erol Otus. This module is now out of print. |
| DCC# 4 | Bloody Jack's Gold | 10-12 | Joe Crow | ??? | |
| DCC# 5 | Aerie of the Crow God | 7-9 | Andrew Hind | ??? | Also available as an expanded edition. Received an ENnie nomination for Best Adventure 2004.[2] |
| DCC# 6 | Temple of the Dragon Cult | 8-10 | John Seavey | ??? | |
| DCC# 7 | The Secret of Smuggler's Cove | 5-7 | Chris Doyle | ??? | |
| DCC# 8 | Mysteries of the Drow | 7-9 | Jeff Quinn | ??? | |
| DCC# 9 | Dungeon Geomorphs | N/A | Clayton Bunce | ??? | Unlike other Dungeon Crawl Classics, this volume is a book of dungeon geomorphs. There are 124 map segments, encompassing mazes, dungeons, underdeep caverns, monstrous lairs, castles, ruins, halls. |
| DCC# 10 | The Sunless Garden | 6-8 | Brendan LaSalle | ??? | Original cover at by Erol Otus. |
| DCC# 11 | The Dragonfiend Pact | 2 | Chris Doyle | ??? | 2005, Nomination, ENnie Award - Best Adventure. |
| DCC# 12 | The Blackguard's Revenge | 9-11 | F. Wesley Schneider | ??? | |
| DCC# 12.5 | Iron Crypt of the Heretics | 11-13 | Harley Stroh | ??? | ENnie nominee for Best Adventure, 2006[3]. This adventure was converted to 1e rules by Jon Hershberger, for a special GenCon release, a highly sought after collectors item. Free supplemental battle maps on the Goodman Games website [4]. |
| DCC# 13 | Crypt of the Devil Lich | 15 | See Notes | ??? | This adventures was the Goodman Games Gen Con 2004 Tournament Module, written by Chris Doyle, Lisa Doyle, Mike Ferguson, Joseph Goodman, Andrew Hind, Jason Little, Adrian M. Pommier, Jeffrey Quinn, F. Wesley Schneider, Andrew N. Smith. Original cover art by Erol Otus. Often compared favorably with TSR's 'Tomb of Horrors'[[5]]. |
| DCC# 14 | Dungeon Interludes | 1-10 | Jason Little | ??? | |
| DCC# 15 | Lost Tomb of the Sphinx Queen | 14-15 | Jim Crow and Chris Doyle | ??? | |
| DCC# 16 | Curse of the Emerald Cobra | 6-8 | Michael Ferguson | ??? | |
| DCC# 17 | Legacy of the Savage Kings | 4-6 | Harley Stroh | ??? | With free supplemental battle maps on the Goodman Games website [6]. |
| DCC# 17.5 | War of the Witch Queen | 7-9 | Harley Stroh | ??? | Produced exclusively for Dundracon 30, 2006. |
| DCC# 18 | Citadel of the Demon Prince | 12-13 | Patrick Younts | ??? | Original cover at by Erol Otus. |
| DCC# 19 | The Volcano Caves | 7-9 | Luke Johnson | ??? | Original cover at by Jeff Dee. |
| DCC# 20 | Shadows in Freeport | 6-8 | Robert J. Schwalb | ??? | Nomination, Best Adventure, 2006 Gen Con ENnie Awards. |
| DCC# 20.5 | The Mask of Death | 6-8 | Jason Little | ??? | A special limited edition produced for Gen Con Indy 2005. It presents chapter one of an adventure recorded in the film The Gamers (film): Dorkness Rising. Produced in cooperation with Dead Gentlemen Productions. |
| DCC# 21 | Assault on Stormbringer Castle | 12-14 | Christina Stiles | ??? | |
| DCC# 22 | The Stormbringer Juggernaut | 14-16 | Christina Stiles | ??? | |
| DCC# 23 | The Sunken Ziggurat | 5-7 | Richard Pocklington | ??? | |
| DCC# 24 | Legend of the Ripper | 1-3 | Andrew Hind | ??? | Original cover art by Jeff Dee. |
| DCC# 25 | The Dread Crypt of Srihoz | 9-11 | Jeremy Simmons | ??? | Original cover art by Erol Otus. |
| DCC# 26 | The Scaly God | 4-6 | Rick Maffei | ??? | |
| DCC# 27 | Revenge of the Rat King | 4-6 | Harley Stroh | ??? | Produced with 2 alternate covers. Sequel to DCC#1 Idylls of the Rat King. |
| DCC# 28 | Into the Wilds | 1-3 | Harley Stroh | ??? | Original cover art by Jim Roslof. |
| DCC# 52 | Castle Whiterock | 1-15 | Adrian Pommier, Chris Doyle | ??? |
Nonsequential DCC Adventures
Special DCC releases, typically collected adventure paths are released without a specific number.
The nonsequential DCCs are sometimes used to release DCCs under AD&D or 1E rules. These special releases are often produced in conjunction with a special convention, like Gen Con.
| Title | Levels | Author(s) | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saga of the Dragon Cult | 1-10 | Various | 2007 | Compiles the adventure modules DCC #2, DCC #6, DCC #10, and DCC #17, along with a 32-page adventure path guide that ties these four modules into one cohesive adventure path. Because the box set has wider "shelf presence" than the 32-page DCCs it can be found in major book stores. |
| Saga of the Witch Queen | 4-8 | Harley Stroh, Jon Hershberger | 2007 | Converted to AD&D rules, the Saga compiles the adventure modules DCC #17, DCC #17.5, DCC #17.75 into one cohesive adventure path. |
Áereth: DCC World
Áereth: DCC World is a campaign setting incorporating all the DCC adventures into a single cohesive world, written by Jeff LaSala, Mike Ferguson and Harley Stroh.
- Introduced the first rules for 0-level characters under the d20 3.5 rule system.
- Includes the adventures Halls of the Minotaur, and Vault of the Thief Lord, by Harley Stroh.
- Introduced the DCC Adventure Paths, later released in the boxed set Saga of the Dragon Cult.
DCC annual tournament
Each year, Goodman Games hosts the Dungeon Crawl Classics Open Tournament, at GenCon Indy. The tournament pits more than 25 teams and 100 players against a challenging 3 round dungeon crawl, each team vying for the title of champion. The tournament is organized and run by Adrian Pommier.
2004: Crypt of the Devil Lich
Released as DCC #13.
2005: Vault of the Dragon Kings
2006: Palace in the Wastes
2007: ???
Conversions
A reflection of their popularity, some of the DCCs have been converted to other game systems. Listed here are the official Goodman Games conversions. (Fan conversions can be found on the Goodman Games "feebies page." [7])
DCC #12.5: Iron Crypt of the Heretics (1e version)
The 'Iron Crypt of the Heretic,' written by Harley Stroh, was converted to "1e" (or AD&D equivilant) rules by Jon Hershberger. The adventure was first played at GorillaCon 2006[8] and subsequently released at GenCon 2006. Initially, 60 copies of the adventure were printed, which all sold out in the first day of GenCon.[9] Goodman Games did a second printing of the adventure, which also sold out. While both copies are sometimes available, sellers sometimes misrepresent both the original 3.5 version, and the second 1e printing as the true GenCon first printing.[10]
Identifying characteristics of the 1e version (either 1st or 2nd printing) is the starbust on the cover that mark the adventure as a ENnie nominee. Identifying characteristics of the true 1e first printing are the mis-numbered area key on the map on the inside cover. Buyers should be careful and wary if they believe they are purchasing the true 1e first printing.
DCC #3: The Mysterious Tower (Castles and Crusades version)
"The Mysterious Tower," written by Joseph Gooman, was a granted a license by Troll Lord Games and produced under C&C rules.
DCC #7: The Secret of Smuggler's Cove (Castles and Crusades version)
"The Secret of Smuggler's Cove," written by Chris Doyle, was a granted a license by Troll Lord Games and produced under C&C rules.
Map support
Miniature figures
Awards
- 2007, Nominee, Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #34: Cage of Delirium
- 2007, Nominee, Best Setting: Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms
- 2007, Nominee, Best Cartography: Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms
- 2006, Nominee, Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #12.5: Iron Crypt of the Heretics
- 2006, Nominee, Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #20: Shadows in Freeport
- 2005, Winner, Pen & Paper Fan Awards - Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #13: Crypt of the Devil Lich
- 2005, Nomination, ENnie Award - Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #11: The Dragonfiend Pact
- 2004, Nomination, ENnie Award - Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #5: Aerie of the Crow God
- 2003, Honorable Mention, ENnie Award - Best Adventure: Dungeon Crawl Classics #1: Idylls of the Rat King
External links
- Goodman Games
- Goodman Games' DCC Preview
- Acaeum DCC Collecting
- Pen and Paper DCC database