To make a Hommlet, you have to break a few heads
The first reward from the RPGA’s new DM rewards program arrived in yesterday’s mail, and I could hardly believe my eyes: a 4th edition D&D module by Gary Gygax! Well, not entirely by Gary Gygax, but he gets top billing in the author slot on the cover of the 4th edition version of The Village of Hommlet (Andy Collins did the 4e updating). How cool is that?
You may only answer, “Way cool.” The RPGA sent this module out to all DMs who updated their personal contact information—yes, that’s all—between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. If you failed to do that, be sure to go do it right now—don’t worry, I’ll wait—so that you’ll be eligible for the 2010 annual reward. The RPGA also offers biannual rewards for DMs who earn at least 5 DM points during each of two six-month periods. Run five games in six months and receive a perk—I love this stuff!
The Village of Hommlet (4e) is a nice package. Physically, it’s printed like other D&D 4e modules. Some of the DM’s maps appear on the inside of the cardstock cover. The 24-page adventure booklet details some of the encounter areas, chiefly the (in)famous moathouse. A two-sided, full-color poster map provides the moathouse on one side and the Inn of the Welcome Wench. I don’t want to give too much away to players who haven’t ever played the original Village of Hommlet—but to those in the know, the module gives statistics for some creatures that hadn’t previously appeared in 4e, as well as a famous, beautiful NPC. Hommlet remains in the world of Greyhawk, giving me great hope for a World of Greyhawk campaign guide sometime in the future (2010?).
At any rate, I’m thrilled with this reward, and looking forward to more!
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Oh wow!
Well that bites. Not being a member of the RPGA, I miss out on one of the core bits of Greyhawkiana.
*grumble*
I was so surprised when I received mine the other day. I do think it is very well made and ranks right up there with adventure modules that you might purchase at your local hobby store!
I have not read all of it yet as I am getting ready for a multi session game day….but it does look to re-capture that old module very well….the one that set me loose upon Greyhawk and made it one of my favorite campaign worlds.
Glad to see GG got top billing and that WotC re-released this old classic….now how about some of the others too!
Good write up on this one without revealing toooooo much!
[...] de Hommlet, a cidade próxima do Templo dos Elementos Malignos? Ela saiu adaptada para a 4ª edição para os DMs da RPGA, de acordo com [...]
Yeah, I updated my account information like three times in that timeframe… And I didn’t get any reward, even though I’m the reward program ¬¬. Maybe it’s because I live in Brazil?
Anyway, I’m glad they made it! ^^ Hopefully, we’ll get Temple of Elemental Evil for 4th sometime in the future!
Did they make any lore adjustment for the monsters or the setting? Or do they retain all their Greyhawk status?
They look, taste, and smell like Greyhawk to me. And have you checked with the RPGA about the reward? Maybe it just takes longer to reach Brazil.
How many games do one have to have run in the last months to receive the reward? ‘Cause I’ve run two games a month since July’08 and I’m eager to know if I’ll receive this module.
I also live in Brazil, and mail from the US usually takes 3-5 weeks to arrive. I’ll start counting the days!
As I understand it, if you updated your personal information record with the RPGA any time between the launch of 4e and the end of March 2009, you should receive the Hommlet package. You don’t have to run any games to receive Hommlet. If you update your personal information between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, you should receive the 2010 annual reward. To receive the six-month rewards (I think the one for the second half of 2009 may be nautical-themed dungeon tiles), you need to accumulate 5 DM points for the first half of 2009—again, if I understand the system correctly. For most things, one game = 1 point.