Editing N2: The Forest Oracle

The Forest Oracle (module code: N2) is a [[Dungeons & Dragons]] module created by Carl Smith in 1984 as the second module in the "novice" series intended for newcomers. In this module the player characters have to travel to a great and wise [[Druid]] to ask his help in freeing the lands of the Downs from a curse. 

That sounds like an awesome and fun adventure for a new group doesn't it? Unfortunately The Forest Oracle is shit. Everything about it sucks and it is widely regarded as one of, if not the, worst modules produced. For prospective on how bad this makes The Forest Oracle the Avatar Trilogy, which contains no gameplay except random encounters and impossible fights against deities, is only ''sometimes'' considered worse.

3rd level NPCs with the HD of 2nd level NPCs and HP of 1st level NPCs attack with weapons they don't have. Orcs capture people only to give them axes before ignoring them. Nymphs beg the player to lift the curse of sleep on their lover, which can be done simply by shaking him awake. Dungeons are straight lines. A former thief inkeeper doesn't realize wererats are robbing his customers by using Sleep spells they have no way to cast. The module text takes more time describing absent things than actual details, like how fireplaces have no secret passages and the bandits, who are not soldiers, are neither running nor going slowly, nor are they joking or singing.

The Druid? He asks the players to clear out a local group of goblins before he helps. Why the high level caster or one of mid-level guards didn't kill these goblins weeks ago is never explained.

[[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]] [[Category: Modules]]