 Cover art by Robin Wood | |
| Code | LC3 |
|---|---|
| Campaign setting | Forgotten Realms |
| Authors | Walter Baas, Kira Glass |
| First published | 1991 |
| Linked modules | |
| The Living City | |
Nightwatch in the Living City is a collection of adventures published by the RPGA in 1991 for their Living City shared campaign world set in the Forgotten Realms using the second edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons .
The player characters have ventured to the city of Raven's Bluff with hopes of finding fame and fortune, and have joined the City Guard in their night-watch patrols as a means to that end. [1] Events and encounters follow a sort of flow chart, with several linked episodes leading to a minor climax, with a major-action climax to end the adventure. Narrative frame and DM-control hooks carry the PCs from scene to scene, but within each scene the players and DM are free to explore a variety of approaches in solving conflicts. [1] All the action in the module takes place in a single night in the setting. [1]
RPGA was the tournament division of TSR, and had been quite popular in the early 1980s. By 1987, in the face of decreasing membership as D&D tournaments fell out of fashion, RPGA introduced a "shared" campaign setting called "Living City" that was set in the city of Ravens Bluff and presented at conventions. This resulted in the "Living City" series of supplements and adventures; the third in the series was LC3 Nightwatch in The Living City, a 32-page adventure module based on an adventure that had been designed by Walter Baas and Kira Glass for RPGA tournament play. [1] The adventure was adapted for publication with cover art by Robin Wood, interior art by Kevin Ward and cartography by Valerie Valusek. Nightwatch was published in 1991 by TSR under the RPGA imprint. [2]
In Issue 171 of Dragon (July 1991), Ken Rolston called Nightwatch "a perfect example of how convention design and playtesting can produce a first-class adventure". Rolston calls the adventure challenges "lovely role-playing set pieces", attributing this to the RPGA Network making "a special effort to encourage the role-playing elements of FRP gaming". Rolston noted that Nightwatch is "all the more remarkable because city role-playing scenarios are notoriously tricky to run. Nightwatch simplifies the DM's task by providing a narrative framework [...] that leads the PCs from one conflict to another so smoothly that they aren't tempted to wander off into the city streets. In particular, the skillful dramatic staging of the PCs' induction to the Nightwatch gets the PCs quickly into character and into the spirit of the adventure." Rolston concluded by saying: "This is an inspiring piece of work, perfect to run as is or to use for stealing ideas. A well-rigged narrative structure is given, yet with ample roleplaying and improvisational opportunities for DM and players. Also present is a host of nifty characters to deal with and plot puzzles to solve, featuring numerous sly and surprising variations on conventional AD&D game cliches. Finally, good fun in abundance. I highly recommend this." [1]
In his 2023 book Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground, RPG historian Stu Horvath disparaged the cover art of the entire series of Living City books, saying, "The covers are surprisingly second rate for what amounted to a new and exciting way to play D&D." The one exception in Horvath's opinion was Nightwatch: "The best of the lot is Robin Wood's delightfully overjoyed thief, but Nightwatch is the least interesting of the books — more a traditional adventure than an expansion of the Living City concept." [3]
Dungeonland (EX1) is a 1983 adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) roleplaying game, written by Gary Gygax for use with the First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) rules. It is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with the various characters from the book translated into AD&D terms.
D&D Adventurers League is the organized play association for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) roleplaying game which is officially administered by D&D's publisher, Wizards of the Coast. It was rebranded with the launch of D&D's 5th Edition in 2014. Prior to 2014, it was known as the Role Playing Game Association Network. The organization was originally established by D&D's previous publisher, TSR, Inc., in 1980.
The Gem and the Staff, by John and Laurie Van De Graaf, is an adventure module for the Dungeons & DragonsExpert Set. Rather than being a typical group adventure, The Gem and the Staff was designed for head-to-head tournament-style play, with players separately playing the same adventure and competing against each other for points earned by accomplishing certain goals. The adventure is only playable with one dungeon master (DM) and one player.
Jacob Franklin Mentzer III is an American fantasy author and game designer who worked on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. He was an employee of TSR, Inc. from 1980 to 1986, spending part of that time as creative advisor to the chairman of the board, Gary Gygax. He also founded the Role-Playing Games Association (RPGA) during his time with TSR.
Swords of Deceit is a 1986 adventure module for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Lankhmar setting.
Conan Unchained! is a 1984 adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game that centers on an adventure of the fictional hero Conan the Barbarian and his companions.
Rahasia is an adventure module, self-published by DayStar West Media in 1980 and published by TSR, Inc. in 1983 and 1984, for the Basic Set rules of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Its product designation is TSR 9115. It was designed by Tracy and Laura Hickman, and features artwork by Jeff Easley and Timothy Truman.
Desert of Desolation is a compilation adventure module published by TSR for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy roleplaying game. It combines three previously published individual modules: Pharaoh, Oasis of the White Palm, and Lost Tomb of Martek. The modules were made for use with the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) rules. Pharaoh was created by Tracy and Laura Hickman soon after the couple married in 1977, and published by TSR in 1982. Oasis of the White Palm was a collaboration between Tracy Hickman and Philip Meyers, and Hickman wrote the Lost Tomb of Martek on his own; both were printed in 1983.
The Veiled Society is an adventure module for the Basic Rules of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game published in 1984. The adventure's product designation is TSR 9086.
Night's Dark Terror is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game written by British game designers Jim Bambra, Graeme Morris, and Phil Gallagher. It was designed specifically for campaigns transitioning from the D&D Basic Set to the D&D Expert Set. The player characters (PCs) journey from a farmstead into uncharted wilderness, where they encounter new hazards and contend with a secret society. The adventure received a positive review from White Dwarf magazine.
King's Festival is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Lankhmar – City of Adventure is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, first published by TSR in 1985.
The Official RPGA Handbook is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. TSR, Inc. published the module in 1987 for the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. It is part of the "C" series of modules, a set of unrelated adventures originally designed for competition play.
Egg of the Phoenix is an adventure module published in 1987 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Gateway to Ravens Bluff, The Living City is a supplement published by the RPGA in 1989 for their new Living City shared campaign world set in the Forgotten Realms using the second edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
Puppets is an adventure module published by TSR in 1989 for the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
Inside Ravens Bluff, The Living City is a supplement published by the RPGA in 1990 for their Living City shared campaign world set in the Forgotten Realms using the second edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
Arena of Thyatis is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This module is linked with Legions of Thyatis.
Legions of Thyatis is an adventure module published in 1990 for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.