Quest for the Heartstone
Encyclopedia
Quest for the Heartstone is a 1984 adventure module
for the Basic Rules
of the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
' lair, and four pages of illustrations to show the players.
. The module was designed for use with the LJN and TSR toy D&D characters, such as Strongheart and Warduke
, and includes statistics for all the toy figures.
, and gave it 4/10 overall, calling it "no more than a sales exercise for AD&D Action Toys". Staplehurst felt that the module was "very reminiscent of everyone's first dungeon: a collection of randomly placed monsters with a random selection of Good Guys going off after some magic item and having to hack through them," criticising that "No thought has gone into this at all, as far as I can see, although TSR have done their best with the artwork and maps to try and remedy the situation." Staplehurst ponted out some of the many references within the module to the LJN
AD&D toy line ("You may use the Five-headed Hydra Bendable Monster for this encounter", and "the Dragonne monsters produced by LJN Toys Ltd"), noting that "As the adventure progresses ... it merely degenerates into excuses to introduce monsters that happen to be in the TSR figures or LJN range." He also pointed out some of the more bizarre encounters of the adventure, such as two giant crab spiders living in a cabin, and the "Golem Storage Room". Ultimately, Staplehurst said he despaired of ever running the module, as "Few and far between are sensibly planned encounters with alternative courses of action".
Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, calls this adventure a "Laugahble scenario".
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
for the Basic Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
of the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Plot summary
Quest for the Heartstone is a wilderness and dungeon scenario, and includes a frost giantsGiant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
' lair, and four pages of illustrations to show the players.
Publication history
XL1 Quest for the Heartstone was published by TSR in 1984 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder, and was written by Michael L. Gray, with art by Jeff EasleyJeff Easley
Jeff Easley is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork in the tradition of Frank Frazetta.-Early life:...
. The module was designed for use with the LJN and TSR toy D&D characters, such as Strongheart and Warduke
Warduke
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Warduke is a powerful human warrior and a Hierarch of the Horned Society...
, and includes statistics for all the toy figures.
Reception
Graham Staplehurst reviewed Quest for the Heartstone for White DwarfWhite Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
, and gave it 4/10 overall, calling it "no more than a sales exercise for AD&D Action Toys". Staplehurst felt that the module was "very reminiscent of everyone's first dungeon: a collection of randomly placed monsters with a random selection of Good Guys going off after some magic item and having to hack through them," criticising that "No thought has gone into this at all, as far as I can see, although TSR have done their best with the artwork and maps to try and remedy the situation." Staplehurst ponted out some of the many references within the module to the LJN
LJN
LJN was an American toy company and video game publisher. It created toy lines and video games based on movies, television shows, and celebrities. It was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and later in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.-Founding:...
AD&D toy line ("You may use the Five-headed Hydra Bendable Monster for this encounter", and "the Dragonne monsters produced by LJN Toys Ltd"), noting that "As the adventure progresses ... it merely degenerates into excuses to introduce monsters that happen to be in the TSR figures or LJN range." He also pointed out some of the more bizarre encounters of the adventure, such as two giant crab spiders living in a cabin, and the "Golem Storage Room". Ultimately, Staplehurst said he despaired of ever running the module, as "Few and far between are sensibly planned encounters with alternative courses of action".
Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, calls this adventure a "Laugahble scenario".