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Sure. Crypt of the Shadow Lord will be like Crucible and Vault and several other upcoming modules in that it is a "mini-campaign".

Crypt details a village near some ancient ruins, a forest and a swamp. It seems the ruins were sealed long ago and someone has broken those seals, loosing minions of the shadow lord on the area. First the village and surrounding farms are besieged by shadowy wolves. But the evil grows. Leading the PCs to investigate the ruins and the nearby forest and swamp to find the cause of the menace.

The concept is to provide a mini-setting for continued adventures that will take PCs from 1st through about 5th level.

Rappan Athuk has been our biggest selling property because there are 3 books. But Crucible is our single biggest seller. So I asked myself why that was. I came up with a few thoughts:

1. It is for first level characters, which every campaign needs.
2. It is more of a setting than a full adventure, allowing DMs to use as they please.
3. It allows for repeat use. With all the web stuff it could be the basis for an extended low level campaign.
4. It is very flexible, not forcing you to do things at a certain pace but rather allowing the PCs and the DM freedom to do things in the order they want.

This is how I decided that "mini-campaign" products were a good idea. Purchasers get tons of bang for their buck. Think about putting together Amulet, Crucible and all the web stuff into one book. Thats a lot of cool stuff. And our mini-campaign stuff will have even a bit more. They are all scheduled to be 64 to 96 pages.

The key is to fully detail a limited geographic area that can be self contained for adventure purposes--the PCs dont need to go other places. Create foes. Motivations. Plan some conflicts. And let everyone explore and have fun.

Here is a little text from the intro of Larin Karr:

"The module you now hold in your hand is probably different than many you have read or run your players through before. The Vault of Larin Karr is a mini-campaign setting intended to take characters from 4th to 9th level.

This module is more of a detailed setting than a traditional linear adventure; that is, while there are several story-lines in and beneath the valley, the PCs are not going to be expected to get the sword, kill the wizard, and return the gem of seeing to priests of the temple in that order. Rather, aside from the initial adventure hook used to draw them to the valley, the PCs are free to explore wherever and whatever they want.

As DM, you should encourage your players to do what they want. Let them wander about, meet the locals, converse, and discover adventures on their own. Likewise, let them stumble into adventures. There are numerous en-counter areas fully detailed in this book, some of which have obvious hooks, all of which can simply be found at random. Remember that finding en-counter areas lends a sense of fullness to the worldthe Quail Valley does not exist in a tunnel of predestined events, but rather is a broad, living place, ready to be explored whenever chance allows it. The valley and the caverns beneath are a place for your characters to tell their own stories and make their own way into adventure legend. This moduleby being a mini-campaign sourcebook in a sensegives you the ability to handle that flexi-bility.

One unusual feature of this module is that all of the dungeons are connected to one another via the Underdark, which runs beneath the entire valley. Thus the PCs may explore the ruins near Twain, descend through the hid-den trap door there, and, after a few days of wandering in the Underdark, emerge into the cave of the Troublesome Troll. This connectedness is a theme throughout the module. Both the NPCs and the places they inhabit are interconnected; their lives and homesbe they mansions, hovels, or ru-ined towersform a web from which no one is free."

Here is more. This really gives you the feel of how I am having these types of mini-campaigns organized:

"How To Use This Module

First, you must familiarize yourself as much as possible with all the ar-eas described in the following pages. Since there is no telling which areas the players will decide to explore first, you must be prepared for any even-tuality. Read over all three villages particularly carefully; the PCs are going to be spending a lot of time here, and it is important that youthe DMmake these areas as lively and life-like as possible.

Of course, some areas are more challenging than others. The PCs, if they are wise, and depending on their level, are probably going to have to be willing to live to fight another day. This is okay. By allowing them to face oppo-nents too strong for them, you create a world that is dangerous, not merely tailored made to provide challenging but ultimately survivable encounters. This should prevent the PCs from falling into the pattern of thinking, which goes thus: Just bust down the door already, whatevers there cant be too strong for us. The DM wouldnt do that.

If the PCs are having trouble coming up with adventure ideas, however, you can start dropping clues for them. These are provided in most of the en-counter areas as adventure hooks. If this is the case, steer them toward level-appropriate encounters. Review the Wilderness Overview and Un-derdark Overview chapters to get a summary of the difficulty of the various encounter areas both in and below the valley to aid you in guiding the party.

Lastly, dont be afraid to improvise. If the players do something unexpected, you do something unexpected. If you think the valley needs some maraud-ing bugbears, give it some marauding bugbears. If the river needs a flood, make it flood. Since you are not wed to a rigid, linear adventure, take advan-tage of the detail but malleable setting provided here throw in whatever you want whenever you want. This might include extra dungeons, particularly in the Underdark. If you add an above ground dungeonsay a ruined abbey within the Forest of Ninconsider designing an entrance to the Underdark within it.

Starting the Adventure

As the DM, you may start this adventure however you see fit. You may want the characters to just wander into the valley and see what they bump into. There are a number of possible story hooks that serve to simply bring the PCs to the valley:

        They have heard of the fabled caves beneath the valley and have heard tales of great adventure;
        They have heard of the Larin Karr and his legendary tomb;
        They have heard there is a Dragon somewhere in the valley and would like to find its treasure;
        They have heard of the Birds of Prey and their unsuccessful mission to uncover Larin Karrs tomb;
        They are traveling to the valley to meet Crus, a famous local wizard who lives in Twain;
        They have some reason to seek out Lord Kyle or Jeffar or any of the other major NPCs.

Any of these rumors or hooks could have been planted in your own cam-paign world as you see fit.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for a definite starting point, we rec-ommend beginning with the Hobgoblin Keep. This can be accomplished ei-ther having the players brought to the valley specifically by Lord Kyle to clear out the hobgoblins in the keep (See Lord Kyle, in the Pembrose chapter and the chapter detailing the Hobgoblin Keep); or once they are in Pembrose for reasons of their own, having them contacted by Lord Kyle as a result of their rising notoriety and asked to clear out the Hobgoblins. This particular event works well because it provides an exciting, level-appropriate first encounter and also introduces the PCs to one of the most influential NPCs in the valley.

Visit the Necromancer Games website (www.necromancergames.com) for a downloadable table of rumors for the valley and for a downloadable player handout letter from Lord Kyle requesting they PCs travel to the valley to aid him in clearing out the keep.

Continuing the Plot

Depending on the personality of your players, you may or may not have to guide the adventure in a particular direction. If your players are naturally curious and independent, they will likely begin exploring on their own and youas the DMwill merely have to respond to their choices. This can be a lot of fun, and also very dangerous for the PCstheres no telling what they might stumble into. If you are a kindhearted DM, you can weaken tough en-counters so the PCs have a better chance to succeed. If you prefer versimili-tude, you can let the PCs take their chances.

If, on the other hand, your PCs need some guidance, or you prefer to keep a firmer grip on the flow of your campaign, here is a suggested series of events to follow:

        The PCs are hired by Lord Kyle. Not only does give the PCs a first objectiveclearing out the hobgoblins in the keepit also gives them an opportunity to meet an important NPC who can, along with hiring them for a job, give them some background on the Valley and its notable citi-zens. In the course of their meeting, Lord Kyle should mention A) Crus, the universally respected wizard in Twain, B) Jeffar, the Priestess of Freya living in Bostwick, and C) the Birds of Prey.
        The PCs meet Winifred Baum. Here they get their first look at one of the keys. Although they are unlikely to recognize it for what it is.
        The PCs are hired to investigate the Mysterious Door. In so doing they find a map giving some information about the Underdark. It also provides another entrance to the Underdark.
        The PCs go after the Crush Skull Orcs. This will get them into the Underdark.
        The PCs meet the Minx Brothers. This friendly pair can provide good information about the valley.
        Jeffar asks the PCs are asked to rid the woods outside Bost-wick of the Troublesome Troll. This gives the PCs a useful ally in Jeffar.
        Harry Jack tries to steal from the PCs, and Mayor Wycheck asks them to find and Kill Graylock. This is a good time to start these story lines.
        The PCs Meet Crus. The wizard can give them valuable information about the Underdark. If they found the books in Area A4 and are willing to give them to Crus, they have a very valuable ally.
        The Embittered Elves begin the Campaign of Terror. The PCs will be contacted by Lord Kyle and asked to Help
        The PCs explore the Underdark. By this time the PCs should be delving into the Underdark regularly.
        Larentiss Rises up. If the PCs didnt already deal with the dragon (see the Embittered Elves), they will have to now.
        The PCs enter the vault. Hopefully, by this time the PCs have found how to get in.

Again, this outline of events is but a guide. And even if the guide is used, adventuring will most likely not proceed location by location. The PCs may return to the villages numerous times. They may enter an Underdark location only to retreat due to difficulty or an obstacle that they cannot overcome at the present time. This is fine. In fact, it is to be encouraged."

I really think this is a super cool and very flexible tool and adventure setting for DMs.

Clark