The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan

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The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
Code C1
Rules Required AD&D
Character Levels 5 - 7
Campaign Setting Greyhawk / Generic AD&D
Authors Harold Johnson
Jeff R. Leason
First Published 1980

The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in that game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. TSR, Inc. published the module in 1980 for the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. It is the first in the "C" series of modules, a set of unrelated adventures originally designed for competition play ("C" representing the first letter in the word "competition"[1]).

This module was originally used for the Official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons tournament at Origins '79.[2] As well as the adventure itself, the module contains a scoring system and pre-rolled characters for adventuring. The original Origins pre-publication version did not have a module code and was titled Lost Tamoachan: The Hidden Shrine of Lubaatum. Featuring a pastel blue paper cover, this version was only available at Origins 79, although unsold copies subsequently were put up for sale at the Dungeon Shoppe in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Surviving examples of this version are quite rare and are highly prized by collectors.[1]

The first version published for sale to the general public in 1980 was titled The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan and bore the module code "C1". This version featured a monochrome cover of a fire-breathing bat-monster by Erol Otus. Reprint versions dating from later 1980 to the middle of the decade had a dark brown full color cover with cover art of a green giant, also by Otus. A separate booklet of artwork was included in the module, including work by Otus, Jeff Dee, Greg Fleming, David S. LaForce and David C. Sutherland III.

The module was the first to introduce players to the Olman culture of the World of Greyhawk, a society loosely based on Aztec, Mayan and other sources. Most unusual for Greyhawk modules, the adventure therefore references Aztec gods such as Quetzalcoatl and others. The adventure itself takes place in the Amedio Jungle at a disused temple near the ruined city of Tamoachan.

Contents

[edit] Critical response

The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan was ranked the 18th greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventure of all time by Dungeon magazine in 2004, on the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game. British RPG magazine White Dwarf gave it 8/10 and called it very enjoyable and said it would appeal more to more mature gamers due to it's emphasis on mental puzzles and problem solving.[3]

[edit] Cover artwork

This module was reprinted several times. Each time, the cover artwork was given a different treatment.

Lost Tamoachan (Collector's Edition), unpublished 1979 printing

The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, 1980 first published version with monochrome cover

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dungeons & Dragons FAQ. wizards.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
  2. ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-653-5. 
  3. ^ "Open Box - The Hidden Shrine of the Tamoachan Review" (April 1983). White Dwarf 40. 

[edit] External links