
And now for something completely different. Well, not completely different, but the joining of two different concepts that were already being explored by TSR into something new. By bringing together the Endless Quest style of choose your own path books with the regular D&D modules we get this MSOLO series. Originally with the code M1, further reprints would publish Blizzard Pass as MSOLO1, to avoid confusion, as another group of modules took the letter M (1985’s Into the Maelstrom would be the official M1).

So what we get here is a module sized publication with plenty of numbered empty text boxes and an invisible ink pen, as you choose your path you are supposed to highlight the selected box with the special pen included in order to read the next bit of the story. The story here is pretty simple, you are a level 1 thief who has to traverse a snowy pass after being wrongfully accused of murder and eventually you get captured by monsters and get to explore some caves with prisoners that you need to free and who will become your allies.

As a solo adventure aimed at a young audience it isn’t particularly interesting, with the Endless Quest or Fighting Fantasy books available at the time being better options for that, but being a Basic D&D module it also gives a bunch maps which can be used elsewhere and some content to play with a party of characters that adds some value to the book. The invisible ink gimmick does make the module a more or less disposable thing, as according to reviews online the pen runs out of ink after one use (sometimes before you finish the module). More of an interesting experiment than a particularly successful module, it’s still fun to see them trying new things.

#ttrpg #dnd #adnd





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