An adventure module for D&D 4th Edition, weaving a number of plotlines around a fetch quest to assemble the scattered Deck of Many Things. There's a lot of great stuff in this adventure, particularly the flexibility in terms of how it progresses (making this very replayable) and many interesting encounters throughout. They also seemed to make a conscious effort to defy stereotypes about 4E, by including non-combat methods of resolving many encounters, as well as solid roleplaying notes for the various NPCs (even some of the generic monsters).

There are some weaknesses, however. One, for as central as the Deck is supposed to be, they largely leave it to the DM to explain how to set them on the fetch quest, and also how the NPCs figure out the PCs are looking for the Deck. Another is the decision to split the adventure overview (Books 1 and 2) from the majority of the setpiece encounters (Books 3 and 4), which results in having to go back and forth a lot between booklets to understand the big picture. The Deck's individual card powers are also less exciting than they should be, due to the typical 4E focus on what can affect a battle map.

Still, complaints aside, there's a lot to like in this adventure, and it's definitely one of 4E's best. If you're a 4E DM, this would be an excellent choice for your next campaign. (Originally posted on Goodreads)

If you could only run one 4e campaign, Madness at Gardmore Abbey is what you want. Not only does it have dungeons and a dragon, it starts higher than 1st level, visits the Feywild and the Far Realm, has a wide variety of monsters, and THE DECK OF MANY THINGS in a VERY playable form. This purchase comes with PDF's of all the original printed booklets and digital copies of the maps and cards. Nothing's going to look as good printed out as the original boxed items, but it's such a good gimmick for players in person that you'll rarely find anywhere else. There are conversions available online to update the statblocks and DC's to 5e, but if you want to experience the best 4e gameplay, here it is.

This huge super-adventure (that fits nicely as the second part of any starter adventure) does replayability very well. Gardmore had multiple antagonists/allies way before Waterdeep Dragon Heist and presents them in a more organic fashion. The DM and party actions decide who ultimately becomes the final antagonists. You will never have a group go through this adventure the same way twice, I guarantee.

As noted by WotC in the digital listing, there are some topics of the adventure that the DM should discuss with playes beforehand or in a Session Zero. "Madness" is right there in the title and backstory of the adventure, the depiction of a village of orcs has some nuance, etc. Adjust these parts of the adventure for how your group feels comfortable.

Hmmm, odd about the lower star reviews, especially lacking any sort of feedback.

This was one of my favorite 4e adventures. I mean, DECK OF MANY THINGS, interacting throughout the entire adventure, and it isn't completely broken?! Confession, when I was 11 I made my own Deck of Many Things out of playing cards after encountering it in AD&D.

In all seriousness, large variety of encounters, some pure combat, some social, traps, heck, even mass combat on a more wargame scale too!

There are good 5e conversion kits out there, and I have sucessfully run this twice for groups (once in 4e, once converted to 5e), and even used the theme/world/flair for another group.

Highly recommend.