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P&P has been described to me as a complicated mess, and all indications appear to support that. Yet, like the Perilous Lands supplement I reviewed many moons ago (check the archive), this adventure is well done and worth importing to whatever game you prefer. P&P's stats do not help much but their presence is easily ignored.

The adventure revolves around a lich, on his third attempt to conquer the world, and this time he seems to have learned how to do it. The adventurers are slowly drawn into opposing the lich's designs, and run through half the adventure without even becoming aware of their final quest. Along the way they encounter challenges and foes, often with opposing agendas that they can use to the party's advantage. All of the encounters are flexible, with multiple opportunities and out comes that makes each party's experience through this scenario unique. Success can come in multiple ways, nothing is forced on the characters without choice and no one pivotal moment guarantees success or failure. I was impressed with the completeness, detail and variety of outcomes, all leading to ultimate success, many incomplete or various degrees of failure.

The game book (staple bound, without a cover) details locations and gangs in a port city, all other encounters on the way to the lich's stronghold, and the stronghold with caverns beneath as well. A judges screen is included, which is useful enough to keep because, aside from the P&P rules tables, it includes scenario specific encounter and random event tables. Both are packaged in a thin box, slightly smaller than 8.5"x11", with a regional hex map reference on the back box panel.

Tower of the Dead is as good as any adventure scenario I have read and worth buying at around $5 or even more if it meets some pre-existing conditions of your campaign. Best yet, when it's all done, success or failure can be used to lead into further adventures with the people, places and things encountered within.

This review appears in Alarums & Excursions #309, Papyrus for A&E zine #61.