B2: Derivative Works

B2 "The Keep on the Borderlands" has inspired multiple homages and conversions to related game systems.  These provide a wealth of ideas for DMs running the classic module, or can be run on their own.

There have also been various sequels to the original adventure, which will be covered in greater detail, tomorrow.

B2 Little Keep on the Borderlands:

Cover to B2 "Little Keep on the Borderlands" (2002) by Jolly R. Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Noah Kolman, Jamie LaFountain, Don Morgan, and Mark Piemmons.  Illustration by Stacy Drum.

Hackmaster "4e" (2001) was the original, tongue-in-cheek version of the HackMaster RPG, inspired by AD&D 1e/2e.  Several modules based on classic D&D/AD&D modules were released, including B2 "Little Keep on the Borderlands" (a play on "Little House on the Praire").

In the Hackmaster version, the Keep guards a mountain pass in Garweeze Wurld, the Hackmaster analog to AD&D's World of Greyhawk.  The adventure is intended as a loose sequel to B1 "Quest for the Unknown" and includes some of the same NPCs.

Chapter 1 details Frandor's Keep (including its history), Chapter 2 describes "Hell's Throat" (the wilderness area around the Keep), and Chapter 3 details the Mines of Chaos.  10 pages of illustrations to show players are included in the back.

Although many sections are paraphrased from the original module, there is a considerable amount of useful, new material, (including a "public posting board" for adventure hooks), several new wilderness encounters, and some new cave areas.

See also Beneath the Little Keep (Kenzer & Co., 2005) Parts I & II

Frandor's Keep:

Cover to "Frandor's Keep" (2009) by Jolly R. Blackburn, Steve Johansson, David Kenzer, Mark Plemmons, and Benjamin Sharef.  Illustration by Jolly R. Blackburn.

"Frandor’s Keep: An immersive setting for adventure" is located in the Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting, designed for use with HackMaster Basic (also released in 2009, as part of the updated "5e" version of the HackMaster RPG).

Frandor's Keep is described, as well as the surrounding area.  There are three multisession expeditions: The Ransom, The Kobold Brambles and The Mine of the Goblin King, each detailed in a separate chapter, in addition to several smaller excursions.

Much in "Frandor's Keep" was drawn from the earlier B2 "Little Keep on the Borderlands", although there is plenty of new material.  The planned sequel "Mines of Chaos" was never released, but Chapter 3 from B2 "Little Keep on the Borderlands" can be used.

JN1: The Chaotic Caves:

Cover to JN1 "The Chaotic Caves" (2009) by J.D. Neal.  Illustration by Alexander Cook.

Basic Fantasy RPG is an open source retroclone of the 1981 B/X rules.  JN1 "The Chaotic Caves" is an adventure inspired by B2 "The Keep on the Borderlands", although with a stockaded town in place of the Keep.  The free pdf is downloadable, here.

There is an updated wilderness map, with both GM and Player versions, complete with wandering monster tables and several new encounter areas, including a "Cave of Horrors" (another good candidate for the Cave of the Unknown).

The Chaotic Caves are situated within a narrow gorge, similar to the Caves of Chaos, although the map has been completely redrawn.  There are a couple of new lairs, in addition to an abandoned manor house to the west of the Caves.

The adventure works well in combination with BF1 "Morgansfort" (2006), which includes a stand-in for the Keep in the "Western Lands" campaign setting, as well as three short dungeon areas, including a Cave of the Unknown.  The free pdf is downloadable, here.

Keep on the Borderlands: A Season of Serpents:

Cover to "Keep on the Borderlands: A Season of Serpents" (2010) by Chris Sims.  Illustration by Craig J. Spearing.

 

"Keep on the Borderlands: A Season of Serpents" was a series of adventures for Season 3 of D&D Encounters (Fall/Winter 2010) released as part of the D&D Essentials line for 4e.  "Restwell Keep" was introduced in "The Keep on the Chaos Scar" (Dungeon #176, March 2010). 

The adventure was designed as part of the "Points of Light" or Nentir Vale setting for 4e, located between the Witchlight Fens and the Ogrefist Hills.

The Caves of Chaos were replaced with the "Chaos Scar" detailed in a series of articles from Dungeon #171 (October 2009) to Dungeon #197 (December 2011), although Season 12 of D&D Encounters featured “Against the Cult of Chaos” (2013), based upon the Caves of Chaos.

Original Adventures Reincarnated #1:

Cover to "Into the Borderlands" (2018).  Illustration by Jim Roslof, from module B2 "The Keep on the Borderlands"

A repackaging of the original versions of modules B1 and B2, together with introductory retrospectives, as well as detailed conversions to 5e, by Chris Doyle and Tim Wadzinski.

The B2 section includes 28 random wilderness encounters, detailed descriptions of geographic locations, and 13 set encounters, as well as two new caves (Cave L, and Cave M), and other new encounter areas, beyond the boulder-filled passage.

As with previous updates and conversions, new subplots are introduced, one of which connects the adventure to module B1.  (You can read my review of OAR #1, here).

O Forte das Terras Marginais:

Cover to "O Forte das Terras Marginais" (2018) by Rafael Beltrame.  Illustration by Dan Ramos.  (Cover to the 2011 version, here.)

"O Forte das Terras Marginais" is a Brazilian version of "The Keep on the Borderlands", written for "Old Dragon" (2010), a Brazilian retroclone.

The original version was released in 2011 (reviewed, here).  An updated version was announced in 2017 (reviewed, here).  It's filled with fresh ideas and beautiful art.

The module includes a new wilderness map, as well as several new encounters.  See also this post from 2016, discussing ways in which to expand the adventure.

Beyond the Borderlands:

Cover to "Beyond the Borderlands" (2020), written and illustrated by Alex Damaceno.

"Beyond the Borderlands" is a 3-part zine, the first issue of which was only recently published.  "Stronglaw Keep" is described, as well as the Wicked Palovalley.  The art is gorgeous.

Issue #1 is reviewed, here and here.  

Damaceno's development blog is also well worth checking out, where he recently shared his isometric rendition of the original Caves of Chaos as a 2-page mini-zine.

Homages:

Two years before "The Keep on the Chaos Scar" was published, Wizards of the Coast released its first introductory adventure for D&D 4e "The Keep on the Shadowfell" (2008), involving a different, ruined keep, more of a dungeon location.

"Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands" (Raging Swan Press, 2012; 2nd printing 2015), by Creighton Broadhurst, designed for the Pathfinder RPG, draws greater inspiration from the Moathouse in module T1 "The Village of Hommlet", and is likewise a dungeon location.

"Against the Cult of Chaos" (Wizards of the Coast, 2013) is a homage to T1 "The Village of Hommlet, B2 "The Keep on the Borderlands", and N1 "Against the Cult of the Reptile God" designed for the Winter 2013 season of the D&D 4e "Encounters" program.

CM1 "Borderlands of Adventure" (Labyrinth Lord, 2013), by J. is part-homage, part-sequel in that events take place ten years after the Borderlands have fallen to Chaotic humanoids, and includes the ruins of "Wardstone Keep" and individual humanoid lairs.