The Keep on the Borderlands

The Keep on the Borderlands (B2) is a Dungeons & Dragons module first printed in December 1979. It is designed for use with Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set. Although also available for separate sale, was included in the 6th to 11th printings (1979-1982) of the basic set. As the cover of the first but not latter printings noted: With minor modifications, it is also suitable for use with ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.

The module's cover featured Erol Otus' artwork and notes it is a special introductory module with many aspects making it helpful for beginging players and Dungeon Masters. Dungeon Masters (DMs) benefit from tips for running encounters through out and the module includes basic rules for Wilderness adventures as these are not included in the Basic D&D set. The structure of the "dungeon" as a series of separate caves also allows for simple segmented playing sessions for new players and new DMs alike.

Players characters are expected to arrive at the Keep on the Borderlands, where they situate themselves before investigating the Caves of Chaos, chockful of humanoid tribes uniting to destroy the keep. Plot twists include a treacherous priest within the castle walls, hungry lizardmen in a nearby swamp, and a mad hermit in the wilderness. It typifies the dungeon crawls associated with beginning D&D players, while permitting some limited outdoor adventures.

Keep on the Borderlands went out of print in the mid 1980's. However the module was partially reprinted in the supermodule compilation B1-9 In Search of Adventure (1985) which included the Caves of Chaos only but not the keep or surrounding wilderness. The original module was available again in the Silver Anniversary Collector's Edition set (1999).

The module was remade as Return to the Keep on the Borderlands (1999) for 2nd Edition AD&D, set twenty years after the events of the original module, evil has returned to the Caves of Chaos.