Ken returns to the Dungeon of Dread by Rose Estes, the first of TSR's Endless Quest books for Dungeons & Dragons.
The book places you in the role of a young warrior who befriends a halfling thief. The halfling just escaped the lair of a magic-user, so naturally he's up for going back there with you… It's a classic book, and one that went on to inform a lot of Ken's early D&D campaigns (and his ongoing affection for water weirds…)
Chapters
0:27 A D&D Geek's First Endless Quest0:56 Mechanics and Flavor Text – No Dice Required1:55 Cryptic Warnings and Classic Monsters3:22 The Nostalgia Factor4:27 Next stop … Gamma World?5:00 Outro – Share Your Own Endless Quest Stories
Listen to the Episode
Watch to the Episode
Watch "Dungeon of Dread - Endless Quest Book Review" on YouTube.
Show Notes
Overview of Dungeon of Dread (1982) by Rose Estes
Introduction to the Endless Quest series (1982–1987)
Roleplaying without dice: choose-your-own-adventure style
Your character: a slim 5'9" adult human fighter
Gear as flavor text, not inventory
Early monster encounters: water weirds, kobolds, hobgoblins, basilisk
Narrative decisions that lead to death or danger (e.g., falling in holes)
Personal nostalgia: how these books fueled imagination between D&D sessions
The roots of Ken’s love for green slime and traps
Collecting vintage Endless Quest books
Teaser: Gamma World’s Light on Quest Mountain
