Temple of the Frog
The year 1975 marked the first appearance of a scenario that would eventually become Temple of the Frog. Dave Arneson included this adventure in his Blackmoor supplement during those early days of roleplaying game history. Players explored a dark swamp where an evil temple waited to trap unwary visitors. The original version existed only within the Blackmoor campaign materials before anyone else saw it. TSR published a revised edition as module DA2 in 1986 with product code TSR 9175. This new version expanded the story into a forty-eight page booklet designed for the Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set rules. The transformation from private campaign notes to commercial product took over a decade to complete.
Player characters must journey deep into the Great Dismal Swamp to find the source of their troubles. An evil temple stands hidden among the cypress trees and murky waters waiting to claim more victims. A baroness lies trapped inside these stone walls while her captors plot against the outside world. The party must navigate dangerous terrain filled with monsters and traps to reach the prisoner. Every step through the swamp brings them closer to the frog-headed guardians who protect the temple gates. The air grows thick with humidity and the smell of decay as they approach the final chamber. Rescue requires careful planning because failure means becoming another permanent resident of the dungeon.
Dave L. Arneson and David J. Ritchie wrote the 1986 version of Temple of the Frog together. Their partnership combined decades of experience designing complex scenarios for tabletop games. Arneson brought his original Blackmoor concepts while Ritchie helped structure the adventure for wider release. Both names appear on the cover of module DA2 alongside other credits. They adapted an existing scenario from the 1975 supplement into a standalone product that could be used by new groups. The collaboration resulted in a forty-eight page booklet that maintained the spirit of the original while adding new challenges. Their work ensured the story remained playable under the Expert Set rules without losing its unique atmosphere.
Denis Beauvais created the striking cover art that greeted customers when they opened TSR 9175. Mark Nelson provided interior illustrations that brought the swamp scenes to life inside the booklet. These artists worked to translate the written descriptions into visual form for players who had never seen the map before. The outer folder protected the forty-eight pages while displaying the temple entrance to potential buyers. Beauvais designed the front image to show the menacing presence of the frog-headed guardians lurking in the water. Nelson filled the inner pages with detailed drawings of traps, monsters, and the baroness holding cell. Their artwork gave the module a distinct identity separate from other adventures released during the same year.
The Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set rules governed how this adventure functioned within game sessions. Module DA2 was specifically designed to work seamlessly with those particular rulebooks rather than basic versions. A forty-eight page booklet format allowed enough space for maps and encounter details without becoming unwieldy. TSR included an outer folder to protect the contents during shipping and storage. This design choice made the product easier to handle compared to larger boxed sets or single sheet handouts. Groups using the Expert Set could run the entire scenario without needing additional rulebooks beyond what they already owned. The structure supported both new players learning the system and veterans looking for fresh challenges.
Common questions
When was Temple of the Frog first created by Dave Arneson?
The year 1975 marked the first appearance of a scenario that would eventually become Temple of the Frog. Dave Arneson included this adventure in his Blackmoor supplement during those early days of roleplaying game history.
Who wrote the revised edition of Temple of the Frog released as module DA2?
Dave L. Arneson and David J. Ritchie wrote the 1986 version of Temple of the Frog together. Their partnership combined decades of experience designing complex scenarios for tabletop games.
What is the product code for the TSR publication of Temple of the Frog?
TSR published a revised edition as module DA2 in 1986 with product code TSR 9175. This new version expanded the story into a forty-eight page booklet designed for the Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set rules.
Where do player characters journey to find the source of their troubles in Temple of the Frog?
Player characters must journey deep into the Great Dismal Swamp to find the source of their troubles. An evil temple stands hidden among the cypress trees and murky waters waiting to claim more victims.
Which artists created the cover art and interior illustrations for Temple of the Frog?
Denis Beauvais created the striking cover art that greeted customers when they opened TSR 9175. Mark Nelson provided interior illustrations that brought the swamp scenes to life inside the booklet.