Against the Giants is a classic adventure module for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) 1st edition. It is actually a series of three linked adventures: Steading of the Hill Giant Chief, Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl, and Hall of the Fire Giant King. The module was written by Gary Gygax and published by TSR, Inc. in 1978…yeah, decades ago.
The overarching story of Against the Giants revolves around the activities of various giant races and their leaders who have banded together to pose a significant threat to the civilized lands. Actually, formidable alliance of giant races that threatens the civilized lands. The module is designed for characters of levels 8-12 and provides an epic and challenging campaign – you must stand against this rising threat and put an end to their plans.
By undertaking the adventures in Against the Giants, players can experience an epic and memorable campaign that showcases the scale and dangers of the giant races in the world of fantasy.
The module is often praised for its well-designed dungeons, interesting adversaries, and the sense of a grand quest to thwart the giant threat. It has become a classic in the realm of AD&D 1st edition modules and remains highly regarded by players and dungeon masters alike.
An adventure for those seeking inspiration, but you can easily flip this PDF to any D&D version or game system. If you need help on conversion, I created this page for such an occasion: Convert Old Dungeons and Dragons Adventures
The breakdown of each adventure in the series, in this PDF.
Steading of the Hill Giant Chief is the first adventure takes place in the lair of the hill giants. The players are tasked with infiltrating the stronghold of the hill giant chief and defeating him. This adventure focuses on dungeon exploration, combat encounters, and the recovery of stolen loot.
Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl, the second adventure, the players face the frost giants. They must journey to a frozen wasteland to confront the frost giant jarl and put an end to his plans. This part of the module introduces more outdoor exploration, harsh environmental challenges, and epic battles against powerful frost giants.
Hall of the Fire Giant King, the final adventure, brings the players face-to-face with the fire giants. The players infiltrate the fire giant king’s stronghold and confront the ruler in an attempt to disrupt the alliance of giants. This part features both dungeon exploration and strategic combat encounters.
Throughout the adventures, the players will face a variety of giant foes, including hill giants, frost giants, fire giants, and their respective leaders. Each giant stronghold is meticulously detailed, providing a unique environment with specific challenges and opportunities for exploration.
Against the Giants is widely regarded as one of the classic and essential modules to play. It offers a grand and epic campaign with memorable encounters, strategic battles, and opportunities for role-playing. The challenges escalate as the players progress through the adventures, culminating in a climactic confrontation with the fire giant king.
The adventure module provides ample opportunities for tactical decision-making, treasure acquisition, and the exploration of dangerous and intriguing locations. It’s a thrilling and iconic adventure series that has left a lasting impression on many players over the years.
