Is it still a knock-off if you hire one of the most iconic artists of the place you’re knocking off to do a cover for you? Larry Elmore actually did two Role Aids covers — the next featured on the first Demons box set (and I love it). Little ambivalent about this one, though it does seem to intentionally channel a lot of design work that references both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms. Like it or not, I enjoy how the Ray Winninger era of Role Aids seems to be intentionally thumbing its nose at TSR in a way the earlier iteration was not.

Anyway, this is A Portal to Adventure (1992). It is more a toolbox for adventures rather than a formal adventure. Think the Task Force Citybooks, or TSR’s site books that would come out a little later on in the ‘90s (Castle Sites, etc). It’s a collection of NPCs, city sites, wilderness sites and an array of new magic items. I love love love books like this.

The NPCs are OK. They’re well realized, but NPCs are not what I would reach for when improvising an adventure. Maybe I have a natural affinity for whipping up NPCs on the fly? I dunno. YMMV. Likewise, the magic items are sturdy but mostly filling in logical gaps in the official D&D lists, for example: a ring of talking to animals, a staff that turns into a snake, a sword that is really good against trolls, and so on.

The sites are great, though, perfect to drop in anywhere in an ongoing game to provide material for a session or two (or more!). There’s a great derelict tower with a hidden treasure room, a pet shop with a sideline in bloodsports, a wizard’s abode in a hollowed out stalactite that hangs over an abyss. The ruined town is pretty great, too, as is the temple of bat worshipers. My favorite, though is the oracle in a broken hilltop that comes complete with a table of cryptic portents. I am going to steal a bunch of these for my game, no doubt about it.