X13: Crown of Ancient Glory (1987) brings my beloved X-series to a close. It was the longest running of the BECMI series modules and my favorite, even though lots of the modules kind of stink. This one, like X11: Saga of the Shadow Lord, by the same author, is merely fine.

Lotta politics in this module that is nominally supposed to be about overland exploration. Lotta lords and lands and stuff I’d expect from the CM-series (which also came to an end in 1987). There’s a crown to be found. Then there is an heir to be found to wear the crown. It’s fiiiiiiiiine. It could probably be spiced up easily enough. It just bums me out that the last X-module is just, you know, perfectly serviceable.

Chris Miller delivers some really nice illustrations, including one of the lochnar, D&D’s answer to Nessie. Have we talked about my childhood fascination with/terror of the Loch Ness Monster and other sea monsters? And how much I don’t like dark water? That illustration gives me palpitations. Damn. Keith Parkinson cover. I like it, but it doesn’t come close to the awesomeness of his Shadow Lord cover. Something funny about the mage — he looks stiffer than the skellie. Nice bright colors, though.