The Mother Haggle’s Notice Board series on the DMs Guild aren’t typical adventures. Rather, they’re a collection of one-page scenarios which have an unusual format. Each scenario uses the following sections to describe the situation:

• The Quest
• The Core Problem
• Plausible Complications
• Unlikely Disasters

Each section has very little detail. Instead of a fully detailed adventure, you get a framework and inspirational elements; monsters are suggested where appropriate.

For those people like me, who grew up with the adventures produced by TSR, these scenarios seem strange and alien. However, the format comes from a different role-playing tradition, and it works very well if you’re comfortable improvising. A situation, a goal, some characters to interact with, and some complications to throw at the players to keep things interesting. That provides enough material to enable some very entertaining games.

My main problem with this collection, Pride and Prejudice, is its premise. The adventurers are hired by Mother Haggle to eliminate competition: “variant humans”, which is to say, humans with unusual powers. Eliminating or kidnapping innocents isn’t something that good characters will like, and even neutral characters should be uneasy. It’s a pity, as the situations are quite strong. Thankfully, you can remove Mother Haggle and then you have three scenarios that take a little problem-solving and negotiation to resolve, with the possibility of some combat to enliven matters.

The product includes a print-friendly version. There are a few typographical errors, such as “chlid” and “does’t”, and occasional infelicities of phrasing. However, there are also nice little jokes; having a pair of outlaws called Pyramus and Thisbe amuses me.

Pride and Prejudice isn’t a product for a DM who wants lots of detail, but if you’re happy to improvise, you may find these scenarios of some interest, both for their content and their presentation. Recommended.