History TabletopGame / KeepOnTheBorderlands

* WhatMeasureIsAMook: One of the earliest examples of such. There are children among the various monsters who are also combatants. Gaming groups and flame wars have been fought over whether or not to slaughter them.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: The Caves of Chaos in where the majority of the adventuring takes place.

The Circle of Eight modding community have written a complete version of the module that can be played using a modded version of the ''Videogame/TempleOfElementalEvil'' video game.

''Keep on the Borderlands'' was an introductory module for the Red Box (Basic) version of the non-Advanced ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. As the module packaged in with the majority of the Red Box sets, it became one of the most run-through modules in D&D and one of the most popular.

* ChildSoldier: The various humanoids have children among their families in the Caverns of Chaos.

* InvitedAsDinner: The entrance to the Hobgoblins' lair, which has a sign inviting passersby to enter and receive food and a place to sleep. If anyone does so the bugbears will attack them by surprise.

* EnemyCivilWar: In the region of the Caves of Chaos, an alliance of Goblins & Hobgoblins fight against the orcs of the region and their gnoll allies (occasionally). The kobolds in the region are a third party that hopes that the previous four forget about them completely in their warfare. The Bugbears in the region are completely neutral (or rather, [[AlwaysChaoticEvil completely chaotic]]): they attack anyone they see. The lone ogre fights as a mercenary for whichever force bribes him the most.

* InvitedAsDinner: The entrance to the Hobgoblins' lair.

* TheMole.

''Keep'' has been critically acclaimed in its time, named by players as one of their favorite modules and awarded by ''[[Magazine/{{Dungeon}} Dungeon Magazine]]'' as the 7th best [=D&D=] adventure of all time in a 2004 issue.

The name was reused in 2010 as part of the [=D&D=] Encounters program, this time giving the Keep the proper name of Restwell Keep and locating it in the [[TabletopGame/NentirVale]].

The name was reused in 2010 as part of the [=D&D=] Encounters program, this time giving the Keep the proper name of Restwell Keep and locating it in [[TabletopGame/PointsOfLight the Nentir Vale]].

* EnemyCivilWar: In the region of the Caves of Chaos, an alliance of Goblins & Hobgoblins fight against the orcs of the region and their gnoll allies (occasionally). The kobolds in the region are a third party that hopes that the previous four forget about them completely in their warfare. The Bugbears in the region are completely neutral (or rather, [[AlwaysChaoticEvil completely chaotic]]): they attack anyone they see.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep : none of the important figures of the eponymous keep were given a name (thus enabling the DM to name them according to his campaign mood). They were just named according to their function: the Castellan, the Vicar, the Priest, etc.

* EnemyCivilWar: In the region of the Caves of Chaos, an alliance of Goblins & Hobgoblins fight against the orcs of the region and their gnoll allies (occasionally). The kobolds in the region are a third party that hopes that the previous four forget about them completely in their warfare. The Bugbears in the region are completely neutral (or rather, [[AlwaysChaoticEvil completely chaotic): they attack anyone they see.

Set in the Known World of TabletopGame/{{Mystara}} with the majority of the other [=BECMI=] rulebooks and adventures, the Keep was intended to provide a "home base" for beginning adventurers and provide them with numerous adventure hooks to take. The majority of the hooks involve the Caves of Chaos located not far from the Keep.

* EnemyCivilWar: In the region of the Caves of Chaos, an alliance of Goblins & Hobgoblins fight against the orcs of the region and their gnoll allies (occasionally). The kobolds in the region are a third party that hopes that the previous four forget about them completely in their warfare. The Bugbears in the region are completely neutral: they attack anyone they see.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep : none of the important figures of the eponymous keep were given a name (thus enabling the DM to name them according to his campaign mood). They were just names by their function: the Castellan, the Vicar, the Priest, etc.

A novel was released in 1999 along with other classic adventures. A sequel ''Return to the Keep on the Borderlands'' was released [[SequelGap 20 years]] later for 2nd Edition [=D&D=] and controversially relocated the Keep to TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}. ''Return'' took place [[TimeSkip two decades]] after the original. A version for TabletopGame/HackMaster, entitled ''Little Keep on the Borderlands'' was released in 2005, and served as a "parody" of the original.