In the early days of TSR, before the Satanic Panic, one module proved to be infamous enough that it was recalled the same day it was released.
TSR is no stranger to controversy. Through the years it’s levied lawsuit after lawsuit, been sued by various members of its executive team, and even been the source of an actual boardroom coup.
And that’s without the drama brought on by the Satanic Panic, a moral panic that gripped the nation and earned D&D a spot on many a banned books list. But before any of that happened, TSR produced a module that was released and immediately withdrawn.
What did it do to earn that reputation? Well, let’s find out.
The Legacy of TSR’s Jean Wells
It all starts with Jean Wells, the first woman designer hired by TSR. She would go on to author exactly one D&D adventure, and one alone. It ends up being the most expensive D&D module of all time (more on that in just a moment).
But first, a bit of background on Wells. She was an avid and early D&D player. And was one of the driving members of the community facing team of TSR once she joined.
In an interview, Wells talks about her experience as one of the only women designers at the time:
He was hiring my imagination and would teach me the rest. I also suspect, but am not positive, that being a girl had a lot to do with it as well. When I finally moved up to Lake Geneva i…
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
