What the reason for the trend - which continues today - of releasing a DM or player's screen along with a mini-module of some sort? This was also done with other TSR products such as Gamma World, Boot Hill and Star Frontiers [all which had awesome artwork, btw].

This seems kind of strange because (a) TSR had released screens without modules previously (b) there were already an abundance of adventures in circulation. Were screens bad sellers and just needed a tie-in good? Were these modules a forum to give interns work, or what?

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:What the reason for the trend - which continues today - of releasing a DM or player's screen along with a mini-module of some sort? This was also done with other TSR products such as Gamma World, Boot Hill and Star Frontiers [all which had awesome artwork, btw].

This seems kind of strange because (a) TSR had released screens without modules previously (b) there were already an abundance of adventures in circulation. Were screens bad sellers and just needed a tie-in good? Were these modules a forum to give interns work, or what?

I think it was a justification to include something beyond a skimpy piece of cardboard so they could charge $7 for it instead of $4. Also don't forget the Top Secret DM screen/module.  

Mike B.

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:What the reason for the trend - which continues today - of releasing a DM or player's screen along with a mini-module of some sort? This was also done with other TSR products such as Gamma World, Boot Hill and Star Frontiers [all which had awesome artwork, btw].

This seems kind of strange because (a) TSR had released screens without modules previously (b) there were already an abundance of adventures in circulation. Were screens bad sellers and just needed a tie-in good? Were these modules a forum to give interns work, or what?

The DM screens printed in recent years have been of such low quality as to almost be useless as anything but place mats.  Putting a mini-adventure inside is a cheap way to justify the price.

Paizo's 3.5 DM screen was panned by their customers for its weak-ass cardboard...since remaining standing is central to the concept of a screen.

But they apparently learned their lesson.  The Pathfinder DM screen is a real, useful, legitimate screen made of actual substances.  Of course, mine is in shrink, so...