4 out of 5 rating for Out of the Abyss
Few published adventures compare to the epic scope and captures the desolate and maddening ambience of both the Underdark and demon lords as Out of the Abyss (OotA). Since this product has been out so long I won't offer a complete review, as there are many others. I will mention a few of my favorite parts of OotA and how I intend on using it in my current campaign. I have played through this campaign from start to finish. After completing the adventure, in a party with 5 other players, I bought a copy of both the book and DM screen for my collection. Now I have both played through and read most of this published module. First I must say, that I wish the book had more useful appendices and indexes. I also wish that this book had a dramatis persona like the newer Storm King's Thunder. In fact, this book works as both a complete campaign, but in my opinion, even better as an Underdark setting.
Let me explain what I mean about this adventure. I plan to use it from level 8-10 onward. I want my players to establish themselves on the surface world as notable and successful adventurers. I also want them to have established some holdings and minor titles on the surface world. This will enhance (positively speaking) the potential of maddness and death in a world removed from where their fame and wealth exists. Fortune and glory only matter when you have a crowd that recognizes the player character's deeds. Being summoned by Bruenor will be my players first introduction to the incursion of demon lords which threatens the very existence of Faerun. In fact, in true "classic" fashion I aim to make this exploration available after Storm King's Thunder--as the unknown catalyst for the dissolved Ordning. As retro/nostalgic as this move is (harkening back to Queen of Spiders), I am also allowing this story arc to manifest slowly. But I am not railroading the players toward the Underdark. If they avoid the call, then they will eventually face Demogorgon (or other more party-specific demon lord for that matter) on the surface in the desolate North somewhere sometime.
I could also see this being an extension of Mine of Phandelver, Princes of the Apocalypse, or as this current campaign is starting off--through city adventuring in Waterdeep. I am sandboxing and including in this campaign SKT, PotA, and OotA. This will be through custom rumor tables, some synthesized NPCs from each book listed above, and older 2nd edition boxsets (specifically City of Splendors, Undermountain, and The Night Below). Rulebook-wise, I'm using the three 5E core books and Volo's guide to Monsters. Madness will be a subtle part of the campaign from the beginning as well as some mention of the Society of Brilliance, but only in passing esoteric mentions of an example of madness. Crumblecake, from PotA, has already been served and touted from the Dessarin Valley in a tavern in Waterdeep.
Some cliches mentioned by town folks in my campaign:
"Those two fight like giants and dragons!"
"Your acting more mental than the society of brilliance."
"You don't know the dark of it young adventurer."
"Say what you will about those farmers in Dessarin Valley, but they know just desserts."
*Spoiler Alert
Out of the Abyss can be run in a number of ways. The adventure can be run linearly or through a more loosely oriented sandbox. I think that you can avoid any sense of railroading through using this book as a high-level adventure area (9th level plus). I am also going to be expanding Menzoborranzan (employing material from Vault of the Drow) as a larger portion of the eventual story/scenario, if the party ever makes it that far. I also am going to employ Viceran Devir differently than the book as a more open adversary of the party. Wherein his ritual device, bringing the remaining demon lords together for the final encounter (proper) of this adventure also teleports the party and demonlords to Sigil (Planescape), the Abyss, or someplace that makes sense/maximum destruction against the earlier established PC holdings. All of this planning is loose and will change significantly over the next year or more that this campaign will take to unfold.
Employing this book as an adventure area or an open area to explore raises the value of this product. While the adventure starting as captives and running from drow slavers is a fantastic beginning, this adventure also serves as a brilliant mid-high level module in its own right. This is where I agree with some people's criticism of this campaign--which is that you need some experience to run it--to that end this is how I am employing this into a campaign, but first some negatives.
A few critiques, which is only fair, is that Out of the Abyss is not as beginner-friendly as other published 5E material. More useful appendixes and better organization for the many NPCs would have helped the layout of this campaign significantly. There is a large cast of NPCs, areas to explore, constant environmental hazards and a rather advanced madness system to employ into your campaign. This would be challenging for a DM's first material to prepare. That said, this is a wondrous toolkit for more experienced DMs that don't mind seducing your players into the Underdark.
The dungeons are largely areas and cities to add to your campaign world, even if you don't use the story-arc (drow summoning demon lords into the world for an epic showdown). Utilizing travel maps from the Night Below boxset is especially useful as there are months of traveling in OotA. *This product ranks up there as one of the three best products about the Underdark ever in my opinion. I count this book as a must-have for those that are fans of the Underdark. Think of this book as a collection of adventure areas, NPCs, and madness inducing situations within the Underdark to understand the strong 4 stars that I give this book.
*My top three Underdark supplements/campaign/module
1. Vault of the Drow
2. Night Below (boxset Campaign)
3. Out of the Abyss
Honorable mention is the super module "Queen of Spiders." While no one can take away from the innovations of the G,D,&Q modules, the organization and use-ability of these listed products above surpass the original super-module in this case.
