Mark Hope
Adventurer
I used Undermountain a lot in my 2e homebrew and hugely enjoyed it, particularly the first boxed set Ruins of Undermountain. It details the three upper levels of the dungeon, although "details" is perhaps too kind. The core rooms (several dozen on each level) are fully detailed with the kind of richness you'd excpect from a great FR product - lots of cool magical effects and lore and general awesome. The vast majority of the rooms on the maps (three or four huge poster maps) are not detailed, however, and are left blank for the DM to fill in. I had a blast with this. Some folks hated it, though, seeing a bait-and-switch in the concept of "the Realms' largest dungeon" that you ended up having to do yourself anyway. Bear that in mind.
Oh, and if you can get a copy of the Dragon magazine that details the city of Skullport (down on level three), get it. It's very cool.
Overall, I'd recommend the first boxed set without hesitation. If you are a creative and energetic DM, you'll get years of play out of that box alone. Years.
The second box and three subsequent adventures are done in a different style. They are a set of self-contained sub-levels (three in the 2nd box, iirc). They are interesting in and of themselves, but suffered because they are individually smaller in scope than the sprawling majesty of the first box. That said, they do contain good quality dungeoneering material and are worth your time if you like inventive, magical dungeons with odd bits of wilderness areas thrown in and kooky creatures and NPCs to throw at your players. Good, friendly, freewheeling fun.
Overall, the sets could have been better. After seeing Rappan Athuk, for example, Undermountain's flaws are more readily apparent. But for what they are, the Undermountain supplements are nevertheless worth a look. Get the first box if you can find it for cheap. There is plenty there to mine no matter what else you do with it.
Oh, and if you can get a copy of the Dragon magazine that details the city of Skullport (down on level three), get it. It's very cool.
Overall, I'd recommend the first boxed set without hesitation. If you are a creative and energetic DM, you'll get years of play out of that box alone. Years.
The second box and three subsequent adventures are done in a different style. They are a set of self-contained sub-levels (three in the 2nd box, iirc). They are interesting in and of themselves, but suffered because they are individually smaller in scope than the sprawling majesty of the first box. That said, they do contain good quality dungeoneering material and are worth your time if you like inventive, magical dungeons with odd bits of wilderness areas thrown in and kooky creatures and NPCs to throw at your players. Good, friendly, freewheeling fun.
Overall, the sets could have been better. After seeing Rappan Athuk, for example, Undermountain's flaws are more readily apparent. But for what they are, the Undermountain supplements are nevertheless worth a look. Get the first box if you can find it for cheap. There is plenty there to mine no matter what else you do with it.
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