Expedition to Undermountain Opinions?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Looking at the zipped/PDF table of contents (thank god for that, because otherwise, I'd have no idea that WotC could manage two columns of text!), it looks like a series of linked encounters on multiple levels are fully detailed, with areas around the key areas given a lighter amount of detail.

So it's an adventure WITHIN Undermountain, rather than an exhaustive treatment of even the first few levels.

Given space and financial constraints, this seems like what they pretty much have to do. Maybe if this sells well, there will be a sequel that details other areas and another adventure.

 

[ruleslawyer]

No.

There was a 128 campaign book with lots of encounter areas, as well as random encounter tables for each levels and new monsters as well.

The fact that the map has several unkeyed rooms on the maps beyond what's in the campaign book is what has some folks' knickers in a twist.

Yeah; never mind that this is what I *loved* about RoU. I used to drop in stuff like Dungeonland, Tomb of Horrors, bits of Castle Greyhawk... you name it. Some people do like everything catalogued out, though.

The adventure does sound a bit disappointing. My question is: How *are* the encounters, anyway?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah; never mind that this is what I *loved* about RoU. I used to drop in stuff like Dungeonland, Tomb of Horrors, bits of Castle Greyhawk... you name it.

That's what I'm planning to do with Ptolus' Dungeon. Once I have player characters of the right level, I'm slipping the Crypt of the Devil-Lich under there and Dungeonland/Land Beyond the Magic Mirror will likely make an appearance before that.

The adventure does sound a bit disappointing. My question is: How *are* the encounters, anyway?

The previews look pretty good, although having doppleganger merchants seems a bit gratuitous.

 

[Baumi]

The new Map-A-Week ( http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mw/20070614x ) features the overview map and one of the levels (a nondescript one).

 

[VirgilCaine]

The previews look pretty good, although having doppleganger merchants seems a bit gratuitous.

My first thought is of Resident Evil 4's wandering invincible merchant guys.

 

[freyar]

The new Map-A-Week ( http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mw/20070614x ) features the overview map and one of the levels (a nondescript one).

Something struck me as a bit strange about the overview map, or a couple of things, really. (1) For being such a big dungeon, it didn't look all that big (though I guess each level is about as big as Waterdeep, so maybe that's ok). (2) If it's called Undermountain, shouldn't at least some of the dungeon be in Mount Waterdeep?

 

[Arnwyn]

several unkeyed rooms

LOL! Master of the understatement.

But Psion does wear his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Undermountain. Keep fighting the good fight!

Something struck me as a bit strange about the overview map, or a couple of things, really. (1) For being such a big dungeon, it didn't look all that big (though I guess each level is about as big as Waterdeep, so maybe that's ok). (2) If it's called Undermountain, shouldn't at least some of the dungeon be in Mount Waterdeep?

1) The overview map is definitely not to scale.
2) There is a (small) portion of it actually in Mt. Waterdeep, but it's never been mapped - it's only been described (most recently in the 3e Waterdeep hardcover) - IIRC it's the Citadel of the Bloody Hand. That leads me to believe that the overview map does seem a bit off, though, based on what has been previously described. I thought the Citadel of the Bloody Hand was up much higher in the mountain (certainly above the sewers). Can anyone correct me on this?

 

[Faraer]

LOL! Master of the understatement.

Barely. The "blank rooms" complaint is a complete crock -- what person who'd actually read or run Ruins of Undermountain would object to having some extra map areas pasted on to use or ignore as he/she prefers?

I thought the Citadel of the Bloody Hand was up much higher in the mountain (certainly above the sewers). Can anyone correct me on this?

It's "within the craggy slopes of Mount Waterdeep", "in the mountain above", which I certainly read to mean above ground level.

 

[Mycanid]

All I know about the product is that it looks like there are air guitar playing myconid bards in it.

Piqued my interest, that's for sure.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hopefully we'll get a nice in-depth review soon.