DragonLancer
Hero
I picked up my copy today and while I did intentionaly buy it for the collection if I had picked it up to run I would have been dissapointed. There just isn't enough in that book to do Undermountain justice IMO.
Expedition to Undermountain Opinions?
- Thread starter Baumi
- Start date
BlackMoria
First Post
Aye, that's the rub.
You would need a Ptolus-sized book to do Undermountain justice. And since that wasn't the intent and that is not what happened, you work with what you got. I'm fine with it.
But a Ptolus-sized book - that would have warmed the cockles of my heart.
I was somewhat skeptical when I heard what the book is NOT. After I bought it, however, I was really pleased with what it IS. It would make a fun adventure into Undermountain. If I were running in Waterdeep right now, you can bet I'd think about incorporating it (along with Eric Boyd's wonderful Vampires of Waterdeep trilogy from Dungeon).
What really came to me strongly is that the remainder of Undermountain's detailing is EXACTLY the kind of thing that should be done in exhaustive detail by the upcoming DI. If they would spit out a quarter of a level of Undermountain in fleshed out fashion (like the detailed rooms from the original Black Box set) every few months, I would gladly buy the DI and praise it loudly in the streets. Many of us have been told repeatedly that the products that we want (regional supplements, detailed maps, Realms Encyclopedia) are not feasible in print. The DI is the time for WotC to do these things. Give us all the products we've wanted for so long!
What really came to me strongly is that the remainder of Undermountain's detailing is EXACTLY the kind of thing that should be done in exhaustive detail by the upcoming DI. If they would spit out a quarter of a level of Undermountain in fleshed out fashion (like the detailed rooms from the original Black Box set) every few months, I would gladly buy the DI and praise it loudly in the streets. Many of us have been told repeatedly that the products that we want (regional supplements, detailed maps, Realms Encyclopedia) are not feasible in print. The DI is the time for WotC to do these things. Give us all the products we've wanted for so long!
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Excellent argument, and I'm right there with ya.Athenon said:
DM Jeff (and others with the book)-
Is there any reference to the Matt Sernett article series on the WOTC site from a couple of years ago, converting Undermountain to 3E? I wonder if there is overlap or if they are complimentary, so that one could snag the on-line articles to buff up the size of the detailed encounters and such?
(This is all assuming that said articles have not yet been removed in anticipation of either the book, the Digital Initiative, or both?!
)
Is there any reference to the Matt Sernett article series on the WOTC site from a couple of years ago, converting Undermountain to 3E? I wonder if there is overlap or if they are complimentary, so that one could snag the on-line articles to buff up the size of the detailed encounters and such?
(This is all assuming that said articles have not yet been removed in anticipation of either the book, the Digital Initiative, or both?!
)
Obergnom
First Post
Got mine today and I must say, I am pleased with it. It is no more or less perfect than Expedition to the Demonweb is... but I myself like to tinker with adventures to make them fit me and my group.
I actually ran a game 3 years ago, (inspired by Monte Cooks Ptolus Journals) based in Waterdeep that used the same structure (I had a bunch of Undermountain areas prepared by using parts of Necromancer Modules Rappan Athuk and Tomb of Abystor) and we had a blast.
It might be a long time from now once I get to run this, but I will run it. I think it is a great module, detailed enough for those weeks with no time to do more prep than read through some pages, but open enough for those "creative overflow" weeks, that let me cancel usual adventures because I can't do what I really want to, without ruining the pacing.
Oh, and I really have to second the DI idea, I had exactly the same idea when looking through the book.
One thing though, I am very lucky I have the old box for maps, the new ones are close to worthless...
I actually ran a game 3 years ago, (inspired by Monte Cooks Ptolus Journals) based in Waterdeep that used the same structure (I had a bunch of Undermountain areas prepared by using parts of Necromancer Modules Rappan Athuk and Tomb of Abystor) and we had a blast.
It might be a long time from now once I get to run this, but I will run it. I think it is a great module, detailed enough for those weeks with no time to do more prep than read through some pages, but open enough for those "creative overflow" weeks, that let me cancel usual adventures because I can't do what I really want to, without ruining the pacing.
Oh, and I really have to second the DI idea, I had exactly the same idea when looking through the book.
One thing though, I am very lucky I have the old box for maps, the new ones are close to worthless...
DragonLancer
Hero
RichGreen said:
Fun is not the point here. There just isn't enough in the book to run anything with it really unless the DM has lots of time to work on maps, encounters, plots...etc. Most of us who are DM's I'm sure will say that there just isn't enough spare time as is, and you'd need a lot more than we have to do anything with this.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the book is bad or anything like that. I'm saying that there needed to be more in this. I hate box sets but this is one product that probably needed to be done that way to ensure that enough was put into it to make it reasonably playable.
