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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
755 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Nov 2025 : 19:26:40
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Hello, looking for suggestions of further Underdark DM resources.
Could you please suggest any other sources that can help with preparation?
The players wish to find, clear and map an underground trade route between Silverymoon and Mithral Hall.
I have with me:
3e Underdark
Races of Stone
Caves and Caverns (Raging Swan)
Drizzt's Guide to the Underdark
Drow of the Underdark
City of the Spider Queen - this group already ran it
After a 5 year break I am feeling very very rusty as a DM.
I do not want this to be a boring slog through bland caves, and I am not the most creative DM.
I have not looked at any available 3rd party sources in many years.
Hoping to save time by asking here. Thank you!
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Edited by - Cards77 on 12 Nov 2025 19:28:07
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3767 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2025 : 23:08:39
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-Found this cool map which is semi-interactive and can toggle between overland and underdark. It definitely is not as expansive as information from those aforementioned books regarding what can be found in the area, but it gives a pretty useful scale toggling back and forth between what can be found above and below.
https://forgottenmaps.web.app/map/Faerun |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know) |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
755 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 04:59:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-Found this cool map which is semi-interactive and can toggle between overland and underdark. It definitely is not as expansive as information from those aforementioned books regarding what can be found in the area, but it gives a pretty useful scale toggling back and forth between what can be found above and below.
https://forgottenmaps.web.app/map/Faerun
i was just thinking about how I was going to do this.
Super useful thank you |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2513 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 11:54:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-Found this cool map which is semi-interactive and can toggle between overland and underdark.
Cool. Thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by Cards77
i was just thinking about how I was going to do this.
My approach was to combine them in a format with layers (import both maps as layers, scale the larger one down, move to overlay properly, save). I now open it in GIMP and change opacity of the upper layer as needed. Not very convenient, of course, but semi-transparency has its advantages. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
1024 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2025 : 15:29:54
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| There were some new nuggets in the 4E FRCG. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
755 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 00:51:18
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Tangential question since I'm pretty rusty after several years off:
how much would the "average" PC actually know about the Underdark?
or even just the average surface dweller?
We have a elf loremaster PC and I'm trying not to provide too much to the group so it can feel all new.
However, for practicality sake, SOME things would/should be known.
Mainly the geography? Maps? |
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HighOne
Learned Scribe
244 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 01:43:25
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The average PC wouldn't know anything about the Underdark. Some wouldn't even know of its existence. Others would only know of it by its reputation -- dark, dank, labyrinthine, and home to unspeakable monsters.
Dwarves would probably know the most, since dwarven history is ripe with tales of those who dug too deep and came to ruin. Urban-dwelling rogues might know something about the trade that goes on between the Underdark and the surface. Mid- and high-level wizards with a specialty in earthly lore might know a little about the Underdark's flora and fauna. But none of this would amount to more than a few scraps of knowledge. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
755 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2025 : 03:29:44
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quote:
Originally posted by HighOne
The average PC wouldn't know anything about the Underdark. Some wouldn't even know of its existence. Others would only know of it by its reputation -- dark, dank, labyrinthine, and home to unspeakable monsters.
Dwarves would probably know the most, since dwarven history is ripe with tales of those who dug too deep and came to ruin. Urban-dwelling rogues might know something about the trade that goes on between the Underdark and the surface. Mid- and high-level wizards with a specialty in earthly lore might know a little about the Underdark's flora and fauna. But none of this would amount to more than a few scraps of knowledge.
No existence? What about the tales told to naughty children about mindflayers eating their brains or dark skinned elves coming to kidnap them in the night???
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More Underdark sources?
