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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Feb 2008 : 23:13:32
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This book popped up used at my local hobby shop, sealed in plastic to my annoyance, and I am wondering if it is worth picking up.
After reading the back cover, it sounds like most of the information is beholder related, and I rarely use them in my campaigns.
Is it worth buying used, or is most of the info updated and covered in the 3ed Underdark Book?
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2008 : 23:32:55
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A lot -- but by no means all -- of the info is updated in the 3.x Underdark.
You could spring for the $4 to get the pdf from Paizo, and then see if the book is something you'd want a print copy of...
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2008 : 23:39:47
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| One of the last books of AD&D and one of the finest to have on FR's Underdark. Underdark updates a few places (much to my annoyance, as many NPCs saw a harsh toning down in levels) and mentions quite a number of locales and hooks that do not appear in Underdark. If it doesn't cost much, go for it! |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerûn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 04:45:48
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Zanan, looking at your homepage methinks you may be biased... 
quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
One of the last books of AD&D and one of the finest to have on FR's Underdark. Underdark updates a few places (much to my annoyance, as many NPCs saw a harsh toning down in levels) and mentions quite a number of locales and hooks that do not appear in Underdark. If it doesn't cost much, go for it!
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 06:00:46
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| IMO, much of Underdark is a pale shadow compared to DDGttU. In the places where they overlap, UD tends to just copy and paste from DDGttU, but there's a lot more in the Guide that what appears in UD. This is partly because DDGttU focuses on the western parts of the underdark, not going much further east than the Dalelands. So if you're wanting to run underdark campaigns beneath Thay, for instance, DDGttU isn't going to help much. But if you're anywhere along the Sword Coast, it's a much better book. And don't worry, while the beholders get their time, of the thirteen major cities detailed, only two are beholders. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 09:55:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Ranak
Zanan, looking at your homepage methinks you may be biased...
Rest assured, with the same gusto I would promote ... Cloak & Dagger, Skullport, Calimport, Cormanthyr, Hellgate Keep, the three books of the Faiths & Avatars series and some other brilliant late-FR publications. I do know the FR books on the drow a bit better though. |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerûn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 22:05:54
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| I say pick it up if it's at a reasonable price. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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tauster
Senior Scribe
Germany
399 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 11:15:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
IMO, much of Underdark is a pale shadow compared to DDGttU. In the places where they overlap, UD tends to just copy and paste from DDGttU, but there's a lot more in the Guide that what appears in UD. This is partly because DDGttU focuses on the western parts of the underdark, not going much further east than the Dalelands. So if you're wanting to run underdark campaigns beneath Thay, for instance, DDGttU isn't going to help much. But if you're anywhere along the Sword Coast, it's a much better book. And don't worry, while the beholders get their time, of the thirteen major cities detailed, only two are beholders.
I second what Hoondatha said. On the top of my hat, I can't recall even one settlement that 3e's "Underdark" described in a more detailed way than DDGttU did. Much of the text that appears in U was either copied&pasted or slightly paraphrased from the original descriptions in DDGttU.
Another argument to buy DDGTU is the style of the NPC descriptions: Stats are mostly limited to the basic, 2e shorthand like "[name] (CE male derro savage8)", leaving more space for the "fluffy stuff. Just from browsing through I got the impression that an average NPC has one line of stats (see above) and about 10 lines talking about his motives, quirks, mannerisms, alliances with others, etc. Compare that to "Underdark" (or any other 3e book)...
Illustrations are b/w, but that is fine with me. I donÄt really need great coloured maps, since I can't use them in play anyway, most of the time. Besides, the drawings are very good, even of "only" being black&white. ...oh, nd don't forget the fold-in poster map (coloured) of Faerun's underdark! 
In short: DDGttU is one of my favourite products of all time. I'd say go for the real product, not only the pdf. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 17:36:45
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| Black and white illustrations are better. Get this book, the nearest thing to anything negative about it is that it contains so much lore that it is impossible to take it all inn. A great buy. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 19:59:17
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I think part of Underdark's problem was it was also trying to be the "Dungeoneer's Survival Guide" lite. DDGttU gave a brief introduction to the Underdark and the major races, but then dove right into the environs. It trusted that you already knew how to run games under the earth. Underdark, however, had to do the racial introductions, the obligatory PrC's and feats sections, AND introduce a whole new kind of magic (node magic), as if the Realms was somehow lacking in magical systems AND give at least a few rules for underground adventuring.
All that meant that, even though Underdark is 80+ pages longer than DDGttU, it actually had less space to do what we all bought it for: give us information on what's in the Underdark. Sad, really. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
Edited by - Hoondatha on 16 Feb 2008 20:00:03 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 11:21:26
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| At the same time the racial information at the start of DDGTTU is worth the price of the book alone. This is the best source on many of the creatures in the Underdark, both major (drow, beholder etc) and minor (Norkers, Urd etc) you will ever find. |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2008 : 17:02:37
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| Another book with Drizzt? is Drizzt actually spelled Dri$$t? I'm starting to think so... |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2008 : 19:45:13
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| The book in question is many years old and out-of-print. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2008 : 20:03:14
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| Indeed. It was a 2E supplement, and it followed the trend of having areas described by a guide. This trend was also present in the Elminster's Ecologies boxed set and supplements, and the Volo's Guide books. Many other sourcebooks had guided tours, though those were usually much smaller in scope (only a few pages, giving an overview). For exploring the Underdark, it only makes sense to have the guide be the area's most famous (former) inhabitant. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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silverwizard
Seeker
Greece
76 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2008 : 09:41:19
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| If you can get it for a good price do so, you won't regret it |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2008 : 17:09:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
The book in question is many years old and out-of-print.
It's not even really about this book even. the name Drizzt has been deluded to"I can get money if I use this guy's name or Image" I,m sorry, I probably should have complained elsewhere but alas, I didn't. |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Ranak
Learned Scribe
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 05:00:47
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I did end up picking it up, it was well worth the money.
quote:
Originally posted by silverwizard
If you can get it for a good price do so, you won't regret it
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Drizzt's Guide to the Underdark
