Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Ruins of Undermountain


Review:  Ruins of Undermountain.  By Ed Greenwood.  Published in 1991


The Ruins of Undermountain (RoU) details the first 3 levels of a 9 level superdungeon found under the Forgotten Realms city of Waterdeep.  Each level is on a fold-out map roughly 2’x3’.  The third level is twice as big.  Only about 25% of each level is described in terms of keyed locations giving the DM plenty to do in terms of filling in the details.  Generally high level characters are necessary to adventure into RoU.  There are lots of traps and there are some high-powered monsters on the first level.  A generous portion of the third level includes the city of Skullport.  Skullport is an intriguing idea.  A dangerous border-town between civilization and the Underdark where shady deals and so forth are conducted.  There are several pages of adventure ideas and two adventures included in the set.  Levels 4 through 9 are described in very general terms.  Although connected with Waterdeep, there is enough flexibility that Undermountain could be moved to a non-Forgotten Realms campaign with minimal difficulty.  An ambitious undertaking with the right amount of detail and flexibility and room for the DMs own ideas.  Highly recommended! 5 out of 5 stars.

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