Customer Reviews

Lords of Darkness (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons/ Forgotten Realms Accessory REF5, 9240)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Lords of Darkness" breathes new life (unlife?) into common villains of AD&D games: Undead. In addition to numerous essays front and back detailing suggestions for reffing the unliving, numerous short scenarios fill the center. Each scenario spotlights a particular undead type, for all levels of play.

I just finished running my players through the "Vampires" scenario, and it was hair-raising for them. They were under the mistaken assumption that they were in pursuit of one vampire. In fact, they were drawn into an ambush, assaulted by two vampires and lesser minions. Two in the party died quickly, but the PC's regrouped and triumphed.

And this was only one of the scenarios. Others, like "Zombies," "Ghouls," "Mummies," etc. appear equally challenging and innovative. The essays are full of fresh ideas (including how to ref your way around the level drain of some of the undead).

Ed Greenwood once again has illuminated an ignored facet of the AD&D game.

The adventures are simple and short, but good. Perfect for an evenings entertainment, but not quite as detailed as some of the 3rd edition stuff.

This is one of the first books to mention the creator races and the Nether Scrolls. One of the adventures gives the characters a chance to go up against a greater mummy of one of the creator races, with a chance to walk away with one of the legendary Nether scrolls. I'm a fan of both those things, so for me, that adventure alone is worth the price of the book.

I've also found the dread lair of Alokkair the Lich (in this book) to be very handy, because it's set near Shadowdale, which is often a starting point for my campaigns.