Underdark (Dungeons & Dragons d20 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Accessory) [Hardcover]

Bruce R. Cordell (Author), Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel (Author), Jeff Quick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Underdark provides a wealth of highly detailed information about one of the most popular regions in the Forgotten Realms world, the world beneath the ground.

Underdark includes details on the most popular Underdark race, the drow, plus 16 other below-ground character races. In addition to 25 new regional feats as well as new prestige classes, spells, monsters, and magic items, there is also background content on 60 cities and sites of interest, including extensive story content gathered from a multitude of Forgotten Realms products and articles.

To help both players and dungeon masters use the book without players stumbling onto things they shouldn't, additional material for running a campaign is isolated in a single section of the book and includes adventure hooks.

To use this accessory, you also need the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bruce R. Cordell, an Origins award-winning author, has written over a dozen products, including Return to the Tomb of Horrors and The Sunless Citadel. He also co-authored the Epic Level Handbook.

Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel works for the R&D department at Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Her most recent credits include contributing to Magic of Faeržn and Defenders of the Faith
and co-authoring Book of Challenges.

Jeff Quick helped launch Star Wars¨ Insider magazine and acted as its editor-in-chief. His most recent credit is co-authoring the D&D¨ Arms and Equipment Guide.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786930535
• ISBN-13: 978-0786930531
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Gaming > Dungeons & Dragons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's better than a 2-star, sheese..., November 1, 2003

By 

Chris Perry "Selvy" (Corning, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underdark (Dungeons & Dragons d20 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Accessory) (Hardcover)

I'm sorry but it's unfair to give 'Underdark' such a low rating. For those who don't play in the Forgotten Realms then it may be less useful--about 1/3 of the book relates to locales beneath the lands of the Forgotten Realms--but there's more to the book than that. There are new pretige classes (such as the deep diviner) and some revised ones (such as the archnemancer), plus some new feats. Some of the feats were included from other sources(such as "highborn drow") while others were warmed-over and given a new name, but there are some decent new ones. The concept of node-magic is introduced, which I liked. The playability of certain races (such as the kuo-toa and grimlocks) were expanded. Naturally, new PC races like the gloaming were included. And the new magic section had some interesting bits, such as the 'drowcraft' magic property (which brings back a bit of the old-style drow flavor to the setting--if you missed seeing drow-made weapons turn to dust in the sunlight you're in luck!). Also if you're a gamer who's chafed at the limits of teleportation in the sunless regions, the limitation's been relaxed somewhat so only Underdark areas with pockets of 'faerzress' radiation hinders teleportation/divination-based spells. This isn't a 5-star book except where production values are concerned, but I feel that 'Underdark' as a whole rates at least a 3 (for non-FR gamers) or 4 (FR gamer) rating.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful and Fun!, December 8, 2003

By 

Michael Griffith "mgriffith123" (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underdark (Dungeons & Dragons d20 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Accessory) (Hardcover)

I'm a tightwad when it comes to new RPG books. I just think most are overpriced for what you get. I'm happy to say I think that for the fun and use I and my various gaming groups are getting out of Underdark, this book is WELL worth the money.

Like most of the new WotC D&D books, you get a mix of information, like locales, races, spells, magic and mundane equipment, feats, PrCs, and so on. All of the information given is helpful to the DM running an underdark game in any setting. And while some of the information IS Realms specific, a good DM can change things to her world with little effort.

The new races in the book are welcome additions, and the artwork throughout is unique and moody.

I'm pleased by this book. And it's been waaaay too long since I've been able to say that about a WotC product.

I DO wish there was an index and a pull-out map of the regions the book talks about.

The free web items you can download from Wizards.com also help make this book a very handy tool for DMs and players.

5.0 out of 5 stars a narrator's tool, October 3, 2011

By 

BF - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Underdark (Dungeons & Dragons d20 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Accessory) (Hardcover)

This book is a great campaign buddy, as gives the reader excellent descriptions of underdark terrain and geography. When narrating an underground campaign, there are only so many variations of 'a cave,' or 'a tunnel,' that one can describe before the action gets tedious for the players. With this supplement, you get a range of interesting features, hazards, and ecologies to give it a more natural feel, for those of us with no real-life spelunking experience. Beyond that, it gives the usual WotC bundle of feats, PrC's, races, and spells. Most of this material is mediocre, but I still give the book 5*'s for being the only dungeoneering book out there that gives such a rich 'how-to' guide for making underground travel rich and interesting.