Ruins of Zhentil Keep (AD&D 2nd ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms, 3 Bks+3 Maps+8 Cards) [Box set] [Paperback]

Kevin Melka (Author), John Terra (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: TSR Inc. (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786901098
• ISBN-13: 978-0786901098
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,200,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!, July 11, 2004

By 

L Gontzes (Athens, Greece) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ruins of Zhentil Keep (AD&D 2nd ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms, 3 Bks+3 Maps+8 Cards) (Paperback)

Ruins of Zhentil Keep has to be one of the BEST Forgotten Realms adventures ever to be made, together with Ruins of Myth Drannor, and the Curse of the Azure Bonds! It sheds light on the infamous city-state of Zhentil Keep and its inhabitants, ruled by the mysterious, powerful and very evil Zhentarim. Their history, vast network of spies, limitless intrigue, and distinct culture (or lack of), will surely win you over!
Ranging from background history, to city and social descriptions, to important people and characters, to the respective gods and pantheons, to adventure hooks and encounter tables, to magical items and artifacts, to new spells and monsters, this accessory has it all and more. There is also information included on Zhentarim caravans and operations, as well as the blueprints for Banite temples (both secret and non-secret), Zhentilar outposts, dragons' lairs, and Zhentish towers, which can be placed anywhere in the Realms. Most importantly, the boxed set includes adventures to be played both before and after the destruction of the Keep, both before and after the Rise of Cyric, and that says a lot!
As a result, I have had endless hours of gaming enjoyment playing on material presented within the pages of the Ruins of Zhentil Keep Adventure!
For other FR references/adventures, I recommend: the Old Empires accessory on Chessenta, Mulhorand, and Unther, the Dreams of Red Wizards accessory on Thay, the Pirates of the Fallen Stars, Moonsea, Dwarves Deep, and Draconimicon accessories, as well as the Ruins of Myth Drannor Box Set Adventure, (they are Second Edition AD&D, out of print and it will take a bit of searching, but it's well worth it).
For an updated edition of events regarding Zhentil Keep, see the Third Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, which even though is quite expensive, is still very useful to all FR fans!
In short, if you enjoy watching the Zhentilar march into battle and the Zhentarim spin their web of intrigue and deceit, try and get your hands on a copy of Ruins of Zhentil Keep. Be they under Bane or Cyric, they make for pretty good darn villains; villains you love to hate! You will not regret it! Trust me!

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ruins Zhentil Keep, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ruins of Zhentil Keep (AD&D 2nd ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms, 3 Bks+3 Maps+8 Cards) (Paperback)

I was disappointed with this product for quite a number of reasons:

1) Horrible gluing job. I practically had to bend the book apart to read the words close to the spine.

2) Poor interior artwork and layout. This product clearly shows the financial problems TSR was facing in 1995. The black & white drawings in say, Cult of the Dragon, were of much better quality.

3) Zhentil Keep is suppose to be one of the main villians in the Forgotten Realms, but there really isn't anything sinister about them. Their sole motivation is money. The Scarlet Brotherhood or Iuz the Evil in The World of Greyhawk are much darker (and more exciting) adversaries.

4) The history of Zhentil Keep is boring. A warrior and a wizard fight for control of the keep; both die. A new set of equally flat characters fight for control of Zhentil Keep, etc. If the history of the Keep was written like the one in Greyhawk: From the Ashes, or like the mythology in Fraiths & Avatars, I wouldn't be complaining.

5) Legions of liches live beneath Zhentil Keep? Come on. These guys are suppose to have supra-genius intelligence, why are they bothering to get involved in the schemes of petty thugs?

6) I've mentioned it already, but I'll say it again, the villians are completely unbelievable and devoid of personallity. Pick up Al'qadim: City of Delights for a good city box set.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great view of the Keep, January 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ruins of Zhentil Keep (AD&D 2nd ed Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms, 3 Bks+3 Maps+8 Cards) (Paperback)

I'ts a great boxed set, especially if we think to the many options that it prepared: the drow of menzoberranzan in the keep, the death of lord Orgauth, the religious struggle after the siege and the role fo the Zhentarim. The only thing that disappointed me was that the future plan of villains like Manshoon, Fzoul, Abarax and Sememmon were left open without any concrete indications about their future and concrete plan: the few lines written there seems to generic. If we exclude that remember that is a really good boxed set that give you a lot of plot for future adventures.