Ruins of the Undermountain (thoughts?) • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Ruins of the Undermountain (thoughts?)
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Keith the Thief
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:41 pm

What can you tell me about The Ruins of the Undermountain?

eBay sellers appear to want $40-50.

Is this a reasonable price?

And also, is it fun? What's it like?
I think megadungeons are just the bee's knees.
So if any of you have some thoughts on the dungeon that'd be just too cool for school.
Would my 12-yo son like it?
Would he think it's beast?

(Trying out new slang for the holidays.)

"Never let it be said I didn’t do the least I could do."

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:13 pm

Never played it, but have sold a couple. Price is about right, but like most things, if you're willing to wait, they do go cheaper.

As far as gameplay goes, like most things I imagine it comes down to how good the DM is. But the price and other forum discussions seem to indicate that it is a much loved dungeon. I believe the online community has even written additional levels and backstory for it. Someone here may be able to point you towards the PDF of the new works. It's a PDF I'de like to download too.

Mars
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:18 pm

You can probably pick one up for $15-$25. I ended up selling one the other week for $30 but the previous week it didn't sell and started at $16.

TheHistorian
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:28 pm

I'd agree with Mars on price point.

There are VERY few 1e/2e box sets that you should have to pay over $25 for.

Areas of interest/knowledge: Harn, WFRP, Ars Magica, anything BRP based such as CoC, Runequest, Pendragon and all their related games

Mars
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:05 pm

Ruins of Undermountain is one that is very mass produced - at least 3 discernable prints.

Keith the Thief
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:00 pm

Mars wrote:Ruins of Undermountain is one that is very mass produced - at least 3 discernable prints.

Any differences among the prints that'd affect game play?

I'm curious about content, too.

But it's good to know the prices are a little too high right now on eBay.

"Never let it be said I didn’t do the least I could do."

Munafik
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:25 pm

The price is right and the supermodule is an absolute masterpiece. Basically, when it comes to 2nd Edition AD&D, about the only adventure modules worth purchasing are Ruins of Undermountain -- avoid the terrible sequel, Ruins of Undermountain II -- and the Al-Qadim modules. With the exception of maybe a of handful of other modules, the 2nd Edition AD&D era, in my humble opinion, was an absolute crapfest. Oh, I almost forgot: Dungeon magazine during the 2nd Edition AD&D era did continue to produce quality adventures.

--Alphonso Warden

P.S. I know that there are some big Planescape fans on these forums, but for me, with the exception of the fantastic computer games based on the campaign setting, the adventures produced for such were a bit too heavily scripted for my tastes.

"Curses to those responsible for wrapping blackness in everlasting chains."

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Keith the Thief
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:52 pm

Munafik wrote:The price is right and the supermodule is an absolute masterpiece. Basically, when it comes to 2nd Edition AD&D, about the only adventure modules worth purchasing are Ruins of Undermountain -- avoid the terrible sequel, Ruins of Undermountain II -- and the Al-Qadim modules. With the exception of maybe a of handful of other modules, the 2nd Edition AD&D era, in my humble opinion, was an absolute crapfest. Oh, I almost forgot: Dungeon magazine during the 2nd Edition AD&D era did continue to produce quality adventures.

--Alphonso Warden

P.S. I know that there are some big Planescape fans on these forums, but for me, with the exception of the fantastic computer games based on the campaign setting, the adventures produced for such were a bit too heavily scripted for my tastes.

I gave up on D&D right about the time 2E was coming out, but I've heard good things about Ruins of the Undermountain over the years.

Ignoring its sequel, did Ruins come out as a box set that was then followed by a series of modules?
Or were the modules included with the box?

~Keith

"Never let it be said I didn’t do the least I could do."

Grug Greyskin
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:26 pm

Keith the Thief wrote:
I gave up on D&D right about the time 2E was coming out, but I've heard good things about Ruins of the Undermountain over the years.

Ignoring its sequel, did Ruins come out as a box set that was then followed by a series of modules?
Or were the modules included with the box?

~Keith

The boxed set was followed by a sequel boxed set, then a series of modules (I think 3 total). The boxed set(s) don't have a module per se, but an "adventure book" and a "campaign guide," along with maps and monsters, etc.

bbarsh
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:57 pm

Keith the Thief wrote:
I gave up on D&D right about the time 2E was coming out, but I've heard good things about Ruins of the Undermountain over the years.

Ignoring its sequel, did Ruins come out as a box set that was then followed by a series of modules?
Or were the modules included with the box?

~Keith

It is a single boxed set with the megadungeon included. There are no separate modules.
2nd has very few quality adventure modules but tons of splat books. Now I am not a second edition collector, but there are some good products. I really like parts of Dark Sun and Al Quadim.

And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

Mars
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:21 pm

2nd Edition has modules:

Undermountain I: The Lost Level
Undermountain II: Maddgoth's Castle
Undermountain III: Stardock

bbarsh
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:45 pm

Mars wrote:2nd Edition has modules:

Undermountain I: The Lost Level
Undermountain II: Maddgoth's Castle
Undermountain III: Stardock

Shows how much I know about 2nd. Are they any good?

And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

Keith the Thief
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:01 pm

Munafik wrote:The price is right and the supermodule is an absolute masterpiece.

Is this supermodule ^^ a combination of these three ...?

Mars wrote:2nd Edition has modules:
Undermountain I: The Lost Level
Undermountain II: Maddgoth's Castle
Undermountain III: Stardock

"Never let it be said I didn’t do the least I could do."

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:03 pm

No, he is referring to the box set as a supermodule.

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

SoulCatcher78
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:50 pm

One of the nicest things about the box set was that it was a framework for the Undermountain complex. There's a ton of unused space just begging for a DM with time to fill it in. The maps are available on the WoTC site ( http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ru/20050309a ) so you can get an idea of the scope of the place. If you dig around on the site you can find all sorts of free info about the box set.

The adventure booklets describe some set piece encounters, ways in and out of the complex, and most importantly how Halaster can really make things more interesting for your PCs.

TheHistorian
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:00 am

Keith the Thief wrote:Any differences among the prints that'd affect game play?

No. Other than a different TSR logo and maybe an updated copyright date, I doubt there were any changes.

Areas of interest/knowledge: Harn, WFRP, Ars Magica, anything BRP based such as CoC, Runequest, Pendragon and all their related games

JasonZavoda
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:54 am

One thing to watch out for are the Monstrous Compendium sheets in these boxed sets, most are missing. If I remember correctly there should be MC sheets in Ruins of Undermountain.

"You get more with a kind word and an excruciator than with just a kind word."

Grug Greyskin
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:21 am

JasonZavoda wrote:One thing to watch out for are the Monstrous Compendium sheets in these boxed sets, most are missing. If I remember correctly there should be MC sheets in Ruins of Undermountain.

There are 8 sheets. MC Sheets are a true bane to anyone who collects 2E.

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