The Underdark or the Unapprochable East? [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Underdark or the Unapprochable East? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Garidas
08-07-06, 07:39 PM I am wondering which book is better. Underdark or Unapprochable East, which one would be better to take? Then I mean who is better written, gives great great details, etc.

I am also thinking about the races, classes in these books.

So which do you recommend?
Please give info "why" the book is better than the other.

Thanks in Advance,
-Garidas
Old Sage
08-07-06, 09:40 PM Unapproachable East.

Mind you, this could be because I have a personal bias toward anything written regarding Thay -- 'tis one of my favorite regions of the eastern Realms. It's a healthy balance of lore and stats that makes UE a better resource, for me at least.

Underdark was useful in parts, but I've found more reason to reference Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark when I'm looking purely for lore on Underdark locales.
Alac Luin
08-07-06, 10:50 PM I liked Underdark myself. This is based on my personal bias.
Although Sage is right Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark is a better tome regarding locals and such lore.

I'd also be hard pressed to say either is "better" then the other.
It comes down to which is "better suited" to your needs.

In general, if you don't run an underdark heavy campain, you would have no need for the "underdark" book. Sure, I like a few of the PrCs there but they are unneeded for occational forays.

Unapprochable East goes more into the regions, and would help with a better understanding of charicters from those regions, even if you don't play in those areas.
My only gripe with UE is the "lightbulbs" an artist put on the star elves' heads. (but I do like the star elves in general).

Chances are, UE will be what you want.
TheOneWhoDefeatsAO
08-07-06, 10:56 PM Thay
Yokinobu
08-08-06, 02:04 AM I personally liked Underdark better, but maybe not by the quality of the writing, but by the nature of the content. I found the cities and sites in the book much more memorable than that of UE, which I forced myself to read through for completion's sake and remembered about 1% of what was in there.

I also liked the crunch in Underdark better, not because it extremely great, but simply by virtue of the fact that UE PrC's suck. UE has some neat races, and 3 of them are new, but don't expect to see samples of them in them in postdating books. Underdark had two new races, and I though both of them were very interesting.

Thay

What a profound statement.
dragonfriend
08-08-06, 02:17 AM buy both books :D

UE is better but even UD is very good
Garidas
08-08-06, 05:27 AM Well, thank you all.

If anyone else has an opinion (how is it written?), please tell me.

-Garidas
Tobus Neth
08-08-06, 05:56 PM UE-is written very well. Very good.

UD-is good.

UE/UD-If your gonna run a Campaign in Thay then UE is for you. If your gonna run a UD campaign under Thay then UD is for you!.
Zanan
08-09-06, 04:48 AM On a side-note ... Underdark has the rules for fighting in restricted areas in there, which should actually be part of the Core material. For any dungeon or house will have narrow or low passages et al.

Both books are worth the money, it just depends where you play more often. Underdark has more game info than DdUGttUD, but both books work best alongside one another. The same can be said about Unapproachable East and its predecessing boxed set: Spellbound. If you have the chance, get your hands on all four, the AD&D ones might be available as PDFs from Paizo or RPGnow.
GothicDan
08-09-06, 04:52 AM I really disliked both of these books, but probably UE a little more than Underdark, since Underdark is much more for campaigns set in the Underdark with adventurers suited to the Underdark, rather than characters from above thrown into the terrible night below.

UE has a lot of magic, and, well, I like magic. And I like the bits about the demon cysts and the like.
MazrimTaim
08-09-06, 07:34 AM UE! Because Thay has always been one of my favorite regions. Plus, I have DGtTU and personally like that a lot better than the 3rd edition sourcebook about the Underdark.
JWSIII
08-09-06, 04:29 PM Frankly, you really should get both, as both are SERIOUSLY awesome, books, along with serpent kingdoms my three favorite 3rd/3.5 titles
But I'd go for underdark if you could only have one just because you can add underdark stuff anywhere, it is weirdly less geographically restricted - John
Garidas
08-13-06, 09:42 AM Thanks for everything.

-Garidas

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Garidas 08-07-06, 07:39 PM	I am wondering which book is better. Underdark or Unapprochable East, which one would be better to take? Then I mean who is better written, gives great great details, etc. I am also thinking about the races, classes in these books. So which do you recommend? Please give info "why" the book is better than the other. Thanks in Advance, -Garidas
Old Sage 08-07-06, 09:40 PM	Unapproachable East. Mind you, this could be because I have a personal bias toward anything written regarding Thay -- 'tis one of my favorite regions of the eastern Realms. It's a healthy balance of lore and stats that makes UE a better resource, for me at least. Underdark was useful in parts, but I've found more reason to reference Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark when I'm looking purely for lore on Underdark locales.
Alac Luin 08-07-06, 10:50 PM	I liked Underdark myself. This is based on my personal bias. Although Sage is right Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark is a better tome regarding locals and such lore. I'd also be hard pressed to say either is "better" then the other. It comes down to which is "better suited" to your needs. In general, if you don't run an underdark heavy campain, you would have no need for the "underdark" book. Sure, I like a few of the PrCs there but they are unneeded for occational forays. Unapprochable East goes more into the regions, and would help with a better understanding of charicters from those regions, even if you don't play in those areas. My only gripe with UE is the "lightbulbs" an artist put on the star elves' heads. (but I do like the star elves in general). Chances are, UE will be what you want.
TheOneWhoDefeatsAO 08-07-06, 10:56 PM	Thay
Yokinobu 08-08-06, 02:04 AM	I personally liked Underdark better, but maybe not by the quality of the writing, but by the nature of the content. I found the cities and sites in the book much more memorable than that of UE, which I forced myself to read through for completion's sake and remembered about 1% of what was in there. I also liked the crunch in Underdark better, not because it extremely great, but simply by virtue of the fact that UE PrC's suck. UE has some neat races, and 3 of them are new, but don't expect to see samples of them in them in postdating books. Underdark had two new races, and I though both of them were very interesting. Thay What a profound statement.
dragonfriend 08-08-06, 02:17 AM	buy both books :D UE is better but even UD is very good
Garidas 08-08-06, 05:27 AM	Well, thank you all. If anyone else has an opinion (how is it written?), please tell me. -Garidas
Tobus Neth 08-08-06, 05:56 PM	UE-is written very well. Very good. UD-is good. UE/UD-If your gonna run a Campaign in Thay then UE is for you. If your gonna run a UD campaign under Thay then UD is for you!.
Zanan 08-09-06, 04:48 AM	On a side-note ... Underdark has the rules for fighting in restricted areas in there, which should actually be part of the Core material. For any dungeon or house will have narrow or low passages et al. Both books are worth the money, it just depends where you play more often. Underdark has more game info than DdUGttUD, but both books work best alongside one another. The same can be said about Unapproachable East and its predecessing boxed set: Spellbound. If you have the chance, get your hands on all four, the AD&D ones might be available as PDFs from Paizo or RPGnow.
GothicDan 08-09-06, 04:52 AM	I really disliked both of these books, but probably UE a little more than Underdark, since Underdark is much more for campaigns set in the Underdark with adventurers suited to the Underdark, rather than characters from above thrown into the terrible night below. UE has a lot of magic, and, well, I like magic. And I like the bits about the demon cysts and the like.
MazrimTaim 08-09-06, 07:34 AM	UE! Because Thay has always been one of my favorite regions. Plus, I have DGtTU and personally like that a lot better than the 3rd edition sourcebook about the Underdark.
JWSIII 08-09-06, 04:29 PM	Frankly, you really should get both, as both are SERIOUSLY awesome, books, along with serpent kingdoms my three favorite 3rd/3.5 titles But I'd go for underdark if you could only have one just because you can add underdark stuff anywhere, it is weirdly less geographically restricted - John
Garidas 08-13-06, 09:42 AM	Thanks for everything. -Garidas