Underdark, schmunderdark

[605]

This may be a general discussion topic, I'm not sure, but since I'm only familiar with this particular forum, the question goes here for now.

What is the big deal about the Underdark? Granted, they're a cool race and have some nice advantages, but for the most part, Drow are just a normal part of any D&D world. Why the big obsession with them? I play the game, I go through the Underdark quests, but nothing strikes me as exceptionally impressive. I also get the feeling that the Underdark was put into the game as a 'people pleaser' due to it's overwhelming fan base... and I'm assuming that this game, and the rest of the series, are based in the Forgotten Realms setting? So does Drizzt (sp?) play into it somehow? Someone fill me in!

[SpongeBobTheDestoyer]

Hello and welcome to Ironworks! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

Have you made it out of the underdark yet? When you do, you will get your Drizzt answer.

[605]

Yeah I've gone thru the game a few times... (sadly, the first time Minsc was charmed in Bhodi's lair and hit Drizzt, D went hostile, and I was forced to kill him) But that's besides the point I'm also pretty sure that he was in BG1, but since BG2 is my first game in this series, I'm still pretty new and can't be sure about that.

I just can't understand why it's almost a 'selling point' for the game. Even on the IG walkthrough (yes, I read the walkthrough, shame on me) at one point it says, and I quote:

"You enter the feuding city of Sahuagin City, a rather large one too, then, its to the area many have waited for most of all- The Underdark, Home of the Drow!"

??? Why do so many people anticipate going to the Underdark? I'm not insulting it at all... I just wasn't impressed. Do I need to read some Salvitore books to truly get it? (I hope that's how his name is spelled anyway)

[605]

by the way, thanks for the welcome :-D

[Arias De'Minal]

If ull remember the drow play and important part in Irenicus plan. Well thats for the game.

In general drow are just cool because their almost all magic resistant. And for the underdark look at it this way: Its scary because more than half the poepl u meet in the game are peasents and lower level fighters and such. Would they survive in the underdark?

[Rataxes]

Well the Drow City quests are cool because there are many possible scenarios and final outcomes depending on your dialouge options and actions throughout your stay there. Something which sadly cannot be said for most of the rest of the game.

The Underdark is a cool place mainly because it contains some very neat items and very difficult encounters.

[605]

I guess I can see that... Maybe it's all built up animosity from working in a bookstore for too long that has me pondering the whole thing. After all, when there's a million FOrgotten Realms books out, and all you see anyone look at are the ones with Drizzt in them, you kind of start to develop a lil dislike for the guy.

But yeah, the fact that someone like me personally, not my character, would be lucky to live past 20 in the Underdark is kind of intimidating now that I think about it. Thanks for helping me understand a little more about this Underdark 'thang'

[masteraleph]

Yeah, people think that the drow are cool. Having a generally evil race works very well, as it gives good players something to fight against, evil players somewhere to be accepted (in FR that is), and chaotic players something to rebel against without feeling bad. Also, Salvatore's books are very popular, so people enjoy those...that's a big reason that Drizzt shows up. He wouldn't be needed except that it's a selling point.

[Xero279]

People like Underdark for diff reasons. personally, i like it because its the exact opposite of everything "above ground". Think about it, even the designs and buildings look sweet. Where else can you travel underground to a huge city, with spiders walking the streets? they even allow torture (the genie, remember?)and its a matriarchal society. im not a woman, but thats still cool. its the exact opposite in most situations from anything else you encounter. its even full of cool looking elves lol. people play thru all these cool games but all the cities and areas are the same, them you venture to underdark and it all changes [img]smile.gif[/img] personally, thats why i like it.

Xero

[Annatar]

I just really like the Hierachie (hmmmsz that aint right but well...) in the Drow city Ust Natha, when my evil party first entered the city of the drow they were amazed by the pure evil going of the drow and there dark and horrifying architecture (towers, torture chamers, slave pits ).. and the unbelievable thing that the Female rule over the male species is just *not normal* because when you look at the Amn region I don't think that a female has anything to say...

I love the Underdark, look at the species that live there... Illithids, Eye Tyrants, Kou Toa's, Duergar and ofcorse the Drow... its a dark world full of danger and adventure... my first time through the Underdark was a Hell (**Beholder Lair [img]graemlins/madhell.gif[/img] **)... its a little like Hell on Earth... [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

[ 02-02-2003, 06:47 AM: Message edited by: Annatar ]