UD Beginners Guide

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BigJ
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UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

This was my bible of sorts when I first started playing in the UD, first time I played a drow. Its buried now slightly in a hidden forum -

(Note: You have to be logged into your forum account to view it)

Clicky - TIPS & TRICKS - ROLEPLAYING GUIDES - UD BEGINNERS GUIDE

It was written some time ago but is a good starting point to learn about the quests and early level maps, and other drow stuff.

Notable Updates:

1) The Basilisks no longer cast Petrification, they just melee. Makes this a good hunting map now as long as your defence is good enough (A step up from the Hulks in the next map, watch for those slime spawns as they can land right on top of you). Also means you don't -need- invisibility for the quests, but advisable until your AC is good enough.

2) The Lore of Ages, Necro / Crypt quest. This has been disabled for months, not sure why and it's a significant quest xp loss. UPDATE: ITS BACK ON!

3) South of Sshamath / Darkwood District - Portals have been added for quick transfer, making the new low level map there easy to reach. The cave (H'lal?) has some chests too for looting, and there is a boat in the Darkwoods for even quicker access.

4) Upperdark - accessible via rat from Undrek Valanar (goto Undrek Naudal), has several new maps from lvl 1 to lvl 18 to run around. It is SHARED SPACE (Ie. You may bump into races that do not like drow, go figure ;P). You can always go off the radar if you prefer. There is a Duergar trader in Naudal to sell loot too.

5) Ruins of Oghren - A higher level map, but no longer accessible from the Mushroom Grove and is part of the Upperdark now, the boat to it is in the Kro's map.

6) Rockrun - Have fun with the Svirf in their new city, just don't get lost (Yes the map is meant to be dark like that, they are a tricky people ;) ). It can be tricky to leave when you spawn there for the first time, if you don't know the exit.

7) Undrek Valanar - There are TWO traders in this area now, one may have items you like. Oh and the Fishmonger works there too now, for errr . . fishing (Yes, you can get XP for fishing. Same in the darkwoods).

TIPS

Cross-class that open lock skill. Even just 1 point with enough DEX and maybe an item can open most chests. Its quicker than bashing for most and can mean 4 to 5 hundred xp every reset if on a loot run (average 15-20xp per chest, maybe more).

Do not sell gems to regular traders, sell them to the specialist ;)

Do not be afraid to exchange tells with someone, especially if you are uncertain about something. Though some PC's you meet maybe edgy or harsh, the players behind them are usually not.

The UD is HARSH however, expect it, savour it. For those times you really just want it easy then create a surface PC and it will be easier, also more open RP around campfires, DM events. Its just how it is, doesn't mean you cannot do both though and log in with which ever PC suits your mood.

BigJ
Last edited by BigJ on Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

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For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
DreWalker
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by DreWalker »

basalisk dont petrify!? :cry: .. I kinda liked how you had to team up with a mage or ask for help to get through that area.
Irrtana-Yathrin
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BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

DreWalker wrote:basalisk dont petrify!? :cry: .. I kinda liked how you had to team up with a mage or ask for help to get through that area.
I know, it did offer some pause but I do like that they changed it, purely because of where the map is located. Its a crossroads between four other maps and nobody use to run it except for quests (invis or high enough to resist, by which time the xp is negligible)

Now you can run the maps north to south or east to west and they link/scale well.

However I would like to see a new area added with higher level basilisks that do petrify in all their glory :twisted: . Maybe one with a mini boss at the end to make it worth the risk.

I did miss cubicle's original post, only spotted it recently, but for reference:
Cubicle wrote: (15/oct/16) I removed petrify from the Tarpit basilisks. I'd like this area to be useable and would prefer if players weren't afraid to grind/RP there. Besides, only a certain breed of basilisk can petrify its prey. It's a CR 14 zone.

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Basilisk
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
trogers2
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by trogers2 »

Thank you for writing this out BigJ i'm sure it'll be useful for new players who want to head down to the UD. I think there is a UD map somewhere which might also be useful I'll see if I can find it.
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BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

Bumping this as I discovered something important, the UD now has a RATS IN MY CELLAR FOR NEWBS quest type thing!

Not sure when it was added, but now the UD is complete. I mean what decent module doesn't have a rats in my cellar starter zone in it? (Well, not rats but beetles and worm type things, Gloura's).

Also since rolling a brand new toon I've really liked that H'lals map in the Darkwoods. Small, fast spawns and quick to get to. Like it better then the goblins.

Also surprised how cheap the auction/Mudds is now, didnt take long to start with 1000gp and 1 week later already +3 gear all around. Has the new epic shops had a knock on effect on the auction and brought prices down?
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

I may be late to the party on this one, given when the post was, but just in case . .

*** NEWSFLASH ***

The School of Necro/Crypt quest is working!

During the latest err . . reset . . I was scanning through some sub forums, and there its was in the solved issues subforum, Cubicle had fixed this quest! Kudos Cubicle (again!). And I just did the quest to confirm it.

Dang, after my sudden high of knowing this quest is back on, I'm suddenly thinking of the several thousand xp I could have got running this quest these past weeks.

Ah well, glass half full, its back on woot woot!

BigJ
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
Brutalix
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by Brutalix »

BigJ wrote:I may be late to the party on this one, given when the post was, but just in case . .

*** NEWSFLASH ***

The School of Necro/Crypt quest is working!

During the latest err . . reset . . I was scanning through some sub forums, and there its was in the solved issues subforum, Cubicle had fixed this quest! Kudos Cubicle (again!). And I just did the quest to confirm it.

Dang, after my sudden high of knowing this quest is back on, I'm suddenly thinking of the several thousand xp I could have got running this quest these past weeks.

Ah well, glass half full, its back on woot woot!

BigJ
I just tried to hand the quest in and he's still not accepting it.
BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

Brutalix wrote:
I just tried to hand the quest in and he's still not accepting it.
Some general things to check

1) Ensure there is no other effect that stops him from talking to you (Invisible, hidden behind something, wearing a mask etc)
2) Ensure you have the book in your inventory (First time I actually sold the book with other loot, it didn't have a quest item tag)

If it still isn't working for you and you can't figure out why contact a DM IG to see if its bugged out, all I can add is the quest did work for me.

BigJ
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
Brutalix
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by Brutalix »

BigJ wrote:
Brutalix wrote:
I just tried to hand the quest in and he's still not accepting it.
Some general things to check

1) Ensure there is no other effect that stops him from talking to you (Invisible, hidden behind something, wearing a mask etc)
2) Ensure you have the book in your inventory (First time I actually sold the book with other loot, it didn't have a quest item tag)

If it still isn't working for you and you can't figure out why contact a DM IG to see if its bugged out, all I can add is the quest did work for me.

BigJ
Is there anyway to cancel the quest and restart it?
BigJ
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by BigJ »

Brutalix wrote: Is there anyway to cancel the quest and restart it?
Not by your hand hence why needing the DM / staff.

BigJ
For Ref: My OOC stuff is OOC, my IG stuff is IG, never let the two entwine.
Active PC - Bugg
Past PC's - Bhin'erin Yauntyrr - BIO Istar'rada - BIO Barbaccas - BIO Deceased . Sandrue Tomas - BIO and journal the Ugly Poet[/i]
chad878262
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by chad878262 »

Yeah I think I have to get the corpse quest removed. I must have collected a few dozen corpses over the past several weeks, but it never completes/always says I need to collect more when I try to hand it in. Probably because it was still active whenever it was fixed.
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joleda
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by joleda »

I've been on and off this see since the beginning and I've never been able to complete the necromancer quest on any character.
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Invoker
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by Invoker »

chad878262 wrote:Yeah I think I have to get the corpse quest removed. I must have collected a few dozen corpses over the past several weeks, but it never completes/always says I need to collect more when I try to hand it in. Probably because it was still active whenever it was fixed.
It's not you. It's completely changed, and not for the best. Works like that for everyone, I'm afraid.

As for Valshar's quest, it had been fixed, but now it broke once more.
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LISA100595
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Re: UD Beginners Guide

Unread post by LISA100595 »

Invoker wrote:
chad878262 wrote:Yeah I think I have to get the corpse quest removed. I must have collected a few dozen corpses over the past several weeks, but it never completes/always says I need to collect more when I try to hand it in. Probably because it was still active whenever it was fixed.
It's not you. It's completely changed, and not for the best. Works like that for everyone, I'm afraid.

As for Valshar's quest, it had been fixed, but now it broke once more.
The Valshar's Quest is fine... I just tested it with my drow.
Image

Perhaps a quest reset is all that is needed?
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