Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue is a must-have title for anyone that wants to further flesh out visiting the titular city in any campaign. The sheer amount of information that is stashed in this title will fuel many a session. I believe that the descriptions made of the city itself are perhaps the most valuable additions to the title. Successfully painting a backdrop for the players as a DM is perhaps the best way to ensure that the players will finish the campaign. However, the different characters and organizations that are presented here allow for much greater detail to be drawn in any session that focuses on Menzoberranzan in particular or the established world generally.
Of particular note during Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue has to be the sixth chapter, “Be A Drow”. This chapter provides much more of the Drow mindset than had been present in a rulebook. The different settings that the title provides allows for players to take on the Drow at a number of the pivotal points of their civilization. The book is pushed to a higher plateau due to the art that is included; while the text allows for certain visualizations of Menzoberranzan, I feel that the art provides a certain ambience which the book can reside.
Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue is a title that allows for a more cerebral dynamic – to exist. I feel that the political side of things is ignored quite often in Dungeons & Dragons games. The presence of Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue to the pantheon of Forgotten Realms-related titles means that a much larger subset of players will be ensnared.
Rating: 9.0/10
Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue / 2012 Wizards of the Coast / $29.95 / http://www.wizards.com/dnd/product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/39889000
