David Reed
Canada
Ancaster
Ontario
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Hi all,
I have owned Descent for ages and never had a chance to play it. I wanted to give a dungeon crawler adventure a try and decided on this one.
I have played Castle Ravenloft 3 times now and find it really thoughtless.
It is the same few actions time after time and even though you have dungeon tiles to make a "random" map, the actual map layout does not have any significance. For the most part, it could just be one long tunnel with white or black triangles on them.
Has anyone developed some house for a more interesting game?
Was it just a poor pick or are all the Dungeon Crawler games like this?
Thanks,
David.
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I know it’s not what you asked for, but Gears of Wars: The Board Game seems to be Ravenloft 2.0 with an upgraded game play. So if you’re not 100% set on a fantasy setting I would recommend you to check that one out. In addition to better game play you also get way better and more evocative graphic design. The only problems seem to be that some scenarios might run a little long and the unpainted cogs can be a bit hard to differentiate.
If you want an AWESOME 2-player dungeon crawler I strongly recommend Claustrophobia!
If you on the other hand want a classic 1 versus many dungeon crawler it might be worth to check out the upcoming second edition of Descent: Journeys in the Dark.
EDIT:....and in Claustrophobia the tiles and the layout of them really means something.
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Mike Fox
United States
Fort Worth
Texas
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There's a ton of custom rules and custom scenarios for this---just click "Variants" in the forums section or scroll through the "Files" section. You'll find more than you know what to do with!
But, you seem to really dislike it. I would say sell it and invest the time and money into something else. Some variants tweak it, but in the end, CR is a tile-laying exploration game that isn't too deep b/c it's meant to be a quicker, more doable experience than games like Descent. Some folks really like it (like me), others tend to hate it.
EDIT: I meant to add that Descent is awesome, much more complex than CR. It truly has an epic feel. Break open and play it (you'll need 3 hours minimum).
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Hi to Canada,
CR-WoA-LoD are great games.
They provide a clever basic game system and really great game material.
I fully agree that there is much need (or creative space) to turn the original game system into a thrilling dungeon crawler.
My next step is to incorporate DESCENT into my version of CR-WoA-LoD.
Any interest in that upcoming "customized" game system ...?
Cheers
U.L.H.
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Andy Dunks
United States
Christchurch
Virginia
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Uwe,
I'm also interested in combining Descent and D&D Boardgames, and I'd like to see what you've come up with.
Here are my thoughts so far: Use the D&D sequence of play, scenarios and tiles, and the Descent characters, monsters and game mechanics to run the encounters. I limit healing potions to one per player per game, and don't let them visit the town. Treasure, of the same level as the monster,comes with each encounter, and non-exploration or black tiles results in a card from the threat deck being played. There is no accumulation of threat points; just put the top card from the deck into play. If it is a global effect, it lasts until another global effect is dealt. Killed monsters go into the experience pile, and threat cards may be cancelled with experience
I've played this only once, but it worked very well for a first draft.
How are you, or others, combining the games?
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James
United States
Midlothian
Virginia
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There are some games that are informed by "dungeon crawl" ideas that bring a lot more dynamism to the experience IMHO. Taking absolutely nothing away from people who love Ravenloft, I was hoping for a little more.
I have not played Descent, but it receives the most love of the more traditional dungeon crawl games.
I will second the suggestion for Claustrophobia. It only plays two but it packs an awful lot of theme and interesting decisions into an elegant ruleset and quick gameplay.
It's much more of a tactical minis game, but, if you're willing to consider another theme, I would recommend you at least take a look at the page for Earth Reborn. The box is just exploding with game.
Again, for those who love Ravenloft, more power to you. I like it for what it is, but find myself more satisfied by what the games above offer and I'm trying to help the OP with what is apparently a similar dissatisfaction.
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Mind Flayer Knight
United States
Missouri
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STYLES_DNR wrote: Has anyone developed some house rules for a more interesting game?
Oooouuu! *Raises hand*
This is the second OP in the past week to ask this question. Like someone previously noted, this game just screams for some house rules.
Actually, I've been refining and testing my personal house rules for the past month. I haven't yet shared them with people because I want to playtest them some more and eventually create an unofficial expansion. For now I can just give you a preview of what I'm working on and ask that you wait a little more to give me time to finalize my work.
Basically, my house rules combine all the best custom rules suggested by users on this website over the years together with some of the best rules suggested by my friends and finally some of my own original ideas as well. Here is a short preview of the new content:
- Heroes level up to level 25 and can multiclass
- Character sheet with inventory, gold, XP
- Expanded campaign rules
- Heroes can now train pets
- Heroes can now build philosopher stones
- 4 interesting difficulty modes
- Monster difficulty adjusted based on party level
- More exciting stuff I can't reveal yet, so stay tuned!
Cheers,
Mind Flayer Knight
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Tristan Hall
England
Manchester
Google 'NinjaDorg Fantasy Quest'
Google 'NinjaDorg Fantasy Quest'
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STYLES_DNR wrote: Any house rules to bring some life to this game?
I came up with one or two bits and pieces here:
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/631831/ninjadorgs-dd-adventu...
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Dave C
United States
Oceanside
California
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like someone said... there are lots of variants already.. perhaps before reinventing the wheel you might click on the Variants section or files.. or do a search.... Now.. I've got to get back to inventing.. I have an idea to take these big loaves of bread and cut it into little squares that you can use for sandwiches.
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Tom Howard
United States
Los Angeles
California
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ninjadorg wrote:
understatement of the year... 
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GeckoTH wrote: ninjadorg wrote: understatement of the year...
to OP, if you want to give the game a second chance, definitely do not miss out on the work done by Chromatic dragon, Ninja Dorg, Gecko and the monsters and NPc´s from the ANT team. you´ll have a blast.
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David Reed
Canada
Ancaster
Ontario
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Atvar wrote: Uwe,
I'm also interested in combining Descent and D&D Boardgames, and I'd like to see what you've come up with.
Yeah, that sounds the most promising.
I looked over some of the rule variants and they still seem to be based on the A, B, C approach. I think there is some good basics to work from and the components are good, just do not like the mechanic. I think part of the problem is the automation of the system needed since there is no DM.
I guess I will wait a bit for the 2nd edition of Descent and if you are able to pull something together that mergers CR with it.
Thanks for the suggestions all!
David.
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Thanks for that.
Amongst the game systems I have already incorporated into "my" CR-WoA-LoD system is HEROQUEST.
My basic idea was to use the existing adventures but to run them without a dungeon master.
And each adventure must be different whenever played again.
My system kind of "grows" by itself, i.e. the more adventures are included, the more variety is automatically created by the system.
I will follow the same approach for my DESCENT integration. Therefore the first of its adventures will be rather "simple" but the more adventures I will add, the more complex and unpredictable ALL existing adventures will become.
As there are so many expansions sets of DESCENT, the variety of each adapted adventure will grow and grow.
Cheers
U.L.H.
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Michael Mifsud
Hong-Kong
Caribbean Coast, Tung Chung
Lantau Island, N.T.
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As my D&D lite campaign draws to an end been toying with the dea of combining it with descent. Let's start a thread about it. I expect my next campaign to start in Easter.
To he OP these family of games are toolboxes. You can do a lot with them. Sonething quick and dirty to spice the game up us to introduce a lot of the 4e combat rules. They work fine with WoA etc.
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David Reed
Canada
Ancaster
Ontario
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SpeedyPetey wrote:
If you want an AWESOME 2-player dungeon crawler I strongly recommend Claustrophobia!
Just tried this last night and really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the suggestion. I also see they have created some rules to use some of the Descent figures in Claustrophobia.
D.
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Tristan Hall
England
Manchester
Google 'NinjaDorg Fantasy Quest'
Google 'NinjaDorg Fantasy Quest'
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STYLES_DNR wrote: I also see they have created some rules to use some of the Descent figures in Claustrophobia.
I'm just waiting for ChromaticDragon to convert the Descent figures to the D&D AS games...
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Marco Frank
United States
Michigan
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Mind Flayer Knight wrote: STYLES_DNR wrote: Has anyone developed some house rules for a more interesting game? Oooouuu! *Raises hand* This is the second OP in the past week to ask this question. Like someone previously noted, this game just screams for some house rules. Actually, I've been refining and testing my personal house rules for the past month. I haven't yet shared them with people because I want to playtest them some more and eventually create an unofficial expansion. For now I can just give you a preview of what I'm working on and ask that you wait a little more to give me time to finalize my work. Basically, my house rules combine all the best custom rules suggested by users on this website over the years together with some of the best rules suggested by my friends and finally some of my own original ideas as well. Here is a short preview of the new content: - Heroes level up to level 25 and can multiclass - Character sheet with inventory, gold, XP - Expanded campaign rules - Heroes can now train pets - Heroes can now build philosopher stones - 4 interesting difficulty modes - Monster difficulty adjusted based on party level - More exciting stuff I can't reveal yet, so stay tuned! Cheers, Mind Flayer Knight
Hey Mind Flayer Knight, any update on this stuff? How's it coming along?
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