Tom Vasel professes his love for Descent. BGG link: boardgamegeek.... Buy great games at www.gamenerdz.... Find more reviews and videos at www.dicetower.com
"I call it second edition, they just call it descent now " Puts up a picture of the box art with a golden banner on it that clearly says "Second Edition".
Do you think too the DM is too strong? I played a lot solo with two or three characters and one time with two friends. I nearly lost 90% of the quests. I'm really not sure if we do something wrong :S
We play it on hard mode, and we are just scraping by in act 2. It's definitely hard but I reckon in a good way. The best way to succeed I reckon is play with speed, and don't much around. Otherwise the more time you spend muck around, the more chances the dm will trigger events.
Redjak's Automated Overlord Variant is worth a mention too!! It allows you to use the Overlord's components and play the Campaigns that come in the boxes!! 😊😊
Glad to hear you use different monsters during your campaign. The time I played it the Overlord chose the hardest scenario and always the hardest same monster to use as his open group. no matter how overwhelming it was. He defiantly didn't care if we had fun, just destroy us as much as possible.
I've been trying all the Dungeon Crawlers and think Descent hits a sweetspot, not too complicated not too lite! It's a great game! Thanks for your thoughts. I got inspired to do a Let's Play for Descent myself
Due to the end of the official descent quest vault (online map editor) i decided to create a desktop app. Hoping to not sound inappropriate i'm promoting it here hoping some passionated as me could consider it useful. github.com/LorenzoBalducci96/descent-quest-builder/releases I'm hoping it's auto-explaining: left click + drag for moving tiles, right click for rotating, bottom bar for switch between expansions and elements, buttons on top of left sidebar for switching between faces of the tiles...
Great video and I love descent as well! Great game with amazing variety, surprises and components! Didn't even mention the app either and that to me puts it over the top!
I have never played Descent. I did consider buying it, but was debating it vs the Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games. I was heavily leaning towards the D&D games, but finding those on sale tipped me all the way. In the past I did a lot of DMing, and decided I wanted games where there was no DM, one reason I preferred the Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games. I also prefer the generic fantasy genre even though Tom seems to pick on it. But Descent does seem like a wonderful game I would love to play. I just don't wish to invest the time and money into it. Dungeon Crawls or Fantasy adventure games in general is the main reason I came into board gaming, and am always looking for a new one that will be better. But have expanded into many other board game types as well. Right now my favorites in this genre are: 1. Tomb & Tomb: Cryptmaster: My 3rd favorite game of all time, but for awhile was my #1 of all time. These are 2 stand alone games that can be mixed together. Tom has never reviewed it but has spoken of it twice and it it OOP. To me, this is D&D in a box as a board game, more than the actual Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games are. Many have given this a hard pass, mostly because the rule books are horrible. Tomb: Cryptmaster fixed some of the rules, but even that rule book has contradicting rules. You have to go online to get rule corrections and understanding of the game. This is a classic dungeon crawl. Each player controls their own party. The players take their party through a tomb and enter chambers which contain possible: traps, monsters, curses, and treasure. All of which give you experience points. When the dungeon is clear, or when the boss mob is killed the game ends. Whoever has the most XP wins. It is similar to Hero Quest, and there is no DM/GM, players take turns controlling the monsters. And like Descent, the monsters are original, not many classic style fantasy creatures. Even though I am a fan of generic fantasy. This is very close to generic fantasy. 2. Cutthroat Caverns: my 4th favorite game of all time. I am enjoying the 1 shot adventure books, but love how this card game seems like a full fledged dungeon crawl board game. 3. Above and Below: My 7th favorite game of all time. I love the story telling aspect of this game, although it is not a traditional fantasy game. 4. Talisman (Revised 4th Edition): is my 11th favorite game of all time. I have been playing Talisman since 1986, and am blessed to actually have beta tested 2 expansions for the now out-of-print FFG 4th edition, although Games Workshop has recently announced they will be reprinting it as well as producing a 5th edition. Talisman is the king of fantasy adventure games, but is not a dungeon crawl itself. 5. Roll Player: my 16th favorite game of all time. This is not a dungeon crawl, and not much of a fantasy game itself, but the game is based on the creating or fantasy characters for an RPG. A fun dice manipulation placement game! 6. Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games: are my 47th favorite game(s) of all time. More of a light miniatures tactical dungeon crawl in a co-op setting. I find the short games fun and own the 1st three of the series as well as some of the Dungeon Command expansion stuff. 7. Prophecy: currently my 62nd favorite game. A fantasy adventure game that has almost everything better than Talisman, except the amount of content and replaces the old roll and move mechanism. More plays may raise this game because of the more modern play, but because it doesn't have the vast amount of diverse content, repeating the same encounters will keep it from never surpassing Talisman. 8. HEXplore It: my 63rd favorite game of all time. A local game I helped beta test that successfully kickstarted. It is a mixture of Runebound and Defenders of the Realm, but better than both. 9. Runebound 2nd Edition: my 65th favorite game. I found and bought this when it was OOP, but was able to find 1 big expansion and a handful of small ones. An enjoyable game, but plays too long with more than 3 players. Funny since Talisman is longer, but I don't have as much patience for this one with more people. Another fantasy adventure game. 10. Drakon: my 76th favorite game. A very very light dungeon crawl. Short as well. Doesn't scratch many itches in the genre, but is fun with it's short light nature nonetheless.
Yes relatively easy to play solo. You need the free app (Road to Legend) that instructs you what to do on the monsters turn. Solo or coop with the app is how many people now play the game instead of with a player being the dungeon master.
@@batempire6979 Glad to help (especially on a 2 year old video :) ). Make sure you read the Road to Legend (RtL) latest rules which are in addition to the standard rules. The Goblin campaign is a tutorial and a lot shorter than the other ones and not easy for a tutorial.
collect descent 2nd and 1st and you wont regret it. this game is the best. al heroes and monsters and scenarios are like d&d gloomhaven is a good game but I never liked alien concepts , modern concept or star wars (they are not bad but descent is classic)
Tesla Volta Games Gloomhaven definetly. Descent is a race to complete objectives, not a dungeon crawl, while Gloomhaven fits this category of games much better. It also can be played solo.
The mechanics of Gloomhaven is better (in the Euro way), but the theme of Descent is better in the classic Ameritrash way. I really don't like Gloomhaven's alien unrelatable setting, which is full of "Our elves/ dwarves/ orcs/ dragons are different". Different, yes, as in worse.
descent is way better. gloomhaven is too modern like aliens .etc. its a good game but you will enjoy descent because its classic and much more like d&d
DLee1100s lfgs? Forgive my newbness, but I don't know what that means. I haven't seen it, or Mansions of Madness for that matter at any stores near me.
I was surprised to read this comment. It is available everywhere in Polish online stores, no problem (I checked to see if indeed I can sell my version for a lot of $ ;)). I like some elements in Descent, especially the production value, but dislike others. Story in campaigns feels disjointed and random and infantile , even the new, improved one. Campaigns sometimes snowball one way or the other and a bit less randomness wouldn't be bad at all.
I have literally everything available for 1st and 2nd editions, in a country where this sort of thing is hard to come by. No regrets; I'm a collector. P.S. And now everything available for Runebound is coming my way via Amazon...
I always felt guilty about skipping on this game. Now I feel relieved that I have experienced this game as it lives on through Imperial Assult....one of my favorite games!! I'm happy people got to experience this game and expansions, but I will not be going back. Moving forward to the newer games and I kickstarted the next gloomhaven reprint. Can't wait!!
Thank goodness this game exists for those who don't care for Star Wars, and definitely for those who don't care for how IA makes you overpay for everything (because it's Star Wars, doncha know).
Tom mentions he doesn't necessarily give it 100% when playing the overlord, is that how you guys play it too? We've consistently had the issue of OL winning 75ish % of games, but our OL always plays to win.
Quplas I am too much of a long time role playing DM to go all out on the players. So yes, I am holding back and yes, if you play very tactically and use all your options, the heroes will have a hard time. Imperial assault is even worse in that regard.
mistertaktvoll I'm new to the game (only played solo) but I agree. I think the best way to play Overlord is to convince the players you're trying to destroy them and ruin their fun. But a 'forgotten' reinforcement here and a card not played there, when the OL gets in too dominant a position, helps facilitate fun-which is why I play board games anyway. (Obviously I won't tell those I play against about this). This way, I believe, they'll get that sense of achievement and may play it again with me. :)
Matt 2112 I'm hoping to see more campaigns for the app. Thankfully, there are folks working on a fan-based solution using Valkyrie. You can check this out on boardgamegeek.
Yeah, that project for Valkyrie is to convert the poorly received Shadow Rune campaign that got replaced long ago with Heirs of Blood. It's also been taking them ages to complete it.
Maybe if he keeps doing reviews like this it will make the game be available to purchase without ridiculous markups. Outside of that I can't understand why you would make a video for a game I can't go out and buy...
BigBryan I own - and love - both games. But they are very different from each other so comparing them is like saying peaches are better than apples. A completely pointless discussion that comes down to what someone just tends to like more. But of course you can get a rise out of some apple people by saying peaches are better, so maybe there is a point to your comment after all.
It was the game that got me into table top games. I still love it and play it to this day. My number 1 game of all time
Same here.
"I call it second edition, they just call it descent now " Puts up a picture of the box art with a golden banner on it that clearly says "Second Edition".
I was laughing when he said that. Classic Tom.
You forgot to mention the Road to Legend app. Imo this made the game a much more enjoyable experience for me.
Do you think too the DM is too strong? I played a lot solo with two or three characters and one time with two friends. I nearly lost 90% of the quests. I'm really not sure if we do something wrong :S
We play it on hard mode, and we are just scraping by in act 2. It's definitely hard but I reckon in a good way. The best way to succeed I reckon is play with speed, and don't much around. Otherwise the more time you spend muck around, the more chances the dm will trigger events.
The App is so good and unique in this niche - cant believe it wasnt mentioned!
Redjak's Automated Overlord Variant is worth a mention too!!
It allows you to use the Overlord's components and play the Campaigns that come in the boxes!! 😊😊
Glad to hear you use different monsters during your campaign. The time I played it the Overlord chose the hardest scenario and always the hardest same monster to use as his open group. no matter how overwhelming it was. He defiantly didn't care if we had fun, just destroy us as much as possible.
I've been trying all the Dungeon Crawlers and think Descent hits a sweetspot, not too complicated not too lite! It's a great game! Thanks for your thoughts. I got inspired to do a Let's Play for Descent myself
This was my favourite game of all time until Gloomhaven arrived, but man what a good game Descent is
Due to the end of the official descent quest vault (online map editor) i decided to create a desktop app.
Hoping to not sound inappropriate i'm promoting it here hoping some passionated as me could consider it useful.
github.com/LorenzoBalducci96/descent-quest-builder/releases
I'm hoping it's auto-explaining: left click + drag for moving tiles, right click for rotating, bottom bar for switch between expansions and elements, buttons on top of left sidebar for switching between faces of the tiles...
Great video and I love descent as well! Great game with amazing variety, surprises and components! Didn't even mention the app either and that to me puts it over the top!
Apart from Gloomhaven, what other games like Descent 2nd ed would you suggest?
Massive Darkness and Super Dungeon Explore are a couple similar options
I have never played Descent. I did consider buying it, but was debating it vs the Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games. I was heavily leaning towards the D&D games, but finding those on sale tipped me all the way.
In the past I did a lot of DMing, and decided I wanted games where there was no DM, one reason I preferred the Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games. I also prefer the generic fantasy genre even though Tom seems to pick on it.
But Descent does seem like a wonderful game I would love to play. I just don't wish to invest the time and money into it.
Dungeon Crawls or Fantasy adventure games in general is the main reason I came into board gaming, and am always looking for a new one that will be better. But have expanded into many other board game types as well. Right now my favorites in this genre are:
1. Tomb & Tomb: Cryptmaster: My 3rd favorite game of all time, but for awhile was my #1 of all time. These are 2 stand alone games that can be mixed together. Tom has never reviewed it but has spoken of it twice and it it OOP. To me, this is D&D in a box as a board game, more than the actual Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games are. Many have given this a hard pass, mostly because the rule books are horrible. Tomb: Cryptmaster fixed some of the rules, but even that rule book has contradicting rules. You have to go online to get rule corrections and understanding of the game. This is a classic dungeon crawl. Each player controls their own party. The players take their party through a tomb and enter chambers which contain possible: traps, monsters, curses, and treasure. All of which give you experience points. When the dungeon is clear, or when the boss mob is killed the game ends. Whoever has the most XP wins. It is similar to Hero Quest, and there is no DM/GM, players take turns controlling the monsters. And like Descent, the monsters are original, not many classic style fantasy creatures. Even though I am a fan of generic fantasy. This is very close to generic fantasy.
2. Cutthroat Caverns: my 4th favorite game of all time. I am enjoying the 1 shot adventure books, but love how this card game seems like a full fledged dungeon crawl board game.
3. Above and Below: My 7th favorite game of all time. I love the story telling aspect of this game, although it is not a traditional fantasy game.
4. Talisman (Revised 4th Edition): is my 11th favorite game of all time. I have been playing Talisman since 1986, and am blessed to actually have beta tested 2 expansions for the now out-of-print FFG 4th edition, although Games Workshop has recently announced they will be reprinting it as well as producing a 5th edition. Talisman is the king of fantasy adventure games, but is not a dungeon crawl itself.
5. Roll Player: my 16th favorite game of all time. This is not a dungeon crawl, and not much of a fantasy game itself, but the game is based on the creating or fantasy characters for an RPG. A fun dice manipulation placement game!
6. Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games: are my 47th favorite game(s) of all time. More of a light miniatures tactical dungeon crawl in a co-op setting. I find the short games fun and own the 1st three of the series as well as some of the Dungeon Command expansion stuff.
7. Prophecy: currently my 62nd favorite game. A fantasy adventure game that has almost everything better than Talisman, except the amount of content and replaces the old roll and move mechanism. More plays may raise this game because of the more modern play, but because it doesn't have the vast amount of diverse content, repeating the same encounters will keep it from never surpassing Talisman.
8. HEXplore It: my 63rd favorite game of all time. A local game I helped beta test that successfully kickstarted. It is a mixture of Runebound and Defenders of the Realm, but better than both.
9. Runebound 2nd Edition: my 65th favorite game. I found and bought this when it was OOP, but was able to find 1 big expansion and a handful of small ones. An enjoyable game, but plays too long with more than 3 players. Funny since Talisman is longer, but I don't have as much patience for this one with more people. Another fantasy adventure game.
10. Drakon: my 76th favorite game. A very very light dungeon crawl. Short as well. Doesn't scratch many itches in the genre, but is fun with it's short light nature nonetheless.
Descent is My best dungeon Game ever
I would really like to hear from you wich are the best expansions in your opinion.
first edition is my favourite game of all time, 2nd edition is still pretty good.
I'm wondering if there is a way to play by myself since none of my friends want to play it and I am not bothered to go to board game conventions...
Yes relatively easy to play solo. You need the free app (Road to Legend) that instructs you what to do on the monsters turn. Solo or coop with the app is how many people now play the game instead of with a player being the dungeon master.
Kneecapper Thanks for telling me! Now I can play!
@@batempire6979 Glad to help (especially on a 2 year old video :) ).
Make sure you read the Road to Legend (RtL) latest rules which are in addition to the standard rules.
The Goblin campaign is a tutorial and a lot shorter than the other ones and not easy for a tutorial.
collect descent 2nd and 1st and you wont regret it. this game is the best. al heroes and monsters and scenarios are like d&d
gloomhaven is a good game but I never liked alien concepts , modern concept or star wars (they are not bad but descent is classic)
I have no dungeon crawls currently. If I were to get into them, what would y'all recommend: Descent 2nd edition or Gloomhaven?
Tesla Volta Games Gloomhaven definetly. Descent is a race to complete objectives, not a dungeon crawl, while Gloomhaven fits this category of games much better. It also can be played solo.
The mechanics of Gloomhaven is better (in the Euro way), but the theme of Descent is better in the classic Ameritrash way. I really don't like Gloomhaven's alien unrelatable setting, which is full of "Our elves/ dwarves/ orcs/ dragons are different". Different, yes, as in worse.
descent is way better. gloomhaven is too modern like aliens .etc. its a good game but you will enjoy descent because its classic and much more like d&d
Choose gloomhaven if you don't want to have rely on dungeon masters to dictate the fun. Let an app do it for you.
@@xshadowscreamx descent has an app
Tom Vassel my new hero
@ 5:52 *Loved* that! :3
Tom, should have mentioned the app.
Could someone address why you can't find a copy of descent anywhere?
It's on the shelves in all my LFGS as well as lots of expansions
DLee1100s lfgs? Forgive my newbness, but I don't know what that means. I haven't seen it, or Mansions of Madness for that matter at any stores near me.
Just google "LFGS", but for your benefit: Local Friendly Game Store.
I was surprised to read this comment. It is available everywhere in Polish online stores, no problem (I checked to see if indeed I can sell my version for a lot of $ ;)).
I like some elements in Descent, especially the production value, but dislike others. Story in campaigns feels disjointed and random and infantile , even the new, improved one. Campaigns sometimes snowball one way or the other and a bit less randomness wouldn't be bad at all.
Evan McCoy google showed me "looking for girlfriend"
You forgot to mention that you could easily spend over $1000 on this game if you really want to.
price of the game doesn't effect goodness of a game
Necro comment but how so?
The only way I could imagine is if you mean the price to commission someone to paint every mini, no?
@@Epic501 expansions. so many.
I have everything except for a few lieutenants. No regrets.
brewgeek1 Same!! I kind of want the lieutenants now though hahaa
I have literally everything available for 1st and 2nd editions, in a country where this sort of thing is hard to come by. No regrets; I'm a collector.
P.S. And now everything available for Runebound is coming my way via Amazon...
I always felt guilty about skipping on this game. Now I feel relieved that I have experienced this game as it lives on through Imperial Assult....one of my favorite games!! I'm happy people got to experience this game and expansions, but I will not be going back. Moving forward to the newer games and I kickstarted the next gloomhaven reprint. Can't wait!!
Thank goodness this game exists for those who don't care for Star Wars, and definitely for those who don't care for how IA makes you overpay for everything (because it's Star Wars, doncha know).
get descent 2nd edition and eventually 1st or 1st then 2nd. you wont regret it
This is epic
Tom mentions he doesn't necessarily give it 100% when playing the overlord, is that how you guys play it too? We've consistently had the issue of OL winning 75ish % of games, but our OL always plays to win.
Quplas I am too much of a long time role playing DM to go all out on the players. So yes, I am holding back and yes, if you play very tactically and use all your options, the heroes will have a hard time. Imperial assault is even worse in that regard.
mistertaktvoll I'm new to the game (only played solo) but I agree. I think the best way to play Overlord is to convince the players you're trying to destroy them and ruin their fun. But a 'forgotten' reinforcement here and a card not played there, when the OL gets in too dominant a position, helps facilitate fun-which is why I play board games anyway. (Obviously I won't tell those I play against about this).
This way, I believe, they'll get that sense of achievement and may play it again with me. :)
Shane Yup, that's basically how I play Descent and Imperial Assault. :D
I still pick Descent over Gloomhaven.
I love Descent, but the first edition. Second edition dumbed down too much and took away the exploration.
I heard FF will be winding down Descent soon.Not sure how true it is. If it is hopefully this video will give more exposure and FF will keep it alive.
Matt 2112 I'm hoping to see more campaigns for the app. Thankfully, there are folks working on a fan-based solution using Valkyrie. You can check this out on boardgamegeek.
Yeah I got the feeling FF was winding it down as well as they don't push it on there web page anymore...time to start buying it all up then !
Yeah, that project for Valkyrie is to convert the poorly received Shadow Rune campaign that got replaced long ago with Heirs of Blood.
It's also been taking them ages to complete it.
I bought the 1st edition when it came out and I was deceived.
Maybe if he keeps doing reviews like this it will make the game be available to purchase without ridiculous markups. Outside of that I can't understand why you would make a video for a game I can't go out and buy...
you can collect it. I just bought more expansions. check fantasy flight websites and other websites, everything is available
The game is still expensive for no reason. Oh wait, damn miniatures.
Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition > Descent
BigBryan Complete nonsense.
That people think Descent is better than Mansions? I agree.
BigBryan I own - and love - both games. But they are very different from each other so comparing them is like saying peaches are better than apples. A completely pointless discussion that comes down to what someone just tends to like more.
But of course you can get a rise out of some apple people by saying peaches are better, so maybe there is a point to your comment after all.
I'm just having my fun here on TH-cam. I enjoy both games and messing with people as well.
Actually they're very comparable in some ways, and no, Mansions isn't better.