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Thread: Descent: Journeys in the Dark table-top game (MyGaming review)

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  1. #1
    MyGaming Alumnus James's Avatar
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    Default Descent: Journeys in the Dark table-top game (MyGaming review)


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    Wow, a board game review! Although it seems like Tarryn ultimately hated the game, bleak. I was eyeing it when Digital Sushi was offering it up on special a few months ago.

    Fantasy Flight games do however tend to be complicated and exceptionally long to complete. Maybe you should give Elder Sign a go next time, been hearing good things about that game.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Coheed View Post
    Wow, a board game review! Although it seems like Tarryn ultimately hated the game, bleak. I was eyeing it when Digital Sushi was offering it up on special a few months ago.
    Games like Descent: Journeys in the Dark need to have their rule books read once or twice before playing. It is a "meaty" game, with a lot of content, but I found everything nicely fleshed out in the rule book. Not to mention my set-up time takes around 5 minutes per map; maybe I'm the exception?

    The first map is set up to ease the players into the game. In fact you only use specific Overlord cards, and the basic Hero cards for this map. Each map, going forward, then adds more and more elements, and the Advanced rules (used for Campaign play). You'll see the first map featured in the review.

    Side note: The game is very similar to Doom: The Board Game (Descent 2nd Edition contains the third version of the Doom rules, with Descent: 1st Edition containing the second), but it isn't like Last Night on Earth as there is no overlord (controlling player).

    Quote Originally Posted by Coheed View Post
    Fantasy Flight games do however tend to be complicated and exceptionally long to complete.
    This is true, but they've gotten a lot better with recent games (even titles from last year, like Gears of War). A good example of their complicated rule is Death Angel: The Card Game. Worst. Rulebook. Ever.

    Quote Originally Posted by Coheed View Post
    Maybe you should give Elder Sign a go next time, been hearing good things about that game.
    Elder Sign is incredibly fun, and can be played as a full or filler game. Think Cthulhu Yahtzee. If you've got an iOS or Android device you can try Elder Sign Omens. The biggest difference is Omens doesn't include any of the ally cards.

    @Azimuth - I do apologise. I'm not trying to pick apart your review at all. Descent: Journeys in the Dark 2nd Edition is easily my favourite release of the year, and I wanted to give me own opinions on it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by GrahamZA View Post
    Side note: The game is very similar to Doom: The Board Game
    It is, yeah. I've only played that one a few times, but the core mechanics are very much the same.

    (Descent 2nd Edition contains the third version of the Doom rules, with Descent: 1st Edition containing the second), but it isn't like Last Night on Earth as there is no overlord (controlling player).
    The comparison was to the actual player setup, where one (or more) players control the "enemy" side. I've played a lot of unconventional board games, and I've found that this particular setup is quite unusual.

    This is true, but they've gotten a lot better with recent games (even titles from last year, like Gears of War).
    Funny, I was actually reminded of this game, because I also found it immensely intimidating at first, but - unlike Descent - very easy to get into. Perhaps that's also because I'm a huge Gears of War fan, though, so a lot of it just made sense.

    @Azimuth - I do apologise. I'm not trying to pick apart your review at all. Descent: Journeys in the Dark 2nd Edition is easily my favourite release of the year, and I wanted to give me own opinions on it.
    No need to apologise whatsoever!

    It's kind of a shame we didn't think to just invite you over and play it with us. I think it's one of those games that benefits tremendously from having even one experienced player in the party. Next time!

    As it happens, tonight is Betrayal at House on the Hill (<3 <3 <3) / King of Tokyo night.
    Last edited by Azimuth; 20-10-2012 at 11:57 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Azimuth View Post
    The comparison was to the actual player setup, where one (or more) players control the "enemy" side. I've played a lot of unconventional board games, and I've found that this particular setup is quite unusual.
    I can give you way more unconventional games, like Thebes or Granada


    Quote Originally Posted by Azimuth View Post
    Funny, I was actually reminded of this game, because I also found it immensely intimidating at first, but - unlike Descent - very easy to get into. Perhaps that's also because I'm a huge Gears of War fan, though, so a lot of it just made sense.
    Complete 180 for me. I found Gears of War more intimidating at first, with the cover mechanic and cards as health. You should take a look at the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Games (read: board games), Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon and Legend of Drizzt. They share the theme of Descent - fantasy and adventurers or quests - but you play against the game, like GoW's AI cards. Very fun, but monstrously unforgiving games.

    Quote Originally Posted by Azimuth View Post
    It's kind of a shame we didn't think to just invite you over and play it with us. I think it's one of those games that benefits tremendously from having even one experienced player in the party. Next time!
    I actually wanted to do that by showing the game off before you dove into it. If you want to give Descent another go (expand that review ) then I'm more than happy to. I (or DS) also have a ton of other games, and always looking for more players...and I'm an awesome Overlord!

    Quote Originally Posted by Azimuth View Post
    As it happens, tonight is Betrayal at House on the Hill (<3 <3 <3) / King of Tokyo night.
    Both titles I have yet to play. A rival store (Claremont) is punting King of Tokyo, but I haven't given it a go yet.

    Picked up a copy of Dominion for myself and need to give it a go this weekend.

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    Quote Originally Posted by GrahamZA View Post
    I can give you way more unconventional games, like Thebes or Granada
    BRIIING IIIIT.

    I actually wanted to do that by showing the game off before you dove into it. If you want to give Descent another go (expand that review ) then I'm more than happy to. I (or DS) also have a ton of other games, and always looking for more players...and I'm an awesome Overlord!
    James did pass on the offer at the time, but it just seemed so... awkward. Now that I've met you, it's not so weird. :P

    Both titles I have yet to play. A rival store (Claremont) is punting King of Tokyo, but I haven't given it a go yet.
    You haven't played Betrayal? Duuuuude.

    King of Tokyo is superb. It's very, very simple, and loads of mad fun.

    Picked up a copy of Dominion for myself and need to give it a go this weekend.
    I was reading a review of Infiltration earlier, as it happens, which mentioned Dominion in positively obsequious tones of affection. Haven't played it myself yet, though.

    I assume you've played Chaos in the Old World?

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    I didn't hate it! It was just very difficult to get into, and I think that's something important that potential buyers should know.

  8. #8

    Default Descent: Journeys in the Dark table-top game (MyGaming review)

    Noob question, what exactly is a table-top game?

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    Quote Originally Posted by JP'S View Post
    Noob question, what exactly is a table-top game?
    It's pretty much a general term for wargames, board games, card games, and the likes.

  10. #10

    Default Descent: Journeys in the Dark table-top game (MyGaming review)

    Quote Originally Posted by GrahamZA View Post
    It's pretty much a general term for wargames, board games, card games, and the likes.
    Thought so thank you!

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