Update on the Ravenloft Board Game

[Le Noir Faineant]

Checked the rulebook. Looks surprisingly cool.

Like "Descend", but with the D&D license and without the unnerving time limit.

There is a sequel coming up as well, based on "Bastion of Broken Souls", from the 3.0 Wizbro Adventure Path. Any info if those two are really connected?

I am talking about this one:

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

There is a sequel coming up as well, based on "Bastion of Broken Souls", from the 3.0 Wizbro Adventure Path. Any info if those two are really connected?

Same rules, different monsters, different scenarios, different encounter cards, different treasure cards, possibly different hero characters and new power cards. Should work together (if the Ravenloft game's slim amount of Ravenloft-ishness is still just too gothic for you and you need to dilute it with more high-fantasy. ) Wrath of Ashardalon is also supposed have some rudimentary campaign rules.

If both sell well, expect more...

[Le Noir Faineant]

Nice!

Not the worst idea Wizbro has had in the last few years.

[Joël of the FoS]

My FLGS just called me. They have it in stock and one copy is waiting for me. I'll get it next Saturday!

Joël

[alhoon]

Please add your review not only here, but on the reviews section Joel.

[Joël of the FoS]

The Strahd mini isn't, I repeat, isn't the one we feared it would be

Sounds like an hour just to unwrap the thing The dracolich mini is cool.

Joël

[Dimitri Mazieres]

The Strahd mini isn't, I repeat, isn't the one we feared it would be

Sounds like an hour just to unwrap the thing The dracolich mini is cool.

Joël

You're wasting time with small-talk instead of getting busy with that review, Joël.

[Jester of the FoS]

Got mine today as a Bday present from the wife. Played it with Mrs. Jester (3e and 4e alumni), my sister-in-law (non-gamer), and mother-in-law (definite non-gamer).
We all had a fun time, and even the 'mom' had a good time played and kicked some butt with her cleric. She enjoyed it because she could help: she doesn't do well in competitive games.

It's a fun game and a nice simplified version of 4e. It uses alot of 4e-isms like healing surges, powers, and the like. But also has alot of eurogames in it. It does feel like if D&D and a eurogame had a baby.

I have some complaints about the Ravenloft-ness of some of the content, but given I've only played one of the dozen or so scenarios/adventures and seen maybe 1/10th of the cards there could be more I'm missing.
And there can be some rule funkiness. There really needs to be an FAQ. I'm sure they playtested it but I'm not sure they sat down uninitiated and let them play entirely unaided.
And there is a CRAZY amount of tokens. There's unique tokens for every scenario. Really, there's a unneeded amount of tokens. I used a half-dozen plastic ziploc baggies and still had to double or triple-up on what tokens went where. And some tokens were just not explained.

[Joël of the FoS]

And there is a CRAZY amount of tokens. There's unique tokens for every scenario. Really, there's a unneeded amount of tokens. I used a half-dozen plastic ziploc baggies and still had to double or triple-up on what tokens went where. And some tokens were just not explained.

That is whay I said it takes a while just to unwrap the game And indeed, Ziploc is your friend here.

We'll try this today!

Joël

[Joël of the FoS]

Playing adventure#2.

David, we used the coffins in adv2 (looking at the adv book, I think these are is used only in the final games "Hunting Strahd") what do you think could be the mechanic to open a coffin? For the moment, we ruled you have to spend a move on this (checking inside a coffin).

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Edit: we won The first game took about two hours (we were checking the rules book often). The gf isn't at all into gaming, but she got the rules quickly and loved this game.

The cooperative side of the game is fun, especially if you have a cleric (ex. giving 1 hp to a friend when you hit a monster - at will power). I had the cleric, she had a rogue.

The way I see it now, you really need one player taking the cleric. We're gonna try another game without to test it.
Edit: played adv #3, and it lasted two tiles. My wizard got killed quickly and used all healing surges.

The gf quickly got how to cooperate and maximize the group's powers.

The game finished with a grand flame strike boom.

It was fun.

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Q2: do you place a monster each time you add a new tile (as the rule p 7, item #3 under exploration suggests), or do you draw a monster token to see if there is a monster (from 0 to 3) ?

And if not b, what's the use of these monster tokens?

Edit: method b is extremely killer. I suggest keeping to method a

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Q3: I also assume you stop your movement on the edge of a new tile, i.e. you do not continue on a new exploration tile you just added when your caracter came on the edge.

Q4: I also assume the secret stairway card is a normal tile for an adventure that doesn't need (i.e. adventure #1).

Joël

[Jester of the FoS]

I'm not sure how you check a coffin. In the "hunt Strahd" minigame you also destroy them but it doesn't say how you do that either.

Q2: do you place a monster each time you add a new tile (as the rule p 7, item #3 under exploration suggests), or do you draw a monster token to see if there is a monster (from 0 to 3) ?

And if not b, what's the use of these monster tokens?

You place a tile with the arrow facing towards you. White means monster (draw a monster card and use that monster) and black means event (drawn an event card).
The monsters tiles are for a couple different non-standard scenarios (the hag one, and one other).
Many, many of the tiles are for very specific scenarios.

Q3: I also assume you stop your movement on the edge of a new tile, i.e. you do not continue on a new exploration tile you just added when your caracter came on the edge.

Yup. You move and end your turn before a new tile is turned over. So even if you just moved once and didn't attack your turn is over.

Q4: I also assume the secret stairway card is a normal tile for an adventure that doesn't need (i.e. adventure #1).

Yup. Many cards have extra benefits or effects in specific situations.

[Joël of the FoS]

Yes, as I wrote, the last scenarios involve coffin search and destroy, so we do not need it until then.

One thing bad about this, is that you have to figure that you do not need all the pieces when starting the game. It's not that a big problem, but you might make mistakes in playing when you start and assume you need all the pieces on the board (ex: using the coffins in the early adventures).

You place a tile with the arrow facing towards you. White means monster (draw a monster card and use that monster) and black means event (drawn an event card).

Well, from what I read, I believe you put a monster everytime - whatever the arrow colour, and use an encounter card when it is black.

Adv #3 ended badly. TPK, twice But the last time we were very close. But we were only two players, I guess two players is a bit short for this one.

Joël

[alhoon]

OK, besides "Adv 2, we won, adv 3, we lost"
How WAS the game? Was it nice? How long it takes after you learn the rules? How many scenarios are there? Is there replay value?

and mother-in-law (definite non-gamer).

She enjoyed it because she could help: she doesn't do well in competitive games.

Non-competitive mother in law?!
Man, you're lucky!

The gf isn't at all into gaming, but she got the rules quickly and loved this game.

Girlfriend? Shame on you!

[Joël of the FoS]

I'm in the trying phase of the game, can't write a full review now, it would be like writing a book review after having read a third of it

> How WAS the game?

Fun, the gf loved it. I think it will interest many newbies to try a regular D&D game.

Me, I think it's fun, but I still prefer the regular game by a mile or three But it's a fun board game.

RLish? Not really, even if they made an effort on the atmospherics with the card descriptions. We are more stressed than spooky. And a table game can't be spooky. And its theme is close to EtCR, without the demons and the ooze everywhere. Monsters are gothic.

Tough? Yes, it is. There are two random aspects that can decimate the party: the d20 of course, and the encounter cards. In the game, you have to take an encounter card if you do not explore (add a tile), and many of these are traps (if they hit: 2, but still 1 hp damage if they miss). Considering the party has 6-10 hp each, it's deadly in the end. Yesterday, we were close to finish adventure 3 and kill the Villain, but a trap killed three person in the party of four. TPK.

There is something deadly with the encounter cards as in th ebook, it can be softened for an easier game (option 1 as David do, you get a monster with a white triangle tile or an ancounter card with a black triangle; option 2 when the villain appears, you stop drawing encounter cards when you do not add a tile).

Oh, and yes, one PC has to be the cleric.

The wizard is quite weak, and gets killed often, event if he stays behind, because of the traps.

> How long it takes after you learn the rules?

About an hour to read, and the first game took about two hours. The games afterward took about 1h-1h30.

> How many scenarios are there?

13, but I guess people online will add new scenarios to those proposed.

> Is there replay value?

Yes, it's everytime different.

Joël

[Jester of the FoS]

My review can be found here