I'm always up for a new boardgame at the table, I like Ravenloft, and I love the 4e system. So this sounds almost like the perfect game. Almost.
I wonder, how much of the rules is it going to change or alter to facilitate better and smoother boardgame type play.
Mike Mearls drop in with some comments.
I honestly couldn't care less about this game and definately won't be buying it. The dicey action game genre has completely worn me out and if I want to play something along those lines, I'll just tool around with Heroscape or C3 since I've got good nostalgia with them.
meh, Ravenloft was always a module. If Ravenloft ever did get released (Though really it would be under a Domains of Dread book, or perhaps in The Shadowfell's book when it comes time), I want it to be after a new setting to D&D.
I like the Ravenloft setting and I occasionally like boardgames. I have heard that the Ravenloft board game is going to include quite a few miniatures? I believe I have also heard that it includes character progression? I also hope there is some randomness to the game. I hope it is a predecessor to a Ravenloft campaign setting release.
Its hard to imagine D&D without randomness. I love no luck games and all, but D&D without dice?
Nah.
I like the Ravenloft setting and I occasionally like boardgames. I have heard that the Ravenloft board game is going to include quite a few miniatures? I believe I have also heard that it includes character progression? I also hope there is some randomness to the game. I hope it is a predecessor to a Ravenloft campaign setting release.
I whole heartily agree. Its about time that Ravenloft get its just credit. None of this, oh here's a little RL here and heres a little RL there. Give the fans what we want - re-release Ravenloft for 4e.
I'm very looking forward to this. (I wish it'd be out sooner than August)
Between that fact that it's totally cooperative (nobody needs to DM), and can be played through in an hour or two, I really think it'll fill a very important niche in my gaming group. Plus getting my hands on a ton of essentially cheap minatures will be nice.
I'm especially looking foward to combining it with Dungeons of Dragonfire Mountain to make some crazy scenerios.
If anyone is curious, there's a podcast from the D&D experience that goes into a bit more detail for the game. media.gleemax.com/podcasts/DNDXPSeminar5...
Unfortunately, from what I gather, the minis are plain unpainted plastic...arrrggghhh - no time to paint!
However, it sounds like a great soloution for groups without DMs who don't mind simplified play. A dozen or so modular dungeon tiles type board pieces for generating random dungeons, random encounters, basic characters.
I wonder how easily the full 4E ruleset could be incorporated into gameplay? It would be interesting to be able to go full blown with it for those nights when the regular session can't be played.
Step 1, take a can of spray paint, shake accordingly and make sure weather conditions are roughly appropriate.
Step 2. Take minis and spray paint to designated painting area.
Step 3. Proceed to prime the minis. Prime in two light coats. Do the first, and wait ten minutes. Do second coat.
Step 4. Allow minis to dry.
Step 5. Bring minis inside, and take out Acrylic paint, brushes, and two glasses of water.
Step 6 Dip tip of brush into paint, dip brush into one glass of water. Proceed to paint the mini.
Step 7. Rinse and repeat until you get the desired color scheme.
Step 8. Paint the details on the mini.
Step 9. Allow paint to dry.
Step 10. You now have minis that are table top ready to play. These minis will be painted on a level much higher than what Wotc and the other company put out. Proceed to have fun with your newly painted minis. Using this method I can bang out anywhere from 20-40 minis in roughly four hours. (counting assembly time of the mini too)
Yes, painting minis isn't difficult. I have done my fair share, including giving them lush pink lips and a gleam of reflection in the pupil on the iris on the white of their eyes.
4 hours is worth a lot to me, a lot more than the cost of simply buying prepainted minis, which is why I buy prepainted plastic minis as opposed to the generally better looking pewters.
my wifes the safe. what is it about board games vs rpg games?
hoping to use the ravenloft board game as a gateway drug for rpgs lol
my wifes the safe. what is it about board games vs rpg games?
hoping to use the ravenloft board game as a gateway drug for rpgs lol
She thinks RPGs are "weird." They don't have a structured rule set or a fixed end/completion. Maybe RPGs take a lot of imagination, and she doesn't have that. Board games, on the other hand, are fun even without imagination because there is a combination of skill and luck to keep things interesting. I will play the Ravenloft game with her and see if she likes it.
I'm guessing it's going to be similar to Avalon Hill's Betrayal at the House on the Hill," the best board game of the '00s. So I'm pretty excited.
Y'know, I think we can only hope it's that good.
Speaking of BatHotH - are they re-releasing it (updated) this year? I understand it got extremely hard to find in the last few years.
same, i'll give u an update and let you know how it went in august lol.
Fair enough Raven! You don't happen to live in Seattle, do you? We could have a double-date Ravenloft game night. Ha ha!!
Sanjay
I suspect that given that they are Unpainted they won't be of typical Wotc "quality".
They say in the podcast that the minis are old DDM sculpts, in different (solid) colors of plastic. It sounds like it might be worthwhile for someone uninterested in the game but interested in plastic minis to paint, especially if they have use for the tiles too.
Anyway, I'm excited for this game. I've never owned an RPG-style boardgame before, and this one sounds simpler than Heroquest and Descent, taking only an hour and a half to play and having no DM. Sounds like the sort of thing I can get non-RPG playing friends to try with me.
I believe I have also heard that it includes character progression?
hope it will have options for quick play, and immersive play.
It sounds like it will have neither of these; no character progression between scenarios, and only one rules set (probably closer to "quick play" than "immersive play").
Yes, GW stuff is way overpriced (i get my stuff used, opened or via ebay most of the time) but the quality for plastic models is quite good most of the time; especially the newer stuff (ie. past 2 years or so -- not withstanding models where you don't like the style, i mean the actual detail considering they aren't resin or metal).
Prob won't buy Ravenloft then; will try to convince a friend who collects board games to get it instead :P heheh
Sanjay
I too was hoping for higher quality minis than Wotc "quality" minis.
Even Mage Knight quality would be acceptable. It's still not a Deal Breaker for me, as I do have alot of minis that I've collected over the years. But it is something to remember when I'm shopping.
I hope that isn't accurate.
Amazon's webpage says September 21st now.
Dragonfire Mountain still says November 16th though.
But then thought how 4th Edition may be heroquest gone wild, but it's still complex. How am I supposed to introduce my girlfriend and her friends to D&D when they need to consult several mauals, maps, and a plethora of tables? D&D should in essence be heroquest where they have little plastic minis, some dice, and cards with a list of powers to choose from.
I'm hoping thats what Ravenloft boardgame is going to become. Hopefully less then 30 dollars. I'd just put together a map of my own design with green army men and flash cards if I have too. But I'd prefer to have it all done for me. Quality minis are of no concern to me, don't give a crap about how pretty they are, crude wax figurines is fine. Just enough to distinguish the monsters and PCs, and have all the stuff easily accessible rather then me wailing through books and pdf files.
Makes me wonder why Fourth Edition isn't catching on more with it's likeness to heroquest. If you ask me, the boardgame version of D&D should takeon more of a psionic approach with class powers (with daily meaning once per session or they only "refill" when you roll a 20 at some point) and at-wills can be augmented. Powerpoints be measured in candy.
twitpic.com/1hkbsq
Here is a link to a twitpic of the game.
twitpic.com/1hkbsq
thanks
looks gorgeous
Can't wait!
But probably I'd choose Dungeons of the Dragon Mountain box, more classic, less gothic.
Yes, it looks awesome and funny!
Can't wait!
But probably I'd choose Dungeons of the Dragon Mountain box, more classic, less gothic.
I already pre-ordered both of them
If they are trying to bring some of the boardgame public into D&D, Wizards will have to build a much higher quality product than the forty bucks price tag may suggest.
First of all, the game has an MSRP of $65, not $40. Amazon is just selling it for cheap, like they usually do.
Secondly, the point of the game is to give people a D&D flavored experience for times or places where a full on game of D&D isn't an option.
Firstly, "Dungeons of Dragonfire Mountain" has been renamed to "Wrath of Ashardalon," most likely due to copyright reasons.
Secondly, they posted a picture of the game with a bunch of the pieces scattered about.
www.wizards.com/dnd/images/387-ampersand...
Looks sexy. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
EDIT: They also confirmed it's due out in August, with Wrath coming in November.
Not that you can really see anything, but I wish it was just a little more to the right so we could get a glimpse of the Encounter cards.