Return of the Heroes or Prophecy

Mr Skeletor wrote:

You know, maybe you shouldn't get any Matt? If you don't like these types of games why waste your money? Too "fill in a gameing niche in your collection?" That's BGG talk man!

Go out and buy the best game of 2007. Star Craft.

Heh...I kinda feel the same way...I've never bought anything because I felt like I needed to slate in something for a particular slot. I get where Matt's coming from though, having the rounded game collection with best-of-class titles.

I really think RotH is the answer. It's actually the least like the kinds of games Matt's already said he's not a big fan of- most RPG-style games come from the TALISMAN lineage but RotH, despite its abstraction, is still on the MAGIC REALM tree somewhere.

It does take a long-ass time to set up though. But if you like pornography, all of the female characters' heads look like they were traced over porn actresses. Who could forget the Sexy Hobbit or the too-much-eye shadow-for-church lady Paladin?

I've only played Return of the Heroes out of the games listed here (and I really didn't care for it at all--seemed rather pointless movement of picking stuff up).

Its interesting (and maybe a good sign for me!) that Descent isn't considered part of this grouping. I just got Descent in a recent math trade --- so I'm hoping its substantially different than RotH!

BTW--is Descent any good as a 2 player game?

Descent works as a two-player game, but it's best with 4 or 5 players, that way the heroes can strategize together and squabble over who gets to kill the red monsters for an extra 50 gold.

Descent really is the best current game of anything under the broad fantasy/adventure category. It may not be 'rpg' in that you aren't traveling across country sides or talking to inn keepers for information. It's a straight up dungeon crawl in the spirit of early DnD.

I'd argue that Descent also has pretty good character development, it's just not the main focus of the game. The main way you 'level up' your character is through the treasure you acquire throughout the adventure. The treasure you get really may a big difference if you draw the right weapon. But even if you draw something you can't use you can still level up your melee/range/magic dice or draw an extra skill (though I've never seen anyone opt for this).

The number of characters x number of skills x number of items and treasure = a different experience every time you play. Even if you play as the same character the skills you draw, the items you have and the role you fill in your party make for a different experience each time you play.

It's true right now there's not much of a campaign to it, but that's all going to change in a couple of months. I think when the Road to Legend comes out Descent will become the most rpg-like board game out there. From overworld traveling to dungeon clearing and character advancement, Descent will claim the title.

I've never played Runebound. I've too often heard it's slow, long and like multiplayer solitaire. That being said, every once in a while I get really interested in it and would still love to give it a shot.

metalface13 wrote:

I've never played Runebound. I've too often heard it's slow, long and like multiplayer solitaire. That being said, every once in a while I get really interested in it and would still love to give it a shot.

It's really funny because when you own it and have played it many times, you still say the same stuff about it...

Mr Skeletor wrote:

You know, maybe you shouldn't get any Matt? If you don't like these types of games why waste your money? Too "fill in a gameing niche in your collection?" That's BGG talk man!

You're probably right - and I've pretty much decided to pass on this for the time being.

The "niche" thing is about variety more than anything to do with having some sort of "complete" collection. I'm a sucker for variety and from time to time I get the urge to play all sorts of different games, and it's nice to know there's something in your collection you can pull out to scratch that itch.

From that standpoint I must admit that Arkham Horror does look a good bet. Not only does it have the whole adventure/narrative thing but I don't own any co-op games nor any soloable games (unless you count the odd open-information wargame where you can play both sides, which I don't).

But for now, pass. You never know - I might get a lucky break on Ebay .

If nothing else, you could pick up a cheap copy of Runebound 1st edition. I got my copy by trading away a promo pack of cards from an issue of Scrye....nobody wants 1st ed because of 2nd, but 1st is a damn fine game all on its own.

Purchasing a game has 3 costs: the $$, the spouse and space. So I’ve decided to take a different route to pick up Fantasy Role Playing Ameritrash games. I’ve decided to use BGG (for something they’re useful for) to trade games. The only cost is shipping and when the box arrives at the house can honestly tell the spouse I traded for the game and space is about the same.

As I mentioned on an earlier post, I’m trading to get Arkham Horror for Princes of Florence. Princes of Florence was collecting dust and I know about 5 people who have copies of the game. Arkham Horror will probably also collect dust because I’ll probably play Uba’s or Malloc’s copy of Arkham Horror. I’d rather let them run the game then me. I’m a pretty lazy game player and I’d rather drink beer and kill stuff while they deal with managing a game like Arkham Horror. I’m basically trading for Arkham Horror so I can understand the game a little better, look at the cards and bits rather than being thrown it the game each time I play it. I also figured there was also a slightly better chance that my copy of Arkham will hit the table than my copy of POF.

The other thing that’s nice about the trade is that you can play Arkham a few times if it’s not your cup of tea, you can trade it to somebody else next year. In the mean time you've had your Arkham experience. The only cost will be shipping.

Looks like I'm late to the thread, but I'd like to add my bit anyway

I'm a big fan of Magic Realm, and I'am always looking for a good game in a similar vein. Even though it's much less complex, Return seems to be that game. I even made a variant so that the scoring is more like Magic Realm (posted on BGG) but the thing is, it's not getting that much play anyway... It's true it has a pick-n-deliver mechanic like Merchant of Venus, but I find myself enjoying Merchant much much more. Still, I'll play it again.

I also have Runebound 1st ed but don't rally enjoy it that much. The race aspect turns me off. Although I agree about the risk-reward mechanic being nice. I don't know, at the end of a Runebound game I feel like everything we did was for nothing... it's anti climatic (especially if you don't get to fight the boss ), Arkham Horror is very good, and I think if the theme was different we'd play it a lot (my gf doesn't like horror). I wish there were more games of this kind where you have to acomplish other tasks in different settings, because the system has a lot of potential...

Last, I wonder why World of Warcraft TBG wasn't mentioned. I know is totally combat oriented, but it seems to have a pretty good development system. Also, the dice mechanics seem interesting. I haven't played it, but I want to try it with the coop variant someday.

-Jorge

Word on the street is that World of Warcraft: The Incredibly Long Name is a pretty shitty affair. Top notch components and all but just not very fun, it turns out. StarCraft: Not The Video Game is a hundred merhillion times better, so I am led to believe. Mind you, if I luck into a half-price WoW:TBGBSJXORNM,* I will buy the hell out of it, but I'm not looking to lay out $50-$60 for some sadness.

*(come on Barnes&Noble--who are you kidding? You're not getting $70 for that big fucker.)

jeb wrote:

Word on the street is that World of Warcraft: The Incredibly Long Name is a pretty shitty affair.

The word on the Street can suck my balls.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

jeb wrote:

Word on the street is that World of Warcraft: The Incredibly Long Name is a pretty shitty affair.

The word on the Street can suck my balls.

All right, then! Compared to Talisman, Prophecy, Descent, Doom, StarCraft, take your pick--where does it fit? Especially Descent--is it better than that? You're dropping some bucks on either one of those, but Descent looks like the way to go.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

jeb wrote:

Word on the street is that World of Warcraft: The Incredibly Long Name is a pretty shitty affair.

The word on the Street can suck my balls.

Frank, maybe you can help me, man...how do you guys handle the endgame? We got mired in the PvP endgame and opinion went south, and fast. Even if we could find a fix the experience was so wretched I'm not sure I can get the guys to try it again.

A shop nearby has a copy, and I often go by and pick it up to gaze lovingly at the minis on the back...but then I remember how badly that game went. And to top that off, apparently they played it once more on the next game day and it went equally badly.

Doesn't anyone have an opinion on the coop variant?

Ken B. wrote:

Frank, maybe you can help me, man...how do you guys handle the endgame? We got mired in the PvP endgame and opinion went south, and fast. Even if we could find a fix the experience was so wretched I'm not sure I can get the guys to try it again.

Just fuck it off, and either use the optional rule that means you just reset the timer or if no one wins the game by turn 30 both teams lose.
Note that Burning Cursade expansion makes reseting the timer an official rule when using the outlands board.
Another thing, many of the expansions have "PVP specific" powers which tend to make PvP a lot more bloody - and thus quicker, affair.

A shop nearby has a copy, and I often go by and pick it up to gaze lovingly at the minis on the back...but then I remember how badly that game went. And to top that off, apparently they played it once more on the next game day and it went equally badly.

They play Marvel Heores right? I find MH just a baby version of WoW, similar game lacking all of the options.

Co-op varient for what Maka?