Hi All,
I wondered if anyone could confirm whether the inventory of parts in the rulebook is correct (since I know that is the sort of thing that often gets messed up, what with last-minute changes and all...)
I just bought a new copy of the 2nd edition base set, and - at least according to the inventory in the rulebook - seem to be missing quite a few figures. I have 38 tan monsters, 17 red ones, and 11 grey ones (heroes?)
There should be 8 heroes, and if you want to double-check the monsters, look at the 4-Player monster numbers on the back of each monster card that came with the Core box. That number should be the amount of each monster in the box.
Thats odd. If your numbers are correct you actually have WAY more figures than whats normally in the base box. cleardave has the right idea though. Check your hero cards and match figures to them (there should only be 8) and check the monsters against the 4-player limit thats printed on the monster cards.
Also check if any figures are duplicates. If anything is missing though, let FFG know and I'm sure they'll help you out. That seems like a really weird spread of figures, especially the 11 grey figures. I'm actually interested to know what they are.
Also maybe you are comparing to the online rulebook of first edition? Or perhaps you picked up a first edition box? Here is the link to the current rule book for second edition:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/descent-second-ed/support/DJ01_Rulebook_ENG.pdf
8 heroes? That's odd; I have 11, and my rulebook says I should have 20. I made a vague attempt at matching the figures up with the cards, and it looks like I have figures for:
Bogran the Shadow
One Fist
Lyssa
Red Scorpion
Mad Carthos
Mordrog
Sir Valadir
Silhouette
Runewitch Astarra
Andira Runehand
Spiritspeaker Mok
But am missing figures for:
Steelhorns
Landrec the Wise
Trenloe the Strong
Varikas the Dead
Vyrah the Falconer
Ronan of the Wild
Ispher
Battlemage Jaes
Grey Ker
And my monster cards don't seem to have a number of models on them anywhere, unless I'm missing it. Do I not have the second edition after all? I tried checking online before I bought it, and thought the box looked right for 2nd, but was using a tiny mobile screen...
Oh. That is definitely not the rulebook I'm looking at, and closer inspection puts the copyright date on the rulebook at 2006. I think I have the first ed. Were there flaws in 1st ed I should know about? Or am I better off just returning this and finding the current version?
Descent 1st Edition is a far different game than Descent 2nd Edition.
2nd Edition is not just a revised version of 1st Edition. It is a completely different game.
Yea from what it looks liek you've got first edition, the rulebook being here shows 20 heroes:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/descent/descentrules.pdf
If that's the case, then you may indeed have an incomplete box. Any2cards is also correct in that first and second edition are entirely different games. In fact if you are interested in a more strategic "versus" fantasy game, you might even think about returning your incomplete first edition box to the store you got it (if possible, I understand this can be difficult) and grab the second edition instead.
Oh. That is definitely not the rulebook I'm looking at, and closer inspection puts the copyright date on the rulebook at 2006. I think I have the first ed. Were there flaws in 1st ed I should know about? Or am I better off just returning this and finding the current version?
Having played both, I'd say D1E and D2E are both flawed in about the same degree, but for different reasons. =P
Nothing that makes it unplayable, mind you. D1E and D2E are certainly different, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. I'd recommend keeping it for the time being, at least. Play it a couple times and see what you think; assuming of course that you actually have all the components you need. You can always resell on eBay later if you decide it's not for you.
I would say the biggest flaw, which is true in both editions of the game, is that it appears like a "D&D Lite" adventure game when it's actually a very intense tactical combat grinder. A lot of people buy into Descent as a replacement for D&D and are somewhat surprised at what they find. Like I said, that's true of both editions, though.
D1E takes longer to play since there are more bits to set up and the maps are generally bigger than D2E. But the biggest limitation you're probably going to come across is that it's OOP. Expansions will be harder to find, rules questions may take longer to be answered in online forums. That sort of thing.
For what it's worth, I, and my team of heroes, actually enjoy D1e far more than D2e. But, as can be seen on this forum, that tends to be a personal choice. There are many who feel the opposite.
For that reason, and assuming you can get the game replaced/made whole, I also would keep D1e and play it. You may find that you enjoy the game.
I own both, and while I like D1e more than D2e, we play both, and have fun doing so.
Thans for the advice folks.
I don't think I'm likely to get the missing pieces replaced - it was the only copy the shop had in stock - but I might well get them to give me $20 back. If that happens I'll probably keep it and give it a try. I've also worked out that there is some sort of conversion kit available, so I might have a poke round and see if I can find a copy. (The missing hero figures aren't liable to stop us playing it - like many gamer geeks, I've got more minis floating around the house than you could shake a metric stick at...)
The conversion kit is for 2nd ed and allows you to use your monsters and heroes in games of 2nd ed.
Good news is that if you buy 2nd ed and the conversion kit you will solve one of my biggest complaints with the base set which is lack of variety for the overlord monster picks (hint, giants are really really good) without having to buy any of the 2nd ed expansions.
The conversion kit is for 2nd ed and allows you to use your monsters and heroes in games of 2nd ed.
Good news is that if you buy 2nd ed and the conversion kit you will solve one of my biggest complaints with the base set which is lack of variety for the overlord monster picks (hint, giants are really really good) without having to buy any of the 2nd ed expansions.
The conversion kit should be pretty easy to find (amazon, etc) especially if you're in the US.
Thans for the advice folks.
I don't think I'm likely to get the missing pieces replaced - it was the only copy the shop had in stock - but I might well get them to give me $20 back. If that happens I'll probably keep it and give it a try. I've also worked out that there is some sort of conversion kit available, so I might have a poke round and see if I can find a copy. (The missing hero figures aren't liable to stop us playing it - like many gamer geeks, I've got more minis floating around the house than you could shake a metric stick at...)
At least you are one step ahead of many gamers who hate to play with proxies (never did understand that position)
Make darn sure, however, that you got all of the cards and map pieces for the game. It will make it much harder to play and enjoy if you don't. If for any reason you doubt what you have, let me know and we can compare ...
Appreciate the offer, but assuming the list in the rulebook is reasonably accurate, the only things missing are 5 out of 60 monster miniatures and 9 of 20 heroes. And considering the shop apologised and offered me half my money back, I'm counting that as a win and keeping it.
I suppose if you knew the correct numbers of the different sorts of monsters it might be interesting to know which 5 I'm missing...
Actually, it is important to know what monsters there are (the number of them), as an important rule in the game is that you cannot exceed the number of monsters included within the game when spawning, etc. There were a couple of quests (not sure if they were in the base game) where there were exceptions.
Here is a list of all of the D1e monster counts:
39 Tan (Normal) Monsters
6 Tan Beastman
4 Tan Razorwings
2 Tan Ogres
1 Tan Giant
6 Tan Skeletons
4 Tan Hellhounds
2 Tan Manticores
1 Tan Dragon
6 Tan Bane Spiders
4 Tan Sorcerers
2 Tan Nagas
1 Tan Demon
21 Red (Master) Monsters
3 Red Beastman
2 Red Razorwings
1 Red Ogre
1 Red Giant
3 Red Skeletons
2 Red Hellhounds
1 Red Manticore
1 Red Dragon
3 Red Bane Spiders
2 Red Sorcerers
1 Red Naga
1 Red Demon
You are a dude. If anyone was curious - and no, I can't think of why you'd care either - I'm missing:
1 tan Hell Hound
2 red Skeletons
1 red Hell Hound
1 red Bane Spider
Got to have the Red Skeletons ... Master Skeletons are UNDYING !!!
I don't think I'm likely to get the missing pieces replaced - it was the only copy the shop had in stock
I'm sure you wouldn't be able to get replacements from your FLGS, but you might yet be able to get replacements from FFG, if you send an email to their customer service department. They're pretty good about that sort of thing.
Of course, the game having been OOP for a few years now, they might be out of stock on replacement bits, too. It doesn't hurt to ask, though.
Failing that, there's also the Hero & Monster collections FFG is putting out for D2E. So far, they're all re-sculpts of heroes and monsters from D1E, so you could use those to supplement your missing figs. There won't be enough of the new monster sculpts to fill the entire D1E quota, but combining old with new, you should be able to get what you need.