Co-Op Forgotten Souls Now Available !!!

By any2cards, in Descent: Journeys in the Dark

I ordered this directly from FFG the other day, I can't wait to get my hands on it. While 15 dollars plus 9 shipping did seem a little steep due to what you get material wise, I was more than happy to pay it. The reason for this is simple, for 23 dollars I will get several hours of enjoyment. I could spend the same amount on a couple of movie tickets or something of that nature and might not even like the movie. With this, I get several hours of fun with a great group of friends and it can be enjoyed over and over through replayabilty. For me, it was a no-brainer. Then again, I own everything out for 2nd edition...

For Australians and Europeans the postage cost is higher than the product (if bought through FFG)! ~$35 for Australia. I also own everything for 1st and 2nd editions but somewhere a limit has to be set on what is reasonable value. (I haven't played it yet, I might not enjoy either)

The local shops in Australia charge a lot for the PoD stuff as well, so the benefits of PoD don't seem to translate for international buyers. For instance a small box expansion for Talisman retails for $30, the same as the PoD expansion that was released. It was more on the FFG website. For that you got about 30 cards, for a small box expansion you get well over a 100 cards plus 4-6 miniatures.

I'll probably just have to wait and get it from an American store. I suppose the rule is for international customers you have to pay through the teeth if you want a PoD item on release date. I wish FFG would look into their postage prices

Hopefully someone can help me on this one. I would really love to get my hand on the Forgotton Souls but I checked the FFG store and Funagain and they both have shipping around 30-50 dollars or more which I simply cannot stomach (because you can add 50% of that again on that in taxes to ship to austria)

Does anyone know any other web shops that sell that Print on Demand other than funagain? Maybe I could find one store that has reasonable shipping rates to the EU/Austria

No german shop sell this ? Strange, I would be sure of it.

As far as I see, Funagain shipping costs to EU is 6,50 USD

Wait, so this is not a conversion/expansion?

I would think that it just makes rules for co op, while giving you the ability to use all of your current monsters, tile sets, and hero's with maybe build your own quest as well as new quests specific to the pack?

Can someone explain exactly what this expansion does if it does not enable the above?

Wait, so this is not a conversion/expansion?

I would think that it just makes rules for co op, while giving you the ability to use all of your current monsters, tile sets, and hero's with maybe build your own quest as well as new quests specific to the pack?

Can someone explain exactly what this expansion does if it does not enable the above?

The co-op "expansions" allow you to play the game in a co-operative way, within an active player playing the OL. In essence, the OL role is automated via the use of special rules, cards, mechanics, etc. that come in the expansion.

Wait, so this is not a conversion/expansion?

I would think that it just makes rules for co op, while giving you the ability to use all of your current monsters, tile sets, and hero's with maybe build your own quest as well as new quests specific to the pack?

Can someone explain exactly what this expansion does if it does not enable the above?

The co-op "expansions" allow you to play the game in a co-operative way, within an active player playing the OL. In essence, the OL role is automated via the use of special rules, cards, mechanics, etc. that come in the expansion.

So I could run the Shadowrune Campaign in a totally co op manner? Cause that is what I am looking for.

Edited by Kilazar

Wait, so this is not a conversion/expansion?

I would think that it just makes rules for co op, while giving you the ability to use all of your current monsters, tile sets, and hero's with maybe build your own quest as well as new quests specific to the pack?

Can someone explain exactly what this expansion does if it does not enable the above?

The co-op "expansions" allow you to play the game in a co-operative way, within an active player playing the OL. In essence, the OL role is automated via the use of special rules, cards, mechanics, etc. that come in the expansion.

So I could run the Shadowrune Campaign in a totally co op manner? Cause that is what I am looking for.

No, it's a specific campaign module on its own, it cannot be used with other campaigns.

No, from what I understand this is it's own adventure, it is not an "AI controller" for use in the main game. I'll find out on Friday. :)

They have posted the rules for viewing though, you you can give it a read through if you think you are interested.

I'll probably just have to wait and get it from an American store. I suppose the rule is for international customers you have to pay through the teeth if you want a PoD item on release date. I wish FFG would look into their postage prices

Not much FFG can do about the postage problem, I live in NZ so sux for me too, it's the US postal service that is the problem here.

It never used to be so bad but since the yank currency fell over the shipping has been getting more and more expensive to cover the piss poor exchange rate, well that's how I read it.

It's cheaper for me to get things from the UK to NZ!

My advice is too do a bulk order if you are gonna buy from the FFG site, and sell of the rest via Ebay AU or get some friends interested or ask around the old fashioned way :-P

I'd be curious to know if they've made changes to any cards since the release of the in store Game Night Kit.

I'll probably just have to wait and get it from an American store. I suppose the rule is for international customers you have to pay through the teeth if you want a PoD item on release date. I wish FFG would look into their postage prices

Not much FFG can do about the postage problem, I live in NZ so sux for me too, it's the US postal service that is the problem here.

It never used to be so bad but since the yank currency fell over the shipping has been getting more and more expensive to cover the piss poor exchange rate, well that's how I read it.

It's cheaper for me to get things from the UK to NZ!

My advice is too do a bulk order if you are gonna buy from the FFG site, and sell of the rest via Ebay AU or get some friends interested or ask around the old fashioned way :-P

I'd would understand that if other stores in the US using the postal service were the same price, but they can ship for it $8.95. I have ordered mine as they have hit the U.S stores now, so hopefully its not too long now! ($20US roughly in total)

Like I said before, I was waiting for one of the places with whom I do an enormous amount of business to get it. I have ordered it from CSI for $11.99 with no shipping charges. Far better than $20-$30. :P

Yeah, I found it on eBay for $15 with free shipping, so I ended up getting it. :)

Does anyone else wonder if the quest vault will be updated to accommodate custom made co-op quests?

I feel like it'd be too difficult to incorporate the co-op into the Quest Vault. It's a really cool idea, though... and I hope they put out more support for the co-op stuff.

Just got my copy this morning. I cannot wait to bust it out and play!

Just played 1st time last night. Mixed reviews from players (three of us - all Warhammer Quest Vets.)

We wanted to play this version as it seemed like a nice break from OL vs players style and we like the descent hero class skill system.

All three of us agree that this is definitely a "demo version" of the game to be played once at Gen-Con.

This is by no means a co-op version of the full game, but rather a one off adventure that seems to have limited re-playability.

I say this as a warning for those of you who are on the fence about dropping the $50+ to get it over seas.

Take a look at the back of the rule book ( http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/descent-second-ed/news/co-op-descent/forgotten-souls/uGDJ04_CO-OP_Rules.pdf ) the last couple pages are the encounters. Each one is scripted with limited variability from the peril cards, you'd essentially run the same dungeon (with rooms in different order) over and over. This module only uses 4 monsters (barghests, zombies, flesh moulders, and shadow dragons) with the same set up in each of the encounters. As there are only 8 encounter (or dungeon room cards), 3 main encounter cards, and a starting card games became very repetitive. Monster activation cards are neat as it give some variability as to how the monsters act, but it would have been better to have monster cards with different monsters and perhaps add in some lieutenants as well- with all the treasure we had, the finial room was breezy!

To conclude:

What forgotten souls is:

A way to introduce Descent to new players with no worry about OL.

A nice one off adventure to be played co-op once.

What Forgotten Souls is not:

An entirely new way to play Descent co-op.

Forgotten Souls does not give players the ability to play quests in quest book co-op.

Just played 1st time last night. Mixed reviews from players (three of us - all Warhammer Quest Vets.)

We wanted to play this version as it seemed like a nice break from OL vs players style and we like the descent hero class skill system.

All three of us agree that this is definitely a "demo version" of the game to be played once at Gen-Con.

This is by no means a co-op version of the full game, but rather a one off adventure that seems to have limited re-playability.

I say this as a warning for those of you who are on the fence about dropping the $50+ to get it over seas.

Take a look at the back of the rule book ( http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/descent-second-ed/news/co-op-descent/forgotten-souls/uGDJ04_CO-OP_Rules.pdf ) the last couple pages are the encounters. Each one is scripted with limited variability from the peril cards, you'd essentially run the same dungeon (with rooms in different order) over and over. This module only uses 4 monsters (barghests, zombies, flesh moulders, and shadow dragons) with the same set up in each of the encounters. As there are only 8 encounter (or dungeon room cards), 3 main encounter cards, and a starting card games became very repetitive. Monster activation cards are neat as it give some variability as to how the monsters act, but it would have been better to have monster cards with different monsters and perhaps add in some lieutenants as well- with all the treasure we had, the finial room was breezy!

To conclude:

What forgotten souls is:

A way to introduce Descent to new players with no worry about OL.

A nice one off adventure to be played co-op once.

What Forgotten Souls is not:

An entirely new way to play Descent co-op.

Forgotten Souls does not give players the ability to play quests in quest book co-op.

I hope that they will release more co-op expansions (maybe with real campaigns) in the future. Forgotten Souls is a very good start and a solid basement to build something great on it. I don't think that FF should eliminate the OL at all, but they shall consider the idea of making both classic expansions and full co-op expansions.

Sometimes is fine for us playing with an Over Lord in the game... But not always, and after having tasted the possibility of playing all together vs the game in such a great gaming system... Well, we want more of it :D

I would love to buy this, but its 14$ for the coop expansion... and 21$ for shipping to the EU and then the EU will add another 20% in taxes and probably another 30-50% in fees :(

Not going to pay 50$ for this, its too bad this will never get to europe since its a print on demand.

You could always see if anyone in your area is heading to Gen Con and willing to sacrifice a little luggage space for you.

Like I said before, I was waiting for one of the places with whom I do an enormous amount of business to get it. I have ordered it from CSI for $11.99 with no shipping charges. Far better than $20-$30. :P

I'm not familiar with this CSI you speak of. Have a link?

I would love to buy this, but its 14$ for the coop expansion... and 21$ for shipping to the EU and then the EU will add another 20% in taxes and probably another 30-50% in fees :(

Not going to pay 50$ for this, its too bad this will never get to europe since its a print on demand.

You could always see if anyone in your area is heading to Gen Con and willing to sacrifice a little luggage space for you.

Like I said before, I was waiting for one of the places with whom I do an enormous amount of business to get it. I have ordered it from CSI for $11.99 with no shipping charges. Far better than $20-$30. :P

I'm not familiar with this CSI you speak of. Have a link?

CSI = CoolStuffInc ==> http://www.coolstuffinc.com/

EDIT: Note that it is especially a good deal for me as I do not pay any shipping charges due to the amount of business I do with them. In addition, as you purchases stuff from them, you earn discounts (percentages off).

EDIT #2: Just noticed that this product changed from available to pre-order. My guess is that CSI does not have it yet. Oh well ... more waiting.

Edited by any2cards

Ordered mine today, maybe they will make all of the game night kits where they can intertwine. That way it you can add a lot of variety.

Just played through it. We won without a single death in our team, but there were a couple of close calls and some really good luck with loot. I feel like it depends a fair amount on the luck involved with the room ordering. We hit act 2 and immediately ran into the trash heap with 2 shadow dragons, and got immensely lucky the master dragon missed on his first attack (would have hit us all for around 10 damage with fire breath if the blue die hadn't been an X).

It feels like the entire thing is about optimizing your actions and doing things as quickly as possible, so we went with a group based on stamina regen. Had Augur Grissom as the bard, High Mage Quellen as the Runemaster (MVP, he kept Tharn immobilized the entire last room and blew everything up), Grisben the Thirsty as the Knight (Advance so good), and Logan Lashley as the Treasure Hunter.

I feel like it'd be too difficult to incorporate the co-op into the Quest Vault. It's a really cool idea, though... and I hope they put out more support for the co-op stuff.

I agree I can't really see how they can easily implement all of the activation, peril, and exploration cards in the online editor without it being clunky. But it would be fun to have fan made co-op quests if nothing else to get the format from being just a demo to something more.

I played through it today, and was thoroughly impressed! This is largely because I never get to play Descent normally because my friends aren't big fans. I really enjoyed finally bringing it to the table, but like a lot of people have said, I don't really foresee playing this an awful lot. If FFG can publish a whole expansion dedicated to co-op/solo mode, then I'd be all over it. At 32 cards per quest (if this one is anything to go by), maybe bundling a few of them together would be a way to go for full-on release?

Of course, it would be nice if they could find some way to integrate more of the "normal" Descent experience into co-op mode, such as the lieutenants and such. But I thought the overlord phase here, as executed through the exploration and peril cards, was a nice way of going about it.

We'll see what the future holds I guess. Looking forward to Nature's Ire, if nothing else!