Just purchased all of the 2nd edition products and played a handful of scenarios. I avoided 2nd edition for months as Im a BIG fan of 1st edition and couldn't imagine giving up the epic sprawl and scope of that collection.

Im impressed to a point with some of the 2nd edition mechanics but find the "wow factor" missing. It just doesn't seem to measure up somehow. Smaller scenarios, limited options etc. Sure, its only gearing up but it just seems like Descent:Lite somehow.

Anyone else get this feeling? I really want to like this new game and support it but I find myself tempted to box it back up and pull out Road to Legend for the real deal.

Sorry, but I think the opposite on all your feelings.

I think that D2 is what D1 always should be at start, and I thrown my only D1 away without any doubt (I only kept minis)

So, can't be of some help I think

Yes. The single session delving epicness of 1E is missing in favor of a faster paced tactical skirmish campaign. 2E has its merits and it is less cumbersome than 1E, but you are correct that the feeling is different.

I really like many of the changes in 2E to combat, the class system, and I understand the design choices in and enjoy the campaign, but I also really like a true delve. (Incoming shameless self-promotion) So, instead of trying to decide which to play, or getting rid of one or the other, I have created a set of Legendary Play Variant Rules , which bring back some of the delving epicness of 1E, but use the core rules of 2E, and even allow for the playing of all 1E quests.

Give them a try and see what you think.

Thanks for the link, Ill look them over. Ill admit Im a bit frustrated as playing 2nd edition is a bit underwhelming but Id like to make use of the new material. A merge of some kind would be great.

If you were unsure about D2, why did you buy all the products instead of just the base game first, then more if you liked it?
Something tells me if you're that much of a fan that you can buy expansions on blind faith, you'll still enjoy yourself.

2nd edition is good. Just get a good group and build off of it. There is a bunch of good stuff in 2nd edition.

I find with games like this that buying then experiencing only the core game can be misleading. Take Descent 1 for example. I was mildly impressed with it but once I had all the expansions and campaign games.. wow - it was a whole new experience. I wanted to give D2 the same chance, so I went for broke and got them all. Working my way through them now but I have to admit its not having the same effect.

The scenarios, although well designed and interesting tactically, lack scope and feel, well chinsy and simple. Even the layout on the table doesn't command that "wow" factor the original did.

Im patient though and hoping it will grow on me with a bit more play.

While I agree that the expansions to D1E improved the game experience, I also feel like the core box by itself presented enough of the game to fully evaluate if I would like it or not. Nothing from the expansions would have made me like it if I had originally disliked it. (Well, maybe Road to Legend... but it was a non-issue anyway.)

D2E has been the same. The expansions definitely make things better, but the core experience doesn't change.

Then again, this is how I feel about all games, really. I can't think of a single exception off the top of my head. So maybe that's just my perspective. Expansions are not (to me) a second chance to sell the core game. They're enhancements for those who are already sold.

I can think of a few games which had some serious flaws that turned me off them, but were later fixed by an expansion. Starcraft the board game, for example, was seriously unbalanced and unfair in favor of Protoss, until they released the Brood War expansion for the board game. It wasn't any fun playing because, well, it wasn't even close and there was really no way for Protoss to lose unless the player royally screwed up.

Diablo 3 (not a board game, but still a good example) is a game that is all about adventuring to collect loot. The original game was thoroughly broken in this aspect, because of the presence of the AH and a variety of other mechanics. The expansion was a MASSIVE improvement and actually made me like the game.