I'm just sad we'll never get an Eliza miniature with that amazing bow.

Never say never !

That bow looks like Trueshot, or Scorpion's Kiss if you prefer. This probably hints to the Farrows being equipped with Relics from the base game. Alric obviously wields the Shield of Zorek's Favour... and the Duskblade? Can a Lieutenant wield 2 Relics at the same time now?

This is an interesting way to expand Descent 2nd Edition. All of the expansion material could be introduced, except tiles. If the quality of design and playtesting is superior to the base set campaign, then it's surely no wasted money from our side or fruitless development effort from FFG.

No reason that the campaign cant give trump rules that LT's can have multiple relics. Would certainly give them a power boost.

No reason that the campaign cant give trump rules that LT's can have multiple relics. Would certainly give them a power boost.

It's as simple as a line of text in the "special rules" section of each quest. I wrote a mini-campaign awhile back that involved the Farrows. The Finale ended up with them passing potentially 4 relics between them during the quest. There could also be a rule listed at the beginning of the campaign book modifying that rule.

PS. Has anyone noticed that Runebound forum deos not existe any more, it's gone. Does this mean it will not come back or be republished in a new edition? HMm make me wonder maybe FFG will slow down with Descent 2e, then repleace it with a new Runebound and then end the D2e. Just a thought.

While Runebound is no longer an active forum, it is not quite gone. It can be found in the Archives. Here is a link to the archives; once there, scroll down to Runebound.

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/forum/167-forum-archive/

I think this campaign book is exactly what Descent needed. Up to now all we had was three long campaigns and three mini campaigns. The replayability for each campaign is great, but the encounter maps start to get old once you´ve run the same campaign a few times already, even if the rest is entirely different (heroes, overlord cards etc.).

I´m looking for quests with interesting win conditions and exciting mechanisms. Like some other people here pointed out, I wish FFG released official quests mixing the different tiles together from the various expansions, though.

I also like the format of the campaign, e.g. a book. It's so much nicer than a printed PDF. My only regret is that it would have been awesome if the book came with one or two new tiles. Whatever, a throne room, a big tile with a big tree inside etc. It would have given the campaign a unique flavour, instead of just re-using the stuff we already know about.

Like some other people here pointed out, I wish FFG released official quests mixing the different tiles together from the various expansions, though.

I also like the format of the campaign, e.g. a book. It's so much nicer than a printed PDF. My only regret is that it would have been awesome if the book came with one or two new tiles. Whatever, a throne room, a big tile with a big tree inside etc. It would have given the campaign a unique flavour, instead of just re-using the stuff we already know about.

It's still possible for FFG to release new books for one expansion at a time (that is, a campaign featuring Lair of the Wyrm monsters/ tiles, Nerekhall, etc.) Each of these could have its own flavor, while Heirs of the Blood will have a Shadow Rune flavor. As I've said before, mixing multiple expansion maps together can be done very easily in the quest vault. I'm satisfied with that option, and leaving the "official" maps conforming to FFG's policies about expansion inclusion.

Many people within this thread (for whom I have much respect as regular, informative posters), have repeatedly stated that the reason FFG has created a campaign expansion book which only utilizes the base game, is to avoid alienating their customers. This premise operates on the belief that those that only bought the original base game should be able to play any future expansion with just the base game.

While I can understand the desire to market to the least common denominator, I contend that FFG is potentially alienating their biggest customers .. i.e. those that have made the greatest commitment to the game ... both in terms of raw numbers, and in dollars invested in the game and all of its expansions .

While I do not see any problem in producing an expansion book as they have (nor future ones that focus on other individual expansions), I also see no reason why they couldn't produce one that does utilize multiple expansions.

To state that there is a quest vault, and that should suffice for those that want such an option, is somewhat disingenuous. If you have spent any time reviewing the quests found within the vault, then you should know that there is a wide disparity to the quality contained within, and the actual "play-ability" of some of those quests is virtually non-existent.

At any rate, as I stated before, I will be purchasing this expansion. I simply hope that there are future ones that do indeed make use of multiple expansions, as I believe the flavor that can be created with an almost infinite combination of tiles based on all of the expansions would be a very exciting option.

Just my two cents worth ...

a2c i agree completely with you that most descent players have probably bought more than the base game that and represents a wider pool of the gaming group and i would love to see more campaign books that mix and match expansions i would only hold it against them with the campaign books if they never dabbled with the idea and just made you re-use the core set.

For the first foray into this style with 2ED i think its only sensible to gauge the reception with a base game only book.

I agree wholeheartedly with the comments on the quest vault, while there are some fully polished and finished articles there are some that are not, no disrespect to any contributor as i lack the will, and almost certainly the ability to create my own quests/campaigns. At the end of the day FFG are a games company, it is actually their job to create content for us to play and its held to a high standard because they are game designers.

If they wish to deliver me good content in this format im happy to consume it!

@Underworld40k ...

Yes, I wanted to be very careful when I leveled any criticism to the quests in the quest vault. To be clear ... I have absolutely no creative talent what-so-ever. Anyone who has placed quests within the vault, no matter how polished or not, are way beyond my ability ... at least to create.

When it comes to playing them, however, I do feel I have the right and the ability to be appropriately critical.

So, the more I look at Heirs of Blood the more I like the idea. We have so many tiles now, monsters and Heroes that there is no need to have too mucdh more. If You do not have a good organised boxes the set-up for each map takes a little longer. Besides nothing stands in Your way to use rumours in this campain so You can use all expansions with it. The fact that it uses only Core Set is not so bad. I'm optimistic about it and in the annoucement they say it's the first campain book so maybe more will come.

At this point Descent 2e is a huge game so maybe it's time to slow down the line. In 1e we had only one book with quests and after it and Sea of Blood the game ended. I hope it's not a sign of ending the line but of change. That FFG will be now pushing other titles forward and give them more attention and Descent will still be developt but slower. Of course every game at some point is closed but I tgink it's not yeat time for 2e, especialy before one more small box with 2 heroes (Mage and Healer class).

cheers

PS. Has anyone noticed that Runebound forum deos not existe any more, it's gone. Does this mean it will not come back or be republished in a new edition? HMm make me wonder maybe FFG will slow down with Descent 2e, then repleace it with a new Runebound and then end the D2e. Just a thought.

100% agree. I'd just like to see the rest of the monster/hero packs come out and then focus on campaigns. And I agree, that everything can be incorporated into base-game-focused campaign books except the extra tiles. If new campaigns can incorporate all the tile sets then they'd be perfect.

i'm very excited about the new expansion.

Yeah big box expansion would be better. new heros and new monsters are always welcome. That's what the hero and monster sets.

Still base games and existing big box expansions have a lot more potential for more fun quests.

hopefully this costs little less than big box expansions and later FFG releases more expansion like this for SoN and LR.

"In this campaign, every decision matters and every victory or defeat has dramatic consequences for the futures of Saradyn"

That line from the announcement has me curious about the content of the book. Are there going to more than two encounters for each quest or will there be branched encounters? As the release date gets closer, I'm hoping to see a preview that contain not a complete preview of a quest but enough to reveal what they have planned for series going forward.

In the future, I hope if they do more of thoses books that thoses will come with some little things with.

For example, some new tiles, because using the tiles of the base game only will end into something a bit redondant and since this type of expansions uses only the base game, imagine :

books, heroes and monsters boxes, base game. With only 50 tiles, all ideas are going to be used.

FFG is sadly bound to a rule that expansions may never base on another expansions;

That is not true at all. Lord of the Rings LCG has all the adventure packs (little expansions) that need the relative deluxe (big box expansion) in order to be played.

Both need the core game too, of course.

So if they published such a book, I wouldnt be surprised; that just would make sense, and I really dont know why they dont.

They just refuse to understand that so far - for most of the people - all of these are "Living boardgames", exactly like their LCG card games are.

The closest thing FFG have done to a living board game was runebound, with 24 packs of cards that enhance the game. Descent is not a living board game, there is no commitment from FFG for regular releases which will all work together.

If you have all the expansions,

and a conversion kit,

you have a crapload of heroes and monsters. You have a crapload of tiles. There is more than enough to go around.

You don't need "more" to create "more".

Someone else can do the math, but the amount of variation that can come from that amount of variables is ridiculous. Especially when you can have A BOOK FILLED WITH TEXT THAT CAN ALTER BASICALLY ANY OF THESE.

I think this announcement is excellent.

GJ FFG.

I expect this to be cheap though.

If you have all the expansions,

and a conversion kit,

you have a crapload of heroes and monsters. You have a crapload of tiles. There is more than enough to go around.

You don't need "more" to create "more".

Someone else can do the math, but the amount of variation that can come from that amount of variables is ridiculous. Especially when you can have A BOOK FILLED WITH TEXT THAT CAN ALTER BASICALLY ANY OF THESE.

I think this announcement is excellent.

GJ FFG.

I expect this to be cheap though.

Yep. There are upwards of 200 hero/class combinations in total- that number goes higher if you consider the conversion kit (if we assume it's exactly 200, that's more than a billion distinct 4-hero parties, by the way- good luck trying out all of those.)

There are also about as many monster groups in the second edition alone as there were in the first edition, not counting lieutenants or agents (or hero and monster packs.) The CK doubles this number, whereas about half of those are included in hero and monster packs.

However, for all of this, there are 3 full-length campaigns, plus 3 mini campaigns, and a few other Rumor quests. I understand the desire for quests that make use of more of the 70-something map tiles we have (rather than just the first 30,) but I would agree that more story- a larger world in which to use this huge list of characters- is the right move.

Like I said - at this point there a ton of stuff for D2e. Many, many monsters & heroes, Plus over 70 map tiles. So this campain is looking good becouse it will give us new quests without adding more stuff that we would not use every game. Do we need more map tiles? I doubt it. More heroes? We already have so many options to choose that when staring a new campain the time for players to choose who they will play takes 30 - 60 min when they want to read everything. Especialy when they are looking for the most powerfull combination of heroe + class.

At this point we only need one more small box expansion that will bring the new mage and healer + Guardians of Nerekhall. And after it only quests and campains.

cheers

PS. The more I look at SW:IA the more I think it'a abetter and more balanced game then D2e. And it has already 2 play modes in one core set. So maybe the future of D2e is in changing the game to more Warhammer Quest style dungeon exploration. Becouse it could be pushed back by SW:IA.

FFG is sadly bound to a rule that expansions may never base on another expansions;

That is not true at all. Lord of the Rings LCG has all the adventure packs (little expansions) that need the relative deluxe (big box expansion) in order to be played.

It's true that they can break this rule, quite easily, if they so choose. They have even done so on occasion in the past, as you point out. However, most of the time they still adhere to this rule as part of their design philosophy. For better or for worse.

I can understand people being upset about new material only using the base game, but they really shouldn't be surprised. Anyone who knows FFG should know that this is how they usually operate.

I would be very pleased if we could get some of our more talented creators here to produce a campaign of high quality using the quest maker tool. I would love to do so myself, but currently lack the time. I write articles for Team Liquid Strategy and that eats up a good amount of my free time these days.

FFG is sadly bound to a rule that expansions may never base on another expansions;

That is not true at all. Lord of the Rings LCG has all the adventure packs (little expansions) that need the relative deluxe (big box expansion) in order to be played.

Both need the core game too, of course.

So if they published such a book, I wouldnt be surprised; that just would make sense, and I really dont know why they dont.

They just refuse to understand that so far - for most of the people - all of these are "Living boardgames", exactly like their LCG card games are.

Talisman has also released content which depends on other expansions - I believe they realized a large portion of the buyers were fans who buy every expansion of the game as opposed to the base game and one or two expansions. I believe Descent has a similar player base.

I am looking forward to this expansion! Needing just the base game is a great selling point (I have all expansions). I hope this will be a truly great vamp hunting party epic adventure we can play while we wait for our two weeks of summer. I also like that it is more or less a mini story line of different parts of Terrinoth. When are we getting a RPG with its own zoological dangers to incorporate into our adventures.

I will definitely be buying this!

so now that most has been said about this expansion book,

when do you guys think it will come out?

I have been wanting a plastic less campaign for awhile now (gives me a break from painting) but I was hoping it would include classes, items, relics and tiles. Either way this might also be a good opening for them to print classes or items as stand alone packs too.

Too many more classes and they are just going to get stupid. Some kind of are already. A few more would be nice but too many more will be too much.