Only a few quests in so far, but this one seems blatant. Maybe I'm missing something- but I don't see any Sorcerors in "Blood Feud" for the "The Necromancers" rule to apply to, let alone any in area 1, where the rule is listed. Additionally, is the "Spawning" rule supposed to apply to the entire quest or just area 1, where it appears to be (incorrectly) listed. Obviously it could apply to just area 1, but with the way the map is set up, it looks like it's supposed to apply to the entire quest.

I'll add more errors/questions as I run across them and I might submit them officially eventually, but for now I just thought I'd let them accumulate here.

Two more:

By a Brother Betrayed: Specifically mentions that the two Master Bane Spiders can be replaced if they both are on the board at the same time (despite the fact that there are three master Bane Spiders in the game. However, the quest only contains one master and one regular bane spider. My assumption is the second bane spider is actually a master, but this is definitely pretty sad at this point (the editing).

Breaching the cube: I could go on about the map for how the tesseract is really really poorly done and people are probably not going to understand it without more explanation, but the real issue is the text for cubes 2-5:

"You may spawn non-master versions of the placed monsters in each of these cubes... " then it completely fails to mention HOW we spawn these monsters, which is really weird, because that means we can only spawn them through normal means, which we already could... Seems like something is missing here.

pinkymadigan said:

I haven't seen the Quest Compendium, but perhaps it means that you can replace the masters with non-masters when the area is revealed--to deal with figure limits, for example?

Antistone said:

That is what it is saying, but there is only one Master Bane on the map, and it says "If both Master Bane Spiders on the map appear at the same time use a normal Bane Spider figure to represent the second Master. This second Bane Spider still uses the Master stats,"

Last one for the evening: Siege of Tamalir: The area enumerations are clearly incorrect. Area 1 talks about 2x1 pits and kobolds next to rubble, (which is clearly in area 2), area 2 talks about 2x1 pits (of which there are more in area 3, so I guess it means that).

This is the first Descent product I've got on the initial run. Clearly there is a reason to wait for the second printing. I've caught 4 major errors on initial reads, just trying to get a feel for things, while distracted (watching TV all night while reading, but I double checked most of these things and didn't find the answers anywhere throughout the quest - doesn't seem like I'm missing anything). It just seems really sad that they clearly have good ideas but crap for execution, editing, and revision skills.

On the plus side, the quests look fun, Siege of Tamalir uses a mechanic my group had used for persistent parties in non-RtL play (each hero keeps one treasure and the OL may keep one card in play), and I think after a rewrite this will be a must-have for most. But it's pretty error-ridden.

I don't have the quest compendium, but isn't it possible that some master bane spiders get summoned, Therefor reducing the number available?

Burnhamalive said:

Yes, but you're missing the important part:

"If both Master Bane Spiders on the map appear at the same time.. " and there is only ONE on the map. That is the error. Not the text, the map.

Plus, they only put that text in when the number on the map exceeds the number available in the box. Which 1, nor 2 MBSs do. The box has 3.

But that really isn't the error. The map only having one and the text saying " both" is the error.

I've submitted these. I'll post if I get a reply.

Hey,

Here's a pretty big one worth knowing (potentially, for some people).

The last quest, Throne of the Sky Giant, is listed as using RtL. However, this quest makes use of WoD, so the numbers floating are off by one for both RtL and WoD (this quest does NOT use RtL components, meaning only KW's quest makes use of any RtL components).

Addendum:

Throne of the Sky Giant requires two extra plain 4x4 rooms that do not exist, even if players have ALL the expansions. I'm sure you could sub the lava room and pit room from RtL, making this quest require RtL AND WoD, but they aren't used on the map and the spaces on the board would have no effect. I'm sure the designer was just looking at number of tiles available from each shape, but that is a pretty sad oversight. It means this quest was not tested by users with access to standard sets, at the very least.

Additionally, "Mercy!!!" can be accomplished without ToI, unless I'm missing something. It appears to be a standard JitD map, no rules requiring different potions/cards/figures or anything of the sort. This brings the final requirements to this, near as I can tell:

A Deathly Problem: JitD

Blood Arena of Dawnsmoor: JitD, ToI

Blood Feud: JitD

Broken Bridge: JitD, WoD, AoD

By a Brother Betrayed: JitD

Chaos Cube:JitD

Claustrophobia: JitD

Demonic Possession: JitD

The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre: JitD

Into the Dark, Again: JitD, WoD (I don't know if WoD is necessary here, but the token count is high so maybe, but all pieces are from standard JitD)

Mercy!!!: JitD

Pinball Wizard: JitD, WoD

Schism: JitD, ToI

Shadows Hide the Truth: JitD, AoD

Siege of Tamalir: all expansions

Throne of the Sky Giant: Unplayable without substitution of tiles from RtL or second JitD set, also requires WoD

Count:

8 quests require base set only

2 require ToI + base

1, possibly 2 require WoD + base

1 requires AoD+ base

1 requires AoD, WoD + base

1 requires all expansions + base

1 requires WoD + base plus some form of substitution involving either a second base or RtL

As buggy as the Quest Compendium sounds, I think I'll avoid it until there is a second printing.

We played A Deathly Problem (the first quest) last night. I played as a hero, and still haven't read the full text of the quest. We got thumped hard, never even making it out of the first area. We made very few mistakes, and I do have to wonder if the quest is just overly hard. It's designed so that the OL pretty much never has to worry about running out of spawn areas.

That said, I would expect these quests to fall in the hard category, since they are all supplemental anyway.

Sounds like some bad errors. Would the common assumption be that when suppliers get a new shipment of these, it would be a revised copy?

-mike

poobaloo said:

I wouldn't hold our collective breaths.... we still haven't gotten a revised rule book for the base game

Oboewan said:

Actually they did correct a lot of errors/missing parts in the last printing of JitD. While not perfect it is somewhat revised at least.

Nitewolf said:

And where can a loyal fan of the game such as I who has the original edition go to get the updated version without having to buy JITD all over again? Not like I can use the online pdf

Oboewan said:

I'm just saying they do fix some of their errors. it's not like they totally ignore it.

pinkymadigan,

I picked up my copy of the compendium yesterday at my game store (which is odd considering its still listed as shipping) And I went through and looked at the things you mentioned. I havent gone through the whole thing with a fine tooth comb yet but what you have discovered is all true. I cant explain any of the errors or even begin to wonder how to fix them. I am curious what reply you get back from FFG in regards to the mistakes. Be sure to post your results, or send me a personal message.

One more thing...did you find that in your book, that some of the maps are a little tilted/rotated? I was a little sad when i found that, I would have expected better quality from FFG.

I just found a minor error. In the quest "The Broken Bridge" it lists the contents for a gold chest, yet I did not see any on the map guide. I am pretty sure I did not miss anything. If you notice this too, please let me know

Yeah, the maps and titles of quests are slightly skewed. It looks intentional, since the borders and text are straight. I think it was a poor artistic choice, but not a quality issue.

There are other things that were obviously changed between flavor text and maps as well, but they didn't really seem important, so I didn't list them. I forget which quest, but one quest in particular has the last two rooms all kinds of backwards (listing a troll in a room for flavor, but having an ogre on the map; listing an ogre in the next room, but having a golem or something similar).

As for an answer, I hope they eventually provide one, but it has been several weeks now, and I am a little disheartened by their lack of response (though to be fair, if they are just backed up on questions since the con I completely understand).

I picked the compendium up at GenCon, but didn't really go through it until today. It's really upsetting to see such a sloppily-handled product. FFG has always been atrocious when it comes to rule books and editing, but this really takes it to a whole new level. The tilted maps are not appreciated, either. If a fully-corrected replacement is not offered free of charge, I will certainly not be paying for volume 2 or any other supplement.

The tilting was intentional. I'm guessing they labored over that decision for a while.... too bad they chose unwisely.

I actually just cancelled my order at Amazon. If FFG responds to the concerns about errors that everyone has brought up, I may reconsider ordering it. For now, though, I'll save my $23 for something else.

I played three quests this weekend. We had to read through a couple to find ones that didn't have fatal errors such as a totally missing description of the final room in one of them. All three had buggy ambiguities that could easily get picked up in even cursory proofreading and playtesting. Was anyone in charge of this project? It almost seems like people who mostly don't write the quests for Descent were asked to throw their hats in the ring and whatever arrived in the mail just got printed without anyone knowledgeable in quest writing doing any reviewing or testing. I really feel like Fantasy Flight should take more pride in its work product. I feel a bit dissed as a loyal buyer of FF products, like someone figured, what the heck, it's probably good enough and people will buy it so what do we care. Also, what about the poor slobs who don't even know to look on the website or BGG for all the FAQs that'll be needed? I'm a huge Descent fan, and I'm sorry to just whine like this, but I feel like this product was extremely unfinished, enough that it was unfair to put it on the market like this.

Quest compendum is still listed as being shipped, and available on summer 2009. My summer is starting to be over, so I wonder if someone's seen it somewhere... I'm a bit worried about the reported errors, but I guess I like to have it anyway, being more a Descent fan, and only secondly a rational consumer.

Jonny WS found one at his local game store, but I wouldn't be TOO surprised if they actually halted shipment/recalled these though.