I've been wanting to try out Descent for quite some time but since my Imperial Assault has been gathering dust as I can't get a group together to play it I didn't dare invest in this yet. With this App I'm ready to give it a shot playing either solo or possibly getting my wife and/or daughter to play.

I know there are still more details about the App to find out, but if I was going place an order for the Base game and a couple Expansions which Expansion would you recommend that would be best suited to this App?

Thanks.

I also think you are fine with the base game for now. Basically I think expanding hero classes will grant you the most replay value and they can be found in the small and big box expansions. As the base game comes with 8 hero-classes, you won't run out of hero classes that fast, but I don't like all of the base game classes.

As for expansions I really like Shadow of Nerekhall as I really like all the 4 monstergroups and it comes with 4 very cool new hero classes and heroes. I also think the heroes and hero-classes in Liar of the Wyrm are much fun and the monstergroups are kind of unique, Manor of Ravens has very cool monstergroups, but I think the classes are not the most intriguing, Labyrinth of Ruins has a few nice heroes and hero-classes, good to ok monsters, but the huge incentive for this expansion is a new OL deck you can't use with the app. As a whole I would place Labyrinth of Ruins and Trollfens at the bottom of the list and Shadow of Nerekhall and Liar of the Wyrm on top.

Is that indeed the case that the AI can't use the Basic II deck? Does the AI even use the OL cards?

Do you think It would be possible to Create-Share-Download, your own Co-op adventures with this app?

Personally, I think this would be a great way to use all the player made quests from the quest vault. Incorporating the quest vault into the app could allow for more direct interaction such as leaving notes to the designer as you play the quest and even having a replay option so the designer can analyze the quest more precise.

In that way, the app would already have lots of content straight away. The reason to still pay money for FFG made quests is that you have a guarantee of thorough playtesting.

Do you think It would be possible to Create-Share-Download, your own Co-op adventures with this app?

Personally, I think this would be a great way to use all the player made quests from the quest vault. Incorporating the quest vault into the app could allow for more direct interaction such as leaving notes to the designer as you play the quest and even having a replay option so the designer can analyze the quest more precise.

In that way, the app would already have lots of content straight away. The reason to still pay money for FFG made quests is that you have a guarantee of thorough playtesting.

Connecting The Vault with Road to Legend, would be a nice move. I think Co-op quests could be easier to create since you don't have to worry about the Balance aspect between OL and heroes ( not easy, just easier ). If we ever have a nice app which can be used to create and share Co-op content ( for Road to Legend specifically ), I can easely see a lot of Co-op coming.

It is a free app, that's been confirmed, but it will have in app purchases.

I missed that bit of information. Could you please direct me to the confirmation the app is free?

It has been already posted on this thread, but it's one long thread, so here you go again:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC_YW88v__1/

I'm not sure this means the app is free. It could perfectly be a purchasable app, with DLC campaigns. The first one is free, as the announcement claims, and the rest will have their price. I could be wrong, for sure.

One thing that I am curious about is how often they reprint the Lieutenant packs? My local store obviously has none for the core and the website says out of stock.

I am thinking they must want to do a re print for this launch as it will draw a lot of new players to the game.. but shouldn't that already have been made by now if this is weeks away?

It is a free app, that's been confirmed, but it will have in app purchases.

I missed that bit of information. Could you please direct me to the confirmation the app is free?

It has been already posted on this thread, but it's one long thread, so here you go again:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC_YW88v__1/

I'm not sure this means the app is free. It could perfectly be a purchasable app, with DLC campaigns. The first one is free, as the announcement claims, and the rest will have their price. I could be wrong, for sure.

I'm sure this means the app is free, but the content isn't free, except the first mini-campaign. If they wanted to take money for the app itself they would make all content cost something and still make the app free. They wouldn't gain anything from doing it the other way around, only less exposure of the app itself.

Yeah, I don't think a game can ever claim content as 'Free to Play' unless the game/app itself costs nothing.

It is a free app, that's been confirmed, but it will have in app purchases.

I missed that bit of information. Could you please direct me to the confirmation the app is free?

It has been already posted on this thread, but it's one long thread, so here you go again:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC_YW88v__1/

I'm not sure this means the app is free. It could perfectly be a purchasable app, with DLC campaigns. The first one is free, as the announcement claims, and the rest will have their price. I could be wrong, for sure.

Here is the tweet: https://twitter.com/FFGames/status/709880347803193345

For those still confused, it is stated explicitly on FFG's twitter in a reply that the app itself is free.

Mulletcheese and DAMaz, thanks for the replies. I'll just go with the base game then until I've had a chance to try it out with the app and then I'll check out the expansion you mentioned.

Im a bit worried but Ill wait and see to form a proper opinion... cant decide if its good or bad (or both) right now.

I wonder how close it is to being released?

The way i understand it is that by unlocking expansions you get access to exclusive side quests that will guarantee you in return more rewards.
The earned money will permit in the end an easier victory over the whole campaign.

So if the big campaign is tough enough it will become necessary to have all the expansions to forsee victory.
That way it fosters players to buy everything that is available.

The way i understand it is that by unlocking expansions you get access to exclusive side quests that will guarantee you in return more rewards.

The earned money will permit in the end an easier victory over the whole campaign.

So if the big campaign is tough enough it will become necessary to have all the expansions to forsee victory.

That way it fosters players to buy everything that is available.

Firstly, where did you hear this please?

Second - you don't 'unlock' expansions - it clearly says that if you own a physical expansion box you can access the content for free in the app, so it uses your additional tiles, heroes, monsters etc. And the screenshot shown is just a tick to say you have the box.

The way some people are talking about this is like FFG are trying to con everyone out of cash - rather than give you a new way to play new content in an old game. The game is not changing - no one is taking away your boxes, your campaigns, or your ability to play them in the exact same way as you have done before. It just a new way to get more out of the existing boxes for those who want to do so.

Im a bit worried but Ill wait and see to form a proper opinion... cant decide if its good or bad (or both) right now.

In what way could it be bad?

I wonder how close it is to being released?

A couple of weeks for the initial release.

The way i understand it is that by unlocking expansions you get access to exclusive side quests that will guarantee you in return more rewards.

The earned money will permit in the end an easier victory over the whole campaign.

So if the big campaign is tough enough it will become necessary to have all the expansions to forsee victory.

That way it fosters players to buy everything that is available.

Unlocking expansions will give you access to the monsters and cards in those expansions, you would also need the expansions used in the side quests.

E.g. if a side quest needs LoR tiles then you need to unlock the LoR expansion to have access to that quest. This doesn't mean that the rewards are better, and the campaign easier, it only means that more quests are available and you get greater replayability.

I wonder how close it is to being released?

A couple of weeks for the initial release.

The way i understand it is that by unlocking expansions you get access to exclusive side quests that will guarantee you in return more rewards.

The earned money will permit in the end an easier victory over the whole campaign.

So if the big campaign is tough enough it will become necessary to have all the expansions to forsee victory.

That way it fosters players to buy everything that is available.

Unlocking expansions will give you access to the monsters and cards in those expansions, you would also need the expansions used in the side quests.

E.g. if a side quest needs LoR tiles then you need to unlock the LoR expansion to have access to that quest. This doesn't mean that the rewards are better, and the campaign easier, it only means that more quests are available and you get greater replayability.

I guess the side quests are the rumors equivalent. The more loot you get the more gear you may purchase.

As in the classic game where the more rumors you play the more money you have.

So if those who have all expansions access to, lets say, 4 additionnal quests they may get 400 gold,more than those who haven the expansions. (They may even get some relics) That makes a difference

Personnaly i believe that the more people buy expansions the more FFG will be willing to invest in the game so on the contrary i see it very positively. I own everything and Descent has always been my favorite game so i am quite happy with all this.

I wonder how close it is to being released?

A couple of weeks for the initial release.

The way i understand it is that by unlocking expansions you get access to exclusive side quests that will guarantee you in return more rewards.

The earned money will permit in the end an easier victory over the whole campaign.

So if the big campaign is tough enough it will become necessary to have all the expansions to forsee victory.

That way it fosters players to buy everything that is available.

Unlocking expansions will give you access to the monsters and cards in those expansions, you would also need the expansions used in the side quests.

E.g. if a side quest needs LoR tiles then you need to unlock the LoR expansion to have access to that quest. This doesn't mean that the rewards are better, and the campaign easier, it only means that more quests are available and you get greater replayability.

I guess the side quests are the rumors equivalent. The more loot you get the more gear you may purchase.

As in the classic game where the more rumors you play the more money you have.

So if those who have all expansions access to, lets say, 4 additionnal quests they may get 400 gold,more than those who haven the expansions. (They may even get some relics) That makes a difference

Personnaly i believe that the more people buy expansions the more FFG will be willing to invest in the game so on the contrary i see it very positively. I own everything and Descent has always been my favorite game so i am quite happy with all this.

I don't think that's quite how it works, but you guess is as good as mine here.

I think this is meant more like in Imperial Assault, there are a fixed number of story mission and a fixed numbers of side missions per campaign. You "draw" side missions from a large pool of side missions (standard ones, from expansions and so on) that are possible to occur in all campaigns, whereas story missions are tied to each campaign. So this won't give you more money for your campaign, but just more variety for half the missions.

But I'm curious to see how it works out in the end.

While I have no more knowledge about this app than anyone else, I do think people are reading too much into it, and how it would work.

I think DAMaz above has it pretty close to what I suspect it will be ...

The app allows you to select all of the components of D2e that you already own. It then uses that knowledge to select pieces (board pieces, monsters, lieutenants, etc.) to include in a campaign. Whether that campaign is based on existing printed material, or material that you can digitally download (read new campaigns), it will function the same way.

Now it's fine if people feel more confortable not having an overlord, but then play another game. Why would FFG need to feel forced to provide an overlord-less version of the game? I design a game and then I break it into pieces to satisfy the masses? Don't designers have any respect for their own product?

I guess I'm a little confused at the intensity of your dislike for this announcement. This is clearly a completely optional addition to the game that doesn't impact the game in the slightest for people who choose not to use it. Sounds like it totally isn't for you, which is great.

For me, it provides the opportunity to play as a hero with my sister and her husband. I always end up playing the overlord in this game (and other games with similar roles) and I'm getting a bit tired of it. The opportunity to play the game on the same side as them is one I find very, very appealing. How is providing me with a way to do this (and still let you play the game the way you clearly enjoy playing it) showing lack of respect for their product?

edit: Read some of your responses to others since posting this statement. I disagree with your sentiments, but understand a little better where you seem to be coming from.

Now it's fine if people feel more confortable not having an overlord, but then play another game. Why would FFG need to feel forced to provide an overlord-less version of the game? I design a game and then I break it into pieces to satisfy the masses? Don't designers have any respect for their own product?

I guess I'm a little confused at the intensity of your dislike for this announcement. This is clearly a completely optional addition to the game that doesn't impact the game in the slightest for people who choose not to use it. Sounds like it totally isn't for you, which is great.

For me, it provides the opportunity to play as a hero with my sister and her husband. I always end up playing the overlord in this game (and other games with similar roles) and I'm getting a bit tired of it. The opportunity to play the game on the same side as them is one I find very, very appealing. How is providing me with a way to do this (and still let you play the game the way you clearly enjoy playing it) showing lack of respect for their product?

Hear hear. I too can not fathom why some people feel so upset about this - it has exactly zero impact on them.

Hear hear. I too can not fathom why some people feel so upset about this - it has exactly zero impact on them.

I'm not so sure. It is true that this app in no way hinders the ability of anyone to continue to play Descent how is or her group prefers. However, it may suggest a new direction for the development of new content for Descent. For example, I assume overlord cards have no place whatsoever in this app. If development shifts to content created primarily for use with Road to Legend, it's conceivable that there will be fewer overlord classes developed. This app need not mean the end of overlord content (the recent release of "Mists of Bilehall" in fact shows a lot of love for the overlord) but it's a legitimate concern.

I think this app looks interesting, and I'm looking forward to its release. I've had the experience recently of playing Descent with someone who generally doesn't enjoy the overlord/hero competition. He dislikes playing as a hero and waiting for everyone else to take their turns, and feels victimized as an overlord. I understand his frustration, but we see Descent very differently, and appreciate different things about it. However, I think he (and others in my group) could really enjoying playing Descent using Road to Legend.

As I've said before, the overlord/hero dynamic is the best part of Descent in my opinion- it's what makes Descent worth playing (for me). This app could be rich, engaging, and fun- but its very reason for existence is to remove the aforementioned dynamic. Therefore, if (a giant, potentially unsubstantiated "if") this app represents Descent's future at the expense of overlord content, that's just unfortunate. If, on the other hand, this app exists alongside "traditional" Descent content, then it's a welcome realm of new possibility.

Hear hear. I too can not fathom why some people feel so upset about this - it has exactly zero impact on them.

I'm not so sure. It is true that this app in no way hinders the ability of anyone to continue to play Descent how is or her group prefers. However, it may suggest a new direction for the development of new content for Descent. For example, I assume overlord cards have no place whatsoever in this app. If development shifts to content created primarily for use with Road to Legend, it's conceivable that there will be fewer overlord classes developed. This app need not mean the end of overlord content (the recent release of "Mists of Bilehall" in fact shows a lot of love for the overlord) but it's a legitimate concern.

I think this app looks interesting, and I'm looking forward to its release. I've had the experience recently of playing Descent with someone who generally doesn't enjoy the overlord/hero competition. He dislikes playing as a hero and waiting for everyone else to take their turns, and feels victimized as an overlord. I understand his frustration, but we see Descent very differently, and appreciate different things about it. However, I think he (and others in my group) could really enjoying playing Descent using Road to Legend.

As I've said before, the overlord/hero dynamic is the best part of Descent in my opinion- it's what makes Descent worth playing (for me). This app could be rich, engaging, and fun- but its very reason for existence is to remove the aforementioned dynamic. Therefore, if (a giant, potentially unsubstantiated "if") this app represents Descent's future at the expense of overlord content, that's just unfortunate. If, on the other hand, this app exists alongside "traditional" Descent content, then it's a welcome realm of new possibility.

Fair point. And yes, if this app means that FFG will actively change their releases and focus in order to cater to the app, I can definitely see fans of the game having an issue with this.

I guess I just see absolutely no indication of that so far. It really looks like it's designed specifically to supplement one's gameplay. But like a lot of others here I'm just speculating at this point.

For me, this opens Descent back up. The Co-op campaigns were okay, but very linear by necessity, as well as fiddly. My experience of a lot of co-op board games is a lot of elements get missed because no one has a particular incentive to remember all the adversary stuff. Not on purpose, just a by-product. I've got loads of Descent I haven't been able to use because the players v overlord set up produced a lot of negative interactions between our group, especially where it comes to perceptions of imbalance in a non-symmetrical game. I love the idea of Descent but the reality of it meant that it's been sitting in my cupboard not getting played.

If Descent as it currently exists is good for you, great! You still have Descent. Groups will each find a version of Descent that suits their own play styles.

drummond13, I concur- predicting the course of a product from a new expansion (let alone an announcement only) is conjecture at best. I'm merely trying to see the situation from multiple perspectives.

I'll say this- Road to Legend has created more buzz on the Descent forums (here and BGG) than I've noticed in awhile.

One take, as an aside.

As a father of two both my sons and I are looking forward to this, perhaps a tad bit reservedly; though not for the reasons you might think.

In short we love the idea of Descent (have only played 2nd Edition), and when everything comes together it is just an amazingly good time - the frequency of this experience has to a lot to do with time and commitment. No brainer - but please remember here: father of two, family is an adventure in timetable chaos.

However, as we rarely have these epic blocks of time there are spaces in our play and, you guessed it, after a one or two missed sessions no one remembers the thrust of the adventure, then there is the set up, digging out everything from the zip locks, and trying to remember 'The Story Thus Far' is, in short, exhausting. Also, dammit, we wanted to play on the same team and desperately wanted more of a dungeon crawl - my youngest hit it in one after getting tossed by the Ettins lost a bit of its luster: "Its all right there (i.e. the Map), all we end up finding is another bunch of monsters and you beating on us with cards" (oh, and "why does Nate keep leaving us to die while he grabs all the treasure", but that's our family problem).

Co-op play solved all of this in large measure (except the family hoarder.. ). While a little tricky to follow in places we were on the same team(!), themed rooms, revealed as you explore (this last is in actual fact a really small thing in itself if you think about it as it doesn't change play much, but it is shockingly important to us as it makes a fight driven game an Adventure game, and that's what we want more of). We played a lot but did burned out on them a bit.

Again there was an 'idea' of what Descent could be (for our circumstances, you understand) that Co-op play did really well, and further hinted strongly and inflamed a want for 'more of everything'. There was a feeling, though, like it made Descent a small contained game, and we missed the Epic Campaign feel, even when it was difficult for us personally to maintain.

So these two different approaches later and we feel like the game, for us, is perfect in two different ways that can't come together into one type of play !. See what I mean? The end result being a couple of small expansions under the tree and we haven't played them.. Though let's remember here, Descent doesn't owe us a thing; lots of fun memories, got our moneys worth, not our business to tell it what to be, etc..

This new app which I intend to get through steam (PC full screen!) I think (hope) might just take this the rest of the way for us and make a game that is perfect for so many amazingly perfect for us. I get that we wanted an already great game to be something perhaps it wasn't intended to be(!), but we cant be alone in this if we have seen things like co-op and now this app come around. Can we?

So if anyone could be paradoxically 'reservedly chomping at the bit' then that's us.

As an aside, when it comes I hope to FF is clear on what newly released Campaigns require (minimum specs!) and need to really sing (recommended specs!) in respect to expansions, monsters, and lieutenants. I would like to go 'all out' on the first Campaign in this regard to really get a feel for what this new experience will be rather than guess at what it could be, and listen to what other's have to say. My opinion on such things; I've read a few people hold FF suspect for wanting to move product, is simply to let FF worry about their own ends and motivations and get the boys and I back to the table in pursuit of wanting the love the heck out this game. We've felt for awhile now that we have been 'chasing the dragon' on this one, and I think we now might just get at what we, personally, have been looking for.

Looking forward to it!

(Now get on to Mansions of Madness: Road to Insanity, that game group is hugely needful of co-op and campaign play! Shadows of Yog-sothoth, anyone?)