I heard that the Second Edition of Descent recently got reprinted including Heirs of Blood instead of Shadow Rune. I've seen posts on BGG and Reddit.

So... does this mean the inevitable will happen? That Shadow Rune will be sold separately on eBay for high prices despite Heirs of Blood being better received?

Also, if you were introducing Descent to a new group, would you show them Shadow Rune or Heirs of Blood? Shadow Rune seems easier to learn but I think HoB is more enjoyable with a better story.

Since they shifted to HoB in the core box I've kind of assumed that FFG has a plan to either release the Shadow Rune as a PDF, a POD or as another book. That way they can sell it to the people that got HoB in their core box. Would make sense that FFG would try to bring in profit for an campaign that is already done.

My personal guess is that it will be released and sold as a PDF by FFG. If they do that they will have minimal costs tied to the release and no printin costs, making it pure profit for FFG. And all who want the SR campaign can buy at a reasonable price.

Another thought is that they make some corrections and adjustments to the campaign and re-release it as a book. That might prompt purchases by both those that got SR in their core box and those that got HoB.

Although the Shadow Rune campaign as we know it might be phased out completely, I find pretty reasonable to believe a 2.0 version will be released in the near future. A hardcover book like the Heirs of Blood one would be the perfect way to do so. I am VERY excited at the thought of FFG adjusting balance in this campaign.

yes, but it would have made some sense to release an updated version of it, in some form, with the re-release of the Core game. Makes no sense that no one can get it now.

yes, but it would have made some sense to release an updated version of it, in some form, with the re-release of the Core game. Makes no sense that no one can get it now.

Maybe there was some delay in the schedule? So they needed the reprint because it was selling out, and just put in the HoB campaign as a replacement of the improved SR campaign because that one is still in development.

yes, but it would have made some sense to release an updated version of it, in some form, with the re-release of the Core game. Makes no sense that no one can get it now.

My reading sugggests that the Shadow Rune campaign, written so early in Descent's development, is considered a little sub-par in comparison to later campaigns. Perhaps Heirs of Blood (a later campaign with a better rating) was considered a more appropriate introduction to the game - and more simple to add than to adjust the Shadow Rune.

Hopefully they'll give the Shadow Rune a rework at some point. If the time reworking it could be spent working on a new campaign though - I'd prefer the new campaign.

I think we'll see iShadow Rune rolled into the forthcoming app, probably as a tutorial campaign. Heirs of Blood is a much better story and a great native.