One of my side projects is redesigning RTL. It is a pretty hefty overhaul that is incorporating some aspects of Sea of Blood and is mainly intended for my group since we would like to have the game a little more balanced and a different atmosphere. I know many would disagree and rightfully so, since every change I make may/will have dramatic affects on the game balance that will be difficult to foresee. It is still in design, therefore not tested and I'm sure some will dislike some of the concepts. Some examples of changes for RTL (Revised):

• Sea of Blood Rules - Divine Favor, Home City, Reduced fatigue upgrades, no Lieutenant Treachery and swimming in encounters.
• The Plot Deck - A select number of plots are slightly modified and all conquest costs are removed. Together they form the plot deck, one plot card is brought into play for every 50 total conquest earned.
• Hero Skills - Heroes are limited to learn up to three (with some exceptions) skills as designated on their character cards.
• Quests - Dungeons may only be entered if you have a rumor (quest) for them. Up to 3 active rumors are in play at a time.
• Lieutenant Battles - Lieutenants don't die .
• Razing - Cities are no longer razed instead they switch allegience .
• City upgrades - All cities have upgrades and offer the Overlord advantages if they join him.
• Legendary Skills - Some skills have been reclassified and can only be learned under special circumstances.
• Alchemical Breakthrough - New Antidote, Invulnerability and Remedy potions .
• Market Shortage - Treasures are now rarer so merchants have less to offer the heroes, instead they will need to brave the Overlords forces to wrest the greatest treasures.
• Revised Conquest Rules - The Overlord and Heroes must work harder to earn their conquest.
• Hirelings - The heroes have inspired some citizens to rise up and help defeat the Overlord.
• Race to the Overlord's Keep - This is end game material, a little too early to tell all.
• New Victory Conditions - Dominance, Power or Force .

The great news is it's all coming together nicely. The bad news is I just don't have enough hours in a day to test it all. I would be interested in any brave volunteers to play test scenarios in your groups and provide feedback on how they play and later play testing the actual campaign rules. Please let me know if you would be interested. I would like to e-mail predefined scenarios including hero load outs to see how well parts of the game work and receive any feedback good or bad.

I would be interested. It would have to be over a period of time that could be difficult to define, though. I wouldn't want to promise anything with a terribly quick turnaround time. But I definitely like the sound of it, and am already using some of your ideas. Thank you.

My email is [email protected]

I'm interesting but I have not enough time to multiple playtesting. but I can give you my felt to the reading of rules.

In fact, I search to build my own vision of RtL and some of your rules concern points which I want to integrate.

My email : [email protected]

same here contact me for my email

I know my group'd leap at the chance to make D:RtL more playable and such, so email me at this address: luke[dot]keymia[at]gmail, alright? We're putting a regular game on the calendar soon, and could use the playtesting sessions to get everyone situated. Let me know.

I have completed the first version of the manual for RTL (Revised), if your interested in checking it out send me an e-mail to [email protected] and I will send you a copy. I have given it a play test in my group which turned out really well. I'm happy enough with them to see what all of you think.

Is the above mail address correct? I didn´t get any response so far...

Parathion you should have an e-mail now.

Got it, thanks a lot!

Yes please to a copy.

It sounds very applealing and has the sort of changes I would have liked, but ultimately playtested balance is what it's all about so Im not sure I'd go for it.

Darkspell, I have sent you an email for the rules. Just a heads up to check your junk mail folder.

So one year later, how did it turn out?

I only played RtL up to the Silver level and my group is about to start a SoB campaign and I'm a little worried about all the discussions on balance.

I really enjoy Descent and my group has played it off and on frequently, since it first came out. We have tried the Sea of Blood, but did not find the setting as a whole very appealing, it seemed to introduce so many new problems with the system. But to its credit it introduced some corrections to Descent that we really liked (Divine Favor for example).

We have been playtesting a full RTL2.0 and so far have found it to work really well for our group. We are part way into the Silver campaign level. It has taken some adjustment since the revised rules change objectives and availability of treasure. In the long run I'm hoping these changes will create a more balanced experience. Our last session the heroes raided Greyhaven to free its citizens from the Demon Lords tyranny, the heroes were triumphant even though they were down to their last woman, Rune-Witch Astarra managed to fell the Devious Kobold Siege Master (Who on a side note layed waste to their entire party on their last encounter when he and his band snuck up on them while they slept).

The only major areas of concern that still remain are the balance of the city encounters and I have some concern about the Mage hireling, I'm thinking its gold level should lose the Blast and instead gain 1-2 more Sorcery and maybe Stun.

I'm really looking forward to any feedback any of you have either positive or constructive aka negative . Feel free to post here for an open discussion.

Darkspell, I'd like to have a copy of your houserules...

My e-mail: [email protected]

Thanks a lot!

I've sent a number of you copies of the rules. please let me know what you think. I wouldn't mind starting some discussion here on this.

Darkspell said: