Ok having come across both Imperial Assault and Descent at the same time 3-4 months ago I have become a bit obsessed with them!!!

so far, both core sets are painted up and me and the wife are mid first core campaign for IA.

We have played a few test games on the first core map for descent and we had some friends over and played 4 player other week.

Essentially we havnt started a single campaign in reality......yet....I have just bought Shadow of Narekhall (love the stuff in there and painting the minis right now).

My question is....as an 'addict' should I carry on buying boxes.....or in your opinions will this kind of detract from the original core Campaign? I have a feeling that chucking 20 heroes at new players (8 oringally core set, 4 more added with SON and then more if I carry on buying) will swamp the new players? Do you think its better to try focus more on playing the Core Campaign first before gobbling up more expansions?

The core campaign (assuming since you bought the core recently that's "heirs" and not "shadow") is not ruined by having extra heroes/ monsters/ shop cards. In fact, the variety can make it more enjoyable (as long as your players know what they're doing.)

I'm a bit surprised you're getting into BOTH Descent and IA. They (sort of) scratch similiar itches in my book.

5 minutes ago, Zaltyre said:

The core campaign (assuming since you bought the core recently that's "heirs" and not "shadow") is not ruined by having extra heroes/ monsters/ shop cards. In fact, the variety can make it more enjoyable (as long as your players know what they're doing.)

I'm a bit surprised you're getting into BOTH Descent and IA. They (sort of) scratch similiar itches in my book.

I love Star Wars and I love old DnD type games.....love them both ;]

If playing as overlord with 4 people/heroes, I recommend something like the following for presenting options for heroes, once you have enough expansions. I think it strikes a good balance between lack of variety and hero overload, and adds a bit of chance/excitement to hero selection.

Before gaming

1) Think about the personalities of the 4 people, as much as you know and might be relevant to the upcoming game. What "type of people" are they? What "type of people" do they want to be? What do they do for fun?

2) Select 6 heroes of each archetype, such that, for each hero, you think that at least one of the people might like to play as that hero (given your pondering in #1 )

3) Put the Warriors and Mages in one opaque bag, the Scouts and Healers in another opaque bag.

Start of gaming

4) Read an overall campaign/quest intro or something like it. Then tell the people that they are about to determine which heroes "heard the intro" and would be ready to embark on the campaign/quest .

5) Ask a volunteer(s) to pick 6 heroes from each bag. Once they're picked, state that these are the heroes which heard about the campaign and are ready to take it on :-).

6) Let the people choose their 4 heroes from any of the 12 that were picked in #5.

For monsters/shop cards/conditions, I think more variety is almost always better, even if the people are new to Descent.