So I played some games of Descent 2nd edition and liked it. I had a few questions before a delve too deep into it though.

First, is it even worth it to get into a "dead" game that is no longer supported? Will I be able to purchase all the expansions down the line eventually, or is everything going to be OOP soon? I'd hate to start buying stuff only to find out that I can't get the next expansion I need.

Second, I'm worried about the complicated gameplay. I have played the base game scenarios a bit, and I have read the expansion books about their special rules. It looks like each expansion adds at least one new rules or mechanic to the game. Does that mean by the last campaign things are super complicated? The base game I feel is just right in scope, but adding a lot more I feel would ruin the fun.

Third, is there any change in the miniatures from the original base set to more recent expansions? I can't say for sure from pictures online, but it looks as if a lot of the later figures have a different scale. The original Descent minis are actually quite teeny compared to say, Games Workshop or Reaper figures. It's a scale I can't say I've really seen before. However, the newest sets have figures that looks more on par with a standard 28mm scale. I'm talking about the later boxed expansions and the hero and monster packs. Is this true? If so, how noticeable is it really?

For obvious reasons how long the game will be around for certain is an unknown- FFG keep their playing cards very close to their chest re. future plans and it's not hard to think why- any smart business would do the same (it's not smart to reveal something will soon be obsolete or replaced or even that you've got x new expansion(s) for it coming up too far ahead of time), however content is still regularly being remade when it sells out and the game is in very good health- unless FFG are unwise D2e *should* be around for some time to come, there's not really anything to suggest it's about to be axed. The lack of recent expansion content has been a slight ongoing concern and seems an oversight but FFG have had other Terrinoth-set products in development recently so it is perhaps still too early to panic about the future of Descent as they may just have their focus elsewhere for now. The app is still doing well too and allows you to play even when you can't meet up with your gaming mates! The Genesys sourcebook for Terrinoth comes out soon too if you want some history of the world Descent is set in and some background (Genesys is an FFG RPG system and yes it does mean the capacity to fuse Descent and RPG with Descent as an inspiration/toolkit (useful for props, terrain, maps etc!).

It's a resource underused for how handy it is and FFG missed loyalty opportunity by not keeping it up to date and leaving it a little unloved but there's also the quest vault which allows you to design and share your own Descent quests- most of the D2e content got put in before FFG kind of forgot about it, if you find stuff you like on there or make your own it's probably worth saving just in case!

And yes it's well worth getting into it and getting your friends playing it

Look at what you like and rather than get everything in a rush get what you most want first (Manor of Ravens and Skarn are always in my recommendations but personally I've not been disappointed with any expansion I've purchased, I just have a couple of items to get to complete my D2e!), look at what's in each set and what most appeals to you, that way if you get the sets you really want most first at least if they do go out of print you've ticked them off your wishlist- I still want some 1e kit that is no longer produced- so it's got quite expensive (prohibitively so usually) looking at second hand options - and it is a little annoying that it hasn't been and may never be released for 2e. Unfortunately with games it's often a case of get it while you can as you never know how long they'll be available, have a few wanted games on my if/when it's reprinted wishlist!

But Descent is a great game and worth having in your collection- I've still kept the 1e sets I did get before 2e replaced 1e for this reason!

Re gameplay- just read the rules every so often between plays and learn by playing, there's plenty of help on the forums too. The app's a good tutor too as well as one of several alternative ways to play. And certain expansion rules etc only apply in certain situations, to some extent its as simple or complex as you like as you choose what to add in.

There are some differences in the figures and they have improved- it bothers some people maybe but I'm fine with it- they're just facilitating gameplay after all, so I enjoy the really awesome ones like Skarn's big mini and the dragons or that menacing looking spider queen (Ariad and Queen Ariad) and live with the few that are perhaps not quite so awesome. I love my set of 2e figures and they offer a lot of diversity, especially for making your own quests or proxying them in to other games or RPG's.

So yes, definitely make the descent!

Thanks for your reply. Right now I am probably just gonna get the base set. It bothers me that the Lieutenant figures don't have models, so I'll probably pick up some cheap Reaper ones as stand ins. Honestly I don't really want the plot decks to complicate things further, at least right now.

I have a few "dead games" at home that I keep coming back to. Not sure why the fact they´'re dead (as in no more expansions will be released) would make me play them less.

I think you can have fun with Descent even if the game is discontinued. I´'d almost say grab it before it runs out if you´re that interested.

But if you´'re fine with waiting for a 3rd edition or whatever is coming next, you have other games on the market that are really cool too. I guess my point is that Descent, despite its uniqueness, is not the only game out there.

The concept of a "dead game" is quite new and I guess the marketing people at big boardgame companies love it.

When a great game is not getting new expansions, it does not mean that playing it with friends and family it is no fun anymore. Chess is "dead" for a long time in this sense after all. Not a single expansion, rules revision or official FAQ in 600 years.

I have played Gloomhaven, Sword and Sorcery, Kingdom Death: Monster etc. While I think that especially Gloomhaven and KD:M are a really good solo/cooperative games, in my opinion Descent 2ed is still the deepest competitive tactical board game with fantasy setting around at the moment.

I'd like to piggy-back off Sadgit a bit. The quality of the currently released material is really independent of whether or not new content arrives. D2e was worth getting into for me years ago before these expansions existed, and still would be now if I didn't own most of it.

There are really only 2 arguments I see for not getting into a "dead" game (assuming the game would be an investment choice if still active):

1. Company support . This is my only significant complaint about Descent right now- the quest vault is not receiving updates, and nor is the FAQ. ANA has still been answering rule questions, but not with the frequency of the past.

2. Completionism . There are 5 (not 6) mage and healer classes, but 6 scout and warrior classes. There are 4 (not 12) hybrid classes. There are 12 heroes who have not been converted over from first edition while the other 30-something have. It's looking like that will be the way it is going to stay. If that bothers you, Descent might bother you.

Other than those 2 issues, getting into the game now vs. a few years ago seems exactly the same. ANA has been pretty good at keeping expansions in production. The only thing that is difficult to find is the shadow rune campaign... and that was just an old version of the base game, now replaced with Heirs of Blood.

33 minutes ago, Zaltyre said:

and still would be now if I didn't own most of it.

This surprises me. I got into the game when RtL was announced and have since purchased everything that has been released. I still haven't played a full Paper campaign.

Good point about chess Sadgit! There's enough variety within 2e to make it a great and very re-playable game for the future regardless of FFG filling in the gaps or not (and even if they do without having to add that content should you not wish to do so), the expansions do of course add the benefit of even more re-play value as they add in more variety and more map tiles and so on, but even without any expansions you've got a great base game that works really well on its own.

It's a great game regardless of whether new content or even a new version comes out and makes it even greater. And don't worry about will a third edition replace 2e, there will always usually be ways to continue using what you've got with a new edition (one of the reasons I kept my 1e kit) and you don't have to move over to a 3e if there was one (plus 2e will still be available for a while, the only reason I didn't get what I wanted for 1e was that I wasn't following news so closely back then and found out a bit too late!)

On the company support issue this also doesn't stop a game being great or regularly played- there's no 'ongoing company support' from the original 'manufacturer' for chess (I know this is an anachronism anyway but you get the point ) but it's kept going by 'new' support material (reference books and so on), similarly the fans of Descent and most importantly the player base including the fans keep it alive, but as with the expansions even if there were no support or fan/player resources, again it wouldn't stop it being a great game.

If FFG don't make the missing bits the more impatient fans may make their own anyway (we're also missing some terrain and lieutenants that were in 1e) but again you don't have to have this to enjoy the game.

Welcome to Terrinoth and enjoy your time here. May your friends be wise and your enemies wiser. (I'll leave you to figure out the logic in that.)

Thanks for all the feedback. I feel like this is a game I would really enjoy getting into more. I really have an itch for an objective based tabletop dungeon crawler. The past few years I've indulged on a lot of Kickstarter games in the genre, but not many have really been up to snuff. Either they have little support, or they were pushed out quickly for a buck with crappy rules. It's hard to suggest a game to someone if you have to tell them to spend upwards of $300 on Kickstarter, and you don't even get it for 3 years.

10 hours ago, The Cocky Rooster said:

This surprises me. I got into the game when RtL was announced and have since purchased everything that has been released. I still haven't played a full Paper campaign.

I'm not crazy about the LT packs. I haven't been driven to complete that part of the collection. I have all the boxes.

1 hour ago, Zaltyre said:

I'm not crazy about the LT packs. I haven't been driven to complete that part of the collection. I have all the boxes.

Makes sense. I just thought with all your great feedback here and on BGG plus the quest vault that you'd own everything.

19 hours ago, Sadgit said:

Chess is "dead" for a long time in this sense after all.

I've got to contest this. It's super easy for me to pick up a chess set. I've had a hard time getting all the expansions for Descent 1ed and have simply come to accept that I'll never have the lieutenants for it.

Bucho's point is valid too, another take on things, it's like having chess version 2 but you can no longer buy parts of 'old chess' so it is a bit like, you can't have rooks anymore because we've decided to make a new set with new pieces and the board's different too- although we've improved the tiles you can't use them with your first edition tiles as the joins are different, so yes, that's a negative, but again it doesn't stop what you can get for second edition being really good.

But I don't think third edition will be with us for a while and like I say you don't have to switch to it if it does come along in future.

I got addicted with Descent and if you are a completionist, base game will not stop you to buy everything!!!!

I miss only Splig LT and im done with 2e.
But then again i have the kit for the 1e monsters and i have to find everything from the 1e

At least both my wife and my gamegroup likes the game.

Dont forget to try the 3 cooperative adventures. They are great for game nights and for newcomers in the game.