I have the entire Descent 1st Edition collection and playing Road to Legend and Sea of Blood remain one of the most enjoyable board gaming experiences Ive ever had. Its been a few years now and Im considering dragging it out for another play through but there is this 2nd edition thing screaming for attention. I have a few of the 2nd edition modules, purchased out of curiosity from time to time mainly, and have played a few scenarios but Im still on the fence.

If I want to experience a truly epic fantasy adventure with Descent as the vehicle, which do I choose? Do I go back to 1st edition and contend with the admitted issues here and there or jump in with the new version and relegate my old collection to Ebay or something? IS there a reason to keep the old stuff? Do you get to use it in some fashion in 2nd edition? Is there a means to blend the two or is it a THIS or THAT decision? Is there even a Road to LEgend type campaign available yet for 2nd edition?

Help

Hi rgrove - I can't speak for others, but I've kept my original Descent 1st Ed collection (I have everything except Sea of Blood) and added the Descent 2nd Ed (based game and all expansions, but not the lieutenants etc). Descent is my favourite boardgame full stop - and also the first modern boardgame I bought, so lots of nostalgia there). Anyway, I keep both because I find the offer very different experiences...to me, the 1st edition is much more immersive, narrative, epic stories...I can get lost in it for a whole week of evenings!

But I don't always have that much time available and 2nd Ed offers me a much more streamlined and succinct skirmish game with campaign elements in the same universe. Shorter, faster, less epic and perhaps less immersive but more immediate and still great fun. I think they both scratch a slightly different itch.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Also have you picked up the Conversion Kit that allows you to use your 1st edition monsters with the 2nd edition game? Recommend that too!

Thanks and yes, I have the conversion kit and like you have almost every product available for both now except for the some of the Lieutenant packs etc.

Ive been reading and actually played the first scenario in 2nd edition and see what you mean. Definitely a tactical skirmish type feel rather than a dungeon crawl. I thought perhaps it might be just the nature of the scenario but after some browsing it seems its the rule rather than an exception. I can see playing 2nd edition once in a while and dont regret picking up all the products but Im glad I didnt sell off 1st edition for sure and have decided to revive it for a while.

Im looking now to make sure I have the most updated copy of the rules, errata etc ...hoping there is something comprehensive out there to print out. Digging through all those expansion books is kind of a pain!

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Descent is my favourite boardgame full stop

I completely relate to this sentiment as well. I've been really smitten by (many) other games, but there is something about Descent that brings me back again and again to remember how much I love playing it; OvP or Solo. Descent 2nd Edition was the second modern board game I owned, the boys and I just got through playing it almost daily over the holidays via RtL, and as I mentioned elsewhere I have never regretted picking it all up.

This said, rgrove0172, I have been slowly buying up Descent 1st Edition, having been curious about it for years and hearing repeatedly the differences Hinge of Infinity has mentioned above. One box expansion to go but we are set to start digging into the rules, or rather:

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make sure I have the most updated copy of the rules, errata etc ...hoping there is something comprehensive out there to print out.

I'll be following your request for popular house rules.