Our LGS got their stack of the new DQ yesterday. So while staying home with some sick kids and wife, I broke out my new copy. I started punching out the bits, but was soon replaced by me eager son. Eventually, we had everything out, sorted, and set up.

Our first game I pulled Tatianna, my son Krutzbeck.

After a quick moment of panic when her torch blew out, Tatianna started off well, using her bow to weaken first a demon and then a troll, before finishing them off in close combat. She then encountered a chasm, which also was a cave in, forcing her away from the dragon's lair. Upon finding that the next chamber was a dead end, she opted for what seemed like her best option...the Catacombs. She wandered around for a couple turns, but then it happened...my very first DQ death. In the dark, Tatianna triggered a swinging blade,and her low armor was not enough.

My son fared much better. Krutzbeck was literally slicing his way through the dungeon, taking out several skeletons, a sorcerer, and a golem. About the same time that Tatianna was running over her cave-in, Krutzbeck had to spend a little more time getting over his. That led into a darkened chamber. Without any light to guide him, he ended in a dead end chamber. It would take 2 more efforts to find the proper exit, and get closer to the dragon's lair. Running through a corridor, Krutzbeck found yet another dead end, causing him to once again burn precious time retracing his steps.

With about half the day gone, Krutzbeck discovered a secret door, leading to what he thought would be the way to the treasure. instead, it seemed more a trap, as a portcullis slammed down behind him. But even has he stared at the bare wall in front of him, he heard a great grinding noise as the corridors within the dungeon turned! Not only was the way ahead open, but he was just a few steps away from the dragon's chamber!

Maybe he should have been a little more cautious, for as it turns out, that passage led right into the Bottomless Pit. Krutzbeck is indeed a mighty, mighty warrior...but he's not so lucky. With a last cry of frustration, he plunged into the depths...

This game was everything I'd heard it to be. Random, fun, brutal, and a great time. My son (will be 5 in October) loved it. He was really into the story the game was telling. Movement was easy enough for him, as were the tests. he's not up to reading yet, but knows enough numbers and math to do combat with ease.

Combat does take longer than a normal turn...but it's also a ton more satisfying that simply rolling dice and adding a number to determine winner. I can see how those not into the story of the game would want something quicker, but for us it created a very tense combat sensation, very visual and exciting.

Sounds sweet!

I get my copy tonight - I SO hope it's true to the original in the sense that there is only about a 15% chance of survival! i LOVED that in the original.

Great post! The swingblade is brutal. When I was reading your post I jumped and my looked at me funny,I said we sharded a common fate in DQ. She is still looking at me funny.

I also love the story the game tells while your playing it. My daughter is 5 I think I might have her try and play with me this weekend.

I've got this game on order.
I loved reading your description/story You're making my wait that much harder!!
I'm really looking forward to it!

Played 8 more games while waiting for the van to be serviced. Ran though each character at least once...8 deaths.

Some notable events...performed an illegal search in what should have been a dead end. had collected like 12 loot cards, including 4 from the dragon lair. Made it to within 2 space of the exit, hit the 1 Sun spot, and heard the doors slam shut.

Three tiles in, fall into the Bottomless pit.

Ditto, only after 7 and 12 tiles.

Fall down a trapdoor into the Catacombs. Find a huge diamond worth 4000gp, run all the way to the edge. Get turned around by a Naga, go three more steps, get killed by a Deep Elf.

Make it to the dragon lair, teleporting into it across a solid wall. Steal some treasure,flee into a dead-end chamber. While searching for a secret door exit, get attacked by a giant centipede, leaving me with 3 life. Drink an unstable potion, and lost those 3 life.

Very, very fun games.

The original was excellent and I had many hours of fun. I am curious as to what changes they have made in the new game and if the artwork is different.

Raven8596 said:

The tiles are really similar - but the artwork is different.... kinda

Gameplay is almost the same - combat is the one thing that has changed - it's not paper-rock-scissors anymore - it's more strategic with cards... more complex and will take a little longer - but good over all.

I don't understand is the point of the game to win by surviving the longest, or is it getting the most treasure and escaping, or just getting to middle or being the last to die, can you even escape?

This confuses me greatly.

You win by escaping the dungeon with the most loot.

However, most don't survive that long. The best chance a good loot is in the dragon chamber, in the center of the dungeon. But that means more tiles and more encounters, there AND back. Plus there's a timer, so you might have tons of loot cards, but never escape.

Some play to go in, search for loot, and escape ASAP, knowing that will create some pressure on others to try and beat you.

Others just play the game to survive.

SoylentGreen said:

It's not JUST R/P/S. It's RPS with war built on top. There are 3 kinds of attacks...melee, ranged, and magic. And each can counterattack only 1 other kind of attack. So first you play War, with higher card beating lower card. But if you've played a Rock to your opponent's Scissors, you have a chance to turn the tide and win that round, if you were losing. It makes combat a little more interesting, and from my experience, it doesn't add very long to the game. combats last maybe 2 minutes, often less.

kingbobb said:

R/P/S + WAR + Go Fish? (Maybe go fish isn't right...) Cause there is that stack in the middle that can really swing the battle if used strategically.