RTL: Dungeon #42: Secret Garden

By any2cards, in Descent: Journeys in the Dark

In this dungeon, there are specific spaces that are considered outdoors. Do flying creatures within these spaces have the soar ability?

And yes, we know that NORMALLY, there is no soaring in dungeons. However, since this dungeon includes pieces from Tomb of Ice, which came out after RTL, it is possible that the intent was to have a hybrid dungeon/outdoor configuration.

Even in the description of the dungeon, it specifically mentions the following:

"...ahead you see sunlight, and hear birdsong ! As you gape up at the impossibly shear walls of this hidden valley ..."

So, you can see that by the description, it is possible to believe you are outside, even though you can never soar in a dungeon.

Given all of the above, how do you rule?

Every time I have played this level in the copper and silver level of the campaign, the Overlord always gets a huge advantage. We had to house rule that it can only be played in the Gold level.

However, your question is in regards to something else. Despite the flavor of the card, and the obvious outdoor tile, it is still a dungeon. So I would rule that monsters who have the flying ability do not soar in this level.

any2cards said:

In this dungeon, there are specific spaces that are considered outdoors. Do flying creatures within these spaces have the soar ability?

And yes, we know that NORMALLY, there is no soaring in dungeons. However, since this dungeon includes pieces from Tomb of Ice, which came out after RTL, it is possible that the intent was to have a hybrid dungeon/outdoor configuration.

Even in the description of the dungeon, it specifically mentions the following:

"...ahead you see sunlight, and hear birdsong ! As you gape up at the impossibly shear walls of this hidden valley ..."

So, you can see that by the description, it is possible to believe you are outside, even though you can never soar in a dungeon.

Given all of the above, how do you rule?

Nothing in the rules text says it is not a dungeon. Neither is the colour on the dungeons tiles significant unless it clearly is an actual obstacle (eg tree, mud, ice, water etc). Indoor/outdoor tiles are irrelevant. So no Soar.

Yes, the fluff indicates otherwise, but that could be a magical illusion or anything. Fluff is not rules.

And yes, this level can be one of the hardest out there (unless the heroes are very smart and have the right key skills). Letting monsters soar would just be overkill.

any2cards said:

Given all of the above, how do you rule?

Per the RtL rulebook:

" Soar
This ability is only used during outdoor encounters ."

An "outdoor encounter" is a defined game term. It's what happens when you roll the wrong thing on the dice while moving between nodes on the overworld map. (Or when you encounter an LT.) No matter how a dungeon card is described, it' still a dungeon, not an outdoor encounter.