Does 2E erase the events of 1E and reboot the series? Or is it a sequel?

Although none of the Runebound or Descent plots (1E or 2E) interact with each other, the same heroes in Runebound embark on the quests in Descent 1E. The same heroes are therefore carrying out two separate storylines. Moreover, in Descent Road to Legend and Sea of Blood, the campaigns occur in the same lands as Runebound and Island of Dread. The plots are independent, but the heroes, locations, and villains crossover.

If 2E is a reboot, then the Runebound heroes only did their Runebound adventures, and never embarked on any Descent quests. I think this is unlikely because the existence of the Conversion Kit means old Runebound heroes are meant to partake in 2E (a plot-related side effect of being a practical necessity to not alienate the fans of 1E). This seems to make 2E a sequel.

What do you think?

Artaterxes said:

I'm inclined to think of it as a sequel rather than a reboot, as far as fluff goes. D1E is still canon to me, although the plots (in vanilla, anyway) weren't particularly well fleshed out to begin with. I'm more than happy to take this opportunity to mentally erase certain details, such as "the king" asking for your help in "Spoiled Brat," but overall I still count it as canon.

When I think about how the story involved in each game fits into the larger Terrinoth canon, I tend to focus more on the villain's plot rather than which heroes were involved in what. For example, I still consider each of the Overlord's plots from RtL and SoB to be canon and, generally speaking, I assume they were each foiled by one group of heroes or another (by virtue of the fact that the world still exists and isn't enslaved by evil.) I don't assign any specific heroes to any particular story, though.

Thank you, Steve.

This is the reply I got from FFG, when I asked how the game connects to Runebound and whether it is a sequel or reboot:

The events of the Descent 2nd Edition campaign take place in two baronies in northern Terrinoth and aren't directly connected to the "Rise of the Dragon Lords" adventure in the Runebound base game.

So they didn't specify whether it is a sequel or a reboot.

Runebound and Descent 1E were made side-by-side as two sister series of games that constantly cross-referenced each other. They took place in the same lands and used the same heroes and villains. Removing D1E from canon would unravel the details of Runebound and its expansions, even if the core plots are left largely intact.

In contrast, D2E - while still taking place in Terrinoth and using three of the same villains (the Farrows), has an all-new map, all-new heroes, all-new monsters, and all-new plot.

So I don't think D1E can be replaced by D2E.

I think the Runebound and D1E series are so tightly tied together that D2E alone cannot be considered a reboot. If D1E dies, Runebound is screwed. However, if Runebound Third Edition was made and done side-by-side with D2E, then RB2E/D1E can be bulked together as the sister games they are, and shoved in the past. At that point, whether RB3E/D2E is a sequel or reboot is functionally identical.

Right now though, with Runebound 2E still alive (or at least in stasis, but still relevant), D1E just can't be removed. D2E seems like a sequel (or prequel) to me. Haven't figured out where it is in the timeline though…