Deck Box Dungeons

intro (0:00); how it plays (4:22); final thoughts (35:04)
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[@GeekGamers01]

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[@MoragTong_]

Put both cards in a single sleeve with the open end toward you, then slide the bottom card up/down as needed within the sleeve. Keeps them organized and they tend to stay put where you adjust them.

[@zedgathegreat9122]

This is a great video for an amazing little game. I know I'm late to this video, as I just stumbled on it, but wanted to address a couple of rules issues I saw in this video for anyone else who comes across it. First one, which seems a lot of people miss for some reason, is that monsters do not crit on a 6. You always defend monster attacks. Monsters crittiing is essentially hard mode. Second is range. Any ranged attack is limited to only being one square away and line of sight (allies do not block line of sight). There's technically no max distance and you can even shoot into adjacent rooms. This really prevents a lot of the clumping you described and helps with the flow of the game.

[@adamthegolem4711]

Sleeve the character, weapon & class cards upside down. Then slide the tracker cards into the sleeves. Holds them in place nicely.

[@GeekGamers01]

Adam The Golem That’s a very good idea, thanks.

[@Luchablay]

I genuinely love your channel. Thank you for finding this niche and making videos on it. PS: I gave you a shout out in a video I made in my channel. I hope you get to 10K subs soon! You deserve it.

[@GeekGamers01]

Check This S*** Out Well thank you so much! I really appreciate that.

[@bernardgodfrey3499]

Another one to pick up. The app looks great I have to say, probably a space saver too. This one will definitely be for lunch breaks at work. The artwork looks great. Thanks for an informative run through. (As always).

[@GeekGamers01]

Glad you enjoyed it. I didn't really show this but yes most of the art is great, particularly on the characters and dungeon flooring. Some of the loot was a bit plain but not terrible. The other thing that is great about it is the strong differentiation between the background of the cards--weapons, treasure, characters, etc. That works nicely for the overall look.

[@davidpepin3017]

About monster's placement, I think that when you spawn the monster, you roll the dice one at a time and place them in order. Also, I think that if you had to put a monster on the #2 spot and you can't, you have to put it in the next # spot (in this case, #3). But I havent played the game yet (just received it by mail!), so I might be wrong. Thank you for the video btw!

[@GeekGamers01]

David Pépin Dont remember and I’m not sure. I have played the game since this vid. It’s definitely fun but I work on some rules for using double location cards and putting in terrain features to impact combat. Much less crowded and more interesting that way. A fun little game packing a lot into a small package. Glad you enjoyed the vid, thanks.

[@ulyssescastillo4689]

thanks for the video. There are not many of this game. Instead of the cards to track treasure, health, energy, I'm using D10 dice and just setting the values to what I need. Some minor corrections based on v.1.10 rules: spawning, rules say that if a numbered spot cannot be used (it's out of bounds, or occupied), then you go to the next higher number. Second: range is "at least" 2 spaces away in the same or adjacent room, so your range attack at 27:55 did not need to move closer.

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks!

[@Ironhand-rt8gl]

Wow! I literally learned about this game a couple of days ago and it’s on my list to buy. The micro games have been a new trend that I am leaning towards and games that pack easily are also on my radar. Thanks as always for another great video.

[@GeekGamers01]

Ironhand1970 Walker Glad you enjoyed. It does pack well for sure tho as I said when playing you do need a bit of space. My hotel kindly provided a “gaming desk” with the room. :) And there is quite a lot of gameplay (choices, differentiation of characters) in the small box.

[@allluckyseven]

Very interesting. Not having played it myself, only seen your video, I have to agree that they could have done more with the dungeon cards, specifically. They could have made some in which the squares would reach the borders of the card, so that you could have bigger (especially wider) rooms. There could be teleport points, so you could have one character go explore a different part of the dungeon. And they could also serve as shortcuts to travel more rapidly between tiles. Holes/ladders/stairs could connect rooms that would be located above or below one another... Wooden squares could cause noise when you step on them, so your characters would attract the attention of the monsters if they didn't detect them entering the room (if they were stealthy or invisible, for instance). But I guess the community could make up their own quests with special rules, so it's all fine for the most part. Overall it looks like a pretty neat game, and it has some very impressive art too!

[@GeekGamers01]

allluckyseven All your suggestions are great and the problem with the exits and narrowness is one which really frustrates me as I do have two copies of the game and want to make the rooms bigger which they really must be. What I want to do-just add it to my list-is create a document that would reference the various types of squares/“terrain” and give more interesting rules about it. I love your idea of a creaky floor board! Thanks for your comment.

[@crasher303]

looks an interesting card game, & as you say it could be a good sand box for or quest. Have you tried cutting the bottom off a sleeve, push the bottom card the top card

[@GeekGamers01]

GI. Evans I haven’t but that might help a little bit depending on the sleeve. It would still be an issue in moving the other cards tho. For me, using a different non-card way is the most comfortable

[@boltimuss]

As for the slippage issue with the cards being place over one another, i would try a paperclip on the side to hold them together, but not so tight as to create a crease on those beautiful cards :)

[@GeekGamers01]

boltimuss Given how often the values change-each turn-I don’t think a paper clip would work. Too fiddly and no matter what you would damage the cards. I’ve used dice since this vid but my preferred method is using tokens from Mistfall and/or Runebound.

[@boltimuss]

@@GeekGamers01 I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love how you find a way to repurpose games and their components. You know, now that I think about it, that would be a good video. GGs rules on repurpose:)

[@GeekGamers01]

boltimuss Thank you! A video on that would be a great idea but it would be a MASSIVE undertaking for me as I’d have to take out, open up, and mix up so many of my games. Maybe sometime. Would be fun. I did make a GeekList (not really up to date) on this very topic. It’s called “Officially Repurposed” and is here: boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/235709/officially-repurposed

[@stefrum854]

Picked this up myself the other day and just finished the Troll Trail. Great fun!

[@GeekGamers01]

Stef Rum I have continued to play it since posting my vid and I agree. :)

[@stefrum854]

Geek Gamers BTW I noticed a couple of things....The ranged attacks are a minimum of one space away, to anywhere on the ‘tile’ or adjacent tile. I think the pic in the rules is misleading in this regard. Meaning quite a variety for combat, given the AI on each monster card. I found this made combat really interesting as the ranged monsters, like Talon, had to stay at max distance, thus moving their max movement (if poss) away from the heroes, while maintaining LOS and then firing arrows! Also, the app is great as you can replay the same quest and the map is different each time....Love it!

[@GeekGamers01]

@@stefrum854 Thank you--you are right. Yes, that card showing the attack ranges is totally useless and confusing (and doesn't even indicate anything on the left side). So strange. Really do agree about the app. I must be getting younger in my old age as I sort of enjoyed the app over the printed quests. Can't believe I'm saying that.

[@stefrum854]

Geek Gamers 😂....Love your vids by the way. Thank you so much for all you put into them. You are also responsible for my Ironsworn and Mistfall purchases btw 😀👍

[@GeekGamers01]

Stef Rum Thank you so much. Glad you enjoy the channel and you picked up two games I highlighted that are so great. I need to get Mistfall out again soon (and remind myself how to play!). :)

[@clydehieb2275]

For the health treasure and energy id use d10 or d12 and a d8 and so on its easier than sliding cards

[@GeekGamers01]

Clyde Hieb Great idea. I was thinking Runebound or Mistfall tokens but your idea is better.

[@clydehieb2275]

Thx i cant wate till I get a copy thar is a lot of room for up grades for thes type of game i see dig potential in a amall box

[@GeekGamers01]

Clyde Hieb “potential in a small box” definitely describes this

[@boardsandstuff5008]

Applies to know what monster comes next. Let’s you prepare for it.

[@IIIIRokzIIII]

This needs an expansion at some point. Plz guys, been only using two decks for years now.

[@jeffrichards5106]

Thanks for the review and explanation of the game, have been looking for an rpg solo game that I could take along on a camping trip. I've been seriously considering buying this game. I know it started as a kickstarter. Is it available for anyone to puchase now?

[@GeekGamers01]

Jeff Richards You can buy it at deckboxdungeons.com

[@jeffrichards5106]

@@GeekGamers01 Thanks!

[@jirpojirpo4447]

Have you tried Imperial assault maybe bit not like your other games but i find the solo versio really good

[@GeekGamers01]

jirpo jirpo I haven’t but I will look it you. That’s a Star Wars, right?

[@jirpojirpo4447]

Geek Gamers yep

[@jackalope70]

At 25:50 yo7 say the order is red, blue, green. But on page 3 it lists it as green, blue, then red. Did something change in the other rule book?

[@GeekGamers01]

jackalope70 I probably just made a mistake. I don’t recall any rules changes. The decks/rules are identical box to box. It’s the same box-not an expansion

[@krispippin40]

For anyone else coming across this video, range is incorrectly described. Please read the actual rules and not just the quick reference card nor the explanation in this video.

[@gumbootbob]

Thanks for putting this out there. The thing which I see as a big problem is the lack of character progression. Immediately you loose the best aspect of using this game engine in a campaign series. I think you can create variety in terrains/environments quiet easily with good scenario writing an tile re-design but the game essentially replays the same base PC over and over again. For me that's essential to creating long-term replay-ability :) Is this why you labelled it a dungeon crawler?

[@GeekGamers01]

fiftytwostix You are right that there is no character progression-in retrospect I should have discussed that in more detail. It could be seen as a drawback to the game for sure. It’s a bunch of quests with character combinations but that’s it. No campaign. No leveling up tho during a quest you will be using various treasure for one off buffs, etc. Could somebody make this into a character progression game? I suppose but you’d have to implement a lot of things that aren’t there now.

[@MotiviqueStudio]

Just found your channel and appreciate the content. I'm curious if you've played One Deck Dungeon? I got it on IOS and didn't like it, after trying another game called Dungeon Tales. I'd like to find something like Dungeon Tales (which is basically 3 tiers of escalating duels, offering one class and two unlockable, no multiplayer component) that has some kind of exploration mechanic. Could be a card deck or an app.

[@GeekGamers01]

Welcome to the channel I am glad you are enjoying the content. Yes, I have played one deck dungeon. It is too simple for my taste I think would be a more interesting game if the one deck aspect of it was jettison in favor of tons of different card decks. As it stands, however, it is a mix and match of days and something I play with one of my kids, helping her out. Dungeoneer is a card-based dungeon game (not solo) but might be of interest to you… I have a vid on it that showing my solo variant: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6KqZGlobJeJrc0

[@MotiviqueStudio]

@@GeekGamers01 I really appreciate the response, thank you! I'm currently working on a pivot to tech and one of the brain games I'm using to teach myself coding is rewriting some old adventures games (Zork, Demons Forge, maybe even some early RPGs like Dragon's Quest/Ultima/Final Fantasy 1.) I'm really enamored of finding a good deck battle game with some exploration to work on engineering code for it, but I need something where most of the mechanics exist in the cards because I don't want to have to write content, I just want to deal with game logic. I will definitely check out Dungeoneer. Even if it isn't one player I may be able to do something with it.

[@GeekGamers01]

@@MotiviqueStudio Ah, I see what you are after and why... that's a clever way to teach yourself. Not sure how big you'd want to go but the Pathfinder Adventure card game has leveling and lots of different kinds of cards (locations, spells, items, etc.).

[@MotiviqueStudio]

@@GeekGamers01 I found the original Dungeoneer pack on Ebay (I even found a copy of the first edition, but I'll probably pass on that one.) I'll look into Pathfinder. Actually, I see you have a couple videos on that, I'll watch those! How do you think it stacks up against the various D&D board games (Ashardalon et al)? I'm familiar with them, but have seen mediocre reviews and am not personally that impressed by the map possibilities.

[@GeekGamers01]

@@MotiviqueStudio They are really different games… I play the D&D ones I have more than Parhfinder which I find get repetitive quickly… flip a card, roll dice, flip another card, roll more dice. That said there are tons of variable cards. These are not complex games and for a simple dungeon crawler (solo managing 4 characters), or with my kid, the D&D ones hit the spot. The dungeons are basic-nothing too special terrain wise. As mentioned these are pretty simple games.

[@zakhoskins6404]

I haven't been out there to look and see about these various card based RPGs, but I'd be kind of shocked if at least one of the decks didn't have some kind of foil inlay sandwiched in between the card so that the terrain tiles could be laid out on a magnetic mat so they wouldn't move easily. Just makes too much sense. Besides cost, I don't see why this isn't the default.

[@GeekGamers01]

Zak Hoskins “besides cost” is the operative phrase. As it is, with such small print runs the unit cost on a game like this must be quite high. Also, what you suggest would likely increase the size of the card stack, possibly putting it outside the size of a normal deck box given that the box also needs to contain the dice, meeples, and rules.

[@olafbuddenberg4787]

When you mention at the beginning that the monster shown on the front face of the box wasn't included in the game, then I am afraid that you're wrong. The depicted monster is Riptooth (albeit from a slightly different angle than he appears on the included monster card. ;)

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't recognize him!

[@olafbuddenberg4787]

@@GeekGamers01 - I had to look twice before I recognized it. So, no worries. And thank you for your thorough video on this little gem. :)

[@GeekGamers01]

@@olafbuddenberg4787 Glad you enjoyed the vid. I hope it gives some more exposure to this game, which has a lot going for it.

[@KTCobra]

I understand that space may be an issue, but when a developer is able to get SO MUCH GAMEPLAY into one little box, it's almost always an instant pick-up for me. I'll be getting this one for sure. Thanks for the thorough review.

[@GeekGamers01]

KTCobra Glad you enjoyed it. There certainly is a lot in this and it’s impressive especially in just a small box. I hope you enjoy it if you do pick it up.

[@wishmeheaven]

Thank you for this video. I like your approach and perspective. Nevertheless, 37:16 - Mmm... It is not "A LOT"… It is really cute content for such a small box... Not much more than this.. (..at least regarding the variety of characters, enemies, equipment, etc..)

[@GeekGamers01]

I think 8 characters and 8 different character types is a lot tho as I said in the vid, there could have been fewer dungeon tiles (which were not developed as they could have been) and a few mor enemies or items. That said, overall I stand by my own opinion that there is a lot of content in the box. Obviously opinions differ.

[@wishmeheaven]

@@GeekGamers01 Oh yes, I forgot referring to your idea of adding more variety of those elements over the dungeon terrains - I can't agree more. Great idea! Nevertheless, I wish I could share your feelings, of being satisfied with the content, but at least when it concern to enemies, equipment and special powers - I always want more, moOOOore, MOOOOORE!!!

[@GeekGamers01]

Yep, I getcha-I have lost track of this game and wonder whether the designer has operated the app or is planning more content… if I had the time I’d do what I wanted to do at the time, which is to think about the terrain and come up with some thematic effects for it. That’s the thing that bothered me the most!

[@pesto12601]

NAY-Vah.. not NAH-VEE-AH

[@kurtthecat3995]

This game seems like a lighter version of Legends Untold.

[@GeekGamers01]

Kurt the cat LU has much more commitment to a story and development and leveling up. Maybe that’s why you say this is a lighter version of it but to me it is more like a deck box version of Descent than LU.

[@kosterix123]

Looks like dungeoneer, another failed product. This one same thing no story, no lore.

[@kosterix123]

Icons with no function, yuck. Kickstarter probably.

[@kosterix123]

It shouldn’t be a tuck box but a normal box which would double up as a dice tray.

[@GeekGamers01]

@Kosteri x What makes you think Dungeoneer is failed. With all the content, it seems like there must be a market. Personally, I love that game though I wish it could be played solo without all the hacks I need to make.

[@kosterix123]

@@GeekGamers01 I had dungeoneer once long ago. It just didn't work for me.

[@GeekGamers01]

@@kosterix123 Got it. When you wrote "failed product" I assumed you meant "failed in the marketplace" which I don't think that was... Deck Box Dungeons, on the other hand, may well have failed in the marketplace.