MIami Dice - Episode 74 - Descent, Journeys in the Dark 2.0

Tom and Sam examine the second edition of Descent from Fantasy Flight Games.
00:00 - Introduction
01:49 - Game Overview
15:26 - Final Thoughts
Buy it at www.funagain.com
Find more reviews and videos at www.dicetower.com

[@cjimmortalify]

2016 and it's amazing seeing you both 4 years ago versus now. You both look much healthier now! Great job.

[@AngryBogle]

Thanks for a great run down of Descent 2. I was on the fence about getting the new one but now I know I'm getting it for sure!

[@jnauttube]

Sam's discussion of line-of-site seems like it's not a problem. Not that Descent's preferred rule is "better", but that players can agree on a different line of site rule among themselves. LOS is basically a game mechanic that can be whatever you want it to be, as long as everyone playing agrees- and it won't conflict or change any core game rules or balance.

[@irhames]

Thank you very much for this informative overview!

[@markredblue]

I really enjoyed this video. It's simple, straight but very informative. I might get this game next year. Kudos to the Tower! :D

[@Cyberplex]

Sold! Thanks for the review.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

I've been looking to get into dungeon / fantasy board games and Descent 2 keeps coming up as the top contender, after seeing a couple review vids I think you finally convinced me that this is the best bang for my buck. Love your vids specially the more recent ones, glad you lost the fake backgrounds and prefer it when you're not wearing a tie.

[@Monkeyb00y]

That "8 Is Enough" joke, haha!

[@nicksg2781]

hello...great work you do on this video...i have a few questions to ask,can the monsters open a door?or just only the liutenants?and if a monter dies and the overlord put it back on the table,(reinforcment) can the monster move and attack right away?or it has to wait the next round...thanks again

[@bognarandras8398]

1. Yes, monsters can open doors. 2. Yes, monsters can perform actions in the round they are put back as reinforcement.

[@DavidRedcrow]

I like it all except for one thing. The monsters that take up more than one space are practically trans-dimensional. The "enemy" can pick any one of the spaces (usually forward most one) and then count out movement and them place the monster in any configuration as long as that last square is under the monsters token. Essentially giving the monster two or sometimes three (for huge monsters) extra movement. In some of the games I played huge slow monsters practically teleported across the board.

[@tukertex]

Does runewars heroes are the same as Descent first edition? because i have runewars and if the figures are the same as the first edition i would likely pick up the upgrade kit.

[@Kennymiester]

Just primed my heroes...all day gaming soon!!!

[@steverost25]

Hey Tom, I've been watching your reviews for a while now, and you really helped me get into the hobby. I noticed while watching this video that you have War of the Ring Second Edition. I also have the game, (HUGE lord of the rings fan), and I'd really love to see and hear about what you think of the game. So if you'd like to, and have time, it'd be great to see a review of that game. :)

[@Dann7000]

Nice work - two Ettin heads up

[@VaSoapman]

Are the new game board pieces compatible with the old ones?

[@fredmcmack]

Woo! Finally!

[@wroot_lt]

You didn't mention the gameplay time :) Maybe this version will get me into RPG board games :)

[@BryanWood87]

I'm in the same boat. Well, I have a shortage of friends and will most likely be with one other person in most cases. I'm hoping it plays well enough with 2 folks

[@spiritbladevideos]

Thanks for the great video, guys! Next time could you please comment on 2nd Edition play time potential vs. Road To Legend playtime potential? 2nd edition "includes campaign play", but my impression is that it just won't compare to the hundreds of unique dungeon hours you can squeeze out of the RTL expansion. I'm skeptical that there is the same amount of game in this box for your money compared to RTL. Can you put my fears to rest?

[@Cloud_302]

If you want The Broken Token (professional board game organizer makers) to make an organizer for Descent, visit the below link, find "Descent 2nd edition" and check the box and then click "Done" at the bottom. www.thebrokentoken.com/organizer-suggestions/ If you're not familiar with their work, please, do a google search. They are awesome, and this box would be much less chaotic if these guys come out with an organizer for it.

[@TalesinBatBat]

4 classes (archetypes), 2 subtype decks per class. So any character with a Warrior class can choose at the outset to be a Knight or a Berzerker subtype, using that respective subtype deck. Characters with the Rogue class can be a Wildlander (bow-using) or Thief. Mage class also has 2 subtypes, and Healer class has 2 subtypes (though I can't remember them off the top of my head).

[@Magmaxyz]

Scout archtype* And disciple and spiritseer for the healer archetype

[@patcraig3631]

Is Descent any good with two people? Or is being the DM fun?

[@OmegaViper]

Fantasy Flight seems to really be known for their high quality.. I just wish I could afford the higher prices too! :P

[@WilliamH157]

Never played Descent 1, but super excited for this game. Bought it.

[@grimbane6092]

So, 10 years later, how is the game? Thinking about buying it.

[@WilliamH157]

@@grimbane6092 I played it weekly for about six months. The players grow to be far more powerful than the game master, and it was extremely frustrating losing again and again. I sold the game once I was able to establish a weekly D&D game. Haven't looked back.

[@grimbane6092]

@@WilliamH157 Cools. Thank you for that update. Shouldn't be too big of a problem with my group, we don't get together but once a month so it will probably make for fun 1 offs.

[@lordwindgrace]

How does this compare to Mage Knight? Want to buy some RPG-type board game but still undecided on which. So many choices!

[@ExodusF1nale]

You said in your review that each character is 1 of 4 archtypes, but then go on to say that it comes with 2 decks of cards per character. . . . does this mean that as of now there aren't 4 types and 2 more are promised to come in an expansion? I have read that Lair of the Wyrm is coming out in the next month or so, but they're being stingy with info atm. Are they putting the 2 extra characer specializations in it?

[@MrJoreyna]

ok tom I'll buy it

[@StarDustProduction10]

where can i buy it|?

[@scream835]

C-H-I-T-S, I laughed so hard!!

[@Rubberglass]

I'm tearing up.. Sam's reaction. Then Tom chuckling. LOL

[@holland227]

Played this for the first time tonight. Pretty decent I think.

[@freddyperez415]

Sam you are hysterical and marvelous

[@randomfleming]

"So what?...it's OK...so what?" You fill in for each other well.

[@djlowtek]

I have never played these heavy type games before today, and this was the first I played. My friend bought it and it's very fun! For a noob it was quite a learning curve but I picked it up in about 15 mins and was playing fine. I really like board games now haha, I would love to buy one so we have some diversity, I don't want like super hardcore stuff like eclipse yet and maybe something a bit different like without full on quests, I was thinking about cosmic encounter, any other suggestions?

[@drogin88]

4 years later...but anyway.. If you're still into boardgames and havent tried it, I suggest Smallworld. It's a lot of fun, easy to get into, even for people who dont like boardgames or fantasy, and it's still quite complex.

[@Mark-OutWest]

Learning curve? 15 minutes later? Not much of a learning curve.

[@djlowtek]

@@Mark-OutWest ok dick. Relative to a traditional board game explained in about 2 minutes.... sitting through 15 minutes of rules instructions is actually a curve. Way to be an ass for no reason.

[@Tedpikel]

Not played 1st edition. Will this game be good for 2 players?

[@register4mepls]

Would you guys rather this game or mage knight?

[@Whisper6911]

if you are looking for lighter coop adventure games u might check out the D&D adventure system games; castle ravenloft, wrath of ashardalon and legend of drizzt are pretty cool. they have a very simple rule system and you can play trough an adventure in about 90 minutes. also there is no monster player in these games, it's fully coop. other games in the genre u might look at: mansions of madness, elder sign and mice and mystics.

[@mrmgrace]

I'm looking forward to Descent 2.0... The rules have an index and the cards have explanation... SOLD!!!!

[@KabukiKid]

"Mullay" heh

[@xxbriguyxx]

In a couple years, after FFG has added four or five expansions, it will be back to convoluted.

[@bomberooski]

How does this game play with only two players? Been looking at it a lot but it seems to be a game for 3 or more.

[@Mopperty]

OH NO! just got into the D and D games....

[@CinKaiDRocks]

Great game! Great review! Thx

[@register4mepls]

Do you mean yourself and 3 other players (4 players total) or three players including yourself (3 players total)?

[@christiangeekcentral]

How easy is it to make your own, properly balanced quests? I could forgive a reduction in total game-play time compared to RTL if making my own quests was very quick easy.

[@tbspaceship]

that's a weird looking cave troll XD

[@khan507]

Sam! Tom! Help!! My gaming group is in dire need of a dungeon crawl game! But we're torn between Descent 2.0, Castle Ravenloft, & Legend of Drizzt. (The reason why I included the D&D games into the list is because of it being easier to explain and play as well as the added bonus for single player). Could you guys help me on this? Appreciate a bunch! *Note that my gaming group is completely new to the dungeon crawl genre but are looking forward to it.

[@frankverhoeven3195]

I have the same problem you had 2 years ago haha. Mind telling me what you ended up picking and why? Cheers

[@PablowingUrMind]

So, what did you guys end up picking all those years ago? Lol I cant decided between Castle Ravenloft, Descent 2.0, or Gloomhaven for my group.

[@khan507]

Haha I ended up picking Star Wars Imperial Assault. Tho not thematically a dungeon crawl, mechanically it's better than Descent 2.0 imo.

[@GMCiaramella]

Well... Tom and Sam like this game, but I am skeptical... hopefully one of my friends will buy iy before me, so I can try it before I buy it.

[@40Kfrog]

*sigh* Part of what I really enjoyed about the original Descent was all of the crazy combinations of skills and equipment you could have. Maybe this game Grey Ker will use throwing knives instead of a crossbow- maybe he'll have some mage abilities instead of his normal roguish ones, etc. From what I've seen here, they've really dumbed the game down. T_T

[@GirlPainting]

its a pitty you didn´t realy show the miniatures close up and in good focuse :-(

[@Fex.]

I didn't mind at all. The only important thing to me was to actually know the game. I don't really care about art/illustrations etc, but the game mechanics. I could use "tokens" instead of creature models.

[@thelaughingman4791]

+Artifex 28 I certainly see your point of view, and I personally agree that the mechanics are the more important aspect, but there are people out there to whom the miniatures are the selling point so it really is something Tom should show off.

[@wetherguy]

LOVE the new defense mechanic! Now I might be able to kill Hugo the Glorious!

[@RegretDesi]

The first edition is over $200 now, while the second is about $70. Yet another reason to get the second.

[@seanlewis4402]

Hi guys, as a British male in his mid 40's, I want to start playing and painting miniatures board games again as I gave up the hobby(which I love with all of my heart) around 15 years ago due to family problems. Which games would you suggest for me to purchase. I was thinking of getting Black Plague or Descent. If you reply to my post I will subscribe to your channel

[@cyrusknight1]

Go for Descent absolutely!!!!!

[@BluCanti]

I highly suggest Mice and Mystics for a miniature-based game, which is extremely fun to play.

[@BuzzKirill3D]

I tried to get into Descent, but two things SUCKED for me: 1) I feel like the Overlord is way overpowered. I was always him, and I always had to go easy on the rules and give lots of slack so the players could have just a bit of fun and not die all the time (I never even used the special Overlord cards that add even more nastiness). 2) This is the bigger issue: the game feels more like a puzzle than a role-playing game. With endlessly spawning monsters and lots of shit like time limits, etc. it feels like there is only one way to win each scenario, where you have to do very specific things to win. Then it's on to another scenario with more time limits and respawning monsters. I was incredibly disapppointed and the game didn't feel fun at all. I never even played it since that one time.

[@saiksaikatai594]

i understand you for the second point it is essentially the same problème with Mage knight...it is a puzzle game in the end....

[@calebyagow7568]

BuzzKill so you were always him (overlord) the one time you played?

[@zaqx69]

BuzzKill play the 1st edition then, feel way more like an rpg and imho, is way better

[@JCPRuckus]

@@zaqx69 - As someone who hasn't actually played either edition, but who has done a decent amount of research trying to figure out what the differences are before purchasing, it sounds like he's describing the first edition. From what I understand, unending monster spawning was removed from the game in 2nd edition. Also "too hard and too long" tends to be a complaint leveled at first edition. Which is how I read "The Overlord is OP".

[@thomascocks9136]

@@JCPRuckus most scenarios in second edition have like 1 group of monsters keep calling for "reinforcements". Ie. You can clear the dungeon of everything but the zombies. Zombies will respond 1 per turn if there is models available

[@PeterSchott]

Looks like a fun game, but wouldn't work for our group. :( Loved the overview, though. It looks like a fun game.

[@ArrantOde]

I have been rather stingy with what games I have been getting lately, and have mostly been doing research rather than making purchases. But I think I might really have to bite the bullet and nab this one.

[@OmegaViper]

he just wants to play it after the video :P

[@grummelgnom]

Hey, I'm looking for a game with 200 different weapons and 600 special abilities. Any ideas? ;o)

[@PresidentWilburSwain]

You guys love rocking side to side

[@Nosreme1970]

No, that's not really correct. Larger monsters still move the same as smaller ones, but longer creatures can gain weird space advantages by changing facing after they move. But they still only move the same way as smaller creatures.

[@BlackZer00]

It depends? with Descent, Journeys in the Dark 2.0 .I don't even have to care at all. Am happy with the first Descent and it's three expansions. I spend good video game money on these games.So excuse me,if am not ready to say "So what? "quite so quickly.

[@CRAZY6256]

descent 2 or super dungeon explorer

[@turks1966]

Very good game, typical Fantasy Flight Money sink though if you want everything with all the expansions and add-ons, can be very costly the more you add to the base game. Still well worth the money but the cost is there.

[@thedicetower]

It's decent with 2, not as good as it is with 4. And you should get this, not the original game.

[@MonkeyCar-bl3cu]

The Dice Tower whitch is better this or the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game

[@RogCBrand]

Tom, shifting from foot to foot, looked like a kid that really needs to use the restroom! :p

[@BlackZer00]

I want the new heroes from Descent, Journeys in the Dark 2.0 . But, I can care less about the new game.Maybe, I will buy the new game for the heroes Miniatures.Then sell the game used on e-bay with missing pieces >XD

[@johnnyboy667]

STEAMROLLER!

[@BryanWood87]

Ha. He didn't even say it improperly properly. Most people at least say "I could care less" when getting it wrong.

[@canadianturfsandwich1258]

Its probably a loved game for a lot of people, but for me, when I look a card that has ton of information on it, I just get lost and bored.

[@RogCBrand]

LOL!

[@camipco]

Mmm, guys selling wares.

[@xxbriguyxx]

simplified for now...

[@thogar1]

I like the idea of streamlining the rules, but "hobbit" cards for everything? Deal breaker for me

[@markredblue]

Lulz

[@BrokenSplinter]

time to sell my body for descent 2 money

[@sirmuffinman]

How much less can you care?

[@shagua2]

WTF publicity was that, japanese baseball cup ? im canadian, u should know that youtube

[@TechnicolorVille]

You could just donate blood for money.

[@steveg7000]

Disagree strongly. This edition loses so much, and is not balanced with four players.