Descent Second Edition - How To Play - Setup

Before we began to learn how to play Decent 2nd Edition, we're first going to go over setting up to play a scenario!
To videos that make up this tutorial:
Part 1: Choosing Heroes: • Descent Second Edition...
Part 2: The Setup: • Descent Second Edition...
Part 3: The Full Tutorial: • Descent Second Edition...
Part 4: Quests & Questions: • Descent Second Edition...
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#WatchItPlayed #BoardGames #Tutorial
00:00 - Introduction
01:55 - Picking A Quest
02:13 - Creating the Map
02:32 - Adding Doors
02:48 - Picking A Hero
03:09 - Picking A Hero Class
04:24 - Picking An Activation Card
04:39 - Placing The Miniatures
05:03 - Choosing The Monsters
07:15 - Placing The Monsters
08:11 - Placing Search Tokens
09:22 - Placing Other Tokens
10:00 - Creating The Overlord Deck
10:34 - The Final Steps
10:59 - Conclusion
#WatchItPlayed #BoardGames #Tutorial

[@ramieres85]

probably the friendliest guy i have ever seen on the whole internet:)

[@MrScrawnjuan]

Well he is Canadian

[@DirkVaughan]

@@MrScrawnjuan Thats exactly what I was going to say. Beat me to it lol.

[@mak1n]

I never comment on videos. But what you do is amazing. Your explanation very clear, English is fluent and understandable. Thank you very much for what you do.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very kind of you to leave that comment, thanks for taking the time!

[@lisakubovic]

mak1n Totally Agree!!! He should do documentaries! ... but don't stop doing these videos please...

[@davedogge2280]

these videos should be placed onto a USB stick and come with the game so that they can be there for all eternity.

[@Avaricey2u]

Dave Dogge yes

[@Liquidpaperxxxx]

I know I'm not the only one excited about this play through. Thanks a ton for all your hard work. Your videos, as always, are a joy to watch.

[@IceChris1600]

Can't wait for the next episode! Great work as always!

[@davelandrytube]

Best opening sequence ever! Great work Can't wait to get to gameplay

[@AmigaFanatic1980]

Great as always, cant wait for the next episode!

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

Your series is the best game play videos! I'm so glad you're playing Descent! I've been checking out many games and Descent had made it all the way to the top of my list. I actually just ordered it along with "Mice and Mystics" which you helped me discover.

[@telonaes]

Your Descent-Intro is AMAZING! I loved all of them so far (I never skip your intros), but here you have outdone yourself!

[@WatchItPlayed]

This was a fun one to put together.

[@ehmantel]

Really appreciate you! I got this game and was having a hard time figuring it out myself and kinda gave up on it till I thought I'd try watching an instructional vid, you are certainly a gifted teacher, make it so easy to understand, I'm def a visual learner, thx muchly man

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad this was helpful - hope you had some fun adventures!

[@robertcummings2099]

Lordy, do I l love your work. Descent has been one of our go-to games for weeks now, my guys really like that you can level up while playing.

[@shaggytan]

Totally love this game! Glad you guys decided to do this!

[@geeksworkshop]

Yay! Well I've seen it now so I'm really looking forward to the next one.

[@SnoeShue]

I'm so excited for this series,!

[@KatalistProductionsKozzySasha]

Thanks for this! Just picked this game up, loving you're videos!

[@micahforest2012]

Very well explained, as usual. Thank you, Rodney.

[@stomachcontentz]

Absolutely brilliant. Watched your videos before we even read the manuals to speed up our understanding. Thanks very much!

[@WatchItPlayed]

+Christian Ruocco So glad you found these helpful. I hope you have a great time playing Christian!

[@joshuajonas84]

i picked this game up on Friday. these videos reassured me before i made the decision. This is my go to channel to learn game mechanics. Keep up the good work!

[@Just_an_average_weeb]

How is it? Im planning on getting this for my group of friends. None of us has any board game experience except monopoly and other light games. Would you recommend this game?

[@joshuajonas84]

@@Just_an_average_weeb it all depends on your group and how comfortable they are with these kind of games and it may be daunting for someone going in from monopoly but it's quite fun. Plus there is a app that has been released since to take over the overlord role making it totally co-op. There are many expansions out already which keep it fresh if you get bored of it. It is possible that a 3rd edition may be released in the near future. That is something to keep in mind.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for the encouraging words!

[@joshuajonas84]

@@WatchItPlayed You should do a playthrough of the new Descent with your son. My boys and i enjoyed those videos

[@WatchItPlayed]

@@joshuajonas84 It was always fun doing them together :)

[@pator2k7]

Great episode! You explained it really well.

[@AviadMD]

Love the new intro, well worth the wait!

[@weirdness86]

Wow, that intro part was amazing, great job! I'm really looking forward to this game. :)

[@OperatorJ0hn]

This is an excellent introduction and video! Very clear, high quality, not too fast, the explanations on point - great job, thx a lot!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you so much for the kind words - glad you enjoyed it!

[@GregoryBlickley]

Really looking forward to this, dungeon crawl games are my favorite! The painted minis look fantastic.

[@Bob1997654321]

Your videos are great, but what I'm most impressed by is the fact that you respond to almost everyone's questions or comments on every video; even ones that are years old. I have a lot of respect for that.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Portalfreek Thank you Portal - I appreciate that people continue to visit and if I can assist, I want to.

[@arkhamwarden]

Really nice work with the game's presentation, with the playing characters as the cast of a movie. Congratz!

[@akaisamurai]

I got a mention in the intro of Watch It Played! For me, I am not kidding it feels like a fan being picked out at a rock concert by the lead Singer. Personally, I feel WatchItPlayed does these story games the best and I will be avidly watching. Now Rodney, I just hope there are a lot more accents in this video for each character and monster ha. Cheers and thanks for making my day as a fellow boardgamer.

[@ballistophobia]

Fantastic narration, very easy to follow along with and with clear instruction. Keep up the work guys.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very nice of you to say Damian!

[@sparxtheknight]

Ordering this game today. Man, this channel got me to buy super dungeon explore AND small world. Keep up the amazing job. Can't wait to see descent in action.

[@TheGentryFactor]

As always, thank you for your excellent instructional videos. Although I have played Descent 2 several times, it has been about year since I last played (a case of too many games on the shelf and not enough time). So, I decided to look for a guide video as a "refresher" so I could more easily strike up a game with my son this weekend. This was perfect - now I'm off to watch the remaining Descent 2 videos in your series.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you liked them! Hope these get you playing a great game with your son soon!

[@zillachris]

Great video! Thanks a lot for doing these!

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're very welcome!

[@bushibayushi]

I love watching your videos, amazing production quality (I was blown away by the intro). All the rule explanations are extremely clear and easy to understand. You've sold me on Kemet, now you've sold me on Descent just by showin the set-up part. Also, I really enjoy the videos with your kids, so much fun to watch an adult struggle to win :D

[@WatchItPlayed]

bushibayushi It's always a struggle :) Thanks for the kind words!

[@kiprm208]

I'm ready to get this started! I'm with Luke I love the Dwarf good choice.

[@Defectordrunkzone]

Well explained Thank you

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very glad you liked it!

[@maxinefranklin1597]

Very useful guide, very understandable

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you liked it!

[@jaysonshepard434]

so stoked you played this game.... ive wanted to buy if for a few years now but thought it looked to complicated.....thanks for the assistance. great videos!!!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Jayson Shepard My pleasure - glad you found it helpful!

[@Shelfside]

I finished my campaign years ago, but I felt a need to watch this video for the nostalgia, thanks Rodney :D

[@WatchItPlayed]

So funny, I was just talking to someone today about the line of sight rules in this game - it was on my mind too!

[@thecontractor365]

Absolutely love your videos. Bar far the best explained and the easiest to understand. Thankyou...👍

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very kind of you to say, thank you.

[@uluairi]

I am new to Descent, but after playing Sword & Sorcery for a while , just seeing the fewer tokens and card types makes me cry of pure joy, although i supose i will miss some of S&S´s depth. Thank you very much for these videos, they are simply GREAT.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying the series!

[@jbbmailbox]

Wow amazing Descent intro graphics you put together. Can't wait for the rest. That is a game high on my wishlist but have yet to buy.

[@mgmccoy100]

I am excited for this series. I am on the fence about whether or not to dive into this series. I think your play through will the kicker that decides it either way. No pressure.

[@jimohara]

I'm so delighted you're doing Descent. I've owned the game for a couple of months and was hoping you'd do a series to help me make sure I get everything right!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you ended up getting a chance to play!

[@jpwfilmarchives8076]

This is much more clear than other board game set up videos

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very glad to know this was helpful!

[@Bymob]

Man, indeed, really nice opening! :D

[@MrMechanoise]

I'm impressed at those introduction videos, one day you'll have to show us how you make them :) beautifully clear as always.

[@darkespiograve110886]

Awsome love the music

[@WanderingKumquat]

Just bought this game, and of course my favorite youtuber did this, awesome

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you have a great time playing 000!

[@RagnarNidhoggr]

what a nice cheerful man! thank you for this video

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank YOU for the kind comment!

[@Elric54]

Rodney, flawless!

[@pygmis]

Thank you, I just got the game and before the first game we watched your episodes 00 and 02. We just played the first game and it was very easy thanks to this tutorial.

[@WatchItPlayed]

So nice to hear the videos were helpful!

[@stevencarter9176]

Descent 2 is epic game, Really nice Intro, Let the battle begin!

[@attila_szilagyi]

Thanks for your amazing tutorial. We're just about to play our first game with Descent. :)

[@WatchItPlayed]

Attila Szilágyi I hope you guys have a great adventure!

[@alexandrathegreat2508]

Let me just take a minute and admire the miniatures... They're amazing.

[@WatchItPlayed]

They are really well done, aren't they?

[@roysugar]

Thank you so much! :) This is great~

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad you liked the videos Roi!

[@leelewis1988]

I can say with certainty, that was the best opening ive ever seen for a boardgame series. And I too have been hoping for descent since mansions of madness

[@Z0nd4]

Amazing explanation! Congrats! Because of this vid I buy the game yesterday :D

[@WatchItPlayed]

I'm glad you enjoyed! Thanks Ariel, hope you have a great time playing!

[@TurboTanuki]

Very good job. I have yet to play, but I can't wait to start!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you enjoy!

[@Nabocleese]

Fantastic Game!!

[@PJ-mb3ue]

Thanks!

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're very welcome PJ!

[@damyrade7]

Fantastic! Thank you for your time professionalism and enthusiasm. I whish I have such an explenation in my language. After all, thanks to you, whole instructions from the 'books' are much more easier to understand. Really appreciate your work! PS. I never comment on videos too :)

[@WatchItPlayed]

+luxtorpeda Well, thank you for taking the time to leave this comment :)

[@aqualust5016]

That’s a lot of setup and different stuff to learn. I’m sure it’s fun over time.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hang in there!

[@jillvalentinetifalockharts6443]

FF never skimps out in quality. SHEEEESH 🔥

[@wingbutler2699]

Narrator guy! You're my hero...so clear and concise. Playing campaign style tomorrow with my son and his buddies.

[@nedved1198]

How did that session go?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you had fun!

[@BoxofDelights]

Oooooo ! Wow, this will be good.....

[@Potantsuem]

Congrats. I too started back in 1989 with HeroQuest while living in Germany and have been searching for a dungeon crawler board game. I found Descent years ago, but never actually got to play till last week with Fantasy Flight at GenCon. I am hooked!

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad you ended up enjoying this game :)

[@JWentu]

If there is a title "Master of Explanations" you surely do deserve one!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Ah, thanks!

[@dwsonye]

Love the video and just bought the game. My second edition came with an act 1 and act 2 quest book. However I don’t have that quest in either book.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yes, they changed the quest book in later printings, but otherwise, you should be good to go!

[@tomkot]

Looks very similar to HeroQuest, a game I loved from my childhood

[@UnitForward]

I can tell this will be a fun series. :) Also, great job with the intro! It's appropriately epic given the subject matter, and how anticipated this series was.

[@brentbaker649]

You explain very well just got the game few days ago

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks Brent - I hope you have a great time playing!

[@brentbaker649]

@@WatchItPlayed your welcome, and thank you.

[@brentbaker649]

@@WatchItPlayed hard to explain but the heroes can only search when there is an icon on the board right? If that makes since

[@WatchItPlayed]

@@brentbaker649 You'll find that covered in the tutorial video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKiWlGijoaqJobs

[@brentbaker649]

@@WatchItPlayed thank you, my wife and I are excited to play it in campaign mode

[@avizueta]

May you do a video about the app?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Drew, I don't have plans to currently, but thanks for the interest.

[@youperguy]

Good quest choice. I think twin idols is fairly balanced, in general.

[@firedale2002]

Just a clarification to others on what Rodney keeps mentioning. The game does have a Campaign play aspect that you can choose to play through that gives gradual growth to the heroes and the overlord. The game also does have rules that give an advanced play aspect, letting you play single quests (one-offs) with the advanced abilities/overlord cards/monsters. So it is possible to use the advanced things in a single-quest capacity; they aren't just "only used in campaign play."

[@PhilGore]

I love this game, I've got the original game in the tombstone box, be interested to see how the new version plays against the old, knowing FFG it will have some good improvements.

[@catwizard545]

Love your reviews. You think you will ever do a series for Mansions of Madness or Battlelore Second edition ?

[@WatchItPlayed]

+ShirysBlade Mansions of Madness was actually the first series we ever did (so it's a little less polished). If you go to our playlists, you'll find it there. No plans currently for Battlelore, though I would enjoy doing it.

[@simonandmissella]

Your rule explanations have been invaluable to me in enjoying the games I am playing as well as in adding games to my collection. So I want to thank you for that. I have a question in regards to Descent. What are the ways in which a hero can regain health? I feel like I am somehow missing something.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Chris, you're very welcome. It's been a little while since I play this one, but as I recall there are abilities and treasures you can find that will let you heal.

[@Ronoras21]

Thanks to you i watched the game and loved it so i bought it today and i want to get my figures painted any tips on that. btw your videos are amazing easy to c how it is first before i go and buy the game thank you man.

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad you enjoyed the videos! I'm not very good at painting miniatures, so my tips would be pretty amateur, but there are lots of good KZbin videos about it.

[@Ronoras21]

Oops i wrote the question wrong i meant if you can guide me in the right direction or a website that can help sorry to bother so much.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Ronoras21 No bother at all. I just have no specific advice on this one, unfortunately.

[@kotngoh1]

dude you are a saint.... showing us noobs how to play a complex game!! thank you

[@WatchItPlayed]

Well, we're all noobs when we first open a new game, but glad you find it helpful :)

[@3dplay662]

First of all , thank you so much, your videos are amazing! i just wanted to know, which Quest Guide are you using for this quest, since i do have Act 1 and 2 for the Journeys in the Dark (which include the Ettin and the same creatures as yours) and i looked for it on the 32nd page and it wasn't there.

[@WatchItPlayed]

I believe a later printing of this same game had some adjustments to the quest guide. I'm not sure exactly what those changes are, but there are some.

[@hermanhonderd9628]

The old quest quide is different from the one supplied with the base game currently. Heirs of blood is the new quest quide.

[@bocajacob6043]

Hey Rodney, I love your videos! However, I noticed that my version of Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition does not have your suggested quest "The Twin Idols". What edition is used here? Thank you!

[@WatchItPlayed]

This is the same edition, but an earlier printing. They changed the title of one of the quests (or perhaps they removed it). The rules of the game are the same though.

[@bocajacob6043]

@@WatchItPlayed Thank you for the prompt response! This makes a lot of sense (it looks like they removed it) and, regardless, this video was super helpful. Cheers :)

[@celiocastro78]

Congrats from Brazil! One question: should the overlord put all the tiles, tokens and other elements before the game start? Ir Just when this itens enter in the line of vision of a hero. Sorry my bad english.

[@WatchItPlayed]

They start in play.

[@mainHERO88]

when youre placing search tokens, would you put down the search tokens marked with a 2 if youre playing with 3 heroes? Or is it only equal amd not less than or equal to? i hope this makes sense. thanks!

[@WatchItPlayed]

You put tokens on spaces marked equal to or less than the number of heroes. So in a 3 player game, on spaces marked with a 2 or 3.

[@Yet_another_placeholder]

Just curious... What are the differences between how to play Descent and Descent: Second Edition? Do your videos also work for the First Edition, or is the gameplay radically changed so the videos only apply to Second Edition?

[@WatchItPlayed]

This new edition cannot be played with the first edition components, I'm afraid.

[@maesterkeimo5723]

where are you from? canada? you have an unique way of saying r for example carrrrds. Thanks for the video!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yep. East coast.

[@MarcelinoSoliz]

I have this game sitting on my self with no one to play with. This is the closet I'll ever get.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Did you end up finding someone to play it with?

[@TheSeriousSquirrelSquid]

"The dungeon is complete" could have used a fast forward sequence of you, rambling through the box in search of the needed tiles with a good, old-fashioned "Hours later" at the end :D I think setting up the board is what takes us most of the time ;)

[@IndustryOfMagic]

Hello and happy 2018 Rodney, First of all thank you for posting the gameplay of Descent. I bought Descent: Journeys in the Dark (second edition) yesterday and on my quest books provided within the game basic box, I don't have any quest named "Twin Idols". Also none of my 19 different maps has search token indicated as a "*". Is it possible I bought a different version of the game? Sorry for necromanting this back up, I am so confused. Thank you kindly

[@WatchItPlayed]

That's a tough one to answer. There was a first edition to the game (but it has a very different box, and shape, and would be hard to find). Assuming you have the correct box (as shown in this video), then it is possible you are missing a search token, but that would be surprising (any chance you just didn't look at both sides of all the tokens?). As for the scenario, I have heard that they changed the names/quests in later printings of this game, so it is possible that specific scenario is different. Good luck sorting out this mystery!

[@IRONBEAGLE76]

Hi guys! I really appreciate your work. I just bought this game and it IS the second edition. BUT, I DO NOT have the twin idols. My quest guide is "The heirs of blood" is that a different one?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Newer releases of the game do come with the "Heirs of Blood" quest guide instead of "Twin Idols". They are indeed different campaigns!

[@Mattokenzi]

Trust lucky Luke to go on the offensive, I can't wait to see how this is played out.

[@ressikman]

Rodney...Thanks for the explanation. I have a question. The intro quest mentions that I bring 1 monster on (as reinforcement) at the end of my turn. Do I have to wait till I have a "group" to activate and move that monster?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Paul, if it's the only monster of that group, then it becomes the group. If I understand your question correctly.

[@ressikman]

In my case, I had a group of goblin archers to start the game. Each turn (as the overlord), I could put 1 goblin archer at the exit. I didn't know if I could then use him or if I had to wait to make a "group" as was specified on the card.

[@WatchItPlayed]

***** The group on the card specifies the maximum number of goblins you can have on the board at any one time, based on the number of players. So you only get to add a goblin if you have less than the indicated total on the card (usually because those pesky heroes have killed some of them). Any newly added goblins are part of the same group as all other goblins on the table.

[@LeoDiaz]

So Harvey is a wizard now? ;)

[@timjoseph887]

I have 2 quest guides, act 1 and act 2. None is titled the twin idols...Which one do I use?

[@WatchItPlayed]

I believe later printings of the game changed the name of the scenarios. It's okay, this video was just using that scenario as an example. You should just start with the first one in Act 1.

[@andresmaldonado9429]

I bought these game a long time ago and tried playing with my more casual gamer friends but it didnt turn out well becuase im bad at explaining all the rules and they got tierd. Im sure with these video ill have more luck and Maybe, just maybe be able to finally play it c: Thanks a bunch!

[@WatchItPlayed]

+Andrés Maldonado Hope the videos are helpful so you can enjoy your game!

[@zylothecat7449]

okay thanks i missed this video. so overlord's deck customization must have at least 15 cards?

[@WatchItPlayed]

If I remember correctly. It's been awhile since I recorded these :)

[@ssfire8]

hey Rodney those hero tokens when a hero is knocked out an there is no more hero tokens to put on the map does that mean that hero is gone completely for the rest of the game or does the hero's keep coming back to play as many times as he or she wants?

[@WatchItPlayed]

The hero keeps coming back. There is no elimination for a character.

[@ssfire8]

thank you so much Rodney

[@kerred]

You said the overlord knows which token is the key? I thought quests with runekey icons were hidden so both players do not know which is which. (i do not see it written on the Twin Idols so does that mean the Overlord can peek?)

[@WatchItPlayed]

I don't have the rules in front of me right now, but they state that the Overlord knows where they are placed. This is something that surprised a few people so we checked at the time.

[@samseite]

Idk why my Descent Journey in the dark second edition quest books doesn't have the same quest you've mentioned in this video.

[@WatchItPlayed]

I believe in a later printing of the game, they changed the title of one of the quests.

[@KhanGarth]

I like how Descent 2 looks compared to the first one, it looks more intuitive

[@raisenets99]

Might be a little late but ever consider playing "hero quest"? I know it's out of print but there's a lot of us out there that still own out original copies with expansions. It's truly a game that stands the test of time. Hopefully you can find your own copy and have a great time enjoying an old classic even if you don't make a video for it..

[@WatchItPlayed]

felipe hoil Hey Felipe! I wouldn't cover that one simply because it is out of print, and most people who would watch, would never be able to play it, but I have heard lots of good things about it, for sure.

[@BrianReichert]

What quest book do you have? The one that came with my game is different.

[@WatchItPlayed]

I believe they made some minor adjustments to the quest book in later printings - you likely have the newer printing.

[@BrianReichert]

@@WatchItPlayed After a bit of Googling it looks like they scrapped the original campaign book, called Shadow Rune and replaced it with Heirs of Blood in more recent printings. Unfortunately, the original campaign isn't available anymore.

[@BoardnAK]

I'm confused...your series states Descent is 1-4 players yet the box shows it being a 2-5 player game...which is it?

[@WatchItPlayed]

I can see the confusion here! The game is indeed for 2-5 players. What I say in the video is that 1-4 players will control the heroes and 1 will control the overlord, making 5 in total.

[@Loidrial]

how long usually a game session for those 2 parts of the quest last?

[@WatchItPlayed]

It's really hard to say as it's going to depend on the scenario, the players, etc. 90 mins to two hours?

[@Loidrial]

Ok, sounds legit. It is what i thought already. Thx!