New in the Collection: Descent Journeys in the Dark

2016-02-27 | Alex Kucherenko | 3 min read

It finally arrived -- the long-awaited and controversial purchase. I really wanted it, but the price and reviews about its balance kept me from pulling the trigger. A bit of spontaneity and here it is.

In the darkest depths of Terrinoth, an ambitious overlord gathers his minions to lay siege on the world above. Only a small band of heroes, gifted with courage and power, will be able to save the land from the cold grip of domination. Now is the time to venture into the dark and unravel the overlord's plot before it's too late...

Descent board game box contents: rulebooks, campaign map, cards, dice, tokens, and miniatures laid out

What the game is about

The game is about the epic adventure of heroes in the dungeons of a Dark Evil Overlord who won't miss a chance to show the heroes who's boss. It's a game for 2--5 players -- where am I supposed to find that many friends? One player takes on the role of universal evil and becomes the Overlord. The rest become regular heroes, divided into classes and archetypes. Heroes roam dungeons, search for treasure, fight the Overlord's minions, buy equipment... in short, they go all out.

All combat is dice-rolling -- there are both melee and ranged attacks. And of course spells, lots of spells. Can't do without them -- it's fantasy, after all.

The game features both standalone missions and campaigns. A campaign is a set of individual missions tied together by an overarching story. Heroes can carry their hard-earned (read: looted) gear into the next mission, accumulating a small fortune by the end of the campaign. You won't finish a campaign in a single day -- it takes dozens of hours, and the game thoughtfully provides a save system: a notebook and pencil.

Campaign map board showing the land of Terrinoth with cities and quest locations

Descent rulebooks, campaign board, cards, dice, and token bags spread out on table

Impressions

Haven't actually played yet -- haven't even finished reading the rules (a 20-page booklet). But I'll definitely report back once I get the chance to try it.

The miniatures are impressive -- they're quite detailed and genuinely menacing. I liked the tile system: you lay out the dungeon map from tiles, and since there are so many of them, it gives the game great replayability and variety.

Hero and monster miniatures: small gray heroes, cream creatures, and large red demons including a dragon

Close-up of a red Overlord monster miniature with detailed scales and claws

White and red dragon miniatures with spread wings towering over smaller figures

On the downside, there's the balance issue. From what I've read in the rules, playing the Overlord seems kind of dull, and the heroes almost always have the upper hand -- they're essentially immortal.

All miniatures lined up with cards, dice, and token bags in front