[Kickstarter] Mantic Dwarf Kings Quest. ALL DONE.$1.05 million final.

[Elbows]

Rob, got my hands in a couple of projects, only published one is the Old West set Shoot N' Skedaddle.

Unfortunately - from the interview he did on a YouTube page, Jake seemed to make very clear that it isn't a role-playing game.  Now...that being said, I've always been a giant proponent of making a game into what you want to play.  Unless you're limited by attending tournament games, or play competitively against very strict opponents, I don't see why you couldn't use Dungeon Saga, Hero Quest etc. to meld with a role-playing experience.

I know someone had a big huge book of random dungeon tables they created.  I see no reason why you couldn't create or add an additional element of role-playing to the game.  I, like you, often enjoy a DM driven game when it comes to dungeon crawls.  Not necessarily so that someone is trying their very hardest to kill your heroes, but because it widely expands the adventure and story.  I like when a DM is privy to adventure information which we're not.  I like when a DM creates a mission or heavily modifies one from the book.  It gives the game far more interest.  Do you kill the shadowy figure - or wait to see what he says?  Will he give you information or cast a spell on you?  Do you hop into the grimy chute which leads into the inky blackness - or continue on down the lit hallway...etc.

[robh]

....got my hands in a couple of projects, only published one is the Old West set Shoot N' Skedaddle.....

Cool, nice to have a bit of this hobby that is down to you.

I don't need Dwarf Kings Quest to be an rpg as I have Swords and Wizardry for that style of game. I want this one to have some elements of what makes an rpg fun; opportunities for non combat skills and actions as well as the fighting and spellcasting, but as a stand alone game with no linking campaign history or world to populate and develop and no "down time" sessions. More akin to a skirmish wargame than an rpg, but with elements of both.

I am hoping there is more to DKQ than just a succession of "run here, kill that, grab those"  dice rolling. If there isn't I will probably drop my pledge as I don't need the figures or scenery so although it is looking like great value for those that do I only really want the rules.

**edit for awful punctuation**

[Quirkworthy]

@ Neldoreth - I don't assume that all co-op games will be like this, it's just my experience. I'd rather it wasn't, and have tried to play a number of them on the recommendations of people whose judgement I thought was sound. I generally go into them thinking that "this will be different" rather "than this will suck". Why would I waste my limited gaming time on things I expected to be rubbish? I've got stacks of games I really want to play just waiting for some time to get them on the table.

I'm not sure why they must be a favourite medium of mine for me to be any good at designing them. If we said that the only people who could build Formula 1 cars were drivers that had won Grand Prix, you'd probably tell me that was nonsense. Like the mechanics that build those cars, I think I understand and know I enjoy manipulating the rules that govern the process and can build a finely-tuned machine.

@ robh - Dungeon Sagas isn't an RPG. The Advanced game could be expanded on, and I've already had a few comments from folk who intend just that. However, Mantic aren't currently interested in that format. I'm sure they'll get there though

The Advanced rules include downtime between adventures and should build on the non-combat aspects such as sneaking about, picking locks and so on.

[robh]

Thanks Jake,
When you say ".....The Advanced rules include downtime between adventures....." 

I take it that means you allow "out of game" for learning new skills, improving abilities etc rather than a game session spent trawling local taverns for clues and finding someone to train you in new combat techniques etc....

[Quirkworthy]

Yes. As I said, it's not a full-on RPG so there won't be sessions chatting up barmaids and gambling with the local thieves, amusing though that may be. I'm preparing a series of short articles for Quirkworthy about this and other aspects of the Advanced rules. Should be up in the next few days.

[Neldoreth]

@ Neldoreth - I'm not sure why they must be a favourite medium of mine for me to be any good at designing them. If we said that the only people who could build Formula 1 cars were drivers that had won Grand Prix, you'd probably tell me that was nonsense. Like the mechanics that build those cars, I think I understand and know I enjoy manipulating the rules that govern the process and can build a finely-tuned machine.

You're absolutely correct. Okay, I stand corrected and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it

n.

[mcfonz]

Yes. As I said, it's not a full-on RPG so there won't be sessions chatting up barmaids and gambling with the local thieves, amusing though that may be. I'm preparing a series of short articles for Quirkworthy about this and other aspects of the Advanced rules. Should be up in the next few days.

It reminds me a bit of WHQuest in that sense. There is nothing sopping you using a bit of imagination to role play certain aspects of things that go on between adventures anyway. Perhaps a brawl with some other NPCs in an Inn! The more detailed stuff doesn't need to have die rolls to it, just discussion if needs be.

Slightly off topic, but I have to admit my fav era of GW was when the 'Fat Dwarf' was dropping through my letterbox - I believe you were behind quite a lot of stuff back then, so thank you for some rather brilliant childhood (well teenage anyway) wargaming memories. Did you ever work on WHQuest?

[Elbows]

^This.    I spent a lot of time in the GW hobby (and I'm glad to be rid of it) but the best era was the era of the great box games - late 90's.  Warhammer Quest, Mordheim, Necromunda, Gorka Morka (okay so that wasn't great...) etc.  I liked how they supported WHQ for a time as well.  Good times.

My future dungeon crawl will definitely be heavily inspired by the feel of WHQ.  I'm hoping that beyond the Alpha rules, this one does as well. 

[Too Bo Coo]

^This.    I spent a lot of time in the GW hobby (and I'm glad to be rid of it) but the best era was the era of the great box games - late 90's.  Warhammer Quest, Mordheim, Necromunda, Gorka Morka (okay so that wasn't great...) etc.  I liked how they supported WHQ for a time as well.  Good times.

My future dungeon crawl will definitely be heavily inspired by the feel of WHQ.  I'm hoping that beyond the Alpha rules, this one does as well. 

Agreed, and I feel lucky to have played all those games!

[Too Bo Coo]

QuickQuestion, is QW Jake Thorton?

[Major_Gilbear]

QuickQuestion, is QW Jake Thorton?

Yes.

[beefcake]

New update

Dungeon furniture in plastic announced. Looks good, free at $100 and also an addon for $15

[Major_Gilbear]

Furniture looks alright... Impractical table and Starship Enterprise Captain's Chair aside. Not sure it wows me much though, and certainly not enough to want to buy it separately. 

One thing that struck me though; the squares on the boards and the models' bases look to be the same size. This is not very practical when you have to place 3-5 models in adjacent squares (it was a problem with the older GW dungeon crawlers too). Be nice if the squares were say 22mm to suit a 20mm base (...or 27mm to suit 25mm bases) - that way you literally have a little "wiggle room".

[robh]

I am pleased with the furniture pieces, nothing amazing certainly, but an appropriate selection of the standard dungeon pieces. I imagine the Throne and Crypt are designed for specific key scenarios.
At $15 I think a fair price too.  If the Kickstarter goes high enough I hope they will add some different pieces as well.


**edit**
Mantic have just announced on the comments thread that the 3D furniture set will contain more pieces than just those shown in the picture. No more details yet but looking to be even better value now.

Kickstarter Link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/dungeon-saga-the-dwarf-kings-quest

[mcfonz]

Yup.

Without trying to be harsh - there is absolutely no point in Mantic trying to make top of the range dungeon furniture for this project. It would cost more money and it would have to be better or compete with a lot of existing dungeon furniture ranges from good sources such as Fenris Games.

£9 is what these cost roughly - as a separate set. I think you'd be hard pushed to find a set like this for that price. So it's not the best you will see, but nor is it the most expensive.

I really have no issue with what is being offered with this. It's a dungeon crawling game, so far it has provided a range of miniatures - a nice selection of heroes to choose from and a nice amount of nasty baddies for them to slaughter on their way to a chest full of treasure.

It's also becoming clear, to me at least, that there is more than one set included. Looks to me like there is a core set and possibly an expansion as well. So again, opportunity to get the lot at a reduced rate.