Has anyone ever played Talisman or Descent boardgames?

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:37 am

I am interested in getting any of the following two boardgames: Talisman and Descent. From what I've managed to read about them, they sound hugely fun, but I of course would love to know if anyone has actually played them and can give a more detail on them.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:47 am

I'll tell you tomorrow ;)

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:02 am

I've played Talisman, years ago. I think Devonie's got the game somewhere, or she used to

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:32 am

Talisman is fun and fairly easy to learn and play. Each character has different abilities so each one employs different strategies to try and win the game. That keeps the play experience fresh. Haven't played Descent.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:01 am

Bump! Hotfoot, you promised me a couple of game reviews :P

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:58 am

Well, I haven't played Talisman, but I have now played Descent. It is a pretty fun game, not quite as complicated as Twilight Imperium, but there is something of a learning curve involved. The players really have to work together, since the dungeon master character is encouraged to try and kill everyone as quickly and as often as possible. You need a mix of melee and ranged to win, since little tricks the GM can do make it hard for just one or the other to do the job.

Four people is the minimum I'd recommend to play this game with (1 GM + 3 players). Anything less and the players need to double or triple-up on heroes just to get by.

That said, you will need a LOT of separate little baggies to help hold all the pieces, but that's a fairly straightforward thing.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:55 pm

Cynical Cat wrote:Talisman is fun and fairly easy to learn and play. Each character has different abilities so each one employs different strategies to try and win the game. That keeps the play experience fresh. Haven't played Descent.

What sort of gameplay is it? I understand that there can be only one winner, which means the players are in opposition to each other, and the goal is to find the Crown of Command, but what does a typical gaming session involve? Or a turn/sequence?

Hotfoot wrote:Well, I haven't played Talisman, but I have now played Descent. It is a pretty fun game, not quite as complicated as Twilight Imperium, but there is something of a learning curve involved. The players really have to work together, since the dungeon master character is encouraged to try and kill everyone as quickly and as often as possible. You need a mix of melee and ranged to win, since little tricks the GM can do make it hard for just one or the other to do the job.

Four people is the minimum I'd recommend to play this game with (1 GM + 3 players). Anything less and the players need to double or triple-up on heroes just to get by.

That said, you will need a LOT of separate little baggies to help hold all the pieces, but that's a fairly straightforward thing.

Thanks Hotfoot. Twilight Imperium is another game that piqued my interest. Am I to understand that Descent plays like a 'current' version of Hero Quest? Because it sure sounds like it. I loved that game when I was a kid. Assuming straight (ie no expansion packs) gameplay, what kind of/how many scenarios, heroes, and monsters are there?

Basically I'm in a board game mood atm. :)

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:10 pm

Twilight Imperium is the create an interstellar empire boardgame. Space combat, ground combat, technology, trade, diplomacy, the game has everything. The only downside is that it takes a while to play.

Talisman plays something like this. The players either choose or start with a random draw of characters in the Outer Region. Each character has different stats and special powers, making them good at different things. Play starts in the outer region. Everyone rolls a die to move, but chooses the direction. Each space has instructions to draw a card (plains, fields, etcetera) or specific rules (the tavern, the church, the crags, etcetera).

Characters wander around trying to gain followers, improve their stats, gain items, etcetera. Sometimes they fight or steal or cast spells at one another. Some will try to cross the river into the Middle Region where there is more risk and more reward.

Eventually someone will acquire a Talisman either from a card draw or completely a quest for the Warlock in the Middle Region and attempt to breach the Portal of Power. Once that is done they will choose one of two routes (one favors Strength, the other Craft). If they can force their way through they'll reach the Valley of Fire (which requires a Talisman to enter). Past that lies the Crown of Command.

Once someone reaches the Crown of Command, you can't get a new character if you die. The possessor of the Crown can bombard people with the Command Spell and grind away their lives, so the game becomes a race to try and reach the Crown of Command and defeat the possessor in combat before everyone is killed.

Characters are beings such as the Dwarf, the Elf, the Warrior, the Ghoul, the Prophetess, the Merchant, and so on and so forth. The Thief can steal things from other players instead of attacking, the Elf can evade in the Woods, etcetera. Each character plays differently.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:29 pm

Just on the subject of Twilight Imperium, apparently there's a Third Edition out. I was going to buy it today at a gaming store, but the price was absurd ($169), and yet a gaming store in Sydney sells it for $139. Since I'm planning on going up to Sydney soon, I might just buy it when I'm up there.

Anyway. There's apparently an expansion pack to it called Shattered Empire. What does it add to the original game? If anyone has played it.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:35 am

I have both Twilight Imperium and Shattered Empires. Both are awesomely fun games when played with the right group, and in our local circle has been called "STGOD: The board game". It's a fun game that, once you get a handle on the rules can be played in about six hours or so. Expect the first games to last much longer than that, of course.

Shattered Empires adds some nice additional rules, such as making Destroyers more desirable, increasing the total number of players possible, the size and formation of the game board, and a few new tricks. The new races in the expansion are pretty fun, but not so good as to be overpowered, though the race that starts with War Suns (Death Stars, basically) are very tempting indeed.

If you've got the money and the friends, they are a blast to play.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:25 am

Seconding Hotfoot on Twilight Imperium.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:00 pm

I have the friends, I don't know if they would want to play board games though. To quote unquote Darth Sidious, I will make them play!

I heard that the revised 3rd Edition of Twilight Imperium has 'expansion rules'. Does that mean there's no benefit to getting Shattered Empire? I'm a little confused.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:14 pm

The revised 3rd edition is the current edition. There's optional rules for playing unusual situations (like more people than normal) and that might be it.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:06 pm

Ok. There's a game store that apparently is selling things for a lot cheaper than the store I went to yesterday morning. I'll check it out and see what's there to buy.

LibriumArcana.Games

Has anyone ever played Talisman or Descent boardgames?

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