Designer here! Thanks you for this great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed playing. Regarding left, right & ahead: this is in some ways a deliberate tribute to Dungeon Quest, where the tiles you lay have an entry point. Left, right & ahead in BASILISK! are always relative to the direction you have entered the room from. Having a conventional compass would mean a larger table for all possible combinations of N,S,E,W or more rolls for exits - but you're always going to be coming from an open direction leaving only three other possibilities. Left = North, Ahead = East, Right = South is a neat solution although in this instance a crossroad would be the only chance to move west, and I sort of like how the dungeon can potentially sprawl in precisely the WRONG direction and then force characters to seek secret doors, throw themselves into teleport traps, or find magical solutions to progress. Thanks for mentioning the missing test/challenge rules - I updated the PDF on Itch a couple of days ago! D'oh! :)
@@SwordAgainstChaos no. A room is cleared once empty of traps or enemies. Unless you search and reveal another. Otherwise the game is even harder to beat!
The font used for 'Dark Fort' reminds me a lot of old RPG products. I think The Fantasy Trip used it as well. I think perhaps it was the only fantasy-looking font readily available on Letraset, which was pretty much the only low-budget way to get fancy fonts at the time if you didn't draw the letters yourself.
Hey Daniel! Just wanted to say thanks for getting me into the world of solo board games! I picked up Mork Borg and the solitary defilement and can't wait to get started. I have been enjoying Dark Fort and have died too many times lol. Just wanted to point out that there is actually an 'expansion' on itch called "Darker Forts" , which was created by the same guy that made the "Goblin Grinder" campaign on Feretory. It adds 3 new characters and dungeons, I haven't picked it up just yet, but thought you'd be interested in that. Always look forward to your videos and love learning about the world of solo RPGs and board games. My wallet hurts ever since discovering your channel but so worth after discovering so many amazing gems that I can't stop playing. I have picked up Iron Helm and all expansions including Iron Chest! Tin Helm, Mini Rogue and Elder Sign. Eyeing a few Solo RPGs online too. Keep up the amazing work Daniel and a great review as always
As for direction, It’s relative to the way you enter the room… as you won’t be able to roll a door behind you.., so ahead is the wall opposite the door you entered through, left is left of that entrance door, right is right of that entrance. At least that’s what I would think If you have fixed compass, when you enter a room from the south and you roll south… it’s a dead end. If you used your fixed system it would increase the chances of a dead end, where as the games chance makes a dead end very rare.
I really enjoy playing DARK FORT even though its pretty basic. For me its the same kindof satisfaction that I get from playing either DOOM or DOOM 2...not allot going on besides running through doors and killing things...sounds like a good day to me. Basilisk does add those certain things that make you feel like you're actually going on some sort of quest with a larger purpose. Depends on your mood I guess lol. I have to say I also enjoy the add ons that have been writen for DARK FORT. I'm thinking of trying to jot down my own odds and ends. My goal I think would be to make it a bit more difficult as you level up. Possibly having the room table involve more chances for combat encounters. Possibly having the roster of monsters change with each character level that involves an increase of HP or a special weapon...I dunno. I just think its simplicity leaves allot of room for improv and I like that. Awesome video as always!! Really enjoy your channel and the podcast. Curious when we're going to get another episode of the podcast!?!?...I've already burned through them all on commutes to work...some of them more than twice lol. Keep it up!! Cheers.
Given that Dark Fort is mainly on a d6, I made the rooms table a 2d6, and same with each monster table. I used the Mork Borg monster generator in feretory to come up with the monster names and then made the stats similar to original monsters. 2 and 12 were the crazy options.
I thought Dark Fort was just an introduction to MB and I never thought of it as a stand alone game. I did enjoy the concept of Dark Fort but like you it was really basic and did not hold my attention very long. Now I am off to download Basilisk to give that a try, it looks like a lot of fun.
I do not remember! Haven't played it since shortly after making this video. Sorry. If you're on the DD FB Group, maybe ask there? The creator is active there.
Designer here! Thanks you for this great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed playing.
Regarding left, right & ahead: this is in some ways a deliberate tribute to Dungeon Quest, where the tiles you lay have an entry point. Left, right & ahead in BASILISK! are always relative to the direction you have entered the room from. Having a conventional compass would mean a larger table for all possible combinations of N,S,E,W or more rolls for exits - but you're always going to be coming from an open direction leaving only three other possibilities. Left = North, Ahead = East, Right = South is a neat solution although in this instance a crossroad would be the only chance to move west, and I sort of like how the dungeon can potentially sprawl in precisely the WRONG direction and then force characters to seek secret doors, throw themselves into teleport traps, or find magical solutions to progress.
Thanks for mentioning the missing test/challenge rules - I updated the PDF on Itch a couple of days ago! D'oh! :)
Hi, is Solitary defilement also available in your itch io?
Yep, found it! 🙌
Thanks for clearing up the direction rules. That makes sense!
One question: Do you roll for a new monster on a previously cleared room? Do traps reset?
@@SwordAgainstChaos no. A room is cleared once empty of traps or enemies. Unless you search and reveal another. Otherwise the game is even harder to beat!
The font used for 'Dark Fort' reminds me a lot of old RPG products. I think The Fantasy Trip used it as well. I think perhaps it was the only fantasy-looking font readily available on Letraset, which was pretty much the only low-budget way to get fancy fonts at the time if you didn't draw the letters yourself.
Hey Daniel!
Just wanted to say thanks for getting me into the world of solo board games! I picked up Mork Borg and the solitary defilement and can't wait to get started.
I have been enjoying Dark Fort and have died too many times lol. Just wanted to point out that there is actually an 'expansion' on itch called "Darker Forts" , which was created by the same guy that made the "Goblin Grinder" campaign on Feretory. It adds 3 new characters and dungeons, I haven't picked it up just yet, but thought you'd be interested in that.
Always look forward to your videos and love learning about the world of solo RPGs and board games. My wallet hurts ever since discovering your channel but so worth after discovering so many amazing gems that I can't stop playing. I have picked up Iron Helm and all expansions including Iron Chest! Tin Helm, Mini Rogue and Elder Sign. Eyeing a few Solo RPGs online too.
Keep up the amazing work Daniel and a great review as always
Right on!
Thx for this review! Downloading Basilisk! as soon as I get home!!
As for direction, It’s relative to the way you enter the room… as you won’t be able to roll a door behind you.., so ahead is the wall opposite the door you entered through, left is left of that entrance door, right is right of that entrance.
At least that’s what I would think
If you have fixed compass, when you enter a room from the south and you roll south… it’s a dead end. If you used your fixed system it would increase the chances of a dead end, where as the games chance makes a dead end very rare.
Yep! Issue solved by the designer awhile ago. Thanks!
Laminating the map card is a brilliant idea.
I really enjoy playing DARK FORT even though its pretty basic. For me its the same kindof satisfaction that I get from playing either DOOM or DOOM 2...not allot going on besides running through doors and killing things...sounds like a good day to me. Basilisk does add those certain things that make you feel like you're actually going on some sort of quest with a larger purpose. Depends on your mood I guess lol. I have to say I also enjoy the add ons that have been writen for DARK FORT. I'm thinking of trying to jot down my own odds and ends. My goal I think would be to make it a bit more difficult as you level up. Possibly having the room table involve more chances for combat encounters. Possibly having the roster of monsters change with each character level that involves an increase of HP or a special weapon...I dunno. I just think its simplicity leaves allot of room for improv and I like that. Awesome video as always!! Really enjoy your channel and the podcast. Curious when we're going to get another episode of the podcast!?!?...I've already burned through them all on commutes to work...some of them more than twice lol. Keep it up!! Cheers.
Given that Dark Fort is mainly on a d6, I made the rooms table a 2d6, and same with each monster table. I used the Mork Borg monster generator in feretory to come up with the monster names and then made the stats similar to original monsters. 2 and 12 were the crazy options.
Awesome vid! 👍
Would you dare meet the gaze of the basilisk
Or face the flames as the phoenix burns?
Yay! First thumbs up and comment. Excellent review as always!
Yay! Thank you!
I thought Dark Fort was just an introduction to MB and I never thought of it as a stand alone game. I did enjoy the concept of Dark Fort but like you it was really basic and did not hold my attention very long. Now I am off to download Basilisk to give that a try, it looks like a lot of fun.
From what I understand, it was a stand alone game that inspired MB.
how did I miss this vid?
Probably because I post too many videos. ;)
NOPE!
Hi, Daniel. Basilisk question. Once a character has cleared a room, does the room remain clear for other characters who pass through it later?
I do not remember! Haven't played it since shortly after making this video. Sorry. If you're on the DD FB Group, maybe ask there? The creator is active there.
@@TheDungeonDive Thanks anyway, Daniel. We've already made a ruling on it that we're pleased with. Merry Yule!