Enjoying this content? You can support the channel by donating on PayPal: paypal.me/geekgamersDeborah get SOLO GAME MASTER'S GUIDE: US customers: tinyurl.com/yckpsrxe UK customers: tinyurl.com/ykarakda get RANDOM HEXCRAWL BOOK: tinyurl.com/5cj3d4jc get RANDOM DUNGEONS book: lfosr.com/product/a-place-underground/
Wow! Your taste in these old games is so close to my own! I just played this a few months ago (although I used the redesigned tiles (old eyes)). I love your series of videos covering these old games. Keep them coming! p.s. I noticed that you're using the party sheet I put together and posted on BGG!
Oh, hey there. Yes I was using that party sheet and I credited you with your BGG handle. Thanks for that. I'm really glad you are enjoying my series of videos. It's so fun to revisit these games and discover some of them for the first time too. This is a game I find myself returning to over the years. Despite its simplicity it becomes very involving.
I play this with my own printed version. No frills. I printed the files from BGG - laminated the pages, stuck them to sticky-foamcore board 5mm. Took the dungeon tiles also from BGG and made them 3cm square. I do allow survivors to go down again with new recruits. It is simple but play can be quite varied. Traps are a real nuisance - have had a double trap with two explosions that nearly wiped the whole party. I have used failed trap-disabling just inflicting 1 wound so long as the disabler has some detrapping skill. I also use Leonardo's party sheet and the additional rules but not tried new character classes - becomes too involved. I agree it is great because within a few minutes an adventure can be underway and it can all be put away quickly.
I loved this game back in 1979, and ended up getting Citadel of Blood too. Those games really don't compare with modern ones like 4AD and D100 Dungeon, but back then this game was a great solo dungeon crawl. I used to name characters after co-workers, and I would always put my bosses in the front row so they would be the ones most likely to get killed!
I know this is nearly a year old video but thank you for it. after watching a couple days ago i found a copy of Death Maze on E-bay. I can barely wait to get it. Thank you again.
No need to apologize for commenting on a year-old video I made about a 40-year-old game. 😏 it remains one of my all-time favorites and in fact it is time for me to play it again soon. Thanks for watching and commenting and enjoy the game!
This, Citadel Of Blood, AD&D 3.5, The Fantasy Trip and Sorcerer's Cave were my first dungeon delve experiences. This brought back memories - thanks (I'll watch your Citadel Of Blood next...I probably played that one more than DeathMaze).
Thanks for watching and commenting. Once I had gotten this back out nothing could stop me from going into the Citadel. (I have a soft spot for Death'Maze but Citadel really does offer more.) These games , as with the ones you mention, are so compelling. What great entries into the genre for anyone!
The first experience I had with a dungeon were with the Fighting Fantasy book: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain from the early 80's. I have never looked back since. Except to look for backstabbing thieves. ;)
Such a great game, and very nostalgic. Kind of amazed this one (or Citadel of Blood) never got a modern reprint. Like many Costikyan designs, they still hold up well even in 2020.
A very nice "Kill the Monster, Take their Loot" game. I will have to look this up to see if I can get a copy, I remember see the game advertised and on the shelves back in the 80's but never picked it up. Thanx for another great video.
Nice video! I was researching the game when I came upon your video. There is a nice update to this in BGG and is free to download. You have confirmed that I NEED this one. Cheers!!
Glad you enjoyed. Doubt I’d play with anything but my original but I didn’t know about the update and will look up. Thanks for the tip. I also did a vid on its sister game, Citadel of Blood.
DM was one of my 1st games too. I barely have most of the original stuff. Luckily I found a used copy online. I played a lot of hours of Death Maze back in the day. Still enjoy it for its simplicity today.
Finally got my PnP copy played this past week and ended up playing it multiple times. Managed to successfully extract one hero so far, who leveled up and then sadly perished in the following dungeon. Really a fun little game that begs for some house rules and fan-made content.
Wow, that was very forward-thinking in 1979 of the designers to have the option to play female characters. Good on them! Like you say, it's still a big deal now too, 40 years later... But I think things are definitely getting better on that front.
Helen Slater They are getting better but I’m still really disappointed when I see the artwork on so many female characters in games. Really I’d rather just see men if the option is a woman fighting just wearing a tiny bra. Sign.
Helen Slater I have pointed this out to designers after the fact and have been amazed that they are like “oh yeah we should have thought of that”. huh?!!
This game is very reminiscent of the early D and D games where each type of opponent has a treasure type. It had tables for dungeon generation wondering monsters Etc. it was a real simple version of this game and needed some polishing but you could draw up a random dungeon and stock it fairly quickly for the DM to use on the fly. Are used to just use it as a dungeon crawl solo.
It amazes me how the very basic exploration of dungeon/getting stuff can drive a game forward even with the most basic game mechanics. It's just such a strong basis for narrative and imaginative play. Who doesnt like creeping around in the dark and finding treasures and killing monsters!?
Great presentation! Like the Original Grognard I really like your channel and look forward to each new video!! Splendid tutorial on how this game works would like to see more videos take this approach. I really prefer the older games to the new ones in my opinion. Please continue to make more videos and hopefully inspire others to start playing these kind of games.
Thanks so much for the comment. I've got a closet full of old games and hope to get to as many as I can, interspersed with some newer ones too. I love the old stuff so much!
GRRREAT review of a great fun game. I had 'Citadel of Blood' but sold it a couple years ago. If you are interested in similar 'dungeon crawls' like this take a look at a game Games Workshop (yes..that GW) did a few years later (1985 maybe) called "Dungeon Quest" and then in the early 2000s a company called Atlas Games released a series of card decks that were a 'build your own dungeon' style game play. they did like 8 or 9 decks. I own 2 of them...that may be the subject of a future video.
Thanks, OG, I was hoping you'd like this. I'm not familiar with the games you mention but will look into them for sure. I'm motivated to take out Citadel but probably won't do a vid on it anytime soon...
FFG produced newer versions of Dungeon quest, in recent years, with better looking components. They did a second run, called the "Revised" edition, which has a slightly improved method for combat resolution but is otherwise exactly the same. It can still be found, new, at some retail outlets. I haven't bothered to break out my old 80s GW version since getting a newer FFG one. Both of those FFG versions also include the content from the original '80s version's expansion pack.
The Original Grognard Actually, GW's DungeonQuest is just a 'remake/re-skin' of a Swedish game called Drakborgen. By the cardgame series released by Atlas Games, you mean the Dungeoneer sets?
Looks like the grandfather of tile laying dungeon crawlers such as Delve and DungeonQuest. Nice bit of history I didn't know about. Looks more D&D focused though with the characters etc.
There are limited character stats and while there is a rules-based provision for some advancement if you do a campaign, that always seemed more of a nod to what rpgers might want/expect than a real expectation for play. You could import some D&D basic rules onto this system for sure. And yes if not representing the actual point of origin for these games, pretty darn close (1979).
This was one of the first fantesy type games I ever bought ... I remember buying at .... Drum roll please .... TOYS R US .... In Roseville michigan !! It was the actual boxed version .... Paid $3.99 back in the day .... My receipt was still in the box .... 1981 ..... I recall seeing all the boxes games from SPI on a rack .... Wanted to but "Deamons" " cititdel of blood" .... But sadly as a kid of 13 at the time ... All I had was $4.00 bucks !!! It's a fun game you could play solo .... I recall actually using the basic rules to make my own FRP game .... This game is still kinda fun ... The actual game is available out there ... But the actual game ... Which is about 40 years old .... Is expensive ask heck ... Seen them in e bay for $75.00 to $100.00 bucks !! Reprints of the rules are out there and there is a source o. Line where they make the counters ....
Wow what a great memory! Not sure I mentioned this in the vid but I got mine in a game store bin (I'm pretty sure) with a bunch of metagaming microgames. They were discounted to $2 in the back of the store--it was the late 80s. Good time.s
@@GeekGamers01 I bought mine around 1981, also in a bin. I paid about 5 bucks back then, but the box artwork was cool so I grabbed it. Still have it, but haven’t played it in years. I might pull it out with these new additions. SPI had a lot of great games,, Dragon Quest is especially great in my opinion. Unfortunately TSR bought SPI and quietly buried their catalogue, but thankfully you can find most stuff on the net in PDF format. Keep the reviews coming!
@@lerxstdirkst6181 A good grab on both our parts! I've actually never played Dragon Quest (tho I have others like Dragon Strike). Glad you enjoyed the vid.
@@GeekGamers01 Dragon Quest was SPI’s take on D&D. Player creation, combat rules, magic rules, monster section, skills section, all in one book. You can get it online at various sites if you’re into those kinda games, a lot of people still play it. I play it online every week with friends.
For starters DeathMaze is not a pen and paper game. It’s a board game, albeit with 30+ year old components. It’s a randomized dungeon like the others but it’s otherwise unlike the others. Hard to say whether there would be “value” to you because that depends on what you seek. DeathMaze is a very old game and it’s rules (and aforementioned components) show that.
Yes I’ve been interested in that tho another viewer thought I might find it too simplistic. I do like it’s name and retro look however. If one fell in my lap I’d certainly play it.
@@GeekGamers01 Gotcha gotcha. Another recommendation I have for you is Dungeon in a Tin, a print-and-play that's a similar concept as well. It's from a 2011 BGG competition to create a game that could fit on a piece of paper and it won third place: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/90730/dungeon-tin I haven't played any of these mind you, I've only been doing online research on which GM-less dungeon crawlers to buy, which is how I stumbled upon this video. My copy of Bag of Dungeon should arrive tomorrow and I'm also considering purchasing Deck Box Dungeon and DungeonQuest. And I want to try printing and creating DeathMaze as a craft project, in addition to Dungeon in a Tin.
En el 91' jugué este juego de unos primos, me entretuvo mucho, era muy divertido, lo malo es que se quemo en un accidente junto con varios libros de rol.
Llib Blanco It might not be too hard to get this game again either by buying a used copy or constructing one from files you can find around the Internet.
Yes there are so many ways to "improve" the components here and I think people have posted lots of that stuff. I find enjoyment in taking the originals out for a spin but I can see how larger tiles would be better. I could also see that--for the right person who does miniatures--you could model this whole thing in 3D.
Thanks for the in depth review. This is one of my first dungeon delvers I ever played and while it may not be that pretty to look at,it certainly is a classic that shouldn't be forgotten Get everything you need here for FREE to play Deathmaze + the Expansion. www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3625/deathmaze
Enjoying this content? You can support the channel by donating on PayPal: paypal.me/geekgamersDeborah
get SOLO GAME MASTER'S GUIDE:
US customers: tinyurl.com/yckpsrxe
UK customers: tinyurl.com/ykarakda
get RANDOM HEXCRAWL BOOK: tinyurl.com/5cj3d4jc
get RANDOM DUNGEONS book: lfosr.com/product/a-place-underground/
Wow! Your taste in these old games is so close to my own! I just played this a few months ago (although I used the redesigned tiles (old eyes)). I love your series of videos covering these old games. Keep them coming! p.s. I noticed that you're using the party sheet I put together and posted on BGG!
Oh, hey there. Yes I was using that party sheet and I credited you with your BGG handle. Thanks for that.
I'm really glad you are enjoying my series of videos. It's so fun to revisit these games and discover some of them for the first time too. This is a game I find myself returning to over the years. Despite its simplicity it becomes very involving.
I play this with my own printed version. No frills. I printed the files from BGG - laminated the pages, stuck them to sticky-foamcore board 5mm. Took the dungeon tiles also from BGG and made them 3cm square. I do allow survivors to go down again with new recruits. It is simple but play can be quite varied. Traps are a real nuisance - have had a double trap with two explosions that nearly wiped the whole party. I have used failed trap-disabling just inflicting 1 wound so long as the disabler has some detrapping skill. I also use Leonardo's party sheet and the additional rules but not tried new character classes - becomes too involved. I agree it is great because within a few minutes an adventure can be underway and it can all be put away quickly.
Yes, I agree that this is open to adding/subtracting in terms of what you do and the rules. Also it's great that it truly fits in a little baggie.
I loved this game back in 1979, and ended up getting Citadel of Blood too. Those games really don't compare with modern ones like 4AD and D100 Dungeon, but back then this game was a great solo dungeon crawl. I used to name characters after co-workers, and I would always put my bosses in the front row so they would be the ones most likely to get killed!
Well that is really funny! Thanks for sharing that!
I know this is nearly a year old video but thank you for it. after watching a couple days ago i found a copy of Death Maze on E-bay. I can barely wait to get it. Thank you again.
No need to apologize for commenting on a year-old video I made about a 40-year-old game. 😏 it remains one of my all-time favorites and in fact it is time for me to play it again soon. Thanks for watching and commenting and enjoy the game!
This, Citadel Of Blood, AD&D 3.5, The Fantasy Trip and Sorcerer's Cave were my first dungeon delve experiences. This brought back memories - thanks (I'll watch your Citadel Of Blood next...I probably played that one more than DeathMaze).
Thanks for watching and commenting. Once I had gotten this back out nothing could stop me from going into the Citadel. (I have a soft spot for Death'Maze but Citadel really does offer more.) These games , as with the ones you mention, are so compelling. What great entries into the genre for anyone!
The first experience I had with a dungeon were with the Fighting Fantasy book: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain from the early 80's. I have never looked back since. Except to look for backstabbing thieves. ;)
Thanks for mentioning The Sorcerer's Cave! That and The Mystic Wood are like this and Citadel of Blood, sharing many similarities, too.
Such a great game, and very nostalgic. Kind of amazed this one (or Citadel of Blood) never got a modern reprint. Like many Costikyan designs, they still hold up well even in 2020.
Rich McGee You make great points and I agree with them!
A very nice "Kill the Monster, Take their Loot" game. I will have to look this up to see if I can get a copy, I remember see the game advertised and on the shelves back in the 80's but never picked it up. Thanx for another great video.
Glad you enjoyed it and yes that's exactly what you get here in a unique little package.
Nice video! I was researching the game when I came upon your video. There is a nice update to this in BGG and is free to download. You have confirmed that I NEED this one. Cheers!!
Glad you enjoyed. Doubt I’d play with anything but my original but I didn’t know about the update and will look up. Thanks for the tip. I also did a vid on its sister game, Citadel of Blood.
DM was one of my 1st games too. I barely have most of the original stuff. Luckily I found a used copy online. I played a lot of hours of Death Maze back in the day. Still enjoy it for its simplicity today.
Great that you found a copy. Still this is one of my favorite games after all these decades (and much more fancy games that do the 'same' thing).
Finally got my PnP copy played this past week and ended up playing it multiple times. Managed to successfully extract one hero so far, who leveled up and then sadly perished in the following dungeon. Really a fun little game that begs for some house rules and fan-made content.
Wow, that was very forward-thinking in 1979 of the designers to have the option to play female characters. Good on them! Like you say, it's still a big deal now too, 40 years later... But I think things are definitely getting better on that front.
Helen Slater They are getting better but I’m still really disappointed when I see the artwork on so many female characters in games. Really I’d rather just see men if the option is a woman fighting just wearing a tiny bra. Sign.
@@GeekGamers01 Sadly that's true... Female characters fighting in their underwear is still way too prevalent.
Helen Slater I have pointed this out to designers after the fact and have been amazed that they are like “oh yeah we should have thought of that”. huh?!!
This game is very reminiscent of the early D and D games where each type of opponent has a treasure type. It had tables for dungeon generation wondering monsters Etc. it was a real simple version of this game and needed some polishing but you could draw up a random dungeon and stock it fairly quickly for the DM to use on the fly. Are used to just use it as a dungeon crawl solo.
It amazes me how the very basic exploration of dungeon/getting stuff can drive a game forward even with the most basic game mechanics. It's just such a strong basis for narrative and imaginative play. Who doesnt like creeping around in the dark and finding treasures and killing monsters!?
Dang, I wonder if I still have this game? Nice throwback for sure. Thanks.
Great presentation! Like the Original Grognard I really like your channel and look forward to each new video!! Splendid tutorial on how this game works would like to see more videos take this approach. I really prefer the older games to the new ones in my opinion. Please continue to make more videos and hopefully inspire others to start playing these kind of games.
Thanks so much for the comment. I've got a closet full of old games and hope to get to as many as I can, interspersed with some newer ones too. I love the old stuff so much!
GRRREAT review of a great fun game. I had 'Citadel of Blood' but sold it a couple years ago. If you are interested in similar 'dungeon crawls' like this take a look at a game Games Workshop (yes..that GW) did a few years later (1985 maybe) called "Dungeon Quest" and then in the early 2000s a company called Atlas Games released a series of card decks that were a 'build your own dungeon' style game play. they did like 8 or 9 decks. I own 2 of them...that may be the subject of a future video.
Thanks, OG, I was hoping you'd like this. I'm not familiar with the games you mention but will look into them for sure. I'm motivated to take out Citadel but probably won't do a vid on it anytime soon...
FFG produced newer versions of Dungeon quest, in recent years, with better looking components. They did a second run, called the "Revised" edition, which has a slightly improved method for combat resolution but is otherwise exactly the same. It can still be found, new, at some retail outlets.
I haven't bothered to break out my old 80s GW version since getting a newer FFG one.
Both of those FFG versions also include the content from the original '80s version's expansion pack.
The Original Grognard Actually, GW's DungeonQuest is just a 'remake/re-skin' of a Swedish game called Drakborgen. By the cardgame series released by Atlas Games, you mean the Dungeoneer sets?
Looks like the grandfather of tile laying dungeon crawlers such as Delve and DungeonQuest. Nice bit of history I didn't know about. Looks more D&D focused though with the characters etc.
There are limited character stats and while there is a rules-based provision for some advancement if you do a campaign, that always seemed more of a nod to what rpgers might want/expect than a real expectation for play.
You could import some D&D basic rules onto this system for sure. And yes if not representing the actual point of origin for these games, pretty darn close (1979).
Great video again. I need to find this one on ebay :-) I think you would enjoy the new "Sword & sorcery" game that recently was released.
Hey Kent. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks, too, for your suggestion. I will absolutely look into that game!
This was one of the first fantesy type games I ever bought ... I remember buying at .... Drum roll please .... TOYS R US .... In Roseville michigan !! It was the actual boxed version .... Paid $3.99 back in the day .... My receipt was still in the box .... 1981 ..... I recall seeing all the boxes games from SPI on a rack .... Wanted to but "Deamons" " cititdel of blood" .... But sadly as a kid of 13 at the time ... All I had was $4.00 bucks !!! It's a fun game you could play solo .... I recall actually using the basic rules to make my own FRP game .... This game is still kinda fun ... The actual game is available out there ... But the actual game ... Which is about 40 years old .... Is expensive ask heck ... Seen them in e bay for $75.00 to $100.00 bucks !! Reprints of the rules are out there and there is a source o. Line where they make the counters ....
Wow what a great memory! Not sure I mentioned this in the vid but I got mine in a game store bin (I'm pretty sure) with a bunch of metagaming microgames. They were discounted to $2 in the back of the store--it was the late 80s. Good time.s
@@GeekGamers01 I bought mine around 1981, also in a bin. I paid about 5 bucks back then, but the box artwork was cool so I grabbed it. Still have it, but haven’t played it in years. I might pull it out with these new additions. SPI had a lot of great games,, Dragon Quest is especially great in my opinion. Unfortunately TSR bought SPI and quietly buried their catalogue, but thankfully you can find most stuff on the net in PDF format. Keep the reviews coming!
@@lerxstdirkst6181 A good grab on both our parts! I've actually never played Dragon Quest (tho I have others like Dragon Strike). Glad you enjoyed the vid.
@@GeekGamers01 Dragon Quest was SPI’s take on D&D. Player creation, combat rules, magic rules, monster section, skills section, all in one book. You can get it online at various sites if you’re into those kinda games, a lot of people still play it. I play it online every week with friends.
How does this compare to D100 Dungeon or Four Against Darkness? I own both, so would there be any value in obtaining DeathMaze?
For starters DeathMaze is not a pen and paper game. It’s a board game, albeit with 30+ year old components.
It’s a randomized dungeon like the others but it’s otherwise unlike the others. Hard to say whether there would be “value” to you because that depends on what you seek. DeathMaze is a very old game and it’s rules (and aforementioned components) show that.
Check out Bag of Dungeon, it's a new game but it has a retro feel and it's very similar to this game (modular dungeon tiles).
Yes I’ve been interested in that tho another viewer thought I might find it too simplistic. I do like it’s name and retro look however. If one fell in my lap I’d certainly play it.
@@GeekGamers01 Gotcha gotcha. Another recommendation I have for you is Dungeon in a Tin, a print-and-play that's a similar concept as well. It's from a 2011 BGG competition to create a game that could fit on a piece of paper and it won third place:
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/90730/dungeon-tin
I haven't played any of these mind you, I've only been doing online research on which GM-less dungeon crawlers to buy, which is how I stumbled upon this video. My copy of Bag of Dungeon should arrive tomorrow and I'm also considering purchasing Deck Box Dungeon and DungeonQuest. And I want to try printing and creating DeathMaze as a craft project, in addition to Dungeon in a Tin.
sacas todos los juegos que me gustaban de joven.gracias
Alvaro Reservista Voluntario Llopez Navarro estoy muy contento y gracias por eacribir
where did you get the deathmaze party sheet ?!
Can’t remember for sure but did you look on the files section of BGG for this game? That’s usually where I go first for supplemental game stuff.
En el 91' jugué este juego de unos primos, me entretuvo mucho, era muy divertido, lo malo es que se quemo en un accidente junto con varios libros de rol.
Llib Blanco It might not be too hard to get this game again either by buying a used copy or constructing one from files you can find around the Internet.
Great Demo!!!
en España haciamos los tiles grandes y molaba mucho.imaginacion nos sobraba
Yes there are so many ways to "improve" the components here and I think people have posted lots of that stuff. I find enjoyment in taking the originals out for a spin but I can see how larger tiles would be better. I could also see that--for the right person who does miniatures--you could model this whole thing in 3D.
Thanks for the in depth review.
This is one of my first dungeon delvers I ever played and while it may not be that pretty to look at,it certainly is a classic that shouldn't be forgotten
Get everything you need here for FREE to play Deathmaze + the Expansion.
www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3625/deathmaze