WOW Knowing this is a one person company, I almost feel bad for changing my address in the pledge manager, now realizing it was the designer who personally reached out to me informing my address had been updated and thanked me for the purchase. This one dude was literally doing everything. I.cannot.imagine.the dedication and passion it would take to be that guy. Well done! I admire him, and can't wait to play his masterpiece.
Excellent review! This is very close to my experiences with AHQ… the Henchmen/Companion rules, the crunchiness among others …the overall depth is fantastic…I can’t wait to get my copy of this!
Good review! I personally find it too much to manage 4 full heroes in this game. But I’m not as smart as most other gamers. :) for me this game shines with 4 players each playing 1 hero.
Amazing review, glad you took the time to show this much of the game AND to _really_ talk about your experience with it so far and what you're feeling about it!
Great review as always. I have streamlined games and DC games. But I do like these old school styled games. Takes me back to my 1970’s D&D days. I have Universalis so will be looking forward to adding this to my collection.
Great review! I loved your overview of the core mechanics, and seeing your take on what worked well and might be more ‘crunchy’ so to speak. I am so looking forward to getting my own copy! Huge kudos to Micheal, the game designer, for creating something that seems near-universally loved in our community. 👍🍾
Great review, I have a much better understanding of how it plays and am looking forward to my copy arriving. I also have DUN, I am wondering if I will need both long term. Theme variation, I don’t think anything is going to replace Brimstone for me, especially if Adventures ever arrives. I do wish Brimstone storage was simpler, but brimstone storage is a hobby in itself. Now back to playing ATO!!
This really does look cool, and I'm with you: it's great that someone has made a hex-crawler. In fact, if I squint and look sideways it sort of reminds me of the _HEXplore_ _It_ games, though the two games have different sweet spots for sure.
There is.... even more so with the expansion where you can specialize at level 5. But, even before that you have control over the various stats and skills you can take. It is possible to kind of gimp yourself a little bit, so you have to be careful. I would say a jack-of-all trades is tricky, but if you have a strong rest of the party, it's doable.
@@DriveThruReview sounds good, the problem I have with most dungeon crawls out there is lack of choices in character depth, how you build your character etc. it is looking like league of dungeoneers may finally solve that issue.
Thank you for a great review. I am just deciding on baking the reprint and this helped me a lot. Could you please just add few words on the companions please? I know you said you prefer the full character party, but would a use of companions work as the publisher says: significant decrease of bookkeeping with maintained playability? I am especially interested in fact, whether the companions can fully substitute the characters (eg hired thief companion) and their use will not make the game more difficult.
I've still not tried the companions. All of my recent games have been with folks in my game group with at least two of us playing. It's definitely not too much bookkeeping with even just one other player. Solo, it MIGHT verge on too much overhead, but I honestly never felt it once I got the hang of it.
Thanks for the thorough walk-through! I'll keep my eye out for a second printing. Are points of interest generated on the hex map as you play? Because the bottom 2/3 of the map looks completely empty.
It has several points of interest, but it can also be pretty randomized. It's all there, but it's really hard to see on the neoprene with the camera. It's not so so bad in person, but there are like 40-50 points all over the map. :)
Thanks for the review ! Can't wait for it ! Even if you push me to fall in the DIY Warhammer quest with your last vidéo (trying with a Cursed city base to add all sort of factions and a dungeon mode with the WQ95 tiles and many others from the website you gave at 133%(4cm squares)).
Ive been looking for a game like WHQ 1995 (as I dont own it any more) and so I heard this would be a possible contender so I also backed it a while back
Seems kind of like Warhammer Quest and Advanced HeroQuest folded into one and more complicated than either. I would totally be interested if I didn't already have both of the before mentioned games. Too crunchy I think for me to manage.
It’s not really the point of this style of game. The quests have (I think serviceable to good) narrative. There is not “really” any larger arc to the game or the quests, but there is a thread that runs through all the things… the quests, the personal narrative goals, and so on. But, it’s not some grand epic like Descent: Legends of the Dark or something like that.
A good review as always) but I have to disagree on two points - the first "tutorial" at least for me was quite easy, however, the second one, in the dungeon with the big rat was REALLY hard, as on a d10 enemies in the final room I rolled 9, and on the third I had to retreat from the FIRST room, as a couple of wights with armor 4 (considering that an avarge weapon deals 1d8 damage, i had to roll above 5 to deal at lest some damage) almost TPK me, and there was supposed to be 1d6 of them, so this game can be very random The second point is: well, in my opinion, the game actually needs a few more components, like weapon and item cards, talent&perk cards, it is very tedious to check the rulebook what does every single item that you have, and if you just write it down on the back side of the character sheet, as you're supposed, you are going to forget about it altogether. That's why I'm making some custom cards for the game, you can find them on bgg in the variants section.
Weird question - How important is it to differentiate between the different colored d6’s? Are the dice referenced by color in the rules? Or do you some time roll 2d6 or 3d6 and need to know which roll is which? I have some credit with Wyrmwood and was considering using it on some fancy size for this game. If I get these, they will all be the same color/gem stone.
It's at least useful for making rolls more efficient. For example, when you roll for monster activation... One D6 will determine special or normal activation and another will determine normal or power attack. So rolling both at once, designating one color for each category, just makes that more effecient.
I have... attempted it... but for me it didn't quite fit right. I still want to give it another go, but for me that game works really well just rolling up random stuff and jumping right in.
Hi, I am about to receive my copy of LoD. I've been reading the rulebook and watching videos. I have very much enjoyed listening to the details of your review. I have a question for you: Compared to the Brimstone series, I think that LoD is more of a game of skill. Would you agree? -toby
That’s a good question. I think you are probably right there. There is a little bit more of a skill ceiling with LoD, but it’s not TOO much higher. In both games I think the skill of compiling your party’s build is the main focus. The turn to turn tactics are pretty straight forward.
I've not got to that content yet. I actually restarted a campaign to kind of come at it fresh with the knowledge I've picked up. I was getting to the point where I would start exploring the Ancient Lands and restarted. As I understand, it's kind of the "end game" content.
@@NATIVES1N I don't think "need" is true. There's a ton of stuff in the box without it... I'm actually right now trying to figure out what that "expansion" actually has when got separately. It looks like it's just some tiles and cards. If are getting the extra quest book with what you ordered, then you will have a bucketload of content and could play without even touching the ancient lands stuff... because it looks to me like you'll still be getting the desert travel events etc... so you can even just substitute non-desert themed room tiles... I'm not 100% on how it all plugs in together.
They seem to be kinda sorta different from each other from what I've seen, it's just the theme of "fantasy dungeon-crawling" that are the same? But they play out very differently and DUN looks to me like more of a somewhat scripted, very long campaign game that will be at its best when there's a GM. Whereas LOD is more about random encounters, roleplaying and character development during a shorter amount of time. I think Rob had a really good comparison of the two, saying that there's definitely room for both games because they will scratch a different itch!
@@DriveThruReview Thank you. One of the praises I heard about Dungeon Universalis was the ability of creating your own adventure. How is that here in LOD?
@@Mussar523 I wouldn't say it's baked into the rules or anything like DUN is, but since much of it procedurally generated (including the scale of the monsters and so on), it would honestly be pretty easy to come up with stories to pepper the world.
11:48 Can you give us any information on price and availability please? It's remarkably compact for such a great value! Is the shown storage theirs or yours? i was sold as soon as you lifted up the Mostrous Manual! xD Games are lookin' up, but unlike my current favorite this one has a LOT of bang for the buck! I love G.I. JOE MIssion Critical, for me, it's Neo MageKnight, but my GODS to they gouge ya'! One of the expansions is a *single* mini and card! o.o i can already see that if i miss this, it's another Shadows of Brimstione/Black Fortress scenario! That's why i had to cut down on my board gaming F.o.M.O/P.T.S.D. does not make for a fun emothional cocktail......... i knew better than to click on this but i just had a *feeling* about what it was (Duh, that's a Great Name!) Like finds like. After all, i somehow *didn't* miss G.I. JOE: Mission Critical and that game is about as popular as Bob Remus at the height of Dessert Shield. xD
Right now.. there are going to be very limited copies hitting retail from what I understand, and then another printing is being worked on (ETA unknown). The storage is all part of the game.
I've seen this game mentioned a bunch lately and was thinking, "I hope Joel reviews this." It's great to get a full overview in one sitting.
This is the best ,most thorough review of this game yet!! Well Done!
WOW
Knowing this is a one person company, I almost feel bad for changing my address in the pledge manager, now realizing it was the designer who personally reached out to me informing my address had been updated and thanked me for the purchase. This one dude was literally doing everything. I.cannot.imagine.the dedication and passion it would take to be that guy. Well done! I admire him, and can't wait to play his masterpiece.
Just got my frosthaven, but I'm more excited for this
ditto
Excellent review! This is very close to my experiences with AHQ… the Henchmen/Companion rules, the crunchiness among others …the overall depth is fantastic…I can’t wait to get my copy of this!
A friend backed this game and after watching this video I'm even more excited to give it a go! Thanks for the in-depth coverage!
Good review! I personally find it too much to manage 4 full heroes in this game. But I’m not as smart as most other gamers. :) for me this game shines with 4 players each playing 1 hero.
Amazing review, glad you took the time to show this much of the game AND to _really_ talk about your experience with it so far and what you're feeling about it!
Great review as always. I have streamlined games and DC games. But I do like these old school styled games. Takes me back to my 1970’s D&D days. I have Universalis so will be looking forward to adding this to my collection.
Thank you so much for this in depth,and exceptional review of this game. I missed out on this game,but I signed up for the reprint if he does one.
Great review! I loved your overview of the core mechanics, and seeing your take on what worked well and might be more ‘crunchy’ so to speak. I am so looking forward to getting my own copy! Huge kudos to Micheal, the game designer, for creating something that seems near-universally loved in our community. 👍🍾
Great review, I have a much better understanding of how it plays and am looking forward to my copy arriving. I also have DUN, I am wondering if I will need both long term. Theme variation, I don’t think anything is going to replace Brimstone for me, especially if Adventures ever arrives. I do wish Brimstone storage was simpler, but brimstone storage is a hobby in itself. Now back to playing ATO!!
good stuff. I am awaiting my advance copy to arrive. Looking forward to it
This really does look cool, and I'm with you: it's great that someone has made a hex-crawler. In fact, if I squint and look sideways it sort of reminds me of the _HEXplore_ _It_ games, though the two games have different sweet spots for sure.
How deep is the character customization? Like is there more than one way to build a warrior , a hunter etc….?
There is.... even more so with the expansion where you can specialize at level 5. But, even before that you have control over the various stats and skills you can take. It is possible to kind of gimp yourself a little bit, so you have to be careful. I would say a jack-of-all trades is tricky, but if you have a strong rest of the party, it's doable.
@@DriveThruReview sounds good, the problem I have with most dungeon crawls out there is lack of choices in character depth, how you build your character etc. it is looking like league of dungeoneers may finally solve that issue.
@@tiredguy2753 Yes. This definitely isn't "pick this character with pre-defined everything".
Thank you for a great review. I am just deciding on baking the reprint and this helped me a lot. Could you please just add few words on the companions please? I know you said you prefer the full character party, but would a use of companions work as the publisher says: significant decrease of bookkeeping with maintained playability? I am especially interested in fact, whether the companions can fully substitute the characters (eg hired thief companion) and their use will not make the game more difficult.
I've still not tried the companions. All of my recent games have been with folks in my game group with at least two of us playing. It's definitely not too much bookkeeping with even just one other player. Solo, it MIGHT verge on too much overhead, but I honestly never felt it once I got the hang of it.
Thanks for the thorough walk-through! I'll keep my eye out for a second printing. Are points of interest generated on the hex map as you play? Because the bottom 2/3 of the map looks completely empty.
It has several points of interest, but it can also be pretty randomized. It's all there, but it's really hard to see on the neoprene with the camera. It's not so so bad in person, but there are like 40-50 points all over the map. :)
Thanks for the review ! Can't wait for it ! Even if you push me to fall in the DIY Warhammer quest with your last vidéo (trying with a Cursed city base to add all sort of factions and a dungeon mode with the WQ95 tiles and many others from the website you gave at 133%(4cm squares)).
Haha. Glad I can help there :D
@@DriveThruReview Haha you didn't have to push to strong !
Awesome video! This helped me decide to back the campaign ending today. This game looks fantastic.
Hope you enjoy it!
Very curious how this will compare with Dungeon Universalis
Love the Dylan cover in the background :D
He’s going to be doing a second crowdfunding campaign on gamefound for an expansion and updated base game. I’m definitely going in on it!
Looking forward to it myself too!
Really good in depth look at the game. I'm so excited to be getting my copy soon!
Ive been looking for a game like WHQ 1995 (as I dont own it any more) and so I heard this would be a possible contender so I also backed it a while back
I know it's a video game, but Elden Ring also has the different strength requirement for 1h or 2h. It's a pretty neat mechanic.
After 5 months any additional thoughts? (Asking because the game found release for next printing was just announced)
Nothing much. Super excited about what I'm seeing for the expansion though.
@@DriveThruReview Snappy reply, really appreciate it!!!
Wow. Very positive review. My copy is en route (hopefully!)
That luck mechanic is exactly like Fate Points in old school Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. I loved that system.
Ya. It's very WFRP in a lot of ways :)
Seems kind of like Warhammer Quest and Advanced HeroQuest folded into one and more complicated than either. I would totally be interested if I didn't already have both of the before mentioned games. Too crunchy I think for me to manage.
This is a very very positive impression! Thank you!
How is the narrative and storytelling? Is it window dressing or something actually engaging with good twists and turns?
It’s not really the point of this style of game. The quests have (I think serviceable to good) narrative. There is not “really” any larger arc to the game or the quests, but there is a thread that runs through all the things… the quests, the personal narrative goals, and so on. But, it’s not some grand epic like Descent: Legends of the Dark or something like that.
Excellent review really helps me thanks so much I love this game so good 😊
A good review as always) but I have to disagree on two points - the first "tutorial" at least for me was quite easy, however, the second one, in the dungeon with the big rat was REALLY hard, as on a d10 enemies in the final room I rolled 9, and on the third I had to retreat from the FIRST room, as a couple of wights with armor 4 (considering that an avarge weapon deals 1d8 damage, i had to roll above 5 to deal at lest some damage) almost TPK me, and there was supposed to be 1d6 of them, so this game can be very random
The second point is: well, in my opinion, the game actually needs a few more components, like weapon and item cards, talent&perk cards, it is very tedious to check the rulebook what does every single item that you have, and if you just write it down on the back side of the character sheet, as you're supposed, you are going to forget about it altogether.
That's why I'm making some custom cards for the game, you can find them on bgg in the variants section.
Thanks for this. Nice review. Are you still enjoying it 8 months later?
100%. Can't wait for the new stuff... and my group is ready to start a fresh campaign in the meantime while we wait.
Weird question - How important is it to differentiate between the different colored d6’s? Are the dice referenced by color in the rules? Or do you some time roll 2d6 or 3d6 and need to know which roll is which?
I have some credit with Wyrmwood and was considering using it on some fancy size for this game. If I get these, they will all be the same color/gem stone.
It's at least useful for making rolls more efficient. For example, when you roll for monster activation... One D6 will determine special or normal activation and another will determine normal or power attack. So rolling both at once, designating one color for each category, just makes that more effecient.
Have you played Shadows of Brimstone with the HexCrawl campaign stuff?
I have... attempted it... but for me it didn't quite fit right. I still want to give it another go, but for me that game works really well just rolling up random stuff and jumping right in.
Great review! 👍
Hi, I am about to receive my copy of LoD. I've been reading the rulebook and watching videos. I have very much enjoyed listening to the details of your review. I have a question for you: Compared to the Brimstone series, I think that LoD is more of a game of skill. Would you agree? -toby
That’s a good question. I think you are probably right there. There is a little bit more of a skill ceiling with LoD, but it’s not TOO much higher. In both games I think the skill of compiling your party’s build is the main focus. The turn to turn tactics are pretty straight forward.
late pledge is currently available
I wonder where you would place Ranger of Shadowdeep, your number1 game of all time iirc regarding this one.
This one comes in around my #10 of all time.
thx for the reply.
Despite the material they seem to have a lot in common and its difficult to get into several complex games to the same degree.
@@FalkFlakYa. They do have similar vibes to be sure.
Amazing review! I’ve ordered almost everything except the ancient desert expansion. Do you recommend it??
I've not got to that content yet. I actually restarted a campaign to kind of come at it fresh with the knowledge I've picked up. I was getting to the point where I would start exploring the Ancient Lands and restarted. As I understand, it's kind of the "end game" content.
@@DriveThruReview so to that point, do we need the expansion then? Is the “end game”content available in the current rule book?
@@NATIVES1N I don't think "need" is true. There's a ton of stuff in the box without it... I'm actually right now trying to figure out what that "expansion" actually has when got separately. It looks like it's just some tiles and cards. If are getting the extra quest book with what you ordered, then you will have a bucketload of content and could play without even touching the ancient lands stuff... because it looks to me like you'll still be getting the desert travel events etc... so you can even just substitute non-desert themed room tiles... I'm not 100% on how it all plugs in together.
@@DriveThruReview sounds good! Thank you for the information!
Have you ever played Dngeon Universalis? Would love to hear your thoughts on that one and the comparison. And thank you for this one 🙏🏻
They seem to be kinda sorta different from each other from what I've seen, it's just the theme of "fantasy dungeon-crawling" that are the same? But they play out very differently and DUN looks to me like more of a somewhat scripted, very long campaign game that will be at its best when there's a GM.
Whereas LOD is more about random encounters, roleplaying and character development during a shorter amount of time.
I think Rob had a really good comparison of the two, saying that there's definitely room for both games because they will scratch a different itch!
I honestly did not care for DUN. This is kind of in that same vein, but much more focused and coherent.
Oh my how I can’t wait for this to show up!
Great overview of the game as usual. Thank you. I played dungeon universalis, which o e would you say is better?
I honestly did not care for DUN really. This one is more coherent and better presented in my opinion.
@@DriveThruReview I did not care for DUN as well. Character creation was fantastic but actual gameplay wasn’t.
Have you tried Dungeon Universalis
I have. Did not care for that one honestly.
@@DriveThruReview what do you like in LOD over DUN?
@@paulwastney5134 That's pretty long list. I didn't like anything about DUN honestly.
I cannot wait for this game to arrive!
Thank you for this review. This sounds interesting for sure. My question is how does this compare to dungeon universalis?
I honestly did not care for DUN. This is kind of in that same vein, but much more focused and coherent.
@@DriveThruReview Thank you. One of the praises I heard about Dungeon Universalis was the ability of creating your own adventure. How is that here in LOD?
@@Mussar523 I wouldn't say it's baked into the rules or anything like DUN is, but since much of it procedurally generated (including the scale of the monsters and so on), it would honestly be pretty easy to come up with stories to pepper the world.
Hi Joel, I'm after a good RPG board game. How does this compare to Hexplore It which is current on Gamefound?
Hexplore It is one that I have yet to try unfortunately. One day... But, this one definitely has a ton of RPG-esque elements to it.
Thanks for your reply, Joel.
11:48 Can you give us any information on price and availability please? It's remarkably compact for such a great value! Is the shown storage theirs or yours? i was sold as soon as you lifted up the Mostrous Manual! xD Games are lookin' up, but unlike my current favorite this one has a LOT of bang for the buck! I love G.I. JOE MIssion Critical, for me, it's Neo MageKnight, but my GODS to they gouge ya'! One of the expansions is a *single* mini and card! o.o i can already see that if i miss this, it's another Shadows of Brimstione/Black Fortress scenario! That's why i had to cut down on my board gaming F.o.M.O/P.T.S.D. does not make for a fun emothional cocktail......... i knew better than to click on this but i just had a *feeling* about what it was (Duh, that's a Great Name!) Like finds like. After all, i somehow *didn't* miss G.I. JOE: Mission Critical and that game is about as popular as Bob Remus at the height of Dessert Shield. xD
Right now.. there are going to be very limited copies hitting retail from what I understand, and then another printing is being worked on (ETA unknown). The storage is all part of the game.
The one rule I hate is that when you purchase an item it is not new. After you purchae it you have to role to see how damaged it is!
That's only at the start. Once you purchase from a store after you get going, it's brand new... of course.. if the store has it available :)
Great thoughtful review! Can’t wait for this. A kind of new era of WHQ95.
?…High praise from you !