Jeff,
Being completely honest (have I ever been otherwise) :^)
While there are things that I like, I am a little disappointed by the new setup.
1) I noticed that you decided to keep the same characters and not introduce new classes to the mix. Unfortunately, this will mean that some people are stuck with classes they dont want and I am sad to see this potential facet for new game dynamics was not changed.
Well…introducing new classes most likely would not solve the above problem. The seven we do have offer a good variety, but there is nothing we can do about the problem of two players wanting to play the same class. That seems to always happen. I would like to remind people why I chose the “True� Dungeon name…it is supposed to be a test of your skill…not your characters. Sure it is fun to play a certain class, and the specific class tests are fun…but try to remember that your main character class is called “gamer� and that is the one class you should really be focused on. It is your smarts, wits and horse sense that will get you through the adventure.
2) I like the dual dungeon approach! Very cool. However, I see that you have decided to go with a Hardcore option that is the same dungeon only harder. Unless the "keepsake" is significant, I'm not sure I agree with this as I fail to see why people would do the Hardcore option given that the chance of survival is say only 25%? Personally, I would rather do the easier option to experience the greatest amount of the dungeon as possible. And given that, it would be unlikely that I would go through the same dungeon again. Other people might disagree.
Yeah…I think the dual dungeon should give everything a more epic feel. And regarding the hardcore thing…well I tried to guess a good number for people who want a real challenge to overcome. Personally, I would probably try it first on Hardcore, and then do it on normal the next day. I would want to try it at least once on Hardcore to see if I was as good a gamer as I pretend to be.
3) From the picture, it looks like you slide the TOKENS now? I thought the tokens would be put inside a slider of some sort. Care to comment on this?
We are currently playtesting a host of different systems…and we won’t puck until we feel we got something that works well. We would like to have the tokens by themselves as that would be cooler, but that would probably mean a re-design on the boards. So…we are working on it.
4) At GenCon So Cal, we had 24 minutes for Inn/Training and 8 12-minute rooms. It seems like you have cut out one of the rooms (7) to give more time in the Inn? If this is the case, why cut one room? I understand you are trying to give people more time to prepare but I don't think people want LESS dungeon to do it.
Last year there were 8 rooms…that is true. However, one of those rooms was the training room, so you really had seven adventuring rooms. We are keeping 7 adventuring rooms in 2005, but we are making a 36 minutes tavern & training room. Believe me…with the way the tavern is shaping up…that tavern is going to be very cool, and it will be equal to two rooms in the dungeon.
5) I am a little unclear about the weapons. If a player does not purchase tokens, are they stuck without a (standard) weapon or are they given the "basics"? If they are given the "standard" fare, then why have the standard weapons in the token bag as commons? Why not only magical?
Each player gets one random free weapon token and one free armor token at the start. They can trade with others or try to upgrade with GP and Gems at the blacksmith. You don't have to buy tokens to play...especially if you are playing the Wizard or other less combat oriented class. Sorry...I really don't understand your other questions.
Thanks very much for your good questions, and I am sure many people had the same questions. I am sorry that the event may not be as cool as you thought it was going to be, but there are many behind-the-scene issues that have affected the event's details. While we have tried to incorporate as much feedback as we could, sometimes staff, funding and other issues have molded the details. Please trust us that we have put a great deal of thought into these details, and that we have set the events up as best we can. Thanks again for your input.