Flash in the Pan 2
Dungeon Lords was a flash in the pan after all. I still think it’s a good game, but after three plays weaknesses emerged:
- chaos – you can play as conservatively as you like, but it just takes one unexpected decision from another player to turn your plans upside down. Age of Steam has the reputation of being a harsh game, but bankruptcy is always deserved. In Dungeon Lords it’s out of your hands and in a game of this length it gets frustrating. Cute imps and funny monsters can only make up for it so much.
- tough learning curve – Jeff taught the game brilliantly, but I was able to teach San Juan and fit in a two-player game while the tutorial was played through.
- duration – despite familiarity this is a 2.5 hour game. Simply too long for a euro.
- fiddliness – there is a lot of shuffling pieces around that gets tedious.
Despite these criticisms there is still a lot to like. You have to plan carefully and the theme is irresistible, but I’m less enthusiastic than I was.
Come back Reiner! All is forgiven – except Beowulf.
Strange, we’ve rarely had a game clock in at more than 2 hours, most take exactly 90 minutes. I agree this would not be a fun three hour game, but for us it’s a spectacular game crammed into an hour and a half.
Steve
30 Jun 10 at 01:08
I can only speak from my experience. 3 hours is as exaggeration. 2.5 hours is right. I have updated the post, but not my opinion.
Iain
30 Jun 10 at 22:48
I quite like Beowulf
Steerpike
1 Jul 10 at 19:57
Weirdo
Iain
1 Jul 10 at 21:05
independent thinker
and weird, I guess
Steerpike
2 Jul 10 at 17:27
Totally off topic this comment, but I couldn’t resist and I thought you might like to know:
I’m the publisher (and the illustrator) of ‘War on Terror, the
boardgame’ and ‘Crunch – the game for utter bankers’.
I don’t know if you’ve heard of them but we’re doing something rather
bonkers for edition 2 of War on Terror, and I thought this would
possibly interest you, and at the same time amuse!
We’re having an auction which starts this Friday, it’s a bit unusual…
http://www.terrorbullgames.co.uk/moneyauction/
We’re basically auctioning off the space on the War on Terror money so
you can have your face on it! We’re printing 5,000 sets this summer,
and what a Christmas present it would make.
Just thought I’d let you know, feel free to get in touch, spread the
word or real over backwards in astonishment.
This is gonna be fun
Best
Tom
Tom
5 Jul 10 at 17:33