So, folks are talking a bit about the Undermountain boxed set that will see print some time around April of next year. What I haven't seen mentioned is the other major FR game release that was announced this past GenCon: Lords of Waterdeep.
It's not a roleplaying game product, but an influence-building Euro-game set in the City of Splendors. It uses lords that will be familiar to us all, coins based on the canon FR coins of Waterdeep, and locales and plots that fit right in to anyone that knows at loves the city.
I can't say much more, except to reveal a secret that most don't know about yet:
The game is freaking awesome.
I was fortunate enough to get to play through the game with my dear friends Ed Greenwood and Steven Schend, new friends Logan Bonner and Trevor Kidd, with D&D Tabletop Games Manager (and designer for the game) Rodney Thompson walking us through the rules. It only takes one round of playthrough to get the rules down well enough, and is an awful lot of fun to play.
A Forgotten Realms game, that doesn't care what edition of D&D you might play (if you play D&D at all), and is true to the setting, family-friendly, and tremendous fun.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars"
When I hear "Euro-game" in reference to a board game, I tend to think of things like Carcassone or Settlers of Catan. Is this kinda-sorta along the lines of what you played with the new board game?
I freaking LOVE Catan. It's addictive and fun, really straightforward (but not "simple") and at the same time fairly short - it won't take 4+ hours to finish a game.
"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful." --Faraer
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars"
When I hear "Euro-game" in reference to a board game, I tend to think of things like Carcassone or Settlers of Catan. Is this kinda-sorta along the lines of what you played with the new board game?
I freaking LOVE Catan. It's addictive and fun, really straightforward (but not "simple") and at the same time fairly short - it won't take 4+ hours to finish a game.
I wouldn't say it's like Carcassone or Catan; it's more points-accumulation, and action-and-resource-management, than map-driven.
Can't say too much more just now. Except for WHEE!
By "It uses lords that will be familiar to us all," do you mean the Lords of the pre-4E time frame?
Well, one of the lords cards was up on the screen, and it was Khelben Arunsun. To quoth the Blackstaff: "Indeed."
Cheers
You can't imagine how disappointed I was that the gods of random chance did not deliver that lord into my hands.
Even so, I'm in full agreement with Garen/Brian--this game is as full of awesome as Mirt is full of saturated fats.
While I can't say too much, I will say a few things:
Its best feature as an FR-linked game is that it "feels right" in terms of players' roles as Lords of Waterdeep. (Even better is that what will make FR fans happy will not impede non-gamers from enjoying the game, making it a good game to play with my in-laws who are not RPGers.)
And its comparisons to euro-games are more to do with interactive gameplay than strict mechanical comparisons, as you're not really building resources or maps ala Catan or Carcassonne.
And since Brian didn't start the queue, I get to claim FIRST IN LINE to buy this game as soon as it releases in March.
Steven who thinks this is at least as strong a game as Carcassonne (and whose opinions on that game can be found in HOBBY GAMES 100)
Is there a "debauched party" round somewhere in it?
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist. Terry Pratchett
Ok, I registered just so I could reply. I got to play this during GenCon as well, and I loved it. I can't wait to buy it so I can play it some more. I spent most of the con with a sad puppy face around the people I knew had it in hopes they would let me play again.
Does it have a accurate cardboard map of Waterdeep? How big is it? Could the game be used to enhance a Waterdeep campaign in another manner?
It's really to early for me to spill any beans about the details of what's in the box--particularly since any details could potentially change between now and when the box goes off to print.
... who thinks this is at least as strong a game as Carcassonne (and whose opinions on that game can be found in HOBBY GAMES 100)
If I wasn't already hyped for this product because of Brian's enticing commentary, I would be now.
I've never had the opportunity to play "Carcassone," but I have seen it in action, and it looks to be a totally enthralling game-experience. So if "Lords of Waterdeep" ranks on the same level, then I know I'll be setting aside yet another day of the week for gaming such as this.
...
And I can't wait to get my grubby little mittens on those coins!
Awesome! This is going to be my first non-novel FR purchase since 3rd edition ended. Very excited to buy this. I may buy 2! One to play and one for keeping in pristine condition!
Hi, all. I bring the words of Ed, re. the prototype LORDS OF WATERDEEP game:
A SUPERB game that captures the feel of Waterdeep. I will be buying several copies, as I anticipate wearing more than one out, and will be PROUD to gift teachers and library colleagues and non-roleplayer family members with copies to show them "This IS the city I created so long ago, brought to life. Not to mention a great game that's more accomplishing things than fighting." It would be unprofessional to spill too much about the game at this point, but I will say that for me, creator of the Realms and Waterdeep and blah blah blah, it's a MUST buy. I think it might appear in March next year or a little later, and as a game designer I can say it looks eminently expandable (either by the publisher or with "homebrew" add-ons) and translatable into other languages than English - - and deserves both expansions and global market reach! I agree wholeheartedly with Garen Thal's rating. Bladewind, I see no reason why it couldn't be used to enhance Waterdeep events or a Waterdeep-centric roleplaying campaign, in all sorts of ways. I can't be more specific without revealing too much about the game, and for ethical reasons I can't be more specific about the size of the game or specific features, other than to say that if the prototype I got to play with is anything like the final product, I doubt you'll be disappointed. Colour me VERY happy. This game could be big (as in: introducing the Realms to a whole new segment of gamers). Very big. Or as Elminster might say: "Wheeeeeeee! Aye, again."
So saith Ed. Who, it seems, likes it. Myself, I couldn't get to GenCon this year, and so will have to be satisfied with what little Ed can say to me about LORDS OF WATERDEEP (thus far: "Oh, you're going to love it! Another Realms cottage game! We're going to be playing this one for decades!") Well, now. This I must see . . . love, THO
If anyone knows or finds out which Lords will be included (aside from the already mentioned Khelben) please let us know. I'm dying to see if Laeral is included!
If anyone knows or finds out which Lords will be included (aside from the already mentioned Khelben) please let us know. I'm dying to see if Laeral is included!
I'm not aware of any lore that numbered Laeral among the Lords, though she did know who they were (at least most of them). There were 15 Lords named in various sources up until the end of the 3E era, and Laeral wasn't one of them. 13 were named in City of Splendors: Waterdeep, Ed named Asper as a Lord in his short story in Realms of the Underdark, and the book The Siege named another, Deliah the White. Neither of the latter two are named in the Waterdeep book or in any other source as Lords.
If anyone knows or finds out which Lords will be included (aside from the already mentioned Khelben) please let us know. I'm dying to see if Laeral is included!
I'm not aware of any lore that numbered Laeral among the Lords, though she did know who they were (at least most of them). There were 15 Lords named in various sources up until the end of the 3E era, and Laeral wasn't one of them. 13 were named in City of Splendors: Waterdeep, Ed named Asper as a Lord in his short story in Realms of the Underdark, and the book The Siege named another, Deliah the White. Neither of the latter two are named in the Waterdeep book or in any other source as Lords.
Bury Elminster Deep mentions two, though not when they were Lords or if they were operating under other names (I assume they were).
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me. -The Sith Code
Teenage Sith zombies, Tulkh thought-how in the moons of Bogden had it all started? Every so often, the universe must just get bored and decide to really cut loose. -Star Wars: Red Harvest
If anyone knows or finds out which Lords will be included (aside from the already mentioned Khelben) please let us know. I'm dying to see if Laeral is included!
I'm not aware of any lore that numbered Laeral among the Lords, though she did know who they were (at least most of them). There were 15 Lords named in various sources up until the end of the 3E era, and Laeral wasn't one of them. 13 were named in City of Splendors: Waterdeep, Ed named Asper as a Lord in his short story in Realms of the Underdark, and the book The Siege named another, Deliah the White. Neither of the latter two are named in the Waterdeep book or in any other source as Lords.
Bury Elminster Deep mentions two, though not when they were Lords or if they were operating under other names (I assume they were).
I'll have to get that book and read it, then... I'm a huge fan of the Lords of Waterdeep, and I've made a point of gathering as much info about them as I could.
I'll have to get that book and read it, then... I'm a huge fan of the Lords of Waterdeep, and I've made a point of gathering as much info about them as I could.
I assume the characters in question being Lords wasn't something previously known. I was trying to keep it spoiler free due to that, but if you want to know who check the Questions for Ed section.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me. -The Sith Code
Teenage Sith zombies, Tulkh thought-how in the moons of Bogden had it all started? Every so often, the universe must just get bored and decide to really cut loose. -Star Wars: Red Harvest
I'll keep my eye on this then. I hope to surprize my friends and loved ones with a new addictive pastime. Most people I know are avid boardgamers and always like to try something new. This will simultaneously introduce them to the splendid fiction of the realms aswell!
After Sage said "it's a thing of beauty", I really wanted to see some photos. But when I click on the link I find here, it gives me a null page at WotC.
Were you referring just to the cover, or are there some additional pics that I'm just not finding? Are there pics of the pieces and such? Or is it still under wraps, so to speak?
It does sound pretty interesting, like a blend of deep strategy and boardgame... and if it's as strong as Carcassone, I'd like to check it out.
Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families!
I'm looking forward to this. A friend recently became interesting board games. Might be a good chance to share something new and hang out besides the usual overpriced movie and comic/book store window shopping on a lazy Sunday.
Lords of Waterdeep Board Game
Posted - 10 Aug 2011 : 17:31:57
