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Have been really going for it over the past few months trying to get everything painted for this game, and noticed that there wasn't an existing thread for the game.
But wondered how everyone else is getting on with it?
Have people been playing the general game or the campaign mode, with the slowed progression? I love the idea of adding a bit of narrative to the game, and carrying over characters between adventures, but not sure how well it plays?
I have got one good tip for helping to get the set painted (if, like me, it would otherwise have taken until 2025) - as this game contains an awful lot of miniatures, especially if you went big with the KS!
- All heroes, wandering monsters paint as you would normally
- all mobs use one base colour (I've used green for goblins, grey for dwarves, purple/mauve for orks), then use army painter dip and a spray of matt varnish to remove the shine. You can paint the bases to match the other playing pieces.
Think looks much better than unpainted or just undercoated, but means they won't take forever and you don't get bored with repetition (as lovely as the MD sculpts generally are)
Will post some pics if anyone would like to see them!
Hey dude. I've painted all mine, but just a basecoat and wash, I intend to go back and do more work on them all at some point. Here are some (awful) pics -
I've played it a few times now.
I can't help but feel it's really not designed around the campaign mode. There are much better campaign games available if that's the kind of thing you're after.
As a 1-off dungeon crawl though, it's actually pretty good.
It's basically super relaxed zombicide. Very similar mechanics, but without the constant streams of enemies from all directions forcing you to rush through the scenario before you're overwhelmed. In most scenarios you can just take your time clearing out rooms and upgrading equipment. Wandering monsters do show up, but they're usually quite managable.
The leveling and equipment upgrade mechanics are satisfying, letting you steadily progress from chump to unstoppable death machine by the end of the scenario.
My main complaint is that it's perhaps a bit too easy. The only scenario my gaming group hasn't breezed through so far is one involving a collapsing cave. Represented by a time limit where chunks of the map vanish as the game goes on. Losing you the game if anyone gets crushed in the cave collapse. We had some bad luck with the first couple of monster groups appearing with extra armour and slowing us way down.
Those look really good Darkjim - and super impressive that you managed to get the whole set painted up!
Will try and get some pics of mine posted at some point, just taking me ages to get the lizard-lady finished (it's all the arms!)
Arson - thanks for the feedback on that, we might well start with the solo games then rather than campaign mode if the latter is a bit of an afterthought.
Out of interest, what would you say is good as a campaign game? Do you have a favourite?
Re. the difficulty, I play in a very poorly skilled gaming group (we have an atrocious record with Zombicide: BP, and have read similar things about that game being easy!)
Arson - thanks for the feedback on that, we might well start with the solo games then rather than campaign mode if the latter is a bit of an afterthought.
Out of interest, what would you say is good as a campaign game? Do you have a favourite?
We're currently playing through Gloomhaven, which is amazing. If you're looking for hundreds of hours of campaign based dungeon crawling, that's my top recommendation.
* Campaign's no good.
* Certain scenarios are good. IIRC, the second one's supposed to be good.
I just see it as HeroQuest: The Complicated Version without The Cool Spell Cards but Cool Mini's For Other Games.
EDIT: BTW, I liked Zombicide, because of its streamlined ruleset. But Massive Darkness is more complicated than it's worth. I read that the second and fifth (?) scenarios are good.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/02/11 04:32:13
If you liked Zombicide: Black Plague, you will likely enjoy this. It's great as a one off game. It works just fine as a light campaign style game as well, despite the naysayers on BGG and elsewhere. If you are looking for a deep and crunchy RPG style dungeon delve...this ain't it, try Descent. If you want to hang out in a cooperative setting and bash some monsters with cool loot and upgrade your characters after each mission, this might work for you. This is very much a fun beer and pretzels sort of dungeon delving game.
I have my Kickstarter boxes sitting behind me on the floor...just haven't bothered opening them outside of some of the monster boxes. I'll be using those minis for other games, but I've heard mediocre things from my buddies who have the game. I'll be sticking to Black Plague and going elsewhere for a deeper dungeon crawl experience.
It doesn't help that while I love the aesthetic of some of the monsters the basic baddies leave me cold.
The kids and I've been having fun with it. Story mode is tacked on, and no good.
This is definitely not a campaign game by any measure.
It's a zero-to-hero-in-one-session type of game. It's Diablo in a board game, and it lives or dies by how good the scenarios are.
Quest 2, 5, and 9 are all fun, if difficult.
As for painting it? 10 roamers done, one mobs of dwarves, chests, pillars, bridges, and all the doors. I've been diligently trying to get it all done before Rise of Moloch arrives.....it's not going to happen.....
The Hellhound on the top is from the core box, as is the spider and so are the dwarves. The Hellephant and Fire Elemental are expansions, and the rest are KSE.
I don't think we've seen the last of Massive Darkness just yet. It depends how well it does at retail.
The reason the story mode feels tacked on, is because it is. It was added due to backer requests, and it shouldn't have been.
There was barely enough time for them to get the base system balanced, it obviously was not paid attention to at all.
It was an addition that said, 'Here. We did what you wanted. Now, shut up.'
But, that's what caused all the backlash.
When seen from the perspective as a one-off zero-to-hero adventure, then it works great.
As a campaign system? No. Just. No.
It was clearly not designed to handle campaign style play as seen from the core mechanics - they just aren't designed to work that way.
I look at it as D&D boiled down to the essential parts - delve into dungeon, kill bad guys, get loot, complete objective(s), level up, repeat a few of the last steps, finish game.
Apparently very few backers were expecting that from the game. Which is odd, because watching the game play, reading the rules, and knowing it was based on Zombicide, I expected exactly what it's supposed to be.
I think this is not being seen a successful is because so many people seemed to expect the next Gloomhaven, but with miniatures.
It's hard to say if we'll see more of it though. CMON doesn't seem to continue support of much of anything outside of the initial KS. Barring Zombicide of course.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/02/22 21:05:19
I don't think there is any harm at a game being good at a particular thing. And, it can often lead to failure if something tries to be everything to all people.
So in that sense, it's a shame that CMoN even bothered with the campaign (although perhaps there might have been too many people who, hoping for the next Heroquest, would have instantly turned away despite the game being a very cool arcade-type experience.
Ghool - Do you mind me asking, who is the guy in your profile pic? He looks very cool!
Ghool, I'm sure they will make more for Massive Darkness (probably another kickstarter...). They support most of their games, but at a slower pace (unless they are a one off systems like hate or blood rage).
Arcadia quest has three kickstarters/sets, with many expansions (box, and character). Rum and bones has two kickstarters, many expansions. Zombicide had three seasons, many expansions, black plague two, etc, Wrath of kings had one kickstarter but two books and units for each, Dark age has continual releases (slow, but still releases).
With that many irons in the fire (and many more coming), I think cmon has done well to support most of their lines, and even though they may be slow, it is still done at a faster pace than FFG! Sure, they put precidence on the more successful lines, but that's just good business... and zombicide / zombicide black plague are just fn awesome
Pacific wrote: I don't think there is any harm at a game being good at a particular thing. And, it can often lead to failure if something tries to be everything to all people.
So in that sense, it's a shame that CMoN even bothered with the campaign (although perhaps there might have been too many people who, hoping for the next Heroquest, would have instantly turned away despite the game being a very cool arcade-type experience.
Ghool - Do you mind me asking, who is the guy in your profile pic? He looks very cool!
That's Bull, from PP. It's a pair of Mercenaries, Dannon Blythe, and Bull. Very characterful models for sure.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
455_PWR wrote: Ghool, I'm sure they will make more for Massive Darkness (probably another kickstarter...). They support most of their games, but at a slower pace (unless they are a one off systems like hate or blood rage).
Arcadia quest has three kickstarters/sets, with many expansions (box, and character). Rum and bones has two kickstarters, many expansions. Zombicide had three seasons, many expansions, black plague two, etc, Wrath of kings had one kickstarter but two books and units for each, Dark age has continual releases (slow, but still releases).
With that many irons in the fire (and many more coming), I think cmon has done well to support most of their lines, and even though they may be slow, it is still done at a faster pace than FFG! Sure, they put precidence on the more successful lines, but that's just good business... and zombicide / zombicide black plague are just fn awesome
Agree. Everything they support though, is doing well at retail.
That's why I think MD is still uncertain - we haven't quite seen how it's doing at retail yet.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/02/23 14:56:13
I’d love to see them expand it out more, as long as they expand out the races in it to eventual army size. I’m painting up the goblins and orcs now and having fun with them. I started the dwarves, but hit a fun wall and had to switch or else lose all hope of ever coming back to them.
Elemental seem to have become Kickstarter exclusive after campaign with them not even being on the website. Sad as I was going to grab them later, but just not during the KS which I was strapped for cash during.
LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13
I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14
Theophony wrote: I’d love to see them expand it out more, as long as they expand out the races in it to eventual army size. I’m painting up the goblins and orcs now and having fun with them. I started the dwarves, but hit a fun wall and had to switch or else lose all hope of ever coming back to them.
Elemental seem to have become Kickstarter exclusive after campaign with them not even being on the website. Sad as I was going to grab them later, but just not during the KS which I was strapped for cash during.
Nope. The Elementals will be releasing to retail next month I think.
It's in CMON's MAP list so it is confirmed.
Theophony wrote: I’d love to see them expand it out more, as long as they expand out the races in it to eventual army size. I’m painting up the goblins and orcs now and having fun with them. I started the dwarves, but hit a fun wall and had to switch or else lose all hope of ever coming back to them.
Elemental seem to have become Kickstarter exclusive after campaign with them not even being on the website. Sad as I was going to grab them later, but just not during the KS which I was strapped for cash during.
Nope. The Elementals will be releasing to retail next month I think.
It's in CMON's MAP list so it is confirmed.
Thanks, all you he other sites I’ve checked said they were not making more. Basically there wasn’t enough sales in the KS to show demand. Glad I didn’t buy that box for $100 then
LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13
I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14
Pacific wrote: I hope it wasn't the same person telling you they weren't make more, and then offering to sell you the box for $100?
No, I went looking for it online and couldn’t find any. Checked boardgamegeek.com and saw multiple posts about it. I checked the Kickstarter comments and saw the same there. Sent cmon an email (shock no reply after a month+). I remember during the KS so many people complained about the price for that set compared to other sets and just thought they decided to change it up after fulfilling the KS. thought maybe they would bump the size of the models up or wait for MD2 and break them into seperate packs with new lesser elementals and greater elementals or something.
LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13
I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14
Played my first game last night. Made a few errors along the way and got a little overwhelmed by how many special attacks and weapons you have, but got the gist of it I think. Firstly, would say it's definitely a lot of fun - I have seen the comparisons to a kind of arcade version of Diablo and get that now. But the combat is quick (and fun), and a relative amount of strategy trying to use the shadow to your advantage while not getting hit by the mobs.
Definitely going to be delving in to some of the other heroes and monsters now to paint and build up the collection!
WOW, Ghool !!! That is some stunning brushwork !! Can you point me to any tutorials that helped you master your skills ?
I also played my first game recently and all of us had a great time. I think if you go into it knowing it's just a hack and slash one-shot you'll have a lot more fun. Go for the deep development and character progression in other games.
"You never see toilets in the 41st Millennium - that's why everyone looks so angry all the time." - Fezman 1/28/13
Myrthe wrote: WOW, Ghool !!! That is some stunning brushwork !! Can you point me to any tutorials that helped you master your skills ?
I also played my first game recently and all of us had a great time. I think if you go into it knowing it's just a hack and slash one-shot you'll have a lot more fun. Go for the deep development and character progression in other games.
Myrthe wrote: WOW, Ghool !!! That is some stunning brushwork !! Can you point me to any tutorials that helped you master your skills ?
I also played my first game recently and all of us had a great time. I think if you go into it knowing it's just a hack and slash one-shot you'll have a lot more fun. Go for the deep development and character progression in other games.
Thanks for the advice. Totally see now about the nature of the game, it feels quite fast paced and more Baldurs Gate the old console game rather than the PCRPG (to use a video game comparison, despite those games themselves being based on tabletop RPGs... urrr )
Am waiting for the Gloomhaven to arrive on general release (I have been told its this year?) for the serious RPG board game experience. In the meantime hope to have a lot of fun with this and collect up a lovely collection of monsters to use in any future fantasy-esque games.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Forgot to add, some pics of my painted minis
The heroes
The Lamia (definitely a pain to paint so many arms but a lovely miniature)
Some mob evil dwarves. Used a speed painting process with these as new otherwise I would never finish the set. This was 1) Grey undercoat. 2)Army painter strong dip 3)army painter matt varnish (which removes the gloss shine you get from the dip 4) Paint the base.
I've done all of the mobs this way (used green and purple for goblins and orks respectively) and you can get through the whole batch in 45 mins. Which I don't think is too bad!
Lastly Abyssal demon - again this was 45 minute job, blocks of bright colour and then into the dip. Think just about ok for a games evening, at arm's length in a not particularly well lit room!
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/03/04 13:21:38
Myrthe wrote: WOW, Ghool !!! That is some stunning brushwork !! Can you point me to any tutorials that helped you master your skills ?
I also played my first game recently and all of us had a great time. I think if you go into it knowing it's just a hack and slash one-shot you'll have a lot more fun. Go for the deep development and character progression in other games.
Myrthe wrote: WOW, Ghool !!! That is some stunning brushwork !! Can you point me to any tutorials that helped you master your skills ?
I also played my first game recently and all of us had a great time. I think if you go into it knowing it's just a hack and slash one-shot you'll have a lot more fun. Go for the deep development and character progression in other games.
Thanks for the advice. Totally see now about the nature of the game, it feels quite fast paced and more Baldurs Gate the old console game rather than the PCRPG (to use a video game comparison, despite those games themselves being based on tabletop RPGs... urrr )
Am waiting for the Gloomhaven to arrive on general release (I have been told its this year?) for the serious RPG board game experience. In the meantime hope to have a lot of fun with this and collect up a lovely collection of monsters to use in any future fantasy-esque games.
Spoiler:
Automatically Appended Next Post: Forgot to add, some pics of my painted minis
The heroes
The Lamia (definitely a pain to paint so many arms but a lovely miniature)
Some mob evil dwarves. Used a speed painting process with these as new otherwise I would never finish the set. This was 1) Grey undercoat. 2)Army painter strong dip 3)army painter matt varnish (which removes the gloss shine you get from the dip 4) Paint the base.
I've done all of the mobs this way (used green and purple for goblins and orks respectively) and you can get through the whole batch in 45 mins. Which I don't think is too bad!
Lastly Abyssal demon - again this was 45 minute job, blocks of bright colour and then into the dip. Think just about ok for a games evening, at arm's length in a not particularly well lit room!
Great work, Pacific !! That Lamia is amazing !!
I've been meaning to try the "dip method" myself and these mobs are perfect minis for it.
I went in on the Gloomhaven KS for the second printing and it looks amazing !! Really well done and thought out game.
I haven't played yet because I've been waiting on replacement parts. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the printed layers of the punchboards de-laminating from the core board. Be sure to check yours when you get it.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/03/05 17:52:04
"You never see toilets in the 41st Millennium - that's why everyone looks so angry all the time." - Fezman 1/28/13