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Made in pl
Longtime Dakkanaut




Has anyone tried this game? I've read here that tactical-decision-depth-wise Frostgrave is rather disappointing. Is RoSD similar, considering it is from the same author? It seems to get so much praise (but so does Frostgrave and yet...)?

This single D20 roll mechanics looks terribly swingy...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/08 17:24:58


 
   
Made in de
Experienced Maneater






Cyel wrote:
Has anyone tried this game? I've read here that tactical-decision-depth-wise Frostgrave is rather disappointing. Is RoSD similar, considering it is from the same author? It seems to get so much praise (but so does Frostgrave and yet...)?

This single D20 roll mechanics looks terribly swingy...

RoSD is basically solo Frostgrave. Rules are very similar, but the focus is heavily on the story. You go on missions, often with multiple scenarios, increasing in difficulty while your guys level up. It also has lite-RPG elements like lockpicking, tracking, investigation, etc.
The single D20 is still pretty swingy. If you didn't like it in Frostgrave, chances are you're not gonna like it here. Otherwise it's a pretty cool and fun game.

   
Made in us
Grisly Ghost Ark Driver






Try the forums at BGG:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/264476/rangers-shadow-deep/forums/0

Also, some people there have played it and posted in previous month's Solitaire Miniatures Games on Your Table. The current month does not have any RoSD, but the month is young.
https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/298912/solitaire-miniatures-your-table-may-2022?commentid=10866797

Kings of War: Abyssal Dwarves, Dwarves, Elves, Undead, Northern Alliance [WiP], Nightstalkers [WiP]
Dropzone Commander: PHR
Kill Team: Deathwatch AdMech Necron

 
   
Made in pl
Longtime Dakkanaut




Thanks, guys!

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2022/05/08 19:36:54


 
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

I'm really keen to try it out, but I found the need for scenario specific terrain a bit of a roadblock. I want to make the terrain, but it's a bit of a mission. If I'm gonna do solo play, I want it to at least look really good.

   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Based on what I know of you Cyel and your preferences, you would be terribly unsatisfied with Rangers of ShadowDeep.

The focus is on the developing story, and it is not a tactical or heavily-decision based game. As you point out, the d20 is swingy, Rangers can move about freely so positioning is less of a factor, and the tactics are pretty much focused on target priority. The AI is predictable. It needs new twists and scenario turns to keep it interesting.

Lots of people love it because of the campaign elements, solo-play, and progression. They like all the things I listed above as a detractors. Different strokes for different folks.

However, for you and what limited I know of your game preferences from other posts; you would find it unrewarding and not your style of game.


Edit: @Da Boss- even worse than required terrain is required monsters. Frostgrave falls into this as well for many scenarios too. Sure you can Proxy, but sometimes a wolf model and some ruins will not do the job when the whole focus of the scenario is about fighting off Axe-beak birds in a giant bird cage. The scenario loses a bit in translation at that level of proxying.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/11 16:41:43


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Made in pl
Longtime Dakkanaut




I guess you're right, Easy I saw some gameplay and was put off, although the concept itself is neat.

At the same time I don't really think that story-driven and engaging, decision-based, strategic gameplay need to be mutually exclusive. Or that story-driven has to equal low agency, high, umitigateble randomness to function. Waiting for a miniature game that marries both concepts like Gloomhaven does in the boardgame world
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

Easy E: Luckily I have a huge catalogue of fantasy beasts from my D&D obsession, though Frostgrave does have a habit of going for weird, unique monsters sometimes.
Cyel: The designer is on record as saying he likes big swingy games with a fair bit of randomness, and IIRC from reading your previous posts I think you're making the right call here.

   
Made in us
Rogue Daemonhunter fueled by Chaos






Toledo, OH

I've played the first mission, and I found it to be a lot of fun. As others have mentioned, the decisions are fairly straight forward and often come down to target priority, while the d20 system leads to big swings.

It's also a common joke on the FB group that ROSD is a terrain building checklist with a game attached...
   
Made in us
Grisly Ghost Ark Driver






Cyel wrote:
I guess you're right, Easy I saw some gameplay and was put off, although the concept itself is neat.

At the same time I don't really think that story-driven and engaging, decision-based, strategic gameplay need to be mutually exclusive. Or that story-driven has to equal low agency, high, umitigateble randomness to function. Waiting for a miniature game that marries both concepts like Gloomhaven does in the boardgame world
Have you considered taking a rules set you mostly like and house ruling the rest? That's what I did with 2nd ed. Five Parsecs. I liked the campaign structure and sandbox elements, but the tactical aspect was tedious. I understand the designer was trying to minimize record keeping and special rules to make it easy on a solo gamer, but I did not like throwing dice for five minutes for zero effect. (Think cartoon slap fight: my characters and the adversary figures would hit, but not hurt, each other.) So I substituted In the Labyrinth for combat and character generation, which is a system I'm familiar and comfortable with. Of course, I then had to modify much of 5L's encounters and rewards, but I now have a solo campaign game that I'm reasonably happy with. If you were to do the same, combining elements of games you like, you'd probably fare better than trying to find the perfect all-in-one game solution.

Nota bene: I've linked to the original ITL, as that's the one I own. Steve Jackson got the rights back and had a kickstarter to launch an updated edition in 2019. That is the currently available one. The Fantasy Trip: Legacy Edition

Kings of War: Abyssal Dwarves, Dwarves, Elves, Undead, Northern Alliance [WiP], Nightstalkers [WiP]
Dropzone Commander: PHR
Kill Team: Deathwatch AdMech Necron

 
   
 
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