Dindons & Dragons (2003) Board Game

Dindons & Dragons is a card game that was released in in 2003. It is designed by Didier Guiserix and features artwork by La Haute Roche. The game falls under the category of Fantasy and is suitable for players aged 10 and above. With a playing time of around 30 minutes, it can accommodate 3-6 players.

Game Components of Dungeons & Dragons

5 double-sided map tiles

Cardboard standup trees and pillars

Character cards for four heroes (Regdar the fighter, Mialee the wizard, Jozan the cleric, and Lidda the thief)

A deck of cards describing items and monsters

A large number of counters

40 plastic miniature figures for heroes and monsters

Custom dice (6 Attack dice, 1 reveal traps die, 1 disarm traps die, 1 special die, and 1 turn undead die)

Two rulebooks: Player’s Guide and Dungeon Master’s Guide.

How To Setup Dungeons & Dragons

The setup involves the Dungeon Master laying out the map sections using the double-sided map tiles and positioning the players’ pieces in the first room, which is guaranteed to be empty. The players then take their first action to open the door, triggering a room setup phase. The DM sets out any monsters and doors in the room the heroes are entering, and the turn order is randomized via cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Character Selection: Players choose one of the four pre-generated heroes, each with unique special abilities.

Map Exploration: Players navigate through a modular board created by arranging map tiles and connecting closed chambers with cardboard door tokens.

Combat and Actions: Players can take two actions per turn, including moving, fighting, opening chests or doors, and inventory manipulation.

Traps: Lidda, the thief, can search for and disarm traps using custom dice.

Leveling Up: Heroes can level up from 1 to 3, with changes in hit points and spell points.

Objective: The players aim to complete quests and defeat the Dungeon Master, who controls the monsters and traps.

Player Experience

The game is often described as a simplified dungeon crawl, similar to *Heroquest*, but with less role-playing and more focus on combat and exploration. Players have reported mixed experiences, with some finding it enjoyable as a light, family-friendly game, while others have struggled with the game’s difficulty and the adversarial nature of the Dungeon Master.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for younger players and those new to adventure games.

Modular Board: Allows for varied map setups and increased replayability.

Pre-Generated Heroes: Easy to jump into for those unfamiliar with character creation.

Custom Dice: Adds a unique twist to gameplay mechanics.

Cons

Limited Role-Playing: No role-playing involved, which may disappoint D&D enthusiasts.

High Difficulty: Some players have found the game overly challenging, particularly against the Dungeon Master.

Miniature Quality: Some players have noted the miniatures are not of the highest quality.

Personal Thoughts on Dungeons & Dragons

This game is ideal for those looking to introduce themselves or their family to the world of adventure games and dungeon crawls. It is a good starting point for younger players due to its simplicity and pre-generated characters. However, for experienced D&D players, it may lack the depth and role-playing aspects they are accustomed to. The game’s modular setup and custom dice mechanics make it a fun, if somewhat unchallenging, diversion for any group interested in light adventure gaming.

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