Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught (2023) Board Game

Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught is a tabletop board game released in 2023 by WizKids, known for their high-quality miniatures and fantasy-themed games. The game is designed for 2 players and falls under the fantasy and miniatures categories, with a runtime of approximately 90 minutes. It is recommended for players aged 14 and above, featuring action points, area movement, dice rolling, scenario/mission/campaign gameplay, and variable player powers.

Game Components of Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught

21 fully-painted miniatures

1 double-sided game board

4 twenty-sided dice

16 dial cards

26 standard cards

44 mini cards

71 tokens

14 terrain elements

1 rulebook

1 scenario guide

4 plastic standees

Includes 12 characters from two factions (Harpers and Zhentarim) and a horde of monsters.

How To Setup Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught

Players start by picking characters from the two included teams and setting up the board according to the scenario instructions. Each player receives initiative cards, with one player taking the card numbered 1 and the other player getting three of the cards numbered 2 through 6. For skirmishes with more than three heroes, a second set of initiative cards is shuffled and dealt out. Players then assign an initiative order to each of their heroes. The game environment includes dungeon tiles, chests to loot, and neutral monsters with automatic initiative values.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Initiative System: Players use initiative cards to determine the order of turns.

Movement: Characters can move orthogonally, with terrain and elevation changes affecting movement costs.

Combat: Combat is d20-based, with players rolling two 20-sided dice and taking the better roll unless a 1 is rolled, which is an automatic miss.

Actions: Each character can take a move action, a standard action, a bonus action, and free actions.

Ability Tracking: Characters have boards to track cooldowns for abilities and experience points.

Objective: The goal is to delve into dungeons, battle rival adventurers, and confront monsters to gain treasure and glory.

Player Experience

The game captures the feel of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons but is streamlined for faster play. However, it can be overly complex for new players due to the multiple character boards and unique rules for each character. While it offers some exciting moments with tactical positioning and ability management, it doesn’t stand out significantly from other skirmish games in the market. The pre-painted miniatures and familiar D&D lore are highlights, but the component quality is somewhat lacking.

Pros

Initiative and Movement Systems: Clean and well-designed.

Pre-painted Miniatures: Look better than the standard gray plastic.

Familiar D&D Lore: Includes monsters, items, and lore from the D&D universe.

Streamlined Combat: Simplified movement rules add depth without unnecessary complexity.

Cons

Too Complex for New Players: Managing multiple character boards can be overwhelming.

Lacking in Component Quality: Components feel and look cheap.

Scenario Design Limitations: Some scenarios lack depth and variety.

Not Distinguished Enough: Doesn’t offer enough unique features to stand out in the skirmish game market.

Personal Thoughts on Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught

Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught is best suited for fans of the D&D franchise who are also interested in skirmish games. It offers a familiar setting and mechanics that align with the D&D spirit, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more streamlined or highly distinguished skirmish experience. The game’s value lies particularly for those who might use the miniatures and boards in their RPG campaigns, but for a pure skirmish game, it falls short compared to other options in the market.

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