One Deck Dungeon (2016) Board Game

One Deck Dungeon is a tabletop game created by Chris Cieslik and published by Asmadi Games in in 2016. It is a cooperative dungeon-crawling game that can be played solo or with a partner. The game combines elements of card games, dice rolling, and strategy to create a challenging and immersive experience for players.

Game Components of One Deck Dungeon

Encounter Deck: A deck of 44 cards representing various foes, events, and obstacles.

Hero Cards: Five different heroes, each with unique abilities and starting dice.

Dice: Color-coded dice (yellow, purple, black, etc.) used for resolving encounters.

Level Cards: Representing the different floors of the dungeon.

Stairs Card: Marks the end of each floor.

Tokens: For tracking health, time, and other game states.

Character Sheets: For campaign play, tracking character progression across multiple games.

How To Setup One Deck Dungeon

Setting up One Deck Dungeon is relatively straightforward once you’ve done it a few times. Start by shuffling the Encounter deck and placing the Stairs card at the bottom. Choose a Hero card and a Dungeon card, then stack the Level cards in order. Place the dice and tokens to the side, ready for use. Each player selects their hero and prepares their starting dice and abilities.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Key Mechanics

Dice Rolling: Players roll dice to resolve encounters, using the colors and numbers to fill in challenge boxes.

Encounter Resolution: Encounters come in two types: Combat Encounters and Peril Encounters, each requiring specific dice rolls.

Character Progression: Defeated encounters can be claimed as experience, items, skills, or stat boosts.

Time Mechanism: Actions and penalties burn through the Encounter deck, representing time pressure.

Leveling Up: Characters can upgrade their abilities and attributes as they progress through the dungeon.

Game Objective

The objective is to navigate through the dungeon, overcoming encounters and eventually defeating the Boss at the end of each dungeon. Players must manage their dice rolls, character abilities, and time to succeed.

Player Experience

One Deck Dungeon offers a dynamic and challenging experience, particularly appealing to fans of roguelike games. The game’s pacing accelerates as players progress through the dungeon, with increasing difficulty and time pressure. Each character has unique strengths and weaknesses, adding a layer of strategy in how to assign dice and use abilities. The game supports both solo and cooperative play, with the option to add more players with multiple sets.

Pros

Quick Setup and Playtime: Games typically last 30-45 minutes.

High Replayability: The random nature of the Encounter deck ensures each playthrough is different.

Deep Strategy: Despite simple mechanics, the game requires thoughtful dice assignment and resource management.

Campaign Play: Allows players to track character progression across multiple games.

Solo and Cooperative Play: Supports both solo and cooperative gameplay with 1-2 players out of the box.

Cons

Difficulty Curve: The game’s difficulty can be erratic, with some encounters being significantly harder than others early on.

Frustration Level: The random element and time pressure can lead to frustration if players encounter a streak of tough encounters.

Initial Complexity: The setup and rules may take some time to learn, especially for new players.

Personal Thoughts on One Deck Dungeon

One Deck Dungeon is ideal for players who enjoy roguelike games, dungeon crawls, and strategic dice rolling. It’s a great option for those looking for a quick yet engaging game that can be played solo or with a friend. The game’s compact nature and high replayability make it an excellent addition to any board game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a more relaxed or straightforward gaming experience, as the game’s difficulty and time pressure can be intense.

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