Interesting Solitaire Concept

[JLV]

I ran across something called Four Against Darkness a couple of days ago. I've only read reviews, and haven't ordered a copy yet or anything, but it sounds like an interesting concept for solitaire play.

Of course, it's designed for D&D-ish games, not hexagonal games, but the concept seems to be that you randomly generate rooms and passages based on both a system and the choices you as a player make, and then deal with the creatures therein (also randomly generated -- but done so within the story concept of the adventure you are participating in). Oh, and your party is apparently composed of four figures...

This seems like it might be an interesting concept for a new generation of "solo adventures" for TFT. However, having said that, I need to repeat that I haven't yet acquired a copy (and probably won't until my next paycheck), so in the meantime, has anyone else out there run across this game yet? And can you share anything about it from you personal experience?

It seems to have been a thing for a while since there are apparently a number of adventures as well as what appear to be two "core" rulebooks (Four Against Darkness, and Four Against the Abyss), though the latter appears to be more for higher "level" characters...

[Chris Rice]

I'm aware of it, but haven't played it. It's by the guy who designed the acclaimed fantasy skirmish game "Song of Blades and Heroes" which I have played. I don't know if they share any mechanical ideas but there are a number of reviews over at Boardgamegeek:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/...ainst-darkness

[CardDiceian]

That's Andrea Sfiligoi. He's a nice guy, and quite approachable.

I got Song Of Blades & Heroes, along with a couple of the early additions when it first came out. i think it was still in development at the time, as it was very much a case of trialing stuff to see if it worked well and talking about where to take it from there etc.

I'm not familiar with the Four Against things, but will have a look.

Andrea is on Facebook & Twitter, so we can ask him if he's tested it with the Fantasy Trip, or aware that it is making a comeback.

[JLV]

Originally Posted by Chris Rice

I'm aware of it, but haven't played it. It's by the guy who designed the acclaimed fantasy skirmish game "Song of Blades and Heroes" which I have played. I don't know if they share any mechanical ideas but there are a number of reviews over at Boardgamegeek:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/...ainst-darkness

Thanks Chris. I'd never heard of Song of Blades and Heroes before -- the reviews are interesting!

I wonder if he'd consider doing something with it to adapt it to TFT, if the Kickstarter does well (and if Steve would allow such a thing).

[Chris Rice]

Originally Posted by JLV

Thanks Chris. I'd never heard of Song of Blades and Heroes before -- the reviews are interesting!

I wonder if he'd consider doing something with it to adapt it to TFT, if the Kickstarter does well (and if Steve would allow such a thing).

I don't think there'd be any need to adapt it to TFT as I'm sure the concept is quite simple. It's also not original, as "random dungeons" via table have been around since the early days of D&D. It would be fairly straightforward to create something like this for TFT using simple rules and tables.

Having said that, I haven't read it, and perhaps it has some innovations, but I doubt Andrea would be interested in licensing it for another system.

[CardDiceian]

Originally Posted by Chris Rice

I doubt Andrea would be interested in licensing it for another system.

Having had a quick look over it - It's a standalone game, so doesn't build on an existing system of any type.

[Chris Rice]

Originally Posted by CardDiceian

Having had a quick look over it - It's a standalone game, so doesn't build on an existing system of any type.

That's true, but his main game, Songs of Blades and Heroes, and it's many variants, will be in competition with Melee/Wizard and to an extent TFT.

[guymc]

Semi-randomly generated dungeon (or even overland) games are nothing new. (Was it someone here who mentioned The Sorcerer’s Cave, or was that on my @TFTGuy Twitter feed?) What I believe has not been done is a similar game where encounters get played out using a detailed board-based combat system and where the adventuring can be done alongside or in conjunction with full gamemastered RPG play.

“Has not been done” before, that is.

[philreed]

Originally Posted by guymc

What I believe has not been done is a similar game where encounters get played out using a detailed board-based combat system and where the adventuring can be done alongside or in conjunction with full gamemastered RPG play.

“Has not been done” before, that is.

Car Wars had some adventures like this.

[zot]

Originally Posted by guymc

Semi-randomly generated dungeon (or even overland) games are nothing new. (Was it someone here who mentioned The Sorcerer’s Cave, or was that on my @TFTGuy Twitter feed?) What I believe has not been done is a similar game where encounters get played out using a detailed board-based combat system and where the adventuring can be done alongside or in conjunction with full gamemastered RPG play.

“Has not been done” before, that is.

I think some Guy wrote a game like that where you played a knight of Camelot. I've heard he's a strange fellow...