Daniel (@Dungeondive) revisits Dragons Down to explore its first expansion, Desolation. Although he backed the original Kickstarter, Daniel initially missed the expansion, which designer Scott Demers later provided for coverage. He expresses excitement for the 2025 reprint and the upcoming Natives expansion, which enhances interactions with in-game characters like villagers and knights, addressing a limitation in the base game.
The Desolation expansion adds two new terrain packs (Sinister Swamps and Perilous Plains), two new lineages (Half-Orcs and Half-Elves), and 12 new classes. These packs include unique tiles, missions, treasures, and powerful monsters like dire wolves, centaurs, and the spell-casting Omnic Crux. Daniel appreciates that the expansion enriches gameplay without adding complexity and allows for up to six players or solo playthroughs controlling a party. He notes simultaneous turns could streamline larger group sessions.
Components include new action cubes, health markers, and corrected color cubes following a factory misprint, with hopes for better colorblind accessibility.
New treasure sites, such as The Grotto guarded by a Hydra, and dynamic roaming bandits add depth. The 12 new classes, like the Paladin, Trickster, and Witch with an imp familiar, offer varied playstyles and strategies.
In a brainstorming session, Daniel shares a solo scenario featuring a halfling rogue retrieving a stolen Ring of Truth from bandits, highlighting Dragons Down’s flexibility for custom stories.
He concludes that Desolation integrates seamlessly with the base game, enhancing player agency and storytelling. Further gameplay insights and discussions with Scott Demers are planned for future content.