Dungeon! to return in October!

[Havard]

To be released in October, WotC have announced that they are bringing back this classic board game:

Dungeon!
Board Game
Wizards RPG Team
A classic board game of dungeon exploration returns!
Dungeon! is a fast-paced game where you and your friends can decide which way to go in the hunt for bigger and better treasure.
Will you stick to level 1 and clear out the Goblins and Kobolds? Or will you delve deep into level 6 and set your sights on the Purple Worm or the Red Dragon? Along the way, you’ll have to face off against such iconic monsters as the Black Pudding, the Drow, and even the Owlbear!
Featuring simple, straightforward rules that are easy to learn, Dungeon! is perfect for a fantasy game night, or a warm-up before your next epic game of D&D!
Item Details
Release Date: October 12, 2012
Format: Board game
Price: $19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6298-3

As has previously been mentioned on this blog, Dungeon! was designed by another of Dave Arneson's players, David R. Megarry and first published in 1975. As usual there seems to be no credit given to Megary for this latest edition. I'm not sure if this is just a trend at WotC or representative of corporate America as a whole?

Full version with Photos here: http://blackmoormystara.blogspot.com/20 ... tober.html

-Havard

[Havard]

A message posted on the Acaeum by David Megary in 2011:

A First Edition Dungeon! Board Game has my name spelled with 1 'r' instead of two 'r's. My name was on the Rule Booklet, the Board and the Box. The first printing had 3000 games, printed by Patch Press, Inc. When they came out with the 2nd Printing of 3000 games, they "corrected" the name spelling by adding another 'g': Meggary. This is also on the Rule Booklet, the Board and the Box. I had my falling out with Gary in late 1976, so I do not know how the third printing went, but there was a mixture: the box had one spelling and the board and rule booklet had the other. When TSR finally had the big box version, my name was spelled correctly. Lapsminn has a copy of the 2nd version I made of the game. The original board and pieces were returned to me by Gary but not the rule booklet with the lame excuse that it was destroyed when they were editing for the first printing. If Lapsminn could make a copy of the version she has and get it to me, I would appreciate it as I foolishly did not make a copy of the original I gave to Gary. I have the last 10 copies of the first printing which I bought from TSR when I was Treasurer and Inventory Manager. They are in the original shrink wrap. The first printing has printing errors on the cards, the frequency I do not remember. I am still in Minneapolis and I have a lot less hair... --David Megarry

-Havard

[Rafael]

Is this a place supposed to be located in Blackmoor, or part of Megarry's own world?

[finarvyn]

DUNGEON! is a simple game, but a heck of a lot of fun. I'm glad to see it making some sort of potential comeback.

At one point I owned a copy of the 1975 purple box TSR version of the game, and I keep trying to score one on e-bay because somehow I have lost that version. I have a couple of the newer editions and they are fun but somehow lack the feel of the original. :wink:

[Havard]

Is this a place supposed to be located in Blackmoor, or part of Megarry's own world?

I have the Dungeon of Pasha Cada in my version of the Thonian Empire. There is nothing official linking it to Blackmoor though.

At one point I owned a copy of the 1975 purple box TSR version of the game, and I keep trying to score one on e-bay because somehow I have lost that version. I have a couple of the newer editions and they are fun but somehow lack the feel of the original. :wink:

Let us know if you come across a copy Fin!



BTW, another cool post about Dungeon! here:

http://muleabides.wordpress.com/2012/05 ... e-dungeon/

-Havard

[rredmond]

So I saw some stuff on the webs on the different editions/versions of Dungeon!
I remember having it, but no longer
But anyone know the differences?

[finarvyn]

I think that the base mechanics of each edition is a lot like all of the rest.

However..

1. The early edition assumes that players can attack other characters, but later editions have edited this out.

2. The early edition only has a few basic classes. There were a couple of articles in DRAGON that added extras (hobbit, dwarf, cleric) and I think those classes have been integrated into the later edition rules.

3. There are minor differences in which monsters and how many of each are to be found on the cards. Nothing that is a really big deal, but the different editions differ slightly.

4. I have a set of metal miniatures that one could buy seperately from one of the later editions. I think there is a card with a rule tweak or so and maybe an extra spell card. I'd have to go check for sure. As far as I know, none of these things appeared in any of the boxed set rulebooks.

[rredmond]

Thanks Marv, and happy birthday!

[finarvyn]

Another difference between the early version and the later ones has to do with monster and treasure distribution. The original version had monster and treasure cards placed on specific rooms so you could see the dungeon slowly being cleared out, but the newer version has a "draw" pile for monsters and another for treasure in order to save space.

The differenece in style is subtle but different, becasue in the old one it actually matters which room you pick while in the newer one you get the same monster no matter which room you pick (on a given level, that is).

[Havard]

I assume that this year's version will be similar in mechanics to D&D 4e? At least I think the other latest run of D&D based board games are...?

-Havard