I have all 3 volumes. Sands of Shurax is actually my favorite one. Yes, I agree it is super complex, and the rule book can be tough to get through sometimes. But I’m usually a solo player and I find setting up Sands of Shurax is about the closest I can get to solo role playing outside of actually picking up a solo rpg. I can play a turn then relax, think about what my next move is. Maybe go eat dinner, then come back to the table and do my next turn. I feel like I’m constantly having to make cool and meaningful choices. Valley is also amazing, but I feel like there are much less choices. There is always going to be an optimal path based on what quests are on the board and what bosses are left to be defeated. There’s almost alway one clear option and maybe a 2nd less optimal but still valid choice. Sands I normally have 4 plus options of things I can do that are all viable and none are the clear best choice. I can hop on a caravan and go explore the wastes. I can head to one of the major cities and gamble or compete in the arena. I can go questing. I can go Ravager crystal farming. I can go to the black pyramid (with the return to box). I just feel like my choices matter so much more in Sands. That being said, I would not recommend playing Sands with new people or large groups. If you have 4 or more players, or new players, Valley or Forest is 100% the way to go. Sands has way to many choices for a 4 player group to reasonably complete a game in one sitting. And I find it’s much less enjoyable when I’m on a clock of having to get the game done before people have to start heading home. Sands is much better for the slow play over several days or weeks. As always, awesome videos. Always love hearing your opinions.
Thanks! I'm sure there is a large group of people for whom Sands will be amazing, namely people who like more complex games. I just happen to prefer more simple games so I can more easily get lost in the theme, world, adventure.
Completely understandable. Sands is definitely complex. In fact, Johnathan the designer of the game has several play throughs of it on the Hexplore It official channel and he misses and gets several rules wrong. (And he designed the game). I’m pretty good with rules but you definitely have to forgive yourself if you miss a trigger to truly enjoy the game.
Hi Daniel. So pleased you have fallen in love with this series, after an initial hesitation. The designers put so much into each volume, and then put a whole bunch more with each new KS e.g a story book for this one. You never play the same game twice. Also, Almost every time, the randomness throws up 2 or 3 really memorable moments. I have all 3 volumes and it's fast becoming my number one IP. I particularly like finding synergies between 2 of the utility or assist roles, which can be really powerful. I think Shurax ratchets up the randomness, present throughout the series to crazy levels with the caravan journeys and mutation systems in particular, but the multiple endings are a real bonus because you can figure out how to role play the duos and where to focus your activities to meet particular objectives. In any event, an incredible body of work and I'm chuffed the most recent KS was so successful.
I almost backed their latest project on Gamefound (Vol. 4: The Domain of Mirza Noctis). But I knew I would never play it. I barely have time/energy to play my existing games. But the series looks great. They are 6 volumes planned. I will probably wait until their last volume is released and go all-in on their last mega bundle, years from now, and then play the game when I'm retired or something.
Long time viewer and a genuine fan. I enjoy your discursive reviews and how many good games, books and ideas you've shared. So thank you, Daniel. Keep on keeping on.
I love these games. I do have the Sands of Shurax but have not had time to bring it to the table. I did not back the last kickstarter since I already have so much stuff to play with already. I would love to be able to put them all together for a Mega Hexplore it experience one day. Thanks for the content.
I just replayed Shurax with my HexploreIt group. Our first playthrough was ok but not great. We have played all 4 volumes multiple times. Shurax is the most rules heavy and I agree it's not worth it. I want to love it. It's much more sandboxy... which should be fun, but for a 12+ hour game (for us. Always) you don't want to be looking up rules constantly. I also agree that the timer in vol I is amazing. In shurax it's so obtuse. 3 acts and SO much control. We won the game last night by stalling act I and just grinding platinum to 100 which is one of the win conditions.
One of my favorite things about this series is the artwork so I'm super pumped to get the encounter cards with artwork on them. It was my one of my biggest complaints with the series up till now (not enough artwork is visible, because what is there is really good)
It's great to hear that this game appeals to you after you initially seemed lukewarm about it, because I find many of your tastes and thoughts similar to mine. I never even looked at this until their most recent campaign and am super excited now about receiving the back volumes (along with the little cosmetic improvements that appear to be planned). Like you, I find that I think about this game a lot. I keep wondering "When is the pledge manager going to open? When can I get Volume 1 and start diving in? The game seems potentially kind of dry, but I am *hoping* that it creates a scaffolding upon which my imagination can build and flesh out a great adventure story. And after watching quite a few gameplay videos, I am still very optimistic. And if they are going to start including more art with the new encounter card decks, so much the better!
I've been playing volume 2 lately and still have mixed feelings about it. Like you, I also set the whole map up before hand. I actually didn't like randomly drawing tiles for this game because I don't think it was designed well. The creator made a single map and cut it up into tiles! So my current game, I set the map up not even randomly, I put the puzzle together (so to speak). Random draws disrupt the aesthetics for me, with upside down mountains and roads abruptly disappearing. I also use the optional random encounter tables instead of using the circumstances bar.
I agree: Valley of the Dead King is the best volume in my opinion as well. Especially Vol. 3 lost the focus of its overall design. Too many rules without increasing any meaningful options or choices, resulting in a too long, grindy, gaming experience. My biggest problem with Vol. 1 is (and the overall series), that the timing mechanism (which you like) does not work at all in Vol. 1 for me. There is no time pressure in this game. With teleportation you can kite the Dead King forever. This is the biggest design problem in the overall game: It is a sandboxy gaming experience without being a fully-fleshed out designed game behind it. One shotting a boss after an infinite number of hours is not a good designed game in my opinion. Do not get me wrong: The leveling, the writing on the placards is fun and I love the Runebound-eque feeling of the game. But the Hexplore It series could be so much better with a real time pressure mechanic.
It just has a different kind of time pressure. In Adrimon you need to make sure your characters are pretty constantly getting stat upgrades as the adventure goes on.
@S R On paper, it does. But even the Fate cycle is too slow for the overall progression of the heroes. So the game tends to drag, even more so in Adrimon, because you need to find the artifacts even if you are powerful enough (except the artifact related abilities of Adrimon).
@S R True. I just want to say that they did not fix that. They introduce new rules (for the sake of rules) without solving the basic problems of the game system (in my opinion). Hopefully Hex IV really improves over III.
I don't like to criticize. I have the game and I play it 2 3 time max. I try to understand here. In reality I start the play after do all the math and stats and every thing. I have mini boss and request and event plus the final boss who speed up things. At least you have 2 3 mini boss from the beginning that you can't defeat. You start by the quest. For me even before I can defeat any mini boss, the main boss appears and I presume that I am losing . That's my story..
Great game, a love letter made with care and respect, almost a time capsule from 80's pen and paper RPGs. Only problem is the combat. Its badly designed, its repetitive, boring and very gamey.
For me I don't understand why all the complexity in this game. Too many choices, to many options, calculation. It makes my brain hurts.... And even I don't understand what I want to do to win the game. Should fight the big monster do encounter... What should I do....? Did any one can ever win this game?
I have all 3 volumes. Sands of Shurax is actually my favorite one. Yes, I agree it is super complex, and the rule book can be tough to get through sometimes. But I’m usually a solo player and I find setting up Sands of Shurax is about the closest I can get to solo role playing outside of actually picking up a solo rpg. I can play a turn then relax, think about what my next move is. Maybe go eat dinner, then come back to the table and do my next turn. I feel like I’m constantly having to make cool and meaningful choices.
Valley is also amazing, but I feel like there are much less choices. There is always going to be an optimal path based on what quests are on the board and what bosses are left to be defeated. There’s almost alway one clear option and maybe a 2nd less optimal but still valid choice.
Sands I normally have 4 plus options of things I can do that are all viable and none are the clear best choice. I can hop on a caravan and go explore the wastes. I can head to one of the major cities and gamble or compete in the arena. I can go questing. I can go Ravager crystal farming. I can go to the black pyramid (with the return to box). I just feel like my choices matter so much more in Sands.
That being said, I would not recommend playing Sands with new people or large groups. If you have 4 or more players, or new players, Valley or Forest is 100% the way to go. Sands has way to many choices for a 4 player group to reasonably complete a game in one sitting. And I find it’s much less enjoyable when I’m on a clock of having to get the game done before people have to start heading home. Sands is much better for the slow play over several days or weeks.
As always, awesome videos. Always love hearing your opinions.
Thanks! I'm sure there is a large group of people for whom Sands will be amazing, namely people who like more complex games. I just happen to prefer more simple games so I can more easily get lost in the theme, world, adventure.
Completely understandable. Sands is definitely complex. In fact, Johnathan the designer of the game has several play throughs of it on the Hexplore It official channel and he misses and gets several rules wrong. (And he designed the game). I’m pretty good with rules but you definitely have to forgive yourself if you miss a trigger to truly enjoy the game.
I backed vol1 including campaign book and vol4 on Gamefound. So I'm very happy that there will be more videos about this great serie on your channel
Hi Daniel. So pleased you have fallen in love with this series, after an initial hesitation. The designers put so much into each volume, and then put a whole bunch more with each new KS e.g a story book for this one. You never play the same game twice. Also, Almost every time, the randomness throws up 2 or 3 really memorable moments. I have all 3 volumes and it's fast becoming my number one IP. I particularly like finding synergies between 2 of the utility or assist roles, which can be really powerful. I think Shurax ratchets up the randomness, present throughout the series to crazy levels with the caravan journeys and mutation systems in particular, but the multiple endings are a real bonus because you can figure out how to role play the duos and where to focus your activities to meet particular objectives. In any event, an incredible body of work and I'm chuffed the most recent KS was so successful.
The story books are really cool. I like how optional they are.
I almost backed their latest project on Gamefound (Vol. 4: The Domain of Mirza Noctis). But I knew I would never play it. I barely have time/energy to play my existing games.
But the series looks great. They are 6 volumes planned. I will probably wait until their last volume is released and go all-in on their last mega bundle, years from now, and then play the game when I'm retired or something.
Oh man! A 6 Volume MEGA BUNDLE! :) The nice thing is that they really don't take a lot of space on the shelf.
Long time viewer and a genuine fan. I enjoy your discursive reviews and how many good games, books and ideas you've shared. So thank you, Daniel. Keep on keeping on.
Thank you!
I love these games. I do have the Sands of Shurax but have not had time to bring it to the table. I did not back the last kickstarter since I already have so much stuff to play with already. I would love to be able to put them all together for a Mega Hexplore it experience one day. Thanks for the content.
I just replayed Shurax with my HexploreIt group. Our first playthrough was ok but not great. We have played all 4 volumes multiple times. Shurax is the most rules heavy and I agree it's not worth it. I want to love it. It's much more sandboxy... which should be fun, but for a 12+ hour game (for us. Always) you don't want to be looking up rules constantly.
I also agree that the timer in vol I is amazing. In shurax it's so obtuse. 3 acts and SO much control. We won the game last night by stalling act I and just grinding platinum to 100 which is one of the win conditions.
Great review, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
One of my favorite things about this series is the artwork so I'm super pumped to get the encounter cards with artwork on them. It was my one of my biggest complaints with the series up till now (not enough artwork is visible, because what is there is really good)
Totally agree! And the new cards look great!
Great stuff. Great pace.
I need to know how much table space you need.
Can you please help?
Thank you.
My table is very small. 4x3.
@The Dungeon Dive Great news
Phew! Thank you.
Any game you see on my channel can fit on a small table. I won’t cover a game that I can’t play on my small table.
@The Dungeon Dive Tables are expensive and I'd rather buy games! Thank you, again.
I can't wait for the trend of giant show-off gaming tables to end, so designers start making games for normal tables again.
It's great to hear that this game appeals to you after you initially seemed lukewarm about it, because I find many of your tastes and thoughts similar to mine. I never even looked at this until their most recent campaign and am super excited now about receiving the back volumes (along with the little cosmetic improvements that appear to be planned). Like you, I find that I think about this game a lot. I keep wondering "When is the pledge manager going to open? When can I get Volume 1 and start diving in?
The game seems potentially kind of dry, but I am *hoping* that it creates a scaffolding upon which my imagination can build and flesh out a great adventure story. And after watching quite a few gameplay videos, I am still very optimistic.
And if they are going to start including more art with the new encounter card decks, so much the better!
One of my favorites. I have the others, and I really like VotDK the most for a lot of the same reasons that you mentioned.
Hi Daniel, which one would you pick first, Dead King or Adrimon? Are the "Return to..." expansions worth it? Thanks in advance.
I would start with Dead King, and yes I think the expansions are worth it. They add stuff to almost every part of the game.
Dead King - intro to the series and includes far more roles. Forest - faster gameplay, fewer roles, perhaps more tightly thematic .
@@TheDungeonDive Thanks Daniel!
@S R Thanks! Very useful and detailed informaiton.
@@cosmicdeb7576 Thanks
I want to get this game but would a table that is 33inches by 33inches wide be big enough to be able to fit all this on it ?
You would probably also need a small side table. I do.
@@TheDungeonDive after I buy it I’ll see if it will fit otherwise yea I’ll get another table for sure 👍🏼
I've been playing volume 2 lately and still have mixed feelings about it. Like you, I also set the whole map up before hand. I actually didn't like randomly drawing tiles for this game because I don't think it was designed well. The creator made a single map and cut it up into tiles! So my current game, I set the map up not even randomly, I put the puzzle together (so to speak). Random draws disrupt the aesthetics for me, with upside down mountains and roads abruptly disappearing. I also use the optional random encounter tables instead of using the circumstances bar.
The amount of customization / options of how to play is one of the best things about these games.
The castlevania/ravenloft vibe of the 4th game got me to back the newest installment.
Totally! Cool horror adventure vibe.
The theme is cool. For me it was mainly the fact, that it is more focused. Will be my 1st Hexplore It
I agree: Valley of the Dead King is the best volume in my opinion as well. Especially Vol. 3 lost the focus of its overall design. Too many rules without increasing any meaningful options or choices, resulting in a too long, grindy, gaming experience.
My biggest problem with Vol. 1 is (and the overall series), that the timing mechanism (which you like) does not work at all in Vol. 1 for me. There is no time pressure in this game. With teleportation you can kite the Dead King forever. This is the biggest design problem in the overall game: It is a sandboxy gaming experience without being a fully-fleshed out designed game behind it. One shotting a boss after an infinite number of hours is not a good designed game in my opinion. Do not get me wrong: The leveling, the writing on the placards is fun and I love the Runebound-eque feeling of the game.
But the Hexplore It series could be so much better with a real time pressure mechanic.
It just has a different kind of time pressure. In Adrimon you need to make sure your characters are pretty constantly getting stat upgrades as the adventure goes on.
@S R On paper, it does. But even the Fate cycle is too slow for the overall progression of the heroes. So the game tends to drag, even more so in Adrimon, because you need to find the artifacts even if you are powerful enough (except the artifact related abilities of Adrimon).
@S R True. I just want to say that they did not fix that. They introduce new rules (for the sake of rules) without solving the basic problems of the game system (in my opinion). Hopefully Hex IV really improves over III.
@S R 100% valid. So hopefully Hex IV improves on that aspect.
Your talking me into let backing the new hexplore game.
You should! :) I think it looks really good.
I have the first edition of the 1st volume. Do you know if there is much a of difference between the 1st ed and 2nd ed?
The only difference I know of for sure is the map art.
I don't like to criticize. I have the game and I play it 2 3 time max. I try to understand here. In reality I start the play after do all the math and stats and every thing. I have mini boss and request and event plus the final boss who speed up things. At least you have 2 3 mini boss from the beginning that you can't defeat. You start by the quest. For me even before I can defeat any mini boss, the main boss appears and I presume that I am losing . That's my story..
Great game, a love letter made with care and respect, almost a time capsule from 80's pen and paper RPGs. Only problem is the combat. Its badly designed, its repetitive, boring and very gamey.
For me I don't understand why all the complexity in this game. Too many choices, to many options, calculation. It makes my brain hurts.... And even I don't understand what I want to do to win the game. Should fight the big monster do encounter... What should I do....? Did any one can ever win this game?