Super Dungeon Explore

[Hairy Norseman]

Super Dungeon Explore...It's a bit of a mouthful but its the name of the new game (well...coming soon) from Soda Pop. It looks like a cross between Heroquest and the cutsy Zelda games.

Soda Pop are currently doing a 12 days thing showing previews of the characters etc (check the link above and the little images above the dragon).

They don't seem to have much info on their site about the game but I did manage to find something on wamp-forum.

So here's what I can give you about the game, and I'll do my best to answer questions (I am not an owner but yes I am involved with SodaPop). Understand that all info here is subject to change.

SDE is being developed and tested and was demo'd at GenCon and PAX and I will be running demo's at TheWarStore Weekend as well. We have plans for other con's including some in the EU, but until details are hammered out, I can't tell you which.

SDE figures are not in current release, the figures sold at GC/PAX are our demo sized figs, so they are about 20% larger than the production pieces. All the models are built in 3D and rapid proto'd for the masters. The current line which will become available in waves is thus:

Heroes:
Dwarf
Paladin/Cleric
Ranger
Mage
Rogue

Minions/Monsters:
Kobold Soldier - 3 for a playset
Kobold Spearman - 3 for a playset
Kobold Slinger - 2 for a playset
Kobold Ironshield - 2 for a playset
Kobold Mage - 1 for a playset

A playset is what we use to run our demo's and what is currently the selection of what we will package (I do not know pricing yet and it is subject to change).

About the game itself - it is the 8 bit dungeon crawl we all loved when we were younger wrapped up into a mini game. The game is played on an 18x18 surface. One player takes the heroes, the other the dungeon. The game is scalable so you can have more than 2 players at a time. The dungeon gets a portal (spawn point) for each hero taken. Heroes explore the dungeon, kill monsters, get loot, hearts and potions (not necessarily all at once though) and search for treasure chests.

As the game progresses the power of the heroes grows as they gather loot and kill monsters, but the power of the dungeon increases as it does damage to heroes, going from 8 bit to 16 to 24 ultimately leading to boss battles and the 'final fight'.

There are expansion packs planned, new monsters, new loot, new heroes and new dungeons as the game moves forward.

On a personal note, I learned the game in 4 minutes and love it every time I play. It's easy to learn, fun to play and easily replayable.

I'm not quite sure what to make of it so far, sometimes I think it looks cool but at other times I think it looks a bit too kiddy. I definitely like the sound of the game play though as I have many fond memories of playing Heroquest as a kid.

What do you'll think?

HN

[Chucklemoney]

I for one am looking forward to it, but I am quite a fan of all of Soda Pop's work. Certainly see myself picking up the rules when they are released and will of course take it from there.

[SamVimes]

I love dungeoncrawls and I love adorable little minis, so I'm definitely looking forward to this!

[eldargal]

I must have that Dwarf, it is without doubt the cutest thing in the history of ever apart from kittens.

[Hairy Norseman]

I think its the Kobolds I like the most, though the little fire mage does look cool. I assume it will be released as a box set. Any one heard anything about dates?

HN

[Daniel36]

Shouldn't it be 32 bit?

I like the look, I think the style is something very unique, but it's probably not something I will play.

[leonmallett]

That has intrigued me.

Unique styling? Good.
Dungeon-bashing with familiar tropes and character types? Good.
3-D gameplay? Good.

[MadNez]

Played an early demo at gencon and had a blast.

The game plays just like an old school vid game so its really fun and fast.

At gencon each character sold in blister packs, but I was told the baddies would subsequently be released in boxed sets.

The game is fun, but the minis remind me so much of final fantasy 2 that I would buy them anyway.

Also was told the next set of baddies after kobolds is skeelies n a necro.

[Melchiah]

Finally, a game i might be able to weasel my wife in to playing...a side from WoW of course.

[scarletsquig]

This game is a definite buy for me.

I like how it's going to be sold in a board game format, makes it very approachable.. I think I could play this with quite a lot of my non-wargaming friends and they'd enjoy it.

From what I've seen of the cards, the game looks quite tactical, with buffs and special powers for the heroes and the various formations that the kobolds can use, such as having heavyily armoured ironscales up front with spear-armed gougers poking through from behind.

Will be painting the models and giving them several coats of gloss varnish for added shiny. Not something I'd normally do for models, but I think it might work well for this game.

[Daniel36]

If they release blisters, I might get some just for kicks...

[Hairy Norseman]

I like how it's going to be sold in a board game format, makes it very approachable.. I think I could play this with quite a lot of my non-wargaming friends and they'd enjoy it.

I'd have to agree here. Nothing quite beats unboxing a new game, especially with cool figs.

Just spotted the Kobold Dragon Priest on their site, he looks awesome.

HN

[Hairy Norseman]

Just spotted a new update with a demo rules download (the link is above the gallery pics on the SDE page). Haven't read through it yet but I will print it off tonight and have a butchers.

Apparently the game is due Q2 2011.

HN

[SamVimes]

Schweet! I read all the character card yesterday, and that got my palette worked up!

[SamVimes]

So I read the rules, and they seem like a blast. However, the 3 player size is not ideal for my gamin group, as there are 5 of us (which is perfect for most dungeon crawls). Also, and I know this is only preview rules, but I really would like a decent campaign system as we aren't exactly role-players, but we love to have a deep campaign experience.

[Melchiah]

Had a quick read myself. Seems interesting enough to want to try it.
In the sample pics of the models there seems to be a game board; does anyone know if there will be there is/will be plans to sell a modular game board or people will have to make their own?

(Im aware that nothing for or from this game is available yet, but there was a demo at gencon and some member may of been present if such a question had been asked)

[Hairy Norseman]

So I read the rules, and they seem like a blast. However, the 3 player size is not ideal for my gamin group, as there are 5 of us (which is perfect for most dungeon crawls). Also, and I know this is only preview rules, but I really would like a decent campaign system as we aren't exactly role-players, but we love to have a deep campaign experience.

According to the pics on their site it looks like there will be 5 heros to start with as well as the Dark Consul player so thats upto 6 players. I suppose for the demo rules you could add 2 extra heros and then add 2 more spawn counters to increase the number of Kobolds. You might need to increase the size of the dungeon though.

They have spoken of a campaign system so the heros get more powerful the more successful they are but also the dungeons get more powerful the more they hurt the heros, sounds pretty darn good to me.

I think I read somewhere that the next upgrade pack for alternate baddies is skellies and a Necromancer.

Had a quick read myself. Seems interesting enough to want to try it.
In the sample pics of the models there seems to be a game board; does anyone know if there will be there is/will be plans to sell a modular game board or people will have to make their own?

(Im aware that nothing for or from this game is available yet, but there was a demo at gencon and some member may of been present if such a question had been asked)

I'm purely guessing here but I think it will be a basic board, much like Hero Quest. I believe the board at Gen Con was made specifically for demos. I wonder if you use the same basic board layout for each game or if they have movable doors etc ala Hero Quest.

HN

[Hairy Norseman]

The figs are now up for order! Apparently painted pics of the figs should be up tomorrow in the store.

Just looking at the prices they seem quite steep, if you want a full set of 2 Heros and 11 Kobolds to play the demo game then that's £55! (£3-£7 per figure, roughly) You'd still need a board and quite a few counters. I hope for their sake that they plan on selling it as a boxed game or at least in starter packs with a tasty saving. Maybe they should have been sculpted with less of the bobble-head look to save on metal, lol.

It makes me wonder how much the game will be, if indeed they do sell it as a boxed set, especially as they would need at least 3 extra heros, some more kobolds, treasure chests, spawning points and a few other counters...not to mention the board.

HN

[Melchiah]

Since it has that RPG element to it it is meant to be bought alittle bit at a time...

*EDIT*

Had a quick read through the minis for sale; half the models seems to be pewter while the other half is resin.
Maybe their costs could be cut if they were one or the other.

[Darsc Zacal]

They should have named this Super Website Explore, it's not the quickest website to navigate through to get info on the mini's.

I think the mini's are interesting. They remind me of the Warheads style, but appear to be a bit more varied, perhaps a bit more interesting. I don't know that I'd pay the asking price for what for me would be a curiousity or novelty display piece. I am curious to see a pic of an actual model instead of renderings.