I was given Demeo at GDC to review for my blog. I would like to take the time to thank the Devs for taking the time to talk to me and answer all my questions. I am very grateful for the opportunity to try this game more thoroughly. That said, this will be an honest review of the game.
Demeo is a co-op dungeon crawler tabletop game that you can play on PC and VR. You choose from seven classes and move them through different themed dungeons to clear their objectives. Demeo has a minor deck-building mechanic. You use abilities, items, and spells by casting them from cards you buy, find, or earn throughout the dungeon. On each turn, each character has two actions. A character can move, attack, or use an ability. The goal of this game isn’t to clear the dungeon of its monsters but to complete the dungeon’s objectives. It is easy to get caught up fighting monsters only to be overrun by them when you take too long to clear a floor. There is strategy to this game, but it is manageable if you are thinking about your turns carefully.
I love this game because it gives me the perfect board game experience without having to spend time on setup and cleanup. I came into this game already infatuated by the limited experience I got at GDC, but I wasn’t prepared for how dangerous this game was for my time. One more turn easily turned into hours later, so I had to make sure I at least ran my sessions with a timer.
The game runs and looks great. I love the different aesthetics of the adventures, and you can earn cosmetics by playing the game. I did try both the PC and VR versions of the game and have no preference. I love how immersive the VR version of the game is, but the PC version is a great alternative when I don’t want to put on the headset. There is cross-play between the versions, so you don’t need to buy a VR headset if you don’t need one.
The game is meant to be played with other players. You can team up with your friends, or play online with strangers. I keep the strangest gaming hours, so I wasn’t able to play with others. If you are like me and don’t have friends, the solo experience is fantastic. You can run dungeons with a single hero, or you can run them with four. I liked that I was able to try different characters at once. Both experiences felt vastly different, and they kept the game fresh. The difficulty of the dungeon scales was based on the number of characters in the party, but I felt the scaling was fair.
Demeo is a ton of fun and a must-buy if you like playing board games. The game is available on Steam, PlayStation, Pico, Meta Quest, and Epic Games for $39.99.
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Movie Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
I know we were supposed to boycott Honor Among Thieves because of how greedy Hasbro is, but my wife wanted to watch it. I couldn’t miss out on the rare opportunity to nerd out with her. She doesn’t care much for my love for D&D, so I was hopeful that this would be my chance to bring her into the hobby. I am still working on convincing her, but at least she enjoyed the movie.
Chris pine is a charismatic bard who turns to a life of crime when his wife is brutally murdered. On his last job, he gets captured and sentenced to jail. On his release, he discovers that the man he trusted his daughter to has taken her. It is now up to him and a band of misfits he has gathered to go on an epic adventure and get her back. Do they have what it takes to overcome the evils this world has to offer?
I had a ton of fun with this movie. The characters are charismatic, the D&D references are fantastic, and the balance between comedy and action is perfect. There was a fear going into this movie that it would sacrifice tension and suspense for one-liners and dumb gags, but I was surprised by how well this movie did. Honor Among Thieves knows when to break the tension with a joke, but it also knows when to be serious to build its suspense. The fight scenes are tense and epic, and I dare you to sit through this whole movie without laughing.
The actors are great. The chemistry between the characters is fantastic, and they play off each other so well. I think this movie works so well because of how well the actors play their characters. If nothing else, they look like they are having fun with this movie. Instead of a generic comedic action or fantasy movie, it felt like a D&D campaign adapted into a film.
If you know nothing about Dungeons and Dragons, you don’t need to. I enjoyed all the references to spells, monsters, and rules, but I didn’t find it necessary to understand what is going on. My wife doesn’t know anything about the game but enjoyed it tremendously. The movie is just a fun adventure with magic and maybe a dragon or two. My only complaint is that the movie is a bit predictable, but it is fine for what it is.
If you are thinking of watching Honor Among Thieves, watch it in theaters. This movie is at least worth a discounted ticket, but I understand the need to boycott it.
GDC Recap: Demeo
During this year’s GDC I also got to try Demeo, the survival RPG that I believe is worth looking into. I was fortunate enough to grab a review code for this game, so stay tuned for a full review in the future.
Dameo is a cross-platform RPG that plays like a tabletop game. You choose from seven playable characters and use their unique skills to get through one of their prewritten adventures. Adventures in this game are dungeon themes, each with its unique flavor and the monsters that fill them. Pick up your game piece and move them across a perilous board as you search for a way out. To fight, you use a set of skill cards that you unlock along the way. Some cards you can use repeatedly, but others burn after use. Use them wisely. You unlock cards by looting them from chests or unlocking them from battle. Battles are decided by a dice roll, making your adventure a suspenseful one.
Demeo started as a VR game but has been successfully ported to PC. I only got to play the PC version of this game, but I will be trying the VR version for my full review. You can play this game by yourself, team up with three other friends, or play with people online. The game is cross-play, making it possible for everyone to play together using their favorite version.
From what little I got to try this game, I am obsessed. I love board games but have no one to play with. Demeo gives me the chance to do something I love, even if it’s just on my own. If you like board games, you should look into this game. The game is available on Steam, PlayStation, Pico, Meta Quest, and Epic Games for $39.99.
Shoutout to the developer that took the time to answer all my questions. I appreciate that they took a chance on my small blog, and gave me this opportunity to review their game. Keep up the good work! Make sure you follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on all the news.
IGF’s Big Winner: Betrayal at Club Low
Betrayal at Club Low is a strange little indie game that took home this year’s Nuovo Award and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. This game is a surreal journey through a silly story that is sure to delight its players.
An old acquaintance goes missing in the town’s new nightclub. You must put your skills of deception to the test as you go undercover to bring him back. Do you have what it takes to sneak in without being noticed?
The game borrows from mechanics from tabletop RPGs that are well-implemented. Outcomes hinge on the luck of the dice, and your decisions matter. The game promises 11 different endings, securing its replay value. I only got to play this game a bit during GDC, and I liked the vibe it gave out. It was weird, silly, and it has a fantastic soundtrack.
If you like tabletop RPGs and want a unique experience, check out Betrayal at Club Low. I’ll be trying to get myself a copy to review, but you can buy it on Steam for $9.99.
Excellence in Visual Arts: RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
The Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards have just wrapped and it was a pretty impressive lineup of games. I got to try a few of them and was impressed by the unique collection put on display. I will be covering all the games that were nominated, but I will start. I think it is only fair to give these games their own posts because they were all so different and deserving of the same time and attention.
The winner for the Excellence in Visual Art category was the adventure game RPG Time: The Legend of Wright by the publisher, DeskWorks Inc. This quirky little RPG combines a series of genres with its unique hand-drawn art style. The game feels like it happens on top of a desktop as you shift between different game types. It is cool to see this game come to life. I can see why it has already one a lot of awards. If you are looking for something truly unique and quirky, check out RPG Time: The Legend of Wright. You can play this game on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Steam for $29.99. Its on sale on Nintendo for $15.99 till March 31, 2023, and Xbox has it for $16.49 till March 28, 2023. Now might be a great time to pick it up if you have either of those consoles. I’ll be adding this to the games I need to try, and hopefully, come back with a full review soon.
Flesh & Blood TCG and Felt Table
I have been looking to get into a new TCG since Magic is getting too expensive. I play a bit of Magic the Gathering Arena and PokemonTCG in my free time because of their accessibility, but I want something new and fresh. One of the games I have been curious about is Flesh and Blood TCG. I like the art, and the gameplay seems pretty cool.
Flesh and Blood is a game where players pit heroes against each other, chaining attacks against each other until only one is left standing. For those wanting to learn how to play, the official Flesh & Blood YouTube channel offers a solid guide to get you started. I suggest you find your favorite content creator for more tips once you get more invested in the hobby.
If you are interested in getting into this hobby, check out the official Flesh and Blood website. Use it to keep updated on news, products, and local events. The Flesh and Blood subreddit and discord are pretty active and another fantastic source for information.
If going to your local game store isn’t an option, you can try installing a Flesh and Blood addon to Table Top Simulator. I recommend you buy a license for TTS if you want to play board games with your friends online. While it is a fantastic way to play your favorite board games online, it can be clunky and lacks automation. The best place to play FAB online is on Felt Table.
Felt Table is a browser-based app for Flesh and Blood. It offers an automated experience with an easy-to-use interface. The cards are easy to read, and the cards look great. Felt Table is the place to go once you get a basic understanding of the game’s mechanics, or just want to play test a new deck. The app has an easy-to-use deck builder that allows imports, solid prebuilt decks to get you started, and a well-programmed AI to play against. They also just released a new campaign mode that is worth checking out if you are interested in the PVE side of the hobby. They also hold Sealed events and it has a pretty solid tutorial worth checking out.
I tried both AI battles as well the campaign and thought the experience was interesting. The games run very smoothly. I liked how easy it was to get started and play matches, but I don’t think I am smart enough for this game. I had enough fun fumbling to the end of matches, and will be returning to Felt Table to keep practicing. At the moment, the game hasn’t captured my attention enough to invest in, but I am happy to have an accessible avenue to continue to figure out who I am in the TCG space.
While my search for a new TCG continues, I believe you should give Flesh and Blood a shot. The community seems to be steadily growing, the mechanics are interesting, and the art is pretty cool. The app is also free, so you have nothing to lose.
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I Got My Dad Into X-Wing
I want to talk about X-Wing for a moment, at least my experience with the miniatures tabletop game. I know there is a lot of controversy about the game because of the recent rule changes, but as a new player, I don’t mind the new rules. I understand squad building a lot better with the new rules. I am not here to discuss the new rules, but rather with my experience with the hobby.
I got X-Wing on a whim, as something to do with my dad. My dad and I don’t have much in common. He has never shared an interest in miniature wargaming, but I don’t have anyone to play with either. I also don’t feel comfortable enough to go to my local game shop to play with strangers. I decided this was my best avenue, so I bought a couple of starter sets.
I am happy to say that our first game went well. It was cool to see him slowly get into the game. He would remind me of rules, he would measure his distances, and worst of all, he started moving with purpose. I have yet to beat my dad at X-Wing. My dad doesn’t speak English, so we don’t play with all the rules yet. I’ve been slowly adding a new rule every time as to not overwhelm him, but I don’t think he needs the crutch too much. With each game that we play, I can see him get better. He flies in wings and is getting too good at the positioning. He thinks I take it easy on him, but I am not. I am very competitive and try my hardest to win.
Maybe this post will get lost in the ether; that is fine. I just wanted to put this out there: I am glad I found this hobby I can share with my dad. I look forward to the day that I can finally beat him.
The Gambler: A God for Homebrew
I want to take a moment to discuss a little homebrew idea I have been milling over. I have done some play testing, but the idea is still raw and I am more than open for any feedback.
The gambler is the trickster god. He appears to the players and offers them power, health, strength, and even a wish, but there is a catch depending on the deal they strike. I plan to have the gambler apear once per story arc in my campaign and interact with only one player character at a time. He will offer them four contracts and it is up to them to choose if they want to enter into one or not. If they do not, the gambler will move on to the next character. I will do this out of game to keep it an overarching mystery in my campaign. The gambler and the deal struck with him must always remain a secret. Any buffs and debuffs gained from entering a contract are permanent and can’t be undone, even by magic. Player characters are limited to one contract per session with the gambler.
There are two cardinal rules when dealing with gambler
- You must never speak about the gambler or the deal you have made with him. This includes above the table conversations that happen out of character.
- Deals that are made can’t be unmade
The gambler will present the players with four different contracts, of which they can only choose one. He will offer them accuracy, power, endurance, and a wish. Each contract has it’s own components and set of consequences.
Contract of Accuracy
This contract grants the user a truer aim against enemies. If the player chooses this contract, she will gain advantage on the first hit on a new enemy. This includes spell attacks and ranged attacks. A new enemy is one that has not been previously attacked by this character. The enemy can already be damaged. In exchange for this buff, the player must forfiet 30% of their total health excluding temporary hitpoints.
Example: The barbarian makes this deal. For simplicity she has 100 total hp. After this deal she will have 70.
Breach of contract will result in in disadavantage on all first attacks against new enemies and the 30% life lost.
Contract of power
Taking this contract grats the player better stats. If a player chooses this contract, they can choose one base stat to increse by one point. In exchange, the player character must give lose a point in another stat. Stat points can not surpass 20.
Example: The barbarian takes this contract because she wants a better constitution. Her current constitution is 16, if she takes this deal it will not be 18. In exchange she will give up a point in intellegence turning her 10 into an 8.
In addition to exchanging points, the player will owe the gambler one favor that he can call on at any time in the campaign. It doesn’t have to be right away and there should be tangible consequences that affect the story. It is important to note that this should be a task that uses a skill they are not proficient in. They will get three opertunities to complete a favor for the gambler, but they only have to succeed once. There is always the option to decline the proposal but doing so results in a fail. Failing to complete a favor for the Gambler will result in a breach of contract.
Example: The party goes to the magic shop to stock up on potions. As the barbarian waits for her turn she hears the Gambler’s voice in her head say “I am here to collect. This merchant has a very rare magical sword crafted with enchanted dwarven steel. Steal it for me and our deal deal is done” The barbarian with low stealth and sleight of hand will attempt to steal the sword if she chooses.
If this contract is breached, the character will take a -2 to the buffed stat. If she had a +3 in the buffed stat, she will now have a +1. The point that was traded previously will remain traded. This deal cannot be repeated unless the favor has been completed.
Contract of Endurance
Taking this contract will make the player sturdier. If the player takes this contract, they will gain 20% of their total health and 1 point added to their armor class. In exchange, the player will always start with 2 failed death saves.
Example: The barbarian who takes the deal starts off with 100 hp and will end up with 120 hp
If this contract is breached, the player will take a 20% loss in their hp and they will lose 1 point to their AC, in addition to the points added to their initial total. The 2 failed death saves will remain.
Wish
A player who enters this contract will get access to the wish spell in exchange for their soul. A player who chooses this contract will fail all their death saves and cannot be revived by any means. The sould of the player’s will be in the Gambler’s service. For the rest of the campain, the sould of the character will hunt down the party.
Example: The barbarian uses the wish spell to get a new axe. The barbarian dies and the gambler comes to take her soul. For the rest of the campain, the party will encounter the soul of the barbarian who comes to kill the party.
If this contract is breached, the gambler apears to the player and takes her soul right then and there. No saves, no fight, just instant death. There are a few caviats to this contract. Contracts made with the Gambler cannot be undone by the wish spell. The gambler cannot be undone by the wish spell. A soul taken by the gambler cannot be persuaded or reasoned with. Nor can it be retrieved or revived. This deal can only be made once.
This is Important
It is important that the players keep their deal a secret. Even if eventually all the players have made a deal with the Gambler, they can not speak about it. The gambler chooses who he wants to apear to and can’t be summoned, even after a deal has been struck.
What do you think? Any ideas on how I can improve this system?