Tales of the Dungeon is here (in digital format at least)!
The physical hardback may be on its way, though isn't listed either available or for preorder in Pegasus's own store, but if you are eager to get your hands on the content, the pdf is available for download right now on DrivethruRPG, at €18,28.
Here's some highlights gleaned from the Contents page in the Preview:
- 128 pages! The first really substantial supplement for the game. First of many I hope! (At least two further sourcebooks are scheduled for later in the year, of which more in another post...)
- There's an overview of 'Famous Dungeons of the Realm'. There are 11 different named dungeon locations in the contents.From this I infer that the designers have shied away from the notion of there being a single vast dungeon covering the whole realm of Talisman (ie, 'The Dungeon'), and though I'm still keen to explore that notion myself, this probably makes sense.
- Two new ancestries (Vampire and Minotaur) and two new classes (Necromancer and Tomb Robber). I don't think that Tomb Robber was a class in any edition of the board game, though it's an easy fit. Very much looking forward to seeing how the new ancestries work - they certainly add to the exotic options available to players...
- In the chapter on Dungeon Adventuring, a prominent reference to Exploration Roles: does this mean that dungeon exploration will; be suggested to be executed in the abstract?
- Traps & Hazards - features that would definitely fit in well with abstract exploration, following something based on the core rules. Or if not, will at least be a handy source of ideas and quick encounters.
- A chapter on Dungeon Design that prominently features Story Beats - I'm again picking up strong hints of the likelihood of mapless dungeons, and thinking that notion could be well-supported by the material in this book.
- An extensive (35 page), story-focused dungeon adventure, introducing new Enemies and Strangers. I'm strongly inclined to guess that there is either no map, or a map that doesn't show detail - that there are main locations but that Exploration rules (including possible encounters with traps hazards and wandering beasties) will cover the travelling between.
- Appendices of random encounters, strangers and rewards.
I'm really liking the look of this. Excepting that I am wanting to pick up the physical hardback, I am very tempted to grab the pdf anyway.
