Dungeons & Delvers Review

I was surprised to see a positive review of Dungeons & Delvers (only available here and from the Big Geek Emporium). Not due to any sort of quality concern, but because the guy that left it really likes the Dice Pool version (which I swear we'll revise post-move), and I think either doesn't like d20 games, or hasn't played them.

In any case, here's what he had to say:

This looks like something that is in that same tier as the fabled Magenta Box, for Basic D&D. Upon further inspection, you can discover a game that will be very familiar to what you have played before, but it has enough various small fiddly bits, where a ‘crunch table’ could be really happy having this as their main campaign. This is a game where you have options aplenty.

People who are shy of OSR-style games, should allow themselves to try this at a convention, or online. This game could convert a table of new players rather easily. It also has enough nods to wonderful literature within it to make your table of graybeards happy. I have not read the whole manual as of yet, but as of page 187, this is well-edited, and has enough meat within the covers where your table might find this is exactly what you want to play.

The .pdf is a Jefferson, and worth it. You get art which supports the subject matter in a positive light, and you have an index (I’ll buy something where the index/table of contents is a big gripe) which helps you find your answers.

Page 187 means he's near the start of the wizard class, which is far less than the halfway mark. I'm not going to fault him for not going through the entire thing before reviewing it, as it's over 500 pages, and I can't imagine the time it would take to go through everything (or if you could even fit it in the BGE review section).

I think he's spot on, though: it's familiar but justifies its existence through new and modified rules, as well as a wealth of content (and there will be so much more in 2nd Edition). It's not some shallow, unfinished, slightly modified indie hack with horrible art scattered about.