Today we decided to write about an amazing project we’ve stumbled upon while browsing some drafts of upcoming KS campaigns. A huge dungeon crawler game, with minis and a ton of innovative mechanics? Count us in! The campaign is planned for October 29th, so let’s talk about what we already know.
Chronicle of Drunagor and Its Origins
Chronicles of Drunagor was made by the very same 2 designers, that created the original Masmorra: the Dungeons of Arcadia, which later became CMON’s Arcadia series – Daniel Alves and Eurico Cunha Neto.
The new game makes heavy use of the insert included in the box to bring some 3D tactics into gameplay. Dungeon tiles are laid out on these, and after adding some bridges, corridors and door – end up as pretty great looking dungeon ready for exploration. Positioning and the floor at which your character is standing is vital to the mechanics and adds a new layer of strategy.
Fold the Door!
Door themselves are a brilliant idea in The Chronicles of Drunagor, no matter how bizarre it sounds. Each gate is made of cardboard, that when unfolded reveals a map instructioning the players how set up of the freshly discovered room – from monsters to obstacles and items. These are randomized to a degree (you don’t know what’s inside your folded door piece) and can lead to a huge number of outcomes. This also makes the game faster and adds a dash of excitement while opening each chamber.
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Darkness Falls
Other element that adds a lot to the game is the so called Darkness, which is one of the main mechanics in Chronicles of Drunagor. Darkness keeps spreading through corridors, and if your character has contact with it – he or she is gone forever. The rules for spreading differ between scenarios, but as a general rule: the amount of darkness covering the dungeon increases constantly as you play. That includes times of exploration and resting. Darkness is represented by little cubes, collected on your character card.
Playable Illustrations
Many dungeon crawlers make use of story books added to make the immersion deeper. Chronicles of Drunagor has something new to offer in that regard. Each game will come with a picture book filled with illustrations. These will be watched after reaching certain points in dungeons and you’ll pick what to interact with based on tiny numbers. The visual side of the game is strong here, so the ability to see a detailed panorama of rooms you’re visiting adds a lot of atmosphere.
Ways to Play
The game can be enjoyed by up to 5 players at once, and there will be a solo mode included which, according to the designers, will offer a full Drunagor experience. People will be able to tackle single, randomized scenarios or take part in 40 hour long campaign consisting of various challenges and a proper storyline.
Judging from the Kickstarter draft page, the game is incredibly promising. Great minis, illustrations, experienced designers and a hefty amount of innovation should interest enough backers to make this into a success. We can’t wait!
