Beyond Dungeon!: D&D boardgames and Talisman

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've successfully graduated my kid from Chutes & Ladders and Trouble to the remake of Dungeon! this week, and he's in love with it. The reading isn't bad for him -- he's familiar with about half of the words from playing Minecraft -- and the math is just his speed, as is the risk assessment involved with knowing what level of the dungeon he can take on. (His rogue spent a lot of time being beaten up on level 4 and 5 tonight, after being repeatedly warned it'd be pretty hard for him.)

Now, it's early to start worrying about the next step, but some of the games I'm eyeing are starting to vanish from shelves. Which game line, Talisman or the D&D boardgames (Wrath of Ashardabamalamadingdong, etc.) are more suitable for young players (with adult help)?

With the D&D boardgames, which would you recommend I pick up? (I admit to being a Drizzt hater, but I'll put that aside if the boardgame is the hands-down best.) Do the other miniatures games add anything to the core games worth worrying about?

For Talisman, what expansions beyond the core game are worth getting?

 

[darjr]

I'd absolutely get Talisman. It's a roll and move game, yea, but I think it sounds like it'll be great for your child. Also take a look at the Dungeon! entry at boardgamegeek for some cool alternate rules and options that may help 'advance' Dungeon! a bit as he gets older.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1339/dungeon

 

[frankthedm]

Wrath of Ash. You get a huge red dragon. Full Co-Op play.

While Revised FFG Talisman is a good game, it is a Player Vs. Player game that can go on forever if the players are not cut throat enough.

Talisman Dungeon adds a nice new section. Talisman: Dragons expands the game immensely and makes ramping up power easier, if you are lucky. Highlands has some stuff that feels really OP IMHO.

Good news, FFG Revised Talisman has expansion symbols on every card, letting you separate expansions. Bad news, that can take a lot of time.

 

[trancejeremy]

Maybe it wouldn't be as cool today, but I really wish MB would put out Dark Tower again. Not quite D&D, more of a fantasy wargame, but that was awesome.

 

[Holy Bovine]

I would take any of the D&D boardgames over Talisman. I freaking hate that game. Its about 20 minutes of fun packed into 4 hours. I've played both Castle Ravenloft and Wrath of Ashaldon and I think I like CR better. WoA does add in some stuff but CR plays, ime, faster and easier.

 

[odinfellhammer]

Castle Ravenloft is a great game. It is basic 4e with a twist. I have not played the other ones in the series. Another game that would be a good start would be X-Wing.

 

[Mark CMG]

Perhaps still a bit beyond that age range, but I've had a blast playing Lords of Waterdeep and enjoyed Conquest of Nerath as well.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/110327/lords-of-waterdeep

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/92044/dungeons-dragons-conquest-of-nerath-board-game

In a similar vein as Lords of Waterdeep, though not a WotC/D&D game, you should also check out Kingsburg.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27162/kingsburg

For someone younger, Castle Panic might be a good game.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43443/castle-panic

And I've seen some rather young players handling Descent.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17226/descent-journeys-in-the-dark

 

[ScottBargelt]

Talisman is probably easier, mechanics-wise, for your child, but as another poster noted, the game can last a *long* time, which can be a problem for children. I don't own any of the expansions myself; I've played with the dungeon expansion, which to me just made the game last longer without adding that much to it.

The D&D boardgames would require more adult help, at least at first, but are a lot of fun, and more visually attractive. Based on 4e, they even have limited level-up possibilites. I own Ravenloft, and can recommend it highly.

It's not fantasy, but you might want to consider Cosmic Encounters.

 

[Joshua Gertz]

I would say the D&D Lineup would be the next step since they are cooperative. Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon, and Legend of Drizzt.

After that you could go with Descent or Super Dungeon Explore, it adds the one person against the other aspect but may be good especially when the kiddo has sleep overs.

Talisman is an alright choice but has a tendency to go really long, specifically if you are playing nice to one another. While some of the expansions are cool, they generally add more time to the game. DungeonQuest may be a good choice it is highly luck based and allows kids to catch up with adult players, but you can die in the first turn sometimes depending on the tiles.

Castle Panic is a good one, I play that a lot with my family along with Forbidden Island.

 

[darjr]

Talisman can take a while to play, BGG has a post about running the game for children.