John Cooper
Explorer
DUNGEON TILES III: HIDDEN CRYPTS
Designed by Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins
Wizards of the Coast product number DT3
$9.95
Dungeon Tiles III: Hidden Crypts (referred to as just Hidden Crypts from this point on) is the third in the series of punch-out, pressed-cardboard tiles suitable for use with miniatures, this time with an added emphasis on the dead (and undead).
As with my previous reviews in this product line, I'm going to run through each of the six pressed-cardboard "sheets" that you get with it, so you can see what you'll be getting. Each of the tiles is marked off into one-inch squares (either with lines along each square's edge or with small markings at the intersections), perfectly scaled as 5-ft. squares for D&D or D&D Miniatures. In the section that follows, I'll be referring to the number of 1-inch squares on a given tile, rather than spelling out the number of feet that corresponds to. Finally, to make it easier to see which tiles are which, I'll start off with the front of a tile as normal, [and then put the description of the back of the tile in brackets]. Got it? Then let's begin!
The following tiles come in the set:
Hidden Crypts is an excellent addition to the Dungeon Tiles line. This one is nicely focused (with the oddball addition of a stable, but since it's a useful tile - and an overall good use of a full 8x10 tile that would otherwise be put to waste (after all, do we really need another 8x10 tile devoted to a different large crypt?) - I won't complain), and holds just about every piece of "crypt dressing" I can think of. The diagonally-edged tiles were a very nice addition, expanding the usefulness of the series as a whole. I give Dungeon Tiles III: Hidden Crypts a solid "5 (Superb)."
Designed by Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins
Wizards of the Coast product number DT3
$9.95
Dungeon Tiles III: Hidden Crypts (referred to as just Hidden Crypts from this point on) is the third in the series of punch-out, pressed-cardboard tiles suitable for use with miniatures, this time with an added emphasis on the dead (and undead).
As with my previous reviews in this product line, I'm going to run through each of the six pressed-cardboard "sheets" that you get with it, so you can see what you'll be getting. Each of the tiles is marked off into one-inch squares (either with lines along each square's edge or with small markings at the intersections), perfectly scaled as 5-ft. squares for D&D or D&D Miniatures. In the section that follows, I'll be referring to the number of 1-inch squares on a given tile, rather than spelling out the number of feet that corresponds to. Finally, to make it easier to see which tiles are which, I'll start off with the front of a tile as normal, [and then put the description of the back of the tile in brackets]. Got it? Then let's begin!
The following tiles come in the set:
- Sheet 1: An 8x10 crypt, with 4 stone coffins covered in cobwebs (one of them smashed open). [A 4x4 mausoleum in the corner of a 6x8 fence, complete with a walkway path leading up to it.]
- Sheet 2: An 8x10 room, with what I can only describe as a 1-square-thick "squared-off horseshoe" shape in the middle, 4 squares to a side. Presumably, these are 5-foot-thick solid walls, possibly for support (assuming there's a level above this one), and I suppose the center of the "squared-off horseshoe" shape would be a good place to put a coffin or sarcophagus. [Stables, with 4 stalls and an area holding barrels, sacks of (presumably) grain, and a table of horseshoes. The building is 6x8 with a 2x2 section "cut out" from one corner. It's a nice tile, and one that will no doubt prove to be useful in many game sessions, but it doesn't strike me as being particularly relevant to the "hidden crypts" theme.]
- Sheet 3: Two 1x1 rooms. [Black on the reverse, so you can place it on top of a different tile and "block it out."]
An empty room that would be 4x4 except for the diagonal corner cutting it off. [An empty area of the same 5-sided shape, with three steps leading up the diagonal and adjacent sides.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 4x4 empty room. [In the middle of the 4x4 tile is a 2x2 room with 4 alcoves filled with skulls. A set of double doors leads to a 1x2 corridor reaching the edge of the tile.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A pit trap filled with green acid.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A set of large double doors bisecting the area lengthwise.]
A 1x4 empty corridor. [Black with a faint rubble pattern.]
What would be a 2x2 room with one diagonal side making it a 5-sided room. [Same thing, but with statues.] (There are two such tiles in this set.) - Sheet 4: A 1x1 room. [An upright sarcophagus.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 4x4 empty room with one diagonal corner. [In the center of the tile, a 2x2 room with rubble covering the diagonal corner.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 4x4 room with a skull-and-sickle pattern painted on the floor in blood. [A pile of skulls and bones in the shape of a pyramid.]
A 2x4 empty room. [a 1x4 corridor with 4 small alcoves along one side.]
A 2x4 empty room. [a 2x2 corridor with 4 small alcoves, 2 along each side.]
A 1x4 empty room. [Stairs.]
A 2x2 corner piece, with one diagonal side. [Black, for "cropping off" other tiles.] (There are two such tiles in this set.) - Sheet 5: A 2x8 corridor. [Stairs, complete with a set of skeletal remains.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A 2x2 stretch of corridor with a stone door bisecting it.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A 2x4 area with a wood floor, with a 1x2 section of stairs leading down in one corner.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A 2x4 area with a wood floor, but no stairs.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A 1x4 corridor with 4 alcoves on one side.]
A 2x2 empty room. [A round pool of enchanted water, with 5 sculpted claws "holding" the magical pool.]
A 2x2 empty room. [A large statue of a demon holding a flaming brazier.]
A 2x2 empty room. [Stairs.]
A 1x2 empty room. [A set of double doors.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 1x2 empty room. [A wall and door.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 1x1 empty room. [A door.] - Sheet 6: A 2x8 empty room. [A 1x8 corridor with a 1x2 "T-section" in the center, and 3 alcoves on either side of the side-corridor.]
A 2x4 empty room. [Black, with light rubble.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 2x4 empty room. [A 2x2 section of corridor bisected by an archway.]
A 2x4 empty room. [A 2x4 area with a wood floor, with a 1x2 section of stairs leading down in one corner.]
A 2x2 empty room. [A 2x2 cage.]
A 2x2 empty room. [An eagle statue overlooking a stone table (or sacrificial altar?) with two glowing sources of light on it.]
A 2x2 section of stone floor with a large hole in the center. [Horizontal bars along the floor, indicating a cage area below.]
A 1x2 section containing a coffin. [A wall and door.]
A 1x2 empty room. [A reclining sarcophagus.] (There are two such tiles in this set.)
A 1x2 section containing a coffin. [A torture rack.]
A 1x1 pile of skulls. [An upright iron maiden.]
Hidden Crypts is an excellent addition to the Dungeon Tiles line. This one is nicely focused (with the oddball addition of a stable, but since it's a useful tile - and an overall good use of a full 8x10 tile that would otherwise be put to waste (after all, do we really need another 8x10 tile devoted to a different large crypt?) - I won't complain), and holds just about every piece of "crypt dressing" I can think of. The diagonally-edged tiles were a very nice addition, expanding the usefulness of the series as a whole. I give Dungeon Tiles III: Hidden Crypts a solid "5 (Superb)."
