John Cooper
Explorer
DUNGEON TILES IV: RUINS OF THE WILD
Designed by Bruce R. Cordell and Christopher Perkins
Wizards of the Coast product number DT4
$9.95
Dungeon Tiles IV: Ruins of the Wild (which I will refer to as just Ruins of the Wild from now on) is the fourth in Wizards of the Coast's series of punch-out, pressed-cardboard tiles suitable for use with miniatures. This time, for the first time, we get tiles of outdoor locations.
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:
Ruins of the Wild is arguably the weakest in the series of Dungeon Tiles thus far. Not only are there only so many ways that you can arrange open areas with trees, bushes, and rocks without getting repetitive, but there are several "wild" tiles I would have liked to see that weren't included in this set. We get several piles of gear, for example, but what about a standard tent tile, or a set of spread out bedrolls? I would imagine this tile set will see the most use during camping sessions when the PCs are sleeping overnight in the field while on the midst of an adventure (or en route to the next one), so it would have been nice to have a couple one- or two-person tent tiles to place on any of the larger "grassy area" tiles. (The large one with two teepees just doesn't do it for me, as I doubt most adventurers sleep in teepees while "on the road.") The 3 "sample setups" on the inside covers were kind of laughable, as for the most part this set consists of grassy area, trees, rocks, and sections of dirt path and stream.
On the other hand, I commend the designers for not feeling they were constrained to have two full-size (8x10) tiles in this set, as the other sets thus far have had. After all, I don't think we're missing out on having 8x8 sections of field as opposed to 8x10 sections of field, and the two extra 2x8 tiles (4, if you consider that they're double-sided) were certainly put to better use. Overall, while the weakest entry in the series, I give Dungeon Tiles IV: Ruins of the Wild a strong "4 (Good)." They're still sturdy tiles that will no doubt see much use in a given campaign.
Designed by Bruce R. Cordell and Christopher Perkins
Wizards of the Coast product number DT4
$9.95
Dungeon Tiles IV: Ruins of the Wild (which I will refer to as just Ruins of the Wild from now on) is the fourth in Wizards of the Coast's series of punch-out, pressed-cardboard tiles suitable for use with miniatures. This time, for the first time, we get tiles of outdoor locations.
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: A 2x8 section of stream. [A 2x8 crevasse.]
An 8x8 campsite with 2 teepees, a campfire, 2 trees, and bedrolls. [An 8x8 empty field with some boulders and a tree stump.] - Sheet 2: A 2x8 section of dirt path. [A 2x8 crevasse.]
An 8x8 area of grass with a 2-room cabin consisting of a 2x3 bedroom, 3x4 common room, and 2x2 porch. [An 8x8 area with 2 trees and several boulder clumps. - Sheet 3: A 2x8 section of stream. [A 2x8 section of dirt path.]
An 8x8 area of Stonehenge-like plinths and a central stone square. [An 8x8 area with a tree, an evergreen tree, a small pond, and some boulders.] - Sheet 4: A 2x8 section of stream. [A 2x8 section of dirt path.]
An 8x8 area with a circular keep in ruins, complete with smashed doors and a set of stairs leading down. [An 8x8 area with 2 trees, an evergreen tree, 2 bushes, a stump, and some boulders.] - Sheet 5: A 4x8 area with an evergreen tree and several bushes. [A 4x8 area with the skeletal remains of a giant.]
A 4x4 grassy hill. [A 4x4 boulder pile and 2 bushes.]
A 4x4 grassy area with an elevated slope. [A 2x2 set of stairs leading down from the center of this tile.]
A 2x4 area of 4 graves. [A 2x4 area of brambles.]
A 2x4 tile of an overturned wagon. [A 2x4 area of brambles.] - Sheet 6: A 2x8 area of grass. [A 2x8 section of path with some rocks.]
A 2x4 grassy area. [Boulders.]
A 2x4 section of flat stones on a path. [A toppled column.]
A 2x4 top-view of a wagon. [A log.]
A 2x4 bush and what looks to be a tailless lizardfolk statue. [A mud puddle?]
A 1x2 section of stream being bridges by a log. [A chest.]
A 2x2 section of stream turning a corner. [The top view of a horse.]
A 2x2 section of stream turning a corner. [A path turning a corner.]
A 2x2 top view of a horse. [A path turning a corner.]
a 1x1 "fairy ring" of toadstools. [A campfire.]
A 1x2 toppled angel statue. [A mud puddle?]
A 1x2 pile of assorted gear. [A hole, covering half of the tile, going down into the ground.]
A 1x2 tile of boulders. [The half-buried skeletal remains of a draconic creature.]
Ruins of the Wild is arguably the weakest in the series of Dungeon Tiles thus far. Not only are there only so many ways that you can arrange open areas with trees, bushes, and rocks without getting repetitive, but there are several "wild" tiles I would have liked to see that weren't included in this set. We get several piles of gear, for example, but what about a standard tent tile, or a set of spread out bedrolls? I would imagine this tile set will see the most use during camping sessions when the PCs are sleeping overnight in the field while on the midst of an adventure (or en route to the next one), so it would have been nice to have a couple one- or two-person tent tiles to place on any of the larger "grassy area" tiles. (The large one with two teepees just doesn't do it for me, as I doubt most adventurers sleep in teepees while "on the road.") The 3 "sample setups" on the inside covers were kind of laughable, as for the most part this set consists of grassy area, trees, rocks, and sections of dirt path and stream.
On the other hand, I commend the designers for not feeling they were constrained to have two full-size (8x10) tiles in this set, as the other sets thus far have had. After all, I don't think we're missing out on having 8x8 sections of field as opposed to 8x10 sections of field, and the two extra 2x8 tiles (4, if you consider that they're double-sided) were certainly put to better use. Overall, while the weakest entry in the series, I give Dungeon Tiles IV: Ruins of the Wild a strong "4 (Good)." They're still sturdy tiles that will no doubt see much use in a given campaign.
