The Delve of Blightguard Watch goes bad in the worst way...but is succeeded by a new dwarven realm.
Delve solo - intro | partway | biomes end | all season 4 | all dungeon solo
Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate
Getting Into Delve
delve thoughts | disaster | sequel
Adding to the initial intro of Delve.
Delve is more like a solo board game than a solo rpg, but I've added some light journalling to the tactical elements.
The game itself is satisfying as you do a little resource management (❤️building materials ♦️trade goods, units), choose what buildings to upgrade and units to buy.
You also get to choose where to dig, what your defences look like (barricades, traps, secret doors) and how your units should be deployed.
Combat is quick and fairly straight forward. I've only had a couple of them so I'm not sure how deep the strategy is with more units or foes. Or with a more complex hold layout.
The events can be brutal, but I think there's strategies to mitigate some of the nastier cards and disasters. This is fairly normal in a strategy game, as your victories are built on the ruins of previous attempts!
It's a fun little game, with lots of scope for homebrewing and interpretation.
I'm looking forward to trying some of the elements in the Biomes expansion (which got delivered last week) and also in using the current map for a future dungeon in Season 4!
Disaster at Blightguard Watch
delve thoughts | disaster | sequel
Following on from the start at Blightguard Watch.
Month 2, Year 1, Blightguard Watch (❤️3. ♦️2)
Rich in copper, we've repaired the barracks and temple, but no new priest to bless us yet.
We dug down below the entrance and found a hole that goes deep, deep down. An old volcanic shaft that can lead to nothing good.
Month 3, Year 1, Blightguard Watch (❤️3. ♦️2)
We dug from the shaft and discovered a beast with huge claws for digging. It broke through into our temple and slew my kin and soldiers.
All is lost now. My body barely survives and the beast has brought an end to our hold. This record is all I leave behind now, before I push myself into the depths of the volcanic shaft...
Abrupt End
And so Delve came to an end after just 9 turns. This can happen in any game, including solo. I think the last time it happened for Rolling Solo was with the total-party kill of Warlock! at Firetop Mountain, which was also dwarf-heavy.
When a game comes to an unexpected end in Solo rpgs, it's not a failure, just where the story goes. For me having the risk of it all ending at any time keeps me interested in what is happening at any moment.
When it happens early in a game, it's easy to start a new one, built on the bones the former.
So welcome to...
Rise of Brightfort Harrow
delve thoughts | disaster | sequel
The new hold started like the previous one, even using the back of the last map. Still using 1 Turn - 1 week.
I am overseer for a new beginning, after my cousin's young hold was destroyed by a burrowing beast. I have been given the duty of finding the Void Amulet.
And so I will.
Month 1, Year 1, Brightfort Harrow
We were right to dig here. An old mine gave up its riches.
We expanded our living quarters and healthy warriors.
Month 2, Year 1, Brightfort Harrow
Found an ancient library. I've understood the lore within enables us to breathe as if we had gills, like in the fabled seas of afar.
Below the library we encountered an old inn. Already dwarves and adventurers have moved in. What manner of place was here before?
Month 3, Year 1, Brightfort Harrow
We've found a fungal forest, which helps our building projects without needing wood from the surface.
It's been peaceful and we're blessed as we delve deeper. We now have a mascot hound name Bruenor.
We've uncovered a golem forge here. What ancient hold was buried here to have so many treasures? For now we've left the great construct, until we're ready to start producing our own.
Month 4, Year 1, Brightfort Harrow
We've discovered one reason why the previous hold may have been abandoned. A slumbering great wyrm, near the golem. It's time to get recruiting for more gunners, as we leave the creature be. For now...
Our excavations continue apace and we've been joined by a mason on the upper levels.
Month 5, Year 1, Brightfort Harrow
Our digging spilled into a swamp and we had an infestation of murder toads. Euron, our pathfinder, lead our gunners to defeat them without losses.
Unit Roster
- 5 Soldiers at 1G
- 9 Gunners at 1F
- 5 Soldiers at 1I
- 1 Pathfinder (adventurer) at 2L
- 1 Hound at 2J
Finishing Up
And now I've got Biomes, the expansion. So planning on playing a little more with Brightfort Harrow, then trying it with the Biomes.
