# Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – Forgotten Souls ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2014 - **BGG Rating**: 7.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 1, 2, 3, 4) - **Duration**: 150 min - **Weight**: 2.77 / 5 - **Designers**: Jonathan E Bove - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Edge Entertainment, Galakta, Giochi Uniti, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Hobby World, Wargames Club Publishing - **Categories**: Adventure, Dice, Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures - **Mechanics**: Action Points, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict For those who love Descent but want to play cooperatively with friends, Forgotten Souls is the perfect fit! This expansion turns the game into an epic cooperative adventure where the challenge is escaping a dragon.Unique cooperative experienceModular board adds varietySingle-night mini-campaignGame-controlled challengeRequires base Descent gameModerate language dependencyHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description If you dig the vibe of Descent but prefer an adventure where everyone plays together against the board, the Forgotten Souls expansion is for you! This gem transforms the classic one-vs-many game into a fully cooperative experience, where heroes face challenges as a team to escape imminent danger. Forget the Overlord, because now a card deck and an 'Overlord' track will set the pace and dictate the perils you'll encounter. Get ready to explore dungeons that change with each playthrough, thanks to the modular board, and face bizarre creatures controlled by the game. Each hero has their unique talents, and you'll need to use them together to overcome obstacles, collect loot, and gain experience, all while time is ticking and a sinister force advances. The goal is to escape a dragon's lair, but beware: if the 'Fate' and 'Doom' tokens meet on the track, defeat is certain! It's a mini-campaign ready for a single night's play, packed with action and dungeon-crawling thrills, but with the camaraderie of a cooperative game. Perfect for those who want Descent's depth without the hassle of one player always being at a disadvantage. Language dependency is moderate, so translated cards or a reference sheet will help the adventure flow smoothly. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Forgotten Souls, your band of heroes must venture into a dangerous dungeon commanded by the massive dragon, Tharn. You are tasked with navigating through various rooms, overcoming traps, and facing Tharn’s followers and spirits. Your ultimate goal is to reach the Throne of the Fallen, smash the wooden barricade blocking the tunnel, and escape the dungeon before the ceiling collapses and the dragon catches you. You must stand together to survive, as failure means becoming one of Tharn’s minions. Preparation (Setup) To prepare the game, follow these steps based on the specific room requirements: Treasure Vault (8B): Shuffle 1 red, 1 green, and 1 blue objective token. Place them facedown on the map as indicated. Ensure no players know which objective tokens are which color. Throne of the Fallen (18B-1B-17B): Shuffle 1 red and 1 green objective token together and place them facedown on the map as indicated. Again, keep the colors hidden from all players. Tharn: At the Throne of the Fallen, Tharn is immediately Immobilized. General Setup: Ensure all map tiles, villager tokens, and doom and fate counters are placed according to the specific scenario instructions provided in the room descriptions. Game Flow Consult the manual for details about this section. Actions and How to Play As you explore the dungeon, you will encounter various hazards and mechanics: Movement: In the Fog-Filled Passage (20B), if you trip, you must move the exploring hero one space towards the master barghest. Interactions: Some doors, such as the one in Tunnel’s End (28B), are locked and require the force of two heroes to open. Objective Tokens: These are placed facedown and their identities remain hidden until revealed by game effects. Combat and Hazards: You will face various enemies, such as barghests and Tharn’s followers. Be wary of traps, such as the trap lever in the Fog-Filled Passage, and environmental effects like the concentrated energy in the Lengthy Sewers. End of Game and Scoring The game concludes based on the following conditions: Win Condition: You win if you smash the wooden barricade at the Throne of the Fallen. You must then navigate the small corridor to reach the light of day before the tunnel collapses and the dragon's fire overtakes you. Lose Condition: You lose if the doom counter and fate counter occupy the same space, or if all 8 villager tokens are placed on the Throne of the Fallen. If this happens, Tharn captures the heroes, and your fate is sealed. Tips for Winning Stand Together: The dungeon is perilous, and the manual explicitly states that you must stand together to survive the encroaching shadows and monsters. Manage the Villagers: Be mindful of the villager tokens; if all 8 are placed on the Throne of the Fallen, you will lose the game. Watch the Counters: Keep a close eye on the doom and fate counters. If they occupy the same space, your journey ends in defeat. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) to play Forgotten Souls? Yes, Forgotten Souls is an expansion and requires the base game to be played. ### How many players can participate? The Forgotten Souls expansion is for 1 to 4 players, all playing cooperatively. ### What is the average playtime for a session? A full session of Forgotten Souls, which functions as a mini-campaign, typically takes around 150 minutes (2.5 hours). ### Does the Overlord still exist in this expansion? No, the Overlord's role is replaced by a card system and a game track, making the experience fully cooperative. ### Is the complexity high? With a medium weight of 2.76/5 on BGG, the game is considered moderately complex, suitable for those already familiar with adventure and campaign games. ### Do I need to translate any components? Language dependency is considered moderate. It's recommended to have translated cards or a reference sheet to facilitate gameplay. ### Is it a long campaign? Forgotten Souls is designed as a mini-campaign, ideal for playing in a single evening or over a few sessions. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 13.50 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3434867&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.63 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6908977&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.93 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1658749&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4858417&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/12897/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-second-edition-forgotten-souls?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com