Dungeon is a miniatures skirmish game that fits the need for a quick dungeon delve (only about 1 hour to play after you have learned the rules). It seems to bring in the feel of a couple of WOTC prior games such as their previous miniatures game from 3.5 and their Magic TCG as well as the current D&D adventure games (Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon and The legend of Drittz) The maps have a similar layout to the 3.5 maps with each side have its own start area and each miniature has its own stat card, however that is where the similarities stop. The maps are a module system that pulls its design from the adventure games, just like the adventure games the map are changeable and are put together in a puzzle like fashion. The are a lot of games that use the tapping function to show that a unit has been used for something, however in this game with the abilities that are present and the lack of dice to roll it has been mentioned to me that it feels like a game of magic with miniatures (I can agree with that to some extent).
This product is packaged as faction sets with two factions out right now. The first of these is Sting of Lolth featuring some not so friendly Drow and the second being a set of good heroes call the Heart of Cormyr.
According to wizards website there are two more factions coming out this year Tyranny of Goblins on September 18th 2012 and Curse of Undeath on November 20th 2012. The twelve miniatures in the Sting of Lolth are made up of 2 demon web spiders, a drider, Drow Assassin, Drow Blademaster, 2 Drow house Guards, a drow priestess, Drow wizard, Giant spider, Shadow mastiff and a Umber Hulk. The Twelve miniatures in the hero faction include a Dragon knight, Dwarf Cleric, 2 dwarven Defenders, 2 elf Archers, a halfling sneak, half orc thug, human ranger, war wizard, earth guardian and a copper Dragon. The two remaining announced but unpublished sets will include Goblins, Hobgoblins bugbears and a feral troll in the Tyranny of goblins and grave-hounds lich necromancer and dracolich in the curse of undeath set. The quality of these miniatures is very similar slightly better or slightly worse in some area to the 4th edition miniatures, however the big difference is they are not random. (I believe the dragon in the heroes set is the same one I got in my 4th ed minis.) In the box along with the miniatures you will find 4 map puzzle pieces 2 small and two large, each double sided depicting a dungeon scene on one side and a outdoor scene on the other. As well as 2 commander cards with different features, a creature card for each miniature and a card to be able to use each miniature in one of the adventure games. Also of not are the damage and other tokens as well as a nice form storage tray to keep everything in order. So what you get for the price of one faction set ($40) is the ability to use the miniatures in at least three different games first of the games being dungeon command (duh), secondly and ofthe D
&D adventure games such as Castle Ravenloft and lets not forget just a well love RPG game.
I am giving this game a 3.8/5
Breakdown for my grade
Storage: box is rather thin as is the preformed plastic tray, I just do not see this holding up well in travel back and forth to game stores and cons etc.. 3/5
Minis: good quality constant with what wizards has put out in the past. 4/5
Rules book/ ease of learning: very well laid out and not to long once you
read through and play a couple of games all the little confusing bits start to make sense and you will make a new home for the rule book under the tray. 4/5
Cards and tokens quality: tokens are rather nice thick card board should hold up a long time. The cards need a card sleeve if you plan to play on a semi regular basis as they are a little lower quality than the adventure games or even the older miniature skirmish cards. 3.5/5
Replay value: I feel good about the replay value there are a lot of tactics you can use in this system with order cards and special creature abilities. As more of these faction packs come out you will even be able to build your own faction. 4.5/5
Eastside Gamer 