Ok, this year we managed to get two tickets for True Dungeon and will be playing it for the very first time.

What do we need to know before hand? Are we supposed to bring anything? Any experienced players want to give us some tips so we can enjoy our first adventure and not screw it up for the others in our party?

1) Make double sure you didn't buy tickets for a Nightmare slot. If it doesn't say nightmare in the title, you should be fine.

2) Arrive at least 15 minutes early to your event. If this is your first time you might want to extend that time period a bit. There's reading material about the various classes and whatnot at the staging area.

3)Consider if you want to buy additional tokens. While not necessary and you will receive one free pack of 10 with your run, additional equipment will likely improve survivability which for some people is the same as fun.

If you have the time on Thursday it might be worthwhile to check out True Dungeon 101 (SEM1236253). Its free and should cover most of the basics.

You might also want to go into the adventuring groups form and see if you can connect with other people in your run to work out stuff like who wants to play which class etc.

Thanks, I did make sure we are not in the Nightmare slot.

What kind of tokens would you suggest, given that we probably won't know what we're playing until we get there? And what do they cost? Can I give tokens to other players during the game, ie. could I give a healing token to my husband if he gets wounded? Or are we stuck with what we carry?

Our slot is early Thursday before the seminar, unfortunately.

Jana Wang wrote:


Personally I would go with a defenders set (armor, helm, shield) if you have an interest in playing a fighter type or cleric and a footman's set if you have an interest in a mid armored class (bard, etc) those should get you a lot of millage and be gettable quite easily in the trade form for about $10 a set.

You'll also likely want a way to overcome the cold and deep snow based movement penalties this year. If your in the footman's its take care of the cold for you and if you in the defenders it handles the movement impeding effects. In addition to that I if I were in a footman's set I would looks for boots of free action or baring those boots of snow walking. If I were in a defenders I would look at mountain dwarf boots and a yeti cloak.

There are also a lot of great generally useful items you can get this year like amulet or armor, shadow cloak, bracers of resolve, ale drinkers belt,girdle of dwarven health, silverweave shirt, silkweave shirt and bracers of fire etc. Any of those should be almost generically useful regardless of what class your playing.

Finally (and arguably most importantly) a few weapons/ranged weapons will go a long way. There will likely be at least one room where ranged weapons are needed so I would make sure you each have one. As to melee weapons between a dwarven axe, mace, and dirk your covered for just about all the classes.


Jana Wang wrote:


Yes you can pass items between party members or use them on each other (aka healing someone else) as to what it will all cost the answer really is as much as you want to spend. There are epic purples you can buy for about a hundred dollars each or more but you shouldn't need them. On normal you should be able to complete the dungeon with your starting 10 pack but spending $20 a head to equip with a nice set of reds in the trade form will make your life a lot easier (and IMO is just fun). If you do go that way I'd take a look at PaulDKs trade thread he frequently gives newbies good deals on "starter sets"

Scrolls, potions, miscellaeous gear, and weapons can be switched during a run, but anything a character actually wears, such as armor or rings, can not.

As far as what to get, filing every slot you can should be your first goal, even if it's with commons or uncommons. Tokens can be expensive, but it's really just a matter of what you want to spend. For example, a Dougal's Cloak of the Stars will give you +3 to saves for ~$170, but if you're not really trying to max out your character, chances are a +2 Cloak of Resistance (+2 to saves) for ~$4 will be a better fit.

You also might want to talk to Pauldk, I know he's putting together some packages for new players.

I'd say first step is see if you can find out who the other 8 people will be, and strike up a conversation. Some classes need next to no equipment, really, so if your group agrees ahead of time you'll be a wizard for example then you can't wear most armor anyway. Bards don't even need a weapon, just a good instrument (that no other class can use). Defender sets are great, but only 4 of the 12 clases can wear them so buying any may turn out to be a waste of money.

So, not trying to overwhelm you, but I'd try to work out what you'll be playing first. That way you can spend your money where it's guaranteed to help instead of trying to cover all the bases and have half your tokens sitting useless in your pocket.

But, you are going to have a blast regardless!

I want to throw out Lazlo's name as well for someone they should talk to. Way back in the stone age when I was a new player Lazlo really gave me some good deals to get me started. He tends to treat new players, well really he tends to treat everyone well.

Although, and I know that this is going to sound crazy, but if you want, just focus on having fun on the run your first year. Token buying and trading is TONS of fun but if you've never played you aren't going to fully realize how much fun. Jeff is better then ever about providing basic weapons and armor to every table that needs it. Last year we dropped common weapons, armor and water breathing on every table that needed it.

A couple of tokens that will not be provided.

bards instruments in case you are the bard
ranged weapon in case you can't use your sword in a fight
A few scrolls in case you are the wizard and need more magic
HEALING in case, well in case you walk into the dungeon

So to sum up, there is nothing wrong with going on over to the trade forums and picking up a few things, but get too caught up in what everyone is saying. Play a run this year and see what you think, learn what tokens do what and meet some of the high token collectors before you go crazy on tokens.................................................



Or call Jeff and order lots of them, either way welcome to TD and I hope you have LOTS AND LOTS of fun.

What run are you going on???

Another first-timer here. All this talk about buying and trading tokens. I understand we can buy tokens on site. Question is: how much trading is done on site? The way I thought I understood it, you don't select a character until you get to your session - and as a noob, I don't expect to connect with the other 8 players beforehand, so cannot prepare by buying/trading for particular tokens ahead of time.

Worse - we have two sessions with 13 minutes between them (Giants Travail first, then the Lich (puzzle) second)... and yet we hoped to play different characters each time.

So any tokens and trading will have to be preparing for two characters as once (no time between sessions).

I'm really hoping we can just choose the "No Death" option, at least for my son and I, so we can really just enjoy the experience -- the FULL experience (and not as ghosts, either).

Hey, Steve, you guys will have a blast.
In years past I've picked my char at the table and it's stressful. This year I'm doing things differently and I'm sure it will be much better.

So I'd suggest first, search the forum to see if any of your party mates are already assembling and jump in. If you don't find them, then start your own call to arms. Your lives will be oh so simpler if you can call dibs on your characters a couple of months in advance.

On my first run I just had the pack they gave me when I checked in. But the other 7 folks in the group pulled out tokens to lend me and I made it all the way to the last room alive, and didn't die until the round just before "we" killed the boss. I didn't know anything but I don't recall wearing a single red token, just crappy green and black ones. It didn't matter, it was the most fun I'd ever had at GenCon.

if you end up in my group I'll certainly pay it forward, and anyone else on this forum with any spares would do the same. In fact I'm already making up six "care packages" in case everyone else in our groups is a noob like I was all those (three) years ago. It's partly selfish, really. We have a vested interest in every party member living to the last room, those bosses are tough! Which is another way of saying, I'd think of "care bear" setting as a last resort, like if the other 8 in your party are as new as you are

As for trading on-site-there will be at least 3 vendors in the hall selling singles, and collectors sitting around tables in the storyscape I'm sure doing unsanctioned trades as well. TD only sells random packs, no single tokens.

Steve Jensen wrote:


Hi Steve,

Welcome to True Dungeon! I think you are going to love the experience!

I would recommend getting a variety of Rare and Uncommon tokens to outfit the two of you ahead of time so you can be prepared to play a variety of classes, since as newcomers you won't have much choice in what characters you play. You could get a couple of sets of Footman Armor, maybe a set of Defender Armor, some basic melee and ranged weapons, and a few items to help you with cold and/or snow.

You could buy all those tokens from me or one of the other dealers on the forums, or you could buy some packs of tokens, keep the ones you need, and look to trade the rest on the forums for other tokens you need. You could buy just a few packs - or if you want to you can get the $250 pack which includes 30 packs of tokens an an Ultra-Rare of your choice.

You might not want to get your hopes up too much about doing a non-lethal run, if you are with 8 other random people, it is unlikely that they will all want to run non-lethal. If they do great, but if they don't, even if you are just outfitted with good Rares and Uncommons, you should have a very good chance of making it to the last room or two of the Dungeon.

Most of all, whichever approach you try, just expect to have a wonderful time!

Brad Mortensen wrote:


Hey Brad,

I'm curious - I know that GamingEtc has sold tokens the last several years, and Toad and Troll started selling them last year, but who is the third vendor in the Dealer's Room selling tokens?

Thanks!
Mike