8 Gates of Hell

I haven't seen Dungeon Dice.

In fact, I rarely play any other board games. I do a little bit of research before I start designing a game to make sure I'm making something different to games already out there.

I also don't play other games as I don't want to be influenced or try to mimic other games.

The mechanics of this new direction will be based on the Pocket Sports system with quick dice results but added strategy as players have choice of where to move their player/cube on the map and other decisions in the game.

If you've read the rules or review on Pocket Sports Gridiron on BGG, you'll get a feel about how the mechanics will work.

Each character will have 1 dice with faces to show an attack value, special ability, an enemy strike and an immediate HIT/DAMAGE.

Of the 4 characters, the dice will vary. The Barbarian character/dice will have heavy value attacks and be better at defending. The Mage will have attacks but be more prone to an immediate DAMAGE etc

The map will be a simple flat view of a dungeon / landscape...whatever, but the size of an area will determine how many characters can enter and what level of monster is faced.

So a level 1 room allows 1 character in to fight the lvl 1 monster.

Monsters are generated with a D6 roll after the 'Hero' has entered. There'll be a reference card listing the six level 1 monsters and their 'Enemy Strike' value.

Combat will be resolved fairly quickly with the monster or hero having two rolls of a defense die to equal or better the attack value. This system is how Pocket Sports Gridiron, Rugby and Cycling work.

In a level 2 room, 2 heroes can enter and fight a lvl 2 monster, again generated from a list, with tougher values to beat.

A party of 4 will have to co-operate at some stages, but there will be the option of a 'Hand of Fate' die. Simply a dice with all 4 characters on it to determine who is chosen to enter....but I also want this to be a point of contention with players and possibly challenging each other (?)

There will be different directions (enter the left, right or straight ahead) that will then allow the party to split or one Hero to go alone. You'll need to consider who you party with as trading loot will be an important mechanic to survive and power up your character.

Loot will be generated with a D6. So I kill a lvl 1 monster, roll the Loot die and collect either +1 Health / +1 Att / +1 Def / +1 Magic / +1 Logic / +1 Dexterity (those skills are not set yet)

There will be times when as the Barbarian, collecting +1 Magic is no use, but trading that with the Mage for +1 Att will be a useful thing to do for both characters. They need to be partied to trade though.

Anyway.....I could spend all day telling you about it, but that's a rough, very rough outline. The thing to remember is this isn't a big Fantasy Flight miniatures big box game. It'll be in a poker size tuck box, portable with expansions.