Onslaught Core Set Review

Onslaught Preparation

Clear the dining table! This game needs some space. To run the game, space is needed for the map, intermittent miniatures, loot pile, initiative cards for players & monsters, levelling up & item cards, up to 10 player characters dial cards and up to 5 monster cards or dial cards and the game tracker dial card and you may want to have the rule & scenario books at hand too.

Onslaught has a fair number of operational rules, and you will need to read the rule book and scenarios up front, particularly if it is your first rodeo, so that the games mechanics are understood. This is well covered in the Onslaught rulebook and scenarios booklet, and the scenario book has a step by step walk through of the first scenario, as an example.

Onslaught at Play

The game is designed as a head-to-head two player game, where scenarios are set with objectives, where victory points are awarded for meeting key objectives including dispatching the enemy player, some monsters or completing the task set in the scenario. The winner is the player with the most victory points after the allotted number of rounds or completing the main objective. The order of play is decided by randomly selecting initiative cards where each player gets to have the first action alternatively, whether that be a strike, hide or run back to Waterdeep. Combat is conducted in a traditional D&D dice throwing, although with an interesting twist to accept standard ability capability and cover elements such as elevation and limited line of sight. Hit points and damage points are scaled down for this game compared to the role playing with a Dungeon Master model. Be careful though! You might take out the enemy players, just for the monsters to finish you off, so no shame in dropping the enemy in hot water with the monsters, while you grab the loot and there is some good stuff hiding in those chests.

Cards, Miniature, Scenario’s, and Tokens

The Onslaught core set box has a variety of enemy / hero, levelling up, monster, operation & treasure cards. These are mostly, nicely designed with the key elements included with consistent text and symbols used for the game. You may need some means to keep them contained to minimise wear and prevent accidental damage. The miniatures are pre-painted and are of a reasonable detail although getting the wings on the dragon may prove challenging for some. There is a broad selection of player characters and monster miniatures in the set.

The Onslaught core set includes a booklet of seven scenarios with the first scenario having a walk through to aid explaining environments, combat, monsters, movement & treasure etc. With the scenario’s encompassing all the elements supplied with the core set and becoming more challenging as you progress through them. Treasure comprises mostly of items offering enhanced abilities or magic protection, some a little overpowered for the earlier scenarios but critical for the latter scenarios, swapping and dropping of treasure is allowed, so you can enhance your character as you desire, as items become available through the scenarios.

‘WHO DARES WAKE ME FROM MY SLUMBER’ growled the black dragon.

It was at this point it dawned on the young Paladin that he had made the worst two decisions of his life today. Running into a dragon’s lair with his loudest and best war cry ever, but more importantly swapping the cloak of concealment with the white wizard at lunch, for the nice shiny sword. Well at least the dragon could use it as a nice toothpick.

Life after Onslaught

Expansions for onslaught, there are already several expansions available with further additional units due to be released early 2025. These include: -

Scenarios Expansion:

The Benefactor – Scenario Kit with 6 scenarios, additional items & monster cards – no miniatures. For use with the Onslaught core box set.

Player Character or Faction Expansion sets:

Several of these are available including, Many Arrows, Red Wizards, Sellswords, Harpers and Zhentarim etc. These being interchangeable for the core set factions and include pre-painted miniatures, level up & character cards & tokens.

Maps & Monsters Expansion:

Nightmare of the Frogmire coven – Includes eight scenarios, including one solo adventure and one, three to four player scenario. A double-sided map with additional terrain elements and eight monster miniatures including their respective monster cards.

Accessories:

Chest – Useful to hold the dice, level up and monster cards & tokens.

Minis – These are suggested from their existing range of products either pre-painted or unpainted for the scenario kits, which do not include miniatures but normally come with a discount code but is geared up for the US region.

Coming Soon:

Tendrils of the Lichen Lich (Starter Kit) – Includes six scenarios, four double sided maps, eight pre-painted miniatures & includes two new factions.

Grasp of the Mind Flayer (Scenario Kit) – Includes six scenarios, new monster & item cards, and tokens – no miniatures.

The Great Giant Games (Scenario Kit) – Includes six scenarios, new monster & champion cards & tokens (for use with Tendrils of the Lichen Lich set).

Faction Expansion Sets – Sellswords two, - includes four pre-painted miniatures, character dial cards, level up cards & tokens.