Fane of the Forgotten Gods Dungeon Tiles (D&D Accessory) [ペーパーバック]

I was really looking forward to ripping open my two sets of Fane of the Forgotten Gods D&D Dungeon Tile sets. The Dire Tomb sets really re-invigorated my love for Dungeon Tiles after the disappointing Underdark set. Every time I built a dungeon using Dire Tombs I was able to use just about every single piece in the set. I built some multi-floor ziggurat-style dungeons that were large and expansive and a lot of fun.

After opening up one of my two sets of Forgotten Gods, throwing them out on a table, and spending about an hour of trying to build a decent dungeon out of them, I have to say I am disappointed with Fane of the Forgotten Gods.

First, there aren't nearly enough big room pieces. A good set, like Dire Tombs, included three double-sided 8x8 pieces. A good dungeon needs some nice big rooms. Instead, with Forgotten Gods, we only get two and two sides of them aren't rooms but overland buildings. One of them is a stable. A stable! What Forgotten God came from a stable?

Because only two of the five sheets included large rooms, there is an abundance of smaller flavor pieces. I always have a hard time with the flavor pieces. I really don't want single square pieces. I much prefer larger 2x4 pieces with alters or 2x2 flaming cauldron pieces. There are a few nice 4x4 pieces in Forgotten Gods including some sort of sphere of soul catching. There's also some good statue pieces. Overall, however, there are way too many small pieces.

Another complaint I have is the abundance of odd-shaped pieces. There are four corner pieces and a whole bunch of 45 degree aligned pieces. These are extremely difficult to place within a room or line up to any of the other hallways.

I know the Dungeon Tile designers want to make these sets flexible but that flexibility comes at a high cost of usability. I'd much rather have a set with six to eight room pieces (four double sided rooms) and a smaller amount of flavor pieces. Dire Tombs really had the perfect mix of large rooms, good hallways, and nice usable smaller flavor pieces.

I really can't get over that stable. I think I have a stable just like it with the overland dungeon tile set from a while back. Why not have a circular room or some other oddly shaped rooms?

I hope future sets take the approach taken with Dire Tombs and less like Forgotten Gods and the Underdark sets. It shouldn't take a mix of multiple sets to make a good six-room dungeon.

I really like the D&D Dungeon Tile sets now that I figured out the best way to use them. However, sets like Forgotten Gods are disappointing. I hope the designers go back to sets like Dire Tombs and avoid the abundance of smaller pieces over larger room pieces.

Though disappointed with Fane of the Forgotten Gods, I look forward to the next release.

This pack includes 55 two-sided tiles of various sizes. All the tiles (except one) depict a floor of square gray paving stones, not counting the grassy area around the two outdoor buildings. Two of the six sheets in this set were re-printed in the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Starter Set (D&D Introductory Game). Other reviewers have noted that this set has difficulty standing alone because it only provides two large room pieces. On the other hand this set brings new versatility to other dungeon tiles sets you may already own. Many of the small pieces are quite useful; doors (open and closed), stairs, trap doors, mysterious pits and lots of sinister looking window-dressing. Think of this set as a dungeon tiles spice rack. It will enhance the flavor of you current dungeon tile sets. So without further ado, here's the loot!

8x8: rune-edged floor tiles / outdoor shrine
2x2: plain floor tiles / fountain
2x2: flame arrow symbol on floor / blue pool
2x2: blood skull symbol on floor / red pool
1x2: semi-circular alcove / chair and table

8x8: checkerboard tile floor / three-cell jail building outdoors
2x2: oblong alcove / card table and chairs
2x2: oblong alcove / pit (solid black)
2x2: plain tiles and semi-circular alcove / crumbling altar
1x2: semi-circular alcove / bed and chest

4x4: beast statue with blood stains / stairs
4x4 (with cropped corner): magic circle / corner stairs
4x4 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / corner stairs
2x4: plain floor tiles / smoke cloud
2x4: two pillars (or holes) / stairs
2x2 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / pillar (or hole) with lightning
2x2 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / pillar (or hole) with lightning
1x4: two pillars (or holes) / pit (solid black)
1x1: angel statue / cauldron
1x1: devil statue / small fountain

4x4: air elemental (?) / stairs into pool
4x4 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / ledge with snake statue
4x4 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / triple round alcove with statues
2x4: carpet / metal (or glass) wall down the center
2x4: two pillars (or holes) / metal (or glass) wall down the center
2x2 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / pit (solid black)
2x2 (with cropped corner): plain floor tiles / semi-circular alcove
1x4: two pillars (or holes) / plain floor tiles
1x1: wooden trap door / gong
1x1: stone trap door / open trap door with ladder

2x8: stairs and landing / plain floor tiles
2x4: barrier down the center / flame jets from sides
2x4: glass (or ice) floor tiles with faces / pit with rim
2x4: plain floor tiles / dark, red-veined stone
2x4: plain floor tiles / wooden plank floor
2x2: spiral staircase / spiral staircase
2x2: giant statue / bestial statue
2x2: large wooden trap door / large trap door open
1x2: closed double wooden doors / open double wooden doors
1x2: closed single wooden door / open single wooden door
1x2: closed single stone door / open single stone door
1x2: closed double iron-bound doors / open double iron-bound doors
1x1: fire bowl / ladder

2x8: plain floor tiles / stairs broken by crevasse
2x4: plain floor tiles / pit (solid black)
2x4: plain floor tiles / pit (solid black)
2x4: plain floor tiles / jail (or cage) bars down the center
2x4: raised floor tiles / flame jets down the center
2x2: raised floor tiles / large stone throne
2x2: plain floor tiles / large stone throne
2x2: plain floor tiles / sarcophagus
1x2: plain floor tiles / flame jet
1x2: plain floor tiles / fireplace
1x2: plain floor tiles / fireplace
1x2: semi-circular alcove with statue / pit (solid black)
1x1: fire bowl / broken statue

I'm happy with this product, though it's not quite as good as some of Wizards' other Dungeon Tiles releases. As always, the tiles themselves are sturdy and attractive, and I very much enjoyed the new temple-themed tiles in this set. "Fane of the Forgotten Gods" provides more 45-degree angle pieces than any previous set, so if you're trying to build odd-shaped rooms and corridors, "Fane" may give you just what you want. On the other hand, you will probably find it difficult to build an entire dungeon out of just "Fane" pieces, so you should consider this an add-on product rather than a stand-alone set of tiles.