Settings with no DM?

[xroads]

My understanding is that some of the 4ed settings (Ravenloft for ex.), are more like boardgames in that there is no DM.

Is this true? If so, what is your favorite of these sets and why? And can they be played with just two players?

Thanks.

Edit:
When I say boardgames, I'm thinking of games such as "Descent: Journeys in the Dark" and "Mice and Mystics."

[Gavran]

Uhm.... no. Any "DMless" 4E would be rolling random encounters, essentially.

I'm not really sure why you'd think anything else?

That said, if you're looking for something to play with two players and no DM let me suggest http://dnd.chromesphere.com/ .

It's a fairly short little adventure, and obviously can't handle improvisation, but it's not too bad considering.

[MrUberGr]

I don't think you can do a "no DM". There are some published adventures for specific level ranges. They have everything set up, including tiles, encounter, dungeon maps, rp settings etc etc. But you still need someone to run it, or one of the players has to be DM as well, meaning he has to read through the adventure, run the encounters etc... That, though, would ruin the fun for the player IMO.

I recently started DMing, and initially I planned on having a DMPC join the party. Once I realized that DMing is a full-time job I gave up on that idea. It's not easy having to care for a bunch of monsters, the story, the party AND a character of your own. Besides, it's kind of silly me playing against myself, and if I wasn't carefull I could ruin something having the DMPC say something he shouldn't.

[NightScar]

perhaps you're thinking of the Ravebloft Boardgame (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/207790000) or something like House on the haunted hill.

Edit: I've played house on the haunted hill and it wasn't to my taste. Basically each player picks a one of two variations of a pregenerated protagonist and randomly generates the board as the game goes along by entering doors to unexplored areas (and laying down a new tile). Some tiles have events on them that trigger different parts of the game. The key premise is that if you get a certain tile it triggers a certain scenario that turns one or more players into 'traitors' (anything from witches thralls to killing the character to give birth to a tentacle monster or raising a mummy). That transition kind of kills the momentum because you have to take the game booklets aside and read them to find out how the game is changed by the traitor event and what win conditions are set for the traitor and remaining players. it's kind of neat but i thought it took too much work. It may be worth looking into to find out if you like it or not.

[Tegu8788]

Guys, it exists, and it's real fun. This (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Castle-Ravenloft-Board/dp/0786955570) is my personal favorite, simply because I've played it more. Unfortunately, the three existing games don't mix, but it's a blast. You can play with just one person if you want, or up to five. First time we busted it out we ended up playing until 4am, having started before dinner, new mission after new mission.

It's also great, because it took my 3.5 loving friends and cracked them into accepting 4E.

[Inevitability]

That said, if you're looking for something to play with two players and no DM let me suggest http://dnd.chromesphere.com/ .


I would make sure to replace the MM monsters by Monster Vault ones, though.

[xroads]

Guys, it exists, and it's real fun. This (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Castle-Ravenloft-Board/dp/0786955570) is my personal favorite, simply because I've played it more. Unfortunately, the three existing games don't mix, but it's a blast. You can play with just one person if you want, or up to five. First time we busted it out we ended up playing until 4am, having started before dinner, new mission after new mission.

It's also great, because it took my 3.5 loving friends and cracked them into accepting 4E.

Lol! So it wasn't "like" a boardgame, it is one.