D&D And Demeo Cross Over In ‘Battlemarked’ – Ironically, This Might Be The Actual Best 3D Virtual Tabletop Version Of Dungeons & Dragons
Demeo is a video game full of virtual dungeon crawls, and it’s getting an exciting new D&D crossover with Battlemarked an expansion later htis year.
If you haven’t played Demeo, you should. It’s an amazing game that celebrates tabletop RPGs, especially in the “you’re gathered in your best friend’s basement to play some D&D” type of way. The premise is that you are there in a virtual basement looking down at a virtual tabletop with miniatures and everything, crawling your way through deeper, ever more dangerous dungeons.
It’s an absolute blast. And if you can play it in VR, it’s even better. One of the few games I can consistently enjoy playing with friends in VR. But now it doesn’t have to just be inspired by D&D—a new expansion, Battlemarked will crossover with Dungeons & Dragons. And it brings the new, more story-driven focus of D&D to the tactical combat of Demeo.
D&D x Demeo: Battlemarked – Neverwinter Beckons But is Only the Beginning
One of the big things that the new announcement draws attention to is the focus on “motivation and narrative.” It’s not just that you have some incredibly tactical choices to make as you go through turn by turn, but you have a deeper story to go through.
There are even cutscenes awaiting. Because, after all, Demeo has its own engine and can leverage it to good cause. This whole crossover markes what CEO of Resolution Games, Tommy Palm, calls the start of a whole new era.
“While the world of Demeo is rich with lore, our previous titles focus primarily on tactical action over motivation and narrative. With Dungeons & Dragons, story is just as important as combat, so we’ve rebalanced our approach to make sure we can deliver more of it. With the addition of dramatic cutscenes, richer dialogue, and deeper player choices, Battlemarked truly marks the start of the next iteration of the Demeo Action Roleplaying System.”
The Demeo Action Roleplaying System is sort of “card-based”. You build a hand of abilities with various costs that come and go as you use them. You’ll acquire stronger powers and buy more with gold as you complete each level of the dungeon you’re in. It’s very rogue-like in that way. I’m curious to see how the D&D inspired system blends with D&D itself.
But for richly designed worlds full of creative details, Demeo delivers. I have never had so much fun getting swarmed by rats and spiders because I got greedy and wanted to try to grab one more chest. And it sounds like this is a “virtual tabletop” that has plenty of life to it. The designers of Battlemarked tease two adventures coming later this year.
See you in virtual reality at the virtual tabletop!
