Two MD2 expansions with very different jobs
The Massive Darkness 2 Darkbringer Pack and the War of Souls Enemy Box both carry the Kickstarter Exclusive label, but they do not serve the same purpose. The Darkbringer Pack is a storage box for the stretch goals unlocked during the Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape campaign. The War of Souls Enemy Box adds new enemies to fight. One expands your collection's storage; the other expands your game's opposition.
This comparison uses only the supplied catalog information. Where a detail is not confirmed, I will say so rather than guess.
What each box actually contains
- Darkbringer Pack: A box to hold all of the Kickstarter Exclusive stretch goals unlocked for Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape. The supplied contents list includes 6 Roaming Monsters (Buer, Amon, Azmozeus, Gryphon, Valkyrie and Vindicator), 2 Mobs (Nagas and Nymphs) with leaders and minions, 12 heroes (Ivan, Gera, Mist, Cassiel, Hariet, Lyn, Father Corvus, Ego, Daisy, Ryff, Victor and Valdis), 2 Shaman Spirits, 3 bosses (Scorpion King, Charon and Hades) with dashboards and tiles, Tinkerer Exo-Armor and 3 Tinkerer Constructs, and cards to play with the above.
- War of Souls Enemy Box: An Enemy Box expansion that features 2 new Mobs with their Minions and Leaders, new Mob items, and a terrifying new Roaming Monster. The exact names of these enemies are not provided in the supplied information.
Key facts for the Darkbringer Pack
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Darkbringer Pack (Kickstarter Special): Darkbringer Pack is a box to hold all of the Kickstarter Exclusive Stretch Goals unlocked for Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape. This tells you the pack's primary role is storage and organization for stretch goals, not adding new gameplay on its own.
Massive Darkness: MD2 Darkbringer Pack (Kickstarter Special)
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Darkbringer Pack (Kickstarter Special): Requires Massive Darkness 2 core game (sold separately) to play. You need the core game to use any of the contents, so factor that into your purchase decision.
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Darkbringer Pack (Kickstarter Special): Players: 1 to 6 The pack supports the same player count as the core game, so it fits solo through six-player sessions.
Key facts for the War of Souls Enemy Box
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Enemy Box War of Souls (Kickstarter Pre-Order Special): This Enemy Box expansion features not only 2 new Mobs with their Minions and Leaders and new Mob items, but also a terrifying new Roaming Monster! This is the core value: new enemies to fight, which directly changes your gameplay sessions.
Massive Darkness: MD2 Enemy Box War of Souls (Kickstarter Pre-Order Special)
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Enemy Box War of Souls (Kickstarter Pre-Order Special): Requires Massive Darkness 2 core game (sold separately) to play. Like the Darkbringer Pack, this is an expansion and cannot be played on its own.
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Massive Darkness: MD2 Enemy Box War of Souls (Kickstarter Pre-Order Special): Players: 1 to 6 The enemy box supports the full player range, so it works for any group size the core game supports.
The trade-off: storage versus new enemies
The Darkbringer Pack solves a storage problem. If you backed the Kickstarter and have a pile of stretch goal components without a dedicated box, this pack gives them a home. Its contents are substantial, but they are the stretch goals you may already own. The pack does not add new enemies beyond what was unlocked in the campaign.
The War of Souls Enemy Box adds new enemies: two Mobs with their Minions and Leaders, plus a new Roaming Monster. If you want more variety in your encounters, this box directly expands your game. It does not, however, provide storage for stretch goals.
Neither box is a standalone game. Both require the Massive Darkness 2 core game, which is sold separately.
Which one should you buy?
- Choose the Darkbringer Pack if…: You own the Kickstarter stretch goals for Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape and need a proper box to store and organize them. The pack's contents list matches the stretch goals, so it is a storage solution rather than a gameplay expansion.
- Choose the War of Souls Enemy Box if…: You want new enemies to fight in your Massive Darkness 2 games. The box adds two Mobs with their Minions and Leaders, new Mob items, and a new Roaming Monster, giving you more variety without requiring you to own stretch goals.
- Consider both if…: You have the stretch goals and want both storage and new enemies. The two boxes serve different purposes and can complement each other, but each requires the core game.
What the supplied information does not tell you
The exact names of the Mobs and Roaming Monster in the War of Souls Enemy Box are not provided in the supplied catalog information. The Darkbringer Pack's contents are listed in detail, but the pack's role as a storage box means its value depends on whether you already own those stretch goals. Neither product's supplied information includes specific gameplay instructions or setup details beyond what is summarized here.
Board Game Geek ratings are supplied for both: the Darkbringer Pack has a rating of 5.71 and an average player rating of 8.49, while the War of Souls Enemy Box has a rating of 5.58 and an average player rating of 8.17. These are provided as context, not as a recommendation.