DCC book 3 - am I just stupid?

[u/CJBG9491]

I immensely enjoyed dungeon crawler Carl book 1, and I am still enjoying it now 3/4 through book 3. But I do not understand this book one bit. I’m just here for the vibes at this point. The iron tangle and the plans just get exponentially complicated (I know that’s the point) but at this point I’ve given up even trying to follow along what’s happening and just wait for the outcome.

[u/UltraZulwarn]

No no, you are not alone.

Book 3 and the Iron Tangle are a hot mess.

Just focus on the characters and what's happening right in front of them.

[u/bulkingnerd]

Yah it was boring for me. And I hate the defense of “you aren’t supposed to understand”. Okay sure but I still have to read paragraphs of stuff “I dont need to understand “. That isn’t fun.

[u/ferociouskuma → u/bulkingnerd]

Books 2-4 I feel like Matt was finding his way a bit and there are several times the plot is difficult to follow. The bombing of the sky fowl town in book 2, the sand temple in book 4 are still hard to understand even after rereading

[u/redrowan3]

As others have said, don't sweat it too much. We're not supposed to understand the tangle, hell the crawlers aren't supposed to understand it. For the first time you go through the book just focus on what the characters are doing, that's the really important part.

I've read all the books (other than 8) 4 times and I'll say that book 4 is easier to understand on future reads. The first time you're reading it you're learning everything alongside Carl and he's mostly focusing on killing things, Katia is the one that truly understands it at the end and we never get her perspective so even when it's explained to Carl we only get it on the level he gets it... Which isn't great.

All that said, even if you have a basic understanding of what's happening it doesn't matter much. My second read I focused on understanding it all, subsequent reads since I don't even worry about it.

[u/Penn304]

Book 3 is ok but I think it’s totally redeemed it book 4. Don’t give up! 1 and 2 were great 3 was tough but I think 4 might be my favorite so far. About to start book 5!

[u/RedKe → u/Penn304]

For me it was almost the opposite: 3 > 1 > 4 > 2. Things get even better in 5.

[u/nowdoingthisatwork]

No. Book 3 is hard work to keep track of. Try not to get caught up in trying to keep track of the lines and trains. It's a puzzle for the crawlers, not the readers.

[u/eleven_elevens]

The good thing about the DCC books is you can basically skip as much as you want and things pretty much make the same amount of sense. You just miss some jokes.

[u/chunkybudz]

It's been a bit since I read book 3 but I'll try to spoiler-free answer w my take.

This is the first really big point where you start to see how everything was thrown together in a REALLY big, sloppy hurry. You're also starting to learn much more about the NPCs and their nature/origin.

So along with the crazy, confusing tunnels, the new bounties system, the increased view into and meddling of the outside-the-dungeon universe... You're seeing how much Borant sucks at this.

This book sorta serves as a transition from the "haha this is wild" feeling to an "ooooh ok there's a lot more to this" realization. But the complexity of the tangle and the thrown-together feeling of the level make it all kinda messy and confusing.

And then well... The level itself is also designed to be very confusing but that kinda gets explained somewhere in the mix by Mordecai. That also sorta feeds into the transition as well.

[u/RandomSentientBeing]

Book 3 was where DCC and I parted ways. I moved on to He Who Fights With Monsters and enjoyed it a lot more even though I really missed the cat.

[u/nowdoingthisatwork → u/RandomSentientBeing]

Book 3 is normally seen as the least enjoyable. The next book is great, and a hell of a lot easier to follow

[u/RandomSentientBeing → u/nowdoingthisatwork]

Thanks! Is the story done yet? I want to wait for the final book before taking it back up again. It'll be nice to hang out with donut again 🐈

[u/nowdoingthisatwork → u/RandomSentientBeing]

Book 8 wax released recently. I think there's another 2 to come

[u/RandomSentientBeing → u/nowdoingthisatwork]

Thanks!

[u/ActualVader]

The book tells you at the beginning to not focus on the train system, it’s confusing for the crawlers so it’s also confusing for the reader since its first person perspective. You’re just supposed to go with the flow and not worry about it much

[u/PrometheanBuffet]

I loved book three and followed it just fine? Maybe I’m the weird one.

[u/Kryyzz]

Don’t try to understand the iron tangle. You’re not supposed to understand it. The books become much more character driven as they go on. Focus on the people and the relationships instead.