Knights vs. Robots vs. Elves vs. Ninjas

Dragons? Check!  Romans? Check!  Cowboys? Check!  Orcs? Check!  Revolutionary soldiers? Check!  Okay so what doesn't this game have? Umm, well I don't think there are any pirates, but you could always make your own!

Okay, I'll be serious now, but this game is all about fun and light heartiness, kinda.  The game I'm talking about is of course:  Heroscape!

I'll let you in on a little secret, this is probably my favorite board game and some don't even consider it a board game!  But even more do consider it one.

Theme

So how do you get all different types of creatures in one game?  It may seem like it doesn't make sense but the background story does clear up some things.  The idea is that these "well springs" were found is a land called Valhalla.  These springs gave great powers to the people of the land but it also started a violent war.  Heroes and warriors were called from other lands and times to fight for the precious waters and Valhalla some became a land of ruin and war.

I know the background story may seem a little bleak but I promise you the game is a lot of fun.  The fact that you can pit an Pegasus against a dragon and possibly win is so cool. 

Components

I guess this is where I should let you in on a little secret.  Unfortunately you can't buy this game any more.  You can still find some of the master sets and expansion boxes but they are no longer printing new copies.  Which just makes me sad.  When it was being printed you could find this game almost everywhere.  The Christmas that we first got into the game we were grabbing pieces from Wal*Mart left and right.  But no more =(.  You can still find some sets online, at hobby game stores, and yard sales!

I'm not going to talk about all the pieces for this game, because like most theme games there are a lot!  There are three main base games.  The two newer base games are a lot easier to find than the original base game.  Then there are many expansion boxes that came with about 5 characters each.  Like the base game some are harder to find than others. There are also some terrain sets such as the jungle, lava fields (HOT LAVA DEATH!) and ice fields.  I believe the ice fields are the Holy Grail of Heroscape.  I once saw one in person being sold for about $100!

There is no game board for Heroscape.  Instead you have plastic terrain tiles that you lock together like a puzzle to build you board. 

The rule book comes with detailed instructions on how to build different boards and there are more fan maps and official maps to be found online.  But a most enjoyable, for me, not so for others, part of the game is to build you own map and see what you can make.  We have had some pretty cool maps we have built.  One even covered our entire ping pong table!

The characters are many and varied.  I'm sure you will be able to find at least one you like.  They range from reality to fantasy, from ancient to modern, and even some future.  Some are common units, which means you can have multiple sets in one game, and some are unique heroes,  so there should be only one of that character on the board.  Each character / squad comes with an army card that lists its life points, range, attack, movement,  defence, special abilities, and life points.

The base sets also come with round markers, 20 sided die, glyphs, 12 combat dice, and wound markers for keeping track of how much life you characters have left.


Game Play

When playing aHeroscape you can play with the basic rules or Master rules.  Basic rules are better for beginners and young players.  It is a good way to teach young children some game rules and skills.  The Master rules may sound intimidating but they are actually fairly easy.  I'll describe the master rules because they make the game more interesting.

You start the game by setting up your board and choosing to play either a scenario or last man standing wins.  You may also want to play on teams if you have enough players.  Next you gather your army.  You may either use a pre-made army or draft an army.  Drafting an army just means setting a point limit.  Each character / squad has a point limit and then taking turns picking armies until you have met the point limit.  You find this is a good way to have children practice their adding and subtracting.  Once person may end up with more characters, but the point limit tends to keep it fair because higher point figures have more life points / abilities and lower point figures mean larger squads.  After choosing your army you place it in the designated starting area.  You Ready to start the first round!

Step 1:  Place Order Markers

Each player is then given four round markers: 1, 2, 3, and X.  Before the round starts each player puts these on their character cards to show the order they will attack.  The X is so that your opponent doesn't always know which characters are attacking.  The character marked with the X doesn't attack. 




Step 2:  Roll for Initiative

Now players will roll a 20-sided die.  The highest roll takes the first turn. 


Step 3: Players take turns

One at a time player take a turn until each player has taken three turns.  First player will first reveal their 1st order marker and move the army figure.  You can move one figure up to their range.  Because the board is 3 dimensional it does take extra movement to move up a level, but no extra to move down.  If you move into water you must stop and water also slows you down once your in it.  Some characters do have special abilities in water so it doesn't slow them down.

Microcorp Agents don't have to end movement when entering water

Step 3:  Attack with figures on Army Card

If you are within range of another character you may choose to attack.  But here comes that 3D terrain again.  If your character can't see the other figure they can't attack them.  So, trees, ruins, and hills provide cover and protection to your army.

So if you can see the other figure and your within range (check your army card) then you may attack.  Attacking is simple.  Check your army card again for your attack number.  Roll that many die.  Your opponent will roll their defence die and then compare the results.  For every skull result you roll, you make one hit, for every shield result your opponent rolls, they cancel one of your hits.  Don't forget to check your special powers when attacking and defending.  Some characters can attack twice while others cancel all hits with just one shield. 

Step 4:  End the Round

Once all players have taken all three turns the round ends.  If one of your markers was on a character that was eliminated before you were able to use that character then you lose that turn. Players then place the order markers and start again, following the same steps.

Step 5:  Ending the Battle

Once one player has been eliminated or the victory conditions are meet the game ends.  There are no ties and no sharing in victory like you may find in some Eurogames.


My Thoughts

It is no secret that I love this game.  In fact its in one of my top 10 games.  I enjoy building the board, moving the pieces and rolling the dice.  It does take time to set up and play so it keeps it from being played as much as I would like.  This does make it the perfect rainy day activity.

The pieces are amazing, which might be one of the reasons it is no longer made.  It's just too expensive to sell such detailed painted miniatures.  It takes me back to being a kid.  Having an army of so many different characters with different abilities?  So cool!  Some characters even work together so having those in your army can give you a strategic advantage in the game.  You may even be able to move more than just three armies with those special abilities.

After every game of Heroscape, win or lose, I also see the players smiling and laughing.  Your giant ogre just took out my dragon?!  Oh well maybe my little ninja her can take out the ogre who knows?  So my final thought is that this game is just pure fun, there is something for everyone, and the game is just beautiful when its set up.  You can't resist!