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Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Discuss general topics relating to HeroQuest that don't fit well in the categories below.

Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby torilen » January 24th, 2013, 10:02 am

I went looking yesterday for those special colored dice that someone had found for playing HQ...and I noticed
that the last post on that thread stated that there was no reply from the website selling those dice. Not sure if
this will always be the case...such a shame, as I was actually going to be a full set.

However...last night I spent some time working on some ideas, and thought I would pass them along.

Since those colored dice might not be available through the website...
Another option for dice that I have found is simply to buy some colored
dice (either normal or blanks) and use small stickers to place the
combat-die faces on them. It would be easy enough to figure out
what size one would need to print tiny squares or circles that would
fit onto the die face, and then use some sticker-back printer paper
to print off whatever you needed.
**This is the option I'm thinking of going with.

combat dice faces - sticky paper - a.pdf


I also created spinners that you could use. The only problem I see with these, I thought of this
this morning AFTER all the work to make them, is that someone would have to spin the spinner
more than once most of the time. Kind of a pain, and I don't know if even I would want to go
through that...but it is another option.
I also found where you can buy the spinner arrows:
http://www.amazon.com/School-Specialty- ... B002GJFAKS
8 spinner arrows for board game spinner - $7

combat spinner.pdf


Another option: Combat Cards. And guess what...I already made these for you too.
These have the same problem as the spinner - one would have to draw a card and reshuffle
the small "deck" more than once most of the time...again, quite a pain. BUT...it is an option.

combat cards.pdf


One last idea:
Another way to offer weaker or stronger rolls to
heroes and/or monsters is to use what I call
roll classes. Unfortunately, this does negate the
use of the HQ combat dice, but that is the price to
pay for being able to add some depth to the game
without taking away from the simplicity too much.

Roll classes use simple six-sided dice. The roller
is simply looking for different sets of numbers
based on the proper roll class.

A = 1-3/4-6 (possible 2)
B = 1-2/3-4/5-6 (possible 3)
C = 1/2-3/4-5/6 (possible 4)
D = 1/2/3-4/5/6 (possible 5)
E = roll as normal (possible 6)
F = E + A (possible 8)
G = E + B (possible 9)

and so on.
This allows for as many roll classes you your group
would like to have, and so allows for a wide variety
of options and effects.

For example, a normal dagger would use Roll Class A.
A successful attack might be 4-6, while an unsuccessful
attack might be 1-3. Now, lets suppose you want to use
a rule that says the dagger might be lost or broken when
thrown. You could use Roll Class C for this. A roll of
1 is unsuccessful and the dagger is broken. 6 is a
successful attack, but the dagger is broken. 2-3 is
simply unsuccessful, but the dagger is not broken. 4-5
is successful, and the dagger is not broken.
In this way, breaking the dagger would be harder to do
than not breaking it (2 in 6 chance, as opposed to a
4 in 6 chance), but the chance is there just the same.

This would allow for a wide variety of monster abilities,
as well. Suppose a normal goblin uses roll class A for
his attacks and defenses. A goblin warrior might use
roll class B. Not a lot of change, but enough to make
a difference. And perhaps the goblin tribe leader uses
roll class C.

This would also allow for a very simple use of an advancement
system, where each level the hero moves up a roll class in
certain areas.

AND...just throwing more thoughts out there...you could institute
rollings for poisons and diseases a little easier.
Suppose the hero starts with roll class A with a Body Point
score of 2, and moves up one roll class with every 2 points.
So the wizard would use roll class B, the elf and the dwarf
would use roll class C, and the barbarian would use roll class
D. If you wanted to indicate that Dwarves have a better bodily
constitution when it comes to poison, they could use roll class
D, as well (saying simply that they have +1 roll class).
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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby torilen » January 26th, 2013, 5:34 pm

OKAY - I finished up one full set of colored dice that you can print on stick paper
and put on normal dice.

I created them in color, since plain white dice are extremely easy to get a hold
of and fairly cheap. The squares I used will fit onto medium sized dice, I suppose.
I will be getting some sticky paper this week, I hope, and some dice, and I will
post how it looks when I am done.

If anyone knows exactly how to measure dice, I can give you the size dice I buy that
this will work for.

If anyone wants, I can make these in other sizes, as well. Just let me know if you would
be interested in different sizes, and give me a rough idea of the size, and I'll work on it.


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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby torilen » February 1st, 2013, 10:35 am

Here is another option. I even created cards for a reference, in keeping with the simplicity of HQ and the use of
cards to make storage and usage easy. These also make usage very easy because they allow the use of simple,
normal, six-sided dice. I know this goes against everything that is HQ in some minds, but for people like me
who are willing to let go of some things in order to expand and better the game a bit, these might work.

The original system is the closest to how the actual combat dice would work - 3 or 4 or 5 would equal a skull; 1 or 2
would equal a white shield, and 6 would equal a black shield.
The other set of cards uses the idea that the higher the roll, the better you do.

These are sets of cards that tell you what you need to roll on each die. For example...a dagger might offer 1 White.
So...a hero would need to roll a 3 or 4 or 5 (original system). A magical dagger might offer 1 Black, and so the hero
would be able to roll 2 or 3 or 4 or 5.
A goblin warrior might only roll 1 die for its attack, but might roll 1 orange because of its skill in combat. This would
mean that it can attack by rolling 3 or 4 or 5, and a 3 or 5 indicates 2 body points lost by the target.

Take a look at them...it will all make sense when you see them.
I tried to make as many combinations and possibilities as I could. You'll notice there are cards that are better for
any hero or monster, some better for only heroes, and some better for only monsters.

You can like it...or you can not. It is simply another option I'm throwing out there.

dice roll reference - original system.pdf


dice roll reference - highest needed.pdf
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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby el_flesh » February 1st, 2013, 12:03 pm

erm... you could also use that app for mobiles....

also, tho it's NOT fun, you could use regular dice following the simple rules:
1-3 = SKULL
4-5 = white shield
6 = black shield
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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby torilen » February 1st, 2013, 1:44 pm

hehe - so, that would be one big vote for NO from flesh. right? :P


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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby el_flesh » February 1st, 2013, 4:39 pm

As an ex-GF said (once too often): "Ya, uh, NO."

You could always make it percentiles; then ONE roll could determine total dmg. Maybe IF an Orc rolls 1-3 he gets to deduct that much dmg from the Barb rolling 1-7. IF the Orc rolls 4-0 he's SOL and failed to defend. The Barb rolling 8-0 missed his attack.

Everyone could easily purchase their own set - just make sure it's from Game Science; otherwise you don't get truly randumb rolls.



(trust me - the vid is time well spent!)
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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby torilen » February 1st, 2013, 5:18 pm

You were right - I watched the video for part 1 - very interesting. I had no idea there could be
so much going into making a die. Man, talk about work.

As far as the multiple-sided dice - yes, most people can get their hands on a set...even a good set...for
fairly cheap. However...nearly every house in the world would have at least 1 six-sided die, if not three
or four, simply from other board games.
So...1 point for the d6.
Also, using a simple d6 keeps things closer to the spirit of HQ. 2 points for the d6.
Third, using a simple d6 allows you to come up with complex ways of rolling, but
keeps it to a minimum. I mean...just look at the typical D&D dice. A d4 can be used
for d2 and d4. A d6 can be used for d3 and d6. Same for d8, d10, d12, and d20. Just
gets to be too much going on. Plus it is a lot of dice to keep up with, and you have to
make sure you grab the right kind of die when you roll...whereas with using only the d6,
you just reach out, grab how many you need, and roll. And, should you lose one or two,
you don't have to find a "game" store or order more online...just go to your nearest
supermarket (walmart in the US) and grab a pack of d6's.
3 points for the d6.

Just my opinion, of course. I know there can be a lot of advantages for using the other
multiple-sided dice, and I could certainly do a lot more to expand HQ if I went that
route...I just can't bring myself to do it. As much as I have added and changed...I still
want to keep with the d6 (or combat dice, if I can).

This is why I made the sticker faces for the dice. I have found, however, that sticker
printer paper is not as easy to get, and not as cheap as I thought. I'm still working on it, though.
As soon as I get some...I'll post a picture of my homemade dice.


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Re: Alternative Dice and alternatives to dice

Postby el_flesh » February 1st, 2013, 6:45 pm

Check part 2 also!
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