Pit of Darkness

[The Admiral]

Officially, apart from damage assessment, these are handled in the same way as pit traps. But you are 30 feet down! No longsword can reach that far. How do people handle these?

I'm proposing that only ranged weapons may attack into and out of a pod, from/to an adjacent square. The Hero down the pod still suffer -1 att/def penelties.

As for henchmen damage, I would say the Swordsman has Platemail, the Scout no armour, and the other two chainmail.

[knightkrawler]

As for the Henchmen defend dice, my opinion based on WYSIWYG:

Swordsman: 5 = plate 4 + helmet 1
Halberdier: 3 = chainmail 3 + helmet 1; he should have 4, but we agree on what he wears.
Crossbowman: 3 = chainmail 3 + helmet 1; same thing.
Scout: 3 = light armor 1 + helmet 1 + shield 1, in effect, we agree.

The light armor would have to written up as a card, and the crossbowman and halberdier could be interpreted as wearing no helmet, as opposed to what you see on the figure and the card art.
HQ is not known for coherence...

My own rule:
Abyss Trap
The hero that triggers an abyss trap must immediately discard 2♥. Morcar sets up an abyss trap marker according to the quest map, which will remain there until the end of the quest. When a figure ends their move in a square containing a sprung abyss trap, they must discard 2♥ and end their turn immediately. A figure in an abyss trap has no line of sight whatsoever, may take no action and cannot be attacked unless with a ranged attack from an orthogonally adjacent square. They can only move to an unoccupied adjacent square after they or an adjacent hero have the equipment card “Rope”. Until then or they die, leave the figure in that square. If they are still there at the end of the quest, they die. Figures may move through an abyss trap square by counting three squares.

It's basically what you suggest.

[The Admiral]

As for the Henchmen defend dice, my opinion based on WYSIWYG:

Swordsman: 5 = plate 4 + helmet 1
Halberdier: 3 = chainmail 3 + helmet 1; he should have 4, but we agree on what he wears.
Crossbowman: 3 = chainmail 3 + helmet 1; same thing.
Scout: 3 = light armor 1 + helmet 1 + shield 1, in effect, we agree.

The light armor would have to written up as a card, and the crossbowman and halberdier could be interpreted as wearing no helmet, as opposed to what you see on the figure and the card art.
HQ is not known for coherence....

I have actually amended the stats of all my henchmen to match what they are wearing and carrying. They all have chainmail, a helmet, move 6 and cost 75GC:
Swordsman - Greatsword = att 4/def 4.
Halberdier- Halberd = att 3/def 4. May attack diagonally.
Crossbowman - Crossbow = att 3(1)/def 4. attacks 3 at range and 1 adjacent.
Man at Arms - Broadsword and Shield = att 3/def 5. No scout abilities.

Other henchmen I use are Elf Spearman, Elf Archer, Elf Swordsman, High Elf Archer, High Elf Spearman, Dwarf Axeman, Dwarf Thunderer, Dwarf Scout, Dwarf Slayer, Halfling Archer, Peasant, Scout, Norscan Warrior, Ranger, Sargent, Captain, Wolf and Bear.

I have leather armour for purchase (250GC), which I guess is light armour. This gives +1 defence die, but the roll has to be a black shield to defend.

[Daedalus]

Officially, apart from damage assessment, these are handled in the same way as pit traps. But you are 30 feet down! No longsword can reach that far. How do people handle these?

I'm proposing that only ranged weapons may attack into and out of a pod, from/to an adjacent square. The Hero down the pod still suffer -1 att/def penelties.

As for henchmen damage, I would say the Swordsman has Platemail, the Scout no armour, and the other two chainmail.

I like your long-ranged proposal for a pit of darkness and would use it. As for the Mercenaries, I'd only make one change and treat a scout as wearing chain mail.

A 30-foot fall doesn't make sense to me. I think 10 feet could have achieved the same purpose and made escape without assistance far more plausible. Still, KK's rope solution fixes that, so 30 feet is okay (and I like a few more Armory items to drain gold coins.)

Your spot of this rule failure is further evidence that AotOH wasn't play-tested properly. If only the Internet were around back then to set 'em straight. At least HQ was built solidly enough to last so we could finally(?) get it right today.