Another way to play HeroQuest Solo (Shadow Tiles)

[cornixt]

I like it, although it does mean producing a number of tokens that you hope look similar enough on the back that you won't be able to tell what is on the front.

I'm not sure I fully understand how you are suggesting to use them. In one part you say to use an existing quest as a template, and another that the tiles should be split by quadrant as if you are using the whole board. I also don't really see the point of moving the shadow tiles around if you are playing solo, which seems to be the main purpose - I'd feel a bit weird making things easier or more difficult for myself in the middle of the game.

You could probably expand on it a little to have a "final boss" or objective token that you can randomise among the last few rooms so that the end of the quest isn't as clear as just reaching the staircase.

[gaeryth]

kurgan, those are the games I was talking about.

[Kurgan]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. As for the quadrant thing, yes that sounds like I'm using the whole board, but I'm actually using the layout of an existing quest. Many quests use all four quadrants in some way but not all do. In those cases I'd still try to divide the tiles up evenly based on the number of rooms available.

It's not a perfect system. As for the "objective" I haven't tried that yet, so far it's just random pieces of furniture, objects for treasure or monsters. Without rolling to see if the tile "stays put" or "moves toward the Heroes" it would have a very predictable result, I agree. 50% chance any time will stay in the room that round or move towards the heroes that round.

I'm using a system inspired by how it works in Space Crusade. Granted, the games aren't exactly the same so it doesn't translate perfectly.

[Kurgan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWWdbM_2ka4 (2nd attempt video). I've tweaked it since then but haven't played it, since we have had so many people willing to play live these past several weekend streams (not complaining).

[Kurgan]

Update for 2025!

You hear a noise... and spot something twinkling in the darkness... what is it? Another foe?

I've incorporated a version of these rules into our weekly Twitch streams... the tiles now have an image of "glowing eyes in the dark" on one side and the image of the monster (or fireburst trap, harmless rat, potion, scroll, or equipment) on the reverse side. Monsters still have a gold value attached inspired by the "bounties" given in the Japanese edition of HeroQuest.

The way I've used them now is that we play the game and viewers in the Twitch chat can use their 'Gold Coins' (channel points that build up over time watching, extra for followers and subscribers) to cash in a "Bonus Monster." When that happens instead of rolling a die and picking one from a list, I simply blindly fish a tile out of a big bag and place it somewhere out of LOS on the board. I move it up to 5 spaces on Zargon's turn.

When the "eyes" get adjacent (or diagonal close up) to a hero/ally, then I flip it over and place the miniature. If it happens to be a potion, scroll, or equipment, then I give that hero a random draw from those decks. Since the twitch chatter "really" wanted a monster though I will draw another tile and place it in another place out of LOS.

If the tile is revealed on Zargon's turn and it's a monster, that monster can attack (if any squares from that monster's fixed movement are left at that point they can also move that remaining amount before attacking).

And yes, if a Hero decides to shoot at the "glowing eyes" from a distance they can. This forces the tile to be revealed (if it's a potion, scroll, or equipment, then I say they destroyed whatever it was, oops! assuming they rolled any skulls; otherwise if they miss it's not revealed; I laugh at the idea of a potion rolling down the hallway or a scroll blowing in the wind). If it's "Vermin" then a harmless rat scurries away into the shadows, false alarm! There's also a blank tile, which is "just an illusion."

So far the tiles I've professionally printed are only of the GS monsters, in the distributions as if I had KK and ROTWL. I am working to get the other monsters done from the various expansions as well. Thanks to Bohemyus for the feedback and Sanswift for the playtesting that helped develop the idea further!