ShuffleQuest Playtest: The Trial
Posted: December 5th, 2013, 9:35 pmHi everyone.
I have concocted a way to use HeroQuest modular tiles to replay old quests with random layouts. It utilizes nothing other than a short set of rules and a regular deck of playing cards. I call it ShuffleQuest.
Would anyone be interested in hosting the file, or should I just put it in my dropbox?
EDIT The rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x3xsql20w81xvlv/ShuffleQuest.pdf
I took the time to play-test this concept with the first (USA) quest. Enjoy the story...
Our four heroes hesitantly enter the catacombs of Fellmarg's tomb, their quest: to eradicate the lurking threat of Verag, a recently awoken gargoyle who has taken up residence in the ancient acropolis. The corners of the room are thick with grave dust, but the path to the only door is well-worn. Something has been stirring in this darkness...
Beyond the door lies a corridor twisting out of sight in both directions. Morgart the barbarian slams the only door in the hall off of its rickety hinges, startling a goblin trying futilely to spar with a fimir. Volynar the elf peers down the closest corner to spy more twisting passages. Meanwhile, as Ject the wizard surveys the entrance chamber for clues, a scouting orc rushes down the spiral staircase vaulting over Dorgin the dwarf, and brings his blade down narrowly missing Ject.
Volynar the elf continues on his own to find an orc and goblin preparing a foul meal of manflesh in what looks to have once been a study chamber. The rest of the group ventures in the opposite direction to find more hallways.
After swiftly and single-handedly slaying his opponents, Volynar opens the next door to find it packed with the minions of chaos. A deafening roar echoes through the catacombs as Verag, the four gargoyle, unleashes his battle-shout. The rest of the party rushes to help the beleaguered elf.
Dorgin holds off the hoard in order to give Morgart time to arrive, as Volyna and Ject weave spells against the armored warrior charging at their stout ally.
After a hard-fought battle the minions of Verag are slain. Just as the gargoyle is about to get the upper hand in its clash with Morgart, Ject intercedes with a summoned Djinn which distracts it long enough for Dorgin to dutifully dispatch the dastardly death-dealer.
Looting Verag's throne room yields riches beyond imagining for these four intrepid adventurers. After a quick rest and some healing words, they continue to explore. The next room contains the animated remains of some of Fellmarg's champions. They are struck down with little trouble
The elf and dwarf split form the others to track down some goblins hiding under a table.
Morgart crunches across the skeleton's remains to find more greenskins in the next chamber.
After encountering more undead, disaster strikes as Morgart is laid-low by a horrifying mummy! The rest of the group fights on against the stinking corpses...
Before they can mourn the loss of their barbaric companion, Ject stumbles across a pressure plate which opens into a library inhabited by two studious warriors of chaos perusing its shelves. After a tough fight our heroes prevail, though their resolve is waning and their weapons hang loosely in their bloodied hands.
Knowing that Fellmarg's tomb has yet to be discovered the heroes search the walls of all the places they have visited. Eventually the secret portal is found by moving the jawbone of a skull bricked into the wall of Verag's throne room.
Tragically Volynar falls in the ensuing conflict. Fellmarg's undead remains are eventually vanquished and his tomb looted.
Weary and grief-laden Ject and Dorgin trudge their path back to the spiral stairs. Much gold and glory has been found this day, but friends have fallen, and adventuring does not seem quite as glamorous as it once did in the eyes of these wearied warriors!
An overview of the dungeon. The rules worked out quite well, although generating corridors can be tedious sometimes. Overall I think this is an interesting way to freshen up those old quests on your next play-through. Let me know how it works for you! (pending the posting of my rules)
And here is the score of monsters slain. The dwarf has clearly been the mightiest warrior this day!
I have concocted a way to use HeroQuest modular tiles to replay old quests with random layouts. It utilizes nothing other than a short set of rules and a regular deck of playing cards. I call it ShuffleQuest.
Would anyone be interested in hosting the file, or should I just put it in my dropbox?
EDIT The rules: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x3xsql20w81xvlv/ShuffleQuest.pdf
I took the time to play-test this concept with the first (USA) quest. Enjoy the story...
Our four heroes hesitantly enter the catacombs of Fellmarg's tomb, their quest: to eradicate the lurking threat of Verag, a recently awoken gargoyle who has taken up residence in the ancient acropolis. The corners of the room are thick with grave dust, but the path to the only door is well-worn. Something has been stirring in this darkness...
Beyond the door lies a corridor twisting out of sight in both directions. Morgart the barbarian slams the only door in the hall off of its rickety hinges, startling a goblin trying futilely to spar with a fimir. Volynar the elf peers down the closest corner to spy more twisting passages. Meanwhile, as Ject the wizard surveys the entrance chamber for clues, a scouting orc rushes down the spiral staircase vaulting over Dorgin the dwarf, and brings his blade down narrowly missing Ject.
Volynar the elf continues on his own to find an orc and goblin preparing a foul meal of manflesh in what looks to have once been a study chamber. The rest of the group ventures in the opposite direction to find more hallways.
After swiftly and single-handedly slaying his opponents, Volynar opens the next door to find it packed with the minions of chaos. A deafening roar echoes through the catacombs as Verag, the four gargoyle, unleashes his battle-shout. The rest of the party rushes to help the beleaguered elf.
Dorgin holds off the hoard in order to give Morgart time to arrive, as Volyna and Ject weave spells against the armored warrior charging at their stout ally.
After a hard-fought battle the minions of Verag are slain. Just as the gargoyle is about to get the upper hand in its clash with Morgart, Ject intercedes with a summoned Djinn which distracts it long enough for Dorgin to dutifully dispatch the dastardly death-dealer.
Looting Verag's throne room yields riches beyond imagining for these four intrepid adventurers. After a quick rest and some healing words, they continue to explore. The next room contains the animated remains of some of Fellmarg's champions. They are struck down with little trouble
The elf and dwarf split form the others to track down some goblins hiding under a table.
Morgart crunches across the skeleton's remains to find more greenskins in the next chamber.
After encountering more undead, disaster strikes as Morgart is laid-low by a horrifying mummy! The rest of the group fights on against the stinking corpses...
Before they can mourn the loss of their barbaric companion, Ject stumbles across a pressure plate which opens into a library inhabited by two studious warriors of chaos perusing its shelves. After a tough fight our heroes prevail, though their resolve is waning and their weapons hang loosely in their bloodied hands.
Knowing that Fellmarg's tomb has yet to be discovered the heroes search the walls of all the places they have visited. Eventually the secret portal is found by moving the jawbone of a skull bricked into the wall of Verag's throne room.
Tragically Volynar falls in the ensuing conflict. Fellmarg's undead remains are eventually vanquished and his tomb looted.
Weary and grief-laden Ject and Dorgin trudge their path back to the spiral stairs. Much gold and glory has been found this day, but friends have fallen, and adventuring does not seem quite as glamorous as it once did in the eyes of these wearied warriors!
An overview of the dungeon. The rules worked out quite well, although generating corridors can be tedious sometimes. Overall I think this is an interesting way to freshen up those old quests on your next play-through. Let me know how it works for you! (pending the posting of my rules)
And here is the score of monsters slain. The dwarf has clearly been the mightiest warrior this day!
