Japanese HeroQuest: Rulebook Translation

[HispaZargon]

Hi,

I am finishing the last pages of the rulebook but I would like to share with you in advance two topics:

1.- Bob-Bob & bluesun's great translation called the final part of the rules as 'Expert Rules', well, this translation is correct but in my opinion, it is more correct to call it as 'Advanced Rules' since I think it matches better with the title of the other chapters ('Beginner Rules' and 'Intermediate Rules') and, additionally, 'Expert' sounds like... 'Too-Expert', which does not correspond with the real difficulty associated to the content of this final chapter. What do you prefer, call it 'Expert Rules' or 'Advanced Rules' ?

2.- Bottom of page 23 of the rulebook includes a note to the customer and a label with company data. I thought it would be interesting to also translate it so, here I send you for your comments both the original detail and the translated draft I have prepared:

Company_Data_Original.JPG

Company_Data_Translated.JPG

I made this translation using Google Translator with very few adaptations so, please tell me if something is not correct. The only characters I thought it should be kept in japanese is the 'Takara' company logo (タカラ), as shown. I also checked that the translated addresses exist today so they appear to be correct. Of course I did not check the phone numbers... but who knows, maybe The Demon King Grimdead answers at the other side of the phone! hahaha...

[iKarith]

I think Advanced Rules is probably appropriate.

[Kurgan]

sounds better than Super Saiyan Rules.

[Daedalus]

Ok, if I understood well, you think that using "sorcerer's table" is more correct than using "altar", so I will use the first one, isn't it? Please, correct me if I am wrong. About the rack, I prefer translating it as "torture table". About "drawer" I will not use it.

I like the sound of sorcerer's table, but altar is part of the Rules of Play. Both are good, but only altar makes an appearance in another UK product. The Dark Company has a Room B of the gold section with an altar, not a sorcerer's table. My vote.gets pushed for altar.

. . . The explanation about the die-cast parts that is missing in the original japanese text, I think it can be treated as a errata of the original document so, no problem from my side to add it to the translated version.

Cool. "Paper" really felt lost in translation.

. . . 7. "Remove the bottles from the grey sprue and attach it to the right side of the top of the alchemist’s bench as shown in the picture." > Remove the bottles from the grey sprue and attach them to the top-right side of the alchemist’s bench, as shown.
*Also remove the scales from the brown sprue and place them on the left side of the alchemist’s bench, as shown.

Ok, changes applied but again, I have adapted them a little bit according to the available space. The sentence about the scales that is missing in the original japanese text, I think it can be treated as a errata of the original document so, no problem from my side to also add it to the translated version.

I like your jugdement. There definitely was an extra sentence in the Japanese copy I was translating from, though I believe AerynB discounted it. The sentence about the scales was an uneducated guess on my part, as the Google Translate version was a mess. Two of the three characters for scales showed up there, but apparently split apart by "beauty book.". It only was the UK box that made me aware that the extra.sentence possibly referred to scales, but the translated part about the left side of the drawer confirmed it.

8. "Attach the rats of the brown sprue and the skulls of the white sprue wherever you like, such as into the holes of the torture rack, cupboard, etc." > Attach the rats from the brown runner and the skulls from the white runner as you like, such as in the holes of the cupboard and rack.

Ok, changes applied but I used word "sprue" instead of "runner".

Oops--I missed that runner thing when I edited my post from the Premier Edition to the Second Edition. Good thing you caught it!

9. ". . . Then, attach the two candles at holes. None cardboard part must be attached in the bottom of the altar. > . . . A card part isn't used for the altar. Carefully fit the two candles into the alter.

Right, changes applied but I used "sorcerer's table" instead of "altar".

Also changed this to altar if you agree with the top of this post.

[Daedalus]

1.- Bob-Bob & bluesun's great translation called the final part of the rules as 'Expert Rules', well, this translation is correct but in my opinion, it is more correct to call it as 'Advanced Rules' since I think it matches better with the title of the other chapters ('Beginner Rules' and 'Intermediate Rules') and, additionally, 'Expert' sounds like... 'Too-Expert', which does not correspond with the real difficulty associated to the content of this final chapter. What do you prefer, call it 'Expert Rules' or 'Advanced Rules' ?

I'd say the only reason to keep Expert is to maintain a foreign feel to the translation. Since you feel Advanced is a better description, why not go ahead and improve the translation with Advanced, the better English meaning? Games Workshop did.

2.- Bottom of page 23 of the rulebook includes a note to the customer and a label with company data. I thought it would be interesting to also translate it so, here I send you for your comments both the original detail and the translated draft I have prepared:

Company_Data_Original.JPG

Company_Data_Translated.JPG

I made this translation using Google Translator with very few adaptations so, please tell me if something is not correct. The only characters I thought it should be kept in japanese is the 'Takara' company logo (タカラ), as shown. I also checked that the translated addresses exist today so they appear to be correct. Of course I did not check the phone numbers... but who knows, maybe The Demon King Grimdead answers at the other side of the phone! hahaha...

I prefer applying English grammar for clarity, so "...If you have any questions about the product, sorry to trouble you but, please contact the "Customer Service Center". > ...If you have any questions about the product, sorry to trouble you, but please contact the "Customer Service Center".

[HispaZargon]

Hi guys, these days I am quite busy but I will try to going on with this subject as posible. Thank you for your comments, my answers are below:

I like the sound of sorcerer's table, but altar is part of the Rules of Play. Both are good, but only altar makes an appearance in another UK product. The Dark Company has a Room B of the gold section with an altar, not a sorcerer's table. My vote.gets pushed for altar.

Ok, I also like both names so, maybe doing a mixture of the two names could be a good idea? Or is better to choose one? I will think about it again, no problem.

Cool. "Paper" really felt lost in translation.

Yes, absolutely.

I like your jugdement. There definitely was an extra sentence in the Japanese copy I was translating from, though I believe AerynB discounted it.  The sentence about the scales was an uneducated guess on my part, as the Google Translate version was a mess. Two of the three characters for scales showed up there, but apparently split apart by "beauty book.". It only was the UK box that made me aware that the extra.sentence possibly referred to scales,  but the translated part about the left side of the drawer confirmed it.

Yes, one of the criteria I have followed since the beginning of this work is trying to correct those clear failures/errata/missing-words or non-sense sentences that can be found in some locatios of the original japanese document and, this one is a clear example.

Also changed this to altar if you agree with the top of this post.

Ok, I will consider it in line with above mentioned.

I think Advanced Rules is probably appropriate.

sounds better than Super Saiyan Rules.

I'd say the only reason to keep Expert is to maintain a foreign feel to the translation. Since you feel Advanced is a better description, why not go ahead and improve the translation with Advanced, the better English meaning? Games Workshop did.

Well, according to your comments, I will name it as 'Advanced Rules', fortunately I see there is clear majority and, as Daedalus suggests, 'Advanced' is a usual term in GW products so by far I think choosing it places us in the apropriate side.

I prefer applying English grammar for clarity, so "...If you have any questions about the product, sorry to trouble you but, please contact the "Customer Service Center". > ...If you have any questions about the product, sorry to trouble you, but please contact the "Customer Service Center".

Yes, of course you are right, I will change it. Such comma position would be correct in Spanish but not in English.

[Daedalus]

I like the sound of sorcerer's table, but altar is part of the Rules of Play. Both are good, but only altar makes an appearance in another UK product. The Dark Company has a Room B of the gold section with an altar, not a sorcerer's table. My vote.gets pushed for altar.

Ok, I also like both names so, maybe doing a mixture of the two names could be a good idea? Or is better to choose one? I will think about it again, no problem.

I believe the problem is is with the (German Regelbuch copy) Japanese Google mistranslation medicinal path/medicinal herbs/pharmacy which matches alchemist’s bench best. I have no idea if altar or sorcerer's table works better for this in Japanese ancient culture. For some reason AerynB's Japanese Google translates as altar, so I'd go with that.

[Kurgan]

It does look very much like an altar.

[iKarith]

It does look very much like an altar.

I suspect one of the reasons it wasn't called an altar has something to do with the Satanic Panic.

[Kurgan]

Maybe. Then again, wasn't any hint of magic during that period considered fodder for the "panic"? Without getting mired in taboo topics of course. I was just a kid at the time.