Japanese HeroQuest: Rulebook Translation

[iKarith]

I really appreciate you doing this! You could possibly use the "standard" terms for things … but I'm kind of glad you decided to use the terms the Japanese game did. It does tend to give a Western audience a wrong impression in a few places, but I think e.g. replacing "Demon King" with "Zargon" or "Evil Wizard Player" removes some of the flavor.

So what if calling the EWP "the Demon King" makes the average Westerner think someone's playing as this guy…

[Kurgan]

His true form? He's the King of Demons, not in the sense that he's the actual Devil, but he's the leader of the evil dudes you're fighting, the commander of the ghouls, the boss of the monsters!

"Demon King" has grown on me. Whether you call him Evil Wizard Player, Zargon or Morcar, he's the same evil santa dude (or weird unseen dude who might be skeletor in a big hood) we all know and love (hate). That the chief villain goes by different names in different regions or cultures makes perfect sense.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but seeing the results, I think this was a very worthwhile little addition!

[HispaZargon]

I really appreciate you doing this! You could possibly use the "standard" terms for things … but I'm kind of glad you decided to use the terms the Japanese game did. It does tend to give a Western audience a wrong impression in a few places, but I think e.g. replacing "Demon King" with "Zargon" or "Evil Wizard Player" removes some of the flavor.

Hi, iKarith. Well, I understand your proposal, I know that using terms like "Demon King" instead of Morcar/Zargon, "Warrior" instead of Barbarian, "Dark Warrior" instead of "Chaos Warrior" etc. could be anoying for purists but, these terms were the ones already proposed in Bob-bob's translation so today I think they are acceptable and in my opinion they add some 'exotic' look to this HeroQuest version which in many ways is different to the western version/s of the game.

Remember that the idea I have is writing the most accurate as posible version to the original japanese one because such version doesn't exist anywhere except in japanese language. Of course we could adapt it to western words but I think it would not have the same value as translating it by taking into account and preserving those minor cultural differences between western/japan versions. As far as I consider, japanese version of HeroQuest seems to be a different gameboard in many aspects so, I think having a different wording than western also matchs with such idea.

Once finished, we could try to also edit another 'westernaized' version of the rules if needed but at first step I think having the original one translated to English 'as it is' has quite value. If other strategy was followed, much of the original information would be lost and that's what I am trying to avoid as far as posible.

[Daedalus]

I have some more styling editing suggestions. I don't think you necessarily need to use them all directly, as they generally prioritize terminology specifically used in the UK HQ game over what is actually presented in the untranslated JA (Japanese) pages. For example, I had submitted the UK term Rules of Play for the directly translated "Rulebook." Either is fine, but the latter allows for minor variation between editions. Even the UK first and second editions vary a bit. For example, the second edition uses the term markers while the premier (first) edition uses tiles. I'll mark with an asterisk (*) such cases where I feel Aeryn's choice works better as a direct translation. It's up to you how you want to proceed, of course.

p.1

New edits:
*"(5 closed doors - 16 open doors)" > 5 closed and 16 open

"Monster Cards" > Monster cards
"Treasure Cards > Treasure cards
"Equipment Cards > Equipment cards
"Earth Spells" > Earth spells
"Water Spells" > Water spells
"Air Spells" > Air spells
"Fire Spells" > Fire spells
"Artifact Cards" > Quest Treasures *["Legendary Treasures" is also good.]

"Character Sheets" > Character sheets
"Character Cards" > Character boards
*"Dice" > Normal dice
*"Combat Dice" > Special combat dice
"Rock tiles (6 one-square - 2 two-squares)" > Rock markers (6 Single blocked square - 2 double blocked square) *[Rock markers (6 one-square, 2 two-square) is also good.]
"Secret Door tiles" > Secret door markers
"Pit Trap tiles" > Pit trap markers
"Falling Block tiles" > Falling block markers

[More p. 2 edits to come.]

[iKarith]

His true form? He's the King of Demons, not in the sense that he's the actual Devil, but he's the leader of the evil dudes you're fighting, the commander of the ghouls, the boss of the monsters!

"Demon King" has grown on me. Whether you call him Evil Wizard Player, Zargon or Morcar, he's the same evil santa dude (or weird unseen dude who might be skeletor in a big hood) we all know and love (hate). That the chief villain goes by different names in different regions or cultures makes perfect sense.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but seeing the results, I think this was a very worthwhile little addition!

Exactly that. Japanese writing is ideographic, and I have not seen the original… If it used Maō (I know better than to ATTEMPT the UTF-8 for the Kanji in phpBB) then those characters would most literally be rendered "demon king" or "demon lord". A more dynamic equivalence approach (trying to convey the same meaning even if it requires different words) might be "monster lord", but … that sounds dumb.

I'm not proposing to use different translations than are currently being used. Quite the opposite! I'm saying there might be some confusion, but the audience for the translation is small enough that it's better to deal with that than to lose the original's charm in the translation. I think most people are going to be able to work out warrior = barbarian, demon king = Zargon, etc. without much help.

[HispaZargon]

I have some more styling editing suggestions. I don't think you necessarily need to use them all directly, as they generally prioritize terminology specifically used in the UK HQ game over what is actually presented in the untranslated JA (Japanese) pages. For example, I had submitted the UK term Rules of Play for the directly translated "Rulebook." Either is fine, but the latter allows for minor variation between editions. Even the UK first and second editions vary a bit. For example, the second edition uses the term markers while the premier (first) edition uses tiles. I'll mark with an asterisk (*) such cases where I feel Aeryn's choice works better as a direct translation. It's up to you how you want to proceed, of course.

p.1

New edits:
*"(5 closed doors - 16 open doors)" > 5 closed and 16 open

"Monster Cards" > Monster cards
"Treasure Cards > Treasure cards
"Equipment Cards > Equipment cards
"Earth Spells" > Earth spells
"Water Spells" > Water spells
"Air Spells" > Air spells
"Fire Spells" > Fire spells
"Artifact Cards" > Quest Treasures *["Legendary Treasures" is also good.]

"Character Sheets" > Character sheets
"Character Cards" > Character boards
*"Dice" > Normal dice
*"Combat Dice" > Special combat dice
"Rock tiles (6 one-square - 2 two-squares)" > Rock markers (6 Single blocked square - 2 double blocked square) *[Rock markers (6 one-square, 2 two-square) is also good.]
"Secret Door tiles" > Secret door markers
"Pit Trap tiles" > Pit trap markers
"Falling Block tiles" > Falling block markers

[More p. 2 edits to come.]

Thank you, Daedalus.

Quite interesting the differences between first and second edition of UK rules. Honestly, I don't have yet a clear opinion about choosing between "tiles" and "markers" terms... Maybe "markers" could be more correct since such term also includes non-flat items that are not only placed in the ground and "markers" is the term used in 1990's UK edition, closer to the 1991's japanese one so it seems to be the more logical selection but, again, I need to think more time about it until deciding. In addition, I will mantain "Rules of Play" words in the title since it was the UK words used in both UK editions.

About the rest of proposed changes, I mostly agree so I will include them if next draft. I will only mantain the words "Legendary Treasures" since I think it helps to distinguish a little those cards from the artifacts or quest treasures of the rest of HQ versions, I think it is another piece of the 'exotic' look of the original japanese version that I think should be preserved as I argued here. Other term I will mantain as it is now is "Combat die" since I understand that word "combat" already covers that it is not a normal die. And finally, you suggest to use the term "character boards" instead of "character cards", I agree but, what do you think about using "character panels"? Which of those terms correspond more to UK English?

[HispaZargon]

I'm not proposing to use different translations than are currently being used. Quite the opposite! I'm saying there might be some confusion, but the audience for the translation is small enough that it's better to deal with that than to lose the original's charm in the translation. I think most people are going to be able to work out warrior = barbarian, demon king = Zargon, etc. without much help.

Yeah, that's the same feeling I have. Keeping the original charm should be the main criterion. I think it help to remember how diverse was everything around HeroQuest, depending on which country or culture the game was released. In my opinion it is a plus.

[iKarith]

That diversity is kind of the basis of us tweaking the hell out of just about every aspect of the game and that being pretty much okay at our own tables. It's not a rigid, static thing.

[Daedalus]

. . . And finally, you suggest to use the term "character boards" instead of "character cards", I agree but, what do you think about using "character panels"? Which of those terms correspond more to UK English?

Character boards is in the Rules of Play. Definitely character boards.

More edits. An oddity from inside the UK box cover is that "altar" from the furniture list of the Contents page is changed to "sorcerer's table." The JA ed. doesn't translate this difference, so "altar" it is for p.2 below. Similarly, "drawer", the literal translation of alchemist's bench, is unusable. On the other hand, instances of "rack" may be substituted with the literally translated "torture table" if you prefer. AerynB didn't choose this, but perhaps it would carry the literal Japanese feel better. (The p.1 furniture listing would also need changing.)

As with the p.1 edits, I'll mark with an asterisk (*) such cases where I feel Aeryn's choice works better as a direct translation. Translation portions that were overlooked or omitted will also be marked. Again, it's your call what to use.

p.2
New edits based on the UK 2nd ed. box:

"Be careful with the components with sharp points in order to avoid injuries." > Be careful of components with sharp points in order to avoid injuries.
2. "Assemble the gargoyle piece as follows:" > Assemble the gargoyle as follows:
"Attach the wings to the back as indicated." > Fit the wings to the
back as shown.
"Attach the head to the neck as indicated." > Fit the head to the neck as shown.
3. "Carefully punch out the information screen from the backing." > Carefully punch out the screen from the die-cast sheet. [I chose the term die-cast sheet found in the UK box cover over the poorly Google translated "mount."
4. ". . . Punch out the doors from the backing and attach to the base as shown in the picture. Assemble the open doors following the same way." > . . . Punch out the doors from the die-cast sheet and attach them to the bases as shown. Assemble the open doors in the same way.
5. "According to the illustrations on the back of the information screen, remove the tomb parts from the grey sprue, and remove the parts of the alchemist’s bench, cupboard, bookcases, and rack from the Brown sprue." > According to the illustrations on the back of the screen, remove the alchemist's bench, bookcases, cupboard, and rack from the brown plastic sprue and remove the tomb from the grey sprue. [The furniture order was rearranged to match the corresponding Japanese text.]
*Also, punch out each of the paper parts from the backing. For each piece respectively, bend each paper part and insert it into the bottom of the plastic parts as shown in the picture > Also, detach the matching cards from the die-cast sheet. Bend the card parts and insert into the underside of the plastic tops, as shown. [Apparently these last sentences were omitted due to space. I hope my shorter translation for #5 can fit. If not, here are some space-savers: "According to the illustrations" > As seen in the pictures, Bend the card parts . . . > Bend each . . . , or even Bend the card parts and insert . . . > Bend and insert . . .. "Also", "matching", and "as shown" could be dropped as well.]
6. "Remove the levers from the brown sprue and attach them to the sides of the rack as shown in the picture." > Remove the levers from the brown sprue and attach them to the sides of the torture table, as shown.
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. [Omitted due to space? I think my translation will fit. If not, omit the two instances of them and the second instance of as shown]
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.
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. [I chose "carefully" over "then" because the three-character introductory phrase (when read alone) translates as "difficult." I took it the writer was warning about the fragility of the candles.]
11. ". . . Also, punch out the remaining cardboard parts.. . ." > . . . Also, punch out their cards from the die-cast sheet.. . . [Many more tiles remain to be punched out, so I changed Google translated "each from the mount" (omitted by AerynB) to their cards from the die-cast sheet.]
a. "Throne: Insert the two pins and the folded cardboard part between both sides of the throne." > Throne: Insert the two pins into the sides of the throne, trapping the folded card between them. [From the UK box, "The throne --insert the two pins into the two halves, trapping the card between them;" This matches Aeryn's Google translated but omitted "sandwiched" (I Google translated "bottle" from the JA document and "insert" from AerynB's attachment--strange.) So I chose to merge the original UK description with the JA translation.]
b. "Tables: Insert the one long pin and the folded cardboard between both sides of the table." > Tables: Insert the long, single pin into both sides of the table, trapping the folded card between them. [I merged the UK and JA translations as with the throne. ]
c. "Treasure Chests: Using your finger, bend the cardboard part to fit the curve of the chest. Then insert one pin and the curved cardboard between both sides of the chest." > Using your finger, bend the card to fit the curve of the treasure chest. Insert the pin into both sides of the treasure chest, trapping the card between them.
d. "Bend the cardboard part to match the plastic base, then insert." > Fireplace: Bend the card to match the plastic base, then insert.
12. "Punch out the remaining cardboard parts from the backing." > Punch out the remaining card parts from the die-cast sheet. [If pressed for space, change "Punch out" > Remove.]

That's it for the rough stuff. Hopefully bluesun's translation will work better for the rest. Gotta get back to life for now.

[Kurgan]

Ah yes the Dark Warriors (not to be confused with the Dark Warriors of Advanced Quest which was never released in Japan), and Monolizards (one eye... Fimir!).

The Sorcerer's Table does look very much like an Altar (sacrificial table).