Ye Olde Inn

HeroQuest relies on 2 red dice to create random Hero movement. Is it worth the trouble?

The Good:

Adds tension in a pursuit

Tends to separate Heroes so that monsters stand a better chance against early arrivals

Boosts the drama as a Hero randomly rushes to another's aid

A broad range of movement is possible with a simple rule

The Bad:

Rolling low and not getting into the action isn't any fun

Mandatory rolling of dice adds to game length

Heroes that stick together spend extra turns doing so, again adding to game length

Red dice are often visually lost on the game board, requiring search time

Another way for young players to knock down the furniture and figures, or roll 'sloppy dice' off the table

Same move mechanic as Monopoly

Could the game be improved by removing the dice mechanic for Hero movement and replacing it with a static number, like mercenaries, sorcerers, and elven warriors have?

good subject !
In fact, I have thinking about a real simple rule that make a difference between the heroes.
Each heroes roll 2 red die for moving and add a move potential like this :
Barbarian : 2D6+2
Dwarf : 2D6
Elf : 2D6+1
Wizard : 2D6+3
Try this, it works great
You can also say that heroes can run if they want by rolling 3 dices. Anyway, they can't do any action the turn they run.

I am for fixed movement (7 squares is fair I believe). But my players prefer dice so that's what we've stuck with.

We use action points and even before movement was a fixed number, which only makes sense.
We did indeed add movement in case you want to run, at the cost of action points.

el_flesh wrote:We use action points and even before movement was a fixed number, which only makes sense.
We did indeed add movement in case you want to run, at the cost of action points.

Please explain.

Well it is currently 12 action points, which includes moving AND fighting - so you can move more and not fight if you need to, or move very little and fight more. Fighting is not only attacking, it is also blocking; though you will always be able to block somewhat.

It makes for such a better game...at least for us!

El Flesh, is your system even heroquest anymore?

el_flesh wrote:Well it is currently 12 action points, which includes moving AND fighting - so you can move more and not fight if you need to, or move very little and fight more. Fighting is not only attacking, it is also blocking; though you will always be able to block somewhat.

It makes for such a better game...at least for us!

Still a bit confused, do you move 1 attack 11, or move 11 attack 1. Is that how it works

oh sorry - move what you need, but attacking full dice takes 75% of your action...and full defense takes 25% - so you have to be careful! you decide what % of attack/def you will be using. You could make 4 attacks at 25% of your full attack dice total; which of course will not be many dice - and then you cannot move and you cannot defend; for you have exhausted yourself with fast jabbing attax!
We use these percentages (or "quarters" if you Britz must think in IMPERIAL style!) because some characters will get moving bonuses - and it would be totally imbalanced that they can move the standard four spaces and do TWO full attacks!
We have also added a few talents depending on the character. Once per adventure the Barbarian (Zebs)can go berzerk, and shifts some defense dice into attack, for example.

If the Heroes just want to move and there aren't any monsters on the board, I tell pick a square and have them line up there if they all agree to move there. THat being said, if there are any traps in-between, they ALL take damage from them, with no shot at defending for the benefit of moving that way.