KublaCon

[Satyr]

Has there been a determination of the map to be used for the Sunday tournament at Kublacon?

I seem to recall Reaper mentioning something about an "official" battlefield. I'd vote for Forsaken Waters over anything else in the scenario book/section. It is fairly interesting for one master set and relatively balanced.

[reapersaurus]

Not yet, but I'm open to all suggestions.
I will be looking into that and letting people know asap.

[markwars]

Greatest Convention name of all time.

At least until there is a "Small Time Con". :P

[Runehardt]

Wrath of Con?

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

Reaper asked about a couple of maps.

By Memorial Day... I think I can pull it off.

I'll post them when I got something.

Oogie

P.S. - Here is the link for those who are curious.

http://kublacon.com/

[reapersaurus]

Wrath of Con? :lol:
I gotta admit, that's one of the funniest names I can think of for a Con.

And I HAPPEN to have THE best possible image for such a Khan:

ready for it?

http://home.comcast.net/~reapersaurus/Khaaan.gif

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

I'm looking for a map or 2 that would be good for a 200-point (approximately) skirmish of pre-generated teams of heroes and squads (like Sgt Drake and the Army Elite, Grimnak and orcs, etc) to run people thru 15 minute demos of Heroscape.

...have any suggestions on such an event?

Thinking it over, I created "The Pond". I designed it with a few things in mind.

- only 1 master set (people should see what they can built right out of the box)
- balanced (basically asymetrical but not completely symetrical)
- asthetics (did the little things like sand next to water, rock starting zones)
- use/placement of glyphs (equal distance from starting zones each with pros/cons)

The Pond
1MS only!

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/Kubla5.jpg
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/Kubla3.jpg
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/Kubla4.jpg

Hope it is something you can use,

ODB

download it here:

http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=

[reapersaurus]

That looks great!

I will try that one out (nice use of glyph-placement to provide a cost/choice to the map) - wait - is there any cost in going after the glyphs, or is this map effectively a race-to-the-glyph map?

If they had to sacrifice movement to get closer towards a sweet glyph, or give up position/height to go after the glyph, that would be a more balanced map, I'd think? (I don;lt make maps, though, and defer to your expertise on all map matters)

I was wondering if I could get a pdf and instructions for this great-looking map:
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/5_oog_v_all.jpg
Is it balanced? Good for a quick skirmish?
Because it has a great look, and visual appeal to it.

We will alos be testing out the lava small map this weekend with our group that'll be running the demos, so it would be wonderful if we could get whatever help you can provide for this endeavor by Saturday?

Thanks so much, Ooogie!

And do you have a recommendations for what map we should use for the Tournament, if we could only pick one?
It doesn;t have to be an official map, as long as it only needs 1 Master Set of terrain or less to build, and has a visual appeal, straegic balance for tourney needs.

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Wrath of Con? :lol:
I gotta admit, that's one of the funniest names I can think of for a Con.

And I HAPPEN to have THE best possible image for such a Khan:

ready for it?

http://home.comcast.net/~reapersaurus/Khaaan.gif

HELLA FUNNY!!!!!!!!


But

:(

I'm out for the great Kubla. I'm camping with my family and another family from school.

I'd rather be there as I think any type of camping on Memorial Day weekend is going to be insane..

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

That looks great!

I will try that one out (nice use of glyph-placement to provide a cost/choice to the map) - wait - is there any cost in going after the glyphs, or is this map effectively a race-to-the-glyph map?

Thanks, acutally looking over the map, I would toss out the +2 move glyph on the sand and move the +1 defence glyph from midway up the grass hill to the sand below. That would make things better!!!


I was wondering if I could get a pdf and instructions for this great-looking map:
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/5_oog_v_all.jpg
Is it balanced? Good for a quick skirmish?
Because it has a great look, and visual appeal to it.

Actually I don't have the pdf for this map. It was a variation of on official map that was only handed out at Gencon 2004. Hextr1p called it "Soulrazor Remix".

do you have a recommendations for what map we should use for the Tournament, if we could only pick one?
It doesn;t have to be an official map, as long as it only needs 1 Master Set of terrain or less to build, and has a visual appeal, straegic balance for tourney needs.

I do, however, have the pdf for "Soulrazor Canyon" which I think is possibly the best map out for 1 MS only. :wink:

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10006/Soulrazor_Canyon.jpg

It's quick and has most of the game basics and looks great.

I would go with this one.

Just make people aware of hight limitations such as climbing, engagement, falling, etc.

[reapersaurus]

Thank you for the reply!

I can't seem to find the download for that Pond map.....?

And I will try to contact h3xtr1p and see if he has a pdf of Soulrazor revisited.

To clarify - I was wondering if you had a recommendation for the Tourney map on Sunday?
These small maps are for small skirmishes for demos to new players (Saturday).

I'm wondering what map you feel would be good for the official, big tournament on Sunday? (32 people, let's assume)
Assume 8 Master Sets and a few other expansions.

[Rÿchean]

I was just about to say that looked liked soulrazor with a road set added.

....nice looking map / idea

;-)

[Alastair MacDirk]

A very cool map. Is this the map for the tourney too? Enquiring minds need to know. Satyr you best hope you get in another bracket. I'm bringing out my Krav Killa Army.

[reapersaurus]

No, it is a small map intended for the demos on Saturday, so that new players can just throw down and roll dice for 15 or so minutes and learn the game.

The Tourney map will be a more typical, larger map, to be determined.

[Satyr]

Bring it MacBlank! My vipers will tare your s#!t up before you even realize there are no agents on the board.

I haven't played on Soulrazor in a very long time. Fun map!

Re: the remix, I'm a little concerned about access to the bridge ... it is hard to tell from the picture, but the left side may have easier/quicker access to the highest 5 points on the map.

Maybe I'll play around with Landscape this weekend ...

[Alastair MacDirk]

SNAKES YOU SAY!!!!!!!!! Ha, unlike Indiana Jones, I love snakes. My shiny new Major Q-9 can take out 40-90 points worth of snakes with one turn marker and one eye closed. What else ya got????? Bring it.

[Satyr]

LOL ... dude, too funny

Elite Onyx .... close with Q-9, give couple wound, and then dead
Warlord and his protectors ... close and probably kill Q-9

Man Major Q-9 is brutal. I plugged him into mathguys matchup calculator and he's devastating ... though I'm not convinced it calcs correct.

Izumi v.s. Q-9 (3/3/3)
64% v.s. 34%

Izumi v.s. Q-9 (no special)
46% v.s. 54%

Satyr digs through his HS collection and pulls out the Minions. They take advantage of Q-9's blind spots, using the terrain when ever possible, and proceed to use their can openers on all Q-9's vital spots.

[reapersaurus]

Could some kind admin do me a favor?

On the HQ Kublacon thread (that is unavailable now to me) I think I detailed the Hero & Squad combinations I had worked up.

I was wondering if someone could copy/paste that post over into here, please?

Thank you, kind souls.

[UranusPChicago]

Reaper, I just download the thread into a pdf and I will email it to you.

[reapersaurus]

Thank you!

Our group worked through some maps and small army combinations today, and I was wondering if Uranus or Ooogie or some one could do us a favor and work up a smallish map (about the size of The Pond by oogie) that incorporates trees, elevation, equal starting zones (and maybe trees and no lava other than decorative) and is 3 sided, or triagonal in general shape to accomodate 3 players playing at once.

We feel it would be beneficial to some groups to show them how 3 players at the same time is fun to play, and it's hard on a 2-sided map to squish in another player properly.

We'd love if someone could wortk this up for the Kublacon event - Ooogie, are you up for the 3-sided challenge? :)

[Hahnarama]

Reaps,

Make sure you get a group shot of you, your crew, and Japji. Maybe you should take it during "Kilt Night"

[reapersaurus]

Reaper, I just download the thread into a pdf and I will email it to you.Got it - but that's the later thread - I'm wondering what all i typed in the preceding thread from that one, that was not visible after the server change-over.

If someone could get that thread, I'd appreciate it.

And I'll be finalizing maps this week and be ready for the weekend tournament - more to come soon - I'll be updating this thread as the week goes on.

[reapersaurus]

could you get the original KublaCon thread from HQ, perhaps, UPC?
Thanks a bunch.

Bumping this thread, since we're talking about Kublacon in 2 other threads here currently.... :)

And an update - I'm halfway through selecting the maps for the demos and Tournament, I think, depending on whether I go with 4 different maps for the Tournament and randomly assign players to the maps each round, or whether I go with one map for the first 4 rounds and a different map for the last 2 (semis and finals).

Any thoughts?
Or recommendations for maps?

Oogie - The Pond is exactly the kind that should work great for the Demos.

[Alastair MacDirk]

My vote is for a level playing field, or all the maps being the same, whichever makes more sense. But seriously, I think people will feel better about losing if they weren't thinking "if only I'd gotten on that map with the glyphs high on the mountain on the island rimmed by lava" or whatever.

BTW, how are you ruling on Q-9 LOS issues?

[Satyr]

I can see both sides of the argument ... one army has an advantage due to the board and cleans house for the first 4 rounds or as Alastair said anyone can whine. Bottom line is someone can always complain ... If I go down in flames of glory I'll be sure to pick the open argument :)

A single map for the first 4 rounds should reduce the likelihood of complaints about unfair playing fields, but the event is not nearly as visually interesting. What ever the case, don't tell Alastair about the map ahead of time :twisted:

Seriously, I'd keep the tourny maps under wraps. It makes people come with what they think is the best all around army and keeps people from ranging the battlefield(s) ahead of time. I’ll be the first to admit that I would game the field(s) if I had advanced knowledge … that is what a general should do before battle. Without that foreknowledge about the battlefield(s) people have to be all the more astute.

I’m sure I’ll have a blast no matter what reapers decides. I’m psyched to meet some other scapers (sorry to hear HEH will be absent), play some Heroscape, have some fun, and hopefully kick A$$ ... oh yeah there will be some other games there too.

Alastair: I thought the offical word was Q-9 shoulders block LOS.

[Alastair MacDirk]

Depends how official an unofficial email response posted by one heroscaper is considered. I have seen the ruling questioned in many threads not only on its merits within the known constructs of heroscape play, but also questioned as to whether or not it was an official, end of story ruling.

[Satyr]

[off topic re: Q-9]

True enough:
It was posted by a HQ scaper (UD I believe)
It WAS supposedly a response from Hasbro
It has not made it to the HS.com FAQ

I don't have Q-9 yet, but I believe it to be a point cost balance thing

[/off topic]

Gaming, Gaming, Gaming,
keep those dice a rolling
... Kublacon !!!

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

I'm halfway through selecting the maps for the demos and Tournament, I think, depending on whether I go with 4 different maps for the Tournament and randomly assign players to the maps each round, or whether I go with one map for the first 4 rounds and a different map for the last 2 (semis and finals).

Any thoughts?
Or recommendations for maps?

Oogie - The Pond is exactly the kind that should work great for the Demos.

Glad you like "The Pond".

Not sure if I'll be able to help much more... works been keeping my VERY busy (barely have time to catch up on reading topics). And oh yeah, Feel free to move the glyphs around a little (like we talked about in the earlier posts).

The only thing I can say about maps for the tourney, is how we do it in SoCal (allows alot of variety and keeps it from getting stale):

- We set up a bunch of small maps
- Everyone brings 4 predrafted, prepacked armies.
- Two players are randomly selected to a random map.
- Players evaluate their field and opponent and choose 1 of their 4 armies.
- Repeat for next rounds (maybe special map for finals).

This random map setting and random army selection allows for maximum strategy and variety.

People won't get bored playing their same army on the same map.

Just my experiences.

ODB

[Satyr]

I went through the 1 Masterset maps archived from HQ and thought the following had the balance needed for one-on-one, winner-take-all, tournament play. As a side note, I am biased towards asymmetry

A War Zone – Symmetrical – Altonday
Come and Get It – Symmetrical – UranusPChicago
Double Cross Valley – Asymmetrical – KillingMachine
First Strike – Symmetrical – Chicano
King of the Hill – Symmetrical – Chicano
??? River of Lost Souls– Symmetrical – Chicano
The Elephant’s Trunk (sTrunk) – Asymmetrical – Marty Warhol
Soulrazor Canyon – Asymmetrical – Hasbro
Sreth Swamps – Asymmetrical – Syvarris
Strethar River – Asymmetrical – Syvarris

I also noticed a couple of triangular maps

The Last Wellspring – Three person – Mateus Cerastes
Trinity – Three person – Chicano


FYI … the TRU Scenario has a quick reference game guide.

Hope this helps

[reapersaurus]

Satyr - that may just be INCREDIBLY helpful!
That saves me a lot of time - thank you!
I'll see if we want to add any of those into the mix..........

[Satyr]

I’d like to thank Reaper for running a smooth tournament yesterday. It was a blast, even though the squad from San Jose had a clean sweep of the prizes. I’m still not sure how the Arrow Gruts, Swogs, and Mimring army brought down Major Q-9, Saylind, and the 4th Mass … let alone go on to take 1st

I’ll cry in my beer and take solace in the fact that the Viper-Archer army that frenzied (oh man did they frenzy) my Raelin, Sentinel, Concan combo out of true contention took second.

Thanks again Reaper. It was good meeting you and the others. Much fun was had. Gotta war on those SJ guys again! :twisted:

[Alastair MacDirk]

Was a fun, clean, tourney. Seeing Reaper try to supervise 8 maps being built from various folks contributed Master Sets was not unlike watching someone try to herd cats. A weaker minded individual may have gone insane. Kudos to Reaper and his crew.

Yeah well, as for my performance.... I have a raft of excuses.
1. I've spent more time on this site than I have actually playing the game.
2. I used the wrong damned army.
3. Those 4 dudes from SJ were ringers.

Dead-eye Dan/ Theracus is not the way to go.

We need to get us a NORCAL HS tourney in a gameshop somewhere so I can rinse the bitter taste of defeat from my mouth.

[Jason]

I'm surprised the Orc army won. The best way to attack it is take out the Swogs early. Doing that would leave them with useless 1 attack arrow gruts plus easy to kill Mimring. As long as you don't bunch your units in a row vertically he can only attack 1 at a time

[Satyr]

The orcs taking first was indeed surprising, especially since I was planning on occupying that place :)
Also of note was three people fielded orc hoards ... I wasn't matched up against any of them.

The first round had an Arrow Grut / Beast army vs. a Blade Grut / Champion army. I understand the Blade Gruts clumped around their champions and were promptly barbecued ... very fitting for a holiday weekend.

Taking out the Swog first is the same strategy as taking your first shots at Raelin. Definitely the way to go

[Hahnarama]

any pictures?

[pitboss]

Was a fun, clean, tourney. Seeing Reaper try to supervise 8 maps being built from various folks contributed Master Sets was not unlike watching someone try to herd cats. A weaker minded individual may have gone insane. Kudos to Reaper and his crew.

Yeah well, as for my performance.... I have a raft of excuses.
1. I've spent more time on this site than I have actually playing the game.
2. I used the wrong damned army.
3. Those 4 dudes from SJ were ringers.

Dead-eye Dan/ Theracus is not the way to go.

We need to get us a NORCAL HS tourney in a gameshop somewhere so I can rinse the bitter taste of defeat from my mouth.

Hi Everyone,

We had a great time in Burlingame and would like to thank Reapersaurus and company for putting on a great display + tournament. The bowl is on it's way this week. Special Thanks to Satyr and his crew from OAK for coming down and joinin' in the clackin'.... the bowls were good to us this weekend. BUT, there's one real ringer who could not make it this weekend that would have mindshackled any unique figures. He's done that to ALL four of us with impedence. Next time, watch out for him....

The title of Best Scaper in the West [#1 thru #4] is up for defense any time, any where, as long as the bowl can make as much noise as possible. Afterall, y'all found out what CLICKATTY CLACK was all about this weekend.

-CCC

PS: It's not so easy to kill all the orcs and swogs with Mimring breathing down your back :wink:

[Satyr]

.... the bowls were good to us this weekend.

Monkey paw ... check
Rabbit foot ... check
Rubber chicken ... check

I will subvert the mojo of the bowl for my own twisted purposes and victory will be mine! Bwahahaha :twisted:

[RPMiller]

Reapersaurus will be able to grab some pictures and post them later I'm sure.

[Alastair MacDirk]

I think that the ORC army won because it was played well and the Maps favored it.... especially Soulrazor Canyon which was the map for the finals. I can't see anyone beating the Viper army on the map with the 6 hex bridge over the water with glyphs within his reach on his first activation. There was a bit of the luck of the draw on what army you faced on which map.... I got absolutely smoked on both my losses so I am not sure I will use this as my excuse.

[bunjee]

so i'm curious if the two new posters in this thread found out about the site during Kublacon.

I'm asking about pitboss and RPMiller. Just curious.

[reapersaurus]

Thanks for asking and following the thread, bunjee.

pitboss is one of the CCC, he's no newcomer - don't let him fool you. :) He was on the HQ thread and first introduced readers to the name "Clickety Clack Crew", which, if they were able to make it to other tournaments (*cough Gencon cough*), I GUARANTEE would make a memorable splash and impact the leader boards.

Those guys can PLAY, and have quite the dice mojo - a deadly combination! They've been bashing heads against each other quite often, and the experience shows.

I'm very glad that everyone seemed to have a good time.
I hope we can get a NorCal gameday somewhere like we talked about at the Con - it would be fun to play with a small number of fun and competetive players in a more controlled environment, without having to keep track of figures borrowed and Master Sets, and getting them back to their owners, etc.

And I was pleasantly surprised to see RPMiller post here - he's the guy who deserves some thanks for helping me run the event. Thanks for all the help from you and your family, Rob! He's followed the HS boards for awhile, but from the shadows. ;) He also took the pics that will follow....

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Thanks for asking and following the thread, bunjee.

pitboss is the winner of the tourney, don't let him fool you. :) He was on the HQ thread and first introduced readers to the name "Clickety Clack Crew", which, if they were able to make it to other tournaments (*cough Gencon cough*), I GUARANTEE would make a memorable splash and impact the leader boards.

Those guys can PLAY, and have quite the dice mojo - a deadly combination! They've been bashing heads against each other quite often, and the experience shows.

I'm very glad that everyone seemed to have a good time.
I hope we can get a NorCal gameday somewhere like we talked about at the Con - it would be fun to play with a small number of fun and competetive players in a more controlled environment, without having to keep track of figures borrowed and Master Sets, and getting them back to their owners, etc.

And I was pleasantly surprised to see RPMiller post here - he's the guy who deserves some thanks for helping me run the event. Thanks for all the help from you and your family, Rob! He's followed the HS boards for awhile, but from the shadows. ;) He also took the pics that will follow....

Props to you Reaper! You pulled it off and it sounds like the tourney was a blast!

YES YES YES - let's get some kind of No. Calif. gaming group started. I'd like to see us meet up for gaming in a series of rotating locations. I'm willing to go up to 2 hours away to play with folks.


SoCal has their stuff together -it's time to represent Northern California! ! !

I could go for doing tourneys or just get together to play for fun! I like the latter as bigger custom maps can be used.

Good job promoting the game and I wish these guys - the clickity clackitys - would show up here more often!

Congrats guys!

I got home late Sunday afternoon from camping (was at Del Valle, Livermore and spotted my favorite bird, the Yellow-Billed Magpie, woodpeckers, and a friggin' Bald Eagle!!!)and was able to get in two games later in the evening with Walkin'_Dude, so I did get in some gaming.

[reapersaurus]

I'm not sure how many pics to put up here, but since pixels are cheap and it doesn't cost ink to post, here we go: :lol:

Here's the Hotel from on high:
http://sanfranciscoairport.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/sfobu/gallery_28.jpg

Here's the foyer the Sat demo event was held in (pic from last year - Heroscape was on the bottom right side this year) - the entire top-right is a slow-falling waterfall that's quite serene - the opposite of the ever-present chaos going on down below :D
http://www.kublacon.com/KC2005Gallery/images/IMG_0061.jpg

We set up carravaggio's bridge (see his thread for more pics) and sandwiched/connected it in-between another map and made this well-received open-play map that the Clickety-Clack crew and others played some great 3-on-3 Capture the Flag matches on:
http://static.flickr.com/40/155278993_9739f59f67.jpg

Jenn (RPMiller's wife) teaching Nate & Austin their 1st game of HS - they showed up the next day and participated in the tournament, even!
http://static.flickr.com/51/155278726_a21092498d.jpg

This was the room we ran the tourney on Sunday on:
http://static.flickr.com/66/155279665_313396593c.jpg

Here's me in my subtle, under-stated Tourney shirt - (you can see the dice bowl the Clickety Clack Crew are named for, from the sound the dice make when rolled):
http://static.flickr.com/76/155279791_6659f211ab.jpg

Here's a fun pic, of Raelin's aura in visual form (check out how the Krav Maga, Brunak, and Theracus are exactly 4 spaces away.... I thought this was a nice visual, showing HS strategy placement in action)
http://static.flickr.com/76/155280683_0edadecf4f.jpg

Here's Alistair MacDirk on left, friend on right (don't think she has a handle on the boards... yet ;) )
http://static.flickr.com/73/155279829_db5e98bd50.jpg

I think we were discussing Glyph placement here - Satyr is in middle-back with lightning-bolt shirt
http://static.flickr.com/55/155279628_8dfa511597.jpg

More to come this evening.....

[Joe's Fury]

KAKAW!

Hello all, I'm the one with the Mimring/orc/swog army :-D

Just wanted to let everyone know we had an awesome time! Thanks everyone for coordinating and participating. The best part was we got to meet more Heroscape fans in our area.

I agree with Hex. With Reapersaurus', Satyr's, and Hex's crew combined with CCC, we have enough to make our own NorCal gaming group! Let's throw down and take care of business in the South too :-)

[Satyr]

Here's Alistair MacDirk on left, friend on right (don't think she has a handle on the boards... yet ;) )



uhhhh ... dude, that's my wife. :banana:

[reapersaurus]

Here's Alistair MacDirk on left, friend on right (don't think she has a handle on the boards... yet ;) )
uhhhh ... dude, that's my wife. :banana:no need for banana-dancing :lol: I know that - I didn't want to post her name in case she didn't want it posted, is all. :thumbsup:
So I said Alistair and friend.
Make a handle for her, at least, so she can be referred to by name when talking about female Heroscapers that can hold their own in any tournament.

So you could say "That's no Heroscaper-rolling-4-skulls-on-a-Mimring-Fireline-attack, that's my wife!" :D

My wife's as-yet-unregistered handle :mad: would be ToryAdore.

[ToryAdore]

Okay, so I registered...finally, Reaps. :D

I had a great time at KublaCon! I played Heroscape on Sat with some of the funnest people at the Con, the CCCs! They needed another player on the big bridge map. It was an AWESOME time! I'm glad I took time out from helping to play a game. And I really do believe the bowl is magical. I rolled the best rolls I've ever rolled in my life that game. I always liked Heroscape. I mean how can ya not like it, right? But after playing it with them and their enthusiasm and incredible knowledge of the game, I love Heroscape now.

I also thin a Nor-Cal get-together is a great idea. I had way more fun than I was expecting to have.

[Satyr]

The peer pressure didn't work. She just kept saying ... hmmm ... I'm not sure what she was saying for me to say ... all I remember is it ended with "And be sure to tell them I've kicked your butt on a number of occasions".

As for a handle for the old ball and chain ... morningstar seems appropriate :)

Seriously, I just call her the wife. I don't think we'll see her here, but I wouldn't be surprised if she shows at future NorCal events.

[reapersaurus]

More pics:
We played with 4 maps, and randomly assigned (with special requests) players to maps.
Winners were matched with winners, and points remaining were tallied, but thankfully not needed to determine the top 4 places, since we played enough rounds to determine 1-4 spots with wins.

Map 1: Bridge of Valor, by Requiem
http://static.flickr.com/65/155280194_907f93f94d.jpg
Yes, that's Jotun in the bottom-left. :D
This map had some serious height, with 2-level action, and multiple glyphs to grab. It contrasted nicely with some of the flatter, more reserved maps, pictured later.

Map 2: Secrets of the Ancients, by Ooogie Da Bruce (modified scenario and added lava to further neck down the pinch-point to the attack +1 glyph in the center)
http://static.flickr.com/46/155280347_55d941d489.jpg
I saw this map of Oogie's, and the interesting scenario and had to go for it - 1 of the 2 close-glyphs (Brandar) were required to obtain before being able to go into the center section and battle for the +1 attack glyph there.
In this pic, I remember a titanic battle waged between Mimring and Charos in the center - and surprisingly, Mimring won!
On a side note - I never would have imagined so many Mimring's being played in tourney - everyone here always talks about how Mimring sucks and never takes out his points worth of figures, but danged if he didn;t rule the day between (at least) the 3 armies that fielded him. :shock:

Map 3: Soulrazor Canyon, by Hasbro
http://static.flickr.com/68/155279891_3cc1783dcd.jpg

Map 4: The Pond, by Oogie Da Bruce
http://static.flickr.com/75/155280567_caa97f7f77.jpg
Much more of a flatter, wide-open map with 3 glyphs (attack +1 over in the remote bunker) making you decide whether to go for one, 2 or all of them (spreading your army thinner and thinner) or just go straight after your opponent's figs.

And here's the winners of the Tourney - (great shot, RPMiller!)
http://static.flickr.com/48/155280982_976cf5bae6.jpg
Vu (3rd place), Thuan (2nd), Bryan (was going strong and had my odds-on $$$ to win), Joe (Hien) (1st), and Trung (4th) - congratulations on your well-fought, and gracious fun-filled Heroscape play - you guys helped make the events fun for all involved (even the foyer voyeurs on Sat!) :D

[UranusPChicago]

Reaper, I am very sorry I did not see your request for additional info off the HQ site. I am glad that gathering went so well. It looks like you did a great job with the organization. Congratulations to all the players that participated.

Now if we could just get a Texas/California gathering in the works...

[funrun]

Okay, so I registered...finally, Reaps. :D

I had a great time at KublaCon! I played Heroscape on Sat with some of the funnest people at the Con, the CCCs! They needed another player on the big bridge map. It was an AWESOME time! I'm glad I took time out from helping to play a game. And I really do believe the bowl is magical. I rolled the best rolls I've ever rolled in my life that game. I always liked Heroscape. I mean how can ya not like it, right? But after playing it with them and their enthusiasm and incredible knowledge of the game, I love Heroscape now.

I also thin a Nor-Cal get-together is a great idea. I had way more fun than I was expecting to have.

Hello Mrs. reaper! I'm glad you liked the game so much ;)

[RPMiller]

It was my pleasure Reaper! I enjoyed watching all the games and taking the pics. I figured that it had to be chronicled and who better than the guy with the digital camera? ;)

I'm glad everyone enjoyed it, and it was great to meet everyone. I would be interested in the NoCal gaming group as well. I didn't get to play any HeroScape all weekend since I was either teaching others or helping oversee the tourney so I would like to try my hand at battling it out with the more experienced, and better players.

I would like to thank everyone that came and participated whether in the demos or the tourney. I think HeroScape may a big splash and drew a lot of attention.

I'll be returning back to the shadows now. ;)

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Again, I've got to hand it to you, Reaper (and all your helpers too!). You got this event going and it's the first Northern California presence we've witnessed on any of the sites, IIRC.

Big-bomb kudos to you!


:bowdown:http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/1123/explode_fire.gif

[LilNewbie]

Thanks for posting the after report, Reaper! Great job and looks like a good time was had by all. Hasbro needs to wake up and see the potential for supporting tourneys but that subject is :deadhorse: .

Newb.

[reapersaurus]

Thanks so much for the kudos, guys - there's no way it could have been pulled off without the efforts and great attitudes of all the people running the event, and the people participating.

Ya - I realised just yesterday that AFAIK, this was the FIRST Game Convention Heroscape Tournament, was it not?

Does anyone know of any HS Event Tournament that has been run at a gaming convention before, since the game came out?

Hopefully this can show Hasbro that there is a Gamer niche for this game, as well. Japji (the Executive Producer of Kublacon) is a big fan of Heroscape (in fact he made a few maps that were popular back in the day - he made 'Bandakar Gorge' and others I didn't know that before the Con) and he asked for some pictures of the event (I'm not sure for what, but hopefully to get a picture of HS in other places - preferrably convention communication channels, where maybe even Hasbro reps can see the game's presence in a "serious" gaming environment, not just in kid's basements).

[reapersaurus]

I just want to point out (maybe repetetively) that this tournament could not have been run if not for Japji's personal interest in the game.
We used his personal collection, and other staff members' master sets, to make the 8 maps we used, and that was for 'only' 16 participants. :!:

He provided the prizes as well.

This kind of support is important IMO for a Convention-level Tournament to work. While we HS players would be OK with just having boards to play on, there is some expectation of prizes at least, even at Kublacon where (I don;t think) there was any entrance fee.

The main problems with running a convention tournament are:
1) access to enough terrain etc to make enough maps to support the tournament.
2) who provides the prizes? (this is less important, since other groups have just brought their own prizes successfully AFAIK)

It is almost easier running a smaller tournament at a gamestore or at someone's house, since it's in less-chaotic, more-controlled confines.

That's why getting a NorCal HS GameDay somewhere should be doable.
I think I'll start a thread, and see who wants to offer their local gamestore's tables or their house up for HS battles in Valhalla. :thumbsup:

[pitboss]

Reaper, I am very sorry I did not see your request for additional info off the HQ site. I am glad that gathering went so well. It looks like you did a great job with the organization. Congratulations to all the players that participated.

Now if we could just get a Texas/California gathering in the works...

Hi,

A couple of friends and another clickatty clacker were on vacation in Texas a couple of weeks back. We traveled all over the state from Houston, to DFW (then the gambling reservation in Oklahoma), and back down to Austin and San Antonio. We have some family in Euless and Plano. We'll be back in Texas in the coming months and can probably stop by to hang out and do some click clackin'...

There's a satellite bowl we keep in Houston for the sole purpose of Heroscape when we come to the lone star state. We'll just have to grab it before we face Texas's finest!

[reapersaurus]

I made a NorCal HS GameDay thread, in case we'd like to use KublaCon as a springboard for some gaming get-togethers.

Check it out and register your interest level, if you guys liked enough of what we saw at Kublacon to want to give it another go (trashtalking welcome on that thread) :D

http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=574&highlight=

[UranusPChicago]

Reaper, I am very sorry I did not see your request for additional info off the HQ site. I am glad that gathering went so well. It looks like you did a great job with the organization. Congratulations to all the players that participated.

Now if we could just get a Texas/California gathering in the works...

Hi,

A couple of friends and another clickatty clacker were on vacation in Texas a couple of weeks back. We traveled all over the state from Houston, to DFW (then the gambling reservation in Oklahoma), and back down to Austin and San Antonio. We have some family in Euless and Plano. We'll be back in Texas in the coming months and can probably stop by to hang out and do some click clackin'...

There's a satellite bowl we keep in Houston for the sole purpose of Heroscape when we come to the lone star state. We'll just have to grab it before we face Texas's finest!


Very cool!!!!

Check out some of the Texas event threads. It seems we have a gathering of sorts just about every month. I know that there is one in June, July, and early August. Next time you are out our way please try to hang out and get some gaming in with us. We would love to have you.

[Alastair MacDirk]

Here's Alistair MacDirk on left, friend on right (don't think she has a handle on the boards... yet ;) )



uhhhh ... dude, that's my wife. :banana:

Personally I feel that the fact that she is your wife is irrelevant given the picture she is displayed in. It was properly captioned that she is MY friend. Back-off! Until you get a picture of you two together posted on here she will always be known primarily as my friend. :twisted:

[reapersaurus]

http://static.flickr.com/57/155279737_e2849a279a.jpg
the butt-kicking morningstar and husband Satyr.
:D

[Satyr]

^?^ what have we here ^?^

Alastair, check out the photo where reaper first ID-ed me .... hmmm ... looks like my wife by my side!

So back yourself up and get your own wife (playing more HS) and a different friend ... uhhh I'll be your friend

[Alastair MacDirk]

^?^ what have we here ^?^

Alastair, check out the photo where reaper first ID-ed me .... hmmm ... looks like my wife by my side!

So back yourself up and get your own wife (playing more HS) and a different friend ... uhhh I'll be your friend

Ok, ok, I am backing up. But I still have you within 6 clear sight spaces therefore you are within my range and I have LOS.... keep that in mind. Don't make me shoot flames out of my ass, you don't want that. Don't worry about my wife is up to. Apparently she'd rather focus on maintaining her beauty in order to keep me in a continuous state of...... don't worry about what my wife is up to!

[boom]

SoCal has their stuff together -it's time to represent Northern California! ! !



You're darn skippy we do.

[ToryAdore]

Okay, so I registered...finally, Reaps. :D

I had a great time at KublaCon! I played Heroscape on Sat with some of the funnest people at the Con, the CCCs! They needed another player on the big bridge map. It was an AWESOME time! I'm glad I took time out from helping to play a game. And I really do believe the bowl is magical. I rolled the best rolls I've ever rolled in my life that game. I always liked Heroscape. I mean how can ya not like it, right? But after playing it with them and their enthusiasm and incredible knowledge of the game, I love Heroscape now.

I also thin a Nor-Cal get-together is a great idea. I had way more fun than I was expecting to have.

Hello Mrs. reaper! I'm glad you liked the game so much ;)
Thanks! :) Sorry it takes me so long to respond, but I don't get on here often enough.
I always thought the game was very well put together, but wasn't really my thing in the beginning. Probably due to my like of painting minis, and these came all ready to go. That, and we hadn't had a lot of time to REALLY play the game. So I think KublaCon was a good chance for me to really get to know the game and its rules while playing with some very fun people. :D

[rainsford]

Reapersaurus,

This is Jeff Wilcox, Special Events Coordinator for KublaCon 2006 (and the guy who directed you to tables in the Foyer.)

THANK YOU for running the events you did. Japji, and I, had wanted Heroscape at KublaCon for a while now. Japji found the other forum, and posted, and the rest is, as they say, history!

Japji and I feel things went wonderfully. So thank you.

Just to let you know, KublaCon provides prizes for all events at KublaCon (usually in the form of KublaBucks which can be redeemed for actual games.) And if you come back again to run thing next year we are more than happy to provide prizes again.

You mention in a previous post: "even at Kublacon where (I don’t think) there was any entrance fee." I assume you mean no additional fee to get into the tournament itself. You are correct, in almost all cases there is no additional fee. It all comes with the territory after you pay to get into the con.

You also said:

"The main problems with running a convention tournament are:
1) access to enough terrain etc to make enough maps to support the tournament."

- I will talk to Japji, but I believe we are fine providing the amount of terrain we did this last year.

"2) who provides the prizes? (this is less important, since other groups have just brought their own prizes successfully AFAIK)"

- KublaCon supports its events by providing prize support. We've got you covered! :-)


Again, thank you for all the work!

Best regards,

Jeff Wilcox

[reapersaurus]

Hey! Welcome to the boards, Jeff!
Glad you made it over here - it's always a good thing to have people in the events and game industry have a direct line with a game's fanbase. :thumbsup:

You are very welcome, and I'm glad my group could pull it off - we were a bit worried, but determined to make it work.

Thanks for clarifying Kublacon's situation re: my comments - I was trying to relate to other people what difficulties there are in running a HS event, since it doesn;t receive manufacturer support like so many other games. And how if not for Japji and other event people volunteering their Master Sets, I wouldn't have been able to run it.

Maybe you could help me/us understand something:
For other games, does the manufacturer provide prize and product support?
It just seems a bit odd to me that Hasbro is not providing ANY support, and requiring the Event Producers (and/or the volunteers running the event) to provide everything for the game.

Is it unrealistic of me to think they should supply SOMETHING if they want there to be free advertising/exposure and in-roads into the gaming community with this game?

[rainsford]

Reapersaurus,

You said:

"Maybe you could help me/us understand something:"

Sure, but the answers are unhappy ones. :-(

First, let me give you a note on who I am so you can take my comments with as large a grain of salt as you think you need. Okay, here it is briefly: Managed and/or ran comic book/game/sci-fi stores (for 2 years), have run over 75 conventions, have personally run over 200+ gaming tournaments (mostly MtG), was the N. Ca. Tour Organizer for Wizards for the first 1.5 years of the Pro Tours, have self-published a board game, was the board game buyer for a game distribution company (I carried HS and the expansions) for over 2 years and on and on.

Now for my answers:

[Your question] For other games, does the manufacturer provide prize and product support?

[Jeff's response] Board game companies only sometimes support board game events. It mainly depends on who the manufacturer is. But Hasbro is a different beast all together... (see my next response)

[Your comment] It just seems a bit odd to me that Hasbro is not providing ANY support, and requiring the Event Producers (and/or the volunteers running the event) to provide everything for the game.

Is it unrealistic of me to think they should supply SOMETHING if they want there to be free advertising/exposure and in-roads into the gaming community with this game?

[Jeff's response] I think you are a great fan, but you don't understand Hasbro and the hobby game market.

First, the hobby game market comprises about 2,500 stores across the US. These are stores that carry Settlers and Carcassone and MtG and the like. Conventions are hobby game market events.

But Hasbro couldn't really care less about the hobby game market. Less than 1/4 of the hobby game stores carry Hasbro products and/or HS.

Hasbro doesn't need to make inroads there because they sell 250,000 copies of the game to Toy 'r' Us and other "gift market" stores. Moving an additional 5,000 (assuming they could sell at least 2 base sets per store) is not worth the time it takes for them to make that happen.

As for conventions: they have even less time to work with them. Your event ran great and (potentially) if everything went very well you might have inspired the sale of 10 base sets. (That would be amazing, btw! A huge number of sales.) But Hasbro has no time to spend on selling 10 copies here and there. They are working on selling some other game to Wal*Mart in quantities of 100,000+.

What we all need to remember is Hasbro isn't in the hobby game market. They just happen to have a game that works well in that market.

So I guess the end statement is:

Hasbro is acting exactly how they normally act. Not much to be done about it, nor would I expect any additional support to come from them for running tournaments.

Hope that helps.

Best regards,

Jeff Wilcox

[reapersaurus]

Wow -this should be picked up on by MANY of the oldtimers here, since we've tried to get a sense of perspective, with numbers, for a LONG time now.
We've never gotten numbers which would critically help to tell this story.

And I understand that these numbers you quoted aren't written in stone, but it sure does help ME put into perspective what may be the case in the industry.

The only problem I have in this large-market approach is that EVENTUALLY, you have to concern yourself with selling to customers, don't you?
I mean, if you solely look at 100,000+ shipments/sales, and don't concern yourself with getting anyone interested and playing this game, so that they can tell their friends, and your boy's friends see how cool it is and ask their parents to buy it, etc etc etc, aren't you just in the "put-it-on-the-shelf-and-hope-it-sells" camp of marketing?

[rainsford]

You said:

"The only problem I have in this large-market approach is that EVENTUALLY, you have to concern yourself with selling to customers, don't you?
I mean, if you solely look at 100,000+ shipments/sales, and don't concern yourself with getting anyone interested and playing this game, so that they can tell their friends, and your boy's friends see how cool it is and ask their parents to buy it, etc etc etc, aren't you just in the "put-it-on-the-shelf-and-hope-it-sells" camp of marketing?"

--------------------

They do do things to get those sales: advertising in magazines (Ranger Rick, Dig, etc.), commercials, promotions through Toy 'r' Us. Just nothing focused on the hobby market. It is way, way too small.

And yes, they can just focus on selling the large quantities, because they are Hasbro. They can almost ALWAYS move 50,000+ units fo a product. Even 100,000+. Parents will by a game for a present, etc. And the Hasbro brand is known. If they do sell out of a game then they reprint. If they don't, they axe the line.

If Heroscape sold less than 100K units in the first year there would have been no expansions the second year. We probably should just be happy it has had the legs it has so far!! :-)

Best regards,

Jeff Wilcox

[reapersaurus]

i forget when the last time we had actual sales numbers thrown our way - I think it was way back on .net!

Thanks for even your best-guess estimates or ballparks on numbers, Jeff!
____________________________________________________

On a seperate note, for anyone that was in the Tournament:
I'm wondering what you thought about the different maps used?

Map 1: Bridge of Valor, by Requiem
http://static.flickr.com/65/155280194_907f93f94d.jpg

Map 2: Secrets of the Ancients, by Ooogie Da Bruce (modified scenario and added lava to further neck down the pinch-point to the attack +1 glyph in the center)
http://static.flickr.com/46/155280347_55d941d489.jpg

Map 3: Soulrazor Canyon, by Hasbro
http://static.flickr.com/68/155279891_3cc1783dcd.jpg

Map 4: The Pond, by Oogie Da Bruce
http://static.flickr.com/75/155280567_caa97f7f77.jpg

I'm wondering how you think the other 3 user-created maps were in comparison to the "official" map, Soulrazor Canyon?

[Joe's Fury]

Hey Reapersaurus, I was only able to play on 3 of the four maps so I'll comment on what I played on.


Map 1: Bridge of Valor, by Requiem

Didn't get a chance to play on it. But it looked fun.


Map 2: Secrets of the Ancients, by Ooogie Da Bruce (modified scenario and added lava to further neck down the pinch-point to the attack +1 glyph in the center)

Had a great battle against Pitboss's Churro, but thought the map needed some work. The invisible barrier was odd- You can only enter after getting the special glymph but you can shoot into the barrier without getting the special glymph. This made the attack glyph in the center too difficult to get - some tournament players said it wasn't worth going for because they received too many casualties. But if you forced players to first get on the glymph before attacking inside, the map would heavily favor fast moving armies.

The map felt a little small to me. Another thought that came to mind for the scenario, maybe put the special glyph on opposite sides, so the armies would have to cross prior to getting the glyph.

Map 3: Soulrazor Canyon, by Hasbro
Fun to play on. Fast action map. A little disadvantage for mellee armies.


Map 4: The Pond, by Oogie Da Bruce
My favorite map - very sweet. Fast action and seemed to be the most balanced for all armies.

[ellak96]

any link on how to build the pond

[Hahnarama]

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x167/hahnarama/Misc/thread_necromancer.png

[Hahnarama]

any link on how to build the pond

Look in the Download section for Oogie's files. Or email him.

[cmgames]

Since ella already necro'd this thread, I thought I would hijack it for KublaCon 2009.

I will be hosting two Heroscape events at KublaCon 2009 (http://www.kublacon.com), both on Saturday.

At 12:30pm I will be leading a Learn to Play Heroscape (http://216.102.218.36/kcsearch/kcindex.lasso?page=detail&Event%20ID=38005) event. Probably not for the likes of anyone here, but I thought I would mention it.

At 3:00pm I will start a special 8-player, free-for-all, last-man-standing scenario. I borrowed an idea from a scenario I saw once over at HSHQ and expanded on it. I have called it The Flooded Plains (http://216.102.218.36/kcsearch/kcindex.lasso?page=detail&Event%20ID=48001). It will essentially be two separate 4-player games until the glaciers melt connecting the two sides and allowing any remaining players to interact.

I hope to see you there, or anybody you would like to send my way.

~Z

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

Wow... that takes me back...

I found Secret of the Ancients in the old HQ archive here (with original scenario):

http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=139

The pond and the rest were lost due to an accidential delete (not of my doing).

Good luck with KublaCon, cmgames.

[Hahnarama]

Please tell the Great Kubla, Japji to his friends, that Hahn says "hi" and that he still owes me beers from :gencon: last year.

[cmgames]

I thought that I would post a map link to "The Flooded Plains" (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=1509). The map includes scenario instructions.

I'm thinking that I would like to pre-build some 410 point armies for this event. Can anybody give me any suggestions? I have at least one of every unit (except the GenCon exclusives), and multiples of most common squads. I will check out the forums for some ideas, too (but if I can get somebody else to do the work for me... heh-heh-heh :twisted:).

~Z