Castles. How much is enough, and why?

[Buddy Lee]

Okay. I don't really see this subject in all my perusing of the topics. So, I'll start a new thread. Mods feel free to merge if you must.

As I look at all the wonderful pictures of the castles at Comic Con I began to think, "Man, maybe the four or five sets I had planned on isn't enough." I am now thinking I might want about 10 sets. But that's about $300 + tax. As I ponder this not insignificant amount of money I really think, "When will I ever use them?" Sure, I can build one massive castle with multiple towers and perhaps even a keep (which is what I would like to do), but WHEN would I ever really play on it. I play on average about once every other month when I visit my brother. If I had more people to play with it might justify the the expense.

I like big maps. I want to build a HUGE castle to put on a big map. I want to play a true "Battle of All Time". But, looking at my playing habits and opportunities I don't know if I can really rationalize the purchasing of 10 sets of castles.

The question to the peanut gallery is: How many castle sets and why? What do you want to accomplish with them? Will you be able to actually use them to their full potential? Other than the D/FW guys (and a spattering of others) how many of us can really claim a large enough gaming group to accomodate 5 or more castle sets?

Buddy Lee

[MBSowards]

Well, you need at least 2 or 3 for each general in play.

[MBSowards]

lol, I'm just playing, I only have one of each thing that comes out, and that will go for castles too, unless they actually make it onto shelves, in which case I'll buy two.

[skyknight]

I am doing four for starters, I may go for 6 more after I see how they fit together.

[Jandars_Hope]

well the castle set at gencon 05 was, i think, 6 sets (thats what i read was the reply from craig or someone else?!) I don't think i'll need that many because i have the same problem as you and i don't have anyone to play against on a regular basis and it would be pointless to get so many castle sets unless you are going to have frequent battles! I've ordered 2 castle sets just to try them out and if i think that they aren't going to form a big enough castle (or two castles if my opponent has one aswell) then i will order more unless they become scarce like many sets have in the past and atm! So 10 sets would probably be too many if your only going to play once a month with your brother but maybe you should stick with your 5 sets or maybe get and extra one if you have two castles, that way you and your opponent can have 3 sets to make castles from!
could you not just buy a couple of sets and try them out and if you feel like you need more then you can afterwards!

[Hahnarama]

OK just to rock the boat a bit.

Last years GC display looks great, but how "playable" are giant keeps in the middle of your ramparts/walls? So you break the gate and get inside. You can climb ladders and do battle on the tops of the walls. But what about an enclosed tower 30 spaces tall? I have yet to see a ladder on the outside of a tower.

Thoughts?

[ishbul]

That tower looks impervious.
(is that a real word???)

Anyway, I can only pray that I can restrain myself to only buy 4 castle sets. 4 sounds good since you could make two nice sized castles pitted against each other or make one larger castle to seige.

Plus i dont want to buy too many castle sets this year and find out next year that they are releasing an Utgar stronghold castle set. then i would have to buy the same amount of those. It would put a real hurtin on my wallet. I've already commited to 4 hours of over time a week just to suppliment my budget so i can feed my current addiction to HS.

[Jandars_Hope]

That tower looks impervious.
(is that a real word???)

Plus i dont want to buy too many castle sets this year and find out next year that they are releasing an Utgar stronghold castle set. then i would have to buy the same amount of those. It would put a real hurtin on my wallet.

Firstly, i'm pretty sure that 'impervious' is a word.
Secondly, i have the same worry about them releasing seperate castles for the other generals as this castle set seems to come with a flag for Jandar! I'm really hoping that it comes with flags for each of the generals or just release a castle set for Utgar, as Utgar and Jandar are basically the 2 leading generals!

[Revdyer]

I'm starting with two sets, either to build one medium castle or, more likely, two little ones at opposite ends of a map. After that, I'll see about the possibility of more, but with the design of the castles, table size becomes an issue for me (since we play weekly and leave the maps up for two or three weeks at a time and other people in my house have to use the dining room once in a while!).

[netherspirit]

I'll be sticking with my standard 4 of everything at first.

I have 6 MS so maybe I will get 6 casttles as well. It depends...

[Vydar]

Last years GC display looks great, but how "playable" are giant keeps in the middle of your ramparts/walls? So you break the gate and get inside. You can climb ladders and do battle on the tops of the walls. But what about an enclosed tower 30 spaces tall? I have yet to see a ladder on the outside of a tower.

My thoughts are similar to Hahnarama's here. The castle sets appear to be fairly hard to play and ensure game balance. They look awesome and you can build some really cool stuff with them, but you'd have to spend quite a bit of time designing scenarios to ensure game balance. Since I don't play much these days and the time I do have for HS I'd rather spend playing than trying to design balanced castle scenarios, I'm probably not going to buy any. If I had the space (which I literally don't have in this small, one bedroom condo) and I was playing a lot, I'd probably buy two.

[Filbey]

I'm starting with 4 sets.It sounds like they will be releasing other types of castles sets.After I get them in hand though, I might buy a lot more if I like them! :wink:

[Finrod]

hmmmm.

Only a Jandar flag with castle.

Craig hints at more specific army growth or somesuch.

<puts 2 and 2 together and gets 5>

Could flags for the other generals show up as part of general-specific expansion packs in, say, Wave 6?

[Jandars_Hope]

Could flags for the other generals show up as part of general-specific expansion packs in, say, Wave 6?

Here's to hoping! I've only just noticed the castle rules on the home page and i am so looking forward to building some beauties! The castle in the scenario picture looks like a good sized castle i doesn't look like your going to need many castle sets to build a decent sized castle!

[Command-and-Conquer]

I think I'm going to stick with 4. I always start with 3 or 4 of everything because I like to examine the: "buildibility" of the sets. If its easy then or I like the general idea of it, then I will start to buy more.

[markwars]

Buddy Lee this is a great topic. Let me opine a bit if you don't mind...


I live in a hot bed of Scapers (D/FW). I consider myself lucky in that regard. But even here we generally don't play on maps that are too terribly large. The vast majority of our games occur on single Master Set maps with 400 point armies - and in fact these are the types of games I generally want to play.

I live with a collecting demon inside of my brain. I consider myself cursed in that regard. It's never enough with me. I always feel that I can justify getting just one more of this or two more of that. It never ends. Looking at the amount of HS stuff that I have it's fairly clear that I've got too much of most things.

10 Master Sets - I've never built a map at home larger than two master sets worth of terrain. I would like to, but I don't have anywhere to put one if I did. I keep telling myself, "someday".

10 RttFF - You can't have too many trees right? Well try fitting 50 of them into a two master set map. It's possible. But one day I know I'm going to have that giant set-up right?

6 HLD - Lava kills you. How much of it do you need? 2 sets probably would have been enough.

4 Thalenk Tundra - If this were actually on shelves I'd probably have at least a couple more. But what am I ever going to do with that many glaciers?

4 each of Common Squads - There are units that I have many more than this (think Orcs), but there are also tons of common squads that I never even play with (think Wolves) and yet I have 4 full units of them.

2 each of Unique Units - My compulsion commands me to make sure that I have at least two of each and every unique squad. Having just one doesn't seem like nearly enough.

1 Display Set - I have to have one of every item kept in its original packaging to display in my office. Did I mention that I'm slightly obsessive compulsive?



So how many castle sets will I buy? I know I need one to keep in the box and put on display. I want at least five opened so that each general can have a spot to go to. And I know that six are needed to recreate the GenCon display. So....I'll be buying 8 sets probably. Sure that's more than I'll ever need in normal game play, but one of these days I'm going to have a place that I can set up a massive map with all the bells and whistles. One of these days....that's why I buy so much....one of these days.

:wink:

[allskulls]

This topic seams like it needs a poll.

I have 6 MS (just got my 2nd RTTFF) and usually make smaller 1 on 1 type maps, but with the castles coming, I know that I will be spreading out a bit. 1 castle is really enough but I will get 2 for multi-castle maps and every once in a while I'll make a bigger castle. The big one at the Con was really cool but my chances to play a game of that magnitude are slim, plus I'd rather play a bunch of small games in a session than 1 massive game that might not get finished.

[allskulls]

Sure that's more than I'll ever need in normal game play, but one of these days I'm going to have a place that I can set up a massive map with all the bells and whistles. One of these days....that's why I buy so much....one of these days.

:wink:
You could always build a game room with some of your leftover terrain...but you'll probably have to crack open a couple of your display boxes :wink:

[Kepler]

I think 2 or 3 castles would be enough for me. I have 3 master sets and have a dedicated table to biulding HS maps, but I can't see wanting a castle bigger than 2 or 3 sets would give me. But maybe that wll change when I actually get them.

Right now I have 2 RTTFF sets and lately I have been thinking about getting one more.

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

So I've got something like:

12 MS
11 RTTFF
6 VW
2 Tundra

I'm starting with 2 Castle Sets. I already want 2 more.

I also want 2 more Tundra Sets.

I'm trying to show patience and see what the next waves are. If it's more castles (different styles) than 4 is plenty.

So much to buy!!! So much to build!!!

[Kepler]

Now that I think about it, the castle walls could be used to make dungeons. Or you could make an entire scenario take place inside of a huge castle.

Maybe I will need more than 2 or 3 of them.

[jcb231]

Buddy Lee this is a great topic. Let me opine a bit if you don't mind...


I live in a hot bed of Scapers (D/FW). I consider myself lucky in that regard. But even here we generally don't play on maps that are too terribly large. The vast majority of our games occur on single Master Set maps with 400 point armies - and in fact these are the types of games I generally want to play.

I live with a collecting demon inside of my brain. I consider myself cursed in that regard. It's never enough with me. I always feel that I can justify getting just one more of this or two more of that. It never ends. Looking at the amount of HS stuff that I have it's fairly clear that I've got too much of most things.

10 Master Sets - I've never built a map at home larger than two master sets worth of terrain. I would like to, but I don't have anywhere to put one if I did. I keep telling myself, "someday".

10 RttFF - You can't have too many trees right? Well try fitting 50 of them into a two master set map. It's possible. But one day I know I'm going to have that giant set-up right?

6 HLD - Lava kills you. How much of it do you need? 2 sets probably would have been enough.

4 Thalenk Tundra - If this were actually on shelves I'd probably have at least a couple more. But what am I ever going to do with that many glaciers?

4 each of Common Squads - There are units that I have many more than this (think Orcs), but there are also tons of common squads that I never even play with (think Wolves) and yet I have 4 full units of them.

2 each of Unique Units - My compulsion commands me to make sure that I have at least two of each and every unique squad. Having just one doesn't seem like nearly enough.

1 Display Set - I have to have one of every item kept in its original packaging to display in my office. Did I mention that I'm slightly obsessive compulsive?



So how many castle sets will I buy? I know I need one to keep in the box and put on display. I want at least five opened so that each general can have a spot to go to. And I know that six are needed to recreate the GenCon display. So....I'll be buying 8 sets probably. Sure that's more than I'll ever need in normal game play, but one of these days I'm going to have a place that I can set up a massive map with all the bells and whistles. One of these days....that's why I buy so much....one of these days.

:wink:

Castles first....I will buy two, likely from Sandra's combo package. I think one is too small to do much of anything with, but I'm not yet totally sure I want a bunch of them. I'm going to wait and see what the big gen-con announcement is. If they announce castles for everybody, then boom, it caps at two, and I save my money for two of each future castle set. If they don't hint at or announce further castles, I will play with my two for a bit and then consider an upgrade to four sets. I think four is practical because then I could play four player games with four castles, or two players with two medium sized castles, or one huge castle assualt....it's a versatile number.

Eventually, even if they do release a castle for each faction, I may decide I want a huge castle of one type. When that day comes, I'll splurge for extras of the castle I like the best.


Regarding your post....

Well I have six full Master Sets, and some extra rock, sand, and water. I find that is a pretty good-sized amount for the dining table I typically play on. I would like to get some more rock terrain, just to make better mountains and high ground. Eventually I want to upgrade to about 10 full sets of terrain, but not until after I finish sanding and staining and otherwise treating the expansion leaves for the table.

With the six sets I have, I find that 4 sets of lava are just about right. I can build a nice volcano with that. I also find that 4 sets of Snow should be right...currently I have only one, but by my estimates getting three more is just the ticket for large snowy areas or snow capped hills. I went with 6 RTTFF, mostly for the trees, but also to get enough road tiles to make good sturctures and courtyards around the castles.

Keep in mind that almost everything I own was doubled up at the TRU twofer (not snow, obviously), so I really only paid for half this stuff.

I have four to six of all common small figure packs. And yes, I do use them all. We tend to play big games, so we often draft a lot of commons. My standard is four. I want to buy some more loose squads to get as many as 8 sets of Vipers, for example.

[Grungebob]

I have 3 master sets, 2 Lava, and 2 Tundra, and 3 Rtff. I have 2-4 of each common, and one of each unique set with some extras from who knows where. That's it. I will get 3 Castle sets.

[Turtleboy]

2 will do for me. I usually play small maps so 2 can make a few towers or a large keep.

[hextr1p]

I have 3 master sets, 2 Lava, and 2 Tundra, and 3 Rtff. I have 2-4 of each common, and one of each unique set with some extras from who knows where. That's it. I will get 3 Castle sets.
Wow... your collection is very similiar to mine. Though I have 4 RttFF.

However, I'll most likely start out with two. Not only do I like smaller maps for quicker games, like others have mentioned above, I also don't have the room to set up a huge map to play on. I may get another castle set after I see what the BIG NEWS is going to be at GenCon. Or if I see a cool looking scenario set up which requires three. But anymore than that would be too much for me personally.

[pashadowops]

I too will probably start with just the two from the HMG deal. I want to see how everything will fit together before I commit any real $$$ to it.

Now I'm only 8 expansions away from having all of waves 1 - 4. Still no RV or TT but the other large exp. I have at least one of. I recently graduated to my second full MS. We just started building some nice sized maps. My wish list is for 4 VW and 4 TT. I feel that should make for nice volcanos and killer glaciers. As for RTTFF perhaps 2 more (to make a total of 3) would be nice. I like bridge battles, they look cool. :up:

The idea of getting several castle sets and creating an entire map of the inside of a castle sounds intriguing too. <he said with raised eyebrow> hmmm.. :wink:

[yagyuninja]

I have 3 master sets, 1 lava, and 1 rttff. I'm also working my way up to 2 of every common squad, and probably more than that for Orcs and Vipers. Also, my birthday is next week. :excited:

I'm going to eventually get one rttff for each master set (though I might get one or two more of those), a second lava, 2 tundra, and 2 castles.

I often use all my pieces (except HLD) to make maps, but I try not to make them too spread out, so as not to frustrate those not as obsessed with HS as myself.

[Grungebob]

I have 3 master sets, 2 Lava, and 2 Tundra, and 3 Rtff. I have 2-4 of each common, and one of each unique set with some extras from who knows where. That's it. I will get 3 Castle sets.
Wow... your collection is very similiar to mine. Though I have 4 RttFF.

However, I'll most likely start out with two. Not only do I like smaller maps for quicker games, like others have mentioned above, I also don't have the room to set up a huge map to play on. I may get another castle set after I see what the BIG NEWS is going to be at GenCon. Or if I see a cool looking scenario set up which requires three. But anymore than that would be too much for me personally.I want enough to build two small strongholds. One on each side of the map. I want to do a capture the flag type game.

[hextr1p]

I want enough to build two small strongholds. One on each side of the map. I want to do a capture the flag type game.
Okay, now you're just copying me, aren't you. ;)

Then if I were to get a third set, I'd set up a small tower in the center of the map. That way, their would be more conflict in the game as players fight to take the tower so as to give their ranged units advantage.

Yeah, so many possibilities to be had with this set. :D

[K/H_Addict]

i'm starting out wih one, just to get a feel for its rules etc. I was in Driver's Ed today (in class not behind the wheel) and got to thinking about how sweet it would be to have a dungeon, and came up witht the idea to do a door on ground level, supported by some castle walls holding a platform with a hole in it and a ladder leading up to my fortress. THIS WILL BE SWEET!

[Supergeek]

I have 8 MS, 6 RTTFF, 4 VW, 4 TT and 2 of everything else so, I think that I will have to start out with 4 but it could very well become 6.
Lots of money yet to be spent on this obsession!

[ninthdoc]

I originally wanted 20 castle sets (4 for each general), but after looking at the sets on the maps and the rules and all, I came to the realization that I would never ever use this many. I'm only ordering 4 for now. I might order more later.

I have 4 Tundra and wanted 20 of these, too. I have 8 more coming and this might be enough.

My next massive purchase will be 20 of the Marvel sets. We're having a whole destructible town!

[Buddy Lee]

12 tundra?

Don't have to worry about Global Waming in ninthdoc's Valhalla.

Buddy Lee

[Kepler]

The wall pieces could be columns or bridge supports (for long bridges).

Sorry, just day dreaming.

[ninthdoc]

12 tundra?

Don't have to worry about Global Waming in ninthdoc's Valhalla.

Buddy Lee

Yes, I have a very cool game room. :lol:

[Grishnakh]

Grishnakh says there are six sides to a hex so Grishnakh get six. Dat make sense to Grishnakh.

[markwars]

ninthdoc, I hadn't even thought about how many of the Marvel sets I'm going to get....probably six at least.

[ninthdoc]

ninthdoc, I hadn't even thought about how many of the Marvel sets I'm going to get....probably six at least.

Right now, it's all I can think about. It's gonna be a long year... :cry:

[Kepler]

12 tundra?

Don't have to worry about Global Waming in ninthdoc's Valhalla.

Buddy Lee

Yes, I have a very cool game room. :lol:

I will probably do something like that when the kids are older.

[Doc_Savage]

ninthdoc, I hadn't even thought about how many of the Marvel sets I'm going to get....probably six at least.

Right now, it's all I can think about. It's gonna be a long year... :cry:

Only 6 months!!!

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

12 tundra?

Don't have to worry about Global Waming in ninthdoc's Valhalla.

Buddy Lee

Yes, I have a very cool game room. :lol:

wow. :shock:

[ultradoug]

(edited)
The question to the peanut gallery is: How many castle sets and why? What do you want to accomplish with them?

I'm not sure how meny, but it could build my heroscape chair.

[Revdyer]

Man, and I keep thinking...I have access to very reasonable rates for a conference center in the off season, what would be it be like to have a map that was 80 foot by 40 foot and about twenty armies all at once? When I retire in a few years, that might be an event worth setting up. We're only five and a half hours from DFW and a major "Battle of All Time" might be really cool in a few years. I bet people would be willing to pay $70 a night (including great meals and lodging) for a three day (two night) weekend of HeroScape Mega.

[ultradoug]

Man, and I keep thinking...I have access to very reasonable rates for a conference center in the off season, what would be it be like to have a map that was 80 foot by 40 foot and about twenty armies all at once? When I retire in a few years, that might be an event worth setting up. We're only five and a half hours from DFW and a major "Battle of All Time" might be really cool in a few years. I bet people would be willing to pay $70 a night (including great meals and lodging) for a three day (two night) weekend of HeroScape Mega.

I'd love to play with you!
Epic for sure, If everyone brings there map stuff it be so freekin huge!

[hextr1p]

Right now, it's all I can think about. It's gonna be a long year... :cry:
And then whatever BIG news is revealed at GenCon will have you wanting something else in addition to the Marvel Set...

... the madness will never end. ;)

[spiderM9]

So what is the proper ratio of castles to MS?

[Hahnarama]

So what is the proper ratio of castles to MS?

what ever you want it to be. That's the beauty of this game

[jcb231]

I originally wanted 20 castle sets (4 for each general), but after looking at the sets on the maps and the rules and all, I came to the realization that I would never ever use this many. I'm only ordering 4 for now. I might order more later.

I have 4 Tundra and wanted 20 of these, too. I have 8 more coming and this might be enough.

My next massive purchase will be 20 of the Marvel sets. We're having a whole destructible town!

I thought about getting more than one set of Marvel, but I'm not sure. I don't want the whole town to be the same two buildings over and over, like The Flintstones backgrounds.

I think I'll wait to see if expansions have new ruins....if ruins are breakable and an integral part of gameplay it seems like they may release more. Or at least I hope so.

So unless there is a TRU sale going on when this comes out, just one for me.

[jcb231]

The wall pieces could be columns or bridge supports (for long bridges).

Sorry, just day dreaming.

Hey you, quit reading my mind and stealing my ideas! :-P

[jcb231]

Man, and I keep thinking...I have access to very reasonable rates for a conference center in the off season, what would be it be like to have a map that was 80 foot by 40 foot and about twenty armies all at once? When I retire in a few years, that might be an event worth setting up. We're only five and a half hours from DFW and a major "Battle of All Time" might be really cool in a few years. I bet people would be willing to pay $70 a night (including great meals and lodging) for a three day (two night) weekend of HeroScape Mega.

I've been hoping for HS mega for a long time. I wanted to set up in a school gym over the summer, and wage GIANT battles that take weeks. Like four players, each with 2000 point armies. Battles so big you need to stage advanced base camps and such. Battles so big there are multiple fronts, entire ecosystems apart. Sigh.

[bluekitsune13]

I had a dream that I was in a huge gym-like room with the ground just littered in a Heroscape map, complete with different environments like oceans, volcanoes, mountains, fields, etc. Since you can't walk on it, I was suspended from the ceiling by wires or something, and I had a remote control to move myself. All my army cards were on a machine on my arm, similar to the duel things that YuGiOh uses. Man... it was pretty cool, but I doubt it could happen. Uh... back on topic...

Now I have... let me think for a second... 6 MS, 5 RttFF, 3 VC and TT. So I was thinking 3 castles would be good just because I don't know how playable a giant castle would be. Just because I wouldn't want to be reaching inside the towers and accidentilly knock the whole thing over. If anything I'd like little outposts scattered around the field instead of just one large castle (but I'm going to try both setups regardless).

[dickflea]

I've already got 2 preordered i'll then decided if i want more.

[jcb231]

I may get more castles the more I think about ways to use them....I'm now picturing lots of little doors, towers, turrets, bridges, roads, and other structures built right into the terrain all over the place, kinda like how Forerunner architecture is mixed with the environment in Halo, for those that know.

[markwars]

MegaScape? I'm in! 8)

[pashadowops]

RevDyer: Talk about a battle of EPIC porportions. I wouldn't mind being one of those armies.

ninthdoc: Was that you that has 12 Tundras? No wonder I can't find any...hehe

K/H: A dungeon with the castles sounds awesome. I may even use that in my D&D games.

There, did I get everyone? Oh...what did I miss...Marvel sets? Guess I'd better look into that......for my son of course...hehe :wink:

[Jandars_Hope]

I was just wondering if there might be more 'destructible objects' in future HS sets, like the door!? I like the idea of a destructible bridge! Or maybe a boulder and when it is destroyed you can break it up and place bits say 4 spaces in any direction like normal hex pieces! Just random thoughts!

[-Zim-]

Well I have 3 MS, 2 RTTFF, 2 TT, and 2VW so I probably buy at least 3 or 4. I doubt I will get anymore becuase I have yet to get doubles of all the commons (I CAN NEVER FIND WAVE 3!!)

[Su-Bak-Na]

2 My board won't be able to support more than that.

[yanks114kd]

I am going to start out with 4 castles due to going on vacation two weeks before they come out. I plan on getting like 10 total

[jcb231]

I'd like a destructible rope bridge. You can destroy it by attacking the supports on either side, and if figures are on it they fall to their doom. That'd be nice.

[Jandars_Hope]

I'd like a destructible rope bridge. You can destroy it by attacking the supports on either side, and if figures are on it they fall to their doom. That'd be nice.

Sweet!

[K/H_Addict]

Okay, i thought this thread had been done before so i searched for it but didn't find anything, so if it has been done, feel free to merge/delete this one.


Basically, i was talking to PoF about it trying to decide how many sets we wanted, and both agreed that it would depend on the size of the castle one set can build. So my brain went to work and i decided to mock-up a castle using single-hexes.


9 levels high isn't very high.

I will be getting a bare minimum of 2 sets. How about you guys?




PS: i noticed that the walls are all 9 levels high, but the door is 10. Why is that? Also, doesn anyone have any ide why they would only release 7 straight wall sections with the castle? That makes for very little stacking out-of-the-box.

[feekonea]

Im going to either take 2 or 4 and thats it.

[feekonea]

Im going to either take 2 or 4 and thats it.

[K/H_Addict]

2 or 4? 3's out of the question?

[Snotwalker 8000]

I think the only reasonable answer at this time is:

"One to start, play it a few times, and then purchase more (or not) based on first-hand playability testing, design desire, and coparative game-impact value compared to the purchase of more TT, Wave 5+, etc..."

I'm pumped to get my hands on a fortress expansion, but when all is said and done, who yet can know how many are needed, preferred, or considered wasted $$$? (ie: the last few games I've played, we haven't even TOUCHED our sets of VV... I doubt if the fortress will be as "blah blah" as the lava set, but I'm trying to reserve judgment.)

But....... if I had to guess, I'll probably eventually end up buying 4 sets so our 4-player games can be set with 4 castle starting zones, and I really liked the idea someone had of building small, sporadically-placed "bunkers", small forts, defilades, etc., throughout the battlefield, instead of just one or two large castles....

We'll see...

[Riggler]

One to start. And 2 at most (when I have everything I'd ever want, including more MS). As someone said one the first page of this post, how reasonable is it to play on a board with a castle as big as the one displayed at comic con? Not very IMHO.

[jcb231]

I feel not giving it a shot of at least two is not really giving it a shot at all, unless you only own one Master Set and simply don't have the room. But that's just my two cents. I feel that two is the minimum, based on examining the component breakdown, seeing photos of the setup, and reading the rules. A decent castle could be made with two.

[K/H_Addict]

i'll most likely be starting with one. If i don't pre-order from HMG then i'll be buying from WM (hopefully i'll find them) and i'll get one, unless i have enough for 2. if i have enough for 2, i'll buy 2, open 1 play it, and the decide if i want to open the second or not. if i dont, i'll return it or sell it or offer it as a prize for something, but i'm gonna want it so oh well...

[markwars]

I'm actually starting off with 0 sets of this. Why?

Money.

I'm already spending $300 for my usual alotment of Thora's Vengence. I want to keep my habit - I mean hobby - off of the financial radar so I'm just going to order all of my castle sets next month and call them part of my son's birthday gifts. 8)

And in reality we haven't seen anything in hand for sale yet anyway.

[Drumline3469]

Star with two (HMG combo deal) then go from there.

[Dragonslayer]

Three for a start. Can very well imagine to get 2 more some time later.

[jcb231]

I'm actually starting off with 0 sets of this. Why?

Money.

I'm already spending $300 for my usual alotment of Thora's Vengence. I want to keep my habit - I mean hobby - off of the financial radar so I'm just going to order all of my castle sets next month and call them part of my son's birthday gifts. 8)

And in reality we haven't seen anything in hand for sale yet anyway.

How many of each TV pack are you getting? That's what? Over 20?

[Thor]

http://z.about.com/d/boardgames/1/0/W/F/tf06-heroscape07.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/boardgames/1/7/Q/F/tf06-heroscape01.jpg

These are both pictures from Toy Fair 06. Does anyone happen to know how many castle sets went into making each of these designs? I want to know because I need, yes NEED, to have enough castle pieces to create something similair to both of these awesome looking maps (doesn't have to be quite as big..) :D

I initially planned on getting 5 sets (4 open, 1 MIB), but after seeing these pics I think I will definetly need more. I will see what I can do with them and buy more if I think they are needed, as it sounds like most others are going to do. 4 sets seems like a good starting number because, like jcb pointed out, you can do many different thinghs with that many. One large map in the center, 2 medium sized ones one ach end of a map, or 4 small castles for a 4 player scenario.

One thing I do really like with the castles is that they do not include any figures. As much as I love getting new figures I often find myself getting many MANY extras I never plan on using just to get the terrain they come with. Not so with the castles.

At the same time I find myself really wondering what will come out in the future. More castles for Utgar and possible the other generals? If so I really do not want to be buying a ton of the castles coming out now to accomodate more players/generals when more will be different styles coming soon. At any rate I can't wait till the castles are released, there are so many new possabilities they will open up to enhance HS.[/img]

[hextr1p]

Does anyone happen to know how many castle sets went into making each of these designs?
It was never officially announced how many sets it took to build each. The number of castle sets in the top image is tough to count because the castle is actually built into the terrain.

The builds are very impressive, though, aren't they? :D

[GaryLASQ]

thanks to Oogie's pics of the rulebook we know the contents of a castle set. there are 21 wall sections per set (7 straight, 10 corner, 4 end).

the bigger castle in the second pic looks to have about 140 to 150 wall sections so that one probably took 7 sets (at least) to build.