PDF for Partial Cover rules

[hextr1p]

UPDATE 1.16.2013

PDF for Partial Cover rules has been uploaded to the 'Downloads' section of Heroscapers. You can access it here:

DOWNLOAD LINK!

Thanks to all who helped me put this together!

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Hello, Heroscapers. It's been a while.

About two years ago, I began putting together a set of house rules for partial cover. Rather than rehashing what I said in an earlier blog post here on Heroscapers.com, I'm just going to quote myself:

Originally Posted by me:

I've been thinking quite a bit about a system of rules to incorporate into Heroscape to bring to the game some form of partial cover. Obviously over the years there have been many different discussions and incarnations of a partial cover rule set. However none of them seemed to grab my interest enough either because they were too complex, too simple, or too ambiguous in how to determine just how much partially cover a figure had. Basically, the spirit of the game was always lost to me in these rule sets.

The designers of the game early on mentioned that a common mantra to the game was, "Keep It Simple Stupid." However, deep beneath the surface of the simplicity of the rules lies vast and intricate strategies in everything from army building, movement, attacking and defending, unit synergy... and on and on.

In coming up with the basic structure for these partial cover rules, I wanted to use concepts and mechanics which were already in the game so as to make them as accessible as possible. I also wanted to try and keep them as simple as possible without making them TOO basic, allowing for a deeper mechanic outside of, "My figure is adjacent to this wall, so I add 1 defensive die." Nothing wrong with that if that's how you 'roll' (see what I did there?). But like I said, that's just too basic for me.

Why partial cover? Because I want the terrain objects in Heroscape (walls, ruins, evergreens, etc.) to do more than just ALMOST hide a figure. I want them to have more strategic significance during movement and positioning of units, as this would affect both the way the an attacker moves, as well as a defender. I also want to try and give melee units a bit more of a fighting chance as they move across the battlefield, trying to out maneuver ranged units who all too often have things all too easy.

So there you go...

While these are pretty much play-tested and finalized, I'd really like to hear the feedback of the community. If you have any questions that aren't answered in the PDF, let me know.

Once I get some feedback, and no one steps forward with something that proves these custom rules as completely broken, I'll upload the PDF to the Downloads section of 'Scapers.

That said, thanks for taking the time to look these over! And happy 'Scaping

[ZBeeblebrox]

Cool thanks H3X...I'll take a look at them this weekend.

[Grungebob]

Pure awesome! Great job Hextrip!

[Hive Lord 1233]

Nice!

[UtahScott]

Hextr1p,

I really like the partial cover rules; gives small & medium figures an extra advantage, while penalizing larger figures due to their size. As you said, this adds a lot of placement strategy for experienced players.

I do have one question about the "Friendly Fire" variant, and think this should be added to the PDF:
If multiple friendlies are blocking a defender's Hit Zone on a whiffed attack, how would that be resolved--do you roll separately for each friendly?

[hextr1p]

Originally Posted by UtahScott

I do have one question about the "Friendly Fire" variant, and think this should be added to the PDF:
If multiple friendlies are blocking a defender's Hit Zone on a whiffed attack, how would that be resolved--do you roll separately for each friendly?

Good question. This probably should be added, you're right. In the instance the multiple friendly figures block the defender's hit zone, the attacker would choose which single figure is affected by the Friendly Fire. Being that the attack which caused Friendly Fire to occur was a single attack, only one figure would be affected.

[ZBeeblebrox]

Really well done H3X! Very simple, yet adds a new wrinkle to the game. I'm sure to add this to my home rules.

Thanks for sharing.

-ZB

[UtahScott]

Originally Posted by hextr1p

Good question. This probably should be added, you're right. In the instance the multiple friendly figures block the defender's hit zone, the attacker would choose which single figure is affected by the Friendly Fire. Being that the attack which caused Friendly Fire to occur was a single attack, only one figure would be affected.

hextr1p, were you going to add this clarification soon? I'd like to suggest the C3V add this ruleset along with the ruins from the Confrontation Ram & Wolfen army boxes, I think they'd complement each other.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by UtahScott

hextr1p, were you going to add this clarification soon? I'd like to suggest the C3V add this ruleset along with the ruins from the Confrontation Ram & Wolfen army boxes, I think they'd complement each other.

C3V shouldn't be in the process of adding new rules to the game IMO. However, allowing a piece of obstacle/DO to follow a rule based on it maybe okay to me.

[superfrog]

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

C3V shouldn't be in the process of adding new rules to the game IMO. However, allowing a piece of obstacle/DO to follow a rule based on it maybe okay to me.

I just posted a very similar reply in the C3V suggestions thread, so I AGREE.

[hextr1p]

Apologies for not addressing this issue sooner.

I'm going to make the following changes to the "Friendly Fire" variant. Additions and changes in red:

If no skulls are rolled when attacking an opponent's non-adjacent figure with a Hit Zone partially blocked by an adjacent or non-adjacent Friendly Figure, that Friendly Figure must roll for Friendly Fire.

If the opponent’s non-adjacent figure’s Hit Zone is partially blocked by more than one Friendly Figure, the attacking player chooses which of those Friendly Figures is affected by Friendly Fire. That Friendly Figure then rolls for Friendly Fire.

To roll for Friendly Fire, r oll one attack dice. If a skull is rolled, that skull counts as one unblockable hit. The Friendly Figure does not roll for defense.

Thoughts? I'll be making the change and uploading the revised PDF this evening.

[ZBeeblebrox]

Looks good H3X