Do you use order markers?

[i_r_beej]

Hey all,

We just recently started playing HS. Right now it's just me and my son playing.

We finally started playing with order markers just a couple of weeks ago but I'm a little concerned that the formality of the markers is kind of killing it for my son (he's 7.5 yrs).

I personally rather like the extra element they bring to the game, but I've told him that we'll stop using the order markers save for those times that the scenario calls for keeping track of "time". (Like rescuing a character by end of round X.)

That got me wondering-- how many of you use order markers when playing? Do you differentiate between family gaming and when you get together with non-family HS'ers?

Cheers

[winonavampire]

We have always used the OM in my gaming group, but we are all adults that like the strategy element of the OM.

I say, if that element is taking enjoyment out of the game for your son, then get rid of it until he is at an age that the OM's become more relevant or appropriate.

I suspect the fun of the game for your son is dinosaurs and robots duking it out... Not the strategy behind activating Grimnok first vs Raelin.

[MagJam]

There have been more than a few occassions where we looked at the clock and realized that our game had been going on for way too long. At that point, order markers go out the window and we just roll for initiative. What follows is a mad melee finish where we cover rounds in the span of a few dice rolls. I have to say though that I kinda like it. Kind of like a free action game versus a turn based role player. Things get kinda hectic and a bit more unpredictable as you are able to exploit certain characters a bit more. We have played games with my nephew, 11 yrs old, and some of his friends and have found that the sometimes strict rule structure of scape can get in the way of their fun. We tend to run the basic rules for them since sometimes my nephew irritattingly neglects to read his cards. "Why did you move him?! Put a marker on that squad they bond for crying out loud!!"

[Land-based AE]

We always use them but much like MagJam said, if we're low on time, each only have one piece left or are playing bonded armies (dwarves, orcs, knights etc) then toppling and resetting the order markers is really nothing more than a formality.

[Killer Lawnmower]

For me it depends on who I'm playing. Two of my friends know the game better and we usually use OM's. Another of my friends just likes to play spur of the moment and just counter what the other is doing.

[Takanuva]

I play sometimes where you only use 4 X Order Markers(You could use any but they basically count as an X) and when it's your turn you can use any Order marker you want. The last Order Marker that you have(After you've used 3 other Order Markers) counts as the X and does nothing. This makes it easier to place your Order Markers while retaining all of the card rules, round rules, initiative, and everything else.

[Killer Lawnmower]

Originally Posted by Takanuva

I play sometimes where you only use 4 X Order Markers(You could use any but they basically count as an X) and when it's your turn you can use any Order marker you want. The last Order Marker that you have(After you've used 3 other Order Markers) counts as the X and does nothing. This makes it easier to place your Order Markers while retaining all of the card rules, round rules, initiative, and everything else.

That actually sounds kinda cool. I might have to try that out sometime.

[Cavalier]

I only use order markers in so much as I use bases in baseball, the Knight in chess and the 8 ball in pool.

[NecroBlade]

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[bumper15]

When I first got the game I didn't use them because the rules on them confused me and my friends. We just played take turns moving and attacking with everyone, then the next person went. That took sooooo long and when I finally learned how they worked, I've played them since.

[Sylvano the Wasabus]

I mostly play with my kids and they don't like the order markers- so we usually don't use them. Sometimes in our battles each side has 15 cards, so not using them speeds things up. I like the strategy of the OMs, and every once in a while we play with them, but it's a different game. Perhaps for you son, you should play sometimes without them, as an experiment, and see how it goes...

[Takanuva]

Originally Posted by Killer Lawnmower

That actually sounds kinda cool. I might have to try that out sometime.

Yeah, when I first got the game I hated using Order Markers, but a lot of times I used them anyways because to play some of the scenarios you needed to have rounds and initiative, and some of the cards required Order Markers to use (Like Dund) So I made up this version.