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Use a Notepad!

Posted August 10th, 2008 at 03:51 PM by Eckels
There are a lot of things to remember in the game of Heroscape. Unfortunately, it can be very easy for even the most experienced player to forget about special abilities, height advantages, auras or other dice buffs. Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you...

...forgot to roll for Frenzy for the first two rounds...
...didn't remember to add dice for Raelin's defense aura...
...could have saved a few of the Microcorp agents, had you remembered to roll for Stealth Armor....
...forgot to use Sonlen to "HEAL!"

Before attending my first tournament many months ago, I posed a question to my fellow players on Heroscapers.com, which was "What are your feelings on having a notepad by your side during a game?" I wanted to know whether anyone would be opposed to using them in tournament matches, whether they were facing an opponent with a notepad, or using one themselves. Overall, the response was very positive. Everyone can relate to the frustration of forgetting a bonus, and felt that a notepad is a good way to remember.

If using a notepad, keep your notes simple, and easy to read at a quick glance.

If you're very new to the game you may want to start off with some simple one-line reminders at the top such as "HEIGHT!". Also include at the top, any sorts of bonuses that could affect multiple figures, such as "RAELIN DEFENSE BONUS", "SCOUTS MOVE +2" or "ORCS DISENGAGE". Keeping the descriptions short makes it easy to scan the list every time you touch the dice, or make a move.

Next, list buffs for each figure. For instance, you may want to simply write the name of a special move such as "STEALTH ARMOR" under the Microcorp Agents' name, or "TARGETING" on the Zettian Guards.

Finally, you may also want to list some special abilities of your opponent's figures. "Counterstrike" is frequently difficult to remember for new players, as is "Engagement Strike", especially when they've never used those figures themselves.

If you're playing with glyphs, you may want to write their effects down as well, while you're standing on them. Cross them off when not in effect, as you don't want to clutter your notes with unnecessary info. As long as the notes are kept clean and concise, they can be very useful. They need only to be reminders, not full explanations.

Alternative methods of keeping track of special abilities and buffs include putting figures, or other markers, on army cards. A player will often place a deceased Finn, Thorgrim, or Eldgrim on the army card of the figure they're intended to boost as a simple reminder. A six-sided die might be used to keep track of attack boosts on Krug or The Incredible Hulk. A plastic letter F magnet (check your, or your child's, toybox) can be used as a Frenzy reminder. Post-its notes also work very well, and can be stuck directly to each card.

Whatever your method of remembering bonuses, it's far more pleasant a game when you know you made every move and took every bonus you could. Nothing stinks more than wondering if you might have won the battle had you remembered to roll an extra die for all those defense rolls.

-E
Total Comments 7

Comments

Old
HEAL!!!!
Posted August 10th, 2008 at 04:56 PM by Onacara Onacara is offline
Old
Hex_Enduction_Hour's Avatar
Eckels, what a great aspect of the game to expound upon!
The first 'Scaper I saw do this type of reminder for himself was Satyr. He simply placed his D20 on his unit's card to remind himself to roll, IIRC, for Frenzy.
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 12:09 PM by Hex_Enduction_Hour Hex_Enduction_Hour is offline
Old
There was a kid at the Battle at the Border that Eckels and i attended last year who had the stickie pad notes withthe reminders. (There are pics of it on that thread) but again my favorite was [B]HEAL!!![/B] for his Sonlen (I think)
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 12:14 PM by Onacara Onacara is offline
Old
Hex_Enduction_Hour's Avatar
Hahaha
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 01:01 PM by Hex_Enduction_Hour Hex_Enduction_Hour is offline
Old
Found the pics...
[IMG]http://www.jeckels.net/photos/DSC02406.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.jeckels.net/photos/DSC02405.JPG[/IMG]
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 01:25 PM by Onacara Onacara is offline
Old
Supergeek's Avatar
Funny stuff.
I'm going to have to do that.
Posted August 14th, 2008 at 05:15 PM by Supergeek Supergeek is offline
Old
scottishlad5's Avatar
Haha good one!
Posted August 15th, 2008 at 12:38 PM by scottishlad5 scottishlad5 is offline
 
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