UPC Strategy Lesson 1 - In Game Point Value

Strategy within Heroscape is an ever-changing beast and I absolutely love that fact.

If you have been holding out hope for a Heroscape Strategy bible, don't hold your breath. Strategies that may absolutely apply in one situation within a game might be the worst thing you can do later in the same game. You honestly cannot cover every situation that is going to come up within a game. Being that Army composition can vary greatly (and hopefully is constantly changing with new releases) and that the "board" never has to look the same from game to game, it would be impossible to develop an all-encompassing strategy guideline. With each "Wave"� release and each new map design, yesterday's specific counters may become obsolete. There will never be a defined "opening move"� for Heroscape.

However, that being said, there are still plenty of high-level strategies that are applicable from game to game and wave to wave. With that idea in mind, I would like to cover a concept within the game that I refer to as In Game Point Value or IGPV and how it applies to playing Heroscape.

During any game of Heroscape, a unit's point value is going to fluctuate from the point value listed on the card. Whether it is by figures dying, the make up of your or your opponent's army, where the unit is located on the map, amount of Order Markers on the card, etc, that unit's value to the game is going to increase or decrease.

Here is an example...
In a situation where someone has placed 3 Order Markers on a single card during a round, that card's IGPV increases for the duration of that round. As an opponent, it will more than likely be in my best interest to focus my attacks that round on that particular card because of the possibility of eliminating later Order Marker turns due to the unit's demise. (But then again, it may be more advantageous to eliminate the "sitting ducks"�, units with no Order Markers.) Your choice is ultimately dependant on what will cause the most IGPV damage to your opponent; it is all about Cost vs. Reward.

Another example...
More often than not, Raelin's value is directly proportional to the amount of units that she is supporting. If an opponent for some reason leaves Raelin back in the starting zone and decides to run kamikaze missions with a single unit at a time, Raelin's value in the game has decreased. She still has a potential of increasing IGPV, but not with the way she is being used.

Yet another example...
Drafting Spartacus without having Gladiators in your army, albeit very unwise, decreases his IGPV. A large percentage of his value or IGPV is dependant on having Gladiators in your army.

Although it reeks of common sense, figuring out and reassessing IGPVs for both your army and your opponents throughout the game will make you a stronger player. Just because your opponent has Jotun doesn’t mean that he should be the only target of your attack. The Deathreavers that your opponent is using to tie up your ranged units might be a better choice for attacking, even with the knowledge that you could be speeding up their movement via Scatter.

General statements...
A melee unit’s IGPV spikes the moment that they become engaged or move within movement range of an opponent.

A ranged unit’s IGPV drops the moment that they become engaged, because they lose the ability to choose their opponent.

A common unit’s IGPV drops the moment that they are decreased in number to a single card’s worth of units.

A bonding unit’s IGPV drops the moment that their bonding units have been eliminated.

A unit’s IGPV increases each round that it contains an Order Marker.

A unit’s IGPV increases when they are standing on a Glyph.

Next time you play, make a conscious effort to think about IGPV during the game. Weigh your decisions on what will cause the most damage to your opponent utilizing your perceived IGPVs, not necessarily the easiest kill. Remember that an IGPV can change round to round and even turn to turn. Adjust your decision making accordingly. Just because you have the opportunity to take out your opponent’s last Krav Maga Agent shouldn’t change your mind from attacking an exposed Kelda who is trying to make her way over to a wounded Major Q9.

Don't miss out on tomorrow's podcast. More on strategy in Heroscape will be discussed there.