Updated 10/16 - Before Heroscape

[Elstree]

Great summary, Aeston! Like IMax, I'm a little hesitant about the Talisman connection but insofar as it marked Games Workshop's entry into boardgames I see your point.

One predecessor missing from this story is another Stephen Baker creation that was only released in Europe called Die Schlacht der Dinosaurier (Battle of the Dinosaurs).


Photo: Boardgamegeek.com

In this game armies of mounted dinosaurs duked it out for supremacy. The game used a Battlemasters-like card mechanic for unit activations and included oddly numbered dice for combat resolution. Lava balls thrown into a central volcano allowed for rerolls. The miniatures featured dinosaur-mounted warriors, reminiscent of HeroScape's own dinosaur-mounted orcs:


Photo: Boardgamegeek.com



Photo: Boardgamegeek.com



Photo: Boardgamegeek.com

I think it's safe to assume that figures like Grimnak and Tornak were included in HeroScape as an homage to this earlier Stephen Baker creation. (Compare especially the red T-rex in the photos to Grimnak and the smaller green velociraptor to Tornak.)

[Slaader]

Oh those crazy Dinosaurier and their crazy luftballons.

Meine tante hat blaue augen!

[tyguy94920]

Originally Posted by Slaader

Oh those crazy Dinosaurier and their crazy luftballons.

Meine tante hat blaue augen!

I love that song, thanks for the laugh

[InfinityMax]

That game looks awesome! Now I have to add it to my list of games I want but will probably never own, alongside Space Hulk and the Heroquest expansions.

[Doc_Savage]

Very nice article!!!

Two years ago I sold two Heroquest expansions for about $700 bucks together. You should really think before you toss. There are many members here that would have gladly paid for your Heroquest parts.

[Aeston]

Thanks to Elstree for that amazing information! That info and even more are now in the front page article for my first update!

[soberman]

This is really cool stuff. Just a few comments:

1) I think the offical tips from the offical HeroScape site for using the MicroCorp Agents had a trivia blurb that confirmed that the name is an homage to Risk 2210 AD. These unit strategy tips seem to have been removed with the site upgrade.

2) I also believe that most people associate the quaterback in the bottom image with the Dumutef Guard.

3) Shame on you for not knowing about a European exclusive Dinosaur game! Just kidding. Thanks for the info Elstree, it was really quite fascinating.

4) I've heard of the past being revised before, but never updated. Neat trick!

5) Forget War Elephants- I want a War Bronto!
_____________________________
now playing: Midnight Oil Redneck Wonderland

[Elstree]

Originally Posted by Aeston

In 2001 they cooperated to release Risk 2210 under the Avalon Hill license, which was purchased by Wizards of the Coast (and subsequently Hasbro).

Just a minor correction: Hasbro acquired Avalon Hill first in 1998, then acquired WotC in 1999. However, the Avalon Hill brand was managed by Hasbro's East Longmeadow, MA shop until 2004, when it was finally moved under the WotC umbrella. Games released by Hasbro/AH before 2004 were under development by the east coast shop. This explains Rob and Craig's connection to some of the early Hasbro/AH releases like Risk 2210, Star Wars: Queen's Gambit, and Betrayal at House on the Hill.

I've written more on this subject here. (By the way, the chart in that post is by Shannon Applecline, whom I should have credited.)

[keglo]

Wow. Great read and very interesting. Thank you.

[Kroc]

Very cool research, Aeston, it's always great to see where things come from, and this has a cool tie in to:
http://www.heroscapers.com/community...ad.php?t=17665
there HSisforcoolkids talks about how HS reflects our times by blending different genres into one awesome package. Well worth a read. And this thread shows us exactly what genres the game designers were borrowing from. Rather cool, they obviously were thinking about what HSisforcoolkids is talking about.

I can hear them desinging it now...
"Which games should we borrow units from?"
"Why stop there? Let's raid them all!!!!"
(Especially since we designed most of them ourselves.)

[AmishBurrito]

Wow, Aeston, WOW!

(Rep Up)

[Finrod]

Great research!

Long, long ago, I brought up the similarity between various Samurai units with the old Milton Bradley Gamemaster Series game SHOGUN, later renamed SAMURAI SWORDS. In a later interview, Craig (I believe) affirmed that this was one of their inspirations. (EDIT: It was designer Wayne Yee at the Designer's Corner on the official site.)



For example, here's a BGG image of some of the Ashigaru, Samurai archers, and a flagbearer:



And here's a daimyo (compare with the coming Kato):


The only unit from SAMURAI SWORDS not represented in Heroscape thus far are the Ronin. hmmm....
(EDIT: Wayne Yee also mentioned that the last unit he would like to add is the Ronin...)