Heroscape Brief Card for Beginners (Updated 10/30)

[1Mmirg]

For what it is worth, I find that playing more than 4 players (unless really experienced and eager) just slows the game down too much.

Recently, I have begun introducing the game in quick 1v1 games (often two maps on a single large table), and players seem to like that. (Team play helps a bit to make non-active players feel more involved, btw.)

My goal is to try to get as many players actively playing as possible, even if that means I sit out to be able to help watch over several simultaneous games.

Enjoy the intros! Spread the HS virus .

[LongHeroscaper]

Originally Posted by Huggable Zombie

LHS,
Thank you SO much for this. I have just gotten into the game myself and am introducing it to a couple of friends this weekend. I don't know enough about the game to explain it off the cuff, and these cheat-sheets are perfect for them to have.

Speaking of which- and whether this is the right place to ask, I'm not sure, but I sure as heck am not going to start another thread with this question:

How many players do you all recommend for a game? Is 6 too many?

I am glad that you like the card . You will see that this site offers many more great resources, basically everything you need to know about the game.

I agree with 1Mmirg, that is playing with 4 already slows the game down. A way to resolve that is to play team 2 vs. 2. I have played a game with 6 individual players before, and the problem is the first one who got eliminated had to wait a long time until another player got eliminated so that they could start a new game, and their game actually finished before the main game. I also played a team game 2 vs. 2 vs. 2, and that went much better than 6 individuals, but still took a lot of time.

If you have 6 players and do not want to play team, I would suggest to play a mini tournament. We do that a lot. 6 players into 3 random pairs for the first round. Rank each person after each round and pair people up according to the rank (1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4, 5 vs. 6). After 3 rounds, you will have either one person who wins all (3-0), or several who win 2 game (2-1). Then you can have play-off game, champion game or anything you want. The time would be the same, but mini-tournament is way more fun than a game of 6.

[Plordigian]

These cheat sheets are excellent. I won't turn so many new players away by yelling at them for asking the same question over and over again! JK (I ask a lot of questions myself!)

I agree that the mini tournament is much better than all at once. Shorter games really appeal to casual gamers; isn't that one of the main draws of our game in the first place? It sounds cool to build a huge map with every kind of terrain, and should be tried at least once by everyone, but you just can't beat a quick one-on-one 300 point match.

[Ullar/utgar own]

Originally Posted by LongHeroscaper

Recently, our playgroup has recruited quite a few new players. We sometimes end up with 2 experienced players with 4-5 beginners. And of course they don't usually show up at the same time for us to go over the rule for all of them.
So I have created a brief card and put in it the most important things to play the game. It's size is half of the standard letter size. I searched and realized that someone have had the same idea, but I believe the size is the letter size. The half size may be handy and economic, especially when you want to introduce the game to a large group of people (which will happen to us on next Wednesday). After a short explanation, they can just grab one brief card and start the game. Of course, there are more subtle rules, but they can ask experienced players when those cases arise. I also include a dice chart showing the chance to inflict a wound. Again, for new player, it may be useful.
Please let me know if I missed something important, or if the information is not accurate, or anything that should be changed. Your criticism is welcome here! I will create a PDF file that you can print front and back, then cut in halves to have 2 brief cards after hearing from your comments. Thanks again for your help!

Link to the high resolution, 2-sided PDF file.

Front:



Back:



Here are some other versions of the card with different backgrounds.

i find your table very useful.

[Dino5]

Any chance for an updated version of this that includes the DnD pieces? I realize they won't fit as is, but it'd be nice to include them.

[Marro Divider #4]

Yeah, I'm with Dino5. I'd like to see DnD

[Pepex82]

Originally Posted by LongHeroscaper

Recently, our playgroup has recruited quite a few new players. .....me other versions of the card with different backgrounds.

Noob Question: is snow always heavy snow, and is ice always slippery ice?

Also it would be great if you could include some of the heights, ruins 6, castle wall 10, battlement 2/3. ?

maybe summary of all the glyphs too.

This is great and will be printing it for sure!

Thanks.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Pepex82

Noob Question: is snow always heavy snow, and is ice always slippery ice?

No, it is declared in the scenario or at the start of the game.

[happyjosiah]

Count me among the people who find this thing really useful and would love to see D&D added.

[Talos]

I'd like to chime in and add a request for LongHS to add the D&D terrain to his already excellent reference cards. I still keep one handy at the table to jog my memory from time to time.

Thanks!

[Revdyer]

Originally Posted by Talos

I'd like to chime in and add a request for LongHS to add the D&D terrain to his already excellent reference cards. I still keep one handy at the table to jog my memory from time to time.

Thanks!

A PM to the good Dr. LongHSer might be appropriate, then. <smile>

[77SweeneyMan]

Originally Posted by 1Mmirg

For what it is worth, I find that playing more than 4 players (unless really experienced and eager) just slows the game down too much.

Recently, I have begun introducing the game in quick 1v1 games (often two maps on a single large table), and players seem to like that. (Team play helps a bit to make non-active players feel more involved, btw.)

My goal is to try to get as many players actively playing as possible, even if that means I sit out to be able to help watch over several simultaneous games.

Enjoy the intros! Spread the HS virus .

that's great, i have noticed that as well when more players joins the game it slows down