Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game

[Jim]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

What royally pisses me off is that there's no mention of Heroscape in that video. It's like they're ashamed of it.

Or that they are there to promote the Magic brand.

Heroscape has a long history, coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters. I'd rather of seen them update one, or both, of those titles instead of forcing our game into the Magic mold. HeroQuest has spell cards. I've got an advanced version of BattleMasters that has spell cards as well. Or better yet just update Heroscape and rerelease it. It's a missed opportunity if you ask me.

Did HeroScape promote itself as coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters a year before it came out? This isn't the first time Hasbro (or other game publishers) have updated one game and created a totally different game from it.

I wonder, D&D Heroscape didn't really convert anyone over to anything they weren't already playing. How does WotC think this will somehow do something different? I mean really, will Magic players really want this? As a Heroscape player it doesn't seem to have any attraction to me.

Then it's not for you. Not every game is meant to be for everyone. Since Craig Van Ness is the lead designer, I have faith that it will be a solid game. The Magic theme doesn't particularly bother me, as I'm not a D&D player yet I love the Lords of Waterdeep game. I plan to judge the game on its own merits, not on any Magic affiliation.

 

[johnny139]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

If they were trying to court the HeroScape audience they'd just call it HeroScape. Obviously they think the basic game design is a good one and trying to use a fun game to get sales from the Magic crowd.

I think they learned their lesson with D&D HeroScape. HeroScape players didn't want the D&D stuff, D&D players didn't want to learn the HeroScape gameplay. Introducing this as a brand new product is a way to reuse a successful game that lasted years without alienating the massive Magic the Gathering audience.

Hopefully it'll be a successful one; I'm not a HUGE Magic fan, but it has some cool concepts, and I'd love to see future Planeswalkers get figures.

 

[Xorlof]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

I don't expect it to be all we love about 'scape, but with with what we've seen and with Craig Van Ness as Lead, I'm excited and optimistic!!! (three, count 'em, three exclamation marks)

Quick, random comment--no OMs visible in the prototype. It looks like the player's hidden information has moved from just the OMs to a full hand of cards. I guess that makes sense given its branding.

 

[Tornado]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Yeah, I think the spell cards and squad cards in your hand may be a cool mechanic.

 

[Jim]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

no OMs visible in the prototype. It looks like the player's hidden information has moved from just the OMs to a full hand of cards.

I think the demoer in the video said that you take your turn with either the main figure or one of the squads, so it seems to be a I go-you go-I go-you go for moving units.

 

[Grishnakh]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

What royally pisses me off is that there's no mention of Heroscape in that video. It's like they're ashamed of it.

Or that they are there to promote the Magic brand.

Of course they are there to promote the Magic brand Jim. However it's kinda like buying up Axis and Allies and then rearranging the forces into elves, dwarves, and orcs and calling it Magic the Battle Game. At the end of the day it's just repurposed Axis and Allies. It just sounded disingenuous to me. Look at all of the versions of Monopoly available. But regardless of whether or not it's Cute Kittens or Star Trek it's still called Monopoly. Or Hero Quest or Hero Scape, etc….

Heroscape has a long history, coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters. I'd rather of seen them update one, or both, of those titles instead of forcing our game into the Magic mold. HeroQuest has spell cards. I've got an advanced version of BattleMasters that has spell cards as well. Or better yet just update Heroscape and rerelease it. It's a missed opportunity if you ask me.

Did HeroScape promote itself as coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters a year before it came out? This isn't the first time Hasbro (or other game publishers) have updated one game and created a totally different game from it.

BattleMasters was indeed advertised as being from the creators of HeroQuest. (Both games were actually tied into Games Workshops Warhammer so like it or not we owe a debt of gratitude to that game.) As far as HeroScape promoting itself as coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters probably not. Too much time had gone by between their releases. Of course everyone knew the connection. My issue is that Heroscape was a completely new brand that was using the HeroQuest gaming engine. The rules were not being molded to support another brand (as is the case with this Magic game). We joke about My Little Pony Heroscape. Now we'll have Magic the GatheringScape. But they won't call it that. Even if that is indeed what it is.

I wonder, D&D Heroscape didn't really convert anyone over to anything they weren't already playing. How does WotC think this will somehow do something different? I mean really, will Magic players really want this? As a Heroscape player it doesn't seem to have any attraction to me.

Then it's not for you. Not every game is meant to be for everyone. Since Craig Van Ness is the lead designer, I have faith that it will be a solid game. The Magic theme doesn't particularly bother me, as I'm not a D&D player yet I love the Lords of Waterdeep game. I plan to judge the game on its own merits, not on any Magic affiliation.

At least the article FAQ states it's co-developed by "the Hasbro Gaming team responsible for RISK LEGACY and HEROSCAPE." , not specifically their designers. As far as Craig goes that's a plus, however I've been disappointed by some of his games before. I'd like to have seen Rob Daviau and Steven Baker involved. Apparently Rob knew nothing about this:

https://twitter.com/robdaviaugamer/status/522739100127072256

But you are most likely correct here in your statement, it's probably not for me. The theme of a game does matter. If you don't like the theme then no matter how well designed it is you probably won't like the game.

Wow, I'm going to bow out of this. I'm starting to sound like Skyknight here when MarvelScape first came out!

 

[CheddarLimbo]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Fun stuff! This looks very interesting.

The creature abilities bring up some interesting questions, though. They refer to squad figures that have one or more wounds on them. In Heroscape this is not possible, squad figures that take damage are removed from the board. It's not clear from the interview how this distinction would apply to the new combat system.

 

[Porkins]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Wow, I'm going to bow out of this. I'm starting to sound like Skyknight here when MarvelScape first came out!

See you around, clancampbell

 

[Grishnakh]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Wow, I'm going to bow out of this. I'm starting to sound like Skyknight here when MarvelScape first came out!

See you around, clancampbell

Too funny!

 

[flameslayer93]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

More minis!!



More terrain (even if its not a whole lot)(?)!!

Plus, the cards give custom makers one potential idea for their customs. Those fire cat things look sweet!

 

[Crixus33]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

My only issue is the tiles. I mean come on you can't just make the edges idented in a way that would be compatible with heroscape. In a way it feels like they did that on purpose: made all the inner tiles similar to heroscape tiles, but then the outside completely useless to try and connect to heroscape. Then again that is my inner conspiracy theorist talking. This game looks like it could be awesome.

 

[Scapemage]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

This looks awesome both because of Heroscape and also because I love Magic. Win-win!

 

[A3n]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

With those base boards as the initial layer it will cut down the map build times if we get enough of them.

 

[Jim]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

My only issue is the tiles. I mean come on you can't just make the edges idented in a way that would be compatible with heroscape. In a way it feels like they did that on purpose: made all the inner tiles similar to heroscape tiles, but then the outside completely useless to try and connect to heroscape. Then again that is my inner conspiracy theorist talking. This game looks like it could be awesome.

Those aren't inner tiles. They are inner boards printed to look like tiles. The video shows this quite clearly.

 

[Crixus33]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

My only issue is the tiles. I mean come on you can't just make the edges idented in a way that would be compatible with heroscape. In a way it feels like they did that on purpose: made all the inner tiles similar to heroscape tiles, but then the outside completely useless to try and connect to heroscape. Then again that is my inner conspiracy theorist talking. This game looks like it could be awesome.

Those aren't inner tiles. They are inner boards printed to look like tiles. The video shows this quite clearly.

I know that and when I had only seen the photos I thought they looked like mats. This is actually the main thing that fueled my conspiracy theory, why print the inner tile images different? It seems as if it was meant to be a to all heroscape fans since the 'tiles' don't separate but can still be seen. Again its just my conspiracy theory.

 

[betawolf36]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

I plan on using it in a manner similar to a batlemat like the ones Auggie has sold in the past. I shall use the tan Tiles as desert sand or sandstone, and the board itself as Quicksand. My swampy jungle and dusty desert maps can finally come to fruition. @Foudzing It's a shame they won't all be painted. The clear plastic ones are still viable in my opionion as elemental creatures. Sure detailing might not be the best but, hey, we should take what we can get.

 

[winonavampire]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

What royally pisses me off is that there's no mention of Heroscape in that video. It's like they're ashamed of it.

Or that they are there to promote the Magic brand.

Of course they are there to promote the Magic brand Jim. However it's kinda like buying up Axis and Allies and then rearranging the forces into elves, dwarves, and orcs and calling it Magic the Battle Game. At the end of the day it's just repurposed Axis and Allies. It just sounded disingenuous to me. Look at all of the versions of Monopoly available. But regardless of whether or not it's Cute Kittens or Star Trek it's still called Monopoly. Or Hero Quest or Hero Scape, etc….

Heroscape has a long history, coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters. I'd rather of seen them update one, or both, of those titles instead of forcing our game into the Magic mold. HeroQuest has spell cards. I've got an advanced version of BattleMasters that has spell cards as well. Or better yet just update Heroscape and rerelease it. It's a missed opportunity if you ask me.

Did HeroScape promote itself as coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters a year before it came out? This isn't the first time Hasbro (or other game publishers) have updated one game and created a totally different game from it.

BattleMasters was indeed advertised as being from the creators of HeroQuest. (Both games were actually tied into Games Workshops Warhammer so like it or not we owe a debt of gratitude to that game.) As far as HeroScape promoting itself as coming out of games like HeroQuest and BattleMasters probably not. Too much time had gone by between their releases. Of course everyone knew the connection. My issue is that Heroscape was a completely new brand that was using the HeroQuest gaming engine. The rules were not being molded to support another brand (as is the case with this Magic game). We joke about My Little Pony Heroscape. Now we'll have Magic the GatheringScape. But they won't call it that. Even if that is indeed what it is.

I wonder, D&D Heroscape didn't really convert anyone over to anything they weren't already playing. How does WotC think this will somehow do something different? I mean really, will Magic players really want this? As a Heroscape player it doesn't seem to have any attraction to me.

Then it's not for you. Not every game is meant to be for everyone. Since Craig Van Ness is the lead designer, I have faith that it will be a solid game. The Magic theme doesn't particularly bother me, as I'm not a D&D player yet I love the Lords of Waterdeep game. I plan to judge the game on its own merits, not on any Magic affiliation.

At least the article FAQ states it's co-developed by "the Hasbro Gaming team responsible for RISK LEGACY and HEROSCAPE." , not specifically their designers. As far as Craig goes that's a plus, however I've been disappointed by some of his games before. I'd like to have seen Rob Daviau and Steven Baker involved. Apparently Rob knew nothing about this:

https://twitter.com/robdaviaugamer/status/522739100127072256

But you are most likely correct here in your statement, it's probably not for me. The theme of a game does matter. If you don't like the theme then no matter how well designed it is you probably won't like the game.

Wow, I'm going to bow out of this. I'm starting to sound like Skyknight here when MarvelScape first came out!

What is the Magic the Gathering... "theme"?

The Magic world is just a fantasy world. Is it the "theme" you have issue with or the name?

 

[johnny139]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

I'm pretty sure the mats have different edges (on the far edges, at least) to make them interconnect better. More drastic cuts makes a more solid link. The actual tiles are literally just HeroScape tiles and the board underneath lines up, so...

With those base boards as the initial layer it will cut down the map build times if we get enough of them.

Hopefully it's successful enough that they start selling them separately. Maybe different configurations. I'd love to pick up a few.

 

[Evar-Scarcarver]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

...lead designer Craig Van Ness...

I'm optimistic.

 

[quozl]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Yeah, I think the spell cards and squad cards in your hand may be a cool mechanic.

You should check out Dungeon Command. This new game looks like that one except on hexagons. Of course, it's the little rules that will make a big difference for me. How do they handle squads with more than 1 Life? How do they handle engagement and leaving it?

 

[Marro_Warlord]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

There are three possible outcomes of this.

1. It does extremely well, so Wizards decides to re-release Heroscape to make more money, because they're the same game.

2. It fails and Wizards never makes a minis game again, so no more new Heroscape products (aside from customs)

3. It does okay, so Wizards will still make it, but won't branch out for a Heroscape revival.

Anyway, it's being directed by Criag Van Ness, so it could end up Heroscape-y. And if it does end well, we could see more Heroscape

 

[Marro_Warlord]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

So according to my theory, of we want more Heroscape, be prepared to buy this game.


-"Give me Heroscape or give me some other decent board game!"

 

[El T]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

1. It does extremely well, so Wizards decides to re-release Heroscape to make more money, because they're the same game.

I don't foresee WotC bringing Heroscape back to market at all, especially not due to success of MTG. For WotC, success for the Heroscape knockoff equals success for their existing Magic cards, so they won't mess with what helps their existing product.

 

[G1shark]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

To be honest Magic the Gathering Multiverse makes more sense than D&D's worlds in terms of Heroscape and summoning from other worlds, as planeswalkers do what Arch-Kyrie do on a average basis.

I'm most exited about canalizing the Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game. I've been looking for cheap hell hounds for along time. The dice are sexy and so are the tiles and all of the new figures are pretty amazing, painted or not I can fix those I purchase myself by painting them. I plan on getting 5 sets. I also like the new mechanics and systems that will be introduced in ways, most of us have thought of before in customs.

I just hope if the game becomes popular we will see New Phyrexia. All Will Be One!

 

[ParaGoomba Slayer]

Re: Magic: the Gathering Strategy Board Game (Looks HeroScap

Cautiously optimistic. One one hand, it's more Scape. On the other, it's D&D all over again with it being comprised solely of fantasy crap instead of a mix of fantasy, historical, and science fiction.

I imagine that when this game comes out if it's not already just exactly like Scape but with a MtG theme, that we as a community could just convert the stuff into regular Scape ourselves. I wouldn't be surprised if those unpainted figures and mat terrain and card board ruins were just mock-ups, by the way. Stuff like the game not having order markers is easily rectified.