Heroquest for Adults: Going Solo

I have titled this Heroquest for Adults in a tip of the hat to Gaj over at Warhammer for Adults.

If you are into war gaming at all you should take the time to give this article a read, and check out his blog.

http://warhammerforadults.blogspot.co.uk/p/why-is-it-called-warhammer-for-adults.html

What follows is a slightly long winded view of my new gaming direction and what it holds for my future projects. As I try to lead a real life and find time to game with enthusiasm.

I’m calling it Heroquest for Adults because like Gaj’s article as adults we all take responsibility for the part we play. The game’s richness and magic all comes form the efforts that we as a group put forth when we sit down to the table.

For the past two years I have really been struggling for a gaming compass. The projects I had been working on led me in such haphazard directions that I neither had the time or actual motivation to actually enjoy or put on a game.

Then I discovered the Old Hammer or Warhammer 3E community through many of your blogs I finally found my direction. I was now on the right track but my pocket was still empty I was still going blind. I still hadn’t found my compass.

Then one the eve of my 30th birthday I found it!

Let’s get a bit of back story to start off. I have always been into war gaming. My dad started my brothers and I off at an early age pushing lead figures around on the kitchen table. When I was in grade school I got my first White dwarf. I didn’t know what it was but I loved it. Then in 1989 Heroquest came out.

I was so excited when I got it the smell, the figures, the look it was all there. I quickly snapped everything together, and my brothers and I started moving things around the board. This started a several week gaming night were the whole family mom included played Heroquest. I think we got to quest 8 or 9 when real life interfered and we never really got back to it.

Through High School, military, college It was more or less back to historical war gaming. Till last year when I got the Old Hammer bug. For me I have always had fantastic worlds running through my imagination, I really get into it. It is what I do to relax. The rest of my group not so much. Pushing the figures around is usually enough for them. So I was really looking for that simple game where we could all connect to the magic and high fantasy that I had swirling around in my head.

So for my birthday I got the idea to forgo all presents and gifts, and asked if my family could just sit down for an evening and play Heroquest again. They actually agreed and I even talked the wife into playing the role of Zargon.

That night we got through four quests. We decided that we could keep this going. It was simple everything was included, no one had to spend any extra cash. It even falls into the Old Hammer category, being a partnered game between Milton Bradley and Citadel. So I will let it slide.

We have now continued on to quest 9, which was actually just played by my brother myself, with my wife still happily playing Zarganna. She really enjoys trying to kill us!

This might be something you might want to try if you lack gaming partners. Also my wife is not necessarily a gamer. She has dipped her toe in the pool but not really jumped in. She however really likes organizing the quest....and as before trying to kill us.

She is actually expanding on the simplicity of the game by describing the rooms (with pathfinder D100 room chart), as well as creating non combat encounters. So I am very proud of the effort. I think she has just come to learn how much gaming means to me and puts forth the same amount of effort when she actually plays which I really appreciate. I’ve also been lending an extra hand around with house chores so that helps too =).

So onto the quest. I had played the first few quest with my knight Schmendrick. I switched to my mice Striker and his sidekick Wumple. I had had these figures commissioned last year by Ratnik over at Lead Adventures Miniatures. So was pleased to finally get them on the tabletop.

Another difference from the first four quests....eight people and doubled up monsters does not leave much room on the board. So i had my local sign shop blow the board up into a 5x4 poster mounted on pvc. It is awesome, and freaking huge.

So begins the Race Against Time!

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Re: Heroquest for Adults

Very cool...what a great Blow by Blow report...love it and the way you crafted the report. Excellent work.

and....I just need to highlight one thing you said....

I switched to my mice Striker and his sidekick Wumple. I had had these figures commissioned last year by Ratnik over at Lead Adventures Miniatures. So was pleased to finally get them on the tabletop.

...well this is very interesting....Ratnik is my current favorite sculptor...can you tell us how this worked? What was the turn around time? I would love to have him make me a couple of special figures.

anyway...I'm glad you've found some focus for your oldhammer addiction and I look forward to more fun reports. The fact that you have recruit family members into your gaming is an excellent idea....they can be considered an "impediment" to many gamers....best to work them in to the game ....great idea.

Cheers,

Blue
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Nice one - love the cartoon idea!

Heroquest was my first love and I've had some success getting my four year old lad interested. I'd love to ressurrect my old set with a lick of paint and a dab of glue or two for his Birthday next summer...

Or the summer after :lol:
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Thanks for the comments guys. There will be more to come for sure.

Thantsants: I am in the process of repainting all my stuff. Most of the minis are soaking in simple green at the moment. I am also going to recruit some Other Citadel, GW, Foundry figures to fill some slots as well. Get started on your stuff!!!! :grin:
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Definitely - there's also that old Heroquest Quest I'd like to play that featured somewhere around WD 140-ish. I remember it involved a Bretonnian Knight player character and Ogres and a Chaos Sorcerer. There was a version for Advanced Heroquest (Also on my shopping list).
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Yup I am planning on playing all the WD quest when we get through the original 14. Multilevel dungeons need beefed up heroes. I'm sure there are som downloads for it. If you have trouble getting it let me know and I can scan it for you. There is also the one with the Dwarf Slayer retrieving a sword. All good stuff.
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

I have that issue of WD - just couldn't remember the issue number - cheers for the offer though :grin:

I don't think I know the one with the Dwarf Slayer though.

Wish I'd picked the Ogre horde when I was a kid - got the WitchKing and Kellar's Keep, although not the boxes.

Wizards of Morcar was news to me as well until I started hunting ebay :shock:

Have you seen this by the way?

http://yeoldeinn-heroquest.blogspot.co. ... quest.html

They're up to episode 5 now - quite entertaining :lol:
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Cheers for the mention, Mr Airbornegrove!

Amazing - a super way to tell a story! Also, great photography with the spider - the lighting on the first spider picture is so unusual, it actually looks like a video game or some sort of drawing software (I think, anyway).

I've played warhammer quest, but not heroquest - I've always presumed the latter simply developed into the former? Are they completely different games? Also, from what I can see, there is only one board layout to heroquest (as opposed to the tiles from warhammer quest) - how does that work?
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Great post!

I've actually played HQ this past weekend with my son and two of my friend's daughters. We had to play very quickly to keep their attention to the game, but it was fun nevertheless. I think they liked it, and I've promised to play a proper game when we have more time.

This makes me want to paint the whole set and collect dungeon furniture...

Cheers,
Dreamfish
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

I thought that picture of the spider was from a video game too! Brilliant stuff and love the style of the retelling - now I have a confession to make. I've never played Heroquest. I've never seen Heroquest in the flesh. I now think I am missing out on something enjoyable.
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Don't forget the one off Marvel comics special with I think two quests. Also have Kellers keep, return of the witch lord, wizards of Morcar and against the Ogre horde (that last one in German but English translations have been found!)
The American editions went all weird with gremlins, war bears and Yetis will you be playing these ones?

Didn't one of the WD adventure feature Felix and Gotrek or an early proto version of them?
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Just John":38rcimw4 said:
I thought that picture of the spider was from a video game too! Brilliant stuff and love the style of the retelling - now I have a confession to make. I've never played Heroquest. I've never seen Heroquest in the flesh. I now think I am missing out on something enjoyable.

I have to admit the same ...never played it before but it sure looks fun. After falling for cavern crawl I can see the appeal.

Blue
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults

Weazil: It is very much like Warhammer Quest and yet. For me I feel that HQ is a simpler more approachable game. You can start someone off who has never played and they can get it. It also has the same board for every quest..yes,but....it also offers endless variation. I have read most of the WQ rules yet never played it. I have used some of the aspects for HQ, right now my version of HQ is a living game. We are pumping new ideas into it every quest!

All the game pictures were taken with an Iphone 4. They weird effect comes from me using the camera light. It turned out a lot better then I thought it was going to. I will try to get more in game photos next quest I do. I really hadn't planned on doing this all, but the quest was so exciting for us I really wanted to share.

Erny: I have them all downloaded and they are in the questing log. I have also been kicking around the idea of making 100 quests, so we can have a D100 chart of quests. I just downloaded Heroscribe, and Heroquest maker and been messing around with them. Quite a large project idea, but will have a bunch of free time in the coming months do to weather.

For those who haven't played get a cheap copy off ebay. Unless you have a nostalgic memory of it there is no point going for the mint copies. Also you can just download the rules online and play with your Oldhammer figures, that would be pretty cool to see!!!! Nothing but games played with 3e models=Awesome!!

As for getting it though, if you have kids, and lack of gaming partners let them play this with you. Being a board game it easy to get a reluctant spouse to play to. Just think of it as monopoly or clue for game night. Your family would appreciate it. Also coming form a personal note, I am a very picky gamer and some time judge my opponents by expectations in my own head. So if you are like me...don't be like that, it is something I am working hard on as well. You have to let people play the way the want, not everyone is invested in the Warhammer world as we are. Just a word of caution on that note.
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults: New hero

Here is a new hero I have been playing with lately. Also with small preview of my Bretonnian retinue I will be playing 3E with.
Here we have Mazy Harper as of last night she now has a flaming sword, unicorn shield, and striped socks.
She also just saved Striker from the clutches of ol' Blue Fang, so when we are short on party members he can now be used.

I have also reworked the rules and will get my changes up in the near future. Mostly and expanded hero chart, added skills, expanded armory.

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Re: Heroquest for Adults: New Heroes and Army

Here is my new hero Mazy Harper with her future retinue when she becomes a warlord. Enjoy the pics.

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Re: Heroquest for Adults: New heroes and army

I really love the way you paint the eyes on your models (I started typing "I really love your eyes" then though better of that! hehe)
It gives them an otherworldly look that really draws your attention. I love how the whole lot is painted in truth, esp Mazy's stockings :) oh and the eyes. Don't forget the eyes.
 
Re: Heroquest for Adults: New heroes and army

Thanks Imp!!!
(I started typing "I really love your eyes" then though better of that! hehe)
:lol:

For the eyes I just paint one white dot in the center. I had been doing them as the final step. Lately I have found it is easier to do it first.
 
Heroquest for Adults: Going Solo

So it has been very tough getting people together for Heroquest as of late. Real life...ugh, that shit is for the birds. I have a rough scheme of going solo. I have my party picked out and painted. I will be using a hacked version of Toco's Allied Heroquest, http://www.toco.be/ahq/ as well as hacking several DnD ideas into my own version of what I personally want to play.
http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/ NSFW
http://reynaldogamingsoap.blogspot.com/
http://wrathofzombie.wordpress.com/
If I have forgotten a reference it was not intentional, if by chance you authored an idea remind me and I can post the link. All images are from famous artist who are to many to name, I am not stealing your work or making money off of your images.

I will most likely make up my own dungeon deck al' Warhammer Quest to generate dungeons, and use Toco's monster generation for rooms. I want it to be as random as possible...might be a bit rough starting out.

Now the downside is yes it's solo, none of us likes playing with ourselves...oh er :mrgreen: .
However this should let me slow the game down for write ups for you all to enjoy. Also it will let me be free to do whatever I want and not have to worry about anyone else's expectations and feelings. So we will see how it goes.

We had stopped playing i think 2-3 quest into the Witch Lord quest line. So I will finish that out, but while integrating my new heroquest world of Vornheim. So here is the new world back drop for you to read over.

My plan is to try and have a new quest wrote up every 2 weeks. If it get's boring let me know and I can slow the write ups down, it won't hurt my feelings. I will keep doing them as long as I keep getting positive feedback, so enjoy. Also if you have an idea for a quest or want the heroes to explore a certain avenue let me know. I am open to questing wherever your guys want me to go. :grin:

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