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Heroscape: Rise of the Valkyrie Master Set

Overview: A quick-and-easy multi-genre strategy wargame using miniatures and modular hexagonal terrain tiles. Additional sets and expansions are optional but can expand the battlefield and the selection of play figures, as well as increase the maximum number of players. As with chess, the basics are as easy to pick up but there is much room for strategy. Gameplay can be as casual or as competitive as you like. 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. Average play time 2 hours.

Game publisher: Hasbro, Milton Bradley

Official website: http://www.heroscape.com

Contents:
This is the 2nd Edition of the Master Set (Rise of the Valkyrie). The only changes from the first edition are that the water tiles are now made of a different/less shiny plastic, the rulebook now includes the revised rules and errata, and the attack and defense dice have been consolidated (there used to be separate dice: red ones for attack and blue ones for defense rolls).

Currently available expansions include more pre-painted figures, trees, road tiles, and lava tiles. Future expansions have been announced with snow and ice tiles, glaciers/ice mountains, and a castle set.

Review:

In the land of Valhalla, the mystical Wellsprings granted mighty powers to the winged Kyrie who drank from their waters. These new Kyrie, calling themselves Valkyrie, now battle for control of these Wellsprings using warriors summoned from different places and times. Who will win this Battle of All Time?

Heroscape is a light, quick and easy wargame for both children and adults. The simplicity of the game system is such that it allows for faster games and helps more casual players to get started; one could conceivably pull this game off the shelf at a party, spend 5 minutes explaining the rules, another 10-15 minutes to set up the map, and then start playing. This isn't like other games that are oriented to more serious gamers, such as Warhammer or Mage Knight; players are not required to buy their own figures and bring their own armies, though that does save a little time when setting up a game.

The figures that come with this Master Set are all pre-painted and made of a flexible plastic that returns to its original shape after being bent or twisted. Quality of the figures is a little uneven - some are very well made and well painted, others have a few slight defects and not-as-perfect paint jobs. There are no stinkers in the bunch though, and players are free to repaint them. The quality is more than adequate for the typical gamer.

The terrain tiles are made of plastic as well; they easily interlock (no need for force, just slide them together) and they can be stacked to create cliffs, hills, ridges, and the like. Water tiles can be formed into pools or rivers and streams. Having more than one master set will allow even bigger maps to be built, but one set by itself is big enough to take over a typical family's dining table.

The rulebook is colorful and easy to understand; the first half covers the basic rule system (more on this later), and the second half includes advanced rules and some sample scenarios. The scenarios are easy to follow and include step by step instructions for building the maps to be used.

A typical game would go as follows:

Players set up a map of their own choosing, either from an official scenario or an unofficial one downloaded from other fans, or even one constructed by them on the spur of the moment. The terrain tiles allow for a truly 3D battlefield and provide a lot of eye candy. Water is an obstacle to movement; high ground confers advantages. There are no rules for cover, beyond line of sight: if you can see any part of your target, even a foot or a wing, you can attack it if it's in range.
A scenario objective is then agreed upon, which can vary from "defeat all other players" to "defend this location until the end of the 12th game turn". Certain locations on the battlefield would be marked with "glyphs", which are special location markers that may allow a single use of a specific power such as summoning another figure or causing a massive curse, or that confer additional benefits to an entire army, such as increased defense or movement.

After the map is set up, players begin to draft units for their armies. Each unit (some units are single "hero" figures, other units are squads of "minions") has a given point value stated on its army card; players first agree to a maximum point value for their armies, then the draft begins.
Everyone rolls the twenty-sided die; proceeding clockwise from the highest roller, everyone then takes turns picking one unit from the available pool of units, until the person to the right of the highest roller has drafted a unit. Then this last player drafts a second unit, and drafting proceeds counterclockwise from there, until the highest roller has drafted his second unit - at which point drafting proceeds clockwise again, until each player has reached the maximum number of points. The draft system allows players to begin planning their strategy, by drafting units that are effective against the ones drafted by the other players (in a sort of rock-scissors-paper allegory), and by snapping up prize units before the other players do. As stated earlier, players can bring their own pre-made armies; this gives them the units they want, and a set of tactics they are familiar with, at the expense of the flexibility that counter-drafting to their opponents can provide.

The game proper then begins, with players placing order markers on the units they intend to move on their turn, then rolling for initiative, then moving their ordered units on their turn. Multiple order markers can be placed on a single unit, allowing it to move and attack multiple times at the expense of having your other units standing idle.

There are two sets of rules for the game: the basic rules, which are appropriate for younger kids to have fun with, and the advanced rules for older and more experienced players. In the basic system, the army cards have simplified numbers, no special abilities and units die after one hit. In the advanced system, each unit has its own special abilites that add more strategy and depth to the game. The dragon, for instance, has a fire breath attack; the Izumi Samurai figures have a counter-strike ability that makes them great defenders. The Zettian cyborgs gain increased weapon range when standing near their leader, Deathwalker 9000. Also, in the advanced system, hero-type figures can take more wounds than minion squads.

The game is oriented more towards skirmishes rather than massive battles, though creative players can set up house rules to allow for much larger armies. This is also a side effect of the game's ease of play: players can create any house rules they like, since the rule system is specific enough to minimize confusion yet flexible enough to allow much customization.

A word on the available expansions: unlike other "collectible" games, Heroscape expansions are not blind-purchase packs. You know exactly what's in the pack, so you get exactly what you want. There are no super-powerful ultra-rare figures (except perhaps for the promotional Nerak figure and the Elite Onyx Vipers, which aren't really necessary to enjoy the game anyway). There is NO need for continuous purchasing. Also, unlike some collectible games, all the units from the Master Set and from the expansions are useful - there are no worthless figures that will never see use because "they don't fit in my army". The game is satisfyingly complete; there is no rush to grab the latest expansions just to remain tournament-competitive. Heroscape is truly as casual as you can get, while still offering competitive play. It's kind of like a chess set with optional chessmen that move differently: you can do just fine with eight pawns, two rooks, two bishops et al, or you could swap some of them out for other pieces. Nonetheless, even a pawn has its place and no right-minded chess player would play without them.

In Manila, Heroscape is currently available in Hobbes & Landes, Toy Kingdom and Comic Alley. The price for the Master Set is generally around P2,800. It may seem on the pricey side, but when you open the box and see all the goodies it has been stuffed with, you'll understand. The box is literally stuffed to bursting with toys and landscape tiles and other odds and ends; it's actually a bit difficult to put everything back inside. It is possible with a little practice though. Another important factor is that the various game pieces can be used with other games as well, particularly the terrain tiles. Creative players can even import figures from other games, and design their own custom army cards for these imports.

Overall, Heroscape is a great introduction into the wonderful world of miniatures wargaming. And the best part is, you can play it with your kids as well.

Kodak Moments:
In the games we've had so far, there have been a whole bunch of these unforgettable moments - there's usually at least one in each game we've played. Some that come to mind are:
-the time one of my Men-In-Black agents, a minion with a very small gun, killed the huge heavily armored cyborg Deathwalker 9000 with one lucky shot;
-the time the alien Marro Warriors (minions who could clone themselves to replace lost warriors) survived several game turns against three heroes, by continuously replacing their lost soldiers (they lost the game in the end);
-the Airborne Elite paratroopers landing right in the enemies' stronghold, only to be slaughtered to a man;
-the last desperate rush of the Izumi Samurai across a bridge, to be cut down by the defending Deathwalker's guns.

Additional links:

Board Games With Scott video review (note that he reviews the 1st Edition of the game)
http://www.boardgameswithscott.com/?p=10

Heroscape HQ fan site
http://www.heroscapehq.com