HeroScape's subtitle is "The Battle of All Time" and it certainly is. Everything about this game is well done: the figures, the terrain, the rules, the scenarios. If you're at all interested in the theme (battles involving warriors from different time periods), I strongly recommend that you try HeroScape.
With HeroScape, the fun starts by setting up your battlefield. The interlocking terrain pieces can be assembled in a practically infinite number of combinations. Players then draft armies -- choosing from dinosaurs, robots, airborne troops, samurai, and more. Each army has unique statistics, including life points, movement, attack strength, and defense. The game comes with five pre-planned battlefield layouts and 10 scenarios; more are promised for HeroScape.com, and players can easily create their own. Goals for scenarios range from "destroy all of your opponent's figures" to "make it through Durgeth Swamps to the Valkyrie's transfer post." To accomplish a goal, players determine in which order to move their armies, then move and attack. Movement is simple on flat terrain, but moving up or down can cost energy. Attacks are carried out when the enemy is within range and a clear line of sight exists. Dice are used to resolve an attack. Special powers also factor into the game.
HeroScape is as elegant as I can imagine a battle game being. Its simplicity ensures that it will be played for countless hours by young boys -- and the young at heart. Deservedly so. But it's also flexible enough that more serious gamers can add rules if they want to. I own multiple copies of the base game for HeroScape, and at least one of every expansion, so that the combat in my house can take place on a grander scale. In my mind, HeroScape rates as the ultimate battle game.
Pros Clever, simple, flexible combat system. Wonderful components, especially plastic terrain and warrior figures. Ability to play a wide variety of scenarios and build new boards. Cons Very limited appeal to those who don't enjoy fantasy battle theme. Description For 2 or more players (best with 2 to 4), ages 8 and up. Time to play varies by scenario. Designed by Stephen Baker, Rob Daviau and Craig Van Ness. Published by Milton Bradley / Hasbro. Includes 30 painted figures and 16 army cards. Includes grass, rock, sand and water terrain tiles, plus two ruins. Includes basic and advanced rules. Numerous expansions are available, including new figures and new terrain.
Expansions and Terrain
Building the battlefield before a HeroScape game is, for some players, one of the best parts of the game. The interlocking hexagons provide an almost infinite number of possible combinations.
HeroScape's Master Set (Rise of the Valkyrie) includes a remarkable amount of terrain, along with 30 figures. But if you want to build an epic HeroScape battlefield, you need more than just the Master Set.
One of the best parts of playing HeroScape is building an army and discovering how the different characters can work together. The HeroScape Master Set, Rise of the Valkyrie, includes 10 heroes and six squads with a variety of powers. Many expansions have been released, bringing the total number of heroes and squads available to more than 85.
So that armies are generally balanced, every hero and squad in HeroScape has a cost, represented by points. The Master Set rulebook includes scenarios for 160-point, 200-point, 300-point, 400-point, and 500-point armies.
There are two kinds of HeroScape armies: pre-built and drafted. Using pre-built armies means that each player selects their army without regard to what his opponents are doing with their armies. With drafted armies, each player chooses a unit in turn and you can react to what other players draft.
How strong an army is depends on the map and scenario. One of the beauties of HeroScape is that there is no single best army.
