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Message: <blockquote data-quote="timbannock" data-source="post: 4606924" data-attributes="member: 17913">Heavy Gear is a mech game: <a href="http://www.dp9.com" target="_blank">Dream Pod 9</a>It had started as a combined RPG and Tactical minis system, and then kinda flip-flopped between the two, until they released Heavy Gear Blitz recently.  Blitz is a massive streamlining of the Tactical system, and has won tons of awards (Ennies, among others).  They basically just looked at their system and said "What works, what doesn't, and most of all, what would be FUN"They ran with it, and it's quite good from almost all accounts (I haven't played yet).As for the old box I was remembering -- maybe my colors are off -- but it had the Bargle adventure in it.  It was awesome.My take on a 4e-inspired board-ish game would be something like this:* Use Dungeon Tiles, perhaps a little more puzzle-like for sturdier connectivity* Use 3D terrain as much as possible (that's just my personal preference)* Use D&D Minis* For characters, have them on a single card with Attributes, Melee & Ranged attack bonus, and important skills.  Streamline the systems a little to make attack bonuses a little more standardized (so you don't have to recalculate for every weapon based on Proficiency, etc.) and include an even more streamlined Skill list* Powers would come on cards (sound familiar?  Like the House Rules Forum maybe...), but streamline the list down.  Each character has their own deck to draw from based on level, or maybe some cards are more "universal" (i.e., have a single Martial deck for all Martial-powered characters, a single Arcane deck, etc.).  Items would be on cards too.  If Attack bonuses are prefigured, then have the items be tokens you "equip" by placing on a like-sized slot on the Character Sheet card, with a number in one corner denoting the damage or AC bonus or whatever the item does.* Have pregens, but maybe use dry erase stock for the character sheets, so players can customize or even wholly create their own character* Dungeons and monsters would be run by one player as the DM, but set it up similar to Descent (he's an adversary for the most part)That would be the Board Game.  Keep it nice and simple, use specialized dice to mimic trap-detection, finding secret doors, maybe even damage and attacks.If you want to make a good D&D 4e Basic Game, use the same ideas, but keep the rules closer to the "mother system" (i.e., no specialized dice, no adversarial DM), and maybe include a paperback PHB that is focused solely on the Heroic Tier.  Include a little booklet with some sample encounters, a one-on-one and solo adventure, and some of the simpler Heroic-level monsters.In a Basic Game, don't do Pregens...or if you do, don't totally axe character creation.  A Board Game is fine with pregens, but a basic game should give you the fun and customization of your own character.Maybe they could focus on levels 1-5 for Basic Game Heroic 1, and then levels 6-10 for Heroic 2, and then go off like the old red, blue, green boxes with their own simplified system.  But honestly, I think 4e's simple enough that if you just pare down it all down to Race, Class, Heroic tier powers and feats, you'll be golden.And 4e is designed to use EVERYTHING with cards (skills, conditions, powers, magic items, monsters, even character sheets have been designed to fit on playing card sized sheets), so keeping a tight focus and adding some visual props would make 4e really popular with the kiddies.Personally, I've got my Core Rulebooks for 4e, so I'd want the board game for its tokens and tiles and minis.  But I'd certainly get a Basic Set for somebody for christmas if it was Heroic-tier focused or had some nice counters, dice, and whatnot.</blockquote>

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