D&D General Now That We Have HeroQuest, Do We Need D&D?
- Thread starter Retreater
- Start date
HeroQuest is like the perfect blend of Descent and the Adventure System games, at least for my taste.
And it's a question because it's back in print after nearly 30 years.
Thinking outside the box is a barrier to entry for novice GMs and certain players as well.
In HQ we have neatly presented, simple rules. And once you know where the box is, it can be easier for the GM (aka "Zargon") to know how to make exceptions.
Want to interact with the furniture, like knock over this table? Sure, roll this die and get a "6."
What HQ gives is a standard operation of dungeon exploration, clear and simple rules for combat, clear goals at the start of each session of play.
Ok. So now you're making an entirely different point. Yes. A board game like Heroquest is a good gateway into rpgs.
No. It's not a replacement for a one shot rpg. On account of being a complete different type of game.
For me it feels both needs and more.
If I'm going to run for new players, need to pull out a game with no prep, find something to fill a session where some players are missing, want something simple where people are distracted, want something to play that's a bit like D&D with just my wife, etc, I'm probably going to reach for HeroQuest.
Wolfram stout
Adventurer
Agreed. Last week when I was convinced that it would be at least mid-2022 or later before I could get Heroquest, I started digging into my box set of The Fantasy Trip. And I realized that it is about the same situation, you can go from simple combats in Melee and Wizard to RPGing with In the Labyrinth with minimal work. And by minimal I mean a lot less work than walking someone new through 5th Edition Character Creation.
If I want a big full RPG experience, I will probably use The One Ring as my goto, as I know the world very deeply, and most of my group knows it well enough. For Dungeoncrawls, I will use Heroquest with some punched up narrative, and a Try Anything: we will figure it out attitude.
Heh heh... so it seems the title of this thread should really be re-written to ask...
Now That We Have HeroQuest, Do * I * Need D&D?
since the post was really talking about Retreater's experiences with both games and not really about the general gaming populace on the whole. But of course based upon the body of the post, it could have been retitled as...Now That We Have HeroQuest, I Don't Need D&D
Because that's really the point of the entire thing. It doesn't seem like Retreater is questioning things at all, they've already made their decision on the matter. So the original title appears to me to be more to generate discussion for the sake of it. Which is cool and all, but ultimately I don't know if it was actually necessary-- even if the thread had the last title above as a statement rather than a question... there would still be plenty of people chiming in to say that it was crazy-talk. Because that's what we on the boards here do. We'll argue about other people's personal preferences till the cows come home.
Jacob Lewis
Ye Olde GM
I am a big fan of board games and roleplaying games. Sometimes, I just want something more contained with a little more focused. Other times, I want endless possibilities with lots of space for creativity. Neither is superior to the other. Both have pros and cons. I just don't want to live my life in a single round peg.
To answer the question, yes. We need D&D, and Heroquest, and any other game that makes us happy when we play.
To answer the question, yes. We need D&D, and Heroquest, and any other game that makes us happy when we play.
True. I speak in clickbait. My wife jokes that when I start a story, I should just begin with "Number 4 will shock you!"Because that's really the point of the entire thing. It doesn't seem like Retreater is questioning things at all, they've already made their decision on the matter. So the original title appears to me to be more to generate discussion for the sake of it. Which is cool and all, but ultimately I don't know if it was actually necessary-- even if the thread had the last title above as a statement rather than a question... there would still be plenty of people chiming in to say that it was crazy-talk. Because that's what we on the boards here do. We'll argue about other people's personal preferences till the cows come home.
The actual discussion I was going for is "what types of games does HQ do better than D&D?" and "what can DMs learn from HQ?" Neither of which are engaging thread titles and are wordy. We are ending up touching on the same topics anyway, even though we haven't gotten to the second question yet. (Read on to Page 5 to see how that one is answered - you won't believe it!)
GMMichael
Guide of Modos
I like those titles. But then, I'm not most readers.
Why not just mash D&D and HQ together? "Roll for initiative," and that's when the HQ board comes out.
Willie the Duck
Hero
We've had dungeon-crawling board games since at least Dungeon!, if not earlier. Also dungeon-crawling computer games like Colossal Cave, DND, Dungeon, and Zork. Most of them did the dungeon-crawling and combat parts of a D&D-esque game quicker and easier than tabletop pretty much from then on (other aspects of play-ease like getting them to load, not crash, and understand your commands... sometimes not so much). My point is -- pretty much from day one (or at least day two), tabletop gaming was something one did if and only if 1) one wanted something more from the experience (imagination, character, easy customizability, etc.), or 2) you actually enjoyed some part of the process that these games remove or automate. You like rolling the dice, or counting up weights, or mapping the dungeon, or whatever else.
payn
He'll flip ya...Flip ya for real...
I laugh when I read these because I can totally predict all the post taking it literally.
LuisCarlos17f
Legend
D&D is "hardcore" and HQ is relavitely "casual". HQ is perfect for children who aren't ready for complex rules, but also people who aren't tried yet.
I originally read this as "who aren't tired yet," and it made perfect sense to me, at 46 with a bedtime closer to 9.
Composer99
Hero
Dare I say, using HeroQuest as a basis with minimalist mechanics for out of combat stuff layered on to the game could juuuusst about work for a barebones dungeoncrawling RPG?
(I mean, personally I wouldn't care to play HeroQuest that way, but I could see that being a way to kitbash something more out of the game.)
Also, I may have to put HeroQuest on my Christmas wish list.
(I mean, personally I wouldn't care to play HeroQuest that way, but I could see that being a way to kitbash something more out of the game.)
Also, I may have to put HeroQuest on my Christmas wish list.
Swarmkeeper
Hero
I understand your perspective but when clearing one room in the Gloomhaven board game can take 2+ hours with very rigid rules, I’m going to have to disagree that it is lighter than 5e D&D. Then again, maybe I’m confusing ease and fluidity with lightness.
TL;DR: I’ll take the 5e play loop over Gloomhaven’s strict mechanics in the battle of lightness any day.
schneeland
Hero
I enjoyed playing HeroQuest back in the day, but I don't think there was any clear path to D&D for me from there. I was into fantasy stuff before and we just played for a while and then just stopped. Video games were way more interesting (and also ended up being the thing that did pull me into TTRPGs).
I thought about buying the new version, though, as I remember HQ as a nice, lightweight dungeon crawler (with somewhat broken rules). However, the new look doesn't really cut it for me - if used copies were less expensive, I'd probably just get the old game.
I thought about buying the new version, though, as I remember HQ as a nice, lightweight dungeon crawler (with somewhat broken rules). However, the new look doesn't really cut it for me - if used copies were less expensive, I'd probably just get the old game.
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