Need Suggestions for Heroquest-like Game

It sounds like you have a fine idea for a game. Many folks here seem to be working on "RPG boardgames", so you're definitely in good company.

How far along are you in the project? If you've designed the game and are into the playtesting stage, I think your concerns are perhaps worth worrying about, but if you haven't finished the design aspect yet, might I suggest that worrying about the size of the squares is unnecessary at this stage? Just design a great game, and you can figure out how to actually make the thing in a pleasing way once you have a good game for which you need to worry about pleasing people in the first place. Just my thoughts...

Good luck with your project!

-Jeff

Since I agree with Darkehorse about tile based RPG games being very hodgepodge,

I would consider making the modular boards theme based. Think about it like a standard adventure module. Come up with a way to create multiple module board scenarios and keep that set of boards within the same theme. Maybe build in a means to connect these multiple board scenarios.

If nothing else the theme based modular boards might help keep the adventure consistant.

As for the board squares, a few years ago at GenCON I meet another exhibitor that created something called "The Dungeon Deck"(not sure if that they are around anymore, since WOTC had a little talk with them about the idea). A random set of cards which when laid down would create a dungeon. The idea seemed to work out ok. Though it was difficult to keep the content of what/who/where vary consistant. We tried it during one of my companies RPG sessions that we held that year at GenCON and it seem to work out ok. The randomness was still a little "hodgepodge", but it was fun.

Another option would be hexes, each of which contained paths of squares and/or rooms.

For example, in Avalon Hills Magic Realm, you have a series of hexes. Each hex has 5-6 clearings, joined by paths to each other and/or other tiles.

You could also have some sort of mechanism for what sort of tiles can be placed next to what sort of tiles ... for example Type B tiles could only be placed next to Type A or Type C tiles ...

This is interesting as I'm also making a download-and-play dungeon crawler game, though mine won't be free (It's a simple dungeon crawler, but really the game is enormous if you want it to be).

Anyways, my game uses 8x8 inch game boards, a total of 10. I never thought about using rectangular boards, though it's a cool idea. Something different (I did split them up to 4x8 to fit them on 8x11 paper). The square boards seem to work very well, as you can flip them around any way you want to make a huge variation of dungeons. It would work in pretty much the same way for your game.

I would definitely stick with at least 1inch squares. The reason I say at least is because most miniatures come with slot bases that are one inch, but people also like to use MageKnight figures, cause they're cheap, and their bases are larger than 1 inch, especially the "Hero" figures they have.

However, having 2:1 ratio boards seems awkward to me. I'm not sure if you've already gotten to the stage of planning out the boards, but I'm not sure how many different room combinations you can make with 8x4. I had problems coming up with good, useful boards in 8x8. Some of the first ones just came out too plain or just plain dumb, and I still may change a few of them. 5x10 would definitely be better than 4x8, but still seems limited to me since I've already designed some 8x8s.

To answer your questions, larger rooms don't result in less variety. My game uses 10 8x8 boards, (usually only 2 to 4 are used in one game), and there's never really a lack of difference between one game and another. However, my game uses door tiles that can be placed anywhere, so a single tile would be different from game to game. Will your boards have doors already in place, printed on the boards, or will they also be tiles? If they're already there, then how will you connect two tiles? Designated spaces on the boards that will lead to other boards?

Do I like your idea? Absolutely. I think the dungeon crawler genre is great, and needs more support nowadays, since there's only like one out there (the D&D one), and it's not even available in the US! Dungeon crawlers are great for fantasy gamers cause they don't require all the rules knowledge and record keeping as RPGs, but they're also not Chutes and Ladders.

I would prefer 1" squares. I don't use MageKnight figures, and most other figures have 1" bases or smaller. I used Reaper as my main source for Hero figures ( www.reapermini.com ), and their figures either have 1 inch slotted bases, or sculpted-on bases that are smaller than 1 inch.

As far as board size, based off of experience and your two choices, I'd go for the 5x10. However, you could try other sizes, like 5x8, which would be more "square". Hell you could even try 6x9, since any printer can print those dimensions, and that'll give you enough width to make more interesting rooms. I, personally, would prefer seeing square boards, but the willingness of players printing out one board in two pieces then taping them or gluing them together can put some off.

If you're judging the size of your boards by the HeroQuest board, I'm pretty sure the board is in a grid that's smaller than 1 inch.

Anyways, keep on keepin' on with this game. I'd like to check it out when you have it ready for playtesting or when it's done and whatnot.

Hmmm I've found that most printers CAN handle 1/2" vertical margins. In actuality, I've never found one that couldn't. Anything less (like 1/4"), and things can get iffy. Has anyone else had problems with 1/2" vertical margins? I assumed 1/2" was universally acceptable.

-Darke