Ye Olde Inn

I've seen a couple of threads lately concerning equipment in one way or another. But one thing that struck me was that people seem to handle it quite differently.
So... Which rules do you use regarding equipment? Can you hoard it? How limited are you? Can you switch back and forth between two different weapons?

Please answer the poll and feel free to explain more in-depth in a reply.

We play with unlimited capacity, but the only time you can change is between quests and if you find something new (As it may be essential to equip a quest item).

It is unfair to change equipment during a quest. One time a friend asked me if he could hold the battle-axe when attacking and switching to a shield when defending. I banned him from all HeroQuest games in Athens.

You can carry all the equipment you want but decide at the beginning of the quest which one you equip.

Finally, I allow crossbow with a shield. Maybe I shouldn't. Sue me.

The crossbow/shield issue has caused some disagreement in our group. The points of view are:

1. (The rules) The card/rules say nothing that would disallow using both.
2. (common sense) You use both hands for loading/firing a crossbow.
3. (balance) What use is the broadsword if the crossbow does the same only ranged?
4. (balance 2) The later quests are so insane that it's still fair enough to use both (3 wandering chaos warriors anyone?)

I'm still on the fence on this one.
The vote were that both are allowed, so...

Goblin-King wrote:3. (balance) What use is the broadsword if the crossbow does the same only ranged?

You can't fire a crossbow to an adjacent target. that's the extra point use of the broadsword plus it is cheaper.

I don't care for the common sense argument also. There's a lot common sense things in the game that go unnoticed to care for this one.
I read in a forum somewhere (maybe this one) that someone does not allow helmet with borins armour because there is a helmet in the drawing of borins armour's card. This kind of thinking takes things too far. The sense that the crossbow needs both hands to use is totally right but I prefer to let this one slide in favour of the rules.

tasoe wrote:

Goblin-King wrote:3. (balance) What use is the broadsword if the crossbow does the same only ranged?

You can't fire a crossbow to an adjacent target. that's the extra point use of the broadsword plus it is cheaper.

I don't care for the common sense argument also. There's a lot common sense things in the game that go unnoticed to care for this one.
I read in a forum somewhere (maybe this one) that someone does not allow helmet with borins armour because there is a helmet in the drawing of borins armour's card. This kind of thinking takes things too far. The sense that the crossbow needs both hands to use is totally right but I prefer to let this one slide in favour of the rules.

I think they mistakenly said broadsword but meant longsword.

As far as the cross bow and shield - no - in my opinion, a crossbow is a two handed weapon - you need one hand to
aim and fire, I guess...but two to load and ready the weapon. Of course, if you narrowly describe your shields as
being something that straps to the forearm and DOES NOT cover the hand...perhaps, but then there would have to
be a chance of a shield malfunction, as the hand would not be holding it for support.

As for switching weapons and armors and such - I use the thought that it takes one of the actions, either the move
action or the other action allowed during a characters turn.

For carrying capacity - here are my rules...a bit long-winded...but I find think they cover everything:

Characters may carry weapons in the following way (Half Plate and Plate Mail negate many of these
spaces):
- Any one weapon on each hip
- Any two weapons across the back, strapped one over each shoulder
- Any one dagger-type weapon strapped at each shin and/or on the side of each leg
- Any one dagger-type weapon strapped on each forearm and/or upper arm (bracers do not allow forearm)
- Any one small weapon strapped at the small of the back
- Up to four small weapons strapped across the chest (on a bandolier-style strap)
This offers a possible total of up to 16 weapons (only 4 of which can be any size)
**NOTE – Small weapons are: Dagger, Hammer, and Sling

Characters may carry up to 2 small items without a Belt Pack, and may carry a coin pouch (50 gold maximum) if they wear a belt of some type

A character can carry one of the following:
- 2 Small Packs
- 1 Small Pack and 1 Medium Pack
- 2 Medium Packs
- 1 Small Pack and 1 Large Pack
**Any character with a Body Point score of 8 or above can carry 1 Medium Pack and 1 Large Pack
**Any character with a Body Point score of 10 or above can carry 2 Large Packs

The following describes the various "slots" upon which a character may wear some article of clothing or some item or object:
- Head = One Headband or Soft Hat and One Helmet or Hard Hat
- Ears = Up to three rings on each and/or up to one item inside each
- Nose = Up to ring on each nostril
- Eyes = Up to one set of glasses/goggle/blindfold or one monocle
- Neck = Up to one amulet and/or one necklace with up to 3 pendants
- Shoulders = One cape or cloak
- Upper Body/Clothing = One set of clothing and/or one vest/coat item
- Upper Body/Armor = One set of armor
- Wrists = One set of bracers or one bracelet each
- Hands = One set of glove/gauntlets or one on each
- Waist/Belt = One Belt Pack and/or one belt item
- Feet = One pair of shoes/sandals
- Fingers = Up to 3 rings per finger – these must be one finger apart from another

For the Packs mentioned above:

Belt Pack - Offers 8 small pouches – these pouches can hold any one of the following: 50 gold coins; A single potion; 2
.....amulets/necklaces; 4 rings; 2 eye pieces
Small Pack - Offers 4 “spaces” for holding – each of these spaces are equal to 2 of the small pouches on a Belt Pack. In
.....addition to the holding allowed under the Belt Pack, one space can hold one of the following:1 candle-stick
.....sized object; 1 sheathed dagger/short sword; 1 set of bracers; 1 set of folded clothing/1 set of robes; 1 book;
.....2 rolled scrolls.
Medium Pack - Offers 6 “spaces” for holding
Large Pack - Offers 8 “spaces” for holding

I chose The heroes can carry infinite equipment. There is a penalty for changing (e.g. spend your action).
Seems fairest to me.

Crossbow is a 2-handed weapon in my humble opinion. You need 2 hands to load it and 2 hands to fire it. (It's held like a rifle, one hand on the trigger, one holding/aiming the body of the crossbow)

Perhaps I'd limit the amount of weapons later on, if things get out of hand, to 1 heavy/large weapon, 1 shield, 1 crossbow, 2 smaller weapons and 10 daggers or so. With a belt-pouch which would cost a fair amount they can carry up to 5 potions each. Gold is unlimited, and 1 disarming traps kit each.

I should write some stuff down, as my wife usually plays Morcar She depends on me to lay down the unclear rules. And I always do so before attempting new quests, so I don't give myself unfair advantages. Then afterwards we evaluate and if neccesary adjust the rules.

How do you keep track of all that?

Having shot a crossbow (freakin awesome) you do need two hands for it. So unless its a specially designed shield (possible advanced eq reward?) you aren't going to be able to use both at the same time.

keep track of it all? Who does that? hehehe

eh, its just my thoughts...based a lot on D&D rules. The character sheet needed for my house rules
would be a WHOLE lot more in depth than the one given with HQ...kind of unfortunate, yes...I really
like the simplicity of HQ and wish I could find an easier way to give the options I do while still being so
simplistic.

As for the crossbow/shield debacle - how about a special-made shield that has the crossbow mechanism
built into the back of it? Could anyone make that work?

Since its a crazy contraption, might need some sort of breaking mechanism, perhaps black shield? It either jamms if you are trying to fire, or stabs you if you are trying to block