Ye Olde Inn

I just noticed something strange in the EU equipment cards:

The Short Sword has 2 attack dice, but the card also states it may be used to attack DIAGONALLY!!!


Wait for the card to switch, I don't have another image.

My Dutch card 1st edition only says 2 attack dice, and that's it. The US version (armoury) also just says 2 combat dice. But the PDF of the English UK equipment cards on this very website has the diagonal attack rule on it. What's the deal?

yeah, that's just a typo on the card. The long sword is the one that allows for
diagonal attacks.

Longsword isn't available in the European version. The introduction of the Longsword is why the shortsword doesn't have diagonal in the American version. Now, why the UK version has it and not others I don't know. I don't remember if the first edition UK had the diagonal ability or not.

I say, of course the Shortsword does not allow diagonal attacks, unlike the Longsword.
Let's face it: many of the HeroQuest texts leave something to be desired.

The second edition German Bracers card gives you 1 extra ATTACK die...
That's the most obvious example to me, where I knew as a 10-year-old, I have to do something about that game.

Three of the English EU equipment cards grant diagonal attacks (not including thrown or missile attacks). First, the one-combat-die Staff. No issues there, as it is long and it is included in both the European and North American systems to help protect the Wizard. Next, the two-combat-dice Spear also allows diagonal attacks, which is no real problem as it can be at least as long as the Staff and needs something to differentiate it from the Hand axe that also allows two combat dice (but why they are priced the same I just can't figure). Last, the two-combat-dice Shortsword allows diagonal attacks, already noted in the OP.

Rationalizing inclusion of the Shortsword, I'd say all three weapons have one thing in common--they all make use of a thrust to attack. Such a manuever could be slipped in between two orthogonally-positioned attackers from a diagonal position. The Broadsword, Battle axe, and Hand axe all use wide, slashing attacks in comparison.

I never thought of it before, but the Goblin monster card sports a Shortsword. If a Hero gets a diagonal attack, Goblins should too. If they were granted diagonal attacks, that would give them some teeth when encountered in great numbers or in tricky Goblin choke-points.

However, being an American player, I prefer the standard two attack dice, no-diagonal version of the Shortsword.

doesn't the EU version have a TWO combat die staff? Mine does (Dutch). And the shortsword cannot attack diagonally.

I'm going to make an armoury card, like the alchemist card I made, with all EU equipment plus some extra equipment adapted from the US armoury. That also means I have to make additional EU cards for the extra equipment, so keep an eye out for those soon

I would say the Staff deserves 2 attack dice (in the EU system) because the Wizard needs some improvement to his attacking, and I wouldn't want diagonal attacking with the shortsword unless it was stated on the card, I'll have to check. The difference between the staff and the shortsword in this case would be that I consider the staff to be 2-handed so no shield allowed, and also it is immune to the rust spell. I think I prefer EU armoury.

@Sjeng-
My bad. The (British) EU Staff does in fact have two combat dice to attack. I confused it with the North American Staff while writing. Thanks for clearing that up.

As far as I know, the first European edition had 1AD for the staff (which was a truncheon, more or less), the 2nd ed had 2AD,
which, to me, doesn't make sense.

First of all, heroes have starting values:
Barbarian 1 AD (representing his superior fighting skills; he starts with a short sword in order to keep 3AD,2DD), all others 0 AD.

For the Staff, which I re-named Truncheon, I use
+1 AD; diagonal attack, no rust spell applicable, wizard's staff, may be used by all heroes

New Weapon: Staff
+2 AD; diagonal attack, two-handed, wizard's staff, may be used by all heroes

And while I'm at it, another weapon available to the Wizard: Rapier
+2 AD; diagonal attack, effective, may be used by all heroes

Special Rules:
Wizard's Staff: 1 weapon with this special rule is mandatory for the wizard to cast spells
Effective: roll white shields on 2 AD to hit --> if 2 white shields (2 hits), roll 1 AD: skull is another hit, which is undefendable --> the opponent my defend normally against the 2 white shield hits.

IF anyone is interested, I can post my full list, which I feel, is the only part of my houserules near completion.

knightkrawler wrote:As far as I know, the first European edition had 1AD for the staff (which was a truncheon, more or less), the 2nd ed had 2AD,
which, to me, doesn't make sense.

I have a 1st edition Dutch game, and my staff card has 2 AD. I assume the UK version is the same.