Ye Olde Inn

Well, it seems the rumour about the future release of this new mini-expansion of HeroQuest was fully true as confirmed in GenCon Indy 2023.

The very first pictures of this expansion and its content were worldwide leaked by a Facebook user here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2350317 ... 746151443/

Comments on the contents?

hard to tell for sure, but it looks like some interesting new mechanics here.

The idea of exhausting a style to use one of the techniques is clever, as is the restriction on using the Fire style only after exhausting the other three is neat. This could lead to some interesting timing decisions.

Also that 3 base Defense score is pretty nifty as well. Makes me wonder what other restrictions might be involved regarding Armor and Weapon use.

I'm looking forward to being able to see the full text on the cards, as well as the "Story" and rules for the Wandering Monk. So far, I'm digging what i'm seeing.

Just occurred to me, that the new art style is so distinct from previous offerings... What *IF* this was actually a tester product for a future expansion based off of the Japanese version of the game?

I don't actually believe it is mind you, but it would be an interesting way to expand the brand. And before the nay-sayer's pile on, I am fully aware of the distinction between a Chinese Martial Arts themed Hero and a Japanese core game... So my point is more about a broader "Eastern-themed" expansion. Still not expecting such, but it's fun to consider.

Just uploading some of the pics of of reddit.

Can anyone guess what the obscured cards say? Burning spirit looks to function like the lighting bolt spell. Speak with stone seems to be about searching a room without consequences? Or revealing a rooms contents without opening the door? Interesting that these abilities don't seem to involve healing abilities, which I would have thought was a given with the mystical nature of them.

While I do like all these new abilities, I will say that I notice a bit of power creep as these heroes have 4 ability cards while the other Hero packs had 3. Not sure if it's simply because 4 elements equal 4 ability cards but I guess we'll see when they release another hero. And, correct me if I'm wrong,doesn't Chinese lore state that there are 5 basic elements (5th being iron)? Also, I usually associate Kung Fu as being more related to animal styles rather than elements.

Overall, these seem to be a cool addition.

5th element is wood in China (the end of that movie would have been X-rated)

If they are treating it like D&D then it is purely eastern inspired, and not from any actual eastern religious practices. Like how crusader knights can't really exist because then you'd have to acknowledge that God and Jesus exist in the game world, alongside all the other gods, and you start making perceptions of Christianity that real-life Christians don't like.

I worry that all these new characters who have such limited equipment options are going to level up to their max too quickly.

The card of the monk with the staff doesn’t have a * by the 1 Attack Die. I’m guessing they neglected to add that to the card by accident, but that her abilities are probably the same.

Well, the first thing I thought when I saw the mini is that if they get boosters from being unarmed then why is she holding a staff lol?

cornixt wrote:5th element is wood in China (the end of that movie would have been X-rated)

If they are treating it like D&D then it is purely eastern inspired, and not from any actual eastern religious practices. Like how crusader knights can't really exist because then you'd have to acknowledge that God and Jesus exist in the game world, alongside all the other gods, and you start making perceptions of Christianity that real-life Christians don't like.

I worry that all these new characters who have such limited equipment options are going to level up to their max too quickly.

Yes, I guess you're right. The original game was made back when the Satanic panic was still around so HQ is absent large or oveet references to demons and such. It gave the game a different flavor and simplicity which I hope they stick to. I don't think we need a pantheon of Gods in HQ and all that.

SirRick wrote:The card of the monk with the staff doesn’t have a * by the 1 Attack Die. I’m guessing they neglected to add that to the card by accident, but that her abilities are probably the same.

Agreed.

The Male variant is also carrying a Shortsword (or similar) in a scabbard on their belt... So perhaps the only restriction for weapon use is really just losing out on some fundamental Unarmed attack options. Makes me wonder about Armor though... Maybe they cannot wear "Metal" armor or something.