MINIATURE PACK: CALL OF DREAD discussion

[HispaZargon]

I don't know that I completely agree with HispaZargon's opinion that this kind of product risks Heroquest's future, because I think it is even more important to new players and might boost sales in that group.

I think this makes it an especially important pack for players that are new to the game (who don't have access to any Mythic Tier exclusives or non-HQ figures) to get alongside the GS/First Light, KK & RotWL.

I honestly hope you were right, but I see a risk on this product because of the chosen timing. According to the feelings I see in different communities, I think the moment it has been released has been unfortunate, since most of the fans were expecting a new quest pack continuing the story of the quest revealed during latest GenCon.

As explained before, I think the miniature pack is not a bad product, and it will be very well sold, but it came in the wrong moment for the fans who were following the reborn of the franchise since 2021. People's patience is not infinite, and they use to want more adventures, lore and mechanics, things which have made HeroQuest a bigger thing for decades, but in the 3D printing era or overall miniature proxies era, a box of just miniatures has been disapointing for many. Each time AH disapoints fans, more fans start to move playing other games and forget HeroQuest. And yes, I know this miniature pack was something asked for some fans, but if you make a serious survey and asks all the fans if they prefer a new quest pack each year or a miniature pack... I bet the answer would be the quest pack.

In the other hand, if I just had First Light box, I would probably be interested in a new quest pack too which could let me continue the campaign contained in First Light because I had probably completely played it (I would have had mostly 2 years to do it).

Anyway, the decision was already taken by Avalon Hill. We will not see any new pack in 2026 of a franchise which was able to release up to three different packs in the same year, if I remember well, but the latest released pack was a remake of an existing pack from the 90's (Wizards of Morcar), and the pack before it a retail version of another campaign already released in 2021 (Crypt of Perpetual Darkness), so nothing totally new has been announced / leaked in the franchise since more than 2 years (First Light).

[lestodante]

Anyway I guess this pack is much better and more useful than another named dice set

[HispaZargon]

This is all the 'lore' included in the new Miniature Pack:

CALL OF DREAD
The New Dawn is on the horizon and will be
ushered in by flames. The chosen ones will
emerge from their spirit slumber and assume
their destinies once again. Then guiding light
will be extinguished for a time... but they
can reignite it by holding fast to hope.

Any ideas about what this text could actually mean? Hypotheses?

Do you think it may have any connection with future releases by Avalon Hill?

[Malcadon]

"Sorcerer" = Kessandria, RotWL Quest 9, "The Last Gate;" whether one assumes she is or isn't, there's no mention of Kessandria actually being undead in RotWL, so this figure could reasonably be used for her. (Additionally, this figure would be good for the "Witch Hands" from the First Light quest book.)

I find that the Dread Sorcerer from SQT works best for Kessandria as the figure shows a skull-faced undead woman with a broken death mask. Lacking that set, the CoD Dread Sorcerer works just fine. The CoD Dread Sorcerer also works for the Swamp Hag from CoPD, and (if you don't care to use a Gargoyle for her) Kavra from SQT.

Unfortunately the zombie and goblin Call of Dread figures don't seem to have similar fitting specific uses to begin with, but maybe if another Dread Figure pack is produced in the future they'll include a zombie in wizardly attire that could work well for Wardoz from GS Quest 7.

As for the Goblin, there is Buubhealxea from CoPD--if you are lacking AtOH. And for the Zombie, there is Wardoz from the GS, and (if you don't want to use a Barbarian figure) Kelvinos from FH.

[wallydubbs]

This is all the 'lore' included in the new Miniature Pack:

CALL OF DREAD
The New Dawn is on the horizon and will be
ushered in by flames. The chosen ones will
emerge from their spirit slumber and assume
their destinies once again. Then guiding light
will be extinguished for a time... but they
can reignite it by holding fast to hope.

Any ideas about what this text could actually mean? Hypotheses?

Do you think it may have any connection with future releases by Avalon Hill?

In regards to the textual lore, I don't think it's talking about these monsters. We've had a big boss that tried to cover the realm in Darkness (Fellmarak) and one that tried to cover the realm in Ice (Frozen Horror). This "New Dawn" brings fire. The Chosen Ones emerge as their spirits have been asleep so they may once again fulfill their destiny (to save the world?). This makes me think of 4 main heroes, Rogar, Durgin, Ladril & Telor. Just as Mentor repeatedly pushes this pattern of a Barbarian, Dwarf, Elf & Wizard to relive the heroes of old.
Guiding light will be extinguished, meaning there will be darkness and it may seem like evil is victorious. But if the heroes hold true to hope they may persevere.
"Destinies, Guiding Light, Hope..." It's certainly talking about heroes and not these Dread figures.

I don't want to keep being a Negative Nancy, so it's certainly possible that it's relating to a future expansion, but it's much too vague and could very well reference any of the past bosses except the Frozen Horror.
Whatever future expansion may come I don't see them counting on these figurines, unless they want to reuse that Orc Shaman for Grawshak. But most expansions don't rely on a previous expansion for pieces, so it would be possible that they'd include some of these figurines to represent Grawshak, Skulmar and the Witch Queen.

[Sjeng]

Hey folks! I went to Spiel to see these first hand, and did a little interview with Avalon Hill, asking some important questions:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/De56CLMo ... BiNWFlZA==

[Foilfodder]

This is all the 'lore' included in the new Miniature Pack:

CALL OF DREAD
The New Dawn is on the horizon and will be
ushered in by flames. The chosen ones will
emerge from their spirit slumber and assume
their destinies once again. Then guiding light
will be extinguished for a time... but they
can reignite it by holding fast to hope.

Any ideas about what this text could actually mean? Hypotheses?

Do you think it may have any connection with future releases by Avalon Hill?

When I think "guiding light" I think Mentor with his Loretome narrating the opening for each quest. At the end of First Light's epilogue there was a cryptic statement by the Seer Scale Dragon to the Heroes regarding Mentor. Sounds like the battle against Zargon and his armies is going to get worse before it gets better. I lean more toward "the choosen ones" as the big bads from previous quests rather than the heroes from Zargon's previous defeat before the current heroes were revruited by Mentor.

Could be some epic setups if the heroes have to fight a mix of villians in the same battle. Would finally make sense why Sinestra has a heal undead spell (Reanimation) in reserve if she teams up with the Witch Lord.

[wallydubbs]

Could be some epic setups if the heroes have to fight a mix of villians in the same battle. Would finally make since why Sinestra has a heal undead spell (Reanimation) in reserve if she teams up with the Witch Lord.

The back of the Dread Spell cards are the same in MotM as they are in the Game System. If my heroes are cruising through a battle with the Witch Lord (Return to Barak Tor or Court of the Witch Lord), I add this Reanimation spell to the Witch Lord's hand. If the heroes are maxed out on Armor, it's just an inconvenience to kill all the skeletons again, the Mummies might be the only ones giving them a hard time.