Comments on: HeroCard Orc Wars: Addendum http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276 Brian Engard, freelance game writer and enthusiast. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:48:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brian http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-21615 Brian Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:23:40 +0000 http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-21615 Thanks for the comment! I can see your point about the communal pool idea. And really, to be fair, I've only played the game with more than two players once, and that was without the Ranger and Sorceress decks. I've got those now (you kind folk at TableStar sent them to me), and as soon as I get a chance to play once or twice more, I'll write more about the multiplayer aspects of the game. Thanks for the comment! I can see your point about the communal pool idea. And really, to be fair, I’ve only played the game with more than two players once, and that was without the Ranger and Sorceress decks. I’ve got those now (you kind folk at TableStar sent them to me), and as soon as I get a chance to play once or twice more, I’ll write more about the multiplayer aspects of the game.

]]> By: Monte Lin http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-21154 Monte Lin Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:20:00 +0000 http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-21154 I left a comment with the main review, but wanted to chime in on this addendum. In my opinion, I like the game as a 2-player game (2 elves and 1 orc) for various mundane reasons. This is one of our first games with an elimination mechanic (the other being HeroCard Nightmare), so it was a sort of experiment for us. One of the issues of having a common pool of health is that each of the characters (Paladin, Ranger, Sorceress) has certain strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Paladin can take an extra hit, but his blocking ability isn't as strong or flexible as the other characters. Having a common pool devalues the Paladin a little, and also, in my opinion, make him more of a target, since it's a little easier to hit the Paladin than the other characters. However, I personally like the debilitating effect. Eliminating an elf really only has a dramatic effect if the elves are close to winning, otherwise it becomes a gradual lose for the elf team. Thanks for the (double) review! Monte Lin Volunteer Coordinator TableStar Games I left a comment with the main review, but wanted to chime in on this addendum.

In my opinion, I like the game as a 2-player game (2 elves and 1 orc) for various mundane reasons.

This is one of our first games with an elimination mechanic (the other being HeroCard Nightmare), so it was a sort of experiment for us.

One of the issues of having a common pool of health is that each of the characters (Paladin, Ranger, Sorceress) has certain strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Paladin can take an extra hit, but his blocking ability isn’t as strong or flexible as the other characters. Having a common pool devalues the Paladin a little, and also, in my opinion, make him more of a target, since it’s a little easier to hit the Paladin than the other characters.

However, I personally like the debilitating effect. Eliminating an elf really only has a dramatic effect if the elves are close to winning, otherwise it becomes a gradual lose for the elf team.

Thanks for the (double) review!

Monte Lin
Volunteer Coordinator
TableStar Games

]]> By: Chris http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-18959 Chris Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:02:04 +0000 http://www.gamecrafters.net/archives/276#comment-18959 I realized early in the game that killing off one elf as quickly as possible would be much better than spreading the love. One elf at full health is only half as powerful as two elves at half health, after all. I think the pooled health idea would counteract this nicely. Of course, I think it could have been a very different game if I hadn't used all three of my dirty tricks as effectively as I did (or if I had had fewer). I realized early in the game that killing off one elf as quickly as possible would be much better than spreading the love. One elf at full health is only half as powerful as two elves at half health, after all. I think the pooled health idea would counteract this nicely.
Of course, I think it could have been a very different game if I hadn’t used all three of my dirty tricks as effectively as I did (or if I had had fewer).

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