Heroes Quest

Game Analysis

by Steve Thomas



Is Heroes Quest anything like Warhammers Quest? Which is better?

Hero's Quest is almost exactly the same kind of game as Warhammer Quest. There are only a few differences between them.

Warhammer Quest has map 'pieces' that can be used to make lots of different dungeons (ala Space Hulk) and Hero's Quest has one generic dungeon in which various areas are used in different missions. This may seem to be a disadvantage but I have found that the missions in Hero's Quest use the board in imaginative ways so it never seems like the same dungeon.

Warhammer Quest is much more expandible, with many different add-on character classes. Hero's Quest just has the dwarf, elf, barbarian, and mage. WHQ is also much more advanced, with the possibility of going up in level and making a RPG out of it.

Warhammer Quest doesn't necessarily need a gamemaster (there is a way to make random dungeons). Hero's Quest definately needs a game master and has pre-planned out adventures (although no role-playing is involved).

The magic systems are different. Hero's Quest has a deck of elemental spell cards in which the wizard gets 3 elements and the elf gets the remaining one. To cast a spell you simply use a card. WHQ's magic is a lot like the miniature game. You roll a 'winds of magic' at the beginning of every turn and that is how many magic points you can spend that turn. You start with a selection of 3 spells, and these can be cast as much as you like (if you have enough points). Although the WHQ system sounds more interesting, many times the wizard is stuck with all high point cost spells that he can never cast, effectively making him useless).

The both come with lots of goodies but Hero's Quest also comes with furniture. This may seem like a little thing but it adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game to walk into a study and see a desk with a skull on it. Now for the biggest difference.....cost. Hero's Quest is a self contained game that has everything you need to play inside. Just like every other Games Workshop game they expect you to pay a fortune in mini's to build up your dungeons.

Personally, I had more fun with Hero's Quest because the adventures were more interesting and everyone always had fun. When playing the random WHQ, somebody almost always dies and many times everyone does. (It's no fun to enter the first room and get killed by 2 minotaurs).


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