Inspired by another community members content and comments on discord I spent the evening adding some extra flavour to the shapeshift animals from u/banjo-oz A different Druid
Feedback always welcome, do these feel thematic and what are thoughts on power level of each?
Totems to unlock the transformation still cost 350 gold each.
Found a creator on cults who was happy to put together this little pack of low poly animals for use with [u/Banjo-Oz](https://banjogames.wordpress.com/2024/01/29/heroquest-a-different-druid/) rewritten Druid.
Have purchased myself and can confirm the minis are separate from the bases and so can be rescaled to taste easily.
[Minis](https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/low-poly-animal-board-game-characters-pack-wolf-tiger-bear-ferret-deer-stl-control_eugen) are visually distinct with bases 25mm*5mm
Initial draft of skills text for the alt Bard I'm working along, to be used in conjunction with the 3 songs previously posted.
I like the Orc Bard in principle but feels a little underwhelming.
They're a bit of a generalist like the Elf, but to make them distinct I think they should lean more heavily into the support role, and I also want to get more mileage from the *is an Orc* aspect of the character and inject a little more luck and roguishness possibly.
I picture the Orc bard as a capable fighter due to being physically large and durable, but they are an artist, a chronicler, not exactly a pacifist but possibly will use chaotic events to bypass combat or further their own agenda, perhaps other green skins wont be hostile initially, or they can treat a room as non hostile to search for advantages, as others are fighting they slip and roll around the room ducking and diving providing a soundtrack to the adventuring.
I've started by looking at the spells, but may also give the bard some skills too as the spells are not really magic any longer just 3 types of song with different affects when played.
I like the Orc Bard in principle but feels a little underwhelming.
They're a bit of a generalist like the Elf, but to make them distinct I think they should lean more heavily into the support role, and I also want to get more mileage from the *is an Orc* aspect of the character and inject a little more luck and roguishness possibly.
I picture the Orc bard as a capable fighter due to being physically large and durable, but they are an artist, a chronicler, not exactly a pacifist but possibly will use chaotic events to bypass combat or further their own agenda, perhaps other green skins wont be hostile initially, or they can treat a room as non hostile to search for advantages, as others are fighting they slip and roll around the room ducking and diving providing a soundtrack to the adventuring.
I've started by looking at the spells, but may also give the bard some skills too as the spells are not really magic any longer just 3 types of song with different affects when played.
I've tried to make the Warlock more the default state and also less morally questionable... but also leave scope to allow the hero to be played with more or less Demon depending on group/player/Zargon's preference.
The four sets of transformation rules, I believe; should result in
\- more demon, test rolls to resist becoming the demon are harder to pass, rolls to revert to Warlock are harder to pass. = 2d6 vs BP + 1d6 vs MP
\- Less demon, test rolls to resist becoming the demon are easier to pass, rolls to revert to Warlock are easier to pass = 1d6 vs BP + 2d6 vs MP
\- More swingy, test rolls to resist becoming the demon are harder to pass, rolls to revert to Warlock are easier to pass = 2d6 vs BP + 2d6 vs MP
\- Less swingy, test rolls to resist becoming the demon are easier to pass, rolls to revert to Warlock are harder to pass = 1d6 vs BP + 1d6 vs MP
The additional spell Essence Exchange is designed to replace original spell "Demonform".
Came across Mark Forster's Heroquest card creator recently while looking for a tool to output print ready sheets of homebrew cards.
While he's not quite there yet on the printables front it is on his road map (as discussed in linked video) and I'd say well worth checking this out and keeping an eye on progress.
What are people's thoughts on this for the Warlock?
I've tried to stay fairly close to the accessing dread/carrying the demon curse idea but also insert the narrative the Warlock is the default state, giving more reasons to want to be *in control* as the warlock.
Warlock Stats - Att: 2 / Def: 2 / BP: 4 / MP: 5
Starts with wand: On dealing any damage with wand: restore 1 MP to Warlock (once per turn)
Can only access equipment available to wizard
Warlock Spells:
* Fear - RAW
* Dark Wings - RAW
* Take My (Strong) Hand - Heal an adjacent hero up to 3 BP, reduce Warlock MP by equal amount, do not discard Spell card after casting.
While in Demon form gain:
* +2 Attack
* +3 Defend
* Takes damage on MP
* Immune to traps
* Cannot use equipment or spells
* Cannot search for treasure or secret doors
* Cannot be targeted by hero magic
* Must attack on turn if adjacent to an enemy
* Corrupting influence:
- Lose 1 MP end of each turn,
- Lose additional 1 MP if no damage dealt that turn.
Transformation Mechanics:
- When taking BP damage: Roll 2d6 vs current BP
if higher → transform into Demon form
- End of turn in Demon Form: Roll 2d6 vs current MP
if higher → revert to Warlock
- If Demon Form reaches 1 MP: Immediately revert to Warlock and turn ends
To add more variety, narrative and choices, I'm giving players access to Hopekins Rest from Wizards of Morcar right from the start of playing the original Game System.
However, almost all locations are locked behind players/NPC dilemmas that will affect when and at what cost the various parts of the town open up.
To begin with only the Tavern is open, the following is my introduction for the players.
Open to thoughts and suggestions!
After completing Q1 introduce Hopekins Rest to players,
Zargon reads aloud…
As you’re nearing the end of your travel to the capital, still a little way south you find yourself in Hopekins Rest; the town stands, but only barely.
The guard towers are thinly manned, the small number of townsfolk to be seen; speak in hushed tones and quickly stop when you draw near, eying your group warily before hurriedly moving on.
Doors are barred early, if they’re ever opened at all.
The only place offering any form of welcome...if you could call it such, is the town tavern, The Dewdrop Inn, run by Marta Dewdrop.
A stout dwarven woman with a copper-coloured braided beard threaded with glass beads, Marta watches from behind the bar with sharp green eyes that miss nothing. Her demeanor steady, her tone not even as warm as the empty hearth, there’s a weight behind her gaze that suggests she knows plenty about this town’s troubles.
Before you can speak, she barks “100 gold a night or 50 if you want to sleep in the stables, but no lightin' any fires!
Plus 50% for pointy eared parchment skulks, Dwarves HALF OFF!" She yells, chuckling to herself, " Entertainers stay for free, not that we’ve seen any of those in a good long while!” she grumbles, “Now then, what will it be?” "
Players may choose to stay in the Inn if they can afford to, staying in a room confers +2BP to the hero on their next Quest only, while staying in the stable confers only +1BP
If players lack cash they may trade any equipment/artifacts they hold for 50% the purchase cost shown on card to Marta to cover the accommodation cost, but don't expect any change. Alternatively a player may receive funds whether by gift or loan from another player.
Once business is resolved, Marta’s disposition to each Hero that's paid to stay softens and while you enjoy the small comforts of the inn you may each ask Marta for information about one location on the Hopekins Rest map.
Players without accommodation for the night may instead move to any one location on the Hopekins Rest map to investigate it.
To give my players some variety and to get a bit of extra mileage out of the FL box, I'm porting select maps over to the FL Alt board, starring with Keller's Keep.
Plan to add more soon ready for when we move on to other expansions.
£8 to justify buying herself biscuits I think 😂 , but still, looking forward to not guessing how done the food is!