RETRO GAMING!
I learned a short time ago that Lego actually released an rpg-themed boardgame back in 2011 called Lego Heroica, but it was discontinued just a year or two after release because it didn't sell at all. When I was told this I did not believe it, because I both consider myself to have a finger on the pulse of all things D&D, and I can't image Lego actually making a marketing mistake these days as Lego-enthusiasts will pretty much buy anything. Yet this guy (who we'll call Charles) would not be discouraged in convincing me of this attempt on Lego's part to cash in on the Geek and Sundry-style D&D mania that was going on (remember how good Geek and Sundry was in the early 2010s?), and he actually hunted down copies of three of the four main sets on ebay for us to check out. So we opened them up, built and combined all the various maps from the itsy-bitsy lego chits, and commenced questing.
I learned a short time ago that Lego actually released an rpg-themed boardgame back in 2011 called Lego Heroica, but it was discontinued just a year or two after release because it didn't sell at all. When I was told this I did not believe it, because I both consider myself to have a finger on the pulse of all things D&D, and I can't image Lego actually making a marketing mistake these days as Lego-enthusiasts will pretty much buy anything. Yet this guy (who we'll call Charles) would not be discouraged in convincing me of this attempt on Lego's part to cash in on the Geek and Sundry-style D&D mania that was going on (remember how good Geek and Sundry was in the early 2010s?), and he actually hunted down copies of three of the four main sets on ebay for us to check out. So we opened them up, built and combined all the various maps from the itsy-bitsy lego chits, and commenced questing.
Holy
smokes was this game fun. The rules were much more intricate compared
to what I expected. Clearly someone put some major love into this over
in Lego-Land. Its too bad it wasn't marketed well, because its pretty
damn fun to play, especially if you're a kid just getting into gaming.
Or a drunk adult.
All melee combat occurs with the same dice, and the same chances to hit and be hit by creatures, regardless of what they are or your character class. But the meaner monsters hit harder, which is pretty much the only difference between minions and bosses. However one face of the special attack/movement die has a shield on it, and if rolled it activates the special power that each character class has. Depending on your class it could be activated when you roll to move (as a ranged attack) or during combat (as a melee attack).
The Wizard, for example, moves and attacks in melee like everyone else. However if he rolls the shield during his movement phase, he can Magic Missile any monster within 3 spaces (even around corners). But if he rolls the shield during combat it just represents a successful hit as normal. On the other hand if the Barbarian rolls a shield during combat he can hit and kill all monsters within melee range around him, but if he rolls it during movement phase he can just move full distance, no special power.
Its intricate enough to keep your interest, but easy enough for kids to learn and play. It would be quite a gateway into D&D for any gamer parents, its just too bad its made by Lego and therefore was marked up 6000% upon release, and is even more expensive now on the black market.
All in all though Lego Heroica gets 4 pointy-lego-bits-hidden-in-the-carpet out of 5!
And I don't even really like Legos. ;)
What else can I say, its just easy fun.
Game on!
All melee combat occurs with the same dice, and the same chances to hit and be hit by creatures, regardless of what they are or your character class. But the meaner monsters hit harder, which is pretty much the only difference between minions and bosses. However one face of the special attack/movement die has a shield on it, and if rolled it activates the special power that each character class has. Depending on your class it could be activated when you roll to move (as a ranged attack) or during combat (as a melee attack).
The Wizard, for example, moves and attacks in melee like everyone else. However if he rolls the shield during his movement phase, he can Magic Missile any monster within 3 spaces (even around corners). But if he rolls the shield during combat it just represents a successful hit as normal. On the other hand if the Barbarian rolls a shield during combat he can hit and kill all monsters within melee range around him, but if he rolls it during movement phase he can just move full distance, no special power.
Its intricate enough to keep your interest, but easy enough for kids to learn and play. It would be quite a gateway into D&D for any gamer parents, its just too bad its made by Lego and therefore was marked up 6000% upon release, and is even more expensive now on the black market.
All in all though Lego Heroica gets 4 pointy-lego-bits-hidden-in-the-carpet out of 5!
And I don't even really like Legos. ;)
What else can I say, its just easy fun.
Game on!
