Heroscape Directions

Build a game board using the hexagonal terrain tiles. Create a new map from scratch or follow the directions in the instruction booklet to re-create a pre-generated game board.

Place glyphs on the game board. Glyphs give players special powers and abilities, creating an advantage. Space them evenly between the player's starting zones or in hard-to-reach areas.

Roll a 20-sided die, then pass it to the other players. Roll again to settle ties.

Decide collectively on a suitable character point total for your armies. Each character has a point value, ranging from 10 points for weak characters to over 200 points for powerhouses. Most games feature 500-point armies. Choose a higher army point total for a longer game or a smaller point total for a shorter game.

Choose a character card if you rolled the highest number. Read the cards to determine the attack, defense, range and movement scores of the various characters, as well as any special abilities the characters may have. Continue selecting characters, taking turns and moving clockwise around the table, until all players fill or come as close as possible to their army point total.

Arrange the figurines for you characters on the hexagonal terrain tiles in your starting zone. Place the four movement markers face-down on the cards you want to play with in the first turn; you move the character with the "1" marker first and the "3" marker last, while the "X" marker is placed on a card to confuse opponents.

Roll the 20-sided die again. Take turns playing, starting with the player who rolled the highest number, then the second highest, then the third highest and so forth.

Move your characters in the order of the movement markers. Look at the "Speed" rating on the character's card to determine how many tiles he can move in a given turn. If applicable, use any special powers on the character's card after moving.

Flip over any glyphs a character lands on. Use the ability on the glyph for as long as one of your characters remains on the tile with the glyph.

Attack enemies within character range using your basic attack or a special power. Look on the character cards for their "Attack" and "Defense" rating. Roll the corresponding number of attack/defense dice depending on whether you're attacking or defending. Attackers count skulls, which indicate a hit, while defenders count shields, which block a hit. A defending character receives a blood marker for every unblocked skull the attacker rolls. If a character's blood markers add up to his "Life" rating, the character is killed and removed from the board.

Continue taking turns until all players have moved and attacked as desired. Reposition your movement markers and roll the 20-sided die again to determine the play order in the second round.

Play the second round the same way you did the first. Continue playing rounds until the armies of all but one player are eliminated. The last player with standing characters wins the game.