"The Treasure is 6 squares ahead and 3 to the left but watch out for the......"

 

I suspect, like many role-players, I started with Dungeons & Dragons, or to be more precise "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons".

I preferred to be the Dungeon Master rather than a player, call it meglomania, power hungry, control freak whatever, I don't know why, but I got more of a kick from the game by setting the scene than playing it.

But, it was hard work and trying to come up with interesting and different scenarios to challenge the players. Yes, of course, there were the Dungeon Modules that TSR (and other companies) released  and I certainly used them, but more as framework to help set the story rather than follow the module slavishly. 

Do you remember this one Dear Reader?

Alas, the guys that I played AD&D with at home all moved away due to Uni, etc and to be honest the role-players that started to take over the Dundee University Wargames and Roleplaying club in my latter years at Uni, weren't really interested in AD&D - they liked to play Cthulhu or Paranoia or Rolemaster and other weird systems which really didn't float my roleplaying boat, so my roleplaying days dried up.

Then in 1989, Milton Bradley games released Heroquest, a boardgame which used figures produced by Games Workshop, who then issued their own version of the game Advanced Heroquest

However, I did not rush out and buy the games (I picked these copies up many many years later) so didn't pay much attention to them although my brother did pick up a copy of Heroquest, we had a couple of games, it was okay but didn't really get the excitement going.

But then in 1995, my bro picked up another boardgame, again produced by GW - Warhammer Quest.

This was the business. The use of tiles, meant you could create different dungeon layouts each time you played. You could play a one off adventure or with the Roleplay book that came with the set you could have a "proper" roleplaying campaign running. Cracking game - really enjoyed it. It provided a different play experience each time.  

So of course, not wanting my bro to get one up on me I had to go and buy a copy for myself. That was in 1995. I eventually used my set for a game last year........

Not that I would ever admit this to Mrs Kingsleypark, but I do sometimes wonder why I rush out and buy things, only for them to sit unused for such a long time (sometimes never used- "Advanced Third Reich" anyone?). I know Gamers suffer from the "Ooh it's shiny!" effect , but why to we get it so badly? Any psychological insights into that condition Dear Reader?

Anyway here are the 4 heroes from the WQ set, which eventually saw some Dungeon Action last year after so many years hiding in their box.

Cotton The Barbarian

Goodgriff the Wizard

Flegulas the Elf

Borgrim Rockhammer, son of Grimborg Rockhammer, Laird of the Seven Hills of Karaz-Kapstan

(well you didn't think I would give a Dwarf a frivilous name like the other 3 did you??).