Heroica is the first LEGO board game series that is designed to tie directly into other entries in the Heroica line. Explore treacherous caverns, assault enormous castles, or penetrate dark forests. Each game provides multiple ways to build a map so that no two adventures ever have to be the same.
Waldurk Forest is considered one of two mid-sized adventures in the Heroica line. It features a shop, three heroes, and two possible goals. Either capture the Goblet of Life or defeat the evil dark druid. Beware, you’ll still have to fight off giant spiders and the occasional werewolf.
Building Heroica: Waldurk Forest, a LEGO Board Game
As with all the Heroica games, you will be instructed to create a variety of modular pieces. This includes small forested areas, a ruined temple, and gateway. You will also have to put together the adventurers’ packs, treasure chests, and magical portals as playing pieces.
Once finished, LEGO provides two ways to construct your map. These, by no means, are the only possibilities. Once the modular pieces are built, you can create a map using any combination of pieces including mixing them with other Heroica sets or your own creations.
How to Play Heroica: Waldurk Forest, a LEGO Board Game
Once the map and game pieces have been set, you may begin play. LEGO recommends that the youngest player starts and that play continue clockwise. On your turn, you will roll the LEGO dice and follow the result.
On the dice there will be a 1, 2, 3, or Heroica symbol. This will indicate how far you can move this turn. A Heroica symbol will let you move four spaces or let you use the hero’s special ability.
This game features three different heroes. The barbarian, druid, and ranger all have a unique ability when the Heroica symbol shows up. The barbarian can defeat every enemy around him and then move one space. The druid can heal all damage dealt to him. The ranger can take one step then kill an enemy up to five spaces away in a straight line.
When you enter a space next to an enemy, stop your movement then enter battle mode. Battle mode consists of rolling the dice and following the result. The Heroica symbol or the sword means you defeat the monster. Remove it from the board. If you roll a skull, you take damage and move back from the monster the way you had come. If you roll both a sword and a skull, you defeat the monster and take damage along with moving a step back.
Damage will depend on the creature type. In this game spiders have a strength of one. Werewolves have a strength of two. And the dark druid has a strength of three. This indicates how many red cones you will need to remove from your hero’s pack. If you reach zero you are down and will begin reviving the following turn.
When you are down, roll the LEGO dice. You will restore life points equal to the number shown on the dice. If you roll the Heroica symbol, restore all your life points. Once you reach full life, you can be considered back up and play your next turn as normal.
Along with the monsters, there are a number of useful items on the board. These are potions and treasure chests. The red potion is a life potion and can restore two life points instantly. There is also a yellow strength potion. This allows you to instantly defeat any adjacent enemy. The treasure chests are a little trickier.
When you step on a treasure chest, stop and roll the LEGO dice. If you roll the Heroica symbol, you find two gold pieces. If you roll a sword, you find one gold piece. If you roll a skull, lose one life point. And if you roll a sword and skull, find one gold and lose one life point.
If you manage to obtain three gold pieces you can buy any item at the store. Each weapon will give you a different ability when you roll the Heroica symbol. The axe lets you defeat all adjacent enemies. Wand lets you defeat enemies three spaces away even around corners. The staff lets you heal two life points. The bow lets you defeat an enemy five spaces away in a straight line. The dagger lets you defeat an enemy and take a gold piece. The sword lets you move one step then defeat an enemy. Any gold awarded is taken from the store; this includes gold from treasure chests.
Finally, you will have magic portals and magic spaces. If you step on a magic space, you can move a portal to an empty gray space. If you walk next to a portal, stop your character. You can only pass through if you are standing next to a portal and roll a Heroica symbol. If you do, place your character on the space on the other side of the portal.
If you would step on a space occupied by another hero, place your hero on the next available space after that hero.
The objective of this game is either to defeat the dark druid or capture the goblet of life. There are ways to combine these two goals in the alternate rules section.
Interesting Elements in Heroica: Waldurk Forest, a LEGO Board Game
The major draw for this set has to be the microfigures. There are the three heroes, a dark druid, several werewolves and a gray microfigure that acts like a statue.
Builders will also enjoy the large amount of two-by-two jumper plates in a variety of greens. This also matches many of the other green pieces in this set.
Those looking to find interesting custom pieces will take a lot of pleasure in the translucent blue axe-heads. These pieces are used to create the magic portals in the game. Beyond this, the tiles on the dice are the last thing that will capture your attention.
Ratings for Heroica: Waldurk Forest, a LEGO Board Game
Originality: 5 out of 5 Studs. This is virtually new ground for LEGO. It’s completely LEGO and represents their own unique game play.
Replay Value: 5 out of 5 Studs. This set gives you a variety of options for building, making a near limitless supply of adventures.
Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 Studs. This is a clever game, but it may end too quickly for some.
Unique Parts: 5 out of 5 Studs. Nearly every Heroica game will come with microfigures unavailable anywhere else.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Studs. This game is not only fun, but versatile. Plus it has some great micro-sized pieces.
Recommendations
This set is either for the serious Heroica fan or someone looking to make interesting microbuilds with some fantasy characters. This game is worth every penny of the retail price.
List of LEGO Board Games to Search For
There are many other LEGO board games currently out and many expected to be released in the future. Here is a list of known board games (current and future) and their set number. Just a note: they are not necessarily being released in order of set number.
- Robo Champ, set #3835
- Magikus, set #3836
- Monster 4, set #3837
- Lava Dragon, set #3838
- Race 3000, set #3839
- Pirate Code, set #3840
- Minotaurus, set #3841
- Lunar Command, set #3842
- Ramses Pyramid, set #3843
- Creationary, set #3844
- Shave a Sheep, set #3845
- UFO Attack, set #3846
- Magma Monster, set #3847
- Pirate Plank, set #3848
- Orient Bazaar, set #3849
- Meteor Strike, set #3850
- Atlantis Treasure, set #3851
- Sun Block, set #3852
- Banana Balance, set #3853
- Frog Rush, set #3854
- Ramses Return, set #3855
- NinjaGO - the board game, set #3856
- Heroica: Draida Bay, set #3857
- Heroica: Waldurk Forest, set #3858
- Heroica: Caverns of Nathuz, set #3859
- Heroica: Castle Fortaan, set #3860
- LEGO Champion, set #3861
- Harry Potter Hogwarts, set #3862
What Sets Have Been Reviewed?
Instead of guessing which sets have or have not been reviewed, go to LEGO Board Games to get an overview. This article will briefly discuss each set in brief and let you know what sets are still on the horizon.
William Reed - With a B.A. in Communications and an intense love of LEGO, Will journeys forth to share and educate others about LEGO.
