HeroQuest adds a new character at Gen Con 2022, a swashbuckling elf

Original launch in 1989 HeroQuest — the cult-classic dungeon-crawling board game — is back. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, the latest edition was released to retail in 2021. Avalon Hill is expanding their line with a unique hero who has powerful and unusual abilities. This swashbuckling hero is called the Rogue Hisir of Elethorn and will be sold at retailers starting October. Pre-orders begin Wednesday.

HeroQuestIt was one of the first to offer campaigns-in-a box, and is still a popular model for board games. It is now the model for many modern masterpieces, starting with humble origins in the Toys R Us. Gloomhaven, Legends of the Dark: DescentAnd the future ISS Vanguard. Many popular, but hard to find, expansions were also available for the original that included additional miniatures and terrain as well as rules. But the franchise never did branch out beyond the original four heroes — the melee-focused barbarian, the spellcasting mage, the versatile elf, and the handy dwarf.

This reboot added more female-presenting sculpts and additional classes to the game like the bard or druid. Now Hasbro’s board game imprint is adding another class, the rogue, who’s described as “a nimble skirmisher deadly with small blades.”

Image: Avalon Hill/Hasbro

Everyone who has ever played HeroQuestYou know that daggers can be useless after the first few missions. Maybe you’ll carry one or two around for a handy ranged weapon, but they’re basically trash. This could be changed by a rogue character. The new class will also increase your need to manage mobility, a difficult prospect when you’re rolling dice for movement. That’s because this particular character is prohibited from using metal armor or shields of any kind.

“The Rogue Heir gave us an opportunity to present unique skills that improved upon two specific challenges large parties can face in the dungeon,” said Chris Nadeau, senior director of design and development at Avalon Hill, in an email to Polygon. “First, through the use of the Rogue’s Combat Mobility the character can move through crowded rooms and hallways and attack Zargon’s minions from behind. This allows players to move freely through crowded rooms and hallways without being impeded by the hero in front. Players will also be able, using a combination the Dagger, Bandolier and Opportunistic Striker Rogue Skill cards, to move freely around the dungeon and make attacks at greater range. They can still attack targets every turn in combat. The concept of a quick, agile, and nimble player seemed to be something that would really transform the game. HeroQuest is played.”

Additional characters will be added.

“We are constantly looking for opportunities to introduce variations in play-style through the inclusion of new characters in HeroQuest,” Nadeau said. “Like any good game where players can choose from a wide range of classes and archetypes to alter their style of play and generate a sense of ‘replayability’, HeroQuest’s selection of heroes should reflect the vast world we are building within the brand’s story and provide countless hours of repeat play for players who want the most out of their game.”