On page 5 of the Heroes Expansion it states "A leader must follow the combat rules of the troop he is accompanying, including battle backs and/or retreat" whereas 2 paragraphs before that paragraph it states that "A champion battles according to his own individual combat characteristics, as detailed on his character sheet". Am I to assume that a leader contributes NO battle dice to the unit he is with regardless of artifacts or initial weapon (assuming there are no skills that augment damage)? For example, if a hero (acting as leader) is accompanying a red foot unit, the red foot unit still rolls only 4 dice in combat unless augmented by a hero's skill?

Thanks!

That would be my understanding, with the exception of certain artifacts or skills WOULD add to the unit. For example, the Blademaster card states, "Your Warrior Hero uses one additional battle die in melee combat". I think that would apply to a hero acting as a leader as well as one acting as a champion. So a Red unit with a Hero attached that has the skill Blademaster would roll 5 dice.

Anyone else? Is that right?

oshfarms said:

That's how I read it. Certain artifacts and skills will affect the troop. Therefore, the base battle dice would be determined by the troops banner, but any Leader specific bonus would apply to the troop.

I had this exact same question after playing through two scenarios using the Hero rules. Nothing in the Heroes rulebook indicates that the Hero adds his/her weapon damage to the unit. However, I think they should and I really hope it was meant to be this way. Without adding their weapon damage, the only bonus a hero confers to the unit he or she leads is Bold (nothing to scoff at, but still).

GentlemanSavage said:

I would concur..the Hero doesn't add any of his battle dice to the unit battling, unless the artifact says otherwise.

I would think the Blademaster card only applies for the Hero, not the unit - based on the reading of it...in my opinion!

Cab

“Blademaster” is a skill card for both the Field Commander and Warrior. The card reads - “Your Field Commander Hero uses one additional battle die in melee combat.” The key word in the statement is Hero. When a skill card has the term Hero, the skill can be used when the Hero is acting as a Champion or when acting as a leader. A Field Commander with the Blademaster skill when leading a unit will therefore roll one additional die and the unit and the unit is in melee combat.

There are also a few skill cards that are more specific. For example Warrior “Hack-and-Slash” states this skill can only be used when a Hero is acting as a Champion. While the Cleric “Herbal Remedy” for example, can only be used when a Hero is acting as a leader.

Enjoy!

Richard Borg

Does this mean that the Hero's base damage is not added to the unit?

For example, a Field Commander hero is leading a blue banner sword unit. Do they roll their normal 3d or 4d (+1 from the hero). If this same hero has blademaster, does the unit roll 4d or 5d?

Richard Borg said:

Richard, thanks for the clarification. Are there some cards that MIGHT have been specific like Hack and Slash and Herbal Remedy that might have lost their wording when it got printed?

Cab

GentlemanSavage said:

That is correct: the hero's base damage is not added to the unit. The Field Commander Hero leading a blue banner sword unit will roll 3d. If that Hero has blademaster, the unit will roll 4d.

Yuck! Errata please. I feel strongly that a hero should always add their damage to the unit's base damage.

GentlemanSavage said:

I think this is probably a game balance issue. If it worked the way you want it, you would have this issue.

Make your warrior a leader of a red unit and give the hero the "blade master" skill. You would be rolling 7 dice [4 (red) + 2 (warrior dice) +1 (blade master)] with this unit! Seems a little overpowered to me. Especially when you consider that there are weapons that can additional effects to a unit with a leader. Like the Lore Blade; that unit with the leader would roll 7 dice, and hit on Banner Color, SoS, and Lore, plus having flags cause retreats.

But if that doesn't seem overpowered to you: house rule it. Play it your way with your friends. You may like it, or you may end up thinking it is overpowered.