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Gladiator
- 2–6 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,186
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs
1980
Rules assistance for Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–3 players
- 60–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
Rules assistant for Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs is a board game released in 1980 for 2–3 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael J. Matheny and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
The publisher's description: Hero is a wild, no holds barred man-to-man (or beast) game on two levels. Players control their own Hero in their portion of the maze as well as monsters in their opponents portion. Each Hero is composed of several categories: Intelligence, Physical Appearance, Class, Strength, Luck, Hits, and Weapons Proficiency. Each of these must be determined by the player from a fixed number of points. To make a Hero super-strong will mean that some other category must suffer (super-strong and a lackwit?). Monsters include such loathesome creatures as trolls, ogres, zombies, goblins, lycanthropes, men, and the horribly alluring succubus. Each has an offensive potential as well as a defensive capability based on the type of creature vs. the Hero's weapon and how mightily he wields it. Your Hero must avoid traps, slaughter monsters, gather gold, and make it to the end of the labyrinth to win the hand of the stunning, voluptuous daughter of the most powerful wizard in the land. If the Hero does not there are always other challenges, unless he has become a Dead Hero. Components: Thin album box 3 panel folder (Yaquinto catalog), Space Gamer Magazine advertising flyer. Thick album box Yaquinto price sheet dated "Feb 1 1982", rules booklet marked "Second Printing, March 1981". Both editions 12 page rules booklet, card with 3 perforated hero set-up sheets, 2 plastic ziplock bags. Summary Counter Manifest: 52 3/8" counters, 130 1/2" counters (9 white, 1 blank, and 3 identical sets of 40 colored red, blue, or green.)
Designers
Publishers
- Yaquinto
Questions and answers
Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs supports 2–3 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs is 60–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs has a complexity rating of 2.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs are: Michael J. Matheny. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.