So, according to the rulebook, "H = The number of Heroes."
If I'm playing a 5-player game, that means H = 5. However, if one of the Heroes becomes incapacitated, does H remain equal to 5, or does H now represent the Heroes which are still fully in the fight, such that H=4?
On Saturday night, my buddies and I were playing, and I utilized the latter situation; but the more I read the rules, the more it seems like the former is correct.
My understanding is that H is set at the beginning of the game and that value remains in effect until the end of the game.
The rulebook states that H is always equal to the number of heroes in the current game you are playing, regardless of whether those heroes are active or incapacitated.
However, that wording leads me to believe that if something were to remove a hero from the game entirely (something like Unforgiving Wasteland) then the H number would be reduced since number of heroes in the current game would be changed by that action. But again, this is just my interpretation... I don't believe a ruling has been made on this.
I can't remember where the topic was, but I once mentioned Unforgiving Wasteland and heroes being removed and Rabit appeared saying that H is determined at the start of the game and will go on unchanged even if a hero is removed from the game. So heroes becoming incapped by the Environment is pretty cary as not only can you not use the incap powers but you're still getting hit as hard as if they were there!
Edi: Found it! https://greaterthangames.com/comment/22999#comment-22999
Yeah, but I think that was Rabit's opinion, not an actual official confirmation that H will never change no matter what forever. I agree that the incapacitated nature of a hero doesn't change H, but I'm not 100% sure about it changing if a hero leaves play. I mean, the hero isn't in play, so how can it be included in H? I've got a box full of other heroes who are also not in play. I'm not counting them in H either. ;)
I think it has to stay constant. If it changes due to UW then you could get h=2 and a lot of villains don’t work at h=2
In that case I'd argue that the rule about H being at least 3 would take precedence.
That's only if H actually does change, of course. I haven't had that situation come up, but left to my own devices (i.e., in the absence of an official ruling) I'd say that H wouldn't be reduced.
considering that h= at minimum 3 is a house rule to be able to play 2 heroes (which 2 heroes is not an accepted official play format and the game has no rule for such officially ) there is no way that rule could take precedence in an official game
Yeah I would agree that H does not change and is set at the start of each game.
Point is, you really really don't want your hero to be final wastelanded.
You really don't want your hero incapped, either, but it can happen.
I like H remaining the same throughout the whole game simply because thematically I like the idea of villains not giving up their advantage once they have the heroes on the ropes.
That isn't always true. I once had a game where the only hope was to knock out Fixer and Bunker so Fanatic could unlimitedly get Aegis into play and get a lot of Wrathful Retributions in. Yes the heroes beat them to death, so sad.
A hero that is having bad draws can also very good while incapped, such as if Absolute Zero isn't having his day, just have him do a few all out attacks until he is gone to allow other heroes to use powers for awhile.
Ronway, I hate to be the one to point this out, but you are often beating yourself to death or asking others to do that. You take heroic sacrifice to a whole new level.
I'm pretty sure min(H)=3 is not a house rule. It was confirmed somewhere (but I can't find it) by the designers that H={3,4,5}.
H=3,4,5 is the accepted because the game says in the rules for players 2-5 using 3-5 heroes. So H will always work for 3,4,5
The rule that states that at a minimum H=3 for 2 heroe games is a custom adaption.
You both a fairly right. the >G crew have stated that there should always be 3-5 heroes, as the game mechanicas don't work for any other hero. So a 2 hero game isn't highly encouraged. On the other hand some tossed up the idea of what if H=3 in a 2 hero game. >G (Christopher if I recall correctly) has stated that it is a great idea. And I recall him suggesting it at least on 2 different occasions. >G still says it's a 3-5 hero game which is why H= 3, 4, or 5, not for the purpose of a 2 hero game. It is still widely accepted and I doubt it'll make it in the rules, therefore it's still a house rule.
Well, hmm. Between seeing statements of "H can't be less than 3" on the forums, and knowing that an H value of 2 breaks/trivializes a lot of things, I figured that was the actual ruling. It certainly makes sense for it to be, to me at least. Apologies for the assumption.
My main point, though, was that if the H value gets decreased at all (which is the real issue/question that still lacks an answer) from a starting value of 3, this would be a way to make sure that didn't cause problems. If H is fixed at the start of the game, then the question of whether H can be less than 3 is either irrelevant or has already been decided (if you're playing a 1- or 2-hero game).
Lacking an official ruling, I'll continue to play with H being an unchanging value between 3 and 5.
Minor clarification: A two hero game isn't supported/encouraged (but it doesn't mean you can't play it 
). A two player game is supported, with the recommendation of using two heroes each, or at least one player using two heroes.
'Bout to say: we play 4-hero, 2 breathing players games all the time. To the point that when I just have one hero going I feel somewhat hamstrung.
I wonder what it would be like for you to add two more players. 