The new rules have finally dropped, which means we're all starting over from scratch (or close to it). It also hopefully means we might get some more and returning players in the rules forum. To help those players, I thought it might help to have a little post to cover some frequent topics and help everyone out. I'll try to update this front post as time goes on if anyone has any other good ideas.

Step One: Learn to Love the Rule Book

Most people don't learn the game (or most games) by reading the rule book. Games are a social interaction, not a homework assignment! So, most people learn the game by playing it with friends. Which is great!

Except for the things that get lost in the shuffle.

Heroclix uses some specific wordings that are not the same as their every day use. And if you don't know those wordings or aren't familiar with them, the shorthand that people use can create confusion with traits and special powers.

So: if you've never read the rule book, read it. You can even download a free PDF of it here (LINK).

If you've read it once. Read it again.

If you haven't read it in two years, read it three times.

And it's not to be a jerk. It's because no one (on this forum, on the official Wizkids forum, or even at Wizkids HQ) is good enough to teach you (or re-teach you) how to play the game going one question at a time. And the basic knowledge of the game in the rule book will not only help you ask the right questions, it will help you figure out things that may seem confusing when you get answers.

No matter your experience level, the rule book is your best friend.

You also (probably/hopefully) are aware of the Powers and Abilities Card. You can download a free PDF of that here: LINK

Step Two: Learn To Love Your Judge

Very often people ask questions about specific scenarios that their local judge/tournament organizer has come up with. And while many experienced players/judges can come up with a rough idea of how things would be ruled, no one can say for sure except for that judge. So, if you have a question about how a specific scenario or house rule, ask your judge first. Because their opinion is going to be the one that matters.

Reminder: Silver Age is a house rule. There is NO “standard” Silver Age. So, make sure to ask your judge what they mean when they say Silver Age.

Step Three: Learn to Love the WIN

The WIN (Wizkids Information Network) is officially a site set up for players to track achievements as well as find stores and events. So why do we care about that in the Rules Forum? Because that's where the official Wizkids Rules Forum is. (LINK)

That is the absolutely only place to get official rulings on Heroclix pieces (outside of official rules documentation released by Wizkids). Answers on this forum? Approximations and some times guess work (albeit well informed and sourced). Rulings by your local judge? Official for that event but nothing beyond that. Rulings by official Wizkids Judges at official Wizkids events (like conventions)? Official for that event but nothing beyond that.

If it's not in the rule book, powers and abilities card, or on the WIN Rules Forum, it's not to be used beyond the scope of that event.

The WIN also has a lovely Erratas and Clarifications sub-forum with separate threads for all kinds of different errata. And that is an even more valuable resource with the recent (Aug. 2017) rules revision. If you have yet to look through, head over now: LINK

Right now, it has a few threads changing specific special powers/traits to work with new wordings. It also has older errata and clarifications on figures so that they simply work as intended.

As well, here is the page on the Heroclix website that has the above PDFs, helpful videos, old rules documents and other material you may find interesting: LINK


Step Four: Learn to Love Each Other

There are a lot of experienced players and judges on this forum. Some of them even used to be official rules deputies and thus have a greater view into the inner workings of Wizkids (at least at that time). But this is ultimately a forum on a fan site. So we're all trying to do our best to figure out answers based on the information granted. And at a certain point, if we can't come to an agreement, it's probably better just to submit it to the WIN and let it lie.

Because we're pretty good at arguing in circles.

Step Five: Learn to Love Quoting

No one has every power memorized. And we don't all want to take the time to search or try to figure out what figure and/or powers a person is referencing. So, when asking about figures it's a good idea to quote the power in general.

Don't type it off of memory. Don't use short hand. Cut and paste it from the units section or when you look the figure up click on “DIAL” next to the small arrow in the upper right hand corner. It will open another page where you can copy the entire dial or just copy the code that reads [inlinedial]tmt053b[/inlinedial]

And if you are on your phone or otherwise can't do this, consider waiting until you get home. No rules question is so important that it has to be posted and answered right that second. After all, if you're at an event, that's what your judge is for.

Also, some of us have recently taken to posting a link to the official WIN ruling in threads where discussions were being had. In the interest of posterity, it is probably a good practice to copy and paste those rulings into the thread. That way if something has changed or the post is deleted, we can search and reference it in the future.

I asked our purple friends before posting this. I also might lock it after a while, but plan to leave it open for a while in case anyone else has some good suggestions for basic topics to put in the first post.

So let me know.

Looks good Wolverazio, thanks for writing this up. I'd recommend a mod stickying this.

Step 5: Learn to Love Yourself

Step 6 - don't be a troll. Even if they're REALLY "asking for it".

Thanks for this, I feel like I may have been a small part of this problem, as I have asked a few questions that could have been answered by looking it up in the rule book.
I will take the time to re-read it again, as it would have been during the 1st series that I, or my friends that I play regularly with, have done so.

Good idea for sticky thread, I'd maybe suggest that in step 1 learn to love the rule book that it's worth re-reading the rule book and PAC again after playing your first couple of games I know I picked upon several rules I'd misinterpreted doing that once I'd played a few times.

So much love.

I was going to suggest an advisory note like Rurouni82's last practically tactical article about being careful of old info when researching the rules but re-reading your initial post I'm not sure if the learn to love the WIN section either already covers it or might just need a slight tweak to highlight the issue?

Mind you much as WIN seem to be quite good at editing their posts to keep it current they are probably going to have a busy time spotting old incorrect rulings when the new rules first appear, so their may be some obsolete stuff on there to start with.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure we can really count that. Knowing whether old info is old or not comes from bringing it to the community for discussion (unless you happen to know it used to be there and now it isn't). And a lot of people make incorrect assumptions about what deletes rulings actually mean.

So, kind of better to just follow the others (rule book first, win second, us third) and let it come out in the wash.

For now, at least.

I usually find most questions I have were already asked before, so searching the rules forum is another thing everyone should love.

I do have one stupid question... How do you place a figure and it's dial information into a comment/post? That would be helpful whenever I have questions in regards to specific figures.

Thanks in Advance!

Quote this message and look at the code, wrapped with "inlinedial."


You get the figure number form the Units section.

-J

Nice! Love the focus on love. This is a game, after all, and the whole point is to have fun.

Even if a ruling goes against you, even if you are completely absolutely sure you are right, even if you ARE right . . . suck it up, shake it off and keep playing. Heck, you might still win the game with good play and some help from the dice! If not, you can play again. Just turn the little people back to Click 1 . . .

The E and C got nuked from orbit (it was the only way to be sure).

I plan on redoing the OP in a few weeks after everything shakes out (and we hopefully have the Past Rules document to have some idea what that is).