WizKids, the world’s leader in collectible miniatures, recently announced that there are changes in the works for their premiere collectible miniatures game — HeroClix — with the expressed intent of making the game more accessible for new players as well as many other benefits.

One of the first, and most notable changes, comes in the form of a new default design of the Character Card included with each HeroClix figure, which includes a visual representation of the Combat Dial so that the player who fielded the team may look at their upcoming game stats at any time during the game.  While a rather large change, the WizKids management team has been considering implementing it for over six years.  After years of fielding retailer and player input, it became clear that one of the biggest hurdles to new players joining the game was the dread of having to eventually memorize the dials to play at the highest level.  WizKids originally considered making the dials visible to both players throughout the game, and while they stepped back from that, they still recommend that stores, judges, and players allow new players to view all information until they have become comfortable with the game and how it operates.

The new HeroClix Character Card format will be introduced with the release of the Marvel HeroClix: Superior Foes of Spider-Man set in July 2016. The dial information will be on the back of cards so that players can reference their own dials without opponents being able to reap the benefits.  Any information, including special powers, that may be referred to by opponents will be on the front of the cards. For figures that have too many powers to fit all the information on the front panel, a bi-fold card will be the default format to maintain the back page remains free from information the opponent needs to see. Tournament rules will allow any set that has printed visible dials on the card to be used in a tournament (though character cards from sets released prior to this will not have the luxury of a visible dial).

WizKids also announced other plans for HeroClix including a simplification on the dial design (game mechanics) on an expanding number of characters, a renewed focus on making maps more integral to game play, and ongoing efforts to clarify and consolidate the rules of the game.  The streamlined characters, known as Specialists, focus on a few aspects of the characters’ powers and will provide interesting tradeoffs as players build their teams.

Over the past 15 years of HeroClix, the rules and language used in rulebooks, card text, and announcements have been varying. WizKids has been working on the consistency of language across all documents to clean up information that may be no longer valid. With the goal of a simplified rulebook, an updated Powers and Abilities Card, and consistency throughout all documentation in the works, the HeroClix game should continue to grow, evolve, and maintain its status as the premiere collectible miniature game in the world for decades to come.