Monday, 13 August 2018

Unboxing Devils Run - Hell's Highway

Word Forge Games created a miniatures game called Devils Run: Route 666 via Kickstarter some time ago which is now available to purchase normally. As well as this recent 2nd Kickstarter called Hells Highway they've also released several other expansions including many additional models and a box set called 'Reapers Revenge'.

Editors Note - This article is particularly picture heavy...
Hell's Highway - Box Cover
The insert of the box also works as an extra game tile 'tunnel' section as it's marked out the same as the separate tiles.
The above is the Kickstarter version of the box, I believe the retail version looks more like the picture below.

Before we get onto the models which is I'm sure the bit you're really interested in lets look at the other necessary components to play the game. Some background might be useful as well...

Hell's Highway
The post-apocalyptic America of the Devil's Run world is a dog-eat-dog wasteland where only the strongest survive. All major cities have been wiped from the map with the exception of San Francisco, the lone bastion of survival in a once civilized nation. The Law Haulage Company owns the north of the city and runs convoys out of the Bay to collect and refine fuel. They are besieged on every turn by the Purple Caussairs a chemical addled gang of cutthroats and miscreants. Can the Law Haulage Company make the run or will they fall foul to the Purple Caussairs? Will the Purple Caussairs capture enough fuel to stand alone or will they be force to bend their knee to the infamous Skinners who are taking over the wastes like a tidal wave engulfing everything in their path?

Hell's Highway - Instruction Booklet
Here's some sample pages from the rulebook. This booklet is somewhat of an improvement over the original one as it's explanations are clearer. These instructions also cover the new style tokens and game tile markings. It also contains a brief campaign in order to utilise the models in the set as well as a couple of intro missions.

Hell's Highway - Game Components
The game comes with double-sided board pieces, stat cards, counters, dice and the models themselves.
Board/Tile Pieces
The board pieces are made of good quality material and are double-sided to give you variety in appearance and varying 'hazards' on the road. In a significant improvement over the earlier tile sets these have coloured markings showing what counts as Debris, Wrecks and Impassable terrain which the older versions lacked.
Here's pictures of both sides of the tiles

Hell's Highway - Cards
There are stat cards for each vehicle, specialist drivers, weapons/equipment and vehicle upgrades.
If you have acquired the Kickstarter rather than the retail one you'll have some extra cards because there are also extra models within.

Hell's Highway - Components
All the necessary dice and counters are in the box as well as some clear plastic strips to put the bikes on so the stay upright on the playing area.
The counters are also much improved over earlier game versions with numbered Chassis Point tokens so you don't need to keep track of hundreds of them and Stash and Special Stash tokens with appropriate pictures on them. A welcome new addition is a selection of tokens representing debris and wrecks to add even more variety to the play area.

Hell's Highway - The Models
There are two factions in the starter box and each of these consists of a varying number of larger vehicles and several bikes of varying types. The core game models are all single piece though will require some tidying up.
Unassembled
If you have the Kickstarter version of the box however you'll have some assembly to do.

The Law Haulage
The corrupt Law Haulage Company had a monopoly over San Francisco until the Haul's Angels rolled in. Now, on the backfoot, the Law are fighting not only to regain their lost ground, but also to survive. This gang parades itself as the upholders of Law and Order, but it is just a facade...really they are nothing more than bully boys on the take! Stand in their way and you will feel the full wrath of the Law!

Law Haulage - Commander or Chieftain
The named version of this vehicle is the Chieftain which has an extra roof-mounted weapon which was a Kickstarter extra.

Law Haulage - Dispatcher

Law Haulage - Defender

The Purple Caussair (Skinners)
Originally a number of infighting and savage gangs, the Skinners became a force to be reckoned with when the sociopath known as Skulltaker murdered his way to the top. Now the madman can call upon any of the wasteland gangs...and if they don't come? Well there is a reason why he is called The Skulltaker!

The Purple Caussair (Skinners) - Wyvern

The Purple Caussair (Skinners) - Grappler

The Purple Caussair (Skinners) - Krakart
You get two of these and a third in the Kickstarter version but they're all identical.

Kickstarter Extras
So that's the core set but if you have the Kickstarter version there are some extra bits and pieces within. Two of these are simply an extra model for each of the other core game factions.

Freelancer - Del O'Ryan

Freelancer or Brit Attack - Ledgerdary

Freelancer or Brit Attack - Hurcules

Law Haulage - Hydrone
This odd thing is launched from a Commander or Chieftain.

...and finally there was this...which doesn't seem to match any of the cards I received...

Thoughts and comments are (as usual) most welcome
Should you ever choose to purchase something based on one of my features or reviews then it would be nice if you could let the company know where the inspiration came from...who knows...they might be grateful to the poor unappreciated blogger who sent you their way...if however I've put you off a product...well...you can keep that info to yourself...

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