Peer Review: Boomerang by Whitestuff

[UranusPChicago]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/bwhit89/Boomerang-1.jpg

Overall Cosmetics: very good. Great picture used for main image. Hit Zone icon clear and easily understood. Nice choice of purples used on card to match Boomerang's uniform.

Left box: spot on. I would not change a thing.

Flavor: Though Boomerang has additional boomerang powers that could have been used (gasarangs, razorang, screamerang, bladerangs) the Shatterang was chosen as the single Special Attack. Simplicity works well here; no need to clutter the card with additional unnecessary Special Attacks IMO.

Special Abilities/Attacks:
Double Attack - Just for clarification, would the Double Attack allow for two Shatterang Special Attacks on a single turn?

Shatterang Special Attack - I like that no clear line of sight is needed. The guy is throwing a boomerang, it makes sense to me. I would, however, modify the verbage slightly to mirror official verbage using Shotgun Sullivan as a template. Instead of "Roll 3 attack dice once." I would change that to "Roll attack dice once for all affected figures."

Flying - via boot-jets.

Stats: If I were to change anything stat-wise, it would be to lower his movement down to 5. His boot-jets, while allowing flying, are not the quickest modes of transportation in comparison with other flying Supes.

Point Value: Honestly, it depends on whether Double Attack allows two Special Attacks.

[GreyOwl]

This isn't specific to this review, but about the review process in general. Can we clarify what types of suggestions and/or changes are appropriate for the review process vs. the TNT process? Ideally, I'd like to see a list categorized as follows, though I don't know if it will be possible or not:


Things that can or should be changed during the review process.
Things that will results in the review process being stopped (i.e., if the custom just isn't ready yet).
Things that can or should be changed during the TNT process.
Things that will results in the TNT process being stopped (again, if the figure just isn't ready).

[allskulls]

There was some changes made after this, but here is my original take and whitestuff's response on Boomerang...

Boomerang :skull: :skull:

Aesthetics: :skull:
Beautiful although the hitzone is a bit big for my taste.

Left Box: :skull:
Perfect!

Stats:
One less attack, move, and range would be just right IMO. He should not equal or outshine Iron Man in either of these areas.

Abilities/Powers:
Double Attack is good.
Shattering Special Attack is cool but I am not a fan of the "no LOS needed" thing. It works for Deathlok since he eventually will lose it but as a permanent power on a flyer it could mean turtling trouble. What if you add a line about destructable objects rolling less defense or something. Also you can call it Shatterangs Special Attack.

Flavor:
The flavor is there with Double Attack and the Shattering Special Attack but I think a tweak to the latter could really make this guy tasty.

200pts is really cheap. Compared to Iron Man his points should be higher than 240. Make him a lesser figure than Iron Man as he should be and 200 will work.

This was one of the first supers I made and in hindsight (which is always 20/20) I think I made him more powerful than he should have been.

• Aesthetics: To be honest I’ve never thought much about the size of the hitzone. My feelings were always if it fit, it was OK (BTW, this philosophy has gotten me into trouble numerous times in the past ;) ). I’ll have to go back and have a look at them as you mentioned it a couple of times.

• Left Box: :skull: I agree :)

• Stats: I agree with you about his stats. In the comics he fought against Spidey and gave him a hard time so I was actually thinking about fighting Spidey more so that Ironman. Boomerang should be in the 150-160 sort of area. I’ll have another look at them.

• Abilities/Powers: A boomerang, when thrown travels in an elliptical path http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/bwhit89/brngc.gif which means you could hit something hiding behind a LOS blocker. For me it works like the AE grenade throw except it can happen more than once. I wouldn’t mind limiting the flight path of the shatterang to a certain width but I have no idea how to write that into an ability. As for calling it the “Shatterangs Special Attack”, he can choose to throw only one of them and then a normal attack so I think it will need to stay in the singular.

• Flavor: The points will definitely get a looking at.

Now, I think he is still underpriced. He is a defensively weaker Iron Man with a special attack that does not require LOS and can affect multiple figures. I played him before with the Shatterangs being used in the double attack (seemed how it was supposed to be) and he was devestating.

[allskulls]

This isn't specific to this review, but about the review process in general. Can we clarify what types of suggestions and/or changes are appropriate for the review process vs. the TNT process? Ideally, I'd like to see a list categorized as follows, though I don't know if it will be possible or not:


Things that can or should be changed during the review process.
Things that will results in the review process being stopped (i.e., if the custom just isn't ready yet).
Things that can or should be changed during the TNT process.
Things that will results in the TNT process being stopped (again, if the figure just isn't ready).

I think everything goes in the review. With the reviews tightening up the customs, the trials should be reduced to figuring costs.

[whitestuff]

’Ello, ’ello, ’ello, what's all this then?
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/bwhit89/heroscape/brave20bobbies20-20sun20award.jpg

The whole peer review I mean. I've been out of rotation for a while so please fill me in :confused:

[allskulls]

The whole peer review I mean. I've been out of rotation for a while so please fill me in :confused:
Yours is the first to get reviewed :D

Here's what sparked it. (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?p=459384#490679)

[UranusPChicago]

After further comparison of Boomerang and Iron Man, I can see AllSkulls concern with the Point Value.

Just "ball-parking" the point value based on the comparison, Boomerang as currently designed should be closer to the 210 range. Though he has one more life than Iron Man, his Defense of 3 will make him somewhat frail against the heavy hitters. The double use of a multiple target Special Attack is also tempered a little in the Super Hero world as squad units are few and far between currently.

When testing Boomerang one on one I suspect that he will do poorly against like valued (210ish) figures. However, his value will be readily apparent when fighting against multiple figures.

[whitestuff]

After a little touch-up, here is a refresh.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/bwhit89/heroscape/Boomerang2.jpg

[UranusPChicago]

Now see, that my friends is a turnaround!

I say Boomerang is ready for TNTing. <Insert Stamp of Approval here>

[Jonathan]

With Defense 3, he might get hosed a little too quickly to be 200 points. Perhaps 195? :wink: However, as I haven't played in about... 15 years, I'll just assume you're correct.

I liked him as-is, but I had not noticed the little "wings" icon at the bottom of his card :oops:

[allskulls]

I think his cost can come back down a bit if you limit his double attack to normal attacks only. Also, while I am not a big fan of no LOS abilities, the Shattarangs should help his low defense as he could be tucked away pretty good on the right map while still being an offensive threat. Don't get me wrong, I think he should be able to target characters he can't see, but for this game, I see no LOS thing as more of a special ability that should require a roll first.

[UranusPChicago]

Jonathan and/or AllSkulls, do you think that Boomerang is ready to move on to TNT testing as is?

Essentially, are we to a point that only the Point Value is left to be tested/determined as is?

[allskulls]

Jonathan and/or AllSkulls, do you think that Boomerang is ready to move on to TNT testing as is?

Essentially, are we to a point that only the Point Value is left to be tested/determined as is?
I think he's ready but would like to hear from whitestuff first, mainly on the limiting of the Double Attack to normal attacks only. If whitestuff is ready, I say it's trial time :D

[whitestuff]

Having play-tested Boomerang a number of time in all Marvelscape games, I rarely used the double attack with the Shatterang Special Attack. As UPC said earlier The double use of a multiple target Special Attack is also tempered a little in the Super Hero world as squad units are few and far between currently.If you couldn't use the Shatterang Special Attack with the Double attack, you would never use it. For me the Shatterang Special is a bit like The Hulk and Abomination's Stomp Special ability. It is killer against squads but, honestly, how often do you use Stomp against the other Marvel heroes?

The other thing mentioned the has piqued my interest is this... Don't get me wrong, I think he should be able to target characters he can't see, but for this game, I see no LOS thing as more of a special ability that should require a roll first.I gave this some thought and came up with this...
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb279/bwhit89/Boomerang3.jpg
Asymmetrical Lift is what gives a boomerang it's elliptical orbit. Without it you'd be just chucking a bent stick.

Oh, and I changed Double Attack to Doubling Attack as that is the technical term for throwing two boomerangs at once from the one hand.

Wotcha think??

[allskulls]

Excellent!

Trial time :D

[IAmBatman]

I'm still a bit confused on the double attack. Is this for his normal attacks only, or for the special attack also?

[robbdaman]

Don't take this the wrong way since I know you are an Aussie and want to make him buff and all but I think he's overpowered to some degree. Boomerang was never that tough of a character in the comics. Iron Man would mop the floor with him and he should. Just saying really, I'd tone it down a tad if it was my custom.

R~

[whitestuff]

I'm still a bit confused on the double attack. Is this for his normal attacks only, or for the special attack also?Double attack for any and all attacks. Maybe I should add a line about allowing two Shatterang Attacks in that line?

Don't take this the wrong way since I know you are an Aussie and want to make him buff and all but I think he's overpowered to some degree. Boomerang was never that tough of a character in the comics. Iron Man would mop the floor with him and he should. Ironman does wipe the floor with him. Over a number of play-tests I've found that Boomerang's low defense makes him quite a delicate creature. He needs to be close to the action to be effective but he is clearly not a character that can handle too much heat. Just saying really, I'd tone it down a tad if it was my custom.Suggestions? Even better, play-test him, then make suggestions.

[hi1hi1hi1hi1]

Ah finally, the Super Custom community is back up and running!! I have to agree with everyone who beat me here, this latest Boomerang seems fine. Great job whitestuff!

[allskulls]

Ironman does wipe the floor with him. Over a number of play-tests I've found that Boomerang's low defense makes him quite a delicate creature. He needs to be close to the action to be effective but he is clearly not a character that can handle too much heat.
Yeah, 3 vs 6 defense is huge.

I played him in a mixed game against some Marro and his double Shatterangs hurt my opponent bad. Once engaged, he was taken out quickly by johnny139's Ares though.

[IAmBatman]

No, the wording is fine if he can also attack twice with the special attack. It's just rare for you to see that, so I was making sure. All cleared up now!

[whitestuff]

I'm not sure... what stage are we up to?
http://www.lgp.qld.gov.au/images/plan_and_deliver/stage_2.jpg
:)

[UranusPChicago]

To reiterate...

I say Boomerang is ready for TNTing. <Insert Stamp of Approval here>

:lol:

[whitestuff]

To reiterate...

I say Boomerang is ready for TNTing. <Insert Stamp of Approval here>

:lol:My stamp of approval? If so, go for it!

[robbdaman]

Okay after a request to play test Boomer here I have a few suggestions. I would definately say you're right about his Defense 3, he goes down pretty hard when faced with a couple harder hitting opponents. Cap Am beat him severely after taking only one boomerang and another glancing off his shield. Spidey actually took it into fisticuffs with one throw. They had a pretty good fight but Spidey almost never let the Aussie hit him (I swear at 160 points the Spidey Sense is broken). Iron Man, well let's just say that he kind of blasted Boomerang into next week on the first shot (I still think Iron Man can be a bit of a glass cannon with only 4 life though). Overall I think he's okay though I still would drop his range overall and lower his points as he needs some luck to survive and could be a gamble of points in hopes to get off some devastating double shatterangs.

R~

[whitestuff]

Overall I think he's okay though I still would drop his range overall and lower his points as he needs some luck to survive and could be a gamble of points in hopes to get off some devastating double shatterangs.

R~I agree with you on the points drop (but that's what the TNT should sort) but I am loathed to drop his range as that would put him even closer to the front line action.