Voluptas was the daughter of Cupid; since this figure sculpt is obviously not a male, some derivative of the Voluptas name made sense, both for the Valentine's Day theme and for the general theme of the card.
Preferred SMITTEN markers (easily obtained from just about any store, and rather tasty, too!):
Valkrill needs a ranged unit, and the Vakrian Slingers fill this roll, as well as allowing for ranged support for Wolves and Death Knights. Since the slingers are Relentless, they create another use a very real use for Khosumet.
At 70 points, they are comparable to Aubrien Archers (with less range and no Frenzy, but an increase in defense, movement, and a special attack. I plan on playtesting in greater detail in order to iron out the cost.
~The idea was to set the DKs and Dumutef out as a screen for the Slingers (using Unholy Bonding to position Khosumet in order to take advantage of his Relentless Assault bonus). It worked, but the dwarves slowly whittled away at the DKs and Dum, and the dwarves won with 2 Axegrinders, an unwounded Mogrimm, and Isamu (160 points).
The Slingers work really well with this combo, and they make a great meat shield for Khosumet; in fact, most of the damage was done by the slingers adjacent to Khosumet. I took out 1 dwarf and heavily wounded Migol (on a defensive whiff) with Rain of Stone, but I did not want to give up 3 attacks of 2/3. Their weakness is the defense of 2, and their range of 5 can leave one longing for that extra move or space of threat range. The dwarves really man[kobold]-handled them in melee, and I am inclined to think that the slingers are too pricey at 60 (without bonding or additional range, although the 6 movement really gets them around the map).
Either way, they are a blast to play with Khosumet (I must admit; he is my main motivation for creating the slingers in the first place). The sculpts adhere to Kho's Egyptian theme, and they are rather adept at hiding behind obstacles.
Slingers win.
~This match was fun, and proved to be a good one for the wolves and slingers. The romans led with legionnaires, while the Krav took the first couple of rounds in order to plink away at the legos. Man, I love the Badru with the Slingers (who seem a better fit at 55/squad). With the Krav as a distraction, I was able to deploy first the slingers and then the Badru with Khosumet in tow: Badru pounced away at the legos/10th [a great match up for them], while the slingers used their high move to create another wall of flesh around the darklord. However, once the MDG-backed 10th started out-ranging the slingers (and pounce attrition thinned out the Badru, I left Kho's side and took the high ground with the slingers. I was left with 1 Krav, an unwounded Khosumet, and one squad of slingers.
This was a good match up for the slinger army, as everything (but Khosumet) shines against slow-moving legos and low-defense 10th. The slingers blossomed into a solid core, as their versatility (Surround Kho? Spread out? Use Rain of Stone?) and mobility make up for their low-end attack and defense. The 55-point mark per squad seems like a sweet spot, but I will iron it out over a few more games.
Sample Armies
Spoiler Alert!
Khosumet 75
Death Knights x3 180
Vakrian Slingers x3 210
Air Elemental 30 495 points, 17 spaces
Name: Buckskin Joe
Aquilla
Human
Unique Hero
Tribesman
Tormented
MEDIUM 5
Stats: 4 Life MOVE 5 ATTACK 2 DEFENSE 4 RANGE 6 POINTS 70
Apache Fierceness: When Buckskin Joe attacks, he may attack one additional time.
Blood Brothers: After taking a turn with Buckskin Joe, you may move 1 lawman that you control up to 5 spaces, or attack with one lawman that you control.
Thoughts
Spoiler Alert!
I have been brainstorming another bonding option for the MRT for quite some time. Brave Arrow rocks, but it is always nice having other solid options to augment squads. With the MRT at 70 points per squad, and BA weighing in at 50 points, I am also looking for a cheap bonding option that can help to round out the points and add some extra firepower. Additionally, I am looking to tie another theme-related faction to the Cowboys and Indians mantra: the lawmen. To do this, I envision a troubled soul, born to a pioneer father and raised in his mother's Apache tribe, but befriending a group of lawmen at a later age. Enter, Buckskin Joe.
Buckskin allows bonding options for the lawmen (Guilty McCreech, Johnnie Shotgun Sullivan, James Murphy), who can augment the MRT by adding a special attack and/or extra squad-killing firepower to the mix. This also allows for unorthodox strategies, as the special attack of Johnnie/James can affect anyone adjacent to the target, while the MRT thrive on being adjacent to their respective targets in order to enjoy increased attack and defense.
Bear in mind that an MRT squad that bonds with Buckskin Joe (who in turns brings a cowboy into the mix...Guilty, for example) grants a possible 7 attacks per turn (3 from the MRT; 2 from Buckskin; 2 from Guilty); this can offset the MRT's meager attacks of 2 from range.
The 70 point cost is reflective of the bonding options for both the MRT and Buckskin/Lawmen. His stats are rather bland (attack of 2; life of 4; average defense of 4), but he brings some interesting abilities to the mix. And, he offers the only unique hero option at 70 points.
Sample Armies
Spoiler Alert!
Buckskin Joe 70
Shotgun Sullivan 65
MRT x 4 350
James Murphy 75
15 spaces, 490 points
Buckskin Joe 70
Brave Arrow 50
Theracus 40
MRT x 4 280
Raelin 80
17 spaces, 520 points
Red Skull 190
Buckskin Joe 70
James Murphy 75
Shotun Sullivan 65
Rats x2 80
Guilty 30
13 spaces, 510 points
Name: Priscus
Einar
Human
Unique Hero
Gladiator
Rebellious
MEDIUM 5
Stats:
5 life
MOVE 5
RANGE 1
ATTACK 3
DEFENSE 4
POINTS 110
Shield Pin Special Attack
Range 1 Attack 3 A small or medium figure attacked with Shield Pin Special Attack rolls two less defense dice.
Small or medium figures roll 2 less defense dice against Shield Pin Special Attack
Taste of Freedom If all order markers are on Gladiators, and at least one order marker is on Priscus, all gladiators you control (except Priscus) that are within 3 clear sight spaces of Priscus gain +1 to attack.
If all of your order markers are on Gladiator Army Cards, and at least one order marker is placed on Priscus, then all Gladiators you control within 3 clear sight spaces of Priscus add 1 to their attack dice. Priscus' Taste of Freedom does not affect Priscus.
Finished Sculpt and Painting Guide
Spoiler Alert!
Since Priscus is a gladiator, it makes sense to use an existing Heroscape gladiator figure to represent him, as you are already going to have gladiator figures, and you won't have to worry about re-basing him.
Of the three capuan squad members, I like the one with the large shield: he is a perfect sculpt to use to represent a hero that relies on a shield-based special attack! http://www.heroscapers.com/community...6/8/capuan.jpg
However, I wanted to customize him a bit to set him apart from the other gladiators. My customizations included:
Trimming off the top 25% of the gladiator's sword. I envision Priscus as a ex-roman legionnaire, trained with a gaius/short sword and shield combo to deadly effect. Years of training in the gladiator pits honed his skills. To represent this sword, I used a pair of scissors to neatly trim off the top portion of the sword.
Painting the helmet, shield, arm and leg armor a dark metallic color. The dark colors will set him apart on the battlefield, as well as add a bit more tone to the sculpt. All it takes is a steady hand with the paint brush (keep a small rag/paper towel handy to soak up any slips). http://www.heroscapers.com/community...iscus_back.jpg
Adding stain to darken his garments, making it appear more akin to leather or thick, padded cloth. I let some of the stain puddle a bit in the crevasses of the garmet, adding a bit more detail to the leather effect. http://www.heroscapers.com/community...8/priscus3.jpg
Adding some red/pink dry brush to the helmet crest and shield (along with some gashes and blood stains added to the shield). The red-stained crest of the helmet is more fitting of a gladiator hero, and the battle damage and dried/fresh blood stains on the shield add emphasis to its importance as a weapon. http://www.heroscapers.com/community...cus_shield.jpg
Priscus
Crixus
Capuans x4
Marcu (filler)
500, 15 spaces
VS
Game 1:
Torin
Stingers x3
Rats x2
Raelin v2
500, 20 spaces
-Loss for Gladiators (Torin and 3 Stingers left)
Game 2:
Marcus
Legos x4
Roman Archers x2
Parmenio
500, 24 spaces -Win for Gladiators (Crixus and 3 Capuans left)
Priscus fits in nicely. At 110 points, he can fit in the shoes of Spartacus while allowing for some more Gladiators to be fielded. In this case, I teamed him up with the wrecking-ball-known-as-Crixus and 4 squads of Capuans. His abilities gave a well-needed boost to the Capuan squads (Crixus already has an impressive attack, although Priscus was still able to boost him). Taste of Freedom really goes hand in hand with the Capuans' initiative bonus, as the combination of first strike and extra attack lets them plow through targets of opportunity. This combination helps to offset the lack of 4 defense that the Inspired Capuans would otherwise get from Spartacus. Essentially, we are trading defense and movement boosts for more warm bodies, but it does seem to work.
Shield Pin Special Attack seems both balanced and complementary to the gladiators, as it gives Priscus an ability to punch a hole in a shield wall/screen in order to allow the Capuans to push through. This strategy worked nicely against rats and the Roman shield wall (Priscus takes out the center lego, dropping the defense of the rest of the shield wall). Of course, there are times where using his regular attack [only from height, though] will come in handy, but I did not have an opportunity to use it in my matches.
Although Priscus has decent stats, they are not overpowered. In the first game, the Stingers were able to take him out in 2 turns without drain (luckily, he had already cut a path through the rat wall...But the Capuans were slowly dwindled down); in the second game, he eventually fell to Romans. Against screens and small/medium foes, he can do some damage; against large/huge foes, you are better spent using him as a cheerleader and attacking with boosted Caps and/or Crixus.
At higher point totals, I would still include Spartacus in the Gladiator builds (although Priscus can be included in the build, the conditions of their abilities adds a bit of redundancy). However, at 500ish points or less, I like what I see in Priscus and what he brings to the table of the gladiators.
Thoughts
Spoiler Alert!
Priscus takes care of both of the weaknesses of the Gladiators, as he brings a special attack and a boost for uninspired gladiators. I was a bit leery of combining both a special attack and a watered down version of gladiator inspiration, but it seems to work at his associated cost level (although reducing him to 90 points, and removing Taste of Freedom, still makes him a worthy addition, with his special attack, although he would need a boost to either attack of defense). Note that he can still be used with Spartacus...But he requires an additional order marker, which helps to offset the boosts that both Spartacus and Priscus offer. His attack bonus will help the gladiators do what they do best: striking hard and, if necessary, dying for their freedom.
His point cost essentially gives you two gladiator heroes (Priscus and one of the other two heroes) for the price of Spartacus, as well as a (weaker) version of gladiator inspiration (at a significantly reduced price). Mind that his defense is still 3 (which helps to justify his lower price of 110 points): without Spartacus, the gladiators need to attack quickly or perish, as Capuan Gladiator bonding with Priscus can give you four attacks of strength 43 attacks of 4 and one attack of 3 [via Priscus]).
Soldiers of Valhalla Induction Reports for Priscus Current Vote: 3 Yes, 2 No
Spoiler Alert!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lamaclown
(Post 1355287)
I have been finished with my playtests for Priscus for a couple of weeks but have still been back and forth on my final vote.
First off, he was fun to play and definitely added some flexibility to a gladiator build for an army due to his cost. This was his main attraction for me.
His Shield Pin special attack was my main concern. In one-on-one tests against similar costed heroes, he dominated due to his SA; 2 less defense dice proved to be big. He won almost every test against 110 point heroes. This is especially notable considering that in a one-on-one contest ToF (which is a big part of his cost) can’t be used. He also was able to go toe-to-toe with higher costed heroes. He won several contets against the higher costed heroes- acceptable considering all the variables and dice rolls, However, when the higher costed hero would win it was almost always with only 1 or 2 life remaining- a very close battle indeed. Again, this is considering that part of Priscus’ costing (ToF) was never used.
In army tests he proved to be a less dominating as squads were easily able to dispatch him. In army tests he seemed to be priced about right.
However, all things need to be considered, not just army tests.
So, it is with regret that I have to be the one quash Priscus. I enjoyed playing him very much and will probably continue to do so when fielding the gladiators. I think he is a great unit that shines in an army setting but, unfortunately, shines a little too much in one-on-one contests.
Honestly, when I first looked over Priscus' card, I was a little underwhelmed by what I (at the time) felt like was his Inspiration-Lite focus. However, he looked balanced, and brought the Gladiators a much-needed Special Attack, plus Filthy put together a fantastic nomination, so I decided to vote Yes to review him.
I'm certainly glad that I did-he has proven to be an excellent addition to the Gladiator line-up.
Two of the Steamrollers significant weaknesses have been numbers and lack of a Special Ability. Priscus helps address both those.
With a cost 90 points less than Spartacus, a fourth squad of Capuans is now in reach for many more point totals. Altenatively, those points can be spent on another Gladiator Hero, or a ranged unit to entice your opponent to move within striking range of the Caps.
Shield Pin is a thematic Special Attack with a very valuable, but not over-powered bonus.
Taste of Freedom is Priscus' key selling point. Attack bonuses have always been highly regarded and highly priced in Heroscape. This one is one of the least expensive, but has the potential to affect many figures. It is severely limited, however, by only affecting Gladiators, and only functioning when all Order Markers are placed on Gladiatiors, including requiring one on Priscus.
Interestingly, the tactical overlap of Priscus and Spartacus (what I liked least on first consideration of Priscus) resulted my favorite army: Spartacus, Priscus, Capuans x3. This army requires careful Order Marker juggling, since both heroes require them to function fully. This added a level of strategy to the Steamroller that is previously lacked, and 5+ attack Gladiators are a sight to behold, especially when they are facing a hero-heavy army.
IN my opinion, Priscus' main weakness is that Taste of Freedom's limitations result in some default army builds, much as Spartacus' Gladiator Inspiration does, but fortunately Priscus' price allows room for more variety than Spartacus, is one wishes to build it in.
In the end, Priscus adds flixability, complexity and a much needed Special Attack to an army that benefits from all those things. I vote YES to induct Priscus into the Soldiers of Valhalla.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Mmirg
(Post 1306649)
I vote NO to accept Priscus into the SoV.
This is a fun addition to the Capuans with a smart way to keep balance with Spartacus even in a huge point army. I like the unit quite a lot--I very narrowly didn't vote YES--but have a few issues. Maybe these are just me, but here they are, fwiw:
A) The pin shield SA subtracting two dice--that quite a lot.
B) The attack aura being 3 spaces--that's a big step up from similarly costed cheerleading/bonding units (think, Taelord vs. Finn).
C) The fact this unit requires a repaint of a current unit--not something I want to do a lot of really.
Several tests revealed that the Shield Pin is quite solid, but doesn't seem to be too unbalanced. This isn't the biggest issue, just one more.
The aura works well, but seems designed for by the Caps as only being a 3 man melee squad. However, I am concerned about the future of Gladiators--since the power does not specify only adjacent attacks getting a boost, this may limit the future of gladiators. There are a lot of ideas out there for Glads with range and this unit makes incorporating them a bit tougher. Bottomline for me, this power works as is--it's tough and might deserve a small price bump--but it works fairly well, but it is really limiting to custom work on future Glads, imo.
Should a unit be voted down for units that don't exist yet? Well, I think, yes. A unit should not create a mechanic that limits future units unnecessarily, imo. I'd like to see the card specific adjacent attacks, personally, or bump up the cost a bit.
Finally, the issue of sculpt. This is not a big issue, but it is an issue, for me, however small. I'll be clear, I'll always be a bit harsher on a unit that requires a repaint--esp. one that suggests an actual physical mod of an existing unit.
Anyhow, sorry for being a downer. But I have to be honest. I think this unit is extremely close to being an SoV unit (and my fellow judges may still consider it appropriate), but I'd like to see the cost jump slightly and/or see the aura adjusted. Icing on the cake, would be finding another sculpt/figure that could be used.
Thank you, Filthy, for creating this unit. Very solid and one I hope joins the SoV, sooner or later. Very nice work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dad_Scaper
(Post 1303072)
Ok, time for me to vote on Priscus by Filthy the Clown.
At 110 points Priscus is an important fit into a Gladiator build, as Filthy noted in the nominating post. He's obviously thematic. One thing I struggled with was the sculpt. He is a modified 'Scape sculpt, one of the gladiators, and Filthy's step by step guide to creating Priscus can be found here.
One thing I really wrestled with was whether I could vote to induct a sculpt that takes so much customization. So I read Filthy's instructions and realized something: His *only* change to the sculpt is the clipping off of the end of the sword. The rest is paint - red crest, darker clothes - making him almost identical in this way to Samuel Brown.
Another thing about the sculpt and competitive play: In the case of Samuel Brown, it's the rule for my events (see House Rules in my sig) that any 4th will do, provided it's distinguishable from others you may have in play. Extending the same rule to Priscus leads to an absurdly simple solution for an acceptable proxy: Just use Spartacus. They'll never be in the same army, so why not? Food for thought for the TDs out there.
Anyway. As I said, Priscus is very thematic and an overdue & welcome addition to the Gladiator faction.
I played with him a number of times on a few different maps and each time he played exactly as I believe Filthy intended him to. With 4 defense and 5 life he's reasonably durable but certainly not Spartacus or Crixus; with an attack aura of 4 hexes Crixus *loves* him but with no defense boost the Gladiators do not become too strong.
Filthy also duplicated the OM mechanic from Spartacus onto Priscus, so players are forced to choose one or the other even at very high point totals, or make a significant sacrifice by putting a 1, 2 or 3 on one of the heroes.
I think he may have worked as low as 100 points. Not lower, and definitely not higher.
This is a well balanced, clever, thematic, well-written card, concept and sculpt. I am pleased to vote yes to induct Filthy the Clown's Priscus into the Soldiers of Valhalla.
--2011-05-04: Added a modified Greater Ice Elemental, one powered by glowing LED lights.
--2011-04-07: Added Tobol the Magnificent, a Unique squad mastermind for Vydar. Fun, theme-heavy figure!
--2011-04-05: Working on a Greenvise Vine custom for Auggies' custom projects.
--2011-03-05: Redoing Priscus: tweaking stats and adding a new sculpt.
--Finished up with the Vakrian Slingers. I also need to finalize the sculpt/stats for Buckskin Joe
Gladiators - A 200 point investment in Spartacus, and the lack of a special attack, means that the gladiators are not used near as much as they should be.
Mohican River Tribe - These guys are pretty good as-is, and they don't fear Rats as much as some other units...But they could still use a special attack and another bonding option besides Brave Arrow
Valrkill Ranged Squad - I am working on a cheap, common ranged squad for Valkrill that can offer another boost to Khosumet
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks,
Filthy
MrWookiee
November 8th, 2010 05:54 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
I like him. The Gladiators rather need a weaker version of Spartacus. He is easily used, as he is 110 points, and provides a replacement for 200 point Spartacus. I'd like to use him, as I've never used the Gladiators because Spartacus is a necessity and he's too much. I will make you a card if you so desire.
Filthy the Clown
November 8th, 2010 06:09 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrWookiee
(Post 1255241)
I like him. The Gladiators rather need a weaker version of Spartacus. He is easily used, as he is 110 points, and provides a replacement for 200 point Spartacus. I'd like to use him, as I've never used the Gladiators because Spartacus is a necessity and he's too much. I will make you a card if you so desire.
Thanks for the offer and for the feedback, MrWookie. I should have the card under control, but I might shoot you a PM if I hit any snags on it (I am going to wait until I get the figure painted).
In regards to feedback, it might be worth increasing his point cost and changing his defense to 4, as I suspect he will be a prime target (as Spartacus can be). However, the lower defense tends to fit with the mantra of the gladiators, where they attack in one fell swoop, risking it all by the sword. Still, with a shield-based special attack (and quite unlike Khosumet's shield), it makes logical sense to give him a higher defense. I will playtest his tonight and see what it yields.
MrWookiee
November 8th, 2010 09:14 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
Yes, that might actually work better. I'd rather pay more for a Hero with longevity.
Filthy the Clown
November 9th, 2010 11:13 AM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
After some playtesting last night, I like the 5 life/4 defense combo a bit better than the 6 life/3 defense combo. At 110, I still think that it is justified. Why?
-All of the Gladiators, besides Spartacus, have a base defense of 3. However, the nature of Priscus, as well as his point cost, warrants an increase of defense (while taking a hit in Life: reducing him to 5 life keeps the extra defense in check).
-Let's compare his stats to some of the other 110ish point heroes:
Stats-wise, the most comparable match to Priscus seems to be Gilbert (who bonds, boosts adjacent knights, and offers a mobility boost via Jandar's Dispatch; he also has one more life point). Since Priscus's Taste of Freedom attack boost (attack aura of range 3) trumps Gilbert's adjacent boost, it makes sense that he should cost more (well, more than the 5 point cost differential), or have reduced stats. My solution:
Remove one life point from Priscus
Add one defense point (more in line with a shield-based attack)
Remove one attack point (base attack of 3: comparable to Capuan Gladiators, but helps to offset the attack boost that he gives them.
So, the new stats for Priscus are:
Life 5
Move 5
Range 1
Attack 3
Defense 4
Might I suggest using the Capuan that looks like the Y Kozuke with a better paint job on the shield. That shield is definitely big enough to pin someone.
Lamaclown
November 9th, 2010 04:47 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
Very nice post format!
I like being able to read your thoughts behind your design as well as the sample armies. It shows you have honestly thought out your units and aren't just slapping something together.
+rep for that alone!
BTW, the gladiator is cool too ;)
Filthy the Clown
November 9th, 2010 11:09 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Gladiator Hero
Quote:
Originally Posted by I Hate Atlaga
(Post 1256067)
Might I suggest using the Capuan that looks like the Y Kozuke with a better paint job on the shield. That shield is definitely big enough to pin someone.
I agree; that is definitely the best choice to use. I added a painting guide to the first post to show how I ended up customizing the sculpt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lamaclown
(Post 1256291)
Very nice post format!
I like being able to read your thoughts behind your design as well as the sample armies. It shows you have honestly thought out your units and aren't just slapping something together.
+rep for that alone!
BTW, the gladiator is cool too ;)
Thanks; glad that you liked it!
Filthy the Clown
November 10th, 2010 07:51 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Priscus, Gladiator Hero
I darkened the image of the sculpt to add a tinge of Mystère to the mix. :)
Chardar
November 10th, 2010 07:59 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Priscus, Gladiator Hero
The left box text could be shrunk down a size. Other than that it looks great. I love cards that have the figure poking a sword/etc out of the picture zone. It gives the cards a very neat 3D feel that the official cards are lacking. I'm not sure about the darkening, but that's your call. The stats need aligned better, and I think the wording on Taste of Freedom could be improved. "If all of your order markers are on Gladiators"... Also except Priscus doesn't need to be parenthases. Overall it's very good and like Lamaclown said you can definitely see the thought that was put into it.
flameslayer93
November 10th, 2010 08:05 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Priscus, Gladiator Hero
Very nice custom Filthy! Shield pin almost make his normal attack worthless though, maybe 2 for the power's attack. He seems quite balanced regardless.
Chardar
November 10th, 2010 08:07 PM
Re: Filthy the Clown's Customs - Priscus, Gladiator Hero
Oh yeah you need to put a period after Attack 3 and after Range 1 to separate the stats. Sorry I missed that before.
