The Book of Zettian Infantry

[Just_a_Bill]

Originally Posted by flameslayer93

Zettian Infantry's Circuitry Replacement will not prevent wounding from Wannok or another wounding glyph.

The only Reason Cyberclaw mentions Glyphs is because of the Glyph of Erland (Summoning). It's not because Glyphs have special powers.

This interpretation contradicts the actual text on official Army Cards and Glyphs.

The language "may not be moved by any special power on an Army Card or Glyph" actually does communicate that Glyphs have special powers, since that's the only reading that makes grammatical sense. Based on the lack of prepositions/articles preceding the word "Glyph," the conjunction "or" is forced to split after the word "an" (or "any" in the case of Ana):

may not be moved by any special power on an
    Army Card
        or
    Glyph

If you want the opposite interpretation, due to the grammatical requirement for parallel construction, it would have to be worded differently to change the structure:

may not be moved
    by any special power on an Army Card
        or
    by any Glyph

The three existing references to Glyphs in this context are very consistent in this regard:

Cyberclaw — cannot be moved by any special power on an Army Card or Glyph

Improved Cyberclaw — cannot be moved by any special power on an Army Card or glyph

Healing Word — and before using any other special powers on any Army Card or Glyph

Thus it seems pretty clear that the Hasbro designers considered Glyphs to be special powers.

But that's not the only evidence. Another argument for Glyphs being special powers is consistency. If they are not, then we get subtle inconsistencies with things like Brooch of Shielding, which would add Disengage to a figure, but that Disengage would not be a power? Pretty messy when units are getting Negated and some of them keep their Disengage power while others lose it. This consideration may be somewhat minor, but ...

There's even stronger evidence. Some Glyphs (Erland, Valda, and Bolt of the Witherwood, if I didn't miss any) explicitly refer to their own effects as "powers." Even if we're willing to make the hair-splittingly subtle distinction between "powers" and "special powers" (which I really hope nobody here wants), we would open up a can of worms with all the official Army Card effects — Overextend Attack, Trample Stomp, Counter Strike, and others — that refer to themselves as just "powers" rather than "special powers." That's a lot of errata if we are trying to enforce a subtle distinction just for one unit.

So ... if Circuitry Replacement is not supposed to work on Glyphs, then one way or the other we need some errata:

• If Glyphs are not supposed to be special powers, then at a minimum, Gladiatrons, Major X17, Ana Karithon, Erland, Valda, and Bolt of the Witherwood all need to be errata'd — since (a) the grammar on the Army Cards has only one possible interpretation (as written, they don't actually apply to Glyphs; they apply to special powers on Glyphs), (b) the three Glyphs listed above identify their own effects as "powers," and (c) plenty of Army Cards make it clear that "power" and "special power" are interchangeable.
  
  
• On the other hand, if Glyphs can be or always are powers (as the text on some clearly says), or even if we just want to avoid this whole mess altogether, then we only need a text change on one unit, which is a custom and thus within the ability of the design committee here to alter. If the Zettian Infantry design is intended to exclude Glyphs, then its card easily could (and should) say so: perhaps something like "one or more wounds from a special power on an Army Card that is not an attack."

There is also the zero-errata option:

• Just let Circuitry Replacement work against Glyphs. Based on all the current texts, that's the logical interpretation.

[Xotli]

I'll take your concerns to the C3V Rules Team.

[Xotli]

Your friendly neighborhood Rules Team responds:

Originally Posted by C3V Rules Team

After some deliberation, we agree with those folks who say that the text on a glyph's card is indeed a Special Power. This means that wounds caused by Wannok (or the Whetstone of Venom) can indeed be averted using Circuitry Replacement. Sorry for the initial confusion on this point.

We propose that the following R&C be added to the OP:

Hope that clarifies it for everyone.

[Arch-vile]

I played the ZIs in a tournament yesterday with decent success. (My report is HERE.)

Deathcommander Mark 3
Deathwalker 9000
Deathwalker 8000
Zettian Infantry x3

The Deathwalkers are very good on their own for attacking, but when you get to take a turn with three Zettian Infantry too it's very powerful. The ZIs grabbed glyphs, screened, and took a few shots while my Deathwalkers brought the heavy firepower. The Deathwalkers can destroy a lot, but with only one life the infamous Deathwalker roll can happen and destroy the army.

Deathcommander was actually not as useful as I predicted; his special attack is excellent and he gives the army 2-4 special attacks of 3, but the 5 range is a killer. The 7 range of the Deathwalkers is much better. He's fine in a ZI build, but he works better with the Zettian Guards and Deathstalkers I think.

The Zettian Infantry turn the Deathwalkers into a very fun and decently powerful faction. They are a B to B+ at best, and are very unique. Where else can you get a ranged bonding squad?

[infectedsloth]

Originally Posted by Arch-vile

The Zettian Infantry turn the Deathwalkers into a very fun and decently powerful faction. They are a B to B+ at best, and are very unique. Where else can you get a ranged bonding squad?

Arrow Gruts.

[Super Bogue]

You can update the OP with the Basic Side now.

[XDVincent]

Just wondering, If you are including C3V figures as a part of synergy? If so the for synergy benefits offered. (And recieved? Not sure...) shouldn't DCM3 be listed?

[brandonwiker]

I'm being a little nit picky here:

Additionally, for Utgar Soulborg Heroes with more than one life, the following special powers are subject to Circuitry Replacement:
Healing Word (Kelda the Kyrie Warrior) *
Mortal Strike (Master of the Hunt) **
Poison Weapons (Deepwyrm Drow) **
* Circuitry replacement applies if Kelda rolls a 1 for Healing Word.

Kelda's Healing Word doesn't exist. The power is actually called Healing Touch. Healing Word is Ana Karithon's power.