Bonding costs?

[Yodaking]

If I were to want to add the bonding ability to an established hero that does not already have it, what should the point cost increase be for the addition of the bonding ability?

The reason I ask is because there are certain units that clearly have a hero associated with them but are left unbonded, making it cost you 2 order markers just to move the hero with the unit. This use of a 2nd order marker just to keep a weak hero near their troops seems to end up being a waste most of the time.

For example, Empress Kiova has an Aura ability that only helps the Eniar Imperium, plus she has stealth flying just like the Imperium does and both follow Eniar, so she is clearly suppose to be their hero leader. Her 1 attack with 3 attack dice leave her a poor choice for an order marker though once the actual battle begins. So the few times when I take her and the Imperium together (trying to make use of her only real ability), I try to move them together. However, I quickly find myself putting order markers on the Impreium (since as a unit they get 6, 3 dice attacks) but never wanting to waste an order marker on the Empress (We play large point games an usually have lots of better options avilable) and thus soon the Imperium is outside of her Aura. Not to mention that her aura ability isn't all that powerful.

So both me and one of my scaping buddies have agreed that she would be a better figure if she were bonded with the Imperium and thus they could move as a complete unit like the greeks and kilts. We just don't know how much we should raise her point value if we institue the house rule for her. Any thoughts?

[Einar's puppy]

I'd say about 30 points assuming you are giving her the bonding and not imperium. I like to modify Kiova by making he aura "all Einar figures" then she's really powerful and we boost her up considerably.A 5 defence samurai with counter strike re-roling all non sheilds price less...

[spiteofthedice]

Originally Posted by Einar's puppy

I'd say about 30 points assuming you are giving her the bonding and not imperium. I like to modify Kiova by making he aura "all Einar figures" then she's really powerful and we boost her up considerably.A 5 defence samurai with counter strike re-roling all non sheilds price less...

That seemed a little liberal, so we tried "all kyrie" for a while. Problem: That makes the "Kiova-Kelda-Raelin" triad basically unbeatable. We play her as is.

She boosts a pretty hearty squad to start with. I'd say bonding would have to add at least 100 pts to her figure. Don't forget, you're taking away the need to place order markers on both figures, which then allows you to move and attack with four figures, 3 of which are double-attackers and the fourth one of which makes the first 3 hard to kill. You have to factor in how expensive your bonding squad is.

[jcb231]

I think the bonding power should be added onto the squad's card, not hers.

[Onacara]

Bonding points are added to the hero not the squad...because the hero enhances the squad not the other way around...so now you have to spend more on the hero to make your squads more viable..also you have to protect the hero more because they are powering your squads.

[Yodaking]

Thanks for the feedback.

100 points seems way too much to me though. I don't think I would even bother adding it at that price cost. 30 seems closer to the right amount.

Also I would add it to Kiova, as she is the one in need of a boost and in need of an incentive to actually draft her. The Imperium are already strong enough that they get drafed regularly as it is.

Maybe I havn't used her enough times to really see the benifits of her aura as I don't see it as all that powerful. So far it seems like most of the time when an Imperium figure gets attacked, they either block all the damage on the first roll so the aura has no effect, or they get hit with 2-3 more skulls then shields and so the rerolls still don't save it.

[spiteofthedice]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

Thanks for the feedback.

100 points seems way too much to me though. I don't think I would even bother adding it at that price cost. 30 seems closer to the right amount.

Also I would add it to Kiova, as she is the one in need of a boost and in need of an incentive to actually draft her. The Imperium are already strong enough that they get drafed regularly as it is.

Maybe I havn't used her enough times to really see the benifits of her aura as I don't see it as all that powerful. So far it seems like most of the time when an Imperium figure gets attacked, they either block all the damage on the first roll so the aura has no effect, or they get hit with 2-3 more skulls then shields and so the rerolls still don't save it.

Its not that her power is such a godsend, its only that you're adding an enormous convenience to that army and essentially combining two turns into one. I think the EOV are a little over-priced myself, though, so I'd come down a little from 100.

Bottom line: Its your game. Whatever you think is balanced sounds good to me. Let us know what you think works.

[Rÿchean]

hmmmm.....sounds like a custom unit thread to me.

[jcb231]

I still think that the points are added to the card that has the bonding power. Blade Gruts would cost considerably less if they did not have Orc Champion Bonding. Taking the Bonding off the Gruts would not reduce the cost of Grimnak.

[pinche_guey]

For Kiova, how about 90 pts more, allowing 3 einar imperium plus kiova for 600. This is absolutely one of the most powerful, unbeatable armies if you do so. 30 pts would be broken, you need to play this combo more if you do not agree. Read the how to thread on einar imperium and kiova, she MUST go in first for effective use. Then, if you look at snoopy, he probably doesn't need any points. There is no hard fast rule. Taelord probably needs another 90 or 100 pts as well. Again, this is crazy strong, then. Try three squads of either, and watch the destruction.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Rÿchean

hmmmm.....sounds like a custom unit thread to me.

/sign