The Book of Amahl Farouk

[IAmBatman]

The Book of Amahl Farouk

C3G MARVEL WAVE 35
MUTANT MULTIVERSE


Comic PDF


Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Mutant Mayhem set.
Its model number and name are #093 / Shadow King.

NOTE: Amahl Farouk requires The Astral Plane.

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Character Bio – Amahl Farouk is a powerful Mutant psychic and a ringleader of thieves best known for being Shadow King's favorite host. The two entities are so intertwined as to become indistinguishable at times.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Telepath, Amahl Farouk has these Telepath Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• N/A

.
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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: (IAmBatman)
• Second playtest: (Tornado)
• Third playtest: (tcglkn)
• Figure Tutorial by: (tcgkln)
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by Arkham

[IAmBatman]

NAME = AMAHL FAROUK

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = TELEPATH
PERSONALITY = MANIPULATIVE
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4
MOVE = 4
RANGE = 3
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 3
POINTS = 100

ASTRAL EMPOWERMENT
If another figure’s Tether Marker is on this card, that figure is Amahl Farouk's Astral Manifestation. Add one to his Astral Manifestation's Attack number for each Wound Marker on this card. Add one to Farouk's Defense number for each Wound Marker on his Astral Manifestation's card.

PSYCHIC RETALIATION X
Once per round, if there is a Tether Marker on this card when Amahl Farouk is attacked and at least 1 skull is rolled, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card. If you do, Farouk receives no wounds and, if the attacking figure does not have the Mental Shield special power, you may roll 1 unblockable attack die against the attacking figure.

MENTAL SHIELD
An opponent may never take temporary or permanent control of Amahl Farouk.

[IAmBatman]

Mini Picture


Comic Picture



Background

[IAmBatman]

Tutorial

[johnny139]

I think the base stats on Farouk should be lower, like a 3/2 (or even a 2/2) that becomes a 5/4 when possessed. I never got the impression that he was anything special, physically, without the Shadow King piloting him.

I think you could probably play with the restrictions on Retaliation (does he need to be tethered to use it, maybe make it work on anyone if he's tether and only wound people without Mental Shield, or vice-versa), but things are fairly complicated as-is between two cards so I see the appeal of simplicity.

[IAmBatman]

I like those suggestions. I'll probably make some tweaks along those lines when the breathing period is up in a couple hours.

[IAmBatman]

OK, updated with some tweaks. Changed base range to 1, base attack to 3, and base defense to 2, and made all three stats +2 when he has a Tether.

Changed the defensive power to ignore attacks from Mental Shield figures still, just not roll the unblockable against them.

I'm going to run checklists next and then propose for the initial.

[IAmBatman]

COMPETITIVE REVIEW BOARD CHECKLIST

Spoiler Alert!

Efficiency- Check to see if your design is providing armies with turns/moves/etc. to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to keep up with your output.

1. Does your design allow itself or figures to move/attack/take a turn/etc. instead of/in addition to your normal turn for revealing an Order Marker? Is it granting these benefits to too broad a range of units? Does it combine with other powers to create overly long or powerful chains of actions?
No
2. Does your design allow you to take actions during an opponent's turn? Can it combine with other powers to create tediously long reactions to enemy actions or a restrictive environment?
It allows you to roll an unblockable attack die immediately after defending against an attack. This doesn’t seem like an issue.

3. Does your design allow you to rearrange your Order Markers or otherwise bypass the costs of Order Marker requirements on the special powers of other figures?
No

4. Is your design doing anything outside of a player's turn, at the start or end of the round? Is the effect too powerful by itself or when combined with other powers?
No

5. Does your design have any powers that trigger anytime it moves as opposed to only when it moves normally on its turn? Will it be too efficient when combined with figures that grant extra moves to figures?
No

6. Is your design adding or subtracting from initiative rolls? Will it pair too easily with other figures that alter initiative or have powers triggering on the results of initiative rolls?
No


Potency- Check to see if your design is wounding/removing/etc. enemy figures, increasing the chances of other figures in your army doing so, or otherwise directly effecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.

1. Does your design have a chance to inflict wounds or destroy figures? Is it getting these chances too frequently or having to high a chance of success? Is the power balanced against expensive targets that can cause a massive swing in the game when destroyed?
Wounds yes, but only when attacked, and as an unblockable once per round.

2. Is your design adding to the stats or 20-sided die rolls of other figures in your army? Is it a boosting a broad enough range of units effectively enough to become a 'mandatory' draft or inhibit future design space? Can it be combined with other boosts too easily?
No

3. Will your design benefit from stat boosts or other enhancement to an overpowering degree? Will it restrict future growth within its faction or point cost by limiting available boosts to others?
No

4. Does your design take control of enemy figures permanently or temporarily? Is it too difficult to for your opponent to regain control of their figure or recover from the losing the figure? Does the method of taking control expose the enemy figure to the powers of other figures in your army that can easily destroy it?
No

5. Can your design heal itself or others or revive itself or others? Is it doing so in a way that an opponent cannot hope to overcome in certain scenarios?
No

6. Does your design place enemy figures on its card or otherwise have an unconventional method of temporarily removing enemy figures from play? Will it guarantee your victory against a single remaining enemy figure?

No

Chicanery- Check to see if your design is preventing your opponent from taking actions with too much ease or is otherwise causing negative play experience through tactics that make your opponent feel you're 'not playing fair'

1. Does your design restrict the movement of enemy figures, or allow you to move enemy figures? Can it do so in a way that results in an unwinnable scenario for your opponent if they are down to one figure, posses only figures with a range of 1, etc.? Can your design easily combine with other figures to greatly impede enemy figures or otherwise gain an excessive advantage?
No

2. Does your design effect/change the placement of an enemy's Order Markers, or remove their Order Markers entirely? Can it force Order Markers to go onto cards that have no figures on the battlefield? Can your design easily combine with other figures to completely dictate the placement of an enemy's Order Markers or remove all of their Order Markers?
No

3. Does your design inhibit your opponent from attacking your figures or make attacking a losing proposition? Are there scenarios or combinations that make your opponent totally unable to harm your figures through attacking?
Only once per round.

4. Does your design directly negate the powers of enemy figures or otherwise ignore them in a way that can completely disrupt the opponent's strategy or leave them feeling like they are stuck playing figures without special powers?
No

5. Does your design become overly powerful in a podded group of figures, or provide significant benefit to your army without leaving your Start Zone?
No, though he’s a conduit for Shadow King, so when in that pair he can do his tricks without leaving the start zone. This seems fine.

6. You can attack your own figures in Heroscape, does your design have any powers that will trigger off of doing so or otherwise wounding/destroying your own figures? Is this intentional on your part? Will the design be too efficient or potent when doing so?

You could use his Psychic Retaliation to roll an unblockable against your own figure. I’m not sure the appeal, though.

CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

Consistency Concerns
Name and Identity
Verify character is named in a way that is clear, accurate and feels consistent with the way other characters are named.
All good.

Uniqueness and Type
Verify that the power text reflects the listed uniqueness and type, that the uniqueness fits the character, and that squad size is listed for squads.
All good.

Left Box
If the character's species, class or personality is reused, verify that the character feels thematically consistent with other figures that have that species, class or personality. If they are not reused, verify that there is no pre-existing species, class or personality that would make more sense.
All good.

Size and Height
Verify that the listed size and height are accurate. Standing the mini up next to a stack of tiles, and a few other minis of various sizes, is encouraged.
All good.

Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.
All good.

New Powers - Names
Verify that any new powers are not using power names identical to, or very similar to, pre-existing powers. Verify that any new powers are actually new and not old powers with new names.
All good. Both new power titles are riffs off of existing ones that have similar (but distinct) mechanics.
New Powers - Effects
Verify that the effect and timing of all new powers is clear. Verify that any logical immunities, benefits, or weaknesses (whether those be necessary for thematic or mechanical reasons) are implemented: consider whether defensive powers that work against normal attacks should also work against special attacks, whether or not a power has an elemental component that some figures should resist, and whether or not unliving figures (such as Undead and Androids) should be affected.
All good.

Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing powers in place of creating new ones, where reused powers could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused powers have the correct text.
All good.

Power Level
Verify that the character's movement, attack, range, and defense (in conjunction with any special powers that enhance those stats) feel consistent with the capabilities of characters with analogous powers and abilities. Verify that the character falls into a similar point range to characters with comparative powers and abilities.
All good.

I propose we move to initial playtesting.

[johnny139]

Yea

Moving the Range down to base 1 is a good call. You could probably justify giving him some naturally, since he was a telepath to begin with, but his actual powerset is pretty vague beyond reading thoughts. I don't think I've actually ever read a comic where he's not possessed.

[tcglkn]

Yea

[Arch-vile]

Yea

[Lord Pyre]

Astral stuff is still pretty mechanically confusing, but I think I'm starting to grasp it. These guys aren't anything much crazier than the manifestations we've already done.

My main question is why would Shadow King pick Farouk as a Tether? I don't see any real hook to use him over anyone else.

Yea