Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

I'm feeling that the Downloading aspect is slipping away from the core theme of the character Neo.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

How so? What is the core theme in your mind?

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

We should probably try to represent as many of his abilities as we can through his stats. For example, Kung Fu needn't be a power. Manipulate The Matrix does an excellent job of utilizing his base stats to simulate much of what happens in the movies.

Lots of Guns really does the rest, unless Mac wants to get into the later powers like flight and resurrection, which he doesn't.

If it came down to adding in any of those later powers, we could add a line MtM that says "If Neo is destroyed by wounds, roll a 20-sided die. If you roll X or higher, remove all wound markers from this army card."

Trinity could have a power similar to Sonya Esenwein's Eternal Strength, boosting Neo's D20 roll by two.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

I'm thinking that Neo is a straight forward and somewhat basic character that Morpheus, The Oracle, the Operator, and even Trinity enhance.

The only power thus far I'm confident with is his Stealth Dodge variant.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

So, Neo is just an advanced form of a Krav Maga Agent? To me, Information Download is what sets Neo apart from just another Heroscape character. To say the download gets away from the core of the character dismisses the vital role that played in his development. He had the innate ability to manipulate the Matrix, but lacked the confidence to expand his mind. The skills gained by the downloads increased his abilities which finally allowed him to fully master the Matrix.

If you want to change the mechanics of it, we can work with that. Change the number of powers allowed, eliminate the changes between rounds, only add powers by using the X marker, etc. There are many ways to change it.

I'd like to hear from a few more in the group. If it turns out a majority want ID to go, I'll go along with it.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

I actually like the information download idea. We can't really create Neo with the assumption that we will be creating any of the other Matrix members. With that being said, we should get as much theme on this card as possible.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

This is my 'vanilla' version of Neo
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2...014b0cac90.png
I've put him in my customs so I can get that version of design out of my head and focus on yours.

I think the Leap is iconic. He only avoids engagement if he's jumping over, not if he's jumping alongside or away from. He jumps over gaps and water, unless already starting in water. He doesn't take fall damage because he realizes the fall is a lie.

With my version of MtM, he moves fast in both attacking and defending.
He has his default weapons that he can shoot 3 times, or if he were to acquire more, he could shoot those. I don't mind him multi shooting with height advantage - Neo would.

As an added bonus, if he is negated, he becomes his normal non-Matrix-y human self.

I doubt any of the above will stick, but what I would like to hang onto, and I'll bold it, is Einar.
Einar is the faction of Man
Vydar is faction of Machine/future
Man vs Machine
Einar vs Vydar
(I know Agent Smith is Valkrill, but that's virus Agent Smith, not his system-abiding self)

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

Wrong Forum post.... Awkward.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

I like information download and think it should be kept frankly.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

I have to disagree about Einar being the faction of man.

I've always believed that generals represented what motivated a character to fight rather than their theme is. The way I think about it is

Jandar-Order/Justice
Ullar-Intelligence/Spirituality
Aquilla-Nature/Rebellion
Valkrill-Chaos/Fear
Utgar- Power/Strength
Einar- Empire/Militarism
Vydar- Money/Self-Preservation

All of the Einar units, or at least most of them, are highly disciplined militaristic soldiers known for having vast and strong empires, like the Romans and the British. Neo just doesn't fit in with them. If anything I'd say the agents from the Matrix are closer to Einar than Neo is IMO.

I initially suggested Ullar or Aquilla as the whole "free your mind Neo" seems to fit in with my vision of Ullar, and the freedom fighter fits in with my vision of Aquilla. And the nature aspect of Aquilla also reflects Neo's anti machine aspect as well. So I'd lean towards Aquilla as his general.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

Mac,

Can we get an updated version when you have time? I personally think we should keep the 'download' theme, but it's your design.

Re: Heroes of Fiction: Design Thread
 

Basically what I had before. I can see the logic behind Aquilla or Einar over Jandar. I'm leaning a bit toward Aquilla, since Neo would tie in with the theme of the M-43 Resistance Fighters struggling against Soulborgs. I wouldn't be against Einar, though.

I really think that Information Download needs to stay. I believe it's thematic and a cool mechanic. I could see tweaking it a bit if a majority feel it's too powerful with the constant changing.

Something like this would let Neo have up to 3, but you'd have to be more careful in your choices.
We could also make it 2 at the beginning and once per game, or draw down the power and make it 1 and 1 addtional.