The Book of Penguin
 

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Character Bio - Ruled by his own greed and arrogance, this would-be Gotham socialite has been an outcast all of his life, despite his desperate attempts for approval. Now, consumed with an appetite of vindication towards those who would look down their noses at him, Penguin has turned to a life of crime and eccentric indulgences. By being the owner of his own nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge, it is easy for the Penguin to maintain control of the information that flows through the criminal underground.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• Q:When I reveal an Order Marker on a card, and all the figures on that card have been destroyed, am I still supposed to roll for Self Importance?
• A: No, because the rule book says that you may not "reveal" Order Markers on cards that have all of its figures destroyed. Those Turn Order Markers are "lost".
• Q: If I have Riddler and Penguin both in my army, which do I roll for first? Riddle Me This, or Self-Importance 16? Both powers activate after revealing an Order Marker on Riddler.
• A: The official ruling on powers that activate simultaneously, is that if you control both figures, you choose the order in which they activate. Quick strategic tip: You probably want to activate Riddle Me This first just about every time! :-)

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Human, Penguin has these Human Synergies.
• As a Crime Lord, Penguin has these Crime Lord Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

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-Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses-

Immunities

• N/A

Benefits

• N/A

Weaknesses

• As a figure with a Special Attack, Penguin interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with Special Attacks.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial Playtest: Griffin
• Second Playtest@ 100-120: Scapemage
• Third Playtest @ 110: Lord Pyre
• Fourth Playtest @ 120: Master Tang
• Art by A3n

Card Updates:
21 November 2020 - Umbrella-Copter wording update

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

NAME = PENGUIN
SECRET IDENTITY = OSWALD COBBLEPOT

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = CRIME LORD
PERSONALITY = GREEDY

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 4

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 4
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 120

SELF IMPORTANCE 16
Whenever you reveal a numbered Order Marker on any other Army Card you control, before using any other special powers, you must immediately roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 16 or higher, you must take an immediate turn with Penguin, and you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control. When using Self Importance 16, add 2 spaces to Penguin's Umbrella-Copter movement for that turn. You may only roll for Self Importance once per Order Marker.

UMBRELLA GUN SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 3. Attack 3+.
After attacking with Umbrella Gun Special Attack, Penguin may attack one additional time. Anytime Penguin attacks a figure with his Umbrella Gun Special Attack after passing over them with his Umbrella-Copter 3 special power in the same turn, roll 2 additional attack dice.

UMBRELLA-COPTER 3
Instead of his normal move, Penguin may move up to 3 spaces with Umbrella-Copter. When moving with Umbrella-Copter, Penguin has the Flying special power.

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Penguin is looking good.

The only other comic art that I thought might be OK (with a little editing) is here...

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Interesting take on Penguin. A few comments:

- SELF IMPORTANCE - Is this really supposed to apply to opponent's figures, too, or is that just a typo? If it does, I think it might be too powerful thematically for someone like Penguin.

- UMBRELLA GUN SPECIAL ATTACK - I don't see how he can use the umbrealla to shoot and fly in the same "phase". He uses it either to fly or shoot, but not both at the same time, right?

- UMBRELLA COPTER - I don't think it should be stealth. One, because I think we've been overusing that lately, and two because an Umbrella Copter sounds fairly slow.

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

:word:

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Honestly, I just wasn't sure where to take that, so I figured I would aim high and adjust the power as the comments rolled in. I will update now to affect only figures "you control". :thumbsup:

The figure I am using has two umbrellas, one for flying and one for shooting. I love the tactical decisions that this power could create, so I am liking its theme and mechanics, it will be difficult to sell me off of this one.

OK, I wasn't sure about this one either, again I just thought I would aim high and adjust later, though I did sorta like the idea that he is somewhat slippery and good at getting away, but I will update it. :up:

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Like the base stats. Though should his normal attack be 4, especially with range and an easy means to gain height advantage? Is he that good of a melee fighter or is that for a pistol? Considering Thugs need height or concrete/asphalt to even get an attack of three with a pistol, I didn't know how good Penguin really is. Is he an expert with guns? I'm asking because I'm just curious, as I don't know how he is in the comics vs. animated shows because that's all I see him in.

For Self Importance - With this, you can potentially take a full turn with 3 different units in one turn, though only once per round. Ex: Prof X reveal OM, Penguin takes turn then 2 mutants take turns. Or, Unique Hero that has bonding with squads and allows a squad to take a turn before him/her. That Hero reveals OM, Penguin takes a turn, Squad figures take a turn, original OM revealing Hero takes a turn. Cyclops's Telepathic Rappor, Cyc reveals OM, Penguin takes a turn, Cyc moves, Telepath takes a turn. What about Riddler with Riddle Me This where it says, "Immediately after revealing an Order Marker..." which "immediately" has the right of way, Penguin or Riddler's power? Do we roll a d20 to see who goes first or get to choose? If we have other powers in the future with the "after revealing OM, immediately do this" wording, do we have a precedent on how this works? I'm just curious.

Umbrella Gun - Interesting, can offer some neat choices. If you're adjacent to an opponent and use it, you'd have to risk leaving engagement to use it, but that might be a fun choice to make. Otherwise I can see some neat options in different situations.

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

I agree strategically it makes for some interesting choices & will probably open up some equally interesting opportunities, but thematically it's lost on me. The Penguin never used his umbrella copter to zip around a battlefield. On the very rare occasion he used it to fly into the scene, but his main use of it was for exiting the fight. It was always more the live to fight another day option then a means of transport.

Cheers

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

There is that point A3n. I only see him in the animated series' where he uses his umbrella to escape, but I didn't know if he uses it more often in the comics to get around and attack from. :shrug: I mean, I can see the fun of it for sure, but am not the best person to know how thematic it is. I defer to the experts of the DC world/Batman world :D

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Even in the comics Penguin rarely uses his Copter and when he does it is usually for escaping, however, he has and is able to use it for tactical advantages when necessary. The figure has two umbrellas, so while one is flying (a minimum amount and not "all over the battlefield") the other is shooting.

I could drop his attack to 3 possibly.

For the concerns with the Self Importance power getting out of hand, I will change it so that it is an "instead of taking a turn with that figure" power. This way, if you reveal an Order marker on Cyclops, and then you use this power, only Penguin will take the turn.

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

OK, I like his base stats, though 4 is a little powerful for an Umbrella gun, IMO (which I'm assuming the base stats represent). I'd rather see melee range for him and that 4 representing his Umbrella sword, then keep the gun in the special attack.
I like the revised Umbrella Copter - I don't think Stealth would be good there either.
I don't like Self-Important both because of the potential over-bonding issues and because, with a name like that, I think it should be a weakness, not a major strength. Right now it's definitely a strength - I'd love to see the power there be a weakness. I really like how so far we've given all the Crimelords a weakness on their cards and I don't think Penguin is without personality foibles that would/should show up as weaknesses.
So, I love the power name, but I don't think the power itself is working for me right now. Maybe something that forces you to take turns with Penguin instead of any other figures once per round? Something like that says "Self-Important" to me a bit more than what you have here.
Thematically I don't understand the fly-by restriction on the special attack. I'm kind of glad it's not just a straight up multiple attack because of the power level that would represent, but this approach is a bit lost on me thematically. Maybe you can explain where you're coming from a bit more?
In terms of power, with him at 100 points, I can't see ever, ever drafting Two-Face over him. He offers so much more to the Thugs than Two-Face does and so much more easily, and reliably, IMO. So I'm real iffy on the 100 point cost right now.

Re: Penguin - Design Phase
 

Well the point cost was more of a copy and paste place holder from Black Mask, it means nothing right now.

The Special Attack theme is that if Penguin attacks you while he is directly above you, he has a good shot on you with "height advantage". Other than that, it was more of a fun tactical thing than just theme.

I will work on the "Self" power a bit more. I agree that the Crimelords should have a type of weakness, but I was having a hard time finding one for him. However, I think I have an idea.... give me a minute. :)