The Book of Crystal
 

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Character Bio - Born into the Inhuman Royal Family as the younger sister of Medusa, Crystal was exposed to the Terrigen Mists as per the tradition of her people. The mists activated Crystal’s Inhuman powers, giving her control over the elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. As a child, Crystal was forced to flee from her home in the City of Attilan when war broke out, and it wasn’t until years later when Crystal was an adult that she found her sister again. Unfortunately, Medusa’s memory had been manipulated by the villainous Wizard, leading Medusa to attack her sister. With the help of the Fantastic Four, Crystal was able to restore Medusa’s memories, and together they returned to Attilan. But in this time Crystal fell in love with the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch, which caused tension in the Inhuman Court. When a fight between King Black Bolt and his brother Maximus the Mad caused serious damage to the city, it was decided to move the Royal Family away to safety, and Crystal was allowed to return to the Fantastic Four.

When Invisible Woman gave birth to her first child and removed herself from active duty, Crystal stepped in to take her place on the team. Her time as a successful member of the team was eventually ended when it was found that Crystal was slowly being killed by the pollutants in Earth’s atmosphere. Returning to Attilan, Crystal met and fell in love with the Mutant Quicksilver. Eventually the two married, and had a daughter, Luna. Crystal for a time joined the Avengers, but later returned to her people. Crystal and Quicksilver’s marriage was rocky, and despite attempts to repair it, eventually fell apart when Quicksilver, depowered like many other Mutants during the events of M-Day, stole Terrigen Crystals in an attempt to repower his fellow Mutants. When a war with the Skrulls forced the Inhumans to flee into Kree space, Crystal was forced to marry Ronan the Accuser in exchange for protection for her people. Despite her initial dislike of Ronan, Crystal eventually formed feelings for him over time, and opted to stay by his side through many conflicts. Now back on Earth as a conflict between the Inhumans and Mutants has escalated to the brink of war, Crystal leads a small task force in an attempt to defuse the conflict, and to protect Inhumans, Mutants, and Humans alike.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Marvel figure, Crystal has these Marvel Synergies.
• As a figure with a secret identity, Crystal has these Secret Identity Synergies.
• As an Inhuman, Crystal has these Inhuman Synergies.
• As an Adventurer, Crystal has these Adventurer Synergies.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Crystal has these Super Strength Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• As a figure with a secret identity, Crystal interacts differently with these special powers.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Crystal interacts differently with these special powers.
• As a figure with the Flying special power, Crystal interacts differently with these special powers.
• As a figure with a special attack, Crystal can interact differently with these special powers.
• Crystal's Fiery Projectile Special Attack does not affect figures with the Lava Resistant special power.
• Crystal can use her Buffeting Winds special power to temporarily negate the flying special power.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• Fantastic 4 faction strategy guide

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: Viegon
• Second playtest: Ronin
• Third playtest: Arkham
• Fourth playtest: Ronin
• Fifth playtest: Lazy Orang
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by japes
• Crystal created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
• Comic art by Stjepan Sejic

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

NAME = CRYSTAL
SECRET IDENTITY = CRYSTALLIA AMAQUELIN

SPECIES = INHUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = ADVENTURER
PERSONALITY = BOLD

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 5

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 5
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 225

EARTH SHIFT
Start the game with a Small Rock Outcrop Destructible Object on this card. After attacking, you may either place the Small Rock Outcrop from this card on an empty space within 5 spaces of Crystal or destroy a Small Rock Outcrop within 5 spaces of Crystal. Whenever the Small Rock Outcrop from this card is destroyed, place it on this card.

FIERY PROJECTILE SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 4. Attack 4.
Figures with the Lava Resistant special power are not affected by this special attack.

TIDAL BLAST SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 2. Attack 3.
After a figure rolls defense dice against this special attack, if that figure was not destroyed, you may place it on any empty space within 2 spaces of its original placement. Moved figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks.

BUFFETING WINDS
At the start of any player's turn, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card. If you do, the Flying special power is negated on all Army Cards with one or more figures currently within 5 spaces of Crystal until the end of that player's turn.

SUPERSTRENGTH
FLYING

ORIGINAL DESIGN:

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

The only change I made to the design since it was last discussed in the faction thread was dropping her life by 1 to match Medusa, and also bumping her move down 1. I also contemplated dropping her attack by 1, but couldn’t decide.

I know it was mentioned that four powers felt like a bit much, and while I would normally agree, I feel that because her powerset is specifically control of the four elements, having a power to represent each feels thematic. I tried to keep the powers mostly short and simple, and I’d be open to simplifying them farther (such as dropping the unblockable dice part of her SA). If four powers is an issue here, we could cut one of them (probably Blinding Rain).

I’m also stumped on her personality, so I’m looking for suggestions there.

Not sure if we want to go such a simple route with the Rock Outcrop, but I couldn’t think of anything better and it played well with Crystal’s design.

Thoughts?

ADDITIONAL COMIC ART:


MINI BACKGROUNDS:

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I was going to recommend the rock power I have in Terra's draft but I like this and really like the fact we would be adding to the DO stock with existing terrain. This is a case where four powers is justified for thematic reasons.

For the SA I could see rolling an unblock able die against figures adjacent to the target but the pile on seems too much.

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I like the rock outcrop placement and destruction idea and the 4 elements = 4 powers works for me. I only wonder if everything in one turn is a bit much. Right now she can use the Winds to move herself, an ally, or an opponents figure instead of moving. Then after using Winds she can place or destroy a rock outcrop. Next as an attack she gets to throw a fireball at you. Using 3 powers each turn when most other cards only get to use 1 per turn seems like too much. I'd consider making the rock outcrop power also an instead of moving power, then she is either doing her Earth or Wind power each turn but not both followed up by her Fire power.

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I would definitely like to go with four powers if possible. If necessary, though, I would actually cut the Wind power and just give her Flying.

Blinding Rains doesn't really work for me as a "water power" though. It's more weather and invokes other things - wind and lightning and such.* Not sure what else I'd do but I'll think on it. Other three sound good.

*Unless this is something she regularly does - she doesn't in my experience but honestly I don't really remembering reading a comic with her in combat...

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I thought it would be fun to let her pull off a lot of little things on her turn, but if it's a concern we can change some of the triggers. That said, she wouldn't be the first design to use a lot of powers in one turn (technically, Wolverine uses all three of his powers on most turns, though admittedly two of them are condensed to his attack phase).

Yeah, as much as I like Blinding Rain mechanically, I was concerned it didn't really capture the right theme. The stuff I've read with her has her primarily using fire or wind in combat. Both Wikipedia and comicvine say she can summon a downpour, but I'm not sure if it's iconic. :shrug:

We could go for a water blast/knockback SA, or maybe some sort of ice blast power?

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

Maybe a Waterblast SA that has a bigger impact on figures with the Lava Resistance SP? Or would placing a water tile be appropriate? Then you could fold that into the Rock placement power. Place a rock outcrop or a water tile as needed, destroy the rock outcrop for damage or roll an unbockable att. die vs any figure on a water tile.

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

Rock Outcrop, Water Tile, and Molten Lava??

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I was going to suggest dropping Blinding Rains or the SA, but the whole four powers/four elements thing is cool.

Hmm, that's an idea.

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I would prefer Lava Field.

Re: The Book of Crystal - Design
 

I feel like throwing down tiles would kind of pigeonhole her into "utilize tile" builds. Not really her style, I think.