The Book of Deathbird
 

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Character Bio - Cal'syee Neramani is the oldest of the four Neramani children to the ruling house of the Shi'ar Imperium. Despite this she was denied right to rule the Shi'ar due to a prophecy that declared that she would commit great evil. She was exiled after murdering her sister and mother in order to seize the throne. Cal'syee fled to Earth where she took the name Deathbird. Deathbird was an enemy of the original Ms. Marvel, and has fought her several times. (comicvine.com, 2014)
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• N/A

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

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Immunities:

• As a figure with the Flying special power, Deathbird cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Flying special power.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Deathbird cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Super Strength special power.

Benefits:

• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Deathbird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Super Strength special power.

Weaknesses:

• As a figure with the Flying special power, Deathbird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Flying special power.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: (Viegon)
• Second playtest: (Aggressive Sock)
• Third playtest: (Heroscaper Guy)
• Fourth playtest: (Karat)
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by japes

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

NAME = DEATHBIRD
SECRET IDENTITY = CAL'SYEE NERAMANI

SPECIES = SHI'AR
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = EXILE
PERSONALITY = FEROCIOUS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 5
DEFENSE = 6

POINTS = 240

BERSERKER FRENZY
After taking a turn with Deathbird, if she is engaged, you must immediately, if possible, reveal and remove an unrevealed Order Marker from this card to take another turn with Deathbird.

SUPER STRENGTH
FLYING

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

COMIC ART:


FIGURE PICS:


FIGURE BACKGROUND:


Alright, first couple questions:
1) What class should she have? "Outcast" was what I originally posted, but I remember someone suggesting "Empress" at one point. I'd be fine with either.
2) Should Berserker Frenzy work off of all OMs or just numbered OMs? I worry numbered OMs would make her too weak, but allowing her to use the "X" would make her pretty scary.
3) Should she need to reveal the OM when removing it? What's the ruling on removing OMs, do you have to reveal it to your opponent even if the power doesn't say to?

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

The only potential issue I see is with stacking removed OMs giving you three full turns on turn 1.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

That's actually the intent. The thing is, it's a tricky power. Even if you do pull off the triple turn like you want, that means your opponent gets to take a triple turn right after that because you're now out of OMs (unless you can take out units who have OMs). Also, you can't choose to activate it or not, it's hard to control. Imagine a scenario where your opponent gets initiative and uses Jean Grey to toss Deathbird (who has all three OMs) next to Blob; you now get stuck burning all three of those turns slashing away at Blob who will likely be able to block the attacks, and then your opponent gets to take their other two turns without opposition.

The point of the power is for it to have dangerous potential but to also be very tricky to use, occasionally backfiring and hurting you more then helping. In short, to capture the theme of a berserker who, while very dangerous, can mess up your plans due to their wild nature.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

I would avoid Outcast for sure, since she was never in the Brotherhood.

Between her javelin throwing and her energy cannon, it seems like she should have some range.

I like a nice one power card. :up: I'd side with only letting her use numbered Order Markers unless you get her to playtesting and she seems too weak. Of course, I'm not sure if her stats support 220 right now, so you might want to do it preemptively.

She's definitely a first-strike, assassin type, who'll probably be killed off after one furious assault.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

I'd lower her Life to 4 and up her Defense... the Shi'ar have hollow bones which has always seemed to push more toward low life even among superhumans. Wouldn't be against staying as-is but I'll suggest the change anyways.

I'd let her move on the X, too - it would be strong but she's a big enough threat in-universe to warrant that sort of power, I think. She's Ms. Marvel's biggest enemy and was consort to Vulcan.

She's definitely best as some sort of "Outcast" class-wise. I don't have a problem with her staying there as she has a history of being an X-Men villain even if she's never explicitly been a Brotherhood member. I think "Exile" might work as she was, well, exiled from the Shi'ar... if we don't like the synergy.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

I don't like the synergy. :-P Exile works for me. Good points on lower life and higher defense. :up:

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

While I like her being a single power card, I wonder if it wouldn't be better to just make her energy cannon a Special Attack.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

I'd be fine with 4 life and 5 defense, doesn't matter much to me either way.

Good point thematically; my preference is to start the initial with the X usable and we can always adjust it later if it's showing too strong.

I'd be fine with Exile, it fits her character perfectly.

She has a javelin and an energy cannon? She's never used a weapon in any of the comics I've read with her in it (and that's both X-Men and Ms. Marvel). Maybe just different periods of the character, but to me she is iconically known for her hand-to-hand fighting style and the use of her claws. I also don't like what range or an SA would do to the design, it takes away from her berserker playstyle. On top of that, the mini is definitely not carrying any weapons.

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

I'll echo that she should stay melee, too. :2cents:

Re: The Book of Deathbird - Design Phase
 

Going off of Wikipedia on that one:

She's not a character I've read in anything.