Dr. Who playtests: The Doctor vs. Heroes
Had to try out the home-made Thaelenk Tundra I just finished, so all battles were on Arctic Divide from the BoV. Played with normal ice and light snow.
The Doctor faced off against Sir Denrick, Agent Carr, and Syvarris, winning all 3 matches. Carr was the only opponent that came close to defeating The Doctor.
No glyphs were used for the Hero battles, so Sonic Screwdriver did not come into play.
Brilliant was amazingly effective. If I counted correctly, Brilliant was 13/15, obviously well above probabilities.
Run! helped the Doctor control the game and usually set up an attack with Brilliant.
The Run!/Brilliant combo was much more effective than I had imagined. IMO, even if Brilliant's rolls had been closer to the 50/50 you'd expect, Run! still would have helped the Doc and prolonged the game long enough for Doc to whittle away with Brilliant.
I know it's only the Hero tests, but at this point, Dr. Who looks a little underpriced at 100. If time permits, I will have some squad tests posted tomorrow evening.
Spoiler Alert!
Quote:
Dr. Who vs. Sir Denrick
Round 1
Denrick wins initiative. Denrick and the Doctor both begin their trek to the middle of the battle field. The round ends with both jockeying to make the first strike.
Round 2
Initiative – Denrick. The Doc has kept just out of Denrick’s move range, so Denrick moves to ensure that The Doctor can’t get height. Doc moves in range and attacks with Brilliant scoring a wound. Denrick engages and attacks. Run saves the Doc from taking a wound. Brilliant hits Denrick again. Denrick attacks again. Run fails this time, but Doc defends successfully. Brilliant misses.
Round 3
Doc wins initiative and strikes with Brilliant and hits again. Denrick strikes and Doc Runs. Brilliant scores a 4th wound. Run again saves the Doc. Denrick is finished off with a 5th Brilliant strike.
The Doctor wins taking no wounds.
Dr. Who vs. Agent Carr
Round 1
Carr wins initiative and moves around the flank. Doc moves toward the middle. Turn 2 sees more maneuvering. Turn 3, Carr gets close enough for a shot and hits for a wound – Run fails. Doc uses Brilliant to return the favor.
Round 2
Doc wins initiative and hits with Brilliant. Sword of Reckoning deals 4 wounds…hold it, the Doc runs. Carr argues with the judges to no avail. Brilliant hits yet again. Sword of Reckoning hits for 3 wounds and… Run fails! Doc uses Brilliant one more time to deal the final wound on Carr.
Dr. Who wins with 4/6 wounds.
Dr. Who vs. Syvarris
Round 1
Initiative: Syvarris. Turns 1 and 2 see maneuvering with Syvarris moving around the flank then toward the middle. Doc initially moves to the right flank then backtracks toward the ruins on the left. Syvarris moves in range and takes a shot. If not for Run, Doc would have taken 2 wounds. Run allows Doc the safety of the ruin wall. Doc can’t get close enough to take a shot with Brilliant, so he moves further behind the ruin to block Syvarris’ LOS and force the archer to move closer.
Round 2
Initiative: Syvarris. The elf moves cautiously to his left, making sure to stay out of range for Brilliant. Doc moves to his left keeping glaciers between him and Syvarris. The elf moves and takes a shot at Doc’s leg but misses. Run sends the Doc scurrying behind a glacier again robbing Syvarris of his second shot. The round ends with Doc scoring a hit with Brilliant.
Round 3
Initiative: Syvarris. Syvarris moves for height and takes a shot. Run again saves Doc – glacier again prevents a second shot. Doc moves out of hiding and hits with Brilliant. Syvarris shoots, Doc runs, no second shot. Doc pops out of hiding and misses with Brilliant. Syvarris shoots. Same story, Run saves the day. Doc hits for a third wound with Brilliant to end the round.
Round 4
Initiative: Syvarris. FINALLY, Syvarris hits for a wound and Run fails. Run fails for the second shot, but Doc defends. Doc misses with Brilliant. Syvarris amazingly gets 2 shots at Doc, again. Run fails both times but plenty of shields for Doc prevent damage. Brilliant ends the match.
Dr. Who wins taking only 1 wound.
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Dr. Who Squad Tests and 1 additional Hero test
BoV Map: Arctic Divide
Dr. Who is a squad-killing machine. The Run/Brilliant combo proved super-effective again.
The Snipers were able to score 3 wounds thanks to some failed Run rolls, but Brilliant denied defense rolls and took them out relatively quickly.
Brilliant was just as effective against the Krav - especially since Stealth Dodge didn't even come into play.
I did finally find someone around 100 points who could take out the Doctor 1 on 1 - The Feral Troll. His Regenerate ability constantly removed the one wound that Brilliant could inflict. The Doctor's only chance was to gain high ground and hope for 2 skulls with each normal attack. The only other option was for the Doctor to continually move around the battlefield not allowing the Troll to engage then wait for boredom to set in with the players.
Spoiler Alert!
Dr. Who vs. Omnicron Snipers
Round 1
Snipers and Doc maneuver through the first two turns. The Snipers get one shot on turn 3, hit for 2 wounds, and Run fails. Doc uses his last turn to take cover behind a ruin wall.
Round 2
Snipers again win initiative and move to surround the Doc. Doc moves out of cover on the far side and attacks a Sniper with Brilliant and takes it out. The remaining snipers move to take shots at the Doc. The first scores a wound when Run fails, but Run works on the second attack. Doc uses his Run move then his regular move to close on a Sniper and hit with Brilliant. The last Sniper moves to the same level and attacks, Run works again. Doc moves to use Brilliant but misses.
Round 3
Doc wins initiative and hits the last Sniper and hits with Brilliant.
The Doctor wins with 3/6 wounds.
Dr. Who vs. Krav Maga
Round 1
Krav win initiative. Maneuvering for all 3 turns. Krav spread out across the battlefield while Doc heads for a ruin wall. Gambling, on his last turn, Doc moves to a position to be able to strike a Krav should he win initiative.
Round 2
The gamble pays off as Doc wins initiative. Brilliant misses, though. Two Krav set up for shots. Two successful Run rolls allow the Doc to slip away. Doc eliminates a Krav with Brilliant. One Krav scores a wound as Run fails. The second Krav misses as Run works. Brilliant scores again. Run fails but Doc defends against the last Krav’s attack.
Round 3
Krav win initiative, but Run keeps Doc from taking a wound. Brilliant takes out the last Krav.
The Doctor wins taking only 1 wound.
Dr. Who vs. Feral Troll
Round 1
Doc wins initiative. Maneuvering…blah blah blah.
Round 2
Troll wins initiative, but still can’t quite reach Doc. Brilliant scores a wound. The Troll engages and attacks. Run fails and Doc takes a wound. Troll regenerates. Doc moves away. The Troll follows. Brilliant misses.
Round 3
Initiative: Doc. Doc moves to high ground and hits with Brilliant. The Troll engages, Run fails, but Doc defends. Regenerate removes a wound from the Troll. Doc chances disengagement to move behind the ruin wall, and doesn’t take a wound. Doc’s only chance against the Troll is to gain high ground and try for two wounds per turn. Troll moves toward Doc. Doc gains high ground and waits. Troll moves closer.
Round 4
Doc wins initiative. Brilliant hits. Troll engages Doc who defends against the attack. Regenerate removes the wound. Doc hits for only one wound. Troll attacks but Doc engages again. Wound removed. Doc takes his 2nd wound. Height advantage doesn’t help Doc who scores only one soon to be removed wound. Another wound for Doc from the Frenzied Troll.
Round 5
Unless Doc can start hitting for 2 wounds per turn, he will soon be dead. Troll wins initiative and scores 2 more wounds. Doc whiffs his attack. The Troll grants Doc a swift death.
Even with the Troll's success, at this point, I still think Dr. Who is either underpriced or overpowered. I'm going to try to get an army battle in tonight before bedtime.
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Army Test
BoV map: Arctic Divide. Glyphs: Nilrend and Wannok
Dr. Who, Agent Carr, Sir Denrick, Omnicron Snipers, Krav Maga vs. Sonlen, Syvarris, Major Q10, Feral Troll
A long, 10 round battle came down to Dr. Who vs. Major Q10. Doc didn't have the amazing success with Run or Brilliant this time around, though it did keep him and some of his friends in the game longer. The Doctor is vulnerable to specials that place a wound without an attack. Sonlen's Dragon Swoop was able to hit Doc on occasion. Feral troll fell before having a chance to go after the Doctor.
Spoiler Alert!
Round 1
Sonlen’s army wins initiative. The Troll uses all 3 OMs to reach a glyph. The Troll reveals Nilrend, a special gift for Doc. The d20 roll is only 2 – no negation. Snipers use OMs 1 & 3 to intercept and score 2 wounds, while the Krav use OM2 to move toward the second glyph.
Round 2
Initiative: Sonlen. The Troll engages a Sniper, killing it, and Regenerates a wound marker off his card. The Snipers knock out the Troll (and OM2) with 2 Deadly Shots from height. A Krav moves and takes the Glyph of Wannok. The other 2 take up defensive positions. Sonlen begins a move toward his left flank. Snipers use OM3 to take up defensive positions.
Round 3
Initiative: Sonlen. Sonlen continues his maneuver to the flank. Carr moves to intercept. Q10 begins his move around the right flank – Machine Pistol kills the Krav on Wannok. Denrick follows Carr. Syvarris follows Q10 and takes shots at another Krav – Stealth Dodge saves the day. Doc follows Carr and Denrick.
Round 4
Initiative: Doc. 1 Krav takes Wannok and a shot at Q10, but misses. The second Krav shoots at Syvarris and scores 2 wounds. Q10 takes 4 shots at the Krav on Wannok with Machine Pistol, but again Stealth Dodge makes the save. Snipers move into range of Syvarris and score a 3rd wound. Sonlen moves in behind the Snipers. Dragon Swoop takes one down and 4 skulls from his normal attack kill the last Sniper. One Krav finishes off Syvarris, the other attacks Q10 but fails. Machine Pistol still can’t get through Stealth Dodge. End of round roll for Wannok: 5. Sonlen takes the wound.
Round 5
Initiative: Doc. Doc moves in Sonlen’s direction. Dragon Healing fails then Sonlen moves in range of Doc. Dragon Swoop fails as well. Sonlen attacks Doc. Run fails and the Doc takes 2 wounds. Carr moves to engage Sonlen. Sword of Reckoning scores 2 wounds on Sonlen. Dragon Healing again fails. A 14 means Dragon Swoop fails again, too. Sonlen attacks Carr, scoring 2 wounds. Denrick moves toward Sonlen but can’t quite get in range. Q10 can’t buy a hit on the Krav holding Wannok. End of round roll for Wannock: Q10 takes the wound.
Round 6
Initiative: Sonlen. Dragon Healing removes a wound from Sonlen. Dragon Swoop hits Carr for his 3rd Wound. Sonlen doesn’t roll enough skulls to finish off Carr. Doc moves into range of Sonlen and Run range of his friends. Brilliant hits Sonlen. Healing fails, but Swoop places another wound on Doc. Carr falls to Sonlen’s normal attack after Run fails. Denrick engages Sonlen and hits for 1 wound. Q10’s Machine Pistol finally cuts through Stealth Dodge and kills the Krav on Wannok. Denrick puts the 5th wound on Sonlen.
Round 7
Initiative: Doc. Just one little skull to finish off Sonlen with Brilliant, but no, Sonlen survives. Healing fails as does Swoop. Denrick takes 2 wounds from Sonlen’s attack. This time, Brilliant hits and Sonlen falls. It’s now Q10 vs. Doc, Denrick, and 1 Krav. Q10 moves in range of Denrick, but all shields prevent any wounds. Doc moves against Q10, but Brilliant fails. Q10 attacks Doc with Wrist Rocket. Run sends Doc and Denrick scurrying behind glaciers, robbing Q10 of his second attack.
Round 8
Initiative: Q10. In the previous round, Denrick was unable to stay within Run range of Doc. 4 skulls on Wrist Rocket prove too much for Denrick and he falls (Denrick had OM1, hoping to use his boosted attack against the Large Soulborg). The second attack targets the last Krav. Stealth Dodge saves her. Q10 engages the last Krav and uses Wrist Rocket. The Krav rolls just enough shields to thwart the attack. Doc attacks with Brilliant but misses. Q10 stays engaged to the Krav but gains the same level. Wrist Rocket attack 1 defeats the Krav. Wrist Rocket attack 2 misses as the Doc Runs. Doc again misses with Brilliant to end the round.
Round 9
Initiative: Doc. Brilliant hits for Q10s second wound. Doc’s Run roll fails, but he defends successfully against Wrist Rocket. The second WR fails as Doc Runs. Brilliant pushes Q10 to the brink of destruction. Wrist Rocket fails and Doc Runs again. Doc’s Brilliant roll fails on OM3. Wrist Rocket hits Doc for 2 wounds when the second Run roll fails. Next wound ends the game. Initiative roll will probably decide the outcome.
Round 10
Initiative……Q10. 4 Skulls for Wrist Rocket 1. Run roll…..FAILS! 2 shields. The Doctor falls after a valiant fight. Well, he did run away frequently, so maybe valiant isn’t the right word.
Edit:
Random thoughts...
... Dr. Who would be absolute murder against the Deathwalkers.
... High-life heroes and Negation may be the best defense against the Brilliant/Run combo.
After all the tests, I still believe Doc is underpriced. Maybe not as much as I originally did. Somewhere around 120, maybe slightly more. Hopefully someone else will get a chance to test the Doc and perhaps that will give us a better handle on the points.
I'll add my Theme Test thoughts tomorrow evening. Too late tonight...head tired...eyes heavy...almost dozing off at keyboard...