Soldiers of Valhalla - nominations and discussion

[vegietarian18]

to review Prince Al'kahora

While he does have the Prince/Knight flaw, that really shouldn't be a reason to vote Nay.

to review Armoc Warlord

The design is okay, but $15 dollars to get a single figure is a bit extreme, and this isn't like the C3V where a commitment could be made to using the entire box. I also am a bit doubtful that some random store on the internet that normally sells fairies is has 99+ of this box.

[Kinseth]

Originally Posted by vegietarian18

to review Prince Al'kahora

While he does have the Prince/Knight flaw, that really shouldn't be a reason to vote Nay.

to review Armoc Warlord

The design is okay, but $15 dollars to get a single figure is a bit extreme, and this isn't like the C3V where a commitment could be made to using the entire box. I also am a bit doubtful that some random store on the internet that normally sells fairies is has 99+ of this box.

Might I suggest the following figure as an alternate?



It is from Pathfinder Minis, The Latest Release, Legends of Golarion. TATZLWYRM

[superfrog]

I vote to Armoc Warlord. We can hash out the rest of the box later. I actually have a draft whipped up for at least one of those other figures.

I won't vote on the Prince until someone posts what the actual sculpt used is.

[DanieLoche]

The figure used is a Heroclix figures called Ian Nottinham.

This one?

[caps]

Originally Posted by vegietarian18

to review Armoc Warlord

The design is okay, but $15 dollars to get a single figure is a bit extreme, and this isn't like the C3V where a commitment could be made to using the entire box. I also am a bit doubtful that some random store on the internet that normally sells fairies is has 99+ of this box.

I should clarify that as far as that issue is concerned, I would be voting * to let the C3V consider using other parts of the box. C3V has decided to use boxes before without having designs done for all parts of it (like the box for Deathcommander Mark 3)--why shouldn't SoV be able to do the same thing?

I understand if you don't want to add yet another partial-box to the mix, but I personally want to bring it up for discussion before the entire group.

*I haven't yet, as I am not satisfied with the availability info that has been posted so far

Originally Posted by superfrog

I vote to Armoc Warlord. We can hash out the rest of the box later. I actually have a draft whipped up for at least one of those other figures.

Me too.

Originally Posted by superfrog

I won't vote on the Prince until someone posts what the actual sculpt used is.

I don't know what you're talking about.

[vegietarian18]

Under that logic, we would be approving four figures for design by C3V without even knowing they want to design said figures. Typically they take a look at the whole box beforehand and decide they want to use some/all of the sculpts. Now, this box does have a lot of (notably old) drafts sitting around the Sanctum, so maybe it would work. However, part of the reason those drafts got forgotten is because of declining availability for that box and really DnD sculpts in general.

This could be brought up in the Unified Review phase for further discussion though.

[Lazy Orang]

Originally Posted by vegietarian18

Under that logic, we would be approving four figures for design by C3V without even knowing they want to design said figures. Typically they take a look at the whole box beforehand and decide they want to use some/all of the sculpts. Now, this box does have a lot of (notably old) drafts sitting around the Sanctum, so maybe it would work. However, part of the reason those drafts got forgotten is because of declining availability for that box and really DnD sculpts in general.

This could be brought up in the Unified Review phase for further discussion though.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by vegietarian18

I also am a bit doubtful that some random store on the internet that normally sells fairies is has 99+ of this box.

You do have a point there, but they do have some in stock. The numbers are scattered much like the Deathwings were when I had tried to buy then (back when they were first announced.)

I can switch to the other mini if I absolutely must, though it doesn't fit as well in IMO.

But yeah, the other bit about the other minis should be brought up in the Unified Review Phase.

[caps]

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

You do have a point there, but they do have some in stock. The numbers are scattered much like the Deathwings were when I had tried to buy then (back when they were first announced.)

I believe you. Most minis are available that way. But you need to show me. Where's the proof?

[superfrog]

to Ian Nottingham/Prince Al'kahora.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

I believe you. Most minis are available that way. But you need to show me. Where's the proof?

Well, I just googled Yuan-Ti Swiftscale and DnD Dungeons of Dread Starter Set. I can try to get more concrete numbers if I can find them.

[Tai-Pan]

I would like to submit something I had floating around a while ago:

WAR MASTIFF

Spoiler Alert!

Bio-
Parmenio stood assembled with his Greek warriors. As the signal came from Kato Katsuru, acting commander for this battle, Parmenio's men began to advance, their hounds bounding towards the conflict in front of them. The Mastiffs reached the enemy lines first. Dog after dog after dog attacked, each one leaping over the next, pushing him back to get a piece of the enemy. As the dogs began to fall, Parmenio's men took their place and man and beast fought side by side until every enemy had fallen. Once the fight was over, it was time to tend to the wounded - every man for his dog, binding the hits it had taken with cloth, and every dog for his man, carefully licking the blood from his wounds.


Concept-
I saw the high numbers for availability for all the Dungeon Crawlers Omen figures and thought they would fit in well with HeroScape and started brainstorming. I liked the Mastiff the most of the figures, and imagined Einar's armies working with a number of Mastiffs. Being a common figure allows as many or as few Mastiffs as you like. Both abilities allow you to utilize several Mastiffs at once, though not in the same way a squad works. Dog Handler is an ability that really captures the way dogs were used - on leashes or closely controlled by humans until they were loosed. A squad of humans moves, ends adjacent to their Mastiffs, and the Mastiffs move out in front of them. I discovered by playtesting that even with the high numbers that Einar can activate in one turn, it didn't usually feel overpowered (with Kato and Ashigaru and Hounds you can possibly move 16 figures per turn, albeit without an attack (and an army with Kato, 8 Mastiffs, 1 squad each of Ashigaru costs 420 points)). Pack Attack is a little counter-intuitive (and causes some thematic problems with counterstrike), but tries to capture the image of a pack of dogs leaping over each other, possibly through only a narrow opening, to attack. It also seems more thematic (and generally less powerful) than having something where the dogs surround something and can then all attack.

Cost-
They needed to be expensive enough to deter massive dog-spamming but cheap enough to function as a cheap addition to an already functioning army. They're not worth much on their own, but 2 for 30 points seemed like it would work. In playtesting this has worked well.

Synergy-
Work with disciplined Einar humans, especially well with the squads. Romans, Greeks, 10th look good with War Hounds. Samurai look a little weird, but hey, it's HeroScape. Mastiffs also work (albeit not well) with the Arrow Gruts.

Name-
Generic

Gameplay-
This figure is a little tricky to imagine using just with the card. In practice, it looks a little like this: In the starting zone there is usually a line of dogs in front of a line of disciplined Einar squad figures. A squad usually gives up a significant amount of its first move in order to end just in front of the dogs, and the dogs move up in front of the squad. On the next turn, the squad moves again, ends next to the dogs, the dogs move. Once the dogs get moved into engagement, it's time to start considering an order marker on one of them. So you activate an order marker on a dog. This dog now wants to be adjacent to a) an enemy and b) as many other Mastiffs as possible. It's easy to keep the dogs in clumps using Dog Handler, so a dog can move into position and usually get 2-3 attacks easily. It's pretty rare to get more than 3 attacks in, but it is possible.

The model is one of Dungeon Crawlers minis that are available at Auggies. Availability for it is 397 at the moment and I believe it is still in production.