REACH: How would YOU do it?

[Confred]

-This thread is the eighth of a series-

Reach is an ability from Magic: the Gathering

Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)

Flying creatures typically can only be intercepted by other creatures with flying; Reach is a ground creature that doesn't have the offensive capabilities of flying but can defend against it.

Reach is also a special power from Heroscape

Reach (If an opponent's figure is within 2 spaces of this figure, and its base is no more than 3 levels above this figure's height or 3 levels below this figure's base, this figure may add 1 to his Range when attacking that figure.)

A far different power, essentially this figure can make melee attacks 2 spaces away - most of the card space is spent on limits to prevent things like attacking off skyscrapers.

There is immediate conflict with this keyword because there are two versions, each with different functions.
I think we should respect Heroscape, meaning the Magic version should be renamed.
Now I look at Magic's use of reach, and it's far-reaching from spiders to archers. I may lean towards case-by-case interpretations, but ideally one power can attend all needs

1) "REACH" "WEB" "INTERCEPT" "HARROW"
Whenever an opponent's figure moves adjacent to this figure, that figure's move immediately ends.
1.2) "REACH" "WEB" "INTERCEPT" "HARROW"
Whenever an opponent's figure moves within 2 clear sight spaces of this figure, that figure's move immediately ends.
2) "REACH" "WEB" "INTERCEPT" "HARROW"
All opponent's figures within 2 clear sight spaces of this figure cannot be moved. (Affected figures can be moved through)
3) HARROW
All opponent's creatures within 5 clear sight spaces of this creature cannot fly.
3.2) HARROW
Whenever a figure flies within 5 clear sight spaces of this creature, you may immediately end the move and the figure cannot attack this turn.
4) WEB
All opponent's figures with flying within 5 clear sight spaces of this figure can either move or attack, but not both. (If a figure starts its turn more than 5 spaces away from this figure and enters a space within 5 clear sight spaces of this figure, then it cannot attack this turn.)
5) THWART
Opponents' figures can never move through this figure or through figures adjacent to this figure. This figure can always attack adjacent opponents' figures with leaving engagement attacks as they start to move.

So how would YOU do it?

[flameslayer93]

How about preventing Flyers from moving if they fly over a space adjacent to a reach unit? Similar to the Wyvern's Talon Grab, but in reverse.

[Confred]

Originally Posted by flameslayer93

How about preventing Flyers from moving if they fly over a space adjacent to a reach unit? Similar to the Wyvern's Talon Grab, but in reverse.

3) HARROW
All opponent's creatures within 5 clear sight spaces of this creature cannot fly.

[psyShock]

Normally reach is the natural counter to flying Creatures in Magic because you cant block a flying creature without a card with reach or another flying creature.

In Aotp the pro of Flying is that you can fast reach every enemy and lock them in Combat. You dont need reach to attack flying characters because at the end of the turn the creature always lands.

To stay in a Magic way i would do something that counters Flying with something like:

Reach: FlyingCreatures cant engage you in Combat without getting a Free Attack

or

Naturally Cards with Reach always can shoot somehow

Reach: You get +2 Range if you Shoot at a Flying Creature

[Marro_Warlord]

Flying guys trigger an engagement strike when engaging someone with reach.

Flight Stopper: Whenever a figure with flying moves over a space adjacent to (Spider), roll the twenty sided dice. On a roll of 15 or higher, the figure receives one wound, and must end its movement.

[nate the dawg]

Originally Posted by Marro_Warlord

Flying guys trigger an engagement strike when engaging someone with reach.

Flight Stopper: Whenever a figure with flying moves over a space adjacent to (Spider), roll the twenty sided dice. On a roll of 15 or higher, the figure receives one wound, and must end its movement.

I like this one. At least in some way, if we're trying to interpret the MTG keyword for Reach, it should specifically affect flyers.

[Confred]

4) WEB
All opponent's figures with flying within 5 clear sight spaces of this figure can either move or attack, but not both. (If a figure starts its turn more than 5 spaces away from this figure and enters a space within 5 clear sight spaces of this figure, then it cannot attack this turn.)

[lefton4ya]

Harrow/Grab
Figures {(with Flying, Stealth Flying, Phantom Walk, or Disengage) or (that have special powers that ignore becoming engaged and/or do not taking leaving engagement attacks)} cannot move over or through [this figure] and are still subject to leaving engagement attacks from [this figure] regardless of any special powers.

[Confred]

Originally Posted by lefton4ya

Harrow/Grab
Figures {(with Flying, Stealth Flying, Phantom Walk, or Disengage) or (that have special powers that ignore becoming engaged and/or do not taking leaving engagement attacks)} cannot move over or through [this figure] and are still subject to leaving engagement attacks from [this figure] regardless of any special powers.

5) THWART
Opponents' figures can never move through this figure or through figures adjacent to this figure. This figure can always attack adjacent opponents' figures with leaving engagement attacks as they start to move.

[Marro_Warlord]

Reach in MtG is typically assigned to spiders, and/or archers. Reach also is pretty much dead unless your opponent has flying creatures. Reach doesn't absolutely wreck flyers, it just takes away one of their advantages. Not being able to move within a certain aura, (Harrow version 3) fits this. Most spiders in MtG are also capable of taking down your average flyer and living, so I think we could implement a wounding power into this as well. I think we should probably go in the direction of Harrow #1.

[Confred]

Playtested a version that simply shut down flying within 5 clear sight spaces. Figures can still walk.
It worked surprisingly well and gunked up the battlefield appropriately.

[Xn F M]

So . . . Snare the Skies is a card that grants reach. So wouldn't reach follow the template given by the Snare the Skies card?


+2 Range when attacking a unit with flying.

(Btw I don't think Harrow is great as an ability name. Harrow is an existing MTG card that's actually a pretty good ramp spell that's been printed many times, and has multiple variants on other cards. While ramp doesn't seem to have a place in AotP, calling an ability Harrow, that isn't a mana ramp ability, is a bit like calling a buff ability lightning bolt.)