The Book of Wolfsbane

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

Sweet. Nice to have two of these running at once now. Gees, only 3 pages and ready for an initial? Quite the contrast with the public designs.

If we ever needed proof that moving one design thread from public to here was a good idea, well, in the words of the Hip Hop group Tag Team, "Whomp! There it is!"

[TrollBrute]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

Sweet. Nice to have two of these running at once now. Gees, only 3 pages and ready for an initial? Quite the contrast with the public designs.

Haha, it helps that this is a fairly simple design that went through some revisions a couple times.

[Karat]

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

Haha, it helps that this is a fairly simple design that went through some revisions a couple times.

It also helps that we're such a tight knit group that can work together to come to a mutually beneficial end product

[Red Eyed Jedi]

[TrollBrute]

Here are the ERBs:

Clear sight was giving us some verbiage trouble, and thematically, she's tracking by scent and not sight.

While moving is based on the Classic 'Scape Brave Arrow precedent. I'll see what the others think though.

Hopefully 'instead' is enough, but again, I'll defer to the wording experts.

Thanks again,

TB

The theme, as I see it, is her strong religious convictions allowing her to remain true to who she is, with the OM removal representing the internal struggle. It distracts her momentarily, but she is able to keep control of herself.

Thanks!

[Margloth]

I didnt get an ERB.

My only comment, (and I know I think I may have been the first to suggest that her tracking power lead into her pounce), is that now I'm questioning her speed.

Given ideal situations (and I know ideal is key here) she could cover 12 spaces in one turn. That's Flash speed! Maybe her regular move should drop to 5? I know it's not a huge difference, but I kind of feel like getting places won't be a problem for her anyway.

[IAmBatman]

Yeah, I could see that. With Blood Tracking, she could have a move of 8 right now even without the pounce. I don't mind seeing that drop to 7.

[TrollBrute]

Originally Posted by Margloth

I didnt get an ERB.

My only comment, (and I know I think I may have been the first to suggest that her tracking power lead into her pounce), is that now I'm questioning her speed.

Given ideal situations (and I know ideal is key here) she could cover 12 spaces in one turn. That's Flash speed! Maybe her regular move should drop to 5? I know it's not a huge difference, but I kind of feel like getting places won't be a problem for her anyway.

I didn't think we sent the design out to every ERB member.

Given that, like you said, it requires an ideal situation, I don't have a problem with her speed. Flash can actually move 16 spaces in one turn, and we already have units like Banshee who can move 9 spaces and Batman (Terry) who can move 10. However, I also don't have a problem with 5 base move, since it'll encourage more uses of her SA. I'll go ahead and make that change.

[IAmBatman]

I typically send them out to everyone these days.

[TrollBrute]

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Wolfsbane

- THEME TEST/ Check to see if there are any powers or stats on the test unit card that does not accurately reflect the theme or likeness of what the character would and could do. Also consider destructible objects, and whether or not this characters powers should affect them.
Pass

- MIRROR TEST/ Check to see if the unit were played against itself, if there would be any loops that would upset the balance of the Game.
Pass

- BONDING TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing Bonding abilities to make sure there are no continual Bonding possibilities that do not stop appropriately or do not stop at all. This is to prevent loops in Bonding.
Pass

- SYNERGIES TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing synergies to make sure there are no factors that could break the game by making any unit too powerful or too weak.
Pass, all the Mutant synergies but nothing stronger here than any other Mutie.

- POWER CHECK/ Consider the test unit and all existing units and all glyphs to compare to and check for any powers that could be over amplified and break the game. Each power must define when it takes place, who or what it affects, and What are the stipulations on the power if there are any.
Pass

- FUN TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play.
Pass

- FUN COMPETITIVE TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play against.
Pass

- DRAFTING TEST/ Consider whether or not this design is worth drafting.
Pass

- USAGE TEST/ Consider whether or not all of the powers on this card were used or at least usable.
Pass

- STRATEGY TEST/ Consider whether or not the design offers any real strategy or interesting tactics to the overall game.
Pass

Heavy Hitter or Mid-Level Hero Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview. Not a great showing here, but 1-on-1 matchups are not her best spot.

Spoiler Alert!

All tests on Song of the Walrus.

TEST 1
Units: Jewel (150)
Some really bad defense rolls here by Wolfsbane.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T5: Jewel with 1 wound.

TEST 2
Units:.
Rahne's defense was even worse here, I don't think she even managed 1 shield.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T2: Jewel unwounded.

TEST 3
Units: Iron Man Mark II (150)
Really close. Wolfsbane took 2 wounds from disengaging to Pounce and get even.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T4: Iron Man with 3 wounds.

TEST 4
Units: Falcon (140)
Wolfsbane made it close despite Falcon's constant height. Another disengagement wound, this time to get around Redwing Distraction.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T2: Falcon with 3 wounds.

TEST 5
Units: Wonder Girl (140)
Wonder Girl is a tough opponent for Wolfsbane, but she pulled it out here.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T3: Wolfsbane with 3 wounds.

TEST 6
Units: Wonder Girl (140)
A lot of skulls in this one from both units. This time, Wonder Girl's Flying and Lasso got the best of Wolfsbane.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T1: Wonder Girl with 3 wounds.

TEST 7
Units:Nightcrawler (140)
Another disengagement for Wolfsbane, but 2 Pounces was enough to take down her fellow X-Man.
Who won and how many wounds did they have R1T5: Wolfsbane with 3 wounds.

TEST 8
Units: Werewolf (130)
A game of hide and seek at first, with Wolfsbane trying to keep the Wolf from getting it's Stealth Pounce. She won there, but couldn't get many skulls.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T6: Werewolf with 2 wounds.

TEST 9
Units: Werewolf (130)
A great roll (4/4 skulls) out of the Werewolf and that was that for Wolfsbane. The Wolf's healing makes things look worse here than they actually were.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T4: Werewolf with 1 wound.

TEST 10
Units: Prowler (130)
Prowler kept rolling 3/3 skulls with his special attack. Wolfsbane handled the first couple, but eventually fell. Initiative could have won her this one.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T1: Prowler with 2 wounds.

_____________________________________________________________

Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview. A whiffed Pounce really hurt Wolfsbane here.
Map: Song of the Walrus
Units: Lexcorp Security x1 (130)

Spoiler Alert!

A bad Pounce against two flying, ranged squaddies.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R1T2: ]Both Lexcorp

_____________________________________________________________

Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview. Better Pounce, but two bad Defense rolls.
Map: Song of the Walrus
Units: Lexcorp Security x1 (130)

Spoiler Alert!

They got the first attack, but Wolfsbane weathered that and took one out with Pounce. Some bad rolls on Defense got her before she could get the other Lexcorp.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T2: 1 Lexcorp.

_____________________________________________________________

Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview. Pounce got these guys one by one.
Map: Song of the Walrus
Units: Gorilla City Warriors x1 (125)

Spoiler Alert!

Had Wolfsbane not whiffed against a 4/4 skull roll, this wouldn't have been this close.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? R2T1: Wolfsbane with 4 wounds.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test 1
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes.
- What should be the unit's point value? 140-150
- Give a brief overview.Big win for the Muties, but all of the credit there goes to Omega Red and Marrow. Things looked bad at first when Firestar went down fast, but Red and Marrow took the bridge, knocked the glyph away from Red Skull, and then just went nuts. Marrow took down the Agents left right and Red went after Skull. Wolfsbane ran out and got a couple turns, but the game was won by the other Mutants.
Map: Country Road
Units: Wolfsbane (140), Professor X (220), Omega Red (300), Marrow (220), Firestar (120) (1,000) VS Hydra Agents x3, (240), Red Skull (220), Baron Strucker (210), Juggernaut (340) (1,010)

Unit Summary:
Damage: 1 Hydra Agent.
Blood Tracking: Used 2 times.
Devastating Pounce: 2 times.
Keep the Faith: No effect.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Both teams head out, with no damage being dealt.

Round 2: Firestar takes out a couple Agents while Red moves up behind her. The Agents, Skull and Juggernaut kill Firestar. Red and Marrow move up. The Agents inflict a wound on Marrow. Marrow takes out an Agent and Omega Red deals a wound to Red Skull, knocking away the glyph. Red takes 2 wounds after making like a Deathwalker and whiffing with 7 dice, then takes another at the end of the round.

Round 3: The Agents and Skull do no damage. Omega Red deals a wound to Red Skull, while Marrow takes out 3 Agents. Red Skull deals another 2 wounds to Omega Red. Red does no damage, but Marrow kills another 3 Agents. Omega Red kills Red Skull and an Agent, healing 2 wounds (down to 3); Marrow takes out the penultimate Agent and deals 2 wounds to Juggernaut. Red takes a wound from Death Factor.

Round 4: Red and Marrow combine for 3 wounds on Juggernaut. Juggy inflicts 2 wounds to Omega Red. Red does no damage, Wolfsbane Pounces but fails to wound. Jugs deals 2 wounds to Wolfsbane. Red finishes off Juggernaut, Wolfsbane Pounces the final Agent.

Round 5: Omega Red inflicts 2 wounds on Strucker, healing twice; Marrow finishes off Strucker.

Xavier and Marrow unwounded, Wolfsbane with 3 wounds (2 left) and Omega Red with 4 (3).

Army Test 2
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview.Wolfsbane didn't do a ton here, but she did help tie up Lightning Lad for Bishop.
Map: Ivy's Greenhouse
Units: Wolfsbane (140), Mastermind (90), Bishop (170), Rogue (300), Armor (100) (800) VS Cosmic Boy (260), Saturn Girl (220), Lightning Lad (180), Brainiac 5 (130) (790)

Unit Summary:
Damage: 2 wounds to Lightning Lad.
Blood Tracking: Used 0 times.
Devastating Pounce: 1 time.
Keep the Faith: No effect.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: The Legionnaires claim one of the bridges while the Mutants work their way up.

Round 2: Bishop joins the fray but misses his attack. Rogue deals a couple wounds to Cosmic Boy and Drains him, but takes a couple wounds in return.

Round 3: Rogue Drains Cosmic Boy, and kills him the next turn, but not before taking two more wounds.

Round 4: Lightning Lad KOs Rogue and Armor in 1 turn. Bishop brings Saturn Girl to 3 wounds, but Wolfsbane fails to finish her off.

Round 5: Bishop takes down Saturn Girl, though takes wound himself in the process.

Round 6: Lightning Lad takes out Wolfsbane before going down himself.

Round 7: Brainiac takes out Mastermind, is dealt 3 wounds himself.

Round 8+: Bishop and Brainiac go head-to-head, with a whiff again a 3/3 skull ending things for the Mutants.


R9T3: Brainiac 5 with 4 wounds (2 left).

Army Test 3
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 140
- Give a brief overview.MODOK's rolls were great here, and that just left the Multiple Men with nothing to do. Wolfsbane got a few turns, once again being used to tie up a unit, this time Deathstroke. She missed her only Pounce roll, or else she might have been able to do some more damage. Had MODOK failed Design Only for Killing a couple more times, or had Wolfsbane's Pounce roll been better, things could have been a different story here for the Mutants, but it was just not their game.
Map: Custom (highway themed map by Viegon)
Units: Wolfsbane (140), Strong Guy (215), Siryn (140), Multiple Man x7 (210) (705) VS MODOK (360), Deathstroke (280), Trickster (65) (705)

Unit Summary:
Damage: 2 wounds to Deathstroke.
Blood Tracking: Used 1 time.
Devastating Pounce: 1 time.
Keep the Faith: No direct effect, MODOK just went with Designed Only for Killing to wound her and Multiple Man.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: The battle begins quickly, Deathstroke takes 2 wounds from a tossed car and Strong Redirects a couple to the same car.

Round 2: Wolfsbane gets a chance to to Pounce, but only rolls 1 skull. Deathstroke grabs height and takes out Strong Guy.

Round 3: MODOK takes out 4 Multiple Men, but Deathstroke gambles twice with Calculated Defense and misses both, taking 2 wounds.

Round 4: Wolfsbane finishes off Deathstroke, Madrox deals 2 wounds to a whiffing MODOK. MODOK then does what he was designed for, finishing off the Multiple Men and Wolfsbane.

Rounds 5&6: Siryn puts up a good fight, but she had almost no chance against MODOK.

R6T2: MODOK with 2 wounds (4 left) and unwounded Trickster.

Wolfsbane didn't do a ton in these games, but she filled her role nicely and, had the dice been more in her favor, she could have swung a couple of these games. A few more skulls on her Pounce in game 3 really would have helped. As it was, she was solid but not spectacular. However, the potential is there with Devastating Pounce, especially against commons, which she didn't face a lot of here.

I got good use out of both Blood Tracking and her SA. I like the way the two play together and I found her enjoyable to play. The only power that didn't really come into effect was Keep the Faith, but I suspect it will rarely come into direct play. Most often, mind control units will either target someone else or attack instead. As a theme power, I'm fine with it having a smaller effect, and I'm sure it will be of more use against units like Puppet Master.

I can see Wolfsbane swinging 10 points either way, but I feel comfortable moving her forward at 140.

[IAmBatman]

Honestly, she looks like 130 to me, but I'm willing to see what she does in playtesting at 140, if that's your preference. Pre-yea to Playtesting.

[TrollBrute]

I'd be fine with either. I felt like she could easily end up at 130, but she also has the potential to be more around 150 when she's rolling well or in the right match-ups. The Mutants should have had the second game, with Bishop and Mastermind against Brainiac 5, but he got lucky and took them out. The third game was more of a fun, thematic army and MODOK ended up being a rough match-up for the Mutants.