How to fix broken/underused units?

[Xyvik]

As a person who cares a lot about balance and variety I find it a bit disheartening that the "Official Unofficial" Power Rankings list has so many in the C/D/F rating range. Since these units aren't going to be fixed by official incoming units, I was hoping to get the opinion of various tournament-level players on just how they would fix these underused/underpowered units.

After all, house rules are now the only way we can solve any problems with the game, and I would like to "fix" as many of these units as possible. I've only been with Heroscape for a couple of years now and I've never played a tournament, so I'm not entirely certain on where I should start on this endeavor. Basically I want to end up with some balancing acts that make all of my units (or as many as possible) more or less equally useful (A, A-, B+) in different circumstances.

Let's start with the F's since it's a smaller list. How could we fix Deathwalker 7000 and Hatamoto Taro? What changes to their abilities, cost, or stats could be done to make them competitive? For instance, for Deathwalker I was thinking that changing his ability so that it doesn't end up killing him would make him far more competitive. Give it a name like "power surge" and do the same amount of damage. Would that help?

(and sorry if this has been posted before, my search function doesn't seem to be working very well T_T)

[mac122]

Have you checked out the Competitive Unit Congress?

[flameslayer93]

There's also HeroScape: Legacy.

And the C3V(classic customs).

You can always just make customs for your own use.

[Fencerjared]

Besides the suggestions above for changes to the units themselves, or additions to the unit pool, probably the easiest way to "fix" what you're calling broken units is to play something other than the standard tournament format. Capture the flag and other scenario types allow units with strengths other than reliability in the blind tourney format to shine.

[Killometer]

As far as changing actual official units, the closest I come is allowing the Hatamoto Taro "prototype" at events I run. That version of the card was (is still?) the image of HT's card from the official Hasbro HS website, so it carries enough weight to be used, imo.

Fwiw, DW7K was in an army at the last tournament I attended.

[Agent Minivann]

Originally Posted by Fencerjared

Besides the suggestions above for changes to the units themselves, or additions to the unit pool, probably the easiest way to "fix" what you're calling broken units is to play something other than the standard tournament format. Capture the flag and other scenario types allow units with strengths other than reliability in the blind tourney format to shine.

This. The power rankings are really good at what they do, and that is rank units for their value in tournament settings. The poor performers aren't necessarily bad units. They are just bad using tournaments as a standard. There are plenty of other modes of play where "bad" tournament units find their place. Even tournament style play (symmetrical maps and tournament standard army sizes) using a draft could change the value of units.

[Xyvik]

A million thanks for the resources and suggestions! I think I'll take a long look around and see what I can use for my own version. Thanks mates!

[SuperflyTNT]

The best way to use underused units is to play with them. I know...shocking.

If you're having a hard time wanting to do so because you think you'll lose, chances are you need to not play against an A+ army. Tell your friends to build an army out of underused units. Better yet, play Heroscape as it was intended: DRAFT. Pull the best cards out of the pool. Put Runa and Dund in there.

Or better yet, come up with a scenario. Build a couple of armies, build a map, and come up with a story to support it.

You'd be surprised how much fun it is to play with cards you don't normally play with due to an OCD "Must Win Or Earth With Explode" mentality. Play to enjoy. Not just to win.

[Parduz]

Originally Posted by SuperflyTNT

The best way to use underused units is to play with them [...] Play to enjoy. Not just to win.

While i always play for the fun of doing it with my friends or my kids, i don't agree so much that all units are enjoyable.
I admit that i own just Wave 1 & 2 (other than RotV and SotM) but some squad are pretty "alone" and basically not fun to play.
I mean: the Romans are not so strong, but having them bonding makes them a playable squad, if not for winning at least for the fun of having them "working".
I don't see the Vikings played from years. The Samurai got some play (2-3% of total plays) when a map requires strong position defenders. Snipers (which i have a lot 'cause i like(d) the vipers so much) are another bunch of figures laying in the box, like that figure from RttfF....

So i think that a good way to use them (for fun, not for tournament) could be to create some customs from commonly available miniatures that bond with them, to have then squads "at the same level" of fully developed "factions".... a thing that i'm not able to do

[lefton4ya]

Check out my thread/poll How would you help the Ninjas? which uses the ninjas as an example of how you would fix any unit:

A. They don't need helping - they are perfectly designed for current competition! 1 6.67%
B. They need help but I would never would play modified cards or new customs 1 6.67%
C. They need tournaments with scenarios designed to help them 0 0%
D1. Play according to Legacy or other modified point costs 3 20.00%
D2. Modify them to bond 3 20.00%
D3. Modify each unit to be better without bonding or synergy, such as Competitive Unit Congress 6 40.00%
D4. Other modifications that make all units better with synergy (besides bonding) added to units 1 6.67%
E1. Play new custom that has bonding 3 20.00%
E2. Play new custom that has other synergistic help to them 6 40.00%

[ladidadi.davis]

I kind of have my own 'house rule' competitive unit congress of sorts. Example is zettians as a common squad with warden class bonding and priced accordingly. Also, I think I dropped them a defense die too.

If you don't want to do anything like that, if you just want to play some lesser units (like your sniper example)

Taelord 180
Snipers x3 480
Marcu/Isamu+Otonoshi (not sure if you have anything later than what you had mentioned earlier)

I only have one set of snipers but playing them with Taelord and getting them to height is hysterical. While luck sacky, potential 6 skulls flying at your opponent is terrifying.

[hobosock]

Keep in mind that the power rankings are in regards to tournament level play, where players typically have access multiple squads of the same figure. 4th Mass., for instance, doesn't outshine the other ranged squads as much when you only have one of them. In casual games with friends who may be sharing your collection, a lot of those lower ranked heroes and squads will be surprisingly useful.

The draft suggestion is gold, too.