[Pod 0] Velnesh Alphas (Leyline Phantoms) - AotV Testing

[Pumpkin_King]

@Scytale when you have a moment.

[Scytale]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_King

@Scytale when you have a moment.

Yeah, it takes a good amount of time and mental energy. I was working my way up from the bottom of the AotV list, which unfortunately means pings make it last in the queue.

[Pumpkin_King]

Oops, I’m sorry! Take your time Scy.

[Scytale]

While it's still shifting around at different times during a round, tying both movements into the same power in this way is a nice improvement.

Question: did you consider something like this:

BLINK 12
If a Valnesh Alpha is attacked with a normal attack and at least 1 skull is rolled, roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 1-11, roll defense normally. If you roll a 12 or higher, the Velnesh Alpha takes no damage and may immediately use its Blink special power.

Being a unique squad it could use the survivability boost, even if I would drop their defense to 3.

Makes them even more similar to Ninjas of the Northern Wind, though.

[Pumpkin_King]

I'd take the similarity to Ninjas if it gave them a little bit of a boost against ranged in that way. I like it.

[Astroking112]

They're already pretty similar to the Ninjas as it is. I'd prefer to keep more of a distinction between them if we can. If 4 defense isn't enough survivability, then I'd rather look at either increasing their defense or redesigning Blink altogether, personally.

[Pumpkin_King]

Should we give them Evasive?

[lefton4ya]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_King

Should we give them Evasive?

My favorite underused power FTW! I think can be a third power with BLINK and SHIFT as all three powers are fairly short. Only Q is what to add and what should be defense stat for melee attacks.

EVASIVE [1/2]
"When a Velnesh Alphas rolls defense dice against an attacking figure who is not adjacent, add [1/2] defense die to the defense roll."

Defense 4 and Evasive 1 OR Defense 3 and Evasive 2 are probably good spots, but maybe up to Defense 4 and Evasive 2, or go all out with Defense 3 and Evasive 3. Anything but Defense 2, Evasive 8

Another idea is to give them Double Attack or Whirlwhind Assault - mostly based on sculpt with 4 arms. Helps survivability being able to handle swarms as well.

[NecroBlade]

Not really a fan of either adding a d20 making them closer to the NotNW or adding a third power. I'd prefer seeing how 4D plus bonus Shifts held up first. However, we did have a version of Blink that was better against Range:

Once per turn, when each Velnesh Alpha is targeted by a non-adjacent figure for a normal attack, it may immediately move using its Shift special power.

That would allow them to get behind cover, negating the attack, or get to height/jungle/shadow for other defensive bonuses.

[Pumpkin_King]

Just to clarify, each Alpha may use Blink once, not once for the whole squad? I do like that.

I still do think giving them Evasive would be good for mechanical reasons and also to differentiate them from the NotNW, but if we can agree on a Blink/Shift combination that would work without Evasive we can easily put them in PT and see if they're too weak to range.

I say we try NB's wording of each Alpha getting to Blink when targeted, and go from there. IT's entirely possible it sounds stronger than it is.

[NecroBlade]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_King

Just to clarify, each Alpha may use Blink once, not once for the whole squad? I do like that.

Correct. There was earlier concern about repeated targeting from multiple figures letting them Shift across the battlefield. It's entirely possible there's better wording, too.

[Pumpkin_King]

Yeah, I think unique squads are the place for abilities that just work all the time with no d20 chance.