The Book of The Darkness

[Cinderquail]

This passes

[Cinderquail]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: THE DARKNESS

Version tested:

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = THE DARKNESS (ARTIFACTS)
SECRET IDENTITY = JACKIE ESTACADO

SPECIES = DEMON
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = VAGABOND
PERSONALITY = RUTHLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 330

ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS
Start of the game with 6 shadow tiles. Before moving The Darkness, you may place a shadow tile onto a land space within 6 spaces of The Darkness. When The Darkness attacks an adjacent figure from a shadow tile, add 2 to his attack.

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if The Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of The Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces.

SHADOW SIPHON
Once per round if The Darkness ends his turn on or within one space of a shadow tile, you may roll 1 combat die plus one additional die for each shadow space within 2 spaces of The Darkness. For each skull rolled remove one Wound Marker from this card.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

Army Test
Map: Underground Catacombs
Units: The Darkness, Batman (Occult), Blade (Nightstalkers), Lobster Johnson VS Luke Cage, The Thing II, Jessica Jones, Spider-Man (250)

Spoiler Alert!

Damage Dealt:
R2- Luke Cage 3 wounds (1 from UtD), 1 wound on Spider-Man and Jessica from UtD
R3- Luke Cage 2 wounds, Spider-Man 2 wounds (UtD), Jessica 3 wounds (1 from UtD), Thing 1 wound (UtD)

ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS: Placing shadow tiles absolutely helps his other powers, bonus attack is also a plus.

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS: Dealt 7 wounds with this power.

SHADOW SPIHON: 3 wounds healed.

Round 1- Team 2 wins. Movement.
Round 2- Team 2 wins. Darkness takes 1 wound from Spider-Man. Darkness deals 2 wounds to Luke then UtD 1 wound on Luke, 1 wound Spider-Man, 1 wound Jessica. Luke deals 1 wound to Darkness. Darkness takes a LE from Luke, then heals 1 wound.
Round 3- Team 2 wins. Jessica deals 1 wound to Darkness, Luke deals 2 wounds. Batman deals 1 wound to Jessica, Darkness deals 2 wound to Luke destroying him then UtD 1 wound Spider-Man, then heals 2. Jessica deals 2 wounds to Darkness. Darkness deals 2 wounds to Jessica then UtD 1 on The Thing, 1 wound on Jessica destroying her, 1 wound to Spider-Man. Thing deals 1 wound to The Darkness destroying him, Spider-Man deals 1 wound to Blade. Blade attacks Spider-Man twice dealing 1 wound. Batman rolls misses his unblockable on Spider-Man.
Round 4- Team 2 wins. Batman deals 1 wound to Thing, Blade SE 1 wound on Thing, Lobster Johnson deals 1 wound to Spider-Man destroying him. Batman deals 1 auto wound to Thing. Thing deals 2 wounds to Batman, Batman leaves. Batman returns and hits the Thing for 1 wound.
Round 5- Team 1 wins. Batman deals a wound to Thing and Thing ignores it. Blade destroys Thing with Stake Ex.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Batman 2/4, Blade 1/6, Lobster Johnson 0/4 (didn’t use Spirit Arise)

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Akali Lake
Units: The Darkness, Captain America, Rogue, Nightcrawler (230) VS Black Atom, Lex Luther (185), Deathstroke (285), Sinestro

Spoiler Alert!

Damage Dealt:
R1- 2 wounds on Sinestro
R3- 7 wounds on Black Atom (1 UtD), 1 wound on Sinestro (UtD)
R4- 2 wounds on Deathstroke (1 from UtD), 1 wound on Sinestro (UtD)

ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS: Placing the shadow tiles really

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS: 4 wounds dealt.

SHADOW SIPHON: Didn’t get a chance to heal.

Round 1- Team 1 wins. Darkness deals 2 wounds to Sinestro. Trees are destroyed.
Round 2- Team 1 wins. Black Atom deals 2 wounds to Cap.
Round 3- Team 1 wins. Black Atom deals 2 wounds to Cap. Darkness deals 4 wounds to Black Atom, UtD 1 wound Black Atom. Black Atom destroys Cap. Darkness deals 2 wounds to Black Atom destroying, then UtD 1 wound Sinestro. Sinestro deals 4 wounds to Rogue.
Round 4- Team 1 wins. Deathstroke destroys Rogue. Darkness deals 1 wound to Deathstroke, the UtD 1 wound Deathstroke, 1 wound Sinestro. Sinestro deals 2 wounds to Darkness. Nightcrawler Bamf! Misses Sinestro. Deathstroke deals 2 wounds to Darkness.
Round 5- Team 2 wins. Sinestro rolls 18 + 3 and deals 2 wounds to Darkness destroying him. Deathstroke attacks Nightcrawler but he Bamfs, 1 wound Deathstroke, destroys Sinestro, 1 wound Deathstroke. Nightcrawler Bamf 1 wound on Deathstroke. Deathstroke 2 wounds to Nightcrawler, Deathstroke removes a wound to attack again and destroys Nightcrawler.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Lex Luthor 0/4, Deathstroke 3/5

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: Good cost, and a decent draft pick for most teams.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Best way of describing the Darkness currently is glass canon. Once he gets into battle, he can dish out a lot of damage quickly, but can go down just as quick. I had thought about suggesting a 1 point raise to life or defense, but I think once the darklings are introduced his survivability will go up. His Unleash the Darkness power is good but I think limiting the power so you can’t target the same figure more than once is key. All in all I enjoy how The Darkness plays and look forward to mixing him in with more teams.

[Cinderquail]

Wanted to see about making a minor change to the wording on the second power. I would like to add a clarification not allowing The Darkness to hit the same figure more then once. Getting to attack then potentially rolling 3 unblockables against the same figure just seems like to much.

[Lord Pyre]

Originally Posted by Cinderquail

Wanted to see about making a minor change to the wording on the second power. I would like to add a clarification not allowing The Darkness to hit the same figure more then once. Getting to attack then potentially rolling 3 unblockables against the same figure just seems like to much.

Good call! And I agree I wouldn’t worry about survivability too much if he’s worth it in offensive power.

I’d give a wording suggestion but I’m with kids and on my phone so not dealing with it right now hah

[Cinderquail]

Originally Posted by Lord Pyre

Good call! And I agree I wouldn’t worry about survivability too much if he’s worth it in offensive power.

I’d give a wording suggestion but I’m with kids and on my phone so not dealing with it right now hah

Plus with the Darklings probably being able to soak wounds. I think his survivability on his own is fine.

Originally Posted by Cinderquail

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if The Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of The Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces. Up to a maximum of one die per figure.

Something like that for now can figure out better wording later. Just to put the clarification out there.

[IAmBatman]

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if The Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of The Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces. You cannot roll for the same figure more than once.


Maybe something like that, lifting precedence from special attacks that only let you attack individual figures once?

[Cinderquail]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if The Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of The Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces. You cannot roll for the same figure more than once.


Maybe something like that, lifting precedence from special attacks that only let you attack individual figures once?

Your wording works much better, Thanks!

[IAmBatman]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM
NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: THE DARKNESS
VERSION TESTED

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = THE DARKNESS (ARTIFACTS)
SECRET IDENTITY = JACKIE ESTACADO

SPECIES = DEMON
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = VAGABOND
PERSONALITY = RUTHLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 330

ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS
Start of the game with 6 shadow tiles. Before moving The Darkness, you may place a shadow tile onto a land space within 6 spaces of The Darkness. When The Darkness attacks an adjacent figure from a shadow tile, add 2 to his attack.

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if The Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of The Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces. You cannot roll for the same figure more than once.

SHADOW SIPHON
Once per round if The Darkness ends his turn on or within one space of a shadow tile, you may roll 1 combat die plus one additional die for each shadow space within 2 spaces of The Darkness. For each skull rolled remove one Wound Marker from this card.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

Original Design

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = THE DARKNESS (ARTIFACTS)
SECRET IDENTITY = JACKIE ESTACADO

SPECIES = DEMON
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = VAGABOND
PERSONALITY = ARROGENT/RUTHLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = ???

ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS
Start of the game with 6 shadow tiles. Before moving The Darkness, you may place a shadow tile on a space within 6 spaces of The Darkness. When The Darkness attacks an adjacent figure from a shadow tile, add 2 to his attack.

UNLEASH THE DARKNESS
After attacking with a normal attack, if Darkness inflicted any wounds you may choose up to 3 shadow spaces within 6 spaces of Darkness. Roll one unblockable attack die against all enemy figures on or within 1 space of the chosen spaces.

THE HOST MUST NOT DIE
Once per round if The Darkness ends his turn on a shadow tile, you may roll 1 combat die plus one additional die for each Demon figure you control with the Live For Darkness special power within 2 clear sight spaces of The Darkness. For each skull rolled remove one Wound Marker from this card.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

Army Test
Map: WAKANDAN ROYAL FOREST
Units: The Darkness (330), Batman (Occult) (230), Detective Chimp (140), Zatanna (II) (220), Orko (75), Lightning Bolt (5) (1000) vs Hawkman (JL) (270), Flash (JL) (270), Wonder Woman (JL) (310), Green Arrow (I) (150) (1000)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Chimp finds the “2.” Initiative Occult Investigators. Batman rolls two blanks and takes out two Evergreen trees.
Flash pushes up Green Arrow, who rolls an 18 for Skill Shot but fails to hit Batman (Occult). Batman goes onto his card.
The Darkness places a shadow tile and moves onto it and then fails an attack on Green Arrow.
Hawkman is pushed forward by Flash, then uses his ranged attack to hit Darkness for one wound, then engages and hits Darkness for four more wounds (ouch).
Darkness lays another shadow tile and hits Hawkman for two quick wounds. Then Unleash the Darkness misses Green Arrow but hits Hawkman. He rolls for Shadow Siphon and heals one wound. Zatanna reveals the “X” courtesy of Detective Chimp and Trap Door Teleports Darkness away. She attacks Hawkman for a wound.
Flash engages Zatanna and pushes her off of shadow and next to a Tree of Death, making her pretty vulnerable. Hawkman hits Zatanna for a wound from range, then closes in and hits her for a second. Flash attacks from Champion’s Charge and hits her for a third.
Batman pops back up and hits his Urban Legend roll on Hawkman, finishing off Hawkman.

Round 2: Chimp finds OM3 on Flash. Wonder Woman sheds a JL Marker. Initiative Justice League. Flash pushes Batman a space to lower height, moves adjacent to an Evergreen Tree, and KO’s it. Green Arrow Skill Shots Batman for two wounds despite the Tree of Life. Batman goes onto his card.
Batman rolls a shield and a blank. Zatanna attacks Flash but can’t hit.
Flash moves next to Zatanna, puts a wound on a Great Evergreen Tree, and pushes Zatanna back next to the Tree of Death. Green Arrow rolls 2 skulls and Zatanna blocks and lives.
Batman rolls a shield and a skull. Success! Zatanna hits Flash for one wound from her attack and one more from sleight of hand. Darkness places shadow, advances to it, then fails a ranged attack on Green Arrow. He does heal one wound with his Siphon.
Flash puts a second wound on the Great Evergreen, pushes Darkness into a Tree of Death, and then punches Darkness out.
Batman rolls a shield and a skull. Detective Chimp advances. Zatanna finishes Flash off (he’d put himself next to the Tree of Death to finish off Darkness and paid for the gambit).
Batman pops up on shadow next to Green Arrow and misses the unblockable.

Round 3: Detective Chimp screws up and picks the “X”. Wonder Woman sheds a second marker. Initiative Justice League. Green Arrow avoids a swipe, takes to the mountainy area away from the center, but fails to hit Zatanna from range and height.
Zatanna hits Green Arrow for two wounds. Batman fails to follow up from range.
Green Arrow fails to punch out Zatanna.
Batman gets a blank with the help of Zatanna and puts one wound on Green Arrow. Then Zatanna finishes off Green Arrow.
Wonder Woman advances.
Zatanna and Batman both fail attacks on Wonder Woman.

Round 4: Wonder Woman uses her last JL Marker. Chimp gets the “X” again. Initiative Occult Investigators. Batman punches up at Wonder Woman for two wounds.
Wonder Woman punches Batman out.
Chimp can’t do anything.
Wonder Woman punches out Zatanna.
Chimp can’t do anything.
Wonder Woman advances.

Round 5: Initiative Occult Investigators. Chimp moves adjacent to Wonder Woman and a Tree of Life, then whiffs his attack.
Wonder Woman attacks Chimp but he Ape Escapes.
Chimp punches Wonder Woman for two wounds.
Chimp Ape Escapes.
Orko flies up and fails to hit Wonder Woman with a lightning bolt.
Wonder Woman hits Chimp for a wound.

Round 6: Initiative Occult Investigations. Chimp slashes Wonder Woman for a fifth wound.
Wonder Woman hits Detective Chimp for two wounds (Tree of Life may have saved him).
Chimp and Wonder Woman exchange futile attacks.
Chimp finally rolls all skulls and finishes Wonder Woman.

Unit Summary: Darkness felt a bit like a glass cannon here, with great potential that got squelched by focusing on him as a high priority target early. He might need to be played in a more defensive army to truly shine (so a definite role for the Darklings still!). That said, the game felt balanced and went down to the wire.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): Inflicted [2] wounds on [Hawkman [2]]
• ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS: Placed [3] shadow tiles; attacked an adjacent figure from shadow [1] time.
• UNLEASH THE DARKNESS: Rolled [2] unblockable dice to inflict [1] wounds on [Hawkman [1]]
• SHADOW SIPHON: Rolled [4] dice and removed [2] wounds

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Orko with Full Life and Detective Chimp with 1/4 Life win.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: WAKANDAN ROYAL FOREST
Units: The Darkness (330), Spider-man (Avengers) (280), Obsidian (280), Oracle (110) (1000) vs Fantastic Four (1000)

Spoiler Alert!

The Darkness gets the Avengers marker.
Round 1: Initiative Dark Ops. Obsidian places a shadow tile beside the rock outcrop in the center of the map and then moves himself there.
Invisible Woman takes height by a waterfall. Thing and Mister Fantastic advance to the road, within her aura.
Obsidian places a shadow tile next to Human Torch and moves into engagement, enveloping him, then punches down on him for three quick wounds with the Secret Attack Plan.
Human Torch takes a swipe to move out of Envelopment, then Flames On Obsidian for two wounds. He flies off and fails an attack on an Evergreen Tree. Mister Fantastic moves up next to Invisible Woman.
Obsidian lays his last shadow tile next to Human Torch, whom he engages, but fails to hit with a punch.
Human Torch avoids a swipe, Flames On Obsidian for wounds three and four, then fails to hit a tree. Mister Fantastic punches an Evergreen Tree into Obsidian for a fifth wound.

Round 2: Initiative Dark Ops. Obsidian follows the Secret Attack Plan and punches out Human Torch.
Invisible Woman engages Obsidian, but can’t hit him. Thing punches Obsidian out from height disadvantage. Mister Fantastic stretch walks onto the hillside next to Invisible Woman. The shadow placement has already made the middle of the map feel like death.
Darkness places a shadow tile six spaces away and advances onto it. He fails to hit a Great Evergreen. Spidey advances to the road.
Thing moves up next to the Tree of Life and Mister Fantastic stretch walks in front of him and fails an attack on the Great Evergreen with Darkness behind it.
Darkness places shadow, moves onto it, and punches up at Invisible Woman for one wound. He rolls one unblockable on Thing and misses. Spider-man advances and fails an attack from range on Thing.
Mister Fantastic leads poorly, but takes height on Darkness and Rubber Wraps him, then hits him for one wound to end the round.

Round 3: Initiative Fantastic Four. Invisible Woman moves away from Darkness and fails to hit him from height and range. Mister Fantastic hits Darkness for two wounds.
Darkness places a shadow tile, then follows the Secret Attack Plan and hits Mister Fantastic for two wounds from height disadvantage. He goes 0-3 on unblockables. Then he uses Shadow Siphon and goes 3-3 and heals fully. Spider-man engages Thing and fails to hit him with an attack.
Thing takes a swipe, then attacks down on Darkness but rolls 1 skull on 9 dice and is blocked. Mister Fantastic rolls 2 skulls on 5 dice and is blocked.
Darkness destroys an Evergreen Tree, putting a wound on both himself and Thing. This lets him unleash the darkness and he hits 2 of 3, wounding Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman. Spidey moves onto shadow next to the Tree of Life and whiffs an attack.
Thing hits Darkness for three wounds. Mister Fantastic finishes him.
Spidey moves onto shadow next to Invisible Woman and fails an attack on her.

Round 4: Initiative Dark Ops. Spidey follows the Secret Attack Plan and hits Invisible Woman for a wound.
Invisible Woman moves away and fails to hit Spidey from height. He swings right next to her. Mister Fantastic Rubber Wraps Spidey and fails to hit him from height disadvantage.
Spidey hits Invisible Woman for a fourth wound.
Invisible Woman moves away from Spidey but neither she nor Mister Fantastic can hit Spidey.
Oracle advances.
Mister Fantastic can’t hit Spidey.

Round 5: Initiative Fantastic Four. Thing goes full Clobberin’ Time on Spidey but only hits for one wound. Mister Fantastic hits Spidey for two wounds.
Spidey follows the Secret Attack Plan, but can’t hit Mister Fantastic.
Mister Fantastic and Spidey trade futility.
Thing finishes Spidey. Mister Fantastic advances.
Oracle advances.

Round 6: Initiative Oracle. She advances.
Thing advances. Mister Fantastic hits Oracle for a wound from range.
Oracle follows the Secret Attack Plan and Mister Fantastic rolls one shield on eleven defense dice, takes two wounds, and falls, taking the Order Markers with him.
Oracle rolls all skulls and finishes Invisible Woman.
Round 7: Initiative Oracle. She takes height.
Thing engages and hits her for a wound.
Oracle follows the Secret Attack Plan and puts two wounds on Thing.
Thing punches Oracle out.

Unit Summary: Fan Four had some bad breaks here and Oracle was great in the clutch at the end. Obsidian was a pain early on and took down the Fan Four’s best offense in Human Torch. In retrospect, maybe he should’ve tried to take down Invisible Woman instead, as the rest of the Fan Four were a defensive monstrosity and Darkness didn’t have great unblockable luck, meaning Invisible Woman stuck around far too long. Poor Clobberin Time rolls stretched out the life of Darkness and Spider-man both and set Oracle up to do well in endgame, especially with Mister Fantastic rolling poorly.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): Inflicted [3] wounds on [Mister Fantastic [2], Evergreen Tree [1]]
• ARTIFACT BEARER: DARKNESS: Placed [4] shadow tiles; attacked an adjacent figure from shadow [3] times
• UNLEASH THE DARKNESS: Rolled [7] unblockable dice to inflict [2] wounds on [Mister Fantastic [1], Invisible Woman [1]]
• SHADOW SIPHON: Rolled [3] dice and removed [3] wounds

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Thing with 2/6 Life wins.

___________________________________________________________

UNIT SUMMARY: Darkness is cool and I love his mechanics. He feels maybe a tad soft overall, but with some defensive help, I think he’ll do just fine at his cost. And his drawing fire does give other figures opportunities. One tweak I’d consider is making more of the ranges for the various powers consistent as there are a lot of different numbers (1, 2, 3, 6, etc.) to reference across his power set, that adds more cognitive load to playing him.

[Tornado]

Anything you would like to see from my tests Cinderquail as far as for or against the Darkness?

[Cinderquail]

Originally Posted by Tornado

Anything you would like to see from my tests Cinderquail as far as for or against the Darkness?

He does have the most potential with Occult Batman currently. Pairing him with Hellboy II also gives some options. But go with whatever teams you feel he fits best in. As for opponents there's no one off the top of my head I want to see him against.

[Cinderquail]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

UNIT SUMMARY: Darkness is cool and I love his mechanics. He feels maybe a tad soft overall, but with some defensive help, I think he’ll do just fine at his cost. And his drawing fire does give other figures opportunities. One tweak I’d consider is making more of the ranges for the various powers consistent as there are a lot of different numbers (1, 2, 3, 6, etc.) to reference across his power set, that adds more cognitive load to playing him.

We could up his range to 6 to make it more consistent.

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by Cinderquail

He does have the most potential with Occult Batman currently. Pairing him with Hellboy II also gives some options. But go with whatever teams you feel he fits best in. As for opponents there's no one off the top of my head I want to see him against.

I thought that Obsidian/Avengers Spidey/Oracle army was really nice with him at 1000 as well.