The Book of Major Q10

[rdhight]

Originally Posted by NecroBlade

Yes, I mean them. I think we have confirmation of that somewhere, too.

This has indeed now been confirmed by WotC customer service. All figures can block their own line of sight; Q10 just has a significantly smaller blind spot than Q9. They play the same. Sight, and if the shoulder pad is in the way, you can't take that shot.

[Jexik]

I think the cool thing about Kaemon compared to Q10 is that he's a lot easier to hide. He only takes up one hex, and he packs a lot of power in that 120 point, single hex package. Q10 often seems to attract attention sooner even if he doesn't attack, at least in my games.

[J-Unit94]

I agree, Kaemon is better.

[killercactus]

I think Awa and Q10 are about even. They both have their benefits when compared to one another, and I think they about cancel each other out. Large + Soulborg + 1 extra defense die = a lot more survivability. However, Counterstrike + single hex base + 30 points less makes up for that IMO.

[ollie]

I seem to have accidentally started writing a series of theoryscape posts about Vydar's ranged figures. The first one looked at Laglor and only confirmed what every but me knew anyway. The second looked at Blastatrons and threw up some more interesting results. Here's part 3 on Q10's various attacking options; it has more in common with the first part than the second. (Sisyphus's post on the first page of this thread offers a more succinct version, and Sisyphus's probability tables formed the backbone of my calculations.)

As in the other posts, I'm interested in maximising the expected return from a single activation. Read UranusPChicago's In Game Point Value article to understand why these numbers should be considered a starting point for thinking about your turn, not the conclusion.

I considered four options for Q10: the Wrist Rocket special ("Wrist"); the Machine Piston special ("Mach"); a normal attack ("Norm"); and a normal attack with height ("NwH").

Here are the expected damage numbers against multiple life heroes:

Def	E(Norm)	E(NwH)	E(Mach)	E(Wrist)
2	1.403	1.872	2.224	2.806
3	1.15	1.589	1.628	2.3
4	0.932	1.334	1.184	1.864
5	0.747	1.107	0.856	1.494
6	0.593	0.91	0.616	1.186
7	0.466	0.741	0.44	0.932

Conclusions: Use the Wrist Rocket special if it is available. Otherwise, go for the Machine Pistol unless the opposing hero has defence 4 or more and you have height, or has defence 7 or more if you don't have height. In these cases use the normal attack.

Here are the expected number of squad figures killed when 1, 2, 3 or 4 are in range.

1 figure:

Def	E(Norm)	E(NwH)	E(Mach)	E(Wrist)
2	0.757	0.847	0.904	0.941
3	0.655	0.766	0.802	0.881
4	0.556	0.679	0.679	0.803
5	0.463	0.592	0.550	0.712
6	0.38	0.507	0.432	0.616
7	0.308	0.429	0.329	0.521


2 figures:

Def	E(Norm)	E(NwH)	E(Mach)	E(Wrist)
2	0.757	0.847	1.504	1.514
3	0.655	0.766	1.209	1.31
4	0.556	0.679	0.935	1.112
5	0.463	0.592	0.702	0.926
6	0.38	0.507	0.519	0.76
7	0.308	0.429	0.377	0.616


3 figures:

Def	E(Norm)	E(NwH)	E(Mach)	E(Wrist)
2	0.757	0.847	1.737	1.514
3	0.655	0.766	1.320	1.31
4	0.556	0.679	0.984	1.112
5	0.463	0.592	0.723	0.926
6	0.38	0.507	0.528	0.76
7	0.308	0.429	0.380	0.616


4 figures:

Def	E(Norm)	E(NwH)	E(Mach)	E(Wrist)
2	0.757	0.847	1.776	1.514
3	0.655	0.766	1.332	1.31
4	0.556	0.679	0.988	1.112
5	0.463	0.592	0.724	0.926
6	0.38	0.507	0.528	0.76
7	0.308	0.429	0.38	0.616

The Wrist Rocket is the best choice unless you are facing 3 or 4 squad figures with defence at most 3. In this case use the Machine Pistol.

What if the Wrist Rocket is not an option? When there is just one figure in range with a defence of 4 or higher and you have height, use the normal attack. If there is more than one figure and they have defence 7 or higher and you have height, then use the normal attack. Otherwise, Machine Pistol is the best option.

So there you have it. Wrist Rocket is usually the best choice. If you are unable or unwilling to get in range to use it, then Machine Pistol is usually the best bet.

[KCU_Master_2009]

I really like using this guy because he's got good range, comes in handy when attacking. When I use him I have to beware of armies who could try to shoot me down.

[Richard]

CURSES!!! I just realized that Q10's wrist rocket is a special attack and Charos's counterstrike does not work on it!! The outcome of that game may have been different if I realized this.

[twilkerson]

So now that everyone is discussing Q10 compared to Q9...
Who do I need to put a hurtin' on Q10. My Heroscape nemesis always drafts him and I need to paper his rock. (As in rock, paper, scissors.)

[rdhight]

Krug and Venom are pretty good at getting into Q10's face and busting him up. For a higher price, Nilfheim or Sujoah can get there faster with their better movement. If you want to shoot it out with him instead, the Krav often survive his shots long enough to hurt or kill Q10. That's a hard matchup for him, since they're markedly faster than he is.

[TheLorax]

Why is he merciful? Why was he made to feel pain?

[tubafication]

If you watch the stupid (IMO) movies on Heroscape.com it says he "failed to terminate an enemy when he was disarmed", so I believe that is why. I have no clue in the world why he was made to feel pain, maybe it's so that he could have emotions and fight harder with emotions.

[Warlord Alpha]

I personally prefer him to Q9. Even if they cost the same I still would prefer him (thank god he doesnt, though).

To me, those 2 attacks of 4 is the clincher. With Q9 you get wrist rocket anyways, so thats not a big deal. Getting that extra attack die to me is just so worth it, because IMO some enemies it doesn't matter if you attack them 20 times with 3 attack die, but 4 is at least a LITTLE better.

Also, Ollie, if you find yourself bored, could you make a table like that for Q9 so we can compare the two? That seems to be the crux of the argument here and that would pretty much solve it.