The Book of Negative Man

[MrNobody]

Loosely, but I don’t think Hawkeye can get beaten by someone taking a nap. It seems like no one is coming forth with immediate distaste for the mechanic, so I think I’ll keep it!

[IAmBatman]

More that Hawkeye wouldn’t bother with a foe who appeared incapacitated.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

I have no problem with him falling down into invisibility. It scanned fine to me when I first read it.

[MrNobody]

Okay, updated with the version of Negative Spirit Return we liked.

And with that, I want to propose a vote for Initial Playtesting. And yes Bats, I will run your checklists in just a second.

[Karat]

Yea

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Okay, updated with the version of Negative Spirit Return we liked.

And with that, I want to propose a vote for Initial Playtesting. And yes Bats, I will run your checklists in just a second.

Well then you can have my yea, good sir.

[johnny139]

Yea

[Tornado]

Yea

[Soundwarp SG-1]

yea

[MrNobody]

Competitive Checklist

Spoiler Alert!

Does the design disrupt opponent's Order Markers in a way that offers a net gain in turns taken with strong figures versus the turns your opponent can take with strong figures (Ozymandias, Joker (I), Meteorite)?

No.

Does the design offer auto-wounding that either doesn't require taking turns or is otherwise extremely efficient (War Machine, Jason Voorhees, Cosmic Cube)?

No.

Does the design immobilize figures or prevent turn-taking (Blob, Spider-Girl, Diablo, Green Lantern Alan)?

No.

Does the design move opponent's figures in a way that's easy to pull off and can move figures multiple spaces in multiple directions (Graviton, Magneto, Vulture)?

No.


Does the design allow for moving friendly figures without taking turns, or for moving 2+ friendly figures while still taking a turn (Martian Manhunter [I], Green Lantern John, Angel)?

No.


Does the figure allow for two figures, one of them being a wide range of possible figures, to both attack on a single Order Marker (Zombie, Robot, Iron Patriot, Ms. Marvel, Rocket [II], Martian Manhunter [II], Nebula, Baby Groot, Havok)?

No.

Does the design offer any sort of passive boost outside of a narrow set of figures (Star-Lord, Sage, Brainiac 5, Captain America, Batman [III])?

No.

Does the design help keep your allies alive just by being nearby (Daring Decoy, Aaron Cash, Jocasta, Weather Wizard)?

No.

Is it OK for the design to have defensive abilities that could make it essentially unkillable in some matchups or endgame situations (Cosmic Cube, Healing Factor, Master Martial Artist)?

I really don't see it being a problem.

If the figure has auto-destroy powers or powers that can force the opponent's figures to attack each other, are they balanced for strong opposing figures and/or boosts that can make the powers more reliable (Puppet Master, Psycho-Man, Enchantress)?

N/A

Is the figure likely to earn its value many times over by either running out alone at the start of a battle (pre-eval Crow, Solomon Grundy) or by sitting in the startzone until the end of a battle (Arnim Zola, Silk Spectre)?

No.

Will synergies in the design create concerns for future designs (Mad Thinker, pre-eval Enchantress, Star-Lord)?

Probably not.

Does the design combo particularly well with one of the design concerns above (Magma)?

No.

Consistency Checklist

Spoiler Alert!

Are the character’s name and secret identity listed in a consistent format with the rest of the project? If the character shares a name and/or secret identity with another character is it properly clear whether or not they are the same character?

Yes.

Consider the listed Species. Are the design’s power level, point level, and statistics (life, move, range, attack, and defense numbers) within the established range for that species? If it’s an outlier, is there thematic justification for this?

All good.

Consider the listed Uniqueness. Does the power text properly reflect whether the figure is a Hero or a squad, and whether it is Event, Unique, Uncommon, or common? If it’s Event, are the powers written with consideration for Event Hero rules? If it’s Uncommon, are the powers written to avoid stacking? If it’s common, are the powers written with this in mind?

All good.

Consider the Class and Personality. For each, is it a reuse? If so, is the character thematically consistent with other members of that Class or Personality? If not, is there a preexisting Class or Personality that would fit as well that could be used instead? Are there any existing synergies with that Class or Personality that are undesirable or that this Design would create that would be undesirable for preexisting members of that Class or Personality?

Pilot is new. Spirit is a reuse, but both prior uses are spirits in a more representative sense (Uncle Sam, Ghost Rider) Troubled is the DP tagword, and Enigmatic is new, but I really feel it's perfect for the character.

Consider the listed Size. If the figure is double based, is it Large or Huge? Is the chosen miniature’s physical size consistent with other miniatures in the chosen size category?

All good.

Consider the listed Height. If you stack hexes up next to the figure, does the number listed for the height match up the layers of stacked hexes that match the miniature’s physical height?

Will check this.

Consider the listed Life number. Is this number consistent with other figures of the same species?
Consider the listed Move number. Is this number consistent with other figures of that power level?
Consider the listed Range and Attack numbers. Is this number consistent with other figures that use the same type of weapon or power to attack?

All good.

Consider the listed Defense number. Is this number consistent with other figures of the same or similar species and with the same or similar armor or other defensive equipment?

All good.
Does the figure have Super Strength? If it does or doesn’t, was this determined on the standard of that character demonstrating three things: 1. The ability to throw a car 2. The ability to survive a fall from a tall building and 3. The ability to knock back another person when punching them?

No.

Examine all of the special powers. Are there other powers that fit the same theme already in existence in the project? If so, can they be reused? If they can’t, can those other powers be used as a basis for the mechanics and wording?

All good.

Examine any movement powers. Do they keep the figure’s speed consistent with other figures of their species and power level?

All good.

Examine any offensive powers. Do they keep the figure’s offensive potential consistent with other figures with the same powers and power levels or skills and weaponry?

All good.

Examine any defensive, healing, or other tanking powers. Do they keep the figure’s survivability consistent with other figures of the same powers or power level or species and armor class?

All good.

Examine any leadership powers. Do they exceed the activation potential of the best existing leaders? If so, is there thematic justification for this?

N/A/

Consider any powers that reference darkness, electrical, figure movement, fire, gas, ice, kryptonite, light/sensory, magical, poison, psychic, stealth, or water-based abilities. Do these behave in similar ways to other powers of this type, including mentions of immunities?

N/A.

Is it clear for all special powers what phase of the turn and how they are triggered, what phase of the turn they are active in, and when and how they cease being active?

All good.

Are special powers listed in game, round, and turn order?

All good.

If a special power includes a D20 roll, does it make sense to list a number by the title?

N/A

If a power is being reused, are the title and wording copied accurately?

N/A

Has the power title or a very similar one been used before with vastly different mechanics?

No.

Only thing I see is Class and Personality.

Larry himself is a Troubled Pilot. Troubled is obviously pretty non-negotiable, Pilot works but can be replaced with something better if we find it.

The Negative Spirit is an Enigmatic Spirit. Enigmatic is new, but it feels like a perfect fit and we don't seem to have used Mysterious or anything similar. Spirit is a reuse, but the two other Spirits (Uncle Sam, Ghost Rider) are representatives of something - spirits in another sense. Don't know if that's something worth changing.

I kind of dislike the Negative Spirit having a SI because a) I personally really hate that idea on a storytelling level and b) the Way run is in a weird place continuity-wise where this might not even be the same Negative Spirit, but I think I have to keep the SI...Keeg Bovo it is.

[johnny139]

Spirit works for me here. It's in the name after all.

We can probably find something that works in place of enigmatic. With personalities we really have a huge list. I'd lean towards adjusting it.

[Lazy Orang]

I love Enigmatic as a personality. I'd want to keep that around. It's different from anything else, and I've honestly never liked this idea of 'pare personalities down to the minimum possible and don't ever introduce new ones' - give me whatever's most fitting for the character, please. Don't sacrifice the character to be more 'standard'.
I can also definitely see Enigmatic being used elsewhere in future, for those warier - it's a good one to add to the canon.