The Book of Beetle

[Ronin]

I'd consider reducing the threat range on the misfire to figures adjacent to the targeted figure:

Reduce Beetle's Range number by 1 for each Wound Marker on this Army Card. Any time Beetle attacks a non-adjacent figure, if you roll more shields than skulls, your opponent must choose another figure adjacent to the defending figure and you must roll an unblockable attack die against the chosen figure.

3 spaces is pretty far off, in a Heroscape context, and I think it becomes tricky to play around at that point.

[japes]

Good points all. I think he was trying to pull in part of War Machines power since it was suggested. He's still learning that he doesn't have to add everything someone mentions.

I like dropping the Range part and reducing the threat to self to only adjacent figures as well. I think it will make him much more draftable.

I did tell him that after he posted the above to wait and digest all the comments instead of feeling the urge to respond so he will likely have a lot thought out before he posts tomorrow.

[Yodaking]

My only advise would be to not go too overboard on the negative powers. People might not end up ever drafting him if his negatives outweigh the positives. It's a fine line to walk when designing. You can always just represent poor targeting by giving him low base attack stats. Less die to roll = less likely to score a hit when attacking.

[Yodaking]

Was browsing my design thread today and saw my old Beetle write up. Thought I'd share it here in case you find any of these old ideas interesting. Looking at it again, I think my take was a little too strong for him. This was something I came up with years ago, back when I was just an Ally I believe, so my design skills have certainly evolved since then.


NAME = BEETLE (MARK II)
SECRET IDENTITY = ABNER JENKINS
SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = ENGINEER
PERSONALITY = ?
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4
MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 6
POINTS = 200?

ELECTRO-BITE SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 3, Attack 6
Electro-Bite Special Attack may only be used once per round. After using Electro-Bite Special Attack, for the rest of that round Beetle reduces his range to 1.

UPDATED TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Whenever an opponent attacks Beetle with a normal or special attack that results in 1 or more wounds, place a Tactical Analysis Marker on the units card. Whenever a unit with one or more Tactical Analysis Markers on their card attacks Beetle, Beetle rolls 2 additional defense die.

FLIGHT
SUPER-STRENGTH

I drew inspiration for Electro-Bite SA from this description of it in one of the databases: The Electro-Bite has sufficient power to blast a one foot diameter hole through a 3 foot thick brick wall at fifteen feet. Such a blast diverts all available power to the gloves, thus temporarily immobilizing other weaponry.

For the tactical analysis power, I considered just having him gain an auto shield but I think I like the idea of the 2 additional defense dice better due to the swing nature of it. It could give him 2 more shields or none at all. No extra shields represents a new attack pattern, 1 shield represents a predicted move based on previous attack patterns, and 2 shields would come into effect when a previously used attack pattern is used once again.

[Kid Arachnid]

I want to run with this because it balances out the good and bad, I say we vote for initial:


NAME = BEETLE
SECRET IDENTITY = ABNER JENKINS

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = CRIMINAL
PERSONALITY = OPPORTUNISTIC

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE= 4
MOVE= 6
RANGE= 5
ATTACK= 3
DEFENSE= 5

POINTS= ~150- 200

SINISTER SYNDICATE
When rolling for initiative, add 1 to your roll for each Assassin, Criminal, or Thief Unique Hero you control and subtract 1 from your roll for each Unique Hero you controlled at the start of the game that you do not currently control.

DIVERSIONARY FIRE SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Attack 3.
Immediately after rolling attack dice for this special attack against an opponent's figure, if Beetle rolls at least one skull, you may move Beetle or another figure you control within 5 spaces of Beetle up to 2 spaces. Figures moved by this special attack never take leaving engagement attacks from the defending figure. After attacking with this special attack, Beetle may attack 1 additional time.

POWER ARMOR: FAULTY TARGETING
Reduce Beetle's Range number by 1 for each Wound Marker on this Army Card. Add 1 automatic skull to whatever is rolled when Beetle attacks a non-adjacent figure with his normal attack. Any time Beetle attacks a non-adjacent figure, if you roll more shields than skulls, your opponent must choose another adjacent figure to the defending figure and you must roll an unblockable attack die against that figure.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

[tcglkn]

You need to run the checklists first. Please read over the guide on How to lead a C3G design as you work through your first design so you don’t miss any steps

[MrNobody]

I'd also say when you post such a different draft from the initial take, it's nice to give people some time to comment before voting to move ahead.

I dig it. I do still wonder if the range reduction mechanic is needed, but if you feel strongly about it I don't think it's hurting anything.

[japes]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

I'd also say when you post such a different draft from the initial take, it's nice to give people some time to comment before voting to move ahead.

I dig it. I do still wonder if the range reduction mechanic is needed, but if you feel strongly about it I don't think it's hurting anything.

In fairness...he did post this on Nov 6th. The only change is adding back the auto skull in the last power from War Machines power. So I personally feel like he left plenty of time for comments.

But he did skip the checklist step and that was my fault. I forgot that was required for allies. He's reading through the link Tickle provided now so he will be back later to finish that. He's still working through understanding all the checklist items.

[Kid Arachnid]

COMPETITIVE REVIEW BOARD CHECKLIST

Spoiler Alert!

Efficiency- Check to see if your design is providing armies with turns/moves/etc. to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to keep up with your output.

1. Does your design allow itself or figures to move/attack/take a turn/etc. instead of/in addition to your normal turn for revealing an Order Marker? Is it granting these benefits to too broad a range of units? Does it combine with other powers to create overly long or powerful chains of actions?

Yes- figures conditionally only move 2 spaces at a time and don't attack, and is a reused power
2. Does your design allow you to take actions during an opponent's turn? Can it combine with other powers to create tediously long reactions to enemy actions or a restrictive environment?
no
3. Does your design allow you to rearrange your Order Markers or otherwise bypass the costs of Order Marker requirements on the special powers of other figures?
no
4. Is your design doing anything outside of a player's turn, at the start or end of the round? Is the effect too powerful by itself or when combined with other powers?
Yes only initiative roll increase/decrease
5. Does your design have any powers that trigger anytime it moves as opposed to only when it moves normally on its turn? Will it be too efficient when combined with figures that grant extra moves to figures?
no
6. Is your design adding or subtracting from initiative rolls? Will it pair too easily with other figures that alter initiative or have powers triggering on the results of initiative rolls?
Yes, Ras A Gual 2 and a bunch of assassins but I don't see too much damage with thta combo.

Potency- Check to see if your design is wounding/removing/etc. enemy figures, increasing the chances of other figures in your army doing so, or otherwise directly affecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.
no
1. Does your design have a chance to inflict wounds or destroy figures? Is it getting these chances too frequently or having to high a chance of success? Is the power balanced against expensive targets that can cause a massive swing in the game when destroyed?
no
2. Is your design adding to the stats or 20-sided die rolls of other figures in your army? Is it a boosting a broad enough range of units effectively enough to become a 'mandatory' draft or inhibit future design space? Can it be combined with other boosts too easily?
no

3. Will your design benefit from stat boosts or other enhancement to an overpowering degree? Will it restrict future growth within its faction or point cost by limiting available boosts to others?
no

4. Does your design take control of enemy figures permanently or temporarily? Is it too difficult to for your opponent to regain control of their figure or recover from the losing the figure? Does the method of taking control expose the enemy figure to the powers of other figures in your army that can easily destroy it?
no

5. Can your design heal itself or others or revive itself or others? Is it doing so in a way that an opponent cannot hope to overcome in certain scenarios?
no

6. Does your design place enemy figures on its card or otherwise have an unconventional method of temporarily removing enemy figures from play? Will it guarantee your victory against a single remaining enemy figure?
no



Chicanery- Check to see if your design is preventing your opponent from taking actions with too much ease or is otherwise causing negative play experience through tactics that make your opponent feel you're 'not playing fair'

1. Does your design restrict the movement of enemy figures, or allow you to move enemy figures? Can it do so in a way that results in an unwinnable scenario for your opponent if they are down to one figure, posses only figures with a range of 1, etc.? Can your design easily combine with other figures to greatly impede enemy figures or otherwise gain an excessive advantage?
no
2. Does your design effect/change the placement of an enemy's Order Markers, or remove their Order Markers entirely? Can it force Order Markers to go onto cards that have no figures on the battlefield? Can your design easily combine with other figures to completely dictate the placement of an enemy's Order Markers or remove all of their Order Markers?
no

3. Does your design inhibit your opponent from attacking your figures or make attacking a losing proposition? Are there scenarios or combinations that make your opponent totally unable to harm your figures through attacking?
no

4. Does your design directly negate the powers of enemy figures or otherwise ignore them in a way that can completely disrupt the opponent's strategy or leave them feeling like they are stuck playing figures without special powers?
no

5. Does your design become overly powerful in a podded group of figures, or provide significant benefit to your army without leaving your Start Zone?
no

6. You can attack your own figures in Heroscape, does your design have any powers that will trigger off of doing so or otherwise wounding/destroying your own figures? Is this intentional on your part? Will the design be too efficient or potent when doing so?no

CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

Consistency Concerns
Name and Identity
Verify character is named in a way that is clear, accurate and feels consistent with the way other characters are named.
Check
Uniqueness and Type
Verify that the power text reflects the listed uniqueness and type, that the uniqueness fits the character, and that squad size is listed for squads.
Check
Left Box
If the character's species, class or personality is reused, verify that the character feels thematically consistent with other figures that have that species, class or personality. If they are not reused, verify that there is no pre-existing species, class or personality that would make more sense.
Check
Size and Height
Verify that the listed size and height are accurate. Standing the mini up next to a stack of tiles, and a few other minis of various sizes, is encouraged.

Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.
Check
New Powers - Names
Verify that any new powers are not using power names identical to, or very similar to, pre-existing powers. Verify that any new powers are actually new and not old powers with new names.

New Powers - Effects
Verify that the effect and timing of all new powers is clear. Verify that any logical immunities, benefits, or weaknesses (whether those be necessary for thematic or mechanical reasons) are implemented: consider whether defensive powers that work against normal attacks should also work against special attacks, whether or not a power has an elemental component that some figures should resist, and whether or not unliving figures (such as Undead and Androids) should be affected.
Synister synidicate is a factional initiative boost.

Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing powers in place of creating new ones, where reused powers could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused powers have the correct text.
Diversionary Fire- Mach 1, Power Armour is a modified version of War Machine's Targeting Computer.

Power Level
Verify that the character's movement, attack, range, and defense (in conjunction with any special powers that enhance those stats) feel consistent with the capabilities of characters with analogous powers and abilities. Verify that the character falls into a similar point range to characters with comparative powers and abilities.
Bats's calculator says just below 200, that's great!

[IAmBatman]

Fwiw, getting 200 for him on the calculator. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes in a tad under, but probably a decent place to start him.

yea once the answers are all filled in for the checklist questions.

[Kid Arachnid]

Checklists are updates... that was rough.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

I intentionally designed the competitive one to weed out those without the iron will needed to run a design.