The Book of Void

[MrNobody]

I propose a VOTE for Initial Playtesting.

[Arch-vile]

yea

[IAmBatman]

Yea. Also, checklists.

[MrNobody]

Yeah, I just remembered those after seeing Montoya's thread.

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?
No.

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?
No.

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?
No.


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 effecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.

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?
Lots of chances, but he's very expensive.

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?
Can help Sentry come back faster.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.
I mean, the making sense is debatable, but they're there.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

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.
Yes.

[Tornado]

Yea

[Lord Pyre]

Yea

[MrNobody]

This passes, here's some results.

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: Void

Army Test 1
Map: Castle Dracula (Custom Map)
Units: Team 1 (1,000): Void, Sentry
Team 2 (1,000): JLA Trinity w/ da markers

Pre-game thoughts: Just getting a measurement of how Sentry/Void handle against the Trinity, since that’s some decently heavy hitters.

Summary of the game:

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T1 wins initiative
-Sentry warps reality to put 2 wounds on Wonder Woman

Round 2: T1 wins initiative
-Sentry inflicts a wound on Supes
-Sentry warps reality to put 2 wounds on Wonder Woman
-Sentry inflicts a wound on Wonder Woman and a wound on Superman
-Superman inflicts 2 wounds on Sentry

Round 3: T2 wins initiative
-Superman inflicts a wound on Sentry
-Sentry is taken over by Void
-Superman inflicts a wound on Void
-Void takes out Wonder Woman
-Superman inflicts 2 wounds on Void

Round 4: T2 wins initiative
-Superman inflicts a wound on Void
-Sentry returns, but Void places a Instability Marker on his card
-Superman inflicts 4 wounds on Sentry
-Sentry warps reality to heal himself

Round 5: T1 wins initiative
-Sentry is taken over by Void
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Superman
-Void inflicts a wound on Superman
-Superman inflicts 3 wounds on Void
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Superman
-Superman inflicts a wound on Void

Round 6: T1 wins initiative
-Void takes out Superman
-Batman inflicts 2 wounds on Void
-Void inflicts 2 wounds on Batman
-Sentry returns, but Void places 3 Instability Markers on his card
-Sentry inflicts a wound on Batman
-Sentry reality warps Batman to death


Special power usages:
Normal attack: 6 wounds inflicted (1 on Wonder Woman, 3 on Superman, 2 on Batman)
Infini-Tendrils: 2 wounds inflicted (2 on Superman)
Seeping: R4: 1 Instability Marker placed, R6: 3 Instability Markers placed

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Sentry (5/8 wounds), Void (10/12 wounds)

NOTE: When Sentry switches at the beginning of his turn, should Void still get to go? I played it as a no here, but I could see it either way.

Post-game thoughts: This one was closer than it seemed it would be in the first few rounds, but ultimately Sentry was just putting out way too much firepower.

Sentry currently feels way stronger than Void. Void was rolling bad for Infini-Tendrils, but that and his attack are really all he has, while Sentry has a stronger attack, explosion punches, and reality warps in his toolkit.

Also, I feel like they should be done for when Void is destroyed. That makes keeping him exposed a weakness while also letting him be a total wrecker of s***

___________________________________________________________

Army Test 2
Map: Castle Dracula (Custom Map)
Units: Team 1 (2,000): Sentry/Void (1,000), Captain America (240), Avengers Iron Man (270), Ms. Marvel (350), Falcon (140)
Team 2 (1,990): Cyclops II (240), Logan Wolverine (280), Archangel (260), Nightcrawler II (210), AoA Magneto (355), AoA Colossus (315), AoA Shadowcat (185), Blink (145)

Pre-game thoughts: A massive throwdown to see how Void plays with allies. Is he significantly worse when he can Infini-Tendril your own forces?

Summary of the game:

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T1 wins initiative
-Troops advance and Scott fires from a distance, but no damage is done

Round 2: T1 wins initiative
-Tony inflicts a wound on Kitty
-Kitty inflicts a wound on Tony
-Logan inflicts a wound on Tony
-Sentry inflicts 3 wounds on Logan
-Sentry inflicts 2 wounds on Nightcrawler and 1 wound on Logan
-Scott inflicts a wound on Sentry
-Sentry inflicts 2 wounds on Scott
-Sentry warps reality to inflict 2 wounds on Scott
-Carol inflicts 2 wounds on Logan
-Scott inflicts a wound on Sentry

Round 3: T2 wins initiative
-Cyclops unleashes some Optic Destruction, destroying Iron Man and inflicting 2 wounds on Wolverine
-Cap takes out Logan
-T2 had OM3 on Logan, so they lose a turn
-Archangel inflicts a wound on Senty
-Sentry inflicts a wound on Kitty and takes out Cyclops
-Sentry warps reality to heal himself

Round 4: T1 wins initiative
-Magneto inflicts 3 wounds on Sentry
-Cap inflicts 2 wounds on Archangel
-Kurt inflicts 2 wounds on Sentry
-Carol inflicts a wound on Colossus
-Colossus inflicts a wound on Sentry
-Sentry inflicts a wound on Archangel and 3 wounds on Colossus
-Sentry warps reality to heal himself, but then gets possessed by Void
-Colossus inflicts 2 wounds on Void
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Carol

Round 5: T1 wins initiative
-Magneto inflicts 2 wounds on Void
-Void takes out Colossus
-Archangel inflicts a wound on Cap
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Archangel
-T2 had OM1 on Colossus, so they lose a turn
-Void takes out Archangel
-Magneto inflicts a wound on Void
-Void inflicts 2 wounds on Magneto
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Nightcrawler
-Nightcrawler inflicts 2 wounds on Void

Round 6: T2 wins initiative
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Carol
-Cap takes out Kitty
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Carol
-Infini-Tendrils take out Nightcrawler
-T2 had OM3 on Kitty, so they lose a turn
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Magneto
-Sentry returns, but Void gives him an Instability Marker

Round 7: T2 wins initiative
-Magneto takes out Carol
-Blink inflicts 2 wounds on Cap, sending him all the way back to his SZ
-T1 had OM2 on Carol, so they lose a turn
-Magneto inflicts a wound on Sentry
-Sentry inflicts 2 wounds on Magneto
-Sentry warps reality to heal himself

Round 8: T2 wins initiative
-Magneto takes out Sentry, and Void emerges
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Cap
-Void takes out Magneto
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Blink
-Blink inflicts 3 wounds on Void
-Infini-Tendrils take out Cap
-Void inflicts a wound on Blink
-Infini-Tendrils inflicts a wound on Blink

Round 9: T1 wins initiative
-Void takes out Blink


Special power usages:
Normal attack: 9 wounds inflicted (2 on Colossus, 2 on Archangel, 3 on Magneto, 2 on Blink)
Infini-Tendrils: 6 wounds inflicted on enemies (1 on Archangel, 2 on Nightcrawler, 1 on Magneto, 2 on Blink), 5 wounds inflicted on allies (3 on Ms. Marvel, 2 on Captain America)
Seeping: R6, 1 Instability Marker placed

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Void (10/12 wounds), Falcon (0/4 wounds)

NOTE: Does Magneto’s before-round turn count as a player turn? I played it as no.

Post-game thoughts: That actually felt pretty good! Void did tear through his own forces a bit, but the upsides that Sentry gets for having allies around felt like they cancelled that out.

It does seem like the pair is coming in a tad hot though, having won fairly handily twice in a row.

[MrNobody]

I think a few changes are needed before continuing;

NAME = VOID
SECRET IDENTITY = ROBERT REYNOLDS

SPECIES = ENTITY
UNIQUENESS = EVENT HERO
CLASS = DESTROYER
PERSONALITY = MALEVOLENT

SIZE/HEIGHT = LARGE 5

LIFE = 8

MOVE = 4
RANGE = 3
ATTACK = 9
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 500?

COUNTERBALANCE TO ALL THAT IS GOOD
You may draft one other Robert Reynolds figure that has the Unstable personality. If you do, Void starts the game on that Robert Reynolds's card. You may only control one Robert Reynolds at a time. When placing your other Robert Reynolds on, or removing him from, the battlefield, switch him with Void. Void will not take leaving engagement attacks when moved this way. After revealing an Order Marker on your other Robert Reynolds's Army Card, if that figure is not on the battlefield, you may take a turn with Void. If Void is destroyed, destroy all other Robert Reynolds figures you control.

SEEPING THROUGH THE CRACKS
When Void is removed from the battlefield and switched with another Robert Reynolds, immediately roll the 20-sided die X times, subtracting 4 from the roll if you only control Robert Reynolds figures. For each roll of 3 or lower, place a purple Instability Marker on that Robert Reynolds's card. X is the current round number.

INFINI-TENDRILS
At the end of each player's turn, if Void is on the battlefield, they may choose a figure on the battlefield other than Void and roll an unblockable attack die against that figure.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

1) I think lowering the life while raising the attack will help him feel more in check while also making him feel as scary as Sentry. Infini-Tendrils is cool, but when it comes to in-turn stuff, Sentry just feels like he has so much more going on. The alternative, IMO, would be giving him some sort of multi-attack, which could be cool;

RANGE = 2
ATTACK =6/7

INFINI-TENDRILS
After attacking, Void may attack again. He may not attack the same figure more than once per turn. At the end of each player's turn, if Void is on the battlefield, they may choose a figure on the battlefield other than Void and roll an unblockable attack die against that figure.

2) The duo being done for when Void is taken out just feels right from a gameplay perspective.

3) Making it 3+4 matches up with Sentry's 7, so that makes sense to me. Don't know why I didn't do it like that in the first place.

Going forward, if those changes feel good, I'd probably just raise/lower life/defense to get him to where he needs to be.

[johnny139]

The double attack feels a little shoed-in, but I'm not against it if it ends up feeling necessary. Otherwise I'm good with those changes.

[MrNobody]

I think I'll try one game with and one without. The multi-attack seems really cool in concept, but I'll agree that it feels a bit crammed in to an already busy design.

[Lord Pyre]

Oooh nice!! Looking pretty good. I agree with Sentry dying if Void does. Double attack would definitely feel a bit scarier than a single big attack in many cases. Going by the results it looks like lowering the life would get him right about where he needs to be.

We mentioned at one point keeping him in-sanctum as an extra surprise, still planning on that?

[MrNobody]

Originally Posted by Lord Pyre

We mentioned at one point keeping him in-sanctum as an extra surprise, still planning on that?

I think we can do that, but I'd also be pretty pushy about getting him tested fast then. Cut-off for the release is technically end of December, and Superman sat for a fair bit.