Kolakoski’s Pre-SoV Custom Corner

[chas]

Agree! Hooray for Pirates!!!

K., thanks for posting your inspiration info. Yes, in Asia several successful historical ones had entire fleets, and sometimes ran islands too, as their own corporations, usually along the China coast. A few were local naval powers, rivaling some nations.

Can hardly wait to see what Renegade Games issues for them!

***

Note also The Dragon Lady from the old syndicated newspaper comic strip Terry and the Pirates. I have that entire series in reprint, which ran and took place in China before and during WWII. When artist Milton Caniff became independent to own his own strip, Terry got a bit older and transformed into Steve Canyon. The US pilot continued to live a life of international intrigue in his new incarnation, while another artist took over the old strip, which became one of the longest running comics ever created. DL appeared in it as late as episodes set during the Korean War!

Her "real" name, La Choi San, became the brand name of the canned Chinese food line "La Choi," which I ate occasionally as a child. And "The Dragon Lady" passed into English as a common phrase, used for any strong or fearsome woman!

[kolakoski]

Well met!

While looking for a way to build a Rogue/Captain Xue army, I took a closer look at the Sneaks, which I had thus far ignored. Thematically cool in this context. Scytale's review summary of them for SoV:

"I had a blast playtesting the Beakface Sneaks. I was amazed at how effective they are despite being a two-figure melee squad with weak stats. They like to strike hard and fast and prevent their opponent from getting set up. Against range armies without a screen they are frightening, but they have a hard time against strong melee armies. The game does not have enough anti-range melee units and these guys fit the bill perfectly (pun intended)."

Captain Xue Rogue Army
120 Beakface Sneaks x 4
125 Captain Xue
75 Kha
70 Nottingham Brigand x 2
60 Elaria
50 Beakface Rogue x 2
500 points, 15 spaces

Wondering how competitive this would be. Also noticed that no one but me fields Kha.

[chas]

I've tried to run the Sneaks a couple of times, and was disappointed. Now I know what they are for. The Rogue was useful.

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Revisiting this in light of a @Dysole-ean power:

EL NUBARRON
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Tricky, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 6, Range 1, Attack 3, Defense 3

DESTREZA BALESTRA
El Nubarrón may add 2 to his movement number as long as he was unengaged prior to moving. He must be able to move adjacent to an opponent's figure in order to use Destreza Balestra. If El Nubarrón attacks a figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, add 1 to his attack dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

DESTREZA DEFENSE
When El Nubarrón rolls defense dice against a normal attack, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, all excess shields count as unblockable hits on the attacking figure.

DISENGAGE
El Nubarrón is never attacked when leaving an engagement.

POINTS: 105

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

JAQUEN HIGHTOWER
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Disciplined, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 5, Range 5, Attack 4, Defense 4

BASH AND SLASH
If Jaquen Hightower attacks an adjacent Small, Medium, or Large figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, subtract 2 from that figure's defense dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

MASTER AT ARMS
When Jaquen Hightower rolls attack or defense dice against a normal attack, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull or shield, respectively, to whatever is rolled.

Points: 115

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Those who have been perusing these pages may have surmised that I am obsessed with combination of two powers:

The first came, I believe from an idea of @SkyWhale's for Captain Xue, which resulted in

HAND CANNON
When Captain Xue attacks, roll the 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull to whatever was rolled.

CAPTAIN'S COURAGEOUS
When a figure you control that is Captain Xue or within 6 clear sight spaces of Captain Xue rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled.

Here it is also a leadership purely defensive skill. Now I've personalized it for El Nubarrón (folding in a version of Counter Strike)

DESTREZA DEFENSE
When El Nubarrón rolls defense dice against a normal attack, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, all excess shields count as unblockable hits on the attacking figure.

and Jaquen Hightower

MASTER AT ARMS
When Jaquen Hightower rolls attack or defense dice against a normal attack, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull or shield, respectively, to whatever is rolled.

These last are a bit heroic defensively, but not totally beyond the pale (Jaquen Hightower has his shield, while El Nubarrón, as an expert bladesman, can undoubtedly deflect the occasional arrow), and they work nicely with the other power I'm working with, first appearing before my eyes in @dysole's Strike From The Darkness power. Note also that Jaquen Hightower has a ranged attack that is also affected by Master At Arms. First El Nubarrón (folding Charging Assault)

DESTREZA BALESTRA
El Nubarrón may add 2 to his movement number as long as he was unengaged prior to moving. He must be able to move adjacent to an opponent's figure in order to use Destreza Balestra. If El Nubarrón attacks a figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, add 1 to his attack dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

then a different take

BASH AND SLASH
If Jaquen Hightower attacks an adjacent Small, Medium, or Large figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, subtract 2 from that figure's defense dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

I'm not certain which is stronger, adding 1 to attack dice or subtracting 2 from defense, and we're weaker by exempting Huge figures. But both combine the powers on attacking (adding an automatic skull on a 20-sider roll of 15 or higher), making for an interesting first move into engagement. Jaquen Hightower has a higher attack anyways than El Nubarrón, and is tougher, but I gave El Nubarrón Disengage.

You may also note that I am working sans special attacks. This is intentional preserve the powers' interaction - and to avoid unintended consequences.

These are works in progress - feel free to comment. Also, if there are other accessible figures that might replace the ones I've found, or suggest by their sculpts that these powers might be appropriate for SoV, please bring them to my attention.

Thanks!

kolakoski

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Going to put El Nubarrón on the back burner for now. As for this:

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

JAQUEN HIGHTOWER
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Disciplined, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 5, Range 5, Attack 4, Defense 4

BASH AND SLASH
If Jaquen Hightower attacks an adjacent Small, Medium, or Large figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, subtract 2 from that figure's defense dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

MASTER AT ARMS
When Jaquen Hightower rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When Jaquen Hightower rolls attack dice, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled.

Points: 115

P.S.: Consulted with @Dad_Scaper in Help With Wurdz; Master At Arms OK as written, given Jaquen Hightower has no special attacks.

As much as Captain Xue is a great sculpt and looks to be as envisioned, Jaquen Hightower looks to be even more interesting and provide a wider range of choices during play. The Rogues' answer to Kaemon Awa.

[chas]

A pretty major new figures! He's going to cost, of course!

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

Originally Posted by chas

A pretty major new figure! He's going to cost, of course!

Googled him. A few available for around $5. RPG Locker has 8 in stock at $7.40. Lots of sets for $25-40. In the meantime, easy to proxy.

P.S.: So short and stocky. Wondering if he has Dwarven blood . . .

P.P.S.: Reiterating that the inspiration for Bash and Slash comes from @Dysole.

55 points!? Maybe Jaquen Hightower is a bit overpriced at 115?

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Changing his name:

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

RAVENWOLF
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Disciplined, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 5, Range 5, Attack 4, Defense 4

BASH AND SLASH
If Ravenwolf attacks an adjacent Small, Medium, or Large figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, subtract 1 from that figure's defense dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

MASTER AT ARMS
When Ravenwolf rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When Ravenwolf rolls attack dice, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled.

Points: 115

[kolakoski]

Well met!

@Dad_Scaper said (in a PM):

"Excellent. I would drop the modifier from Bash and Slash. The bonus attack is plenty, and you have a chance for a bonus from Master at Arms."

I had already decided to nerf that power, as shown below.

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

RAVENWOLF
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Disciplined, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 5, Range 5, Attack 4, Defense 4

BASH AND SLASH
If Ravenwolf attacks an adjacent Small, Medium, or Large figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, subtract 1 from that figure's defense dice and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

MASTER AT ARMS
When Ravenwolf rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When Ravenwolf rolls attack dice, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled.

Points: 115

As it represents the Bash in Bash and Slash, I'm loath to eliminate a modifier altogether.

[kolakoski]

Well met!

@Dadscaper and @SkyWhale, how's this:

Valeros, Human Fighter
Pathfinder's Iconic Heroes Evolved

RAVENWOLF
General: Einar
Human, Unique Hero, Rogue, Disciplined, Medium 5
Life 5, Move 5, Range 7, Attack 4, Defense 4

BASH AND SLASH
If Ravenwolf attacks an adjacent figure he was not adjacent to at the start of his turn, add 3 to his roll for an automatic skull in Master at Arms and he may attack that figure 1 additional time.

MASTER AT ARMS
When Ravenwolf rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled. When Ravenwolf rolls attack dice, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled.

POINTS
115

Note that I also increased his range to 7. He is a Master at Arms after all. He'll play much better when able to force opponents to enter his melee threat range.