HoME Brainstorming Thread

[caps]

Heroes of Middle Earth

Brainstorming

This thread is created for the purpose of serving as a receptacle for all of the rough ideas for units and gameplay mechanics that can be tossed around by the members of HoME. Anything can happen here, from full-blown unit ideas to miniature suggestions to treasure glyph concepts. This is where the most free-flowing discussion will take place.

WorkBook Format:

Spoiler Alert!

THE WORKBOOK OF (INSERT UNIT NAME HERE)

DESIGNER = (INSERT DESIGNER USERNAME HERE)

(SET NAME) - (COLLECTION NUMBER) - (PACK NAME)

FIGURE(S) USED FOR UNIT: (Insert name(s) and set of origin for figure(s) used for this design)
(Insert image(s) of figure(s) used for this design)


(CARD IMAGE)

NAME =
GENERAL =
SPECIES =
UNIQUENESS =
CLASS =
PERSONALITY =
SIZE/HEIGHT =

STATS, MASTER/BASIC
LIFE =
MOVE =
RANGE =
ATTACK =
DEFENSE =
POINTS =

SPECIAL POWERS
(INSET FIRST POWER NAME HERE)
(Insert power text here)

(INSERT SECOND POWER NAME HERE)
(Insert power text here)



Character Bio: (Insert Character Bio here)



-RULINGS and CLARIFICATIONS-
(Insert questions and answers about unit function and/or power interpretation)


-COMBINATIONS and SYNERGIES-

Synergy Benefits Received
(Insert links to figures that benefit the unit, and short explanation of synergy)

Synergy Benefits Offered
(Insert links to figures that this unit benefits, and a short explanation of synergy)

[caps]

UNIT BRAINSTORM LIST
Gandalf (the Grey) - moving out of playtesting
Strider (Aragorn) - in design
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck - in playtesting
Peregrin Took - in playtesting
The One Ring (treasure glyph) - in design
Sting (treasure glyph)
Bilbo's Mithril Shirt (treasure glyph)

[caps]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

UNIT BRAINSTORM LIST
Gandalf (the Grey)
Strider (Aragorn)
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Peregrin Took

Alright guys. Let's hear your ideas.

[infectedsloth]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Alright guys. Let's hear your ideas.

Ideas on the composition of the list, or ideas on designing the figures? I've got both, but they'll have to wait until tonight.

[infectedsloth]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Alright guys. Let's hear your ideas.

I don't have to much time so here is my quick response:

• Gandalf: there lots of different directions we can go with him. I'm thinking he will have a power (maybe a special attack) that has to do with fire, also a power that portrays his wisdom, and probably one other power. This power could have to do with his love of hobbits or one of his many other traits
• Aragorn: If we're making one figure then we'll have to portray him both a Ranger of the North and as a King Elessar. This could be tricky, there are a lot of creative options to explore.
• Frodo Baggins: A power that ties into the Ring, and a power that has to do with Sting. We could also do a power for his mithril armor.
• Samwise Gamgee: Something that ties in with Frodo, and a power that has to do with him being his body guard.
• Meriadoc Brandybuck/Peregrin Took: They should have strong synergies together, and maybe a power that has to do with ents.

Those were just some ideas to get the ball rolling; I'm looking forward to other thoughts.

[caps]

Originally Posted by infectedsloth

Gandalf: there lots of different directions we can go with him. I'm thinking he will have a power (maybe a special attack) that has to do with fire, also a power that portrays his wisdom, and probably one other power. This power could have to do with his love of hobbits or one of his many other traits

Good thoughts. I'm not entirely sure about the other two powers either, but I think a fireball SA might be a good idea.

Originally Posted by infectedsloth

Aragorn: If we're making one figure then we'll have to portray him both a Ranger of the North and as a King Elessar. This could be tricky, there are a lot of creative options to explore.

I think we will make at least two Aragorn characters. One from the Fellowship and at least one covering his roles in the Two Towers and following.

Originally Posted by infectedsloth

Frodo Baggins: A power that ties into the Ring, and a power that has to do with Sting. We could also do a power for his mithril armor.

I think I would prefer to do the Mithril Armor and Sting as Treasure glyphs. We could specify that Frodo starts with them in specific scenarios; this is good because when we do Bilbo we'll want him to have them, and Sam also takes them in the book for a time.

Spoiler Alert!

I was thinking something like:
Sting - roll one additional attack die against adjacent non-orc figures. Add one automatic skull against orc figures.
Mithril Shirt - something like the Microcorp Agents Armor, and only useable by Small figures

Originally Posted by infectedsloth

Samwise Gamgee: Something that ties in with Frodo, and a power that has to do with him being his body guard.

Maybe not Frodo specifically (although we could do that), but I think this is the right direction.

For the hobbits in general, I think they should have some unifying ability reflecting their toughness. Maybe just Tough, per the Gorillinators, or a d20 ability, or just high defense... something.

[Redstone]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Alright guys. Let's hear your ideas.

As far as minis, the LOTR Combat hex game has many, many fine looking minis, although they are larger in size than the normal HS figs. But they look great and can be gotten on eBay for reasonable prices for the most part. There are some rare, expensive pieces. I've started re-basing some for a LOTR HS-style game. Also, Heroclix has released LOTR and The Hobbit minis. I have a few of the Nazgul LOTR figs and they look pretty good.

[caps]

Originally Posted by Redstone

As far as minis, the LOTR Combat hex game has many, many fine looking minis, although they are larger in size than the normal HS figs. But they look great and can be gotten on eBay for reasonable prices for the most part. There are some rare, expensive pieces. I've started re-basing some for a LOTR HS-style game. Also, Heroclix has released LOTR and The Hobbit minis. I have a few of the Nazgul LOTR figs and they look pretty good.

Thanks for the info Redstone. We will keep it in mind.

[caps]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Sting (treasure glyph)
Bilbo's Mithril Shirt (treasure glyph)

Which of these should we work on next?

[caps]

This is what we need to decide to brainstorm next.

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Which of these should we work on next?

[caps]

Not sure what you mean.

This is the list we're starting with for now, it will expand as the ERB figures out what the rest of the list needs to look like and as we take figures off of the list.

So we're looking for you guys to start brainstorming on ideas for these characters.

That is, how should we approach them?

Do we want to have synergy between the hobbits? Between all of the fellowship?

If you have power ideas you're welcome to share them as well, but we should brainstorm about the big picture here before we get too deep into specific ideas.

[Son of Arathorn]

Gandalf- I agree that fire has to have a part in his design. However, rather than (or in addition to) a special attack, something relating to the Ring of Narya and the strength it grants those around him. Some sort of resilience aura for heroes near him, perhaps. We can ignore anything pertaining only to Gandalf the White in this design, since creating a second character for him will be necessary later on. The Grey and the White are just too dissimilar to create a single design.

Aragorn- I think this is one of the characters that would require 2 separate designs. Aragorn as Strider and Aragorn as Elessar are completely different. One is a ranger, one is a king. Since we're starting with the fellowship, let's focus on the ranger for now. Since he's out in the wild, Tracking could be on the power table. He should be fairly quick and tough to wound from afar, symbolizing his abilities to elude the enemy. Whether or not to give him Anduril is a decent question here, as it's not reforged until the fellowship sets out from Rivendell. I think he ought to have a ranged attack, the guy does carry a bow. But on the whole, high life/mediocre defense values could work here.

Frodo Baggins- Going a bit more specific here. Three powers ought to characterize this design. Firstly, Sting. The simplest interpretation of this would be adding to your initiative roll if your opponent has any orcs, uruk-hai, etc. Secondly, his Mithril Vest. Best way to keep the ringbearer alive is to give him some dwarven chain mail. This could be anything from auto-shields to subtracting skulls from opponent's attack rolls. Lastly, some sort of resilience to the ring. Conversely, the mithril coat and sting could be treasure glyphs, as Bilbo possesses them for a time, as does Same with sting.

Samwise Gamgee- Sam should have some sort of protection power, whether it be for Frodo, or a more generalized version of his 'master'. I'll come back to edit this later.

Meriadoc Brandybuck- I'll come back to edit this later.

Peregrin Took- I'll come back to edit this later.