HoME Brainstorming Thread

[infectedsloth]

Originally Posted by Son of Arathorn

NAME = ARAGORN
GENERAL = ULLAR
PLANET = ARDA
SPECIES = DUNEDAIN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = RANGER
PERSONALITY = RESOLUTE
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM/5 Height 6? The men of Westernesse and their descendants were the tallest of all mortals. It'd be another way to portray his unique past.

LIFE = 6 I'm open to 5 as well.
MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 3 4
POINTS = 100

ENGAGING STRIKE 14
After moving and before attacking with Aragorn, if he was unengaged at the start of his turn, you may roll the 20-sided die once for each small or medium opponent's figure adjacent to Aragorn. If you roll a 14 or higher, that figure receives 1 wound. I do like the power, but we would probably be better served saving it for a different figure. I'll have to think about it some more.

RANGER OF THE NORTH
After taking a turn with Aragorn, if he is unengaged, you may choose an adjacent unengaged friendly figure. Aragorn and the chosen figure have no visible Hit Zones until the next time you reveal an Order Marker. I like the concept.

Originally Posted by capsocrates

NAME = ARAGORN
GENERAL = ULLAR
PLANET = ARDA
SPECIES = DUNEDAIN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = RANGER
PERSONALITY = TRICKY? Not sure exactly what I want his personality to be, but I'm not feeling tricky.
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM/5 Same as before

LIFE = 5
MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 3 4
DEFENSE = 3 4
POINTS = 90

STRIDER'S ASSAULT
When Strider attacks an adjacent figure or destructible object, he may add 2 dice to his attack or attack one additional time. This power does nothing for me. It's to generic.

RANGER OF THE NORTH
After taking a turn with Strider, if he is unengaged, you may choose an adjacent unengaged friendly figure. Strider and the chosen figure have no visible Hit Zones until the next time you reveal an Order Marker. Same as before.

DUNEDAIN TRACKING
Before the game, choose a unique Army Card. After the chosen Army Card takes a turn, you may move Aragorn 2 spaces. Genius!

Originally Posted by Son of Arathorn

Not sure I'm feeling Dunedain Tracking. I know he's a Ranger (THE Ranger, in fact), but Ranger of the North is growing on me, and if we're trying to capture this character in its entirety pre-RotK, I think we should try to get most of his traits in there; two Ranger powers feels unnecessary at the expense of one that could portray his leadership with the Hobbits on the road to Rivendell and with the Three Hunters.

I feel one represents Aragorn the hunter. The other, Aragorn the ranger/protector. There's some thematic crossover, but I think there is place for both. Especially with a potential 3rd power to cover other aspects of him.

[caps]

I don't see the need for 4 defense on an unarmed figure.

Engaging Strike is a cool power but I don't see it for Aragorn. Or really any one else in HoME off the top of my head.

[caps]

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

That Dunedain Tracking power should be listed first, since it's a before the game starts kind of power, IMO.

~MegaSilver, dropping in.

Thanks MegaSilver. In brainstorming phase I consider that sort of thing a low-priority concern.

[Lazy Orang]

For my Strider, I went with Resolute for his personality.

EDIT: Sorry, just noticed you'd already thought of that for one of them.

Dunedain Tracking's pretty cool - I see you basically took the concept off some fairly similar C3G powers.

[caps]

where are we here?

[White Knight]

'd by Caps

I still like Strider's Assault (although with Range 1, it only becomes a choice between adding 2 to his Attack or attacking a 2nd time).

To better represent his leadership/inspiration (especially at Helm's Deep, but also at Moria), I suggest we add a modified attack bonus:

NAME = ARAGORN
GENERAL = ULLAR
PLANET = ARDA
SPECIES = DUNEDAIN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = RANGER
PERSONALITY = RESOLUTE
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM/5

LIFE = 5
MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 3
POINTS = 140

RANGER'S ASSAULT
When Strider attacks, he may either add 2 dice to his attack or may attack one additional time.

ENHANCED ATTACK AURA
All friendly figures within 4 clear sight spaces of Aragorn get +1 to attack when attacking an adjacent figure. Aragorn's Attack Aura does not effect Aragorn.

DUNEDAIN TRACKING
Before the game, choose a unique Army Card. After the chosen Army Card takes a turn, you may move Aragorn 2 spaces.

I don't like the name (I'd prefer Inspiring Leadership, or something from LoTR). But I tried to follow the wording from Taelord, Finn, and Gilbert's cards.

Dunedain Tracking will work well with Enhanced Attack Aura, but maybe too well. Aragorn is different than Gilbert and Finn because he has no bonding with the Knights. That means you need to spend an OM to keep him up with your army. That's why I made it 4 spaces instead of 1. But I didn't want him to boost Legolas or elven archers.

[Son of Arathorn]

My final case for Engaging Strike (and then I promise, I'll shut up if nobody's sold): When I think of Aragorn in a melee, I think of him charging forward, effortlessly turning the first blows aside before wading into the crowd, sword swinging. I know we shouldn't rely on the films too much for material, but if you take a look at the scenes of Amon Hen, Helm's Deep, and the Black Gate, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Looking over it again, I can see how Dunedain Tracking could show a different aspect of Aragorn than Ranger of the North. I like it. Should an "Aragorn must be unengaged" of "Aragorn never takes leaving engagement attacks when moving with Dunedain Tracking" stipulation be added?

I kinda agree with infectedsloth about Strider's Assault. It could do as a melee power, but it feels a bit bland. I think we can do better. Is the destructible object clause there to account for the Door/Wall not being considered figures?

[caps]

I don't think I like the ENHANCED ATTACK AURA. I don't think I like an Attack Enhancement for Strider in general, but I particularly don't like one that makes Taelord obsolete in melee armies.

[caps]

Originally Posted by Son of Arathorn

My final case for Engaging Strike (and then I promise, I'll shut up if nobody's sold): When I think of Aragorn in a melee, I think of him charging forward, effortlessly turning the first blows aside before wading into the crowd, sword swinging. I know we shouldn't rely on the films too much for material, but if you take a look at the scenes of Amon Hen, Helm's Deep, and the Black Gate, you'll know what I'm talking about.

That's what I see STRIDER'S ASSAULT representing.

Looking over it again, I can see how Dunedain Tracking could show a different aspect of Aragorn than Ranger of the North. I like it. Should an "Aragorn must be unengaged" of "Aragorn never takes leaving engagement attacks when moving with Dunedain Tracking" stipulation be added?

I think DUNEDAIN TRACKING and RANGER OF THE NORTH could go well together, probably with an offensive power of some sort.

[Son of Arathorn]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

I think DUNEDAIN TRACKING and RANGER OF THE NORTH could go well together, probably with an offensive power of some sort.

Sounds good to me. The problem seems to be agreeing on an offensive power.

[White Knight]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

I don't think I like the ENHANCED ATTACK AURA. I don't think I like an Attack Enhancement for Strider in general, but I particularly don't like one that makes Taelord obsolete in melee armies.

I'm going to call Balderdash on that one!

Taelord can Stealth Fly and get to places that Aragorn cannot. He still is useful in melee armies. Not only that, but Aragorn cannot be activated by Utgar's orders.

For me, I normally only use Taelord with the Omnicron Snipers--and Aragorn wouldn't help the Snipers much at all.

You might not like the power, but your reason makes no sense. What melee army do you use Taelord in right now that would be obsolete because of Aragorn?

I re-read the Helm's Deep passages. Aragorn's main job was running around rallying the troops. He did it at least three times, and at least three times the orcs were driven back. I think it's a major aspect of his personality, and I'm going to stand firm that he needs an inspiration power (probably attack aura).

[caps]

I would consider an inspiration power as more of an Elessar power and less of a Strider power. Helm's Deep is arguably where he really begins to step into the kingly role more than he had before.