The Book of Wakandan Royal Forest

[Ericth74]

I propose we move to Public Playtesting

[tcglkn]

Yea

[Dr. Jekyll]

Yea

[IAmBatman]

Yea

[Tornado]

Yea

[Lord Pyre]

Yea

[Ericth74]

This Passes

[Dr. Jekyll]

 PLAYTEST MAP: Wakandan Royal Forest
Version Tested

Spoiler Alert!

Army Test
Map: Wakandan Royal Forest
Units: FF4 (1000) VS JL Trinity (1000)
Notes:

Spoiler Alert!

Spoiler Alert!

The FF4 went towards the upper half of the map by the Tree of Life, getting a little defense boost. Most of the game was played in that area. Superman made a poor choice early on and got pounded by the FF4. Wonder Woman was able to take down Invisible Woman before getting clobbered by The Thing. Batman was the real MVP here taking down Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, and then Finally The Thing.

Winning Team: Batman with 1 life remaining.

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Army Test
Map: Wakandan Royal Forest
Units: Classic X-Men (1000) VS Iron Man(Avengers), War Machine(Avengers), Black Widow(Avengers), Captain America(OG)(1000)
Notes:

Spoiler Alert!

Spoiler Alert!

Iron Man and War Machine launched straight for the middle of the map near the outcrops lower road side. Angel carried Cyclops to high ground quick and with his long range he was able to hit Iron Man pretty hard. Iron Man takes down Cyclops, then falls to Beast. Beast was able to hit War Machine next, thanks to Jean Grey tossing him. War Machine took flight, attacked, and killed Professor X in the next couple of turns. Cap and Black Widow move in and take down Angel. Beast lands a few hits on both Cap and Black Widow. Jean Grey and Iceman team up and take them down.

Winning Team: Jean Grey with 4 life remaining and Iceman with 4 life remaining.

___________________________________________________________

MAP SUMMARY:

Overall Look: I absolutely love the look of this map. The symmetry here is great and the placement of the trees, although symmetric, still gives the feel of a forest.

Stability: Very stable, there are no issues with terrain moving or sliding, aside from the Trees of Life and Death that don’t lock in place like normal terrain would.

Build difficulty: Directions are well displayed. It’s a fairly easy build with not many layers.

Size: Seems a good size for a competitive map. You can get into the action pretty quickly using the roads and stay out of sight using the trees.

Unit types positively affected: None of the units I played with had the upper hand I felt, at least not for very long if they did.

Unit types negatively affected: I think huge units maybe? As they may not have as much maneuverability. Even so, with huge units being immune to trees falling, they have that going for them.

Key areas on the Map: Height on top of the “waterfall” area, which I love by the way, and the areas surrounding the Trees of Life.

Areas not used much or at all: Really there was no area that wasn’t used during the course of the two games. I was actually surprised at how different both games were played. You kinda want to avoid the middle where the Trees of Death are, but it’s hard to give up that road bonus so it was used heavily.

I had an absolute blast playing on this map. TheJayTrain and I have played probably around 9 games on it now(physically not virtually) and we always have fun. Never the same game twice, which I think is a testament to how well thought out this map is. Great job here Eric, can’t wait to see this in the library.

[Ericth74]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jekyll

I had an absolute blast playing on this map. TheJayTrain and I have played probably around 9 games on it now(physically not virtually) and we always have fun. Never the same game twice, which I think is a testament to how well thought out this map is. Great job here Eric, can’t wait to see this in the library.

Thanks for the tests. I'm glad that you are enjoying the games. I think its my best so far.

[Karat]

Overall Look: I really like how this map looks. It is extremely evocative of a forest and a map style we've been lacking.

Stability: Map seems stable and not likely to collapse or shift.

Build difficulty: Build instructions seem straight forward and relatively simple.

Size: The map is a good size and generally engagements won't occur till Round 2.

Unit types positively affected: Lots of LOS blockers so good for Ground Pounders to slink closer.

Unit types negatively affected: Lots of LOS Blockers so you either have to spend time getting setup in a good position or use some attacks to try and clear out some of the LOS blockers.

Key areas on the Map: Almost all of the action happened near the Trees of Life or the center of the map.

Areas not used much or at all: Outside of the start of the game or the end of the game, Start Zones were not used very much. Nor where the heights to either side of the Start Zones but those seem like good sniping positions and defensive spots for Atlanteans.

Game 1:
Units: Armadillo, Songbird, Jolt, Night Thrasher, Kick-Ass, Thing II (1,200) vs Ultraman, Superwoman (Lois), Owlman, Leatherface, Grid (1,200)

Spoiler Alert!

Lots of tree destruction to clear line of sight and avoid the negatives from the Tree of Death.
Owlman is Grid's Study. Night Thrasher brings his Skateboard and some Bolas. Songbird makes Armadillo a Crime Fighter.
R1
Gird Assesses Armadillo (8+5) and sends Owlman up. Crime Fighters have Initiative. In T1 Songbird flies up and Jolt moves up giving a Great Evergreen a wound and Superwoman moves with her Secret Orders; Superwoman engages and punches Songbird for a wound. In T2 Armadillo tunnels up taking out an Evergreen and wounding the Tree of Death and then finishes of the Tree of Death; Leatherface moves up. In T3 Kick-Ass and Thing Advance; Ultraman flies up hitting Songbird with his Heat Vision for a wound and then calls up Owlman who knocks an Evergreen into a Tree of Life of a wound.
R2
Grid is Assessing Armadillo (11+5) and has Leatherface advance down the road. Crime Syndicate has initiative. In T1 Ultraman flies in felling a Great Evergreen onto Kick-Ass, Jolt, Thing, and Armadillo for a wound each and has Leatherface close in taking out Kick-Ass with his Chainsaw; Songbird hits Superwoman for a wound and Jolt walks through Leatherface, Ultraman, and Superwoman giving Ultraman a wound. In T2 Ultraman hits Jolt for 2 wounds and has Leatherface engage Armadillo giving him a wound and taking a wound from his Chainsaw; Ms Marvel adds one to her attack and engages Leatherface attacking twice and finishing him off. In T3 Ultraman finishes off Songbird and has Superwoman finish off Jolt; Armadillo Tunnels ambushing Ultraman, Superwoman, and Owlman giving Ultraman a wound and Thing calls 4 of a Kind and engages Ultraman.
R3
Grid Assesses Armadillo (4+5). Crime Syndicate has initiative. In T1 Ultraman hits Thing for 3 wounds and has Superwoman hit Armadillo for a wound; Ms Marvel has Armadillo reveal the 'x' and choose to Bond and Tunnels next to the Tree of life and wounds it and Thing moves to engage Superwoman, Owlman, and Ultraman giving Ultraman a wound. In T2 Ultraman misses Thing; Armadillo misses Ultraman and Thing hits Ultraman for 2 wounds. In T3 Ultraman misses Thing; Armadillo hits Ultraman with a Roadkill Slammer for a wound and Thing finishes him off.
R4
Grid is Assessing Armadillo (9+5 (+2 from Owlman)). Crime Fighters have initiative. In T1 Armadillo reveals the 'X' and chooses to Bond and Tunnels behind Owlman and Superwoman giving them both a wound and Thing hits Owlman for a wound and takes a wound from his Calculated Defense; Superwoman missed Armadillo. In T2 Armadillo hits Superwoman for 2 wounds and Thing finishes off Owlman; Superewoman would finish off Thing but he has One Last Hand to play. In T3 Armadillo misses Superwoman and Thing finishes her off; OM on Owlman.
R5
Grid Assesses Armadillo (10+5) but stays put. Crime Syndicate have initiative. In T1 Grid moves off away from the advancing Crime Fighters and fells an Evergreen; Armadillo reveals the 'X' and chooses to increase his Attack and Defense and advances down the road. In T2 Grid shift bacck; Armadillo engages Grid hitting him for 3 wounds. In T3 Grid Disengages taking height and misses Armadillo; Armadillo Tunnels up behind Grid giving Grid a wound and felling the Evergreen on top of Grid for the win.

Game 2:
Units: Armadillo, Beetle ,Purple Man, Hun, Foot Ninjas, Hush, Clock King, 2xSkrull Infiltrator (1,200) vs Mystique II, Magneto II, Juggernaut, Destiny, Phoenix (1,200)

Spoiler Alert!

Several more trees were destroyed here to make sure line of sight was unobstructed and to minimize the risk of them falling on your units.
Juggernaut is Hush's Vendetta. Magneto recruits Phoenix.
R1
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Clock King moves an OM to Beetle who flies up; Mystique moves up. In T2 Clock King moves an OM to Armadillo who tunnels up giving a Great Evergreen a wound; Phoenix flies up destroying a Great Evergreen and dropping it on a Tree of Death and a Rock Outcrop destroying the Outcrop and giving the Tree of Death a wound and Mystique moves up finishing off the Tree of Death. In T3 Clock Kings moves an OM to Armadillo who moves up giving the Great Evergreen another wound; Juggernaut moves up and Mystique misses an Evergreen.
R2
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Clock King moves an OM to Armadillo who drops the Great Evergreen onto the Tree of Death and the Large Outcrop for a wound each; Juggernaut moves up dropping an Evergreen onto the Large Outcrop for a wound and Mystique moves up. In T2 Clock King moves an OM to Armadillo who Tunnels moving Mystique a space and drops the Evergreen tree giving her a wound and finishing off the Large Outcrop; Phoenix flies up and drops an Evergreen on Beetle for a wound and Mystique steps into the Shadows and gives Armadillo 4 wounds (whiff!). In T3 Clock King moves an OM to Armadillo who steps into the Shadows and gives Mystique 2 wounds; Phoenix flies up and hits Hun for 4 wounds and Mystique misses Armadillo.
R3
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Clock King moves an OM to Armadillo who misses Mystique; Phoenix disengages taking a wound and her Fire knocks a tree over onto Hun and a Foot Ninja taking them both out as she flies over moving the 3 remaining Foot Ninja with a Psionic Blast taking 1 out and the n drops an Evergreen on Purple Man for a wound as Mystique whiffs. In T2 Clock King moves an OM onto Hush who has Purple Man step up but he fails to control Phoenix; Phoenix flies to height taking out a Foot Ninja and Mystique finishes off Armadillo. In T3 Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Purple Man move up to height on Phoenix hitting her for a wound but taking a wound from her Fire; Phoenix disengages and uses a Psionic Blast to move Hush into engagement with her and move Clock King giving both a wound and Mystique moves up finishing off the other Tree of Death.
R4
Outcasts have initiative. In T1 Phoenix disengages taking a wound and takes height giving Clock King a wound and Mystique engages and gives Beetle 2 wounds; Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Purple Man Pheromone Control Phoenix and move onto the Road. In T2 Mystique misses Beetle; Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Purple Man step into the Water. In T3 Juggernaut moves up and is Blocked and Mystique whiffs; Clock King Moves an OM to Hush who has Purple Man Pheromone Control Mystique and Climb up onto the bridge.
R5
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Mystique engage Juggernaut; Juggernaut climbers onto the Bridge and then Charges through Beetle, Purple Man, and Phoenix and misses all 3! In T2 Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Phoenix attack Juggernaut but she is blocked; Juggernaut attacks Clock King but his attack was expected and blocked. In T3 Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Phoenix give Juggernaut a wound; Magneto flies up.
R6
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Clock King moves an OM to Beetle who flies into the Shadows and hits Magneto with some Diversionary fire for a wound and moves Mystique onto the bridge and then moves himself further from Magneto; Magneto ignores Beetle and runs down the road and throws Purple Man twice ending his threat. In T2 Phoenix and Mystique come to their Senses as Clock King moves an OM to Hush who has Beetle fly to height shooting Magneto for a wound; Magneto moves up tossing Clock King and the last Foot Ninja to their deaths but both were Skrulls. In T3 OM on Clock King; Magneto disengages taking a wound and Throws Hush for 2 wounds.
R7
Criminals have initiative. In T1 Hush has Beetle fly up shooting Juggernaut for a wound; Mystique takes out an Infiltrator. In T2 Hush has Beetle shoot Juggernaut for 3 wounds (5/5 skulls + auto skull!); Juggernaut finishes off Hush and Mystique moves in finishing off the last Skrull. In T3 Beetle misses Mystique with 2 attacks of Distracting Fire; Pheonix flies up to height on Beetle and finishes him off for the win.

Final Thoughts: I really dig this map. It reminds me of Ivy's Greenhouse a bit with all of the trees but does not play the same way at all. I'm really looking forward to adding it to our library.

[Ericth74]

Thanks for the tests @Karat

[IAmBatman]

I'm hoping to have mine in by the end of the day on Monday! Get togethers this weekend have slowed me down.