The Book of Armadillo

[Lord Pyre]

[fret_gurglo]

I'll grab the initial on this one. Should be able to get it done this weekend.

[fret_gurglo]

I've finished half of the testing for Armadillo and he is coming in around 180-190 points. Zak is pretty adamant at keeping him at the 200+ range, so with Zak's permission I have proposed the following change to replace his Underground Movement.

TUNNELLING SURPRISE
Instead of moving Armadillo normally you may choose a Land space that is within 4 spaces of Armadillo and is no higher than 1 level above Armadillo's height or 3 levels below his base. If there is a figure on that space, you may move that figure 1 space then place Armadillo on the chosen space and roll an unblockable die against all figures adjacent to him. After moving Armadillo with Tunnelling Surprise subtract 2 from Armadillo's attack for the remainder of this turn.

[IAmBatman]

I like the power name.

Is the figure movement the only mechanical change? Is that enough of a power up?

Right now it reads as the figure movement being required in order to place Armadillo. I assume that’s unintentional. Deleting the “then” and making the placement clause its own sentence would fix that, I believe.

[Splash]

Yeah Armadillo goes toe to toe with The Thing, he should definitely come in higher than 200.
Is Tunneling Surprise already a Mole Man power?

[fret_gurglo]

Version tested

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = ARMADILLO
SECRET IDENTITY = ANTONIO RODRIQUEZ

SPECIES = MUTATE
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = CRIMINAL
PERSONALITY = RELENTLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = LARGE 6

LIFE = 5
MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 5
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 200

UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT
Instead of moving normally with Armadillo, you may immediately place him on any Land Space that is within 4 spaces of Armadillo and is no higher than 1 level of Armadillo's height or 3 levels below Armadillo's base. After placing Armadillo this way, roll one unblockable attack die against all adjacent figures and subtract 2 from his attack for the rest of the turn

ROADKILL SLAMMER SPECIAL ATTACK
Range: Special Attack: 5
Instead of moving or attacking normally, you may move Armadillo up to 4 spaces in a straight line. During this movement, Armadillo may move through all figures and does not take leaving engagement attacks. After moving, roll Attack Dice against each figure Armadillo moved through. Figures without the Super Strength ability must roll one less Defense when defending against this Special Power.

IMPENETRABLE SKIN
When Armadillo defends against a normal or special attack, if at least one shield is rolled, the most wounds Armadillo can take from this attack is one.

SUPER STRENGTH

Army Test
Map: Icy Road
Units: Armadillo (200) (200) vs Whirlwind (190) (190)

Powers Used:
Underground Movement: 0
Underground Movement Damage: 0
Roadkill Slammer: 0
Roadkill Damage: 0
Impenetrable Skin: 0

Damage from normal attacks: 4

Armadillo’s brute strength was able to rip through Whirlwind’s defenses.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Armadillo 2/5 Life Remaining

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Armadillo is able to get up to Whirlwind and strike for 1 wound.
Round 2: Whirlwind returns the damage. Armadillo hits for 1 wound. Whirlwind uses his Barrage for 2 wounds on Armadillo. Armadillo hits for 2 wounds to destroy Whirlwind.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Icy Road
Units: Armadillo (200) (200) vs Sandman (210) (210)

Powers Used:
Underground Movement: 1
Underground Movement Damage: 0
Roadkill Slammer: 0
Roadkill Damage: 0
Impenetrable Skin: 2

Damage from normal attacks: 5

Sandman dominated the entire game.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Sandman 2/5 Life Remaining

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: First strike goes to Armadillo for 1 wound on Sandman. Sandman strikes back for 1 wound and heals himself. Sandman hits again for 1 wound. Armadillo hits for 1 wound.
Round 2: Sandman uses Sandstorm for 1 wound on Armadillo, then he heals. Sandstorm again deals a damage. Finally Armadillo gets a good hit for 3 wounds on Sandman. However Sandman destroys Armadillo and heals 1 wound.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Icy Road
Units: Armadillo (200) (200) vs Owl (125), Street Thugs (75) (200)

Powers Used:
Underground Movement: 0
Underground Movement Damage: 0
Roadkill Slammer: 3
Roadkill Damage: 5
Impenetrable Skin: 1

Damage from normal attacks: 1

The better range and multiple attacks were too much for Armadillo.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Owl 1/6 Life Remaining, 3 Street Thugs remain.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Armadillo destroys a Street Thug. Owl hits for 1 wound and Street Thugs hit for 1 more.
Round 2: Armadillo uses Slammer to get some space and deals 1 wound to Owl. Owl hits for 1 wound. Slammer goes through Owl for 3 wounds. Street Thugs hit for 1 wound.
Round 3: Armadillo uses Slammer for 1 wound on Owl. Owl destroys Armadillo.

___________________________________________________________

Changed power
UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT
Instead of moving normally with Armadillo, you may immediately place him on any Land Space that is within 4 spaces of Armadillo and is no higher than 1 level of Armadillo's height or 3 levels below Armadillo's base. After placing Armadillo this way, roll one unblockable attack die against all adjacent figures and subtract 2 from his attack for the rest of the turn

to

TUNNELLING SURPRISE
Instead of moving Armadillo normally you may choose a Land space that is within 4 spaces of Armadillo and is no higher than 1 level above Armadillo's height or 3 levels below his base. If there is a figure on that space, you may move that figure 1 space and place Armadillo on the chosen space and roll an unblockable die against all figures adjacent to him. After moving Armadillo with Tunnelling Surprise subtract 2 from Armadillo's attack for the remainder of this turn.

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Amanda Waller (195), Armadillo (210), Firefly (120), Mentallo (135), Wizard (140) (800) vs Cyborg (200), Nightwing (200), Raven (190), Starfire (210) (800)

Powers Used:
Underground Movement: 3
Underground Push: 2
Underground Movement Damage: 3
Roadkill Slammer: 1
Roadkill Damage: 1
Impenetrable Skin: 1

Damage from normal attacks: 8

Criminals took an early lead on the Titans, but they just could not get through Cyborgs healing and Ravens Magical Defense. A couple of criminal traitors also thinned their ranks.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Cyborg 5/5 Life remaining, Raven 1/5 Life remaining

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Mentallo takes control of Raven and she attacks Starfire for 2 wounds. Raven attacks Mentallo for 1 wound. Armadillo runs up to Nightwing and one hit destroys him (4 skulls vs 0 shields). Firefly uses his raining fire for 1 wound on Starfire. However after his turn he rolls a 2 and Amanda reveals the X to destroy him.
Round 2: Mentallo takes control of Raven again, but she does no damage. Armadillo tunnels to Cyborg and deals 1 auto wound and attacks him for another. Raven hits Mentallo for 1 wound. Wizard destroys Starfire. Armadillo hits Cyborg for 1 wound. Cyborg hits Armadillo for 1 wound and then heals one.
Round 3: Armadillo misses and Wizard misses. Wizard rolls a 1 and Amanda bombs him. Armadillo hits Cyborg for 1 wound. Mentallo controls Raven but she doesn’t hit Cyborg. Raven takes a round from Cyborg and puts it on Armadillo. Armadillo tunnels and pushes Raven rolling unblockables against both Cyborg and Raven then attacks Raven with height all for 1 wound on Raven. Cyborg heals a wound.
Round 4: Armadillo tunnels to push Cyborg. Armadillo takes 1 LEA wound and his tunnelling puts a wound on each Cyborg and Raven. Raven takes a wound from Cyborg and puts a wound on Armadillo. Mentallo controls Cyborg for 1 wound on Raven and lines them up for Armadillos Roadkill Slammer that does 1 wound to Cyborg. Cyborg destroys Armadillo. Cyborg destroys Mentallo and then heals 1 wound.
Round 5: Raven moves a wound to Amanda. Amanda shoots Raven for 1 wound. And she does it again. Cyborg advances up to her and hits for 1 wound. Cyborg heals 1 wound.
Round 6: Raven moves a wound to Amanda. Amanda shoots Raven for 1 wound. Cyborg destroys Amanda.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Armadillo (210), Beetle (175), Lexcorp Security x3 (390), Rhino (220) (995) vs Fantastic Four (1000)

Powers Used:
Underground Movement: 0
Underground Push: 0
Underground Movement Damage: 0
Roadkill Slammer: 0
Roadkill Damage: 0
Impenetrable Skin: 1

Damage from normal attacks: 2

Again the criminals started fairly hot, but fell apart fast with the loss of their Lexcorp Security. Mr. F locked down Armadillo and this prevented him from using some of abilities.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Human Torch 5/5 Life remaining, Mr. Fantastic 3/5 Life remaining, Thing 1/6 Life remaining

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Teams advance with a couple of shoots fired but no damage.
Round 2: Rhino charge gets through a shielded Thing for 1 wound. A Lexcorp flies up to Sue and hits for 1 wound. Beetle gives distraction and Rhino pulls back. HT destroys 2 Lexcorp. Rockwall defense deals 1 wound to Rhino. Mr. F destroys a Lexcorp.
Round 3: Mr. F destroys a Lexcorp. Beetle destroys Sue. Mr. F destroys a Lexcorp. Rhino charges at Thing for 4 wounds. Mr. F destroys the last Lexcorp.
Round 4: Rockwall saves Thing and inflicts a wound on Rhino. HT destroys Beetle and Mr. F wraps and hits Armadillo for 1 wound. Armadillo hits Mr. F for 1 wound. Thing hits Rhino for 3 wounds.
Round 5: Armadillo hits Mr. F for 1 wound. Thing destroys Rhino and Mr. F hits Armadillo for 3 wounds. Thing then destroys Armadillo.

___________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY:
With the changes to his movement power, Armadillo is coming in around 200. Although he lost both his team games, Armadillo dealt his share of damage against the Titans and Mr. Fantastic prevented Armadillo from moving and that kind of reduced his worth.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Fun design with plenty of options and some strong durability. Looks good at 200.

[IAmBatman]

Mole Man does have "Tunnel Surprise" which is pretty close, so maybe something more differentiated, like "Tunneling Ambush" or "Aggressive Tunneling"?

[fret_gurglo]

I was thinking Ambush too

[IAmBatman]

Tests look good, btw.

[Zakizzryn]

Updated the ability on the SP
Thanks for rocking that initial Fret!!

If everyone is happy so far, and if there is no further concerns...
I propose we move to Public Playtesting at 200 Points

[IAmBatman]

Yea. Make sure to update the thread title.

Edit: and link the initial in the OP.

[Zakizzryn]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

Yea. Make sure to update the thread title.

Was already on that Bats