The Book of General Zod

[IAmBatman]

I mean, that doesn't mean we can't put him back up. I probably pulled him because I thought we were good and I try to be efficient with clearing space there, because there's so much in testing.

[Karat]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

I mean, that doesn't mean we can't put him back up. I probably pulled him because I thought we were good and I try to be efficient with clearing space there, because there's so much in testing.

Not really what I was referring to. More just that it was specifically stated prior to it actually being decided. Kinda gives false appearances. Not really worried, I just notice inconsistencies and tend to frown at them

[MrNobody]

Would everyone like me to run those suggested tests?

[quozl]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Would everyone like me to run those suggested tests?

Sure! (proposal withdrawn until further testing)

[johnny139]

To be fair on my part - I voted Nay on moving forward with the current draft like a month ago and forgot about it after that point. I suppose I could have put forward a counter-proposal but I feel like I've been fairly vocal about my preference here - clarify the Spy wording, drop his points, further tweaks if that's insufficient.

I honestly think if our goal is create a refreshed Zod that's a more draftable generalist Kryptonian leader this version isn't going to cut it. This is going to be a Zod that works well with the Soldiers and Spies at the expense of his third bullet point. I think people will draft Zod over Luthor as often as they draft Professor X for his "take a turn with any Unique Hero" wording.

[Yodaking]

No, not really. Just personally would rather see a Zod army take on similar power level foes as his thematic adversaries, so it doesn't really need to be JL armies but rather any army featuring 250-450 point units. I would be disappointed if someone sent a Zod army vs. street thugs and under 200 point crime lords or a bunch of ~100 point Rouges. The auto-wounding power needs to be used when facing someone who is hard to wound by attacking them directly. If the normal attack is more likely to result in a wound, the auto-wounding isn't going to be tested.

[Lazy Orang]

A simple point drop wouldn't be enough to make me like the guy. I've played him before with the Soldier change, and liked it a lot, but if johnny wants to propose a different method of boosting that option which still keeps him viable as a general Kryptonian leader (odd thought, but maybe replace the single Kryptonian option and the double Soldier option with a turn with any two Kryptonians, one of whom must be a Soldier?), I'd be open to suggestions.

[MrNobody]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: General Zod Re-Evaluation

Army Test
Map: Ticallan Tower (ARV Map) (No Glyphs)
Units: Team 1 (1,200): General Zod (400), Kryptonian Soldier x4 (800)
Team 2 (1,200): Star-Lord (250), Drax II (350), Adam Warlock (400), Mantis (200)

Note: Kryptonian Soldiers will be referred to as KS1-KS4

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T2 wins initiative
-Adam gives KS1 a wound
-KS2 gives Quill 2 wounds
-KS1 kills Star-Lord, who whiffed on defense
-Adam gives KS1 2 wounds
-The soul of Star-Lord kills KS1
-KS2 gives Adam 2 wounds

Round 2: T2 wins initiative
-Adam heals a wound
-Adam gives KS2 2 wounds
-Adam gives KS2 1 wound
-The soul of Quill kills KS2
-KS3 gives Adam a wound
-KS3 gives Adam 2 wounds

Round 3: T2 wins initiative
-Adam heals a wound
-KS3 kills Adam
-Drax gives KS4 a wound
-KS3 picks up the Soul Gem
-KS4 gives Drax a wound
-Drax kills KS4

Round 4: T2 wins initiative
-Drax kills a full health KS3
-Zod gives Drax a wound

Round 5: T2 wins initiative
-Drax gives Zod 3 wounds
-Zod gives Drax 2 wounds

Round 6: T1 wins initiative
-Drax gives Zod a wound
-Zod gives Drax a wound
-Drax kills Zod


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Drax (5/6 wounds), Mantis (0/5 wounds)

T1 had the good luck of downing Star-Lord almost immediately before his allies could react, but T2 won 5/6 initiative rolls, even the ones that Adam wasn’t around for. Overall the Soldier combo feels very effective but not overpowered with Zod at 400.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Ticallan Tower (ARV Map) (No Glyphs
Units: Team 1 (1,200): Zod (400), Ursa (230), Kryptonian Infiltrator (320), Professor Zoom (250)
Team 2 (1,200): Martian Manhunter II (420), Superman II (450), Aquaman (330)

Note: Infiltrators will be referred to as KI1 and KI2

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T1 wins initiative
-Aquaman uses his SA to gives Zoom 3 wounds

Round 2: T2 wins initiative
-KI2 infiltrates next to Supes and MM
-Supes gives KI2 3 wounds
-Supes kills KI2
-Ursa gives Supes and herself a wound each

Round 3: T2 wins initiative
-MM gives Ursa 2 wounds
-Superman kills Ursa

Round 4: T2 wins initiative
-KI1 infiltrates next to Supes and MM
-Supes gives KI1 3 wounds
-KI1 gives Supes 2 wounds
-Supes kills KI1
-Supes kills Zoom

Round 5: T1 wins initiative
-Zod gives Aquaman 2 wounds
-Supes gives Zod a wound
-Zod gives Supes a wound
-Supes gives Zod 4 wounds
-Zod gives Supes 3 wounds
-Supes kills Zod



Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Martian Manhunter (0/7 wounds), Superman (7/8 wounds), Aquaman (2/5 wounds)

The all-spy army certainly isn’t as effective as the soldier army, at least against these big bruisers. Superman could kill the KIs and even Ursa before they could do too much damage.

___________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: I feel like I played these game against the wrong armies a little bit. The spies probably would’ve fared slightly better against the Guardians, and the soldiers could’ve stood up to the JL a bit more. Still, I feel fairly comfortable in saying that neither option feels overpowered. I can see moving forward anywhere from 400-380.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Zod still isn’t going to be an A+ unit but these changes make the faction much more viable and, more importantly, fun.

Here you go, gang! Just a stray thought, but this new improved faction seems like it would be an absolute blast to play with Zatanna II, just considering how often they want to be rolling those blanks.

[Yodaking]

Thanks for running those Nobody! Two loses at 400 is a bit concerning there. I was concerned the spy power wouldn't stack up compared to the soldier one, even when trying to focus in on it. It doesn't look like the unblockables were very effective. It is difficult to maximize, getting two spies next to 1 figure or one spy next to 2 figures and then rolling a skull on both dice isn't going to happen often. Maybe that effect should be juiced up some to balance it as an option with the 2 soldiers and bring him closer to 400 on average.

[quozl]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

one spy next to 2 figures

FYI, this only allows 1 attack roll, not 2.

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by quozl

FYI, this only allows 1 attack roll, not 2.

Yep, you roll once for each Spy that has an eligible target is my understanding, not once for each figure adjacent to each Spy.

[MrNobody]

Yeah I tried 1 unblockable roll and got a shield. Just hard to keep them alive while next to Superman or MM.