The Book of Blackhawk Squadron

[Yodaking]

Those bottom ones look kinda dark to me. Sun go away on you before you could finish?

[tcglkn]

They look darker until I increase the size of the image but it looks like something I could work with. There isn't a lot of black, which means I can brighten it and it will still be blue which is important.

[Ronin]

I just haven't figured out the sweet spot in the lightbox. The sun can kick rocks.

(I can also retake if need be)

[tcglkn]

The first ones in that post are the best, but I think they are all useable as I mentioned. Just keep doing what you did for that figure.

[Lord Pyre]

I'm trying to reread this SA and just want to be sure. You're rolling 5 dice ONCE. And you can essentially have up to 3 "fire lines" from Blackhawks as long as there's a figure on the other side of the line. But even if you have 3 lines, affected figures all defend against that first single 5 dice roll.

Correct?

[tcglkn]

That's how I played it.

[Lord Pyre]

[quote]C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: Blackhawk Squadron


Army Test
Summary: Oh these guys are awesome. I think they would have had a better chance, but the FF was rolling some really hot defense against all the special attacks. But so far I think they’re super fun. It’s cool to try to set up big Special Attacks, even if I couldn’t ever quite get it to do anything.
Map: Custom
Units: Blackhawks (160), Graviton, Archangel, Foot Clan, Bob Agent of Hydra (1000)
Vs.

Fan Four

Spoiler Alert!

Recap: The Movement was super useful getting everyone forward, but the FF was rolling 18+ that round, and Johnny shot Graviton for 4 wounds right off the bat. Grav stops Thing from moving, but Reed engages Archangle, stopping him from moving and dealing 3 wounds! Grav throws Johnny outside of Sue’s aura, and the Blackhawks grab height and all shoot Johnny with normal attacks, finishing him in one turn! Blackhawks move Archangel, who deals a wound to both Thing and Sue! They set up an Airstrike hitting both Sue and Ben but it misses. Sue and Reed kill two pilots. Grav throws Reed twice, leaving him with 4 wounds, but Ben smashes Grav. Ben quickly kills the last Blackhawk. It’s a super quick slaughter after that. They weren’t able to finish Reed.

Damage Dealt: 4 wounds to Johnny, killing him.

Movement: Used constantly.

Airstrike SA: Used once to attack just Reed, but missed. Attacked Sue and Ben but was blocked. Used to hit Reed Sue and Ben but is blocked.

Retreat: Not used.



Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Reed with 4 wounds Ben with 1 wound, and Sue with 3 wounds.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Summary: The Blackhawks were the main offensive force, only trying to set up airstrikes, with Jocasta protecting them, and the Sports car for autowounds. The Car was a total bust, but the airstrike actually worked well here. The Blackhawks won because of Luke’s bad defense rolls, but they’re extremely useful with their movement bonding. Lady B risked a few LEAs to help set up Airstrikes, and it was very much worth it.
Map: Custom
Units: Blackhawks (160), Lady Blackhawk, Sports Car, Atom, Jocasta (600)

Vs:

Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jewel (600)

Spoiler Alert!

Recap: Lady B flies forward in her car, but misses a hit and run. Jewel flies forward and immediately blows up the car. The Blackhawks miss a big Airstrike. Luke attacks Lady B, but Jocasts takes it and deals one to Luke. The Blackhawks set up another Airstrike, hitting all three of the Fighters! It deals tons of wounds this time! Iron Fist jumps over to get height on Jocasta and easily kills her. Blackhawks set up another big Airstrike, Iron Fist and Luke kill 2 Blackhawks. The last Blackhawk and Lady B set up one last airstrike, dealing a couple more wounds! Lady B jumps on height and kills Iron Fist! On the round turn she grabs height and kills Jewel too! But Luke finishes her shortly after. The last Blackhawk pings Luke for a wound, then Luke misses his attack! THEN LUKE WHIFFS DEFENSE!

Damage Dealt: Luke 5 wounds. Iron Fist 3 wounds. Jewel 4 wounds. (All with Airstrike)

Movement: Used constantly.

Airstrike: Used to hit both Luke and Jewel, but is blocked. Used to deal 2 wounds to Iron Fist, 1 wound to Jewel, and 3 wounds to Luke Cage (He whiffed!) Targets all three for 3 skulls, and deals 2 wounds to Jewel. Used to deal 1 wound to Jewel and 1 wound to Iron Fist.

Retreat: Used once to set up an airstrike.




Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): One Blackhawk remaining!

___________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: They feel good at 160. Definitely draftable and I think they’ll be competitively viable. Lots of options in a cool package.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT:
I love these guys. Super useful for initial movement, and a killer SA. It’s a bit difficult to set it up just right, but it’s very satisfying when you do. The Foot Clan which I thought would be useful were actually dead weight. I would rather pair them with tougher Unique Heroes (And protectors like Superboy or Jocasta) to maximize the movement and attack power.

[Tornado]

Cool. Looks like Jewel hit the gas tank on the Sports Car.

[tcglkn]

Glad you had a similar experience to me. I am still convinced a better player than me could take better advantage of them, but that's probably just true of most designs.

[IAmBatman]

An official MattHelm test could probably finish this one right off.

[MrNobody]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: Blackhawk Squadron

Army Test 1
Map: Modified Grundy’s Grave
Units: Team 1 (800):Blackhawk Squadron (160), Red Tornado (300), Puck (230), Oracle (110)
Team 2 (800): Wrecking Crew (800)

Pre-game thoughts: The plan is to use Red Tornado and Puck to knock the crew into a good position for the Blackhawks to bomb.

Summary of the game:

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T1 wins initiative
-Piledriver inflicts a wound on Tornado
-Thunderball inflicts a wound on Tornado
-Tornado inflicts 4 wounds on Thunderball with help from Oracle

Round 2: T1 wins initiative
-Wrecker inflicts 3 wounds on Puck
-The Blackhawks call in a bombing run, inflicting a wound on Piledriver and a wound on Thunderball
-Tornado inflicts 3 wounds on Wrecker with help from Oracle
-Wrecker inflicts a wound on Tornado
-Piledriver takes out Puck

Round 3: T1 wins initiative
-Tornado inflicts 2 wounds on Wrecker with help from Oracle
-The Blackhawks call in a bombing run, taking out Wrecker and Thunderball, inflicting 2 wounds on Piledriver and 1 wound on Bulldozer
-T2 had OM2 on Wrecker, so they lose a turn
-The Blackhawks call in another bombing run, inflicting 1 wound on Piledriver and 2 wounds on Bulldozer
-Bulldozer inflicts 2 wounds on Tornado

Round 4: T1 wins initiative
-Tornado inflicts a wound on Piledriver with Oracle’s help
-Bulldozer takes out Tornado
-Piledriver takes out a Blackhawk
-Blackhawks call in a bombing run to take out Piledriver
-Bulldozer takes out a Blackhawk

Round 5: T2 wins initiative
-The last Blackhawk inflicts 2 wounds on Bulldozer with Oracle’s help
-Bulldozer takes out the last Blackhawk
-Oracle takes out Bulldozer


Special power usages:
Normal attack: 2 wounds inflicted (2 on Bulldozer)
Coordinated Tactical Movement: 6 non-Blackhawk movements
Airstrike Spotter Special Attack: 11 wounds inflicted (5 on Piledriver, 2 on Thunderball, 1 on Wrecker, 3 on Bulldozer)
Strategic Retreat: 0 LEAs avoided

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Oracle (0/4 wounds)

Post-game thoughts: Pretty close game! Being able to knock the Wrecking Crew around with Red Tornado felt equal parts fun and powerful, and I was even able to bomb the entire Crew a few times. The unengaged requirement felt like a solid limiter, however.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test 2
Map: Modified Grundy’s Grave
Units: Team 1 (990): Blackhawk Squadron (160), Carnage II (350), Shriek (150), Demogoblin (200), Clayface (Payne) (130)
Team 2 (990): Professor X (220), Jean Grey (180), Molly Hayes (180), Beast (170), Iceman (150), Angel (90)

Pre-game thoughts: The Carnage Family is a newer faction that seems like it would really like the movement options that the Blackhawks provide. Demogoblin is still technically in editing, but his wounding power should work excellently with the free movement as well.

Summary of the game:

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T2 wins initiative
-Carnage and Shriek begin their “date night” by running forward
-Beast inflicts a wound on Carnage and 2 wounds on Demogoblin
-Demogoblin inflicts a wound on Beast
-Molly inflicts 3 wounds on Carnage
-Carnage inflicts a wound on Beast

Round 2: T2 wins initiative
-Beast inflicts 2 wounds on Shriek and a wound on Carnage
-Molly inflicts a wound on Carnage
-Blackhawks call in a bombing run, inflicting 3 wounds on Molly
-Beast inflicts a wound on Shriek
-Carnage takes out Beast
-Shriek takes out Molly
-Jean takes out Shriek
-A Blackhawk inflicts a wound on Jean

Round 3: T1 wins initiative
-Blackhawks call in a bombing run, inflicting 3 wounds on Angel and a wound on Jean
-Jean inflicts 2 wounds on Carnage
-Jean takes out Carnage
-Iceman takes out a Blackhawk

Round 4: T1 wins initiative
-Demogoblin takes out Angel
-A Blackhawk inflicts a wound on Jean
-Jean inflicts 2 wounds on Demogoblin
-Demogoblin takes Jean out
-Iceman takes out Demogoblin

Round 5: T2 wins initiative
-Iceman inflicts a wound on Clayface and removes OM3 from his card
-Clayface inflicts a wound on Iceman, healing himself
-Iceman inflicts a wound on Clayface
-Iceman takes out Clayface

Round 6: T1 wins initiative
-Iceman takes out the last 2 Blackhawks


Special power usages:
Normal attack: 2 wounds inflicted (2 on Jean)
Coordinated Tactical Movement: 7 non-Blackhawk movements
Airstrike Spotter Special Attack: 7 wounds inflicted (3 on Molly, 3 on Angel, 1 on Jean)
Strategic Retreat: 0 LEAs avoided

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Iceman (1/4 wounds), Professor X (0/4 wounds)

Post-game thoughts: A loss, but the Blackhawks did earn back their points here in my book. It really felt like the Carnage half of the army was the weak link here.

___________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: They’re a ton of fun. Absolutely dig the design.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Maybe a slight bump in points? They go down quick once they’re targeted, but the utility they offer before they do that is pretty excellent.

Here you go! Really like these guys.

[tcglkn]

I think they're pretty good as is. Honestly a Unique squad is a hard sell to draft so I don't mind them being a little on the good side. They get worse quickly when you pick one of them off.