The Book of The Chief

[quozl]

Originally Posted by Lord Pyre

I think simpler is better in this case. That's complicating things just for the sake of complicating things. The SP is great here. Quozl's isn't bad too, but it lets you take a turn with 3 heroes per turn? Seems a bit much.

Only once per round and if you do, you can't do the manipulation.

[MrNobody]

Oay, I'm going to update with this version;

NAME = THE CHIEF
SECRET IDENTITY = NILES CAULDER
SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = SCIENTIST
PERSONALITY = TROUBLED

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 4

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 4
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 2
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = ???

PATROL LEADER
After revealing a numbered Order Marker on this card, instead of taking a turn with The Chief, you may take a turn with up to two different Troubled Unique Heroes you control or one Unique Hero you control. The Chief cannot be one of the Unique Heroes. Any Unique Hero that is taking a turn instead of The Chief must be within 10 spaces of The Chief before moving.

EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION
Immediately after revealing a numbered Order Marker on this card, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on the card of a Unique Hero you control. While there is a revealed “X” Order Marker on that figure's card, it adds 1 to its attack and subtracts 1 from its defense. For the rest of the round, The Chief's personality is Manipulative, regardless of what is listed on this card.

GENIUS ESCAPE
When The Chief rolls defense dice against an opponent's normal attack, if at least 2 shields are rolled, The Chief takes no damage and may immediately move up to 2 spaces. If at least 2 skulls are rolled and the attacking figure is within 5 clear sight spaces of The Chief, it receives 1 wound. When moving with Genius Escape, The Chief will not take any leaving engagement attacks.

And call a VOTE for Initial Playtesting.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

yea

[tcglkn]

Yea

[IAmBatman]

yea!

[Karat]

Yea

[johnny139]

Yea

[MrNobody]

This passes!

[MrNobody]

Army Test
Map: City Park
Units: Team 1 (750): Doom Patrol
Team 2 (750): Optimus Prime (410), Bumblebee (200), Joker (140)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: T1 wins initiative
-Chief manipulates Rita
-Rita gives Prime a wound
-Cliff gives Prime 3 wounds
-Bumblebee gives Cliff a wound
-Bumblebee takes a LEA from Cliff
-Negative Spirit gives Prime, Bee, and Joker 1 wound each
-Joker takes control of Elasti-Girl, who gives Chief 2 wounds before taking a wound herself from the Venom
-Joker kills Robotman
-Robotman repairs 2 wounds

Round 2: T2 wins initative
-Prime kills Chief
-T1 loses a whole round of turns from having OMs on Chief
-Bee gives Elasti-Girl a wound

Round 3: T2 wins initiative
-Prime gives Elasti-Girl a wound
-Negative Spirit gives Joker and Prime 1 wound each
-Bee takes a LEA
-Bee gives Neg Man 2 wounds
-Neg Spirit gives Joker and Prime 1 wound each
-Joker gives Rita a wound

Round 4: T1 wins initiative
-Neg Spirit kills Prime
-Bee kills Neg Man
-Bee kills Elasti-Girl


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Bumblebee (3/5 wounds), Joker (3/6 wounds)

Chief…probably was a bit too fragile. He has to be close enough to activate his allies, but that makes him pretty weak to a Bumblebee enhanced shot from Optimus Prime.

Other than the fragility, Chief played about right. For that one glorious round, the DP felt like an actual faction! Before, it felt a bit cumbersome to try to have the OMs on the right figures at the right time, but now they play like a real strike force. Negative Man especially feels devastating now, when he can pop off 2-3 unblockables on the same turn as a big attack from Rita or Cliff.

So 1 game in, and Chief died R2T1...he currently feels extremely fragile. Some ideas I had for solutions;
A) Lower him to 3 Defense and make the Genius Escape effects trigger off of 1 Skull/Shield
B) Raise him to 5 Defense.
C)Remove the 10 space limit on Patrol Leader, essentially letting him be a SZ sitter.

Other than that, really hype about this faction is feeling with a leader! They're faaaaast, but I think "strike force" is a solid identity for the Patrol.

[johnny139]

I'd be fine with any of those tweaks. Other than the fragility, did it feel right having him in the mix, near the front lines?

[MrNobody]

Originally Posted by johnny139

I'd be fine with any of those tweaks. Other than the fragility, did it feel right having him in the mix, near the front lines?

Eh...thematically he's not usually a front-line dude. Some interpretations (the Batman: BATB cartoon comes to mind) have gone with more of a "battle chair" approach with force fields and machine guns built in and stuff, but I'd hardly say that's iconic.

I'm just partially worried about what having 2 duded who just like to sit around (cause Negative Man is a sitter as well, especially on smaller maps when the enemy is nearby) might do to the faction. Maybe I can try the second game with no range on Patrol Leader and see if it makes them feel worse off.

[Tornado]

I would try that first. How does he usually survive? By staying out of the fight?