Heroes of Star Wars: Battle Tests

[Porkins]

I thought I was subscribed to this thread, so didn't realize that there were updates until mac mentioned in the other thread. Subscription...ACTIVATE.

[davidlhsl]

Battle V-03a (Star Wars vs Classic)
12/10/2011

Map: C3G Moon Base Alpha (modified; ladders and roof considered unplayable for this battle (to take the roof bonus out of play); heavy snow and regular ice in effect)

Spoiler Alert!

Team A: Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Snowtroopers x 3 (650)
Team B: Master of the Hunt, Frost Giant of Morh x 2, Ice Troll Berserker, Greater Ice Elemental (635)

Test Objectives

Spoiler Alert!

I’m ok with Battle V-03, so I’m running the Empire against the same Classic team.

Battle Report

Spoiler Alert!

Boba Fett selects Master of the Hunt for his Bounty.
Round 1
B: Frost Giant (Red) moves.
A: Darth Vader moves.
B: Ice Troll moves. Charge = 12+3 = moves again. Charge = 19+3 = moves again. Charge = 6+3 = end of movement. (Note: I had to consult the Books to see if the Ice Troll could keep rolling and moving. Yes!)
A: Boba Fett moves.
B: Master of the Hunt moves.
A: Snowtroopers take to snow and ice. One fires up at the Ice Troll. 1sk vs 3sh.

Round 2
A: Darth Vader moves.
B: Ice Troll charges down the hill towards Darth. Charge = 3+3 = move ends. He’s just one space away from engaging Darth!
A: Meat shields (Snowtroopers) engage the Ice Troll and strike with Vader’s +1 bonus. 1sk vs 2sh. 2sk vs 2sh. 1sk vs 1sh. Yikes!
B: Frost Giant moves.
A: Snowtroopers strike at Ice Troll with +1 bonus from Vader (one actually takes position behind Vader and fires). 1sk vs 0sh = 1 wound (3 left). 1sk vs 2sh. 1sk vs 1sh.
B: Ice Troll strikes a Snowtrooper in snow for +1 defense. 3sk vs 2sh = KO! (8 remaining) Cold Regenerate heals the 1 wound.

Round 3
A: Vader tries to Force Choke the Troll. D20=11=1 wound (3 left).
B: Troll moves through the hole he created in the Snowtroopers’ line to reach formation, and does not break engagement. He strikes Vader! 2sk vs 0sh = 2 wounds (2 left). Heals the Choke wound.
A: Snowtroopers in Vader’s aura strike/fire at the Ice Troll. 2sk vs 1sh = 1 wound (3 left). 1sk vs 1sh. 1sk vs 0sh = 1 wound (2 left).
B: Frost Giant moves and strikes the Snowtrooper in snow. 4sk vs 1sh = KO! (7 remaining)
A: Boba Fett uses his Fibercord Whip Special on the Ice Troll. 1sk vs 0sh = 1 wound (1 left). That removes an order marker from Ice Troll!
B: Ice Troll loses the turn!

Round 4
B: Ice Troll strikes Vader. 1sk vs 2sh. Regenerates 2 wounds (1 left), as he’s on snow.
A: As fun as Force Choke is, Darth needs to take down the Troll! So he strikes the Ice Troll with a normal attack. 4sk vs 1sh = KO!
B: Frost Giant engages Vader and strikes. 1sk vs 1sh. Frenzy = 4.
A: Boba tries his Fibercord Whip on the Frost Giant. 3sk vs 0sh = 3 wounds (3 left). Frost Giant loses an order marker.
B: Frost Giant loses the turn!
A: Snowtroopers fire at the Frost Giant, with all three in Vader’s aura. 0sk. 1sk vs 2sh. 1sk vs 2sh.

Round 5
A: Boba Fett fires his Fibercord Whip at the Frost Giant. 0sk.
B: Frost Giant strikes Vader with +2 Indomitable. 3sk vs 3sh. Frenzy = 4.
A: Boba Fett has been using his Jetpack the past couple of turns to maneuver around the battlefield. He is now on the center hill, and can fire down at the Frost Giant from range and with height bonus. 2sk vs 1sh = 1 wound (2 left).
B: Master of the Hunt fires up at Boba without needing Javelin. 2sk vs 1sh = 1 wound (4 left). Mortal Strike = 0sk.
A: Darth Force Chokes the Frost Giant. If he took down the Giant with a normal attack, he risks the Giant’s Dying Swipe. D20=4=fails!
B: The Frost Giant strikes Vader with +2. 4sk vs 1sh = KO! Frenzy = 13.

Round 6
A: Boba fires down at Master of the Hunt with +1 height and +2 Bounty bonus! 3sk vs 0sh = 3 wounds (3 left).
B: Frost Giant strikes a Snowtrooper in snow with +2. 5sk vs 0sh = KO! (6 remaining)
A: Snowtroopers attack the Frost Giant. 1sk vs 2sh. 0sk. 1sk vs 2sh.
B: Master of the Hunt climbs level with Boba Fett and fires. 1sk vs 3sh.
A: Boba Fett fires at his Bounty (MotHunt) with +2. 2sk vs 1sh = 1 wound (2 left).
B: Master of the Hunt fires back at Boba. 2sk vs 2sh.

Round 7
B: Master of the Hunt fires at Boba. 1sk vs 1sh.
A: Boba fires back at his Bounty. 1sk vs 1sh.
B: Master of the Hunt fires back. 3sk vs 0sh = 3 wounds (1 left). Mortal Strike = 3sk = 3 wounds = KO!
A: Boba loses a turn.
B: Frost Giant climbs up the ice and strikes down at the Snowtrooper in snow. 2sk vs 0sh = KO! (5 remaining).
A: Boba loses turn.

Round 8
A: Two Snowtroopers fire up at the Giant. 1sk vs 0sh = 1 wound (1 left). 1sk vs 1sh.
B: Frost Giant climbs down and strikes the Snowtrooper. 2sk vs 0sh = KO! (4 remaining)
A: Two Snowtroopers fire at the Frost Giant. 0sk. 0sk.
B: Frost Giant engages Snowtrooper in snow and strikes. 2sk vs 1sh = KO! (3 remaining)
A: Snowtroopers spread out and fire at the Giant. 1sk vs 3sh. 0sk. 1sk vs 3sh.
B: Master of the Hunt fires down at Snowtrooper in snow. 4sk vs 2sh = KO! (2 remaining)

Round 9
A: Snowtroopers fire at Giant. 0sk. 0sk.
B: Master of the Hunt moves through the ice to the far hill. Javelin = 15 = no range on opponents.
A: Snowtroopers fire at Giant. 0sk. 1sk vs 2sh.
B: Master of the Hunt moves forward and fires down at Snowtrooper. 2sk vs 1sh = KO! (1 remaining)
A: Snowtrooper fires at Giant. 1sk vs 2sh.
B: Master of the Hunt marches forward and fires. 0sk.

Round 10
A: Snowtrooper fires at Frost Giant. 0sk.
B: Master of the Hunt takes down the final Snowtrooper: 3sk vs 0sh = KO!

Survivors: Master of the Hunt (4 wounds/2 left), Frost Giant (5 wounds/1 left), Frost Giant, Greater Ice Elemental

Comments

Spoiler Alert!

Ok, I overstated the last battle, but I can’t overstate this one: this battle was a slaughter. I don’t feel luck was a factor in this battle, as both sides had both good and bad luck.

[mac122]

Great report, David. Sounds like Boba did OK, but Vader seemed to go down pretty quickly. The Snowtroopers weren't nearly as effective since they were unable to benefit from Imperial Marksmanship. I guess in a way that aspect fits thematically with the movies. None of the Imperial Troopers could take down a hero there either.

I know this is a game and not a simulation, but Vader just doesn't seem to live up to his image from the movies. I can't quite put my finger on a particular reason. I find his lack of success disturbing.

[davidlhsl]

Originally Posted by mac122

Great report, David. Sounds like Boba did OK, but Vader seemed to go down pretty quickly. The Snowtroopers weren't nearly as effective since they were unable to benefit from Imperial Marksmanship. I guess in a way that aspect fits thematically with the movies. None of the Imperial Troopers could take down a hero there either.

I know this is a game and not a simulation, but Vader just doesn't seem to live up to his image from the movies. I can't quite put my finger on a particular reason. I find his lack of success disturbing.

I keep thinking that about Darth Vader, but I keep returning to the fact that he has a Defense of 6. The Frost Giant and Master of the Hunt have a Defense of 4. Perhaps upping his Life from 4 to 5 would help, and I think you could do this without his points changing. Edit: wouldn't have helped in this battle.

But 140 points for the Frost Giant of Mohr seemed kind of low considering his ability to either have +2 move or +2 attack, plus his Dying Swipe causes me to poop in my pants when I play against the guy. And this is coming from a figure that looks as if he had one can of Burt's Beer too many! Oh, and he also has a Life of 6.

I wish I had more experience in costing.

There's also the possibility that I'm not playing him effectively. Maybe I'm relying on the Force Choke too much, though he needed to use it against the Frost Giant when Big Blue was near teetering over. Dying Swipe only applies against normal attacks.

[mac122]

Maybe it's the one attack that holds Vader back. He get's 1 normal attack or 1 Force Choke per turn. I think back to some of the lightsaber battles with Luke. He'd throw something at Luke then leap in to strike as Luke was attempting to deflect it - multi-tasking. I just wonder if there's a way we could tweak his card to make him more of an offensive force.

[Sheep]

Are you playing with him having Force Leap (as his current card does not)?

[davidlhsl]

Originally Posted by heroscaper2010

Are you playing with him having Force Leap (as his current card does not)?

Yes, since I found out about it in late Nov 2011. That wasn't a factor in his performance, though.