The Book of Livewire (Amanda McKee)

[Karat]

Yea, I'm cool with 6-8 spaces, as long as you have to actually get close before SZ sniping. Though at that point you have to consider figures like Hawkeye II as her best pairings. Someone who can move her up and take a turn with her while also activating Unit-Y Command.

I think we mostly got caught up in the Unit-Y Command discussion and didn't really look further. I know I did.

[LordVenoc]

After time, we are at 3 yeas and 1 nay (which may or may not be swapped now that the range limit is in place). Given I won't be able to touch an initial till at least Friday, I'm fine leaving this open.

Originally Posted by Karat

Yea, I'm cool with 6-8 spaces, as long as you have to actually get close before SZ sniping. Though at that point you have to consider figures like Hawkeye II as her best pairings. Someone who can move her up and take a turn with her while also activating Unit-Y Command.

I think we mostly got caught up in the Unit-Y Command discussion and didn't really look further. I know I did.

I believe the no additional turns clause closes that combo off. I'm hoping to get her as an interesting generalist leader for those days you don't want to take Star Lord again, so I'll see how she plays out. It looks as though Apollo and Martian Manhunter I will be strong contenders for her, unless people see other potent combos.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Personally the no limits on the SA didn’t really bother me since it requires your opponent to have specific figures (that have far more crippling counter drafts already) and it’s only an attack of four. There aren’t really that many Android/Cyborg figures with long enough range to make it really unavoidable anyway IIRC.

But I’m fine with a range limit if people want it.

[Karat]

Oh and I'm a Yea now.

[japes]

You seemed to have addressed my concern so yea to testing

[johnny139]

Yeah, infinite range isn't really a problem for me, but I don't mind a cap. On most maps you're only getting 2-3 "free" attacks anyways, and since they're only 4 dice each, there's probably more efficient uses of your time.

[Lord Pyre]

Abstain

Sorry I haven't been following this one yet. Once I catch up I'll change this vote, but don't let me hold you up.

[LordVenoc]

Now, after much delay...

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM
NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Livewire
Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Livewire (@225), Cable, Domino, Deadpool (1010 points) vs. Fantastic Four, Skrull Infiltrator (1010 points)
Unit Summary
Damage: 2 wounds on Thing
Abilities: Unit-Y Command:
Ability 1 used 1 times. Ability 2 used 1 times. Ability 3 used 1 times.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Mercs get some quick shots, as Cable and Domino are able to put two wounds on Mr Fantastic. This is thanks to Livewire moving them out quick and some Unit-Y support allowing a Domino attack.
Round 2 – Deadpool runs after Invisible Woman, getting two wounds on her in the process. Professor X rolls a 2, for a not so helpful turn. Deadpool then locks Invisible Woman down thanks to Livewire, however she botches the defense roll against 4 skulls. The Fantastic 4 respond in kind, with Thing one-shotting Domino and Deadpool being knocked down to 1 wound left from Human Torch. Cable picks off Mr F, but he had locked down Deadpool, preventing the Livewire support attack.
Round 3 – Fantastic Two get the crucial initiative, allowing Torch to Flame Deadpool to death. Cable responds with some strong shots, but can’t quite put Torch down (1 life remaining). Thing is able to waltz up and smash Cable to his death.
Round 4 – Livewire and Thing trade wounds, 2 a piece.
Round 5 – Livewire whiffs, dying.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Fantastic Four win. Thing 4 wounds, Skrull still standing.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Livewire (@220), Ra’s Al Ghul I, Kirigi, Scorpion (Hanzo), Cyrax , Skrull Infiltrator (1040 points) vs. Nightwing, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Superboy (1040 points)
Unit Summary
Damage: 1 wound dealt.
Abilities: Unit-Y Command (CHANGES MADE HERE):
Ability 1 used 1 times. Ability 2 used 2 times. Ability 3 used 3 times.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Things advance, and the Titans whiff three attacks on Kirigi who had failed to wound Superboy. Livewire advances the team.
Round 2 – A chain throw happens thanks to Livewire, as Kirigi yanks Starfire forward, and Scorpion snatches her further back for a wound, while Cyrax drops a bomb among the Titans. Scorpion takes three wounds from the Titans retaliation. Cyrax goes for a double lock-down on remaining OM holders, netting Starfire and locking down Cyborg by his newly placed bomb (first already detonated) thanks to Livewire. He wounds Cyborg for three and locks him in place. Star fails to hurt Scorpion. Ra’s takes a calculated risk, placing the Lazarus pit by Scorpion. He scores the Second demon’s head roll, allowing Scorpion to heal, wound self and Starfire, and go for the attack. Starfire whiffs against his second attack, ending her life. The Cyber Bomb blows, killing Cyborg before he can move.
Round 3 – Titans get initiative. Titans are only able to go enough to hit Cyrax for 1. A 3 move ninja turn causes Raven to be yanked away from her Titan allies, allowing Cyrax to drop a bomb and net Superboy. Livewire moves up and locks Superboy back down after he wounded Cyrax. Raven puts Scorpion up to 1 remaining life. Ra’s takes the opportunity, as Cyrax takes and gives two wounds, killing himself and Nightwing, and blowing up Superboy for a wound as well (Kirigi also wounded). Kirigi runs up on the second Demon’s head roll, wounding and finishing off Superboy. No target is there for Kirigi.
Round 4 – Raven kills Scorpion, then fails to hurt Ra’s. Kirigi pulls Raven back (this is when I realized his Shogi can be used twice). Ra’s double rolls to suicide Kirigi for 4 wounds on Raven.
Round 5 – Raven hides behind a wall and passes a wound. Livewire and Ra’s however, hunt her down.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? The Demon’s Unit wins. 1 wound on Ra’s. 0 wounds on Livewire. Skrull unused.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Livewire (@220), Captain Marvel (Carol), Bronze Tiger, Starman (970 Points) vs Iron Man MKI-V (970 Points)
Unit Summary
Damage: 4 wound dealt with normal, 4 with special.
Abilities: Unit-Y Command:
Ability 1 used 1 times. Ability 2 used 1 times. Ability 3 used 1 times.
4 wound dealt with Technopathic control, 3 attacks total.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Team advances. Iron Men are too strong, as Captain Marvel is quickly taken off the map thanks to an early whiff from Carol, even with a Livewire bonded turn allowing Bronze Tiger manages to wound the lead Stark though.
Round 2 – Bronze Tiger goes first and locks down lead Stark. Lead Stark isn’t feeling so good against that counterstrike, so he gives up his turn and brings a new armor forward, which blasts the tiger off the map. Starman goes down by rounds end, but Livewire’s Electrostatic defense makes her borderline impenetrable at range to these robots.
Round 3 – Livewire kicks off the round by forcing a bot to punch Lead Stark in the face for a wound. Livewire takes 2 from Lead Stark, then disengages from an Iron Bot to blast Lead Stark off the map, leaving her solely against robots. Livewire then flies over and the attacked suit whiffs his defense AND circuitry reroute to go down.
Round 4 – Livewire is flying around more, having MKI punch MKII for a wound. Livewire repeats her previous as MKIV tries to catch her. MKIV punches her for 1 wound (or 0, if blanks should have counted here). MKII throws her in the water.
Round 5 – Robots get the initative and MKIV punches out Livewire (this is a kill regardless of the previous wound, as she’s taking at least 2 here, with or without blanks).

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Iron Men win. 3 wounds on MKII, 0 on MKIV, MKI unused.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Livewire (@220), Peter Stanchek, Eternal Warrior (810 Points) vs Nightwing, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Skrull (810 Points)
Unit Summary
Damage: 1 wound dealt with normal, 0 with special.
Abilities: Unit-Y Command:
Ability 1 used 2 times. Ability 2 used 2 times. Ability 3 used 1 times.
0 wound dealt with Technopathic control, 2 attacks total.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Team advances. Livewire tries for a quick wound on Nightwing through Cyborg, but it fails. Pete gets three wounds on Starfire, and then Telepathic Command allows Livewire to finish her off. The early loss of Star shows, as Titans fail to hurt anyone, as Pete blocks the last shot from the Titans. (skrull dropped this round to engage Pete)
Round 2 – Titans take initiative and manage to kill Gilad. Peter Sting Screams, but only manages to wound Nightwing for 1. He locks Raven in place following a failed Telepathic Command. Cyborg fails to wound, but Livewire commands him to go after Nightwing, who very much blocks. Raven tries to attack, but Nightwing blocks it, setting up Gilad for his resurrection. (Played it that he doesn’t immediately get his move when resurrected). Pete hits Cyborg for 3 and Livewire adds 1 after a successful disengage.
Round 3 – Team Valiant takes the initiative. Gilad takes a swipe from Raven to get into position to swap with Pete. Pete fails to wound Nightwing, but Livewire gives a strike to the mobile Eternal Warrior, finishing off Cyborg. Titans Go! manages to only wound Pete for 1. Livewire’s turn sees Pete and Gilad swap, putting Pete back on the high ground. Livewire kills the Skrull and locks Nightwing. Raven takes a wound and tries to hurt Pete, but fails when Pete blocks. Pete hurts her, but fails his Command. Raven passes a wound to Pete. Gilad repositions Pete as they go for a 1-2 punch on Raven. 5 skulls rolled each, but the power of magic keeps her going as she passes a wound to take out Pete. The two on a Titans Go! are able to drop Livewire.
Round 4 – Thanks to winning initiative, Gilad drops Raven off the map. Then we have a race to whiff first, as eventually Nightwing fails to roll shields on a 6 skull roll.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Valiant wins. Gilad, 1 life remaining.

_____________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: She’s a very interesting unit. She comes with good potential, but the abilities are surprisingly hard to do as much as you might expect. I don’t know that allowing after moving before attacking abilities work as written, so I stopped allowing it after game 2. I think it’s probably okay to allow (and was actually my intent I think) but I realize the words aren’t there currently, so that’s how that was played in game 2. Game 2 is also where I decided to swap bullet 1 from turn to player turn, to open up another option or two.
GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: So far I dig her. She doesn’t have a lot of oomph, but she sure can boost up some interesting combos. She adds just enough to some factions that she’s a fun add on, but doesn’t feel like she adds enough that she becomes a definite draft over a different faction piece. She definitely feels like a fun alternate to a general big guns army for her lower cost, but I’d likely wait to see how other testers feel.

Some proposed changes to follow...

[LordVenoc]

So this is essentially how I played Unit-Y command post Game 1.

After taking a turn with a Unique Hero you control, if you revealed a numbered Order Marker on that Hero's card this turn, you may:

• choose another Unique Hero you control that has moved but not attacked this player turn, you may attack with the chosen Hero.
  
• choose a figure adjacent to that Hero. Until you reveal your next Order Marker, the chosen figure cannot move.
  
• choose two other figures you control that began this player turn within 4 spaces of that Hero. If that Hero did not attack during their turn, you may move the chosen figures.

You may choose one option per turn, and each option can only be chosen once per round. After using Unit-Y Command, you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control.

I'd be interested in making bullet 3 something like:

choose two other figures you control that began this player turn within 4 spaces of that Hero. If that Hero did not attack during their turn, you may take a turn with the chosen figures. During these turns, the chosen figures may not attack.

As it keeps it an interesting option throughout the game. Additionally, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a faction that both has movement bonding and after moving abilities in excess. This also helps the intended direction for Secret Weapons, but again, if this is too broken, we can go back to what we had.

EDIT: I do intend to run a more themey Unity game when I return from the Holiday on Friday. Not so much about the points, but more about making sure the team feels right.

[Tornado]

Christmas testing?

[LordVenoc]

Alright, I propose we move to public playtesting with the following change to Unit-Y Command:

After taking a turn with a Unique Hero you control, if you revealed a numbered Order Marker on that Hero's card this turn, you may:

• choose another Unique Hero you control that has moved but not attacked this player turn, you may attack with the chosen Hero.
  
• choose a figure adjacent to that Hero. Until you reveal your next Order Marker, the chosen figure cannot move.
  
• choose two other figures you control that began this player turn within 4 spaces of that Hero. If that Hero did not attack during their turn, you may take a turn with the chosen figures. During these turns, the chosen figures may not attack.

You may choose one option per turn, and each option can only be chosen once per round. After using Unit-Y Command, you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Yea