The Book of Viper

[Yodaking]

Human & Mutant Assassins: Boomerang, Bullseye, Elektra, Lady Shiva, Merlyn, Talia al Ghul, Tamoe Gozan, Ubu, Winter Soldier, X-23

Non H & M Assassins: Gamora, Lady Deathstrike (Cyborg),

Human & Mutant Mercs: Batroc, Deadpool, Diamondback, Omega Red, Silver Samurai, Titanium Man

Non H & M Mercs: Deathstroke (Metahuman)

Any Serpent Squad/Society members not either a human or mutant? Mutate maybe?

[japes]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

Human & Mutant Assassins: Boomerang, Bullseye, Elektra, Lady Shiva, Merlyn, Talia al Ghul, Tamoe Gozan, Ubu, Winter Soldier, X-23

Non H & M Assassins: Gamora, Lady Deathstrike (Cyborg),

Human & Mutant Mercs: Batroc, Deadpool, Diamondback, Omega Red, Silver Samurai, Titanium Man

Non H & M Mercs: Deathstroke (Metahuman)

Any Serpent Squad/Society members not either a human or mutant? Mutate maybe?

Lots of Mutates.

[Yodaking]

Been thinking about the adding mercs to the defense bonus idea and I don't think it would be a good one. It would make mercs the go to bonding option over assassins since the assassin does not get the defense bonus. I know I don't want to add assassin to the defense bonus section as that would make 4 and that is too much. I also like having the two different powers link to two different classes, giving you a reason to mix and match two or three of the four different classes for different reasons and getting different benefits. Should make for some fun and interesting combos. I know Deadpool is a popular character but several of the other mercs are also really good options IMO and the X marker overlap actually hurts that specific combo a little bit.

As for the mutant/mutate/human limitation on the bonding I'm okay with that if everyone else is. If you all feel it is too clunky or not worth the effort then I'm also willing to try testing it with Gamora as an option and seeing how it goes.

[Yodaking]

Updated the SP with this:

NAME = VIPER
SECRET IDENTITY = OPHELIA SARKISSIAN

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = TERRORIST
PERSONALITY = RUTHLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 7
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 170?

TACTICAL MIND
When rolling for initiative, if there is at least 1 Order Marker on this card, add 1 to your roll for each Unique Hero you control up to a maximum of +5. If you win initiative, Viper and all Terrorist and Criminal figures you control within 3 clear sight spaces of Viper add 1 to their defense dice for the remainder of the round.

UNDERWORLD CONTRACT
At the start of the game, you many choose any one Mercenary or Assassin unique hero you control. After revealing an Order Marker on this card and taking a turn with Viper, you may immediately take a turn with the chosen figure. If you do, do not take any other turns with figures you control.

POISONED STRIKE
After Viper attacks an adjacent Unique Hero with her normal attack, if she rolled one or more skulls on that attack, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card and deal one wound to that figure. Androids, Constructs, and Undead are not affected by Poisoned Strike.

Only other thing I have been considering but I'm not fully sold on yet is the human/mutant/mutate bonding limitation. So it would read like this:

UNDERWORLD CONTRACT
At the start of the game, you many choose any one Mercenary or Assassin unique hero you control, that is a human, mutant, or mutate. After revealing an Order Marker on this card and taking a turn with Viper, you may immediately take a turn with the chosen figure. If you do, do not take any other turns with figures you control.

It doesn't look/sound as bad as I was thinking it might but I'm still not sure if I'm just worrying about it (ie. Gamora driving the price or being so good that Silver Samurai & Boomerang never get drafted with her) for no reason. You can see the units it would effect/include/exclude above.

So I propose Viper for Initial PT, when you vote also vote on poll to include or exclude the human/mutant/mutate line.

Yodaking - yea
japes - yea, no limits
Tornado - yea, no limits
TrollBrute - yea
Viegon - yea, no to limits initially.
johnny139 - yea

Also @dok @Dysole @Soundwarp SG-1 any issues we should be aware of here when testing? You can also voice your opinion on the poll question.

[Viegon]

Yea. Trying her as-is makes the most sense to me, and if that turns out to be too strong, then add in the restrictions.

[japes]

YEA. My issue wasn't Gamora but actually being too limited so I'm good with going forward as is.

For the record...this was my issue...
I still think the group of terrorist getting a bonus and only one Merc/Assassin misses the point of her ironically leading a group of snake themed Mercenary/Assassins. I'm fine with the group of Criminals. The other alternative would be to make all the future Serpent's Criminals and Terrorist so she can save the bodyguard power for Silver Samurai or such but I'm not sure if class wise that would work for most of the Serpents.

If a limit is needed, instead of the species limit you could always reword it so that she gets the free turn before her Bodyguard on an OM revealed on that card instead of hers. It would keep her from just having the OM loaded up on her. Going that way may let it work with more than one per game since the free turn is always her it's easier to cost balance.

[Yodaking]

I'll have to think a bit on the bonding generating from an OM on her card or the card of her #2.

[japes]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

I'll have to think a bit on the bonding generating from an OM on her card or the card of her #2.

It's just something I remember being discussed a few years ago on balancing a similar power. Been so long I don't even remember who.

[Tornado]

Yea no limits for now.

[Yodaking]

I've been thinking on it and I think I like the idea of the OM being on the bodyguard, but I also think it makes her point cost go up rather than down. With her 4 life and 5 or 6 defense and no defensive powers, placing all your OMs on her is actually the riskier play as she can very easily get taken out with one good/poor set of dice rolls. Silver Samurai having the OM on his card would make him the target rather than her and if they attack him they are dealing with 5 or 6 defense with Counter Strike. Deadpool & Gamora are also good at taking the hits for different reasons. Just the idea that if you want to put a stop to the bonding turns by taking out the OMs being revealed, you have to take out the 'bodyguard' rather than the leader he/she is protecting is just a nice thematic fit on its own. If you choose to ignore the bodyguard and go after Viper in an effort to eliminate the def. bonus she gives, then if you succeed the bodyguard is still in play with the OMs already on their card to seek their revenge.

[johnny139]

Yea

Still would like a name change on the first power. "Lawless Tactics" or something, I dunno.

[Yodaking]

I'm open to other name ideas, although lawless tactics doesn't do much for me. What is exactly the issue with Tactical Mind? The the fact it would be hard to reuse the power but the power name seems generic enough to be reused? Any thoughts on the OM being on her card vs. her enforcers card for the bonding?