The Book of Darkseid (II)

[Arkham]

If we want to go that route, how about this:

COMMAND AND CONQUER
After revealing a numbered Order Marker on this card, instead of taking a turn with Darkseid, you may take a turn with up to two friendly Parademon Squads or one friendly Unique Hero. If no enemy figures are destroyed during their turns, you may inflict a wound on that Hero or those Squads to take a turn with Darkseid. You may not take any additional turns.

DARKSEID IS
An opponent may never take control of Darkseid, and if he would be destroyed in any way except by this special power, instead he takes no damage and you must roll 1 combat die. If you roll a:
• skull, inflict a wound on another figure;
• shield, inflict a wound on Darkseid; or
• blank, remove a wound from this card.

OMEGA EFFECT X
At the end of the round, reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card to roll 4 combat dice. Choose up to X figures or empty spaces within 4 spaces of Darkseid. X equals the number of skulls rolled. Place a Wound Marker or previously removed marker on a chosen figure's card, or place a destroyed Common Parademon in your army on a chosen space.

[IAmBatman]

I like it. Should the part where you inflict a wound with Darkseid Is be unbound by range, though? That's the only thing I would question. I dig the Parademon boost. I'm going to attempt something similar with Steppenwolf, but the two will not step on each other.

[Arkham]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

I like it. Should the part where you inflict a wound with Darkseid Is be unbound by range, though? That's the only thing I would question. I dig the Parademon boost. I'm going to attempt something similar with Steppenwolf, but the two will not step on each other.

Fwiw, Balder's Frigga's Magic Blessing wound is only limited by clear sight, not any range, so I don't think it's crazy to let Darkseid do essentially the same, just without the clear sight. It's Darkseid after all. Once he's in battle, which is when it'd trigger, it's gonna be a bit moot I'd imagine.

The change was to cut the fat to stay at 6.6 with the Parademon additions, just for clarity. Before the changes each bullet took 2 lines, after the cutting they take 1 each.

[IAmBatman]

If it doesn't seem problematic in testing, it's OK. Just something to watch. I'm recalling Yodaking's recent rant about powers without range.

[Arkham]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

If it doesn't seem problematic in testing, it's OK. Just something to watch. I'm recalling Yodaking's recent rant about powers without range.

That's a hangs in the start zone concern, which Darkseid should not be in your start zone. This power only triggers when he would be destroyed. Unless your plan is to kill Darkseid over and over yourself in your start zone, and are successful in triggering it each time, that shouldn't be applicable here. This would actually be a bit of the reverse, if anything, as it allows him to play as an anti-camper when he's on his last legs. Granted, I'd still say you're likely to use that wound on your biggest remaining threat, which I'd have to imagine is most often going to be the one killing him, thus within reasonable range anyway hence being moot.

[IAmBatman]

For sure. And, yeah, I think he probably is more of an anti-camper than anything. That's a fair point. I was just thinking how he'd be nice to have against a Pinhead hiding in the back.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

I'm not worried about the range on Darkseid Is personally, there isn't an efficient way to use it without getting into a fight with the other team.


On Command and Conquer the idea is the wound has to actually stick for him to get his turn right? So no using him with Unstoppable Resilience dudes or whatnot. Not an issue either way, just curious. In the newer version, I think it might be better to word the "you may inflict a wound on that Hero or those Squads" as something more like "you may inflict a wound on a figure that just took a turn' or something like that. You don't really inflict wounds on a squad as a group like that usually.

I like the new version of Omega Effect a lot better. Seems cooler in general and limiting the 'marker regeneration' to one per person is safer balance wise.

[Arkham]

The wound would not have to stick, would be the intention, so Unstoppable Resilience makes for a nice pairing for him. Figured with Grundy and Clayface both having that benefit and being factional, it’d help push him in that direction. Not something I’m dead set on though if it proves too good.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

I think it would be totally fine balance wise. Just a matter of making sure the wording is clear.

Right now the 'to' kinda implies the wound is a cost that has to be payed.

Might be better to flip it a bit and word it more like:

"After revealing a numbered Order Marker on this card, instead of taking a turn with Darkseid, you may take a turn with up to two friendly Parademon Squads or one friendly Unique Hero. If no enemy figures are destroyed during those turns, you may take a turn with Darkseid. If you do, you must inflict a wound on another figure that has taken a turn this player turn. You may not take any additional turns."

[Arkham]

Yeah I'm fine tweaking the wording however we need. That suggestion pushes it a hair smaller font wise than I'd like to be, but it's ultimately fine if that's where we land. Some potential trimming:

• is "numbered" before Order Marker essential, as you can't give up an attack off an X for example.
• are both instances of "you may" essential, as powers in general are optional to use, which is why we use "you must" as the non default.
• would we need to say Parademon "Squads", or could we just chop off Squads and say up to 2(or 4 if they are counted as individual at that point?) Parademons, since we only have 1 low cost Unique one and the others are part of Common Squads?

At any rate, I updated the SP, I propose we move to Initial Playtesting.

COMPETITIVE REVIEW BOARD CHECKLIST

Spoiler Alert!

Efficiency- Check to see if your design is providing armies with turns/moves/etc. to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to keep up with your output.

1. Does your design allow itself or figures to move/attack/take a turn/etc. instead of/in addition to your normal turn for revealing an Order Marker? Is it granting these benefits to too broad a range of units? Does it combine with other powers to create overly long or powerful chains of actions?

Can take a turn if OM was revealed on his card, if the figure he takes a turn with does not destroy a figure, and he inflicts a wound on them. Should be safe.

2. Does your design allow you to take actions during an opponent's turn? Can it combine with other powers to create tediously long reactions to enemy actions or a restrictive environment?

Other than potentially inflicting a wound, no.

3. Does your design allow you to rearrange your Order Markers or otherwise bypass the costs of Order Marker requirements on the special powers of other figures?

No.

4. Is your design doing anything outside of a player's turn, at the start or end of the round? Is the effect too powerful by itself or when combined with other powers?

Yes, potentially inflicting wounds, replacing markers, or resurrecting Parademons. Should be kept in check.

5. Does your design have any powers that trigger anytime it moves as opposed to only when it moves normally on its turn? Will it be too efficient when combined with figures that grant extra moves to figures?

No.

6. Is your design adding or subtracting from initiative rolls? Will it pair too easily with other figures that alter initiative or have powers triggering on the results of initiative rolls?

No.

Potency- Check to see if your design is wounding/removing/etc. enemy figures, increasing the chances of other figures in your army doing so, or otherwise directly effecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.

1. Does your design have a chance to inflict wounds or destroy figures? Is it getting these chances too frequently or having too high a chance of success? Is the power balanced against expensive targets that can cause a massive swing in the game when destroyed?

Should be reasonable.

2. Is your design adding to the stats or 20-sided die rolls of other figures in your army? Is it boosting a broad enough range of units effectively enough to become a 'mandatory' draft or inhibit future design space? Can it be combined with other boosts too easily?

No.

3. Will your design benefit from stat boosts or other enhancement to an overpowering degree? Will it restrict future growth within its faction or point cost by limiting available boosts to others?

Nothing beyond the norm.

4. Does your design take control of enemy figures permanently or temporarily? Is it too difficult to for your opponent to regain control of their figure or recover from the losing the figure? Does the method of taking control expose the enemy figure to the powers of other figures in your army that can easily destroy it?

No.

5. Can your design heal itself or others or revive itself or others? Is it doing so in a way that an opponent cannot hope to overcome in certain scenarios?

Heals self when rolling a blank upon being destroyed, not very likely.

6. Does your design place enemy figures on its card or otherwise have an unconventional method of temporarily removing enemy figures from play? Will it guarantee your victory against a single remaining enemy figure?

No.

Chicanery- Check to see if your design is preventing your opponent from taking actions with too much ease or is otherwise causing negative play experience through tactics that make your opponent feel you're 'not playing fair'

1. Does your design restrict the movement of enemy figures, or allow you to move enemy figures? Can it do so in a way that results in an unwinnable scenario for your opponent if they are down to one figure, posses only figures with a range of 1, etc.? Can your design easily combine with other figures to greatly impede enemy figures or otherwise gain an excessive advantage?

No.

2. Does your design effect/change the placement of an enemy's Order Markers, or remove their Order Markers entirely? Can it force Order Markers to go onto cards that have no figures on the battlefield? Can your design easily combine with other figures to completely dictate the placement of an enemy's Order Markers or remove all of their Order Markers?

No.

3. Does your design inhibit your opponent from attacking your figures or make attacking a losing proposition? Are there scenarios or combinations that make your opponent totally unable to harm your figures through attacking?

No.

4. Does your design directly negate the powers of enemy figures or otherwise ignore them in a way that can completely disrupt the opponent's strategy or leave them feeling like they are stuck playing figures without special powers?

No.

5. Does your design become overly powerful in a podded group of figures, or provide significant benefit to your army without leaving your Start Zone?

No.

6. You can attack your own figures in Heroscape, does your design have any powers that will trigger off of doing so or otherwise wounding/destroying your own figures? Is this intentional on your part? Will the design be too efficient or potent when doing so?

Unless we give a friendly figure a way to auto destroy Darkseid each turn, it shouldn't be abusable.

CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

Consistency Concerns
Name and Identity
Verify character is named in a way that is clear, accurate and feels consistent with the way other characters are named.

Yep

Uniqueness and Type
Verify that the power text reflects the listed uniqueness and type, that the uniqueness fits the character, and that squad size is listed for squads.

Yep.

Left Box
If the character's species, class or personality is reused, verify that the character feels thematically consistent with other figures that have that species, class or personality. If they are not reused, verify that there is no pre-existing species, class or personality that would make more sense.

Yep

Size and Height
Verify that the listed size and height are accurate. Standing the mini up next to a stack of tiles, and a few other minis of various sizes, is encouraged.

Yep

Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.

Yep

New Powers - Names
Verify that any new powers are not using power names identical to, or very similar to, pre-existing powers. Verify that any new powers are actually new and not old powers with new names.

Yep

New Powers - Effects
Verify that the effect and timing of all new powers is clear. Verify that any logical immunities, benefits, or weaknesses (whether those be necessary for thematic or mechanical reasons) are implemented: consider whether defensive powers that work against normal attacks should also work against special attacks, whether or not a power has an elemental component that some figures should resist, and whether or not unliving figures (such as Undead and Androids) should be affected.

Yep

Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing powers in place of creating new ones, where reused powers could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused powers have the correct text.

Yep.

Power Level
Verify that the character's movement, attack, range, and defense (in conjunction with any special powers that enhance those stats) feel consistent with the capabilities of characters with analogous powers and abilities. Verify that the character falls into a similar point range to characters with comparative powers and abilities.

Yep

[tcglkn]

I generally don't think "you may" is needed in powers.

Yea

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Numbered is definitely not needed since the whole thing is also tied to giving up a turn. So it can't trigger off of random X reveal powers or what not.

yea