The Book of Polaris

[TrollBrute]

The Book of Polaris

C3G MARVEL SUPER SECRET EXCLUSIVE 48
NOT JUST ANOTHER MUTANT BOOSTER


Comic PDF


Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Wolverine and the X-Men set.
Its model number and name are #025 / Polaris.

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Character Bio - Lorna Dane's life is one of tragedy. When her mutant powers first activated, she was only a child, and the the uncontrollable nature of her abilities caused an accidental plane crash that killed her parents. In the aftermath of the crash, her real father, Magneto, ordered the villain Mastermind to wipe her memories, creating a host of psychological and emotional problems that Lorna still battles with to this day.

Later on, when her mutant powers fully activated she was recruited by the X-Men, where she met Havok, with whom she shared a romantic connection. Lorna, who took the codename Polaris, was never fully comfortable with the superhero lifestyle. However many times she left though, she was always drawn back in. Once because of possession by the evil entity Malice, and other times due to her love for Havok or desire to help the mutant cause. As Polaris, Lorna has been a member of the X-Men, the Brotherhood, the Starjammers, and multiple iterations of X-Factor, where she battles not only villains, but her own demons.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Mutant Protector, Polaris has these
  • Mutant Synergies and
  • Protector Synergies, and
  • may be chosen as Lockheed's Companion with his Mutant Protector's Pet special power.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

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-Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses-

Immunities:

• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Polaris cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers: Special Powers that Interact Differently with Super Strength special power.
• As a figure with the Flying special power, Polaris cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers: Special Powers that Interact Differently with Flying special power.

Benefits:

• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Polaris interacts differently with aspects of certain special powers: Special Powers that Interact Differently with Super Strength special power.

Weaknesses:

• Tiny, Large, and Huge figures cannot be affected by Polaris' Reactive Toss special power. Current Tiny, Large, and Huge figures.
• As a Mutant, Polaris interacts differently with certain special powers. Special Powers that Interact Differently with Mutants.
• As a figure with the Flying special power, Polaris can be affected by aspects of certain special powers: Special Powers that Interact Differently with Flying special power.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: TrollBrute
• Second playtest: Aggressive Sock
• Third playtest: Viegon
• Fourth playtest: bsbush7690
  Changed to add Bubble Trap:
• Fifth playtest: ZettianJuggernaut
• Sixth playtest: TrollBrute
• Seventh playtest: IAmBatman
• Eighth playtest: Ronin
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by japes

[TrollBrute]

NAME = POLARIS
SECRET IDENTITY = LORNA DANE

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = PROTECTOR
PERSONALITY = UNSTABLE

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 200

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. Once per round, after moving with Polaris, you may place your Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card or the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. A figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card adds one automatic shield to whatever is rolled when defending against a non-adjacent attack. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE TRAP
Before an opponent moves a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card, that opponent must roll the 20-sided die. If that opponent rolls 15 or lower, that figure may not move. If that opponent rolls 16 or higher, return your Magnetic Bubble Marker to this card.

REACTIVE TOSS 14
If an opponent’s small or medium figure moves adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 14 or higher, that figure's movement ends. Place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks and may only be targeted as they move into engagement with Polaris.

FLYING
SUPERSTRENGTH

[japes]

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

NAME = POLARIS
SECRET IDENTITY = LORNA DANE

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = OUTCAST
PERSONALITY = UNSTABLE

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = ???

REACTIVE TOSS 12
When an opponent's figure ends its move adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 12 or higher, place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do no take any leaving engagement attacks.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. While the Magnetic Bubble Marker is on Polaris' card, when rolling defense dice, you may add 1 automatic shield to whatever is rolled. After moving, you may place the Magnetic Bubble Marker on the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. While the your Magnetic Bubble Marker is on a card other than Polaris', that figure cannot move, attack or use any special powers and, when rolling defense dice, adds 2 automatic shields to whatever is rolled. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

FLYING

Not sure which is correct at this hour but it should be one or the other.

Originally Posted by Yodaking

I like the reactive toss power, it seems pretty neat and will really frustrate melee heavy hitters. Not sure if I follow why the bubble gives them 2 auto shields, if she locks them down so they can't move wouldn't they be easier to hit?

Because she is locking them down with a magnetic bubble...hard to get through.

[TrollBrute]

After some more thought, I'm deciding on the second verion, with some tweaks (auto-shield for all, no D20, once-per-round). Which brings us to this:

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

NAME = POLARIS
SECRET IDENTITY = LORNA DANE

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = PROTECTOR
PERSONALITY = UNSTABLE

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = ???

REACTIVE TOSS 12
When an opponent's figure ends its move adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 12 or higher, place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. Once per round, after moving, you may place your Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card or the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. Figures with your Magnetic Bubble marker on its card add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled when rolling defense dice against a non-adjacent attack. While your Magnetic Bubble Marker is on the card of an opponent's figure, that figure may not move. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

FLYING

[Dysole]

I ran some numbers and Blob basically becomes twice as hard to kill. It makes him very powerful but I'm not certain brokenly so. Either way, testing with Blob is definitely something to do here.

~Dysole, agreeing that the negation aspect had a much greater chance for negative gameplay

[TrollBrute]

Originally Posted by Dysole

I ran some numbers and Blob basically becomes twice as hard to kill. It makes him very powerful but I'm not certain brokenly so. Either way, testing with Blob is definitely something to do here.

Not that I'm disputing your math, but it surprises me that a single shield against non-adjacent attacks would make it that much harder to kill him. I'll definitely test it to make sure it's not too powerful, but I don't see it being better than Cap, Star-Lord, or Invisible Woman. They're boosts are swingier, because they're not automatic, but they have the chance to be doubled and they work when figures are Stuck to him.

I'll leave it up for another day or so for any thoughts or suggestions. If nothing big comes up, I'll propose for Initial tomorrow.

[TrollBrute]

I also realized that Reactive Toss didn't play exactly as intended. I'd like to change it to:

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

REACTIVE TOSS 12
When an opponent's figure that was not adjacent to Polaris at the start of its turn ends its move adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 12 or higher, place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks.

This way, once a figure is adjacent, they're free to move around her. This was my intention and the way I played it in my tests.

[TrollBrute]

I'm not tied to a specific cost either, so yeah, there are ways to boost her up if a D20 weakens her too far. So how about:

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

NAME = POLARIS
SECRET IDENTITY = LORNA DANE

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = PROTECTOR
PERSONALITY = UNSTABLE

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 200

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. Once per round, after moving, you may place your Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card or the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. A figure with your Magnetic Bubble marker on its card adds one automatic shield to whatever is rolled when rolling defense dice against a non-adjacent attack. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE TRAP
Before an opponent's figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card moves, that player must roll the 20-sided die. If that player rolls 1-15, that figure may not move. If that player rolls 16 or higher, return your Magnetic Bubble Marker to this card.

REACTIVE TOSS 14
If an opponent’s small or medium figure moves adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 14 or higher, that figure's movement ends. Place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks and may only be targeted as they move into engagement with Polaris.

FLYING

I thought it would read clearer as two powers, so I split that part off. Wording is borrowed from Scarlet Spider's Impact Webbing SA, and the rolls can be tweaked if that feels too high or low. I also bumped her cost down 10 to compensate for weakening the power slightly.

[Viegon]

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

NAME = POLARIS
SECRET IDENTITY = LORNA DANE

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = PROTECTOR
PERSONALITY = UNSTABLE

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 4

POINTS = 200

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. Once per round, after moving, you may place your Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card or the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. A figure with your Magnetic Bubble marker on its card adds one automatic shield to whatever is rolled when rolling defense dice against a non-adjacent attack. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE TRAP
Before an opponent's figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card moves, that player must roll the 20-sided die. If that player rolls 1-15, that figure may not move. If that player rolls 16 or higher, return your Magnetic Bubble Marker to this card.

REACTIVE TOSS 14
If an opponent’s small or medium figure moves adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 14 or higher, that figure's movement ends. Place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks and may only be targeted as they move into engagement with Polaris.

FLYING

I like this change.

[SirGalahad]

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

MAGNETIC BUBBLE
Start the game with a green Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card. Once per round, after moving, you may place your Magnetic Bubble Marker on this card or the card of a Unique Hero within 4 clear sight spaces. A figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card adds one automatic shield to whatever is rolled when rolling defense dice against a non-adjacent attack. If Polaris or a figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card receives one or more wounds, return the marker to this card.

MAGNETIC BUBBLE TRAP
Before an opponent's figure with your Magnetic Bubble Marker on its card moves, that player must roll the 20-sided die. If that player rolls 1-15 or lower, that figure may not move. If that player rolls 16 or higher, return your Magnetic Bubble Marker to this card.

REACTIVE TOSS 14
If an opponent’s small or medium figure moves adjacent to Polaris, you may roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 14 or higher, that figure's movement ends. Place the figure on any empty space within 3 spaces of its original placement. Tossed figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks and may only be targeted as they move into engagement with Polaris.

In Magnetic Bubble, it is unclear as to who has to move in order to place the marker--is it only on Polaris' move, or can the marker be placed after you move any figure you control? And there is no distance restriction on where the marker is coming from, right? If the marker is on the card of a figure 20 spaces away, it still can come back to her card, or can it go on the card of a figure that is within 4 spaces of the figure that moved?

Also, can the card color be more of the green from the comic instead of the mini? That baby food split pea soup green is not very attractive.

[SirGalahad]

No, on closer review, there a couple of additional things that need to be addressed.

In a mirror match does the marker of Polaris A effect Polaris B?

Is it the intent that the marker prevents a friendly figure from moving, attacking, etc.?

[TrollBrute]

@japes , there was also a small change to Magnetic Bubble Trap.

Originally Posted by SirGalahad

In a mirror match does the marker of Polaris A effect Polaris B?

As written currently, yes. Thematically speaking, I'm not sure if it makes a difference, and I'm not entirely sure. Given that Magneto is not immune to her powers, I don't think an alternate universe version of Polaris would be.

Originally Posted by SirGalahad

Is it the intent that the marker prevents a friendly figure from moving, attacking, etc.?

No. It has a chance to prevent opponent's figures from moving, and does not stop anyone's attacks (Bats, that may have been part of why you found her underwhelming). Originally, that was the intent, but the power went through a few changes in the design phase and that was dropped because we were having trouble fully balancing it.