NHSD: SoCal Slaughter! 2016

[Xotli]

Originally Posted by Leotheanimal87

Unfortunately I'm a no go on the map this year. Currently won't be able to get my terrain since it's in storage and I won't have time to go due to work. If anything changes I''ll let you guys know.

Don't sweat it, Leo. I'm working on some changes anyway. Hold on to your hats, boys and girls, I FOUND SOME NEW BOV MAPS!!!

More news to come (hopefully later tonight).

[Xotli]

Okay, the scoop is that there were 2 BoV maps that were mislabeled in the downloads area. They're not new, but they're new to us, so that's cool. I've now catalogued the two new ones and reviewed them; updated list below.

Spoiler Alert!

• Marr Highway - still too long and skinny
• Embattled Fen - still meh
• Turret Rocks - unutterably boring
• Mole Hills - still a bit not-much-there-there
• Arctic Divide - we haven't used this one in a while, and it might even be a better snow map than Ice Blossom
• Highways and Dieways - I mean, it's okay ... we used to use it a lot, but haven't in a long while
• Ember Canyon Road - I will always hate this map
• The Broken Skyline - other than being a wet dream for anyone with Protectors or AE, I don't see a lot of point to this one
• Ruins of Pine Tree Marsh - still meh
• Hot Heights - not a terrible alternative to If you can't take the heat...
• Swamp Thing - still a pretty good map, and only used once in the past 3 years (and not last year)
• Road Rampage - still meh
• Fire Isles - still not better than Hot Heights
• Ice Blossom - I was sick of it for a long time, but now it's been 2 years since we've used it
• Flash Fire - still feels a bit crowded, but maybe that's not such a bad thing
• Badru Valley - one of those line-up-on-either-side-of-a-big-field maps ... meh
• Ticalla Sunrise - good swamp map
• If you can't take the heat... - still vaguely interesting, but we did it last year
• Sidewinder - we did this last year for the first time (ever? in a while?), but I think I'm already over it
• Invasion - I'd like to see this one this year, if only for the variety in swamp maps
• Can't see the jungle... - for a map called "can't see the <wooded area>," it feels a bit light on trees
• Fossil - still not a fan
• Fulcrum - what is up with the line-up-on-either-side-of-a-big-field maps?
• Elswin Plateau - still a bit flat, but at least it provides some variety
• Quasatch Playground - we used this 2 of the last 3 years, but not last year; fairly decent
• Blackroot - we've used this one the last 2 years; I'm getting a little bored with it
• Burial Marsh - I remember this one ... but not fondly
• Bad Moon Rising - I do like this map, but we've used it 3 years in a row, so pehraps it's time to give it a break
• Stygian Rift - this is a pretty cool dungeon/lava map
• Sirocco - we've seen this one the last 2 years as well, but somehow I'm not sick of it yet
• Draugur - OTOH, we didn't do this one last year (although we did it the year before), so maybe this is a better choice for a dungeon/shadow map
• Dance of the Dryads - also a dungeon/lava map, possibly even cooler than Stygian Rift

So, adding the new possibilities in, we get a new list of:
For sure:

1. Ticalla Sunrise
2. Draugur
3. Invasion
4. Dance of the Dryads
5. Swamp Thing
6. Arctic Divide

Maybe:

1. Stygian Rift
2. Quasatch Playground
3. Sirocco
4. Ice Blossom
5. Elswin Plateau
6. Highways and Dieways
7. Flash Fire

And, with the news that Leo can't bring terrain, plus swapping things around, I get a new list of:

1. Ticalla Sunrise - Xotli
2. Draugur - wnfb
3. Invasion - hivelord
4. Dance of the Dryads - wnfb
5. Swamp Thing - hivelord
6. Arctic Divide - Xotli
7. Stygian Rift - hivelord
8. Quasatch Playground - wnfb
9. Sirocco - Xotli

So, still 9 maps, still plenty, and I think still within everyone's abilities to provide. Here's new requirements for everyone:

• @hivelord - 1 RotV, 2 SotM, 2 BftU, 1 RttFF, 1 FotA, 1 VW, 1 TJ
• @warriorneedsfoodbadly - 1 RotV, 2 BftU, 1 RttFF, 1 VW, 2 TT, 2 TJ
• Xotli - 1 RotV, 1 SotM, 2 BftU, 1 TT, 2 TJ

This means hivelord and I have to build another map, but it shouldn't be too big a deal. I hope. Just let me know if there's any problems with the updated list.

[hivelord]

Originally Posted by Xotli

[*]@hivelord - 1 RotV, 2 SotM, 2 BftU, 1 RttFF, 1 FotA, 1 VW, 1 TJ

This means hivelord and I have to build another map, but it shouldn't be too big a deal. I hope. Just let me know if there's any problems with the updated list.

So... just double checked my collection and I guess I only ever had one SotM master set. Odd considering my username I know.
Sorry to make you go back to the drawing board. Maybe I just replace Swamp Thing with Ice Blossom?

This also thrown my army plans out of whack a bit too. Unless someone wants to loan me a couple stingers. haha.


Also, I messaged [MENTION=382]SlikkRikk[/MENTION] to see if he wants in on this.
I may as well tag a few of the other old regulars: [MENTION=204]BIGJIM[/MENTION] [MENTION=18]boom[/MENTION] [MENTION=8]Oogie_Da_Bruce[/MENTION] [MENTION=3788]robbdaman[/MENTION] [MENTION=1150]WreakLoosE[/MENTION] @ Runehardt
I don't know how many of you even live in the area any more but we're thinking about you.

[Xotli]

Originally Posted by Detrimentalman

I'm still a maybe as far as the tournament goes. Just realized Maddy has something on the calendar for the morning, seeing if I can get out of it. Either way I should make it for the after play.

Crossing my fingers for you! But it'll be great to see you either way.

Originally Posted by hivelord

So... just double checked my collection and I guess I only ever had one SotM master set. Odd considering my username I know.

No worries. I'll update it one way or another, but not tonight. I'm totally cooked. (I mean, worst case, we only have 8 maps, which is still plenty.)

Originally Posted by hivelord

This also thrown my army plans out of whack a bit too. Unless someone wants to loan me a couple stingers. haha.

Hmmm ...

Tell you what: let's engineer a (temporary) swap. I'll provide 2 squads of stingers, no card, in exchange for one Marcu, with card. I've got 2 folks over here who are both 20 pts shy on their backup armies, and I'd really hate to tell them that one of them gets stuck with Kyntela. Plus then I gotta make 'em fight to the death over it, and then their parents would sue me and it'd be a big mess and I don't care enough about Marcu to bother.

I also have all armies nailed down--12 armies total, 6 primary and 6 backup--including all VC units, but I'll post that tomorrow as well. Work was not kind to me today. <sigh>

Off to grab what little sleep I can now ...

[Xotli]

First up, here's this year's intel on VC units that will be arriving in my vehicle this year. Here's what I will tell you about these units:

• I've put together a short, one-line precis of each unit.
• Each unit's name is also a link to its "Book of" thread, where you can view the full card, lists of synergies, etc.
• I'm not going to tell you which unit will be in which army. Gotta keep some of the mystery going, right?
• Some of these will be in primary armies and some will be in backup armies.
• I'm bringing 12 armies total (some stats on that below). Barring last minute changes, this is every single VC unit that is in any of those 12 armies. And AFAIK all the armies are finalized, so there shouldn't be any last minute changes.
• I also put together a little guide to all the shortcut terms I use.

Originally Posted by VC units coming this year

Guide to terms used:

Spoiler Alert!

• melee hero — a unique hero with range 1
• controller — a hero who can take turns with other units (e.g. Kato Katsuro, Ulginesh, Kurrok)
• low-life — life of 1 or 2
• moderately low-life — life of 3 or 4
• slow-moving — move of 4
• fast-moving — move of 7 or more
• low range — range of 4
• high range — range of 7 or more
• high attack — attack of 6 or more
• high defense — defense of 6 or more
• filler unit — cost of 50 or less (and generally not common)
• low cost — cost of 40 or less (and often common, otherwise they'd be filler units)
• high cost — cost of 150 or more
• single-target Double Attack — the figure may attack two times, but may not attack the same figure more than once (e.g. Fledgling Ice Shards)
• conditional Double Attack — the figure may attack two times if some condition is met (d20 roll, only if a wound is inflicted, etc)
• SA — special attack
• AoE SA — special attack that targets one figure and affects all adjacent figures (e.g. Explosion, Shotgun Blast, etc)
• splash damage — like AoE, but instead of affecting all adjacent figures, only affects a single adjacent figure (e.g. Tetsubo)
• no-defense SA — a special attack that does not allow a defense roll (e.g. Ullar Enhanced Rifle)
• wound negation power — power that lets you ignore wounds if you roll high enough on a d20 (e.g. Vanish, Hide in Darkness)
• anti-range power — defensive power that makes a unit significantly better against non-adjacent opponents (e.g. Thorian Speed, Evasive, Stealth Dodge)
• full bonding — take a turn with another unit, which can both move and attack (as opposed to move bonding or attack bonding)
• conditional bonding — either take a full turn with another unit, or gain some advantage (e.g. Dwarven Strategic Bonding)
• swarming — a unit which has a power that allows you to move more than the usual number of figures (e.g. Zombies of Morindan, Marro Drones), or (more rarely) allows you get extra movement sometimes (e.g. Berserker Charge)
• pumped by wounds — a power which gets better somehow the more wounds the figure has (e.g. Krug)
• soak — a power which redirects something (usually either attacks or wounds) from a friendly figure to this one (e.g. Combat Challenge)
• charging power — a power which gives a figure extra move as long as they can use it to engage an enemy (e.g. Charging Assault)
• spirit power — after the figure dies, you can place it on a unique card to boost some stat (e.g. Warrior's Attack Spirit, Warrior's Armor Spirit)
• at-will — this power is similar to another power that can only be used once per game (e.g. Grenade, Bolt of the Witherwodd), but this power may be used every turn
• d20 boost — adds (usually +1) to d20 rolls for certain other power(s)
• OM1 — order marker 1
• OMX — order marker X

• 8th Infantry Pathfinders — low cost ranged common hero with swarming movement bonding with Jandar soldier heroes and attack bonding with each other
• Beakface Sneaks — low cost common squad with an anti-range power and swarming based on attacks
• Capt. John Varan — ranged hero with a ranged SA which is pumped by wounds and who can soak wounds for adjacent Jandar humans
• Dreadgul Raiders — swarming common squad who bond with wild human or giant heroes
• Haduc — ranged elven wizard who gives a d20 boost to other elves, and gives auto-shields to himself and adjacent elven wizards based on unrevealed OMs
• Kantono Daishi — moderately low-life controller for the ninjas, with Phantom Walk and Counterstrike
• Manauvi — melee Wolf hero with a charging power, a conditional Double Attack, and a Move-boosting spirit power
• Mok — high-cost double-spaced high-attack hero who can sacrifice up to 2 dwarven squaddies to power a like number of ranged SAs that can be used alongside his normal attack
• Omegacron — high-cost Double-Attacking, double-spaced moderately low-life controller for the Omnicrons with high range and high defense
• Siiv — fast-moving, low-life Disengaging filler unit with a no-defense unranged SA
• Teeth of the Makwa — low range common squad with a wound negation power and swarming movement bonding with Scout or Tribesman heroes
• Varkaanan Darkclaws — unique Wolf squad with full move/partial attack bonding with other unique Wolves, conditional Double Attack, and additional bonuses from shadow spaces
• Varkaanan Greyspears — unique Wolf low-range squad with full move/partial attack bonding with other unique Wolves and bonus movement if they don't attack
• Varkaanan Quickblades — unique Wolf squad with full move/partial attack bonding with other unique Wolves, a charging power, and a defense-reducing SA
• Varkaanan Swiftfangs — unique Wolf squad with full move/partial attack bonding with other unique Wolves and bonus movement on OM1
• Zaeus — primadon hero with a ranged SA that does unblockable splash damage and attack bonding with the Gorillinators

Armies, and how many VC units they contain: (# VC cards/total # cards, multiple commons are 1 card)

Primary:

• 0/3 (0%)
• 0/4 (0%)
• 1/5 (20%)
• 1/4 (25%)
• 1/3 (33%)
• 5/5 (100%) — Note: easy to guess

Backup:

• 0/6 (0%)
• 1/5 (20%)
• 1/4 (25%)
• 2/7 (29%)
• 1/3 (33%)
• 3/5 (60%)

__________


Next, revised maps info:

I've shuffled things around to account for hivelord's single SoTM, so the new assignments work out thusly:

1. Ticalla Sunrise – Xotli
2. Draugur – wnfb
3. Invasion – hivelord
4. Dance of the Dryads – Xotli
5. Swamp Thing – wnfb
6. Arctic Divide – hivelord
7. Stygian Rift – hivelord
8. Quasatch Playground – wnfb
9. Sirocco – Xotli

Still 9 maps, still plenty, and hopefully now within everyone's abilities to provide. New requirements for everyone:

• @hivelord – 1 RotV, 1 SotM, 2 BftU, 1 FotA, 1 VW, 1 TT, 1 TJ
• @warriorneedsfoodbadly – 2 RotV, 1 SotM, 1 BftU, 1 RttFF, 2 TT, 2 TJ
• Xotli – 1 SotM, 3 BftU, 1 RttFF, 1 VW, 2 TJ

Let me know if there's any new problems with this list. I'm pushing my luck by needing to come up with 3 BtfU, but I'm pretty sure I still have all the pieces lying around. Somewhere. I'll build it tomorrow to insure I really do have it.

(Bonus map: If we really really needed it, which I highly doubt we will, wnfb could actually build 4 by throwing in Highways and Dieways (bringing his total requirements to 3 RotV, 1 SotM, 1 BftU, 3 RttFF, 2 TT, and 2 TJ). I suppose having 10 maps makes it easy to pick maps randomly using a d10 ... but I really don't think it'll be necessary.)

__________


Next, printing stuff.

I've decided to give up on my various color printers. I think there are now like 4 of them here in the house somewhere, and not a damn one works worth a crap. So I'm just going out to a local print shop tomorrow and see what I can come up with. I'll print two copies of all map instructions: one for me, and one for wnfb. Of course the major problem with that plan is, by the time I arrive, most of the maps are generally built. Because I suck at getting to places early even when I have no one else to worry about, and adding in 4 teenagers and a ten-year-old does not help with that.

So, wnfb, I think I will either just drop the map instructions off at your place, maybe Thursday night on my way home from work? Or else I could drop them in the mail and they will probably be there by Saturday. Whichever you think is best. I'll text you tomorrow sometime.

I'll also see about printing some partial points scoring sheets, and a couple cards I need.

__________

That's all for tonight, I think. Anyone feel free to sing out with whatever I'm forgetting.