The Book of Zatanna (II)

[Tornado]

Tricks of the Trade.

[Arkham]

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Zatanna II

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Army Test 1
Map: Custom
Units:
Zatanna II(250), Nightcrawler(KD)(230), Zauriel(320) (800)
vs.
Wrecking Crew (800)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R4T1: 2 wounds on Bulldozer.

Mistress of Magic:
R1T2: 16, changes a shield into a blank for Zauriel, resulting in 1 additional wound.
R2T2: 13, changes a shield into a blank for Zauriel, resulting in 1 additional wound, which makes enough to kill Wrecker.
R2T3: 6, fails.
R3T1: 2, fails.

Trap Door Teleportation:
R1T2: swaps with Zauriel.
R1T3: swaps with Nightcrawler.

Sleight of Hand:


Notes:
R1T2: Zauriel puts 3 wounds on Wrecker.
R2T1: Nightcrawler puts 1 wouund on Wrecker and Piledriver.
R2T2: Zauriel kills Wrecker.
R2T3: Zauriel puts 3 wounds on Piledriver.
R2T3: Piledriver puts 2 wounds on Zauriel.
R3T1: Zauriel kills Piledriver.
R3T1: Thunderball kills Zauriel(botch).
R3T2: Bulldozer puts 1 wound on Zatanna.
R3T3: Bulldozer puts 1 wound on Zatanna.
R4T1: Bulldozer kills Zatanna.
R5T3: Nightcrawler kills Bulldozer.
R6T1: Nightcrawler puts 2 wounds on Thunderball(botch).
R6T3: Nightcrawler kills Thunderball.

Nightcrawler with 3/4 wounds.

Doesn't get any closer. Nightcrawler ended up barely pulling through in the end thanks to his own luck on defense. Zatanna offered a nice 2 additional skulls for Zauriel in total, and did a little damage herself.

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Army Test 2
Map: Custom
Units:
Zatanna II(250), Nightcrawler(KD)(230), Zauriel(320), Star-Lord(250) (1050)
vs.
Luke Cage(190), Iron Fist(260), Wolverine(280), Daredevil II(200), Firestar(120) (1050)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R6T1: 3 wounds(1 is excess) on Firestar, kills her. (height + Star-Lord)

Mistress of Magic:
R2T2: 6, fails.
R2T3: 17, changes a shield into a blank for Zauriel, resulting in 1 additional wound.
R3T1: 12, fails.
R4T1: 10, fails.
R4T3: 8, fails.
R5T1: 17, changes a shield into a blank for herself on attack.
R5T3: 6, fails.
R6T1: 17, changes a shield into a blank for herself on attack.
R6T2: 17, changes a shield into a blank for herself on attack.

Trap Door Teleportation:


Sleight of Hand:
R4T3: 1 blank vs. 0 results in 1 wound on Daredevil.
R5T1: 2 blanks vs. 0 results in 1 wound on Daredevil.
R5T3: 2 blanks vs. 0 results in 1 wound on Daredevil, killing him.
R6T1: 1 blank vs. 0 blanks results in 1 wound on Firestar.
R6T2: 2 blanks vs. 0 blanks results in 1 wound on Wolverine.

Notes:
R2T2: Fist puts 2 wounds on Zauriel, heals Cage 1 wound. Cage puts 1 wound on Zauriel.
R2T3: Zauriel puts 3 wounds on Fist.
R3T1: Zauriel kills Iron Fist(botch).
R3T2: Luke Cage kills Zauriel.
R3T3: Nightcrawler puts a wound on Luke Cage and Firestar.
R4T1: Nightcrawler kills Luke Cage.
R4T3: Daredevil puts 2 wounds on Star-Lord.
R6T3: Wolverine kills Zatanna then heals 1 wound.
R7T1: Wolverine takes 1 wound from LEA then kills Star-Lord and heals 1 wound.
R7T3: Wolverine kills Nightcrawler.

Wolverine unwounded.

Pretty close game. Zatanna put in some work with Sleight of Hand in this game, which was nice. Overall, it felt like an even game and Wolverine obviously wrecked shop once he was able to rid Star-Lord and Zatanna from helping Nightcrawler.

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Army Test 3
Map: Custom
Units:
Zatanna II(250), Klarion(235), Teekl(95), Star-Lord(250) (830)
vs.
Cyclops II(240), Angel(90), Cable(275), Domino(225) (830)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R3T1: 2 wounds on Cyclops. (Star-Lord)
R3T2: 2 wounds on Cyclops(botch). (Star-Lord)

Mistress of Magic:
R1T1: 6, fails.
R1T2: 18, changes shield to a blank for Klarion to change the result to a skull and a blank, moving the X off of Cyclops(misses the 3).
R2T1: 8, fails.
R2T3: 12, fails.
R3T1: 19, changes shield to a blank for herself on attack.

Trap Door Teleportation:


Sleight of Hand:


Notes:
R1T2: Cyclops puts 2 wounds on Teekl. Cable kills Teekl.
R1T3: Cable puts 1 wound on Klarion.
R2T1: Cable puts 1 wound on Klarion.
R2T2: Domino kills Klarion.
R2T3: Cable puts 2 wounds on Star-Lord.
R3T1: Cable puts 2 wounds on Zatanna.
R3T3: Cyclops kills Zatanna. Cable kills Star-Lord.

Cyclops with 4/5 wounds -- Cable, Domino, and Angel all unwounded.

Tried a strategy where Zatanna would change one of Klarion's dice into a blank, hopefully gaining a double blank resulting in both figures taking 3 wounds, but he rolled a skull and shield on every attempt before death. So probably not the best strategy, as you rely on not only him rolling at least 1 blank out of 2 dice, but also Zatanna hitting her roll of 13+. So overall, it may be a good combo if the rolls are just right in a sort of all or nothing way, but it didn't prove so here. Giving Klarion some defensive protector units may make it more viable.

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THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY:
She's pretty fun, and you get the tricky vibe with her. Takes 1 wound at a time on defense thanks to Magical Defense. Can alter a die roll to become a blank which is unique and has a magical feel. She can swap places with a teammate and have them act in surprise as an option, and her Sleight of Hand gives her a fun way to potentially deal an auto-wound. The roll on the blank manipulation can be hard to rely on, and Trap Door Teleportation seems to see less use than I would have liked.

Wouldn't mind seeing Trap Door opened up where she can still take the turn when switching as an option for her to pull someone back and pop into battle for some fun.

Overall I'm pretty happy with her. Love having a synergy with those who want blanks, especially someone like Zauriel who's thematic and doesn't see as much play. She may be a tad overcosted at the moment, so I'm thinking going into Public testing at maybe 230.

[Arkham]

The problem I've noticed, is that she likes to hang back in or near the start zone 'til later in the game, so Trap Door isn't seeing much use.

A possible easy alteration would be:

TRAP DOOR TELEPORTATION
After revealing an Order Marker on this card and instead of taking a turn with Zatanna, you may choose a single spaced Unique Hero you control. Immediately switch Zatanna and the chosen Hero, then take a turn with either Zatanna or the chosen Hero, and you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control. Figures switched by Trap Door Teleportation never take any leaving engagement attacks.

Edit:

Another option to consider would be just reversing how it currently works:

TRAP DOOR TELEPORTATION
After revealing an Order Marker on an Army Card of a Hero you control and instead of taking a turn with that Hero, you may immediately switch Zatanna and the Hero, then take a turn with Zatanna, and you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control. Figures switched by Trap Door Teleportation never take any leaving engagement attacks.

A potential Nightnare Nurse could really benefit Zatanna or the other figure getting sent back to the start zone for healing.

[Yodaking]

It looks like she had a real solid impact in those tests without really maximizing what the trap door could do for you. Her blank change mechanic and auto wound seemed like they were enough to make her fun and viable, so I'd consider going with your second option where she is the one popping up and surprise attacking only. Swapping out a badly injured figure for a full life Zatanna who can only take 1W per attack while someone else heals the injured teammate seems like a fine role for her. Points at 230 with that change sounds good to me, if you decide to go in the other direction and make it so either one of the swapped figures can take a turn, then I'd leave the points at 250 and wait for more results before adjusting them.

[Scapemage]

Tests look great! I'm so happy Zauriel is seeing some real use. He's one of my first designs from my Ally days and he never sees play. That third game with Klarion didn't work out so well but that's what army experimentation is for. 230 as is seems fine to start, moving toward 250 or so with the changes in mind also works.

[Arkham]

I’m liking the ability to have either take the turn to give it a bit more flexibility and surprise factor, but to keep it reasonable and allow her points to come down which I’d prefer, limiting it to once per round makes sense. So I propose 230 with the following:

TRAP DOOR TELEPORTATION
Once per round, after revealing an Order Marker on an Army Card of a Hero you control and instead of taking a turn with that Hero, you may immediately switch Zatanna and the Hero. After switching, take a turn with either Zatanna or that Hero, and you may not take any additional turns with other figures you control. Figures switched by Trap Door Teleportation never take any leaving engagement attacks.

Updated the SP. I propose a vote to move to Public Playtesting.

[Scapemage]

Now that will make for some interesting play. Yea to playtesting.

[japes]

Looks fun YEA

[Yodaking]

Even at once per round I think you'll see the points rise once people focus in on maximizing that power, but I do like how it works and I'm fine if the points go up so yea. She may become a top Cap ally with the ability to reveal the OM on him for the bonuses but take a turn with her. Especially mid-game once Cap has a few wounds on him, move him to the back for some healing while Zatanna absorbs some hits with her MD.

[Arkham]

I’m fine with the points coming up if necessary.

However, the turn only happens if you switch the figures, so it’s not something to be used whenever, as there will be times you don’t want to swap places. I just want her to be useful and fun all around so not worried if she comes back up to 250.

[Arkham]

Need 1 more vote

[johnny139]

Yea