The Book of Shang Tsung

[Lazy Orang]

There were moments to me when the Flaming Skulls felt on the strong side. That's because it's swingy as all hell - if you get a skull on the first roll, it'll probably be good. If you don't get a skull on the first roll, it's likely a damp squib. It's a high-risk, high-reward SA. It's definitely worth using if he fails his shapeshift, or if he doesn't have a particularly good offensive shapeshift option. Honestly, the only ability I never used was his unshifted normal attack!
I'm cool with him wanting to shift most of the time - that's the focus of the card. Oh, and you're definitely supposed to be able to shapeshift into dead figures (the only exception to that rule being if they're 'removed from he game', say by Thanos's Permanent Death SA).

[Scapemage]

Intrigued to see what you come up with today, Spidey. Maybe something will show.

[Spidey'tilIDie]

My playtests, unfortunately this took a little longer because I played human opponents.

- THEME TEST/ Each opponent felt that he was really powerful at times, but felt he was pretty great. Unfortunately, I realized at the end of the night that my army was slightly high at 1010.
- MIRROR TEST/ I don't think is an issue.
- BONDING TEST/ His mirroring both opponents and allies was awesome!
- SYNERGIES TEST/ Loved pairing him with Captain America (C3G, Spider-Man, and Zatanna I. Each offered a really good reason to want to clone them. Cap, to continue his boost and also give him the auto shield in Defense, Zatana for Magical Defense and her other powers, and Spider-man mostly for Spidey-Sense 9 and Swing Line.
- POWER CHECK/ No issues.
- FUN TEST/ Very fun. My favorite part is that he is still formidable when he fails to copy.
- FUN COMPETITIVE TEST/ The funny thing is my opponents were too concerned that Shang would copy their figures to worry about Spider-man, Cap, and Zatanna. Which lead to some major awesomeness!
- DRAFTING TEST/ Definitely worth it I think.
- USAGE TEST/ In three tests, I used Flaming Skulls only occasionally. He usually had better options to copy and keep.
- STRATEGY TEST/ It is very interesting that the Copy is a "may" because once I copied the right person, I never wanted to switch back or roll again.

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM
NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Shang Tsung
Army Test
Map: Sewer Entrance Map
Units: Shang Tsung, C3G Captain America, Zatanna I, and Spider-Man (Pete C3G) vs Nightwing, Cyborg, Raven, Starfire, Beast Boy, With T-rex, Ptero, Cheetah, and Bear forms.
Unit Summary
Damage: 1 wound put on Zatanna and Spider-man each. Put one on Raven early. All got Soul Markers.
Abilities: Shang missed 5 of first 6 shapeshifts, but then went on a tear. 3 Shape Shift Markers placed.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Armies advance. Shang Tsung uses soul steal on Zatanna, but fails to copy . Fails to Soul Steal on Spidey. Fails to copy again on subsequent OMs. Round ends with Cap blocking big attack from T-Rex Beast Boy.
Round 2 – Cap activates Boost, Takes out T-Rex, Beast Boy takes two wounds. Cheetah takes its place. Cap tries to hit Nightwing, but he misses. Titans take big turn, Starfire misses Cap. Raven moves up, but no Titans injured yet. Nightwing moves up. Shang Tsung soul steals Spidey and manages to copy him. First success. Cyborg lines up cannon on Cap, he blocks. Shang decides to webswing to Raven, now that she has no OM. He does not attack. Beast Boy switches to Bear and wiffs on Cap.
Round 3 – Init switch works as Shang hoped. He is OM1 and uses it to Soul Swap Raven, giving her a wound in process with the Marker. When Nightwing reveals OM1, Shang switches to Raven. Bear again tries to hit Cap, only gets one. Cyborg tries Cannon again. Cap blocks, Shang takes one. Nightwing tries to Escrima both and whiffs. Cap reveals, he boosts, he shield strikes Nightwing, Raven, and Cyborg. Nightwing whiffs on full skulls! Boom! Raven takes one and Cyborg takes 2. Raven reveals, puts wound on Cyborg to Cap. Shang then activates again and puts his wound onto Raven. Starfire attacks. She hits Shang for one. Cap for one. Cap for another 1. Auto shield is a savior.
Round 4 – With no Titans Go to start, Titans are struggling to figure what to do. Raven starts. Removes wound from self and moves to Shang. Cap activates to boost, and then slings to hit Bear, Starfire, and Raven for one each. Bear swaps to Ptero and Beast Boy takes two. Starfire retaliates. Moves where she can hit Spidey, Shang, and Cap. Cap blocks twice, and Spidey uses SS9 and Web Swings toward the battle. Shang Blocks. Shang reveals and uses Raven ability to put wound from himself onto Raven.
Round 5 - Cap reveals and boosts. Shield Slings to put one on Raven and one on Starfire. Whiffs Cyborg. Raven goes down and loses OM2. Starfire retaliates. Kills Cap. Spidey Swings away once, Blocks once. Takes one. Shang moves his wound to Cyborg. No Titans OM2. Zatanna moves up and rolls to Negate Cyborg. Nope.
Round 6 - Zatanna rolls again to Negate Cyborg. Bingo! Starfire retaliates. 1 wound on Zatanna twice. Shang blocks. Shang leaves engagement with Beast Boy, takes wound and immediately places it on Cyborg. Cyborg has OM2 but no longer has Cannon, so he bases Spidey. Spidey Senses, and moves to height still with Cyborg. Spidey Webslingers and hits 4 skulls to one shield to defeat Cyborg. Beast Boy swaps to Self and bases Zatanna. He rolls and does nothing.
Round 7 - Zatanna Retaliates, hitting Beast Boy for one. He swaps to Cheetah. Attacks Immediately and Zatanna takes one and goes down. Shang Moves into engagement with Cheetah, takes one and gives it back with Raven's powers. Beast Boy goes down. Leaving only Starfire. She had OM 2 and 3. She swings at Shang, but he takes only one because Magical Defense. Spidey webswings close and does one wound with attack. She attacks Spidey. He dodges.
Round 8 - Starfire attacks Shang. He take one. He gives it back with Raven's powers. Starfire attacks him again. He takes only one, Magical Defense. Spidey Webslinger's her to get Height Advantage. He rolls 4 skulls and she rolls 2 shields. She attacks Spidey, he misses Spideysense, but blocks all but one. Spidey Webslinger's again and rolls 3 skulls to Starfire's 2 shields. Starfire goes down.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Shang’s team wins. 2 wounds on Shang, 3 wounds on Spider-Man (C3G Peter)

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Sewer Entrance Map
Units: Shang Tsung, C3G Captain America, Zatanna I, and Spider-Man (Pete C3G) vs Weather Wizard, Flash (Barry Allen), and Spectre.
Unit Summary
Attack Damage:
Bunch with Fist Fusillade (FSSA - first rolls – all skulls for 0, 2, 3 wounds, second rolls 0, 1, 2 wounds)

Soul Steal:
Flash and Spider-Man

Shape Assuming Sorcerer:
Spider-Man to get next to Flash. Then Flash (with boost from Cap) to avoid Flash, then Spectre.

Spoiler Alert!

Notes:
R1: Soul Steals Spider-Man (1 wound) Weather Wizard negated.
R2: Zatanna Fist Fusillade to Death. Cap wounds Flash 1 and Weather Wizard 2. Spectre moves up. Shang moves to Flash and Soul Steal (wound to Flash)
R3: Cap Attacks Flash, SpeedDodge. Flash attacks Shang. Shang copies Flash on OM reveal. Flash follows Shang Fist Fusillading. Shang takes one. Shang hits back with Fist Fusillade. Flash takes one. (1 left). Flash Fist Fusillades for 2 on Shang. Shang shape assumes Flash again and Fist Fusillades for last wound. Spectre attacks Cap for 3 wounds with Vengeance.
R4: Cap slings Spectre for one and kills Weather Wizard. Spectre Spirit of Vengeance on Cap for kill. Shang shapes to Flash, Fist fusillades Spectre for 2. Spectre is Speed Dodged by Shang. Shang misses Shape. Rolls for FSSA. (Shang skulled out for 0, 2, and 3 wounds) Spectre with 7 now. Spectre attacks back Speed Dodge again.
R5: Shang hits Shape, Fist Fusillade again for 1. Spectre attacks, Shang takes one. Shang FSSA again for 0,1,2. Spectre kills Shang with Attack. Spidey is sitting duck. Spectre attacks, Spidey Sense.
R6: Spidey has height. Attacks for 1 wound. Spectre attacks Spidey, misses SpideySense, takes 2. Spidey retaliates again from height, kills Spectre.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Shang’s team wins. 3 wounds on Spider-Man (C3G Peter)

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Sewer Entrance Map
Units: Shang Tsung, C3G Captain America, Zatanna I, and Spider-Man (Pete C3G) vs Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Black Adam, Billy Batson, and Punisher.
Unit Summary
Attack Damage:
Bunch with Captain Marvel’s stats (FSSA only one on Punisher)
Soul Steal:
Captain Marvel and Captain America

Shape Assuming Sorcerer:
Captain America to keep the boost and raise Defense once. Then Marvel (with boost from Cap) to pummel people.

Spoiler Alert!

Notes:
R1: Soul Steals Captain America (1 wound). Everyone set for big round 2
R2: Marvel moves to Zatanna, 1 wound. She retaliates with a 17 for a Negation on Marvel! Black Adam moves up to help. Zatanna takes another. And two more from Aton for Instakill. Shang Soul Steals Marvel and then becomes him for Marvel’s turn. He takes LEA, then Shazams for 1 wound to Shang and 1 to Spidey. Billy now on the board. Shang hits roll for Marvel and attacks Black Adam for 3.
R3: Cap moves to BA. Shield sling for 3 on Billy, one on BA. Shazam to switch. No wounds. Marvel back on board. BA smashes Cap for 3 wounds. Shang as Marvel smashes back for 2 wounds. BA kills Cap with all-skulls. Shang switches to Cap and Regular Attacks for 1. Black Adam one skulls Shang for nothing.
R4: BA attacks Shang, but whiffs this time. Shang switches to Marvel and kills BA. OM lost. Shang switches to Cap and slings at Punisher. Miss. Marvel smashes Spidey but SpideySensed. Spidey moves up and Web Slingers Punisher for 2 wounds.
R5: Punisher Shot Gun Blasts Shang and Spidey for 1 each. Shang reveals, misses Shape. He attacks with FSSA for one total. Shapes as Marvel. Punisher Rocket Blasts him for two. He moves up and punches Punisher for kill. Marvel moves up and punches Shang as Cap for one. Shang switches to Marvel and punches back for 2. Shazam for miss to Shang. Billy back on the board.
R6: Spidey drops Billy down the hole with Webslinger. Falling Damage kills him, but he Shazams to hit Spidey. Spidey attacks with Web slinger for 2. Marvel climbs ladder bases both. Punch to Shang for kill. Spidey Webslingers him down the hole again, one falling damage. Attack whiffs. Marvel climbs up ladder again. Punches Spidey. Spideysenses whiffs and so does Defense. Spidey killed.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Captain Marvel and Co. win. 6 wounds on Captain Marvel (Billy Batson).

_____________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: Oh, he is awesome. Really thought I was going to go 3-0 with him, but alas Spider-Man failed me in the last match. I think based on how close my games were that he might be better at 270. But I'm willing to also let him ride at 280. Ironically, the lowest point team he faced (with Punisher) is the one he lost to. He is so freaking fun. Love him! He is very well balanced and I think Soul Swap and the Soul Markers are the best thing about him. I wonder if he will become a go-to figure for every build? Now I am leaning toward leaving him at 280, possibly raising him. He is VERY draftable.
GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: His Defense doesn't suck on its own and his Special Power isn't bad on its own. But he can really take advantage of who is on the Battlefield with him, which is so much fun. My friends want to play against him again already!

Tests updated.

[Scapemage]

If he was showing that strong, stretching as far as 300 may be appropriate. I don't think we want Shang Tsung to be a character who appears in every army build.

[Lazy Orang]

Though I don't think it's strictly necessary, I wouldn't blink at seeing him at 300. I remember suggesting 290 earlier?

[Arkham]

I will try to run a set today. It’s probably not needed, but I’d like to have an informed take.

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Originally Posted by Arkham

I will try to run a set today. It’s probably not needed, but I’d like to have an informed take.

Definitely will help nail down his cost. He feels perfect cost-wise at 280 (quick details of other two tests- One life win and one life loss.) Problem is he is pretty easy to put in any Army as "back-up key piece". I'd love to see your mileage. Maybe I'm overestimating. I was thinking 290 tops.

[Arkham]

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Shang Tsung

___________________________________________________________

Army Test 1
Map: Custom
Units:
Shang Tsung(290), Star-Lord(250), Darkseid(380) (920)
vs.
The Warriors Three (920)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R1T3: 3 wounds on Hogun in 3 attacks. (FSSA - first 2 rolls were a skull, last was a blank)
R2T2: 4 wounds on Volstagg. (Darkseid + FSSA - 1 blank then 2 skulls)

Soul Steal:


Shape Assuming Sorcerer:


Notes:
R1T3: Volstagg puts 1 wound on Star-Lord.
R2T1: Fandral puts 2 wounds on Star-Lord.
R2T2: Fandral kills Star-Lord.
R3T1: Fandral puts 3 wounds on Shang. Volstagg puts 1 wound on Shang.
R3T2: Volstagg kills Shang.
R4T1: Hogun puts 3 wounds on Darkseid. Volstagg kills Darkseid(botch).


Hogun with 4/6 wounds. Fandral and Volstagg unwounded.

A bit one sided. Shang did some decent damage for sure using his special attack, but ultimately the other team just proved dominant. Star-Lord fell early, and Shang and Darkseid got swarmed. Never got a good opportunity to use Soul Steal as Shang was just trying to eliminate one of the threats since they were threatened early.

[Arkham]

Ran a game. I did notice one thing that needs altered, which is his special attack. It wouldn't make much sense to attack 3 different figures, then have the bonuses stack. So to get the bonuses, it should require those attacks be on that specific figure. So either we lock it to just 1 figure for all 3 attacks, or put in wording that only allows the bonus for skulls rolled against that figure this turn, so you can choose to do 2 on 1 figure then a 3rd on another, without the bonuses from the attacks on the other figure.

Other than that, I'm not worried about the design. Didn't get a chance to use Soul Steal, but I figure that part has been more of a focus already in testing so no issues there.

I'd say 280 or 290 is fair. No real preference. We should be good to wrap up once you decide.

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Heh, yeah, I agree. I actually played the SA that way without realizing that was not how it was written. I'm working on my write ups for the last two tests. Gonna try to be a little less specific because that sucker took me 2 hours to write up!
I am leaning toward 280 too.

[Scapemage]

Originally Posted by Spidey'tilIDie

Heh, yeah, I agree. I actually played the SA that way without realizing that was not how it was written. I'm working on my write ups for the last two tests. Gonna try to be a little less specific because that sucker took me 2 hours to write up!
I am leaning toward 280 too.

I've slowly learned how to make my testing more efficient and a lot of it comes from the write up. I used to detail every move on every turn, but now I play out the entire game and only record the unit's stats (such as when it deals a wound or activates an important power) and then type a one-paragraph summary of the game at the end. My 2-game normal playtests used to take ~3 hours, now I can get through them easily in 1.5 hours.

[Arkham]

Sounds like you streamlined like I did.