The Book of Crossbones

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

Not my cup of tea. Makes it so an expensive and 'strong' or 'tough' 1 life squad figure like the Lex Corp Security is treated as weak and easily bullied by him, which feels off. Just because Superman, Thor, or the Hulk have been put through the ringer by others and is down to their last life, Crossbones shouldn't suddenly be more likely to wound them.

Though I think there's a meta argument to be made about Heroes being thematically stronger than squads in general, would you like the power more if it were restricted to Unique Heroes?

[japes]

Still goes back to allowing him to bully Superman with the right combo of height and boosters. Which I think we already got past.

What about a new take.

If Crossbones does not roll any shields on his attack roll and the defending adjacent figure does not have SS, the defending figure rolls one fewer defense.

I sort of abstract the shields rolled during attack are the attacker being more cautious so he’s brutally throwing caution to the wind. Plus attack boosters make it more likely to roll shields. Makes it a trade off. Sort of how we dealt with a figure getting released next month...(tease)

[IAmBatman]

Hmm, what if we just aped Brutal Double Attack a bit more?

BRUTALITY
Figures without Super Strength subtract 1 from their defense dice when attacked by Crossbones with an adjacent normal attack. After an adjacent normal attack with Crossbones, if he inflicted one or more wounds on the defending figure and that figure has only one Life remaining, roll an unblockable attack die against that figure.

[japes]

That’s fine with me.

[Karat]

Honestly , the opening bit is fine, but I'd probably change up the secondary effect. Go something more like:

BRUTALITY
Figures without Super Strength subtract 1 from their defense dice when attacked by Crossbones with an adjacent normal attack. After an adjacent normal attack with Crossbones, if he inflicted one or more wounds on the defending figure, roll an unblockable attack die against that figure.

Just seems more brutal.

[Yodaking]

It feels like we are going in a different direction than where we started out at. I'd prefer to stick with the concept of him bullying those weaker than him rather then just him being brutal vs any and everyone. It gives him a unique feel and role to play.

[MrNobody]

I think the Bats version seems cool, if a bit wordier than I’d like. Seems like there’s interest in mirroring BDA, and it honestly will make him way better against weaker figures than stronger ones.

[johnny139]

Yeah, I'd really like this one to be a softer touch. Whether that triggers on attack number or defense or what have you, sure, but I don't want more than one clause and I don't want more than one sentence.

[IAmBatman]

What about just this, then?

BRUTALITY
Figures without Super Strength subtract 1 from their defense dice when attacked by Crossbones with an adjacent normal attack.

Edit: And agreed on being wordier than I'd prefer, but I had to go with precedent.

[johnny139]

Yeah, that would work for me - though the non-SS restriction has a lot less "pop" for me, theme-wise, than the "lower attack/defense" stuff. I don't really see the Brutality coming through there, since he's getting the same advantage against Captain America as he is that one Civilian figure that's two little kids, y'know?

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Hey, those two little kids are the monster patrol! They’re hardcore AF.

[Karat]

Originally Posted by johnny139

Yeah, that would work for me - though the non-SS restriction has a lot less "pop" for me, theme-wise, than the "lower attack/defense" stuff. I don't really see the Brutality coming through there, since he's getting the same advantage against Captain America as he is that one Civilian figure that's two little kids, y'know?

it doesn't seem overly brutal there, but is fine.