The Book of General Zod

[Lazy Orang]

- Theme Test - Inconclusive - Don’t know the character, but from what I’ve gleaned, this feels right, except I wonder if his stats ought to be a bit stronger? I thought he was just about one of the stronger Kryptonians, only really falling short of Kal-El. 6 Life feels a little low - I could see that going up to 7 fairly easily, if you wanted to keep him higher than 350.
- Mirror Test - Pass
- Bonding Test - Pass - Finally his synergies are actually good.
- Synergies Test - Pass - See above
- Power Check - Pass - His synergy’s good, but it’s honestly doing a lot to make up for the Kryptonian Soldiers being overcosted to start with, and his benefits for them are probably the strongest part - it works out, all told.
- Fun Test - Definte Pass - New Krypton’s a fun faction to play! They actually feel organised and military, which I love.
- Fun Competitive Test - Pass - They can be tough to claw through, but they’re beatable.
- Drafting Test - Pass, this is a faction I’d actually strongly consider taking and (gasp) testing with from here one out.
- Usage Test - Pass - None of the bullet points of General of New Krypton fail to be used, useful or usable anymore. He’s great.
- Strategy Test - Pass - Making the most out of his combined arms force of various Kryptonians is very strategic - especially the Spies.


Name Of The Playtest Unit: General Zod

Army Test 1
Map: Ruined City by Leaf_It (no glyphs)
Armies:
General Zod (360), Eradicator, Ursa, 2x Kryptonian Infiltrator (1,990 points)
vs.
Superman (vIII), Martian Manhunter (vII), Sub-Zero, Silk Spectre (1,990 points)

Spoiler Alert!

Overview of General Zod’s performance:
Damage inflicted through normal attacks: Two wounds on Sub-Zero, one wound on Silk Spectre, 4 wounds on Superman
Kryptonians activated for a full turn: General Zod four times, Eradicator three times.
Kryptonians moved: Kryptonian Infiltrators four times, Ursa three times
Times Spy effect used: Eight (?) Times (I honestly lost count by the end I used it so much)
Wounds inflicted through Spy effect: 5 wounds on J’onn, 2 wounds on Sub-Zero

Round One

The Justice League claim the initiative and J’onn flies forwards.
Two Kryptonian Infiltrators fly up to J’onn, and Zod then commands them to strike him stealthily, one of them inflicting a wound.
Sub-Zero charges a Kryptonian Infiltrator and strikes her, hard, inflicting a wound despite her exceptional defence.
The wounded Infiltrator stumbles to high ground, and Ursa flies up next to Sub-Zero, on high ground. The spies strike with stealth and guile, inflicting a wound on J’onn and one on Sub-Zero.
J’onn burns a marker to take command, and Sub-Zero blasts the Infiltrator on low ground with ice before sliding under and behind her, and ripping her head off with one brutal blow. Fatality! J’onn punches the other Infiltrator, inflicting a wound.
The Infiltrator flies away from J’onn and next to Sub-Zero, and Ursa flies up to J’onn. Zod flies forwards and claims height before striking Sub-Zero, commanding him to Kneel Before Zod. Sub-Zero throws up an Ice Clone, but still receives two wounds.


Round Two

New Krypton claims the initiative. The spies strike stealthily, and while Ursa fails, the Infiltrator strikes Sub-Zero for a wound. Zod attempts to strike Sub-Zero, but Superman burns a marker and Silk Spectre runs in to protect him, taking a wound from Zod’s blow.
Ursa flies up to J’onn and Sub-Zero and Eradicator flies forwards, engages J’onn and burns through two wound markers to blast J’onn, inflicting a wound and healing Zod for a wound with a solar transfer.
Sub-Zero blasts Zod before punching him, but cannot harm the Kryptonian.
Ursa stabs J’onn and the Infiltrator stabs Silk Spectre. Eradicator flies north, but takes a blow from J’onn in doing so. He burns through one wound in his body and incinerates Silk Spectre, killing her, and healing Zod and the Infiltrator for a wound with a Solar Transfer.
J’onn punches Ursa, but fails to harm her.


Round Three

New Krypton claims the initiative. Ursa attempts to stab J’onn, but he phases through. Zod attempts to strike down Sub-Zero, but Superman flies in to save him, and takes two wounds from the blow.
J’onn burns through another marker to take command. He strikes Ursa, inflicting two wounds. Superman flies away, retrieving Sub-Zero from combat and punching Zod from low ground, inflicting three wounds with a brutal blow.
Ursa stabs J’onn for a wound. Eradicator flies up to Superman and burns through his penultimate life point to blast him with Solar Energy, inflicting what would be two wounds were it not for his immunity to solar energy. Eradicator’s solar energy then energises Superman, Zod, Ursa and the surviving Infiltrator.
Superman strikes Zod, who blocks his blow.
Zod strikes Superman, but inspired by Superman’s example Sub-Zero shoves the Kryptonian aside and stands in front of the blow, throwing up an Ice Clone. Sub-Zero survives the blow, but fails to harm Zod. Ursa stabs J’onn, inflicting a wound.
Superman flies in and punches Zod with a deadly blow, inflicting three wounds and nearly felling the General of New Krypton.

Round Four

Ursa stabs J’onn for another wound, and Zod strikes Superman, inflicting two wounds.
Huntress takes out a vine, and Catgirl achieves nothing.
J’onn burns his last marker and takes command, punching Ursa for two wounds. Superman then strikes Zod hard, knocking him clean out.
Ursa engages Superman and stabs him with a Kryptonite Dagger, inflicting two wounds and leaving him bleeding out, beaten and close to death. She herself takes a wound from the Kryptonite radiation.
Superman claims height and punches the Kryptonian Infiltrator, inflicting two wounds and knocking her back four spaces.
Ursa slits Superman’s throat with a kryptonite dagger, but herself dies seconds later to the lethal kryptonite radiation.

Round Five

New Krypton claims the initiative. Eradicator punches Sub-Zero, but the Lin-Kuei throws up an Ice Clone which protects him and finishes Eradicator off.
J’onn repositions and attacks the Infiltrator’s mind, eliminating her as a threat and ensuring Earth’s safety... for now.

Justice League victorious - J’onn J’onzz 6/7 wounds, Sub-Zero 4/5 wounds

Overview: Okay, I'll be honest, I forgot the Infiltrator’s Infiltrate ability for most of the game. That being said, I love Zod now! That felt like a proper fight, and his force felt like a proper, strong army. I look forward to giving him a go with some Soldiers, but the Spy pairing was actually a tonne of fun! I love that third bullet point, it’s really effective. Zod was lucky here to be able to claim height and basically have the battle revolve around him, where he could get his height bonus and make full use of Kneel Before Zod, but still, the Justice League prevailed, though narrowly. Zod is a great combination of leader and champion for your force, having great command skills and being a scary enough fighter to challenge plenty of other titans... especially if his minions make sure it’s not a fair fight. I’m really liking New Krypton as a faction right now, at least on that showing.

Army Test 2
Map: Uncharted Jungle by antmarchingroves (No Glyphs)
Armies;
General Zod (350), Eradicator, 3x Kryptonian Soldiers, 2x Kryptonian Infiltrators (1,550 points)
vs.
Ronan, Quasar, Noh-Var, 2x Kree Captain, 5x Kree Scout, 7x Kree Soldier (1,550 points)

Spoiler Alert!

Overview of General Zod’s performance:
Damage inflicted through normal attacks: 3 Kree Soldiers killed, 1 wound on Ronan, 2 wounds on Noh-Varr, 2 wounds on a Kree Captain, 2 Kree Scouts killed
Kryptonians activated for a full turn: Kryptonian Soldier once, Eradicator four times, Kryptonian Soldier once, General Zod seven times, Kryptonian Infiltrator once
Kryptonians moved: Kryptonian Soldiers ten times (eight times with attacks, five times without actually moving), General Zod once, Kryptonian Infiltrators five times
Times Spy effect used: Eight times
Damage inflicted through Spy effect: 1 wound on Ronan, 3 wounds on Kree Captains, 2 Kree Soldiers killed, 1 Kree Scout killed, 1 wound on Noh-Varr

In the name of the Supremor, by the glory of Hala, General Dru-Zod is hereby Accused of crimes against the Kree Empire. Ronan shall carry out his sentence.



Round One

New Krytpon claims the initiative and three soldiers advance on Zod’s orders.
A Kree Scout advances and fires an ineffective shot at a Kryptonian Soldier. Quasar advances and blasts a Kryptonian Soldier, inflicting a devastating three wounds and leaving him close to death.
The two healthy Kryptonian Soldiers fly up and engage Quasar, striking her - one inflicts one wound and the other inflicts two. Eradicator then flies forwards.
The advanced Kree Scout teleports a Kree Captain to his location, but lacks the space to teleport anyone else. He then shoots a Kryptonian Soldier in melee combat, but to no avail. Ronan flies forwards, standing beside Quasar and striking the Kryptonian Soldier on higher ground - he only inflicts one wound thanks to Kryptonian Defence, but knocks him into the Kree Captain, inflicting a wound on each of them.
The two Kryptonian Soldiers in melee combat strike Ronan, one of them inflicting a wound. Eradicator advances, drains himself for a wound and blasts Ronan, inflicting two wounds and healing the two wounded Soldiers with an energy transfer.
A Kree Scout advances up the western flank, firing a flanking shot into the melee, but to no avail. Quasar strikes the wounded Kryptonian Soldier on equal ground with her, killing him in one blow.


Round Two

The Kree Empire claims the initiative. The Kree Scout next to Quasar extricates Ronan from melee combat, bringing him to higher ground, before firing an ineffective shot at a Kryptonian Soldier. Quasar strikes the Kryptonian Soldier in melee combat, inflicting two wounds.
Eradicator flies to height, drains himself for a wound and blasts Quasar - she siphons the solar energy, healing a wound, but it also recharges the two surviving Soldiers. The two surviving soldiers engage Quasar, one inflicting a wound with Horo-Kanu Combat and the other just punching her for another wound, leaving her beaten down and near death.
The Kree Scout on the western flank teleports two Kree Soldiers to his location before shooting a Kryptonian Soldier, inflicting a wound. Quasar finishes this Kryptonian off.
The last surviving Kryptonian Soldier smashes Quasar in the abdomen before crushing her head, bringing her down. Zod and an infiltrator advance.
The Kree Scout on the western flank teleports a Solidier and the Captain from reserve to his location before firing an ineffective shot at the last Kryptonian Soldier. The other Captain runs up and engages the last Soldier, shooting him in melee and from height, with Ronan’s leadership, and inflicting two wounds.
A Kryptonian Infiltrator flies up to Ronan, while the last Soldier strikes Ronan from low ground, inflicting one wound. Zod flies to height and shoots a Kree Soldier dead.

Round Three

The Infiltrator in reserve infiltrates herself next to Ronan.
The Kree Empire claims the initiative. The Sout to the west teleports Ronan and a Soldier to his location before firing an ineffective shot at the surviving soldier. Ronan moves next to Zod and forces him to low ground with his Universal Weapon, before striking him with it, inflicting two wounds.
Two Kryptonian Infiltrators fly next to Ronan and attempt to stab him - one does so, and inflicts a wound, leaving him close to destruction.
Ronan pushes two Kryptonian Infiltrators backwards, before striking Zod with his Universal Weapon, failing to harm him. Three Kree Soldiers march next to Ronan, and three more march from reserve.
Zod strikes Ronan, but Ronan blocks his blow. The Infiltrators attempt to strike, but it is to no avail.
Ronan strikes Zod for a wound with his Universal Weapon, and five Kree Soldiers open fire, inflicting two wounds on a Kryptonian Infiltrator.
Eradicator repositions and blasts Ronan with an attack of 4, draining himself. He fails to hurt Ronan, but reenergises Zod, a Soldier and an Infiltrator. The Infiltrator’s strike, one missing, one burying a dagger in a Captain’s abdomen, inflicting a wound.

Round Four

New Krypton claims the initiative, and Zod cuts down Ronan, eliminating the Kree Empire’s first turn. The infiltrators strike, killing a Kree Captain and a Kree Soldier.
The Kree Scout on height teleptorts the surviving Captain and Noh-Varr to his location, before shooting the wounded infiltrator and inflicting two wounds. Noh-Varr then fires two shots at the surviving Kryptonian Soldier, inflicting two wounds.
Eradicator repositions, burns two wounds and blasts Noh-Varr with a solar flare, inflicting a wound and energising Zod, the Soldier and the Infiltrator. The wounded Infiltrator flies behind enemy lines while the surviving Soldier strikes Noh-Varr, inflicting a wound.
Noh-Varr activates White Running and runs through the Kryptonian lines, inflicting a wound on the unharmed Infiltrator, one on Zod and killing Eradicator before engaging Zod on height. He commands three Kree Soldiers to reposition to height.
The Kryptonian Spies strike, one slitting a Kree Scout’s throat while another achieves nothing. Zod strikes Noh-Varr, but Noh-Varr blocks.
Noh-Varr strikes Zod, inflicting a wound, before commanding two Kree Soldiers to open fire on Zod, achieving nothing.

Round Five

New Krypton claims the initiative. Zod strikes Noh-Varr, inflicting a wound normally before knocking him into the masonry, inflicting another wound. The Infiltrators strike, one driving her knife into the Captain’s stomach.
Noh-Varr activates White Running and runs through the surviving Kryptonians, inflicting a wound on an Infiltrator and on the Soldier, before commanding four soldiers to open fire - the volley is devastating and lucky, blowing away the Soldier and Infiltrator that Noh-Varr hurt.
The last Infiltrator stabs Noh-Varr in the back before Zod flies up and lays him low, eliminating the remainder of the Kree round.
The last Infiltrator cuts a Soldier’s throat before Zod strikes the surviving Kree Captain, who evades the blow.

Round Six

New Krypton claims the initiative, and the surviving Infiltrator flies towards two Scouts, striking twice and cutting two down.
The Scout on the front lines teleports a Soldier and the other surviving Scout next to him, before shooting the Infiltrator to no avail. The other Scout also fires a shot at her, killing her with a head-shot.
Zod kills the last Captain.
A Scout and a Soldier open fire on Zod, but he just shrugs off their shots.
Zod shoots down a Scout.
A Scout and a Soldier - again - open fire, but to no avail.

Round Seven

The survivng Kree claim the initiative and open fire, inflicting a wound on Zod.
Zod flies up to the last Scout and cuts him down from low ground.
A Soldier opens fire on Zod, but to no avail.
Zod murders a Soldier.
Another Soldier tries desperately - and in vain - to fight back.
Zod kills another.

Round Eight

Zod claims the initiative and kills another Soldier.
The last surviving Kree opens fire in desperation. It goes about as well as you’d expect.
Zod executes the last surviving Kree, claiming victory for New Krypton.

New Krypton Victorious, General Zod 4/6 wounds

Overview: A victory for New Krypton! They’re honestly feeling good now, at least to me.

Thoughts On The Tested Unit's Cost, Balance, & Draftibility:

I think I’ve already said most of what I wanted to - he’s great now, I’m really happy with this faction.

[IAmBatman]

Thanks! That's the eighth test linked in the OP. @Lazy Orang I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a proposal to move this forward. Want to do the honors?

[Lazy Orang]

What precisely is it I'd be proposing? 350 with the current draft?

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by Lazy Orang

What precisely is it I'd be proposing? 350 with the current draft?

Yes. I'd quote the version of the draft we put up for playtesting with the cost at 350 and propose we move to Final Editing with that version. Tag the Heroes and if it passes we'll update the SP for art.

[Lazy Orang]

Very well. I propose approving this version! (Though I still think there are merits to a slightly higher cost with a higher life)

NAME = GENERAL ZOD
SECRET IDENTITY = DRU-ZOD

SPECIES = KRYPTONIAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = GENERAL
PERSONALITY = EGOMANIACAL

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 6

POINTS = 350

GENERAL OF NEW KRYPTON
After revealing an Order Marker on this card and instead of taking a turn normally, you may do up to two of the following:
* Take a turn with 1 Unique Kryptonian Hero you control.
* Move up to 2 Kryptonian Heroes you control. Then, you may make an immediate attack with any Kryptonian Soldier that moved.
* One at a time, for each Kryptonian Spy you control, choose a figure engaged with that Kryptonian Spy and roll 1 unblockable attack die against that figure.
Each option may only be chosen once per player turn, and a figure cannot move or take a turn if it has previously moved this turn. General Zod may be the chosen Hero.

KNEEL BEFORE ZOD
When Zod attacks an adjacent figure, roll two additional attack dice and if Zod has height advantage, the adjacent defending figure rolls two fewer defense dice.

KRYPTONIAN DEFENSE
When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from a figure that is not a Kryptonian, if at least one shield is rolled, all blanks rolled count as extra shields.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

@johnny139 , @Yodaking , @japes , @Arch-vile , @Soundwarp SG-1 , @Lord Pyre

[Karat]

[Lord Pyre]

yea

[johnny139]

Yea

Would prefer higher points, because I always prefer higher points, but not enough to argue over it. He's definitely not too good.

[Soundwarp SG-1]

yea

[IAmBatman]

[IAmBatman]

@Yodaking @japes @Arch-vile

[japes]

yea