[Pod 1] PYRIA (Chandra Nalaar, Pyromancer) - Playtesting

[Flash_19]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_King

I really, really like the double fire line. 2 “rows” of 3-4 spaces each. That’s a very good twist on a classic ability. I could take or leave an explosion SA, even if I like the idea of two SAs.

Amen to this.

[The Long eared bat]

I guess she would be too powerful if she could summon and do 2 special attacks. All other summoners aren't offensive powerhouses. Having double fire line and explosion attacks mean you have 2 SAs that are revolved around figure clusters. Instead of an explosion attack how about a fire ball lob SA paired with a double fire line SA.

[Scytale]

I always sigh a bit when I see a "like an earlier power, but better!" design. Two firelines instead of one feel like that to me. Though two shorter firelines is significantly different, and interesting, especially if figures can only be affected once per turn. Double explosions excite me even less.

Synergy is far from necessary, but it isn't a bad thing. Far from it, if it's well done. If we went in the direction of Captain Stupendous's Dying Flame/Rekindled Flame concept for the cats, we could have her do the rekindling. For example: change Rekindle to be recharge instead of dying whenever they would receive wounds from lava fields or a power that does not affect Lava Resistant figures, and give this unit a power that does not affect Lava Resistant figures.

Fire Strike is fine, but uninteresting on its own. It would need to be put on a design that supports it in some way. (Not necessarily other powers either, even preferably not, but an overall design such as a mobile defender or a glass cannon.)

I'm not a fan of giving her a cheerleading ability that affects all figures with the Lava Resistant special power. Especially with a glyph in the (VC) game that gives figures lava resistance.

[lefton4ya]

I like either the double Fire Line or double Explosions attack.

FIRE LINES SPECIAL ATTACK. Range Special. Attack 3.
Choose 3 spaces in a straight line [CN]. All figures on those spaces that are in line of sight are affected by Fire Lines Special Attack. Roll 3 attack dice once for all affected figures. When using Fire Lines Special Attack you may attack one additional time but must choose a different line.

EXPLOSION SPECIAL ATTACKS. Range 4. Attack 3.
Choose a figure to attack. Any figures adjacent to the chosen figure are also affected by the Explosion Special Attacks. [CN] only needs a clear sight shot at the chosen figure. Roll 3 attack dice once for all affected figures. [CN] can be affected by his own Explosion Special Attack. When using EXPLOSION SPECIAL ATTACKS you may attack one additional time.

I also like Searing Intensity or some kind of engagement strike that Lava Resistance has an exception to. Maybe:

FIRE STRIKE
After moving and before attacking, you must roll the 20-sided die once for each figure adjacent to at [CN]. If you roll a 14 or higher, that figure receives 1 wound. Figures with the Lava Resistant special power are not affected by Fire Strike.

I could do with either summoning or movement bonding on Moltarns/Firecats. Another idea (also to help Obsidians as well as Firecats) is add extra defense or attack or even range to adjacent Motarns or figures with Lava Resistance:

FIRE INTENSITY
All friendly adjacent [Moltarns figures / figures with the Lava Resistance special power] may add one to their [range,] attack and defense.

The range is just an idea but understand if it is too much. We can decide of we want this power to affect just Moltarn or all Lava Resistant figures in the game (kinda makes her a "General" according to Heroscape Factions: Thematic Unit Groupings.

Well that is ate least 4 powers to think about.

[Pumpkin_King]

I sort of like Fire Intensity but again, I think we need to really drill down on not having that sort of specific and limited synergy, however much we may want it. Let’s make the firecats Moltarn and leave that space open for Moltarn synergy later for personal customs or something run through VC.

I also think two explosions is too much. If we went with an explosion option it should just be the one.

[The Long eared bat]

If she synergises with the fire cats via rekindling doesn't this make them too interdependent.

[Scytale]

Originally Posted by The Long eared bat

If she synergises with the fire cats via rekindling doesn't this make them too interdependent.

I'm not afraid of interdependencies. But no, it wouldn't have to, depending on the blaze mechanic. If they blaze out fast, then yes. But if they have a slower burnout, maybe remove a blaze token for +1 attack, then it's a softer synergy and the cats can function fine alone. Either way, this unit is fine alone.

[All Your Pie]

For the dual fireline, I think range 4 attack 3 feels about right to me. Doesn’t compete with Mimring’s range or dice output but will probably have a bit of an easier time hitting more figures at once. I also agree with not letting her double up - she should choose two lines when she uses the attack and roll dice once, rather than just getting to use the SA twice.

I’m intrigued enough by the rekindling concept that I would be willing to see what it looks like. The idea of Chandra burning through enemies while igniting her firecats in the same line of flame sounds quite interesting, but I’m not immediately sure how to implement that coherently.

[Scytale]

Originally Posted by All Your Pie

I’m intrigued enough by the rekindling concept that I would be willing to see what it looks like. The idea of Chandra burning through enemies while igniting her firecats in the same line of flame sounds quite interesting, but I’m not immediately sure how to implement that coherently.

Building around the current ideas, something like this for the cats:

BLAZE
At the start of the game place 3 Blaze markers on this Army Card. Before taking a turn with the Firecats, you may remove one Blaze marker to add 1 to their Move and Attack values.

REKINDLING FLAME
When a Firecat would take damage from lava fields or from a power that does not affect figures with the Lava Resistant special power, you may ignore all wounds and add a Blaze marker to this Army Card, to a maximum of 3 Blaze markers.

Then modify Chandras to something like:
BURNING HANDS SPECIAL ATTACK
Attack 3, Range Special
Choose 3 spaces in a straight line from Chandra. All figures on those spaces who are in line of sight are affected by Chandra's Burning Hands Special Attack. Roll 3 attack dice for all affected figures. Affected figures roll defense dice separately. After attacking with Burning Hands special attack, you may attack one additional time with Burning Hands special attack. Figures cannot be affected by Burning Hands Special Attack more than once per turn. Figures with the Lava Resistant special power are not affected by Burning Hands Special Attack.

[Jaur0n]

@Fakeraistlin your post gave me an idea I'm just throwing out there. We could do something after movement and before attack that rolls the 20 sided die and the result determines what kind of attack she does (being careful to word it not to create a loop). If we do 3 results we'd have to keep them fairly straight forward to avoid a huge text wall. I wonder if two might be better.

Something good like

1-10 double attack with range
11-20 you may attack all adjacent figures


Or something where most results are good, but some results are really good

1-17 double ranged attack
18-20 may attack all figures within X clear line of sight spaces

[Scytale]

Originally Posted by Jaur0n

@Fakeraistlin your post gave me an idea I'm just throwing out there. We could do something after movement and before attack that rolls the 20 sided die and the result determines what kind of attack she does (being careful to word it not to create a loop). If we do 3 results we'd have to keep them fairly straight forward to avoid a huge text wall. I wonder if two might be better.

Something good like

1-10 double attack with range
11-20 you may attack all adjacent figures


Or something where most results are good, but some results are really good

1-17 double ranged attack
18-20 may attack all figures within X clear line of sight spaces

That's fun, but you have to be careful with it, or the unit really suffers. Just play the Master of the Hunt to know how even a relatively small difference in the amount of range available is frustrating. As is, this first design is very contrary to itself. To ensure an attack, you will always have to play for the 11+, so you'll always force engagement. If you get it, 1-10 may just be less attacks. The range would only be useful on the turns you cannot get into engagement, in which case it's just a hope that you can attack.

[Fakeraistlin]

Heres another special for consideration.
Still reading custom guidelines (exactly what i was looking for btw) by scytale...

Fire Ring Burst

Instead of moving and attacking chandra can cast this special ability

On a roll of 1 chandra takes 1 damage.
On a roll of 2-12 All adjacent unit rolls seperately one die of dmg
On a roll of 13 to 19 do 1 damage to each adjacent unit.
On a roll of 20 do 2 damage to anything within range 2