The Book of Demogorgon Stalker

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by Soundwarp SG-1

Might be better to just have the Upside Down as its own map and have some of the stuff currently on this card as default rules for that map, there's some stuff in sanctum that works like that.

Doesn't come out for a month, though. How to communicate effective mechanics here without spoilering too much?

[Splash]

So should they just have some sort of portal/teleporting power that also works with anywhere that is considered "part of the battlefield". Or would that not work with Angstrom's place or like a future Dr Strange/Xavier Astral Plane/Psychic Plane map or anything else.

[Splash]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

Yeah, I was thinking that too. And gives a potential Mindflayer and Eleven something to play off as well.

As I understand it, more Stranger Things stuff is not approved currently.
If we went ahead with attempt #2ish we could cut
" and this Demogorgon starts the game on any empty Upside Down space. " for more space and they could start in the starting zone, although it might not be quite as thematic
What is the stacking issue?

[IAmBatman]

As worded, I believe the line I bolded would trigger for each Demogorgon you controlled. I'm not sure that's exactly a problem, though, as it also gives people more chances to escape more quickly? But if someone kept hitting skulls, they could die fast.

[Splash]

Hmm, if they were Commons it wouldn't be an issue, you could just take a turn with whichever one got out.

[Splash]

THE UPSIDE DOWN
Start the game with one seven-hex dungeon tile, called The Upside Down, for all Demogorgons you control and place it near the battlefield. The Upside Down is considered part of the battlefield and this Demogorgon starts the game on any empty Upside Down space. At the beginning of each round, each player must roll an unblockable attack die against each figure they control that occupies the Upside Down. If they do not roll a skull, they may place that figure on any empty space that is not in the Upside Down and take a turn with it. Figures placed with this special power never take leaving engagement attacks and figures with The Upside Down and Environmental Suit special powers do not receive wounds from this special power.

HUNTING GROUNDS
At the end of the round, you may place this Demogorgon on any empty Upside Down space. Before placing this Demogorgon this way, you may choose an adjacent figure. After placing this Demogorgon this way, you may place the chosen figure adjacent to this Demogorgon, on any empty space. Figures moved by this special power never take leaving engagement attacks.

Can't sleep tonight, thought I'd give this a mild rehash. I think I do like the unblockable wound or escape more than a 20 sided die roll cause the I'm pretty sure the air there is just toxic and inorganic stuff seems to degrade there as well.
I put beginning of round in Upside down to differentiate from end of round in Hunting grounds and maybe cause less confusion. And it makes sense to me as that's how the show opens and some big moments start with Will trying to come back and/or the Demogorgon appearing.
Taking a turn does give them an edge right off the bat, but say they manage to get Superman or Professor X or somebody and they escape and can take a free turn start of round that's something to think about and can help balance the possible heavy auto wounding too. "After rolling initiative" and/or "before revealing order markers" may need to be put in there.
If there is any space left maybe a piece or two of horrifying Presence could be rolled into Hunting Grounds idk. The Alien Drone is a kind of similar monster and doesn't have a presence power so maybe it's alright if that doesn't make the cut.
Overall this would be swingy, but I think it could work.

[LordVenoc]

How much actual fighting/combat happens in the Upside Down? Feels like they could maybe get pulled to the card and have a generally similar effect.

[IAmBatman]

That second addition in red is a major no-no. A bunch of turns unattached to Order Markers? That's a recipe for mechanical chaos.

[Splash]

Oof, what about the making them Common Heroes idea then?

Oh, we could just put "before placing order markers" in and that would do it, right?

THE UPSIDE DOWN
Start the game with one seven-hex dungeon tile, called The Upside Down, for all Demogorgons you control and place it near the battlefield. The Upside Down is considered part of the battlefield and this Demogorgon starts the game on any empty Upside Down space. At the beginning of each round, before placing Order markers, each player must roll an unblockable attack die against each figure they control that occupies the Upside Down. If they do not roll a skull, they may place that figure on any empty space that is not in the Upside Down. Figures placed with this special power never take leaving engagement attacks and figures with The Upside Down and Environmental Suit special powers do not receive wounds from this special power.

Ugh, I am tired.

[Margloth]

Does the Upside Down really need to be a separate battlefield? I'd look to Freddy Kreuger for mechanics here and just have him go to his card, since Stranger Things definitely apes the 80's slasher/horror feel.

A light touch mechanic, but what if when he goes to his card, he can cause damage to other figures not on the battlefield? Thematically he's hunting them in the upside down (or whatever dimension is being represented). Would give him a cool niche too, which would probably help his draftability, since he doesn't have a clear role now.

Guy who brings a new (tiny)battlefield to the game? Seen it before.
Sneaky monster who goes to his card and hunts Freddy, Atom, Nick Fury, Shadow Thief, Doomsday, and other "goes to card" figures? Awesome!

[IAmBatman]

I think get to a somewhat settled place and ask for Hero weigh-in.

Edit: Margloth, do you think you could take a shot at writing up what that'd look like? I'm also of the view that if we can do it without the separate battlefield, it's probably worth avoiding that complexity.

[Margloth]

Hmmmm, something like this?:

THE UPSIDE DOWN
This Demogorgon starts the game on this card instead of on the battlefield. Before taking a turn with this Demogorgon, if this Demogorgon started its turn on this card, you may place it on any empty space on the battlefield. You cannot place it adjacent to any figures or glyphs. At the end of the round, if this Demogorgon is unengaged you may place it on this card.

INTERDIMENSIONAL HUNTING
[At the end of the round if the Demogorgon is on this card?] [At the end of your player turn if the Demogorgon is on this card?] [After placing this Demogorgon on this card?] you may choose one figure in play who is not occupying a space on the battlefield and roll 1 unblockable attack die against that figure.