The Book of Ursa Major

[Scapemage]

The Book of Ursa Major

C3G MARVEL WAVE 23
AROUND THE WORLD

Comic PDF

Mini PDF


The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Captain America set.
Its model number and name are #044 / Ursa Major.

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Character Bio - Russain mutants rarely lived past childhood in the 20th century, and Mikhail Ursus was one of the first to do so. A student to Pieter Phobos, Mikhail and his siblings were the only survivors to Phobos' scheme to achieve higher power. After briefly serving the Soviet Army, Ursus was given the codename Ursa Major as part of the Soviet Super Soldiers. Ursus later became a member of the Winter Guard and remains one of the most well-known Russain mutants.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Mutant, Ursa Major has these Mutant Synergies.
• As a Creature, Ursa Major has these Creature Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: Scapemage
• Second playtest: Gardevoir
• Third playtest: DocGlock
• Fourth playtest: Red Eyed Jedi
• Fifth playtest: Flame Gryphon
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by Scapemage

[Scapemage]

NAME = URSA MAJOR
SECRET IDENTITY = MIKHAIL URSUS

SPECIES = MUTANT
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = CREATURE
PERSONALITY = FEROCIOUS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 6
DEFENSE = 6

POINTS = 320

SCENT TRACKING
Ursa Major may move two additional spaces if he ends his movement adjacent to an opponent’s figure, or three additional spaces if he ends his movement adjacent to an opponent’s figure and does not attack this turn.

SNOW AND ICE ENHANCED MOVEMENT
Slippery Ice and Heavy Snow only count as 1 space when moving.

SUPER THROW 14
After attacking, you may choose an adjacent figure that is not huge. Roll the 20-sided die, subtracting 4 from the roll if the chosen figure has the Super Strength special power. If you roll 14 or higher, throw the figure by placing it on any empty space within 4 spaces of Ursa Major. After the figure is placed, roll one unblockable attack die for throwing damage. If the figure is thrown onto a level higher than the height of Ursa Major or onto water, do not roll for throwing damage. The thrown figure will not take any leaving engagement attacks.

SUPER STRENGTH

[A3n]

I don't know the character. I read through the wiki & there isn't anything there that would indicate Siberian Bear Claw as an appropriate addition above his normal strength.

Otherwise all looks fine, is he only 5 in height?

[johnny139]

Yeah, I'd drop the Bear Claw and just go with what you've got... maybe give him Snow and Ice Enhanced Movement to get the Soviet bit in there.

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Ursa Major has the mutant ability to transform himself into a large anthrophomorphic bear. While in this form, Ursa Major retains his human intelligence, personality and ability to speak, though his personality does become more feral and he begins to lose control over his human intelligence if he remains in his transformed state for several hours consecutively. Ursa Major was trained by the Soviet Military, and trained in the use of his powers by Professor Phobos, being a graduate of Professor Phobos's mutant training school.

While transformed, Ursa Major possesses superhuman strength, stamina and resistance to physical injury to a much greater degree than an actual bear of similar size possesses. His strength is sufficient enough to allow him to engage in a one-on-one battle with The Hulk and survive. His senses are also heightened to a superhuman degree, particularly his sense of smell that he can use to track a target by scent. Also, like a real bear, Ursa Major possesses non-retractable claws. These claws are relatively blunt, as they are with an actual bear, but can be used as effective weapons when coupled with his great strength.

Yeah, I'm with these guys. Doesn't sound like his claws are any great shakes. I'm fine with them being rolled into his normal attack, which should work at 6, or 7 at the very most.

[Hahma]

I agree that the claws are nothing worth a power for that couldn't just be part of his normal attack.

[quozl]

I agree with Johnny. I like replacing the claws with Snow and Ice Movement. Of course, he's going to be super fast on a snow map.

[IAmBatman]

I could get on board with Snow and Ice Movement.

[Scapemage]

SP Updated. I couldn't find Snow and Ice Enahanced Movement or anything similar in the Index (except Frost Giants, which have unwanted defense bonuses), does anybody have the wording for it?

I'll get to the initial sometime this week.

[quozl]

Snow and Ice Enhanced Movement

Slippery Ice and Heavy Snow only count as 1 space when moving.

[Scapemage]

Originally Posted by Scapemage

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Ursa Major.

- THEME TEST/ Check to see if there are any powers or stats on the test unit card that does not accurately reflect the theme or likeness of what the character would and could do. Also consider destructible objects, and whether or not this characters powers should affect them.
Pass.

- MIRROR TEST/ Check to see if the unit were played against itself, if there would be any loops that would upset the balance of the Game.
Pass.

- BONDING TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing Bonding abilities to make sure there are no continual Bonding possibilities that do not stop appropriately or do not stop at all. This is to prevent loops in Bonding.
Pass.

- SYNERGIES TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing synergies to make sure there are no factors that could break the game by making any unit too powerful or too weak.
Pass.

- POWER CHECK/ Consider the test unit and all existing units and all glyphs to compare to and check for any powers that could be over amplified and break the game. Each power must define when it takes place, who or what it affects, and What are the stipulations on the power if there are any.
Pass.

- FUN TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play.
Pass.

- FUN COMPETITIVE TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play against.
Pass.

- DRAFTING TEST/ Consider whether or not this design is worth drafting.
Pass.

- USAGE TEST/ Consider whether or not all of the powers on this card were used or at least usable.
Pass.

- STRATEGY TEST/ Consider whether or not the design offers any real strategy or interesting tactics to the overall game.
Pass.

Heavy Hitter or Mid-Level Hero Test
- Does it pass, Yes or NoYES.
- What should be the unit's point value? 360.
- Give a brief overview. Scent Tracking is great for engaging figures in the right positions, and Ursa's high life and attack give him ability to fight for long periods of time. Super Throw only sweetens the deal.

Spoiler Alert!

TEST 1
Map: All tests performed on Mayberry w/ heavy snow.
Units: Vs. Juggernaut (340).
A battle of brutes.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 3 wounds, Round 3, Turn 1.

TEST 2
Map: .
Units:Vs. Super Skrull (Kl'Rt) (340).
Another one down to the wire.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 4 wounds, Round 2, Turn 2.

TEST 3
Map: .
Units: Vs. Satanus (350).
Ursa used height to run away with it.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ wounds, Round 2, Turn 2.

TEST 4
Map: .
Units: Vs. Wendigo (350).
A lucky swing for Ursa.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 6 wounds, Round 1, Turn 3.

TEST 5
Map: .
Units: Vs. Captain Marvel (Billy) (360).
Another close struggle.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 6 wounds, Round 2, Turn 3.

TEST 6
Map: .
Units: Vs. Hercules (360).
Challenges raised the stakes on this one, but Hercules still fell.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 4 wounds, Round 2, Turn 3.

TEST 7
Map: .
Units:Vs. Executioner (370).
Executioner holds his title with strong hits.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Executioner w/ 5 wounds, Round 2, Turn 2.

TEST 8
Map: .
Units: Vs. Red Hulk (370).
Heat Markers really do work.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Red Hulk w/ 7 wounds, Round 2, Turn 3.

TEST 9
Map: .
Units: Vs. Abomination (360).
More lucky swings of the bat, and a lower Super Throw roll.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Abomination w/ 3 wounds, Round 2, Turn 1.

TEST 10
Map: .
Units: Vs. MODOK (360).
Designed Only For Killing proved effective.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 6 wounds, Round 3, Turn 3.

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Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or NoYES.
- What should be the unit's point value? 360-370.
- Give a brief overview. Ursa did well at first, but once he got surrounded by Warriors, he went down quickly to their strong attacks.
Map: .
Units: Vs. Gorilla City Warriors x3 (375).

Spoiler Alert!

Teaming up works apparently.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? 7/9 Gorilla City Warriors, Round 2, Turn 1.

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Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or NoYES.
- What should be the unit's point value? 360-370.
- Give a brief overview. Ursa's high attacks pierced the Parademons' defenses easily. To contrast, their low attacks did nothing aside from auto wounds.
Map: .
Units: Vs. Parademon Shock Troopers x4.5 (9 figures) (360).

Spoiler Alert!

Apokoliptian Weaponry was very beneficial to the Troopers, but not enough.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ursa Major w/ 3 wounds, Round 4, Turn 1.

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Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or NoYES.
- What should be the unit's point value? 360-380.
- Give a brief overview. Ursa Major dealt plenty of damage this game. His ravage claws tore many enemies apart. Scent Tracking Helped him engage early, where he needs to be, and Super Throw worked to toss a few enemies around for some extra damage.
Map: Mayberry w/ heavy snow.
Units: Ursa Major (360), Frankenstein, and Dragon Man (1000) vs. Cable, Deadpool, Diamondback, Silver Samurai, and SHIELD Sniper (1000).

Spoiler Alert!

Wounds start flying instantly as most of both teams run straight into the fight. Diamondback and Silver Samurai are wounded, and Dragon Man is killed. Ursa Major and Frankenstein team up on Silver Samurai, and Frankenstein gets credited for the kill. Soon after, Diamondback falls to Ursa Major. Ursa bashes Deadpool, but misses his Super Throw damage, so he doesn't quite die. Ursa Major finishes the job with a little help from Frankenstein, leaving Cable alone with his Sniper. Cable gets quite a few hits in, nearly killing Ursa Major, but he is finished off. The Sniper easily kills Ursa, but just as easily, Frankenstein finishes the game.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Team 1: Frankenstein w/ 1 wound.

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Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or NoYES.
- What should be the unit's point value? 370.
- Give a brief overview. Again, Ursa Major dealt heavy damage. Not counting Thanos damage, he killed 3 heroes by himself. Scent Tracking is great to simply get up there and kill without worry, with Super Throw for support. Definitely Abomination level, plus.
Map: Mayberry with heavy snow.
Units: Ursa Major (360), Magneto II, Destiny, and Strong Guy (1005) vs. Batman Beyond, Thanos (C3G), Nomad, Robin (Damian Wayne), and Ragman (1000).

Spoiler Alert!

Magneto II recruits Ursa Major to be an Outcast this game. Ursa grabs height fast, and Robin gets an opportunity to wound him. The fight locks up early, as characters attempt to find good brawling positions. Strong Guy and Ursa Major take on most of the other team head first, but no wounds are dealt for a while. Ursa throws Ragman successfully for some damage, and Thanos kills Robin himself via Strong Guy's power. Ragman is killed by Magneto, giving the Mutants an edge. Ursa Major beats Nomad into the ground, almost, and Thanos begins to have trouble. Thanos finally hits Strong Guy hard as Nomad dies. Magneto begins chucking him around, and Ursa suffers some damage as Batman engages. Ursa has no problems killing Batman however, leaving just Thanos. A huge fight ensues, with everyone dishing out hits rapidly. Fortunately, Magneto can hit Magnetic Assault rolls, and Thanos is killed swiftly.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Team 1: Magneto II w/ 4 wounds, Ursa Major w/ 3 wounds, Strong Guy w/ 4 wounds, and Destiny unharmed.

This is finally here. Should be around to Thorbuster tomorrow.

I love him. He's simply a brute with some synergy tags. I see no problems, so I'll throw 24 hours on the clock!

[johnny139]

What price point are you looking at here?

He seems a bit high price-wise, but with Wendigo at 350 I suppose that's fair.