The Book of Bane

[Griffin]

Cool.

[Good Pig]

Like the updates here. Good work.

[IAmBatman]

Awesome. I'm hoping to start some heavy hitters for him some time today.

[Hahma]

Originally Posted by Good Pig

Like the updates here. Good work.

I agree, nice simple, clean and cool

[IAmBatman]

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT (BANE)

- 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 though Bane breaking Bane’s back would just be wrong.

- 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 to 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 I didn’t actually get any use out of Tactician, but I’m confident I could have.

- STRATEGY TEST/ Consider whether or not the design offers any real strategy or interesting tactics to the overall game.
PASS Choosing when to use Back Breaker can be fun, as well as trying to position for Tactician. I always rolled for Venom (though maybe I shouldn’t have some times …).

Heavy Hitter or Mid-Level Hero Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 200
- Give a brief overview. Sandman and Gambit felt just a notch better, though Bane squeezed in a couple of lucky wins. Back Breaker is at its strongest in one-on-ones because it’s always available for the kill. We’ll see if Tactician’s usage helps enough in army tests to offset Back Breaker being worth less there.

Spoiler Alert!

TEST 1
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Black Canary (190)
Black Canary got in 2 attacks – Canary Cry for one wound and then rolled 2 skulls on her normal attack, but they were blocked. Bane got +1 and +2 to his attacks with Venom and rolled well. Back Breaker didn’t come into play.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 1 wound wins Turn 1 Round 2.

TEST 2
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Black Canary (190)
Canary unleashed Fists of Fury. Bane rolled well for Venom, adding 2 dice each time, but he had poor attack rolls and couldn’t keep pace with Black Canary’s offensive output.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Black Canary with Full Life wins Turn 2 Round 2.

TEST 3
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Batman (200)
Batman got height early and held it, using this advantage to finish Bane with ease.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Batman with 1 wound wins Turn 2 Round 2.

TEST 4
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Batman (200)
Bane took one wound for Venom damage but otherwise did well. Bane put all four wounds on Batman with his last attack, thanks to Batman missing Evasive Strike, whiffing against a 3 skull attack, and then getting finished with Back Breaker.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 2 wounds wins Turn 1 Round 2.

TEST 5
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Killer Croc (200)
Bane hit his first 20 for Venom in this game, but can’t land a wound on that attack thanks to Croc rolling 4 shields. Croc takes advantage of the swamp on the map to try his Death Roll, but Bane holds height advantage as a result and it proves to be enough of an advantage for the win.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 2 wounds wins Turn 3 Round 2.

TEST 6
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Killer Croc (200)
Bane takes one wound from Venom, and finished Croc with Back Breaker here.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 5 wounds wins Turn 2 Round 2.

TEST 7
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Sandman (210)
Bane fails his last two Venom rolls here to kill himself off.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Sandman with 2 wounds wins Turn 3 Round 2.

TEST 8
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Sandman (210)
Bane puts 4 wounds on Sandman with his last attack, then uses Back Breaker to end the game.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 3 wounds wins Turn 2 Round 2.

TEST 9
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Gambit (210)
Gambit gets initiative for Round 2. He put 4 wounds on Bane with his first special attack (rolling 2 skulls once). Bane only gets in 2 attacks overall (with 5 and 6 dice) but can’t manage much damage.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Gambit with 1 wound wins Turn 1 Round 2.

TEST 10
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Gambit (210)
Gambits first special attack lands 5 wounds (2 skulls twice). Bane attacks with 6 dice, lands 3 wounds, then uses Back Breaker.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bane with 5 wounds wins Turn 2 Round 1.

_____________________________________________________________

Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 190?
- Give a brief overview. Cops usually don’t earn their value without anyone to protect, but Bane’s defense of 4 made him more vulnerable to wounds from them than most heroes are.
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Beat Cops x3 (195)

Spoiler Alert!

The Cops seemed to hit an unusually high number of 2 skull rolls. Bane took one wound from Venom.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Cops with 2 figures left win Turn 3 Round 3.

_____________________________________________________________

Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 160?
- Give a brief overview. Bane had two chances to punch out the third Hawkman but couldn’t muster a strong enough roll.
Map: Custom
Units: Bane vs. Hawkmen of Thanagar x2 (200)

Spoiler Alert!

Bane puts the last two wounds on himself with Venom, which also gives him fewer attack dice to throw at the Hawkmen.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Hawkmen win with one squad left, Turn 3 Round 2.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 170?
- Give a brief overview. Killer Croc took out most of the heroes and Bane struggled cleaning up the squaddies.
Map: Custom
Units: Arkham Inmates x3 (180), Killer Croc (200), Bane (200), Hush (220) (800) vs. Beat Cops x4 (260), Batman (200), Robin (120), Oracle (110), Bad Cops x2 (110) (800)

Spoiler Alert!

The Beat Cops tore through the Inmates here, taking minimum casualties. Bane had minimal impact, trying to clean up after Killer Croc took out Robin and Batman in about three attacks total. Cops took down Croc with some height and boosts from Oracle. Then they repeated this formula with Bane. Bane took out only 2 Beat Cops before falling in Round 9. He took 1 wound from Venom. Hush took out the last 2 Beat Cops and 2 Bad Cops, but the Bad Cops (backed by Oracle) were very nasty to him.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Oracle and 1 squad of Bad Cops win Turn 2 Round 11.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 170? (could have been 180/190 with better play)
- Give a brief overview. Bane didn’t perform that well here, but I think I just haven’t found the right mix for him. I also realized after playing this that I could have used Back Breaker to finish off Huntress and I didn’t. Had I, this would have been a lot closer.
Map: Custom
Units: Ra’s al Ghul (200), Bane (200), Talia al Ghul (110), Man-Bat Assassins (150), Hand Ninja x4 (340) (1,000) vs. Batman (200), Robin (120), Oracle (110), Huntress (170), Beat Cops x4 (260), Catwoman (145) (1,005)

Spoiler Alert!

Bane fell Round 5 after unsuccessfully trying to provide Tactician boosts to allies set up in the middle of the map. Huntress just too out squaddies too fast here and they didn’t have the range to take advantage of his adjacent boosts. Bane killed one Beat Cop and put 2 wounds on Huntress (the second and third) and foolishly saved Back Breaker for a later use. Total failure strategically there. Huntress was the MVP of the game with Ruthless Counter Strike and her Crossbow tearing through squaddies. She survived until Ra’s (who took a lot of wounds from her as well) put the final wound on her in Round 8. Ra’s healed 5 wounds in this game with his Lazarus Pit, and was still going strong, putting 2 wounds on Batman, when Oracle helped Batman win initiative, helped him boost his attack, and watched as Batman put down Ra’s.
Had I played him better, Bane could have had much more of a game changing effect here. Still, I’m not seeing 200 overall at this point.
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Batman with 2 lives, and Oracle and Catwoman both with Full Life win Turn 1 Round 10.

Future Outlaw synergies will probably help him some, but right now I can’t see going over 190 in playtesting. That’s what I’ll propose him at.

[IAmBatman]

Playtest all wrapped up. I like him at 190. 24 hours on the clock.

[Good Pig]

Pre-Yea at 190

[tcglkn]

Pre-Yea at 190

[Hahma]

Looks good at 190. He seemed better in HH's but after that his cost seemed to drop.

Great to see the Beat Cops kick some ass It's also great to see Huntress do well too. That Ruthless Counterstrike can be nasty.

Haven't tried the Bad Cops yet, but I look forward to it. I just got 4 of them, 3 Man Bat Assassins, Ra's, Talia, Merlyn, Lobo, Lex Corps Security x 4, Buckey, Jubilee and both Super Boys.

Pre-Yea for playtesting at 190

[IAmBatman]

Yeah, I think it's mostly that he's not that equipped against squaddies and Huntress was having a crazy good game. He's difficult to fit into armies right now because he doesn't have a clear role without the criminal and assassin synergies others in those armies had. I think once more Outlaws are made that synergize with him, he'll fit in more clearly.

[Good Pig]

Bad Cops are fun, but they're pretty niche. 2 squads of them is the perfect amount IMO. Keep them as bodyguards for KP or Lex or use them as clean up. Going against an all Super Strength army? Best let them sit that one out.

I didn't think of pairing them with Oracle, that sounds like a nice combo. I just got her card printed I need to give her a spin.

[IAmBatman]

I find her more and more useful all the time. She feels very true to her character - behind the scenes but able to impact the game consistently in big, big ways.