Boot Camp of Valhalla: Kobolds of Idona Keep (Reworking)

[johnny139]

(If you don't understand what's happening, please read THIS thread to familiarize yourself with the Boot Camp of Valhalla process!)

So, our design is now set! Introducing the Kobolds of Idona Keep!

Kobolds from Reaper: Legendary Encounters

KOBOLDS OF IDONA KEEP

GENERAL: Jandar
SPECIES: Kobold
UNIQUENESS: Common Squad
CLASS: Sentinels
PERSONALITY: Loyal
SIZE/HEIGHT: Small 2

LIFE: 1 (3 figures)
MOVE: 6
RANGE: 1
ATTACK: 2
DEFENSE: 2
POINTS: 45

WARRIOR DEVOTION
At the start of the game, choose a Unique Warrior Hero you control to be the Kobolds of Idona Keep's Master. While their chosen Master is in play, when taking a turn with the Kobolds of Idona Keep, you may move and attack with 1 additional Kobold for each Wound Marker on their Master's Army Card. You can choose only one Master for all the Kobolds of Idona Keep you control. Kobolds of Idona Keep cannot attack their Master.

AVENGE THE MASTER
A Kobold of Idona Keep rolls 2 additional attack dice while its chosen Master is destroyed.

SCALE
When moving up or down levels of terrain, Kobolds of Idona Keep may add 2 to their height.

Anyone interested in contributing to our figuring of the design, but please try to refrain from suggesting major changes unless you've been testing the unit and feel they are warranted. The best way to contribute would probably be to submit a C3V PLAYTEST FORM, but less substantial tests are also welcome, and any two cents from informal games can be just as helpful.

PLAYTESTS
VERSION 1 (Mob Attack, 50 Points)
- Maklar the Silver Prince
- Arch-vile
- Viegon
VERSION 2 (Flanking, 45 Points)
- flameslayer93
- Maklar the Silver Prince
- flameslayer93
- betawolf36
- Maklar the Silver Prince
VERSION 3 (Avenge the Master, 45 Points)
- Lyrgard
- Maklar the Silver Prince
- Ixe
- Maklar the Silver Prince
- flameslayer93

BONUS BIO CONTEST!
While playtesting is going on, I'm also going to be collecting bios! Once we're in "final editing" I'll run a blind vote of all submissions and we'll see which gets the nod as official bio. Send me a PM - deadline is whenever we're done with this, so the sooner the better!

Design/Brainstorming information:

Spoiler Alert!

The intent of this thread is to brainstorm for and design a card that utilizes these figures in preparation of playtesting and an eventual submission to the Soldiers of Valhalla. All are welcome to contribute ideas and discuss what the final product will look like!

Wikipedia excerpts about kobolds:

Spoiler Alert!

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Kobolds are a fictional species featured in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Aggressive, xenophobic, yet industrious small humanoid creatures, kobolds are noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes. In the original Dungeons & Dragons game, kobolds were goblinoids, but they have been depicted as reptilian humanoids since the release of the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In the 3rd edition of the game, kobolds are distantly related to dragons, and are often found serving them as minions. Kobolds speak a version of the Draconic tongue, with a yipping accent. In their original appearance in the canon, kobolds were described as dog-like humanoids with ratlike tails, horns and hairless scaly skin, and were not associated with dragons.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Kobolds are usually lawful evil. Exceptions are more likely to be non-evil than non-lawful. In the 4th edition of the game, their alignment is given simply as evil, though this implies orderliness in the 4th edition alignment system. Neutral (unaligned) kobolds also exist, usually the servants of good or unaligned metallic dragons.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Kobold society is influenced by their lawful evil alignment. They will plan and dig mines industriously, while laying cruel traps for interlopers. If they must confront an enemy, they will mass their troops for an ambush. Among the monstrous humanoids, they are known for cunning plans; unlike many, they also share those plans among the tribe. General plans and goals are common knowledge, and detailed plans are shared with all who ask, to allow them to work fruitfully for the good of the tribe. Kobolds have a natural hatred of other non-draconic creatures because of mistreatment of their race.

Original submission post:

Spoiler Alert!

Originally Posted by johnny139

Figure

Kobolds from Reaper: Legendary Encounters

Availability
Still in production.

Idea
First of all, for $6 you get three clearly-melee sculpts, all available as one purchase, still in production. They're small, yeah, but that's a fair trade-off, I think.

Secondly, Kobolds are a branch of fantasy HeroScape has yet to tap into that are VERY flexible. They're traditionally Lawful Evil in D&D, but by basing them on other worlds we can play with that as we want. I could see these guys with pretty much any general. They match Jandar's color scheme, they're very organized for Einar, tribal for Aquilla, dragon-worshipping for Ullar, and of course an easy match for Utgar or Valkrill. We could even justify Vydar if we wanted.

But in general I think "Mob Attack + Climb x2 + Third Power" would make a cool, uncontroversial unit. I think one of two things would work best, assuming we do, in fact, want to make them "dragon worshippers" which is par for the course among Kobolds in tabletop fantasy.

Idea #1: non-adjacent special attack resistance. It'd make them a great asset, particularly for AoE dragons. It's rough when you have your Greenscales engaged with the enemy but need to Fireline or Majestic Fires or Growing Heat. Maybe it'd let you use one to chain a Lighting Breath further and not worry so much about losing a man.

Idea #2: dragon bonding. Perhaps more flexible but less powerful than the Greenscales. Off the top my head I'm thinking of it being contingent on something... maybe if a dragon attacks but does not destroy a unit? Or maybe just make it movement bonding to make them tie-up units? There's a lot of directions this one could go.

In general I like the idea of adding another "dragon support" squad - one that makes for an alternative to Greenscale + Dragon armies. It could expand lore by adding a new race, with easily available, quality figures.

[johnny139]

I think our first order of business is to clear away the most obvious things - are we doing Kobolds or using the figures for some other sort of unit? Then, and this will be a bit tough and require someone who owns the units, how tall are they, and which "help climbing things" power should we give them?

[caps]

They also look like they could be wolf pups.

--

I'm a fan of Scale in places where there isn't precedent for using Climb instead. Heroscape has no kobolds, so I see no direct precedent, but they are similar to Goblins, which I believe use Scale.

[Arch-vile]

Here is a comparison pic from ZBeeblebrox (I don't think he will mind me sharing this). These miniatures look like Small 2/3.

Spoiler Alert!

[johnny139]

Small 2 looks like the ticket to me (since even the one standing up straight is smaller than the Goblin Cutter). Thanks.

[Viegon]

Originally Posted by johnny139

I think our first order of business is to clear away the most obvious things - are we doing Kobolds or using the figures for some other sort of unit? Then, and this will be a bit tough and require someone who owns the units, how tall are they, and which "help climbing things" power should we give them?

Personally, I prefer going with a completely new species here, a 'Scape original species.

I think going with something new will leave the options for the unit open, letting the community's imagination drive it instead of pre-established concepts.

I also agree with Small 2, and right now I'm leaning towards Climb X2/3.

Just my .

[Taeblewalker]

I suggest using Kobolds as the species and trying to work in their trap-making ability.

[Son of Arathorn]

I agree with Viegon's sentiments regarding the species of the unit, and favor Climb X3 as a power.

[johnny139]

I'd rather stick with Kobolds - but I'd be in favor of trying out new, different approaches to their flavor. It's not like Heroscape has ever been tied down to any sort of canon (before D&D at least).

[caps]

Originally Posted by johnny139

I'd rather stick with Kobolds - but I'd be in favor of trying out new, different approaches to their flavor. It's not like Heroscape has ever been tied down to any sort of canon (before D&D at least).

So, Kobolds, but Heroscape Kobolds. Probably from Feylund.

[Taeblewalker]

In D&D Kobolds sometimes use rats as guardians. Perhaps we can get some Deathreaver synergy in there. Small Soulborgs would fit the Kobold theme of being good with things mechanical.

[caps]

Originally Posted by Taeblewalker

In D&D Kobolds sometimes use rats as guardians. Perhaps we can get some Deathreaver synergy in there. Small Soulborgs would fit the Kobold theme of being good with things mechanical.

We shouldn't add any synergy to the game's most broken common squad