Kolakoski’s Pre-SoV Custom Corner

[Flash_19]

Originally Posted by kolakoski

Well met!

This is the latest version of Rania.

RANIA REYJYRE

General Ullar

Unique Hero
Species Elf
Class Warlord
Personality Valiant

Size Medium 5

Life 5
Move 5
Range 1
Attack 3
Defense 3

Points 120


ULLAR’S LIGHT
When Rania attack’s, you may reroll as many attack dice as there are friendly figures that follow Ullar within 5 spaces of Rania, up to a maximum of three.

ULLAR’S FIRE
Immediately after an opponent’s turn in which a friendly figure that follows Ullar is destroyed within 5 spaces of Rania, choose an opponent’s figure within 5 spaces of Rania and roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, that figure receives a wound.

I'm going to be running my playtest in a couple hours. I'm guessing this is the version you want me to use?

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Absolutely! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Flash_19]

Originally Posted by kolakoski

Well met!

Absolutely! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Playtest for Rania

Map: Sirocco

420 Point Armies

Army 1: Rania, 2x Armoc Vipers, 2x Aubrien Archers, Guilty

Army 2: Deathchasers x4, Ogre Pulverizer, Me-Burq-Sa, Marro Warriors

Glyphs: Move +2, Initiative

General Summary: The game started with Death chasers and Me-Burq-Sa advancing across the board while Rania set up shop in an advantageous spot in the middle with Archers and Armocs staying close in order to benefit from Ullar's Fire. The Archers came were able to stem the tide of advancing deathchasers fairly well, with Rania helping to pick off a couple figures that were able to get through.

The two armies traded steady blows without either really pulling ahead until Me-Burq-Sa got close enough to shoot Rania. He hit her with 4 wounds in one turn, and then finished her off on the next turn after hitting the roll for paralyzing stare. After Rania went down, Armocs and Archers went down quickly as well. Guilty staged an incredible come back by himself, taking down Me-Burq-Sa and the Marro Warriors essentially singlehandedly, but in the end, the Ogre Pulverizer caught up to him and made short work of him.

The game ended with a 4 life Ogre Pulverizer and 1 Deathchaser remaining.

Rania killed 2 Deathchasers with her normal attack. On both attacks, she rolled 2/3 skulls the first roll, but got to reroll the one she missed because of Ullar's Light. On both occassions she rolled a skull the second time - causing her to go 3/3 on both attacks. It is worth noting that neither of those extra skulls were the reason she killed the 2 deathchasers. They would've died anyway.

Ullar's Fire was successful 3 out of 5 times. 1 Wound was placed on Me-Burq-Sa, and 2 Deathchasers were killed. All in all, Rania did about 90 points worth of damage. I did utilize her mostly as a cheerleader - backing up Aubrien Archers. I think she could have done more damage if I'd used her a little more aggressively.

My Thoughts: Rania seemed to work well with the Armoc's. Having the shot at Ullar's Fire was a nice consolation for losing one. As the card is currently worded, it doesn't seem entirely clear if Rania gets to use Ullar's Fire multiple times when facing an opponent's army that had bonding, or is playing an army like Wyrmlings or Elementals where multiple turns are being taken.
Personally, I like the idea of combining this iteration with a previous idea you had and having the d-20 roll for Ullar's Fire happen immediately after an ullar figure you control is destroyed. While I like that idea the most, I don't know how much that special in general fits the mini. I would expect something like that more from a Wizard or Battlemage than a Warlord. While personally it doesn't bother me, I can see why others might take issue with that part of the design.

Keep up the good work!

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Apparently turn interruption is a no-no for SoV. Rania may use the power only at the end of a turn in which a friendly figure that follows Ullar is destroyed, and only once for that turn, and potentially 3 times in a Round. Thematically, I don’t believe there’ll be any objections. My concerns are about how she plays. Is she fun? Are the 2 powers balanced against each other? How would it affect play if the range of the powers was reduced? Would she be less likely to be relegated to cheerleader status? Or does Ullar’s Fire belong on another figure? Or should I embrace her cheerleaderness and find another power complimentary to it?

[Flash_19]

Originally Posted by kolakoski

Well met!

Apparently turn interruption is a no-no for SoV. Rania may use the power only at the end of a turn in which a friendly figure that follows Ullar is destroyed, and only once for that turn, and potentially 3 times in a Round. Thematically, I don’t believe there’ll be any objections. My concerns are about how she plays. Is she fun? Are the 2 powers balanced against each other? How would it affect play if the range of the powers was reduced? Would she be less likely to be relegated to cheerleader status? Or does Ullar’s Fire belong on another figure? Or should I embrace her cheerleaderness and find another power complimentary to it?

As far as turn interruption is concerned - I think it depends. I wouldn't say it's a no-no all together, but it would have to meet certain criteria. Rolling attack dice wouldn't be acceptable, but I believe a d-20 roll could be. Look at the Cathar Spearmen or Nakita Agents for example. Technically, it's a turn interruption when they roll for braced spear or engagement strike respectively. However that is not nearly as disruptive or problematic as pausing an opponent's turn to roll attack dice (which can then trigger other abilities and so on). As far as Ullar's Fire is concerned, please don't take my word as gospel - I'm just expressing personal preferences. For me, it feels more natural for the d-20 roll to happen immediately after a figure is destroyed, but that is entirely personal opinion and others would disagree with it.

As far as your other questions - I think she enhanced the fun of the Armoc Vipers (and probably the elves too). In my game, she was definitely more of a cheerleader than anything else. Though it was nice that she seemed fairly adept at taking out a squad figure or two with her normal attack if necessary. I don't know that she feels very much like a warlord with how she's played... Some of your others questions would need more playtesting to answer. Ullar's Fire does feel like it belongs more on a Wizard or Battlemage type figure, but again, that's my personal opinion.

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Wanting Rania to be a fighter rather than a cheerleader. Instead of Ullar’s Fire:

ULLAR’S FIRE
When Rania attacks an opponent’s figure and inflicts a wound, roll a 20-sided die. On a roll of 15 or higher, that opponent’s figure and each opponent’s figures adjacent to that opponent’s figure receives a wound.

Now she has to fight to benefit from Ullar’s Fire.