The Book of Black Manta

[Arkham]

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Black Manta

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Army Test 1
Map: Custom
Units:
Black Manta(270), Tempest(210), Star-Lord(250)(730)
vs.
Professor X(220), Wolverine(280), Phoenix(230) (730)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:


Concussive Energy Beam:
R2T2: pushes Wolverine.

Projectile Arsenal 3 Special Attack:
R2T2: 4 wounds on Wolverine in 2 attacks. (+1 attack on each, -2 to Wolverine's defense)

Notes:
R1T2: Phoenix moves Tempest, puts 2 wounds on Star-Lord.
R1T3: Phoenix moves Tempest and Black Manta, puts 1 wound on Black Manta.
R2T1: Tempest puts 1 wound on Phoenix, who then puts a wound on Black Manta, Star-Lord, and Wolverine.
R2T3: Phoenix moves Star-Lord and Tempest, puts 1 wound on Star-Lord, then 1 wound on Black Manta. Wolverine kills Manta, then heals 1 wound.
R3T1: Tempest puts 1 wound on Wolverine.
R3T1: Phoenix kills Star-Lord. Wolverine puts 1 wound on Tempest, then heals 1 wound.
R3T2: Tempest puts 1 wound on Wolverine.
R3T2: Wolverine puts 1 wound on Tempest. Heals 1 wound. Phoenix puts 1 wound on Tempest.
R3T3: Wolverine kills Tempest.


Wolverine with 4/6 wounds, Phoenix with 1/5 wounds, and Professor X with 0/4 wounds.

Rough game for Black Manta's team. Black Manta showed some potential, but Phoenix and Wolverine proved to be quite the devastating duo.

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Army Test 2
Map: Custom
Units:
Black Manta(260), Hydro-Man(190), Star-Lord(250)(700)
vs.
Luke Cage(190), Iron Fist(260), Spider-Man(250) (700)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R2T3: 1 wound on Fist. (+1 Water, +1 S-L)
R3T1: 1 wound on Fist. (+1 Water, +1 S-L)

Concussive Energy Beam:
R1T3: pushes Hydro-Man off water space to use for himself.

Projectile Arsenal 3 Special Attack:


Notes:
R1T3: Cage puts 1 wound on Hydro-Man.
R2T1: Fist puts 1 wound on Star-Lord.
R2T2: Cage puts 1 wound on Black Manta.
R2T3: Fist puts 3 wounds on S-L, heals 1 wound.
R3T1: Fist kills Star-Lord, heals 1 wound. Cage kills Black Manta.
R3T2: Fist puts 2 wounds on Hydro-Man.
R3T3: Fist kills Hydro-Man.


Cage, Fist, and Spider-Man all unwounded.

Ouch. The Fighters steam rolled Manta's team. Manta was on water the whole time, and receiving Star-Lord's benefit, but Manta's rolls weren't anything special, and Fist healed both wounds caused. Unfortunately Manta was in a position where he was engaged by both Fist and Cage, so his Beam wouldn't matter as whatever figure was moved away, he wouldn't get the ability to attack unless he left his water space. Spider-Man was not even needed.

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Army Test 3 (rematch)
Map: Custom
Units:
Black Manta(260), Hydro-Man(190), Star-Lord(250)(700)
vs.
Luke Cage(190), Iron Fist(260), Spider-Man(250) (700)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R3T2: 3 wounds on Iron Fist. (height + water + S-L)
R3T3: 3 wounds on Iron Fist, kills him. (height + water + S-L + Energy Beam)

Concussive Energy Beam:
R2T1: pushes Star-Lord 1 space
R3T2: pushes Cage to height disadvantage and engaged with S-L
R3T3: pushes Fist to height disadvantage

Projectile Arsenal 3 Special Attack:
R2T1: 1 wound on Cage in 2 attacks. (+1 on both attacks)
R4T1: 1 wound on Cage in 2 attacks. (+1 on both attacks)

Notes:
R1T3: Cage puts 1 wound on Hydro-Man.
R2T1: Spider-Man puts 1 wound on Hydro-Man.
R2T2: Spider-Man pulls Hydro, puts 2 wounds on him.
R2T3: Fist heals 1 wound off Cage.
R2T3: Hydro outs 1 wound on Spider-man.
R3T1: Fist puts 1 wound on S-L.
R3T2: Cage puts 3 wounds on Black Manta.
R3T3: Fist heals 1 wound.
R4T2: Spider-Man puts 2 wounds on S-L, Cage kills S-L.
R4T3: Spider-Man kills Black Manta. Cage kills Hydro-Man.


Luke Cage with 1/5 wounds, and Spider-Man with 1/5 wounds.

This felt like Black Manta's army had a better chance, but they still were fighting from behind the whole time. It always felt like a struggle for them to really get ahead. Black Manta had a better showing this go around though. Probably not quite living up to his point value though so I'm thinking another slight drop is in order as his survivability just isn't there for his cost.

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Army Test 4
Map: Custom
Units:
Black Manta(250), Hydro-Man(190), Captain America(240) (680)
vs.
Luke Cage(190), Iron Fist(260), Shang-Chi(230) (680)

Spoiler Alert!

Attack Damage:
R2T3: 1 wound on Fist. (water + Cap)
R3T3: 3 wounds on Fist. (water + Cap)
R4T2: 1 wound on Fist. (water)

Concussive Energy Beam:
R3T2: moves Shang 1 space.

Projectile Arsenal 3 Special Attack:
R3T2: 1 wound on Shang. (+1 on both attacks, Energy Beam)

Notes:
R2T1: Cap puts 1 wound on Cage.
R2T1: Fist heals 1 wound off Cage. Cage puts 2 wounds on Cap.
R3T1: Fist puts 1 wound on Cap, heals 1 wound.
R4T1: Fist kills Cap, heals 1 wound. Cage puts 2 wounds on Manta.
R4T2: Fist puts 2 wounds on Manta, Cage then kills Manta.
R4T3: Fist puts 2 wounds on Hydro.
R5T1: Fist heals 1 wound.
R5T1: Hydro takes 1 wound from LEA.
R5T2: Hydro puts 1 wound on Shang with special attack.
R5T3: Hydro kills Fist, puts 1 wound on Shang with special attack.
R5T3: Shang kills Hydro.


Shang-Chi with 3/5 wounds, Luke Cage with 0/5 wounds.

Closer game than any prior, so that tells me the point value is closer to where it should be. The game was fairly back and forth, but Hydro was the one who brought it closer in the end. Manta still did well at his point range though, but one constant factor is his lack of survivability for his point value.

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THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY:
I think I've come to a pretty good consensus on where he falls point wise. 240-250 seems to be the sweet spot to me right now after several games working myself down from 270, 260, and then 250. I feel his attack potential is certainly decent, but his survivability is lacking with 4 life, 5 defense, and no defensive specials. Of course, if he's on water that goes up 1, but that requires often times tricky map placement dependency, or additional drafts to give him those water tiles. I played each one with a water tile placer, and he was still often times feeling like a strong wind could push him over. I think that glass jaw of sorts, and light water tile dependency for the slight boost, ultimately keeps him in check at a more modest point value. The scariest thing he offers is the -2 to defense with a decent attack or double special attack, but that's situational based on a 50% chance d20 roll that happens before he can move. I think going into public playtesting at 240 is reasonable, and if he starts pulling in some wins or higher personal performances, a bump to 250 wouldn't be out of the question.

He's definitely fun and feels quite tactical in his offensive arsenal. So no complaints on that front. Just point tweaks to make sure he's feeling accurate to what he brings to the table, strengths and weaknesses.

[japes]

pre-yea

Did you stay up all night playing Heroscape...looks like you got in 7 or 8 games last night.

[Ronin]

pre-yea

[Tornado]

Nice work Arkham!

[Arkham]

Originally Posted by japes

pre-yea

Did you stay up all night playing Heroscape...looks like you got in 7 or 8 games last night.

In between sets I played games online with friends, but essentially yes, I finished shortly after 5am.

[Yodaking]

Thanks for knocking this initial out, he has been sitting for a long time now. pre-yea.

[johnny139]

Yea

[Arkham]

Since everyone seems to be on board, I propose a vote to move to Public Playtesting.
japes - yea
Ronin - yea
Yodaking - yea
johnny139 - yea @Tornado @Spidey'tilIDie @SirGalahad

[Arkham]

Since everyone seems to be on board, I propose a vote to move to Public Playtesting.
japes - yea
Ronin - yea
Yodaking - yea
johnny139 - yea
@Tornado
@Spidey'tilIDie
@SirGalahad

[Tornado]

Yea

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Yea

[SirGalahad]

yea

I would switch the order of the first 2 bullets in the SA, because determining if a figure is in range happens before attacking.