The Book of Vance Astro

[MrNobody]

Originally Posted by Lord Pyre

Hah, you guys steal that from my Savage Dragon first draft? I still like the power.

Ha, I had no recollection of that! Clearly must’ve stuck in my brain.

[Lord Pyre]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Ha, I had no recollection of that! Clearly must’ve stuck in my brain.

Yeah I looked it up and it’s like exactly the same down to the name, with slight wording differences

[IAmBatman]

Nice incepting, LP. Now get him to tell us the combination to the safe ....

[SirGalahad]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Same thoughts about his SI as before.

An attempt at wording the second power.

This still needs updating.

[SirGalahad]

Originally Posted by Ericth74

PSYCHOKINESIS SHIELD BLAST
Range 4. Special Attack 4.
If at least 1 skull is rolled, after defense dice are rolled and wounds are placed, you may move the targeted figures 1 space from its original position, figures may not be placed adjacent to Vance Astro. When attacking with this special attack, he may attack 1 additional time. He cannot attack the same figure more than once and may only target non-adjacent figures. Moved figures do not take any leaving engagement attacks.

Clean-up on Aisle 3.

PSYCHOKINESIS SHIELD BLAST SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 4. Attack 4.
Choose a non-adjacent figure to attack. If you roll at least one skull and the defending figure is not destroyed, you may move the defending figure 1 space. Figures moved with this special attack may not be moved adjacent to Vance Astro and will not take any leaving engagement attacks. When Vance Astro attacks with this special attack, he may attack 1 additional time. He cannot attack the same figure more than once this turn.

Hopeful that is your intent.

[Ericth74]

Originally Posted by SirGalahad

Hopeful that is your intent.

It is, thanks.

[Ericth74]

COMPETITIVE REVIEW BOARD CHECKLIST

Spoiler Alert!

Efficiency- Check to see if your design is providing armies with turns/moves/etc. to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to keep up with your output.

1. Does your design allow itself or figures to move/attack/take a turn/etc. instead of/in addition to your normal turn for revealing an Order Marker? Is it granting these benefits to too broad a range of units? Does it combine with other powers to create overly long or powerful chains of actions?
Allows for a bonding turn if using order marker 1 on him.
2. Does your design allow you to take actions during an opponent's turn? Can it combine with other powers to create tediously long reactions to enemy actions or a restrictive environment?
No
3. Does your design allow you to rearrange your Order Markers or otherwise bypass the costs of Order Marker requirements on the special powers of other figures?
No
4. Is your design doing anything outside of a player's turn, at the start or end of the round? Is the effect too powerful by itself or when combined with other powers?
No
5. Does your design have any powers that trigger anytime it moves as opposed to only when it moves normally on its turn? Will it be too efficient when combined with figures that grant extra moves to figures?
No
6. Is your design adding or subtracting from initiative rolls? Will it pair too easily with other figures that alter initiative or have powers triggering on the results of initiative rolls?
No

Potency- Check to see if your design is wounding/removing/etc. enemy figures, increasing the chances of other figures in your army doing so, or otherwise directly effecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.

1. Does your design have a chance to inflict wounds or destroy figures? Is it getting these chances too frequently or having to high a chance of success? Is the power balanced against expensive targets that can cause a massive swing in the game when destroyed?
No
2. Is your design adding to the stats or 20-sided die rolls of other figures in your army? Is it a boosting a broad enough range of units effectively enough to become a 'mandatory' draft or inhibit future design space? Can it be combined with other boosts too easily?
No
3. Will your design benefit from stat boosts or other enhancement to an overpowering degree? Will it restrict future growth within its faction or point cost by limiting available boosts to others?
No
4. Does your design take control of enemy figures permanently or temporarily? Is it too difficult to for your opponent to regain control of their figure or recover from the losing the figure? Does the method of taking control expose the enemy figure to the powers of other figures in your army that can easily destroy it?
No
5. Can your design heal itself or others or revive itself or others? Is it doing so in a way that an opponent cannot hope to overcome in certain scenarios?
No
6. Does your design place enemy figures on its card or otherwise have an unconventional method of temporarily removing enemy figures from play? Will it guarantee your victory against a single remaining enemy figure?
No

Chicanery- Check to see if your design is preventing your opponent from taking actions with too much ease or is otherwise causing negative play experience through tactics that make your opponent feel you're 'not playing fair'

1. Does your design restrict the movement of enemy figures, or allow you to move enemy figures? Can it do so in a way that results in an unwinnable scenario for your opponent if they are down to one figure, posses only figures with a range of 1, etc.? Can your design easily combine with other figures to greatly impede enemy figures or otherwise gain an excessive advantage?
Vance can move figures 1 space with his special attack.
2. Does your design effect/change the placement of an enemy's Order Markers, or remove their Order Markers entirely? Can it force Order Markers to go onto cards that have no figures on the battlefield? Can your design easily combine with other figures to completely dictate the placement of an enemy's Order Markers or remove all of their Order Markers?
No
3. Does your design inhibit your opponent from attacking your figures or make attacking a losing proposition? Are there scenarios or combinations that make your opponent totally unable to harm your figures through attacking?
No
4. Does your design directly negate the powers of enemy figures or otherwise ignore them in a way that can completely disrupt the opponent's strategy or leave them feeling like they are stuck playing figures without special powers?
No
5. Does your design become overly powerful in a podded group of figures, or provide significant benefit to your army without leaving your Start Zone?
No
6. You can attack your own figures in Heroscape, does your design have any powers that will trigger off of doing so or otherwise wounding/destroying your own figures? Is this intentional on your part? Will the design be too efficient or potent when doing so?
No

CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

Consistency Concerns
Name and Identity
Verify character is named in a way that is clear, accurate and feels consistent with the way other characters are named.
Consistent
Uniqueness and Type
Verify that the power text reflects the listed uniqueness and type, that the uniqueness fits the character, and that squad size is listed for squads.
Consistent
Left Box
If the character's species, class or personality is reused, verify that the character feels thematically consistent with other figures that have that species, class or personality. If they are not reused, verify that there is no pre-existing species, class or personality that would make more sense.
Consistent
Size and Height
Verify that the listed size and height are accurate. Standing the mini up next to a stack of tiles, and a few other minis of various sizes, is encouraged.
Looks to be medium 5
Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.
Not present
New Powers - Names
Verify that any new powers are not using power names identical to, or very similar to, pre-existing powers. Verify that any new powers are actually new and not old powers with new names.
Verified
New Powers - Effects
Verify that the effect and timing of all new powers is clear. Verify that any logical immunities, benefits, or weaknesses (whether those be necessary for thematic or mechanical reasons) are implemented: consider whether defensive powers that work against normal attacks should also work against special attacks, whether or not a power has an elemental component that some figures should resist, and whether or not unliving figures (such as Undead and Androids) should be affected.
Verified
Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing powers in place of creating new ones, where reused powers could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused powers have the correct text.
No reuse
Power Level
Verify that the character's movement, attack, range, and defense (in conjunction with any special powers that enhance those stats) feel consistent with the capabilities of characters with analogous powers and abilities. Verify that the character falls into a similar point range to characters with comparative powers and abilities.
Verified

[MrNobody]

I think this design needs a little TLC for moving forward. For starters (if you have no objections) I'd like to drop the Vance Astrovik SI like we discussed.

I know I suggested the Natural Leader power, but I was thinking it would be combined with a slightly different power on Martinex. As-is, I think it clashes pretty hard with Marty's Guardians of the Galaxy. I do feel bad for giving you the run-around.

Cooperative Strike seems solid, but definitely needs some wording work. I can take a spin at it.

COOPERATIVE STRIKE
Before any figure you control attacks, if the defending figure has been attacked by another figure you control this player turn, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card to subtract 2 from the defending figure's Defense number for this attack.

It might be cool to make it Cooperative Attack Plan too, to match the other similar powers.

The SA feels like it has a lot going on for a fairly simple concept, I think it could be streamlined a little bit.

PSYCHOKINESIS SHIELD BLAST
Range 4. Special Attack 4.
Vance Astro may only attack non-adjacent figures with this special attack. If you roll at least 1 skull then after the defending figure rolls defense dice, you may place it on an empty space up to 1 space away from its current placement, ignoring any leaving engagement attacks. After attacking with this special attack, Vance Astro may attack 1 additional time. He cannot attack the same figure more than once.

I think that's technically a few more words, but I feel like it reads a lot cleaner. It's useful to put stuff in the order it chronologically happens while playing. I'd also personally prefer 5 range to match Cap, but that's not a huge issue IMO.

I think there's something interesting to be done with the idea of shields here overall. Like this is a direction I could see steering the design.

COOPERATIVE ATTACK PLAN
Before any figure you control attacks, if the defending figure has been attacked by another figure you control this player turn, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on this card. If you do, the defending figure subtracts a shield from whatever is rolled when defending against that attack.

PSYCHOKINESIS SHIELD BLAST
Range 5. Special Attack 4.
Vance Astro may only attack non-adjacent figures with this special attack. After a figure rolls defense dice against this special attack, you may place it on an empty space up to X spaces away from its current placement, ignoring any leaving engagement attacks. X is the number of shields you rolled for this attack. After attacking with this special attack, Vance Astro may attack 1 additional time. He cannot attack the same figure more than once.

VIBRANIUM ALLOY SHIELD
When defending against an attack, Vance Astro always adds one automatic shield to whatever is rolled.

[Ericth74]

@MrNobody

I'm going to disagree here. I'm pretty sold on Natural Leader power.

1. I like that I can drop Martinex and still have some bonding and have a functional 800 pt team.

2. Its thematic. About halfway through the comic series, Martinex leaves the team for a while to start another team, Galactic Guardians. At that point Vance takes over as leader.

3. We both wanted Vance to be able to work outside this team and this certainly makes him viable in lots of different builds.

4. I just like it!

[MrNobody]

Fair enough!

[Ericth74]

I can get behind these changes to Vance. I'll update the SP. and the SI as well.

Originally Posted by MrNobody

[Ericth74]

With Marty in a good spot and in final editing, I'm ready to move forward with Vance.

I propose that we move Vance to Initial Playtesting