The Book of the Batmobile

[tcglkn]

Yea!

[IAmBatman]

This passes! Been getting a sluggish start to the week and behind on setting up tests for The Doctor, but I'll grab this once I'm done with those.

If there are any other thoughts on 3 vs. 2 for the Nitro Boost, please let me know in the meantime! I'm open on that one.

[Lord Pyre]

Nah, doesn't matter to me. It's a once per round effect anyway, that probably wouldn't be used every round. I would test it one way and then change it depending on how powerful/weak it feels.

[MrNobody]

Yeah I'm honestly fine with the Batmobile being a bit speedy, I would've kept it at 4 even. Flash is still seriously outracing it, and I think the Batmobile should be pretty near the upper ceiling for a car. 2 just doesn't seem like much of a boost.

[IAmBatman]

I'll go 3, then. I think I'll also make the remote 3 just to make it consistent and easier to remember.

[IAmBatman]

Also added a line on the remote to stop them from using the before moving activation when they're already behind the wheel of the Batmobile themselves. That way they can't stack the bonuses.

[MrNobody]

So Automated Defenses can hurt the team who drafts the Batmobile if they don't control it, even if they have a Remote on hand?

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

So Automated Defenses can hurt the team who drafts the Batmobile if they don't control it, even if they have a Remote on hand?

As currently written, yes, but since enemy figures can't enter it so long as you have the Remote, I doubt it's going to come up much. It would require you to lose control of the Remote, have an enemy figure take control of the car, then for you to regain control of the Remote. At which point they earned it, IMO.

[IAmBatman]

Starting to plan these out. Hoping to run through the checklists here and set up for the playtests (maybe run a few small matches) tomorrow.

[IAmBatman]

Competitive Checklist

Spoiler Alert!

Does the design disrupt opponent's Order Markers in a way that offers a net gain in turns taken with strong figures versus the turns your opponent can take with strong figures (Ozymandias, Joker (I), Meteorite)?
No

Does the design offer auto-wounding that either doesn't require taking turns or is otherwise extremely efficient (War Machine, Jason Voorhees, Cosmic Cube)?
Yes, but it can’t attack, so that’s it’s only way to wound.

Does the design immobilize figures or prevent turn-taking (Blob, Spider-Girl, Diablo, Green Lantern Alan)?
No

Does the design move opponent's figures in a way that's easy to pull off and can move figures multiple spaces in multiple directions (Graviton, Magneto, Vulture)?

Only if you drop the remote, an enemy enters the car, and you pick the remote back up, and even then you’re only moving them along with the Batmobile, not separately from it. Doesn’t seem like a concern.

Does the design allow for moving friendly figures without taking turns, or for moving 2+ friendly figures while still taking a turn (Martian Manhunter [I], Green Lantern John, Angel)?
No. Like the Sports Car before, you can move two figures in it at once, but not without taking a turn.


Does the figure allow for two figures, one of them being a wide range of possible figures, to both attack on a single Order Marker (Zombie, Robot, Iron Patriot, Ms. Marvel, Rocket [II], Martian Manhunter [II], Nebula, Baby Groot, Havok)?
No

Does the design offer any sort of passive boost outside of a narrow set of figures (Star-Lord, Sage, Brainiac 5, Captain America, Batman [III])?
No

Does the design help keep your allies alive just by being nearby (Daring Decoy, Aaron Cash, Jocasta, Weather Wizard)?
Only as a mild deterrent against melee attackers

Is it OK for the design to have defensive abilities that could make it essentially unkillable in some matchups or endgame situations (Cosmic Cube, Healing Factor, Master Martial Artist)?
N/A

If the figure has auto-destroy powers or powers that can force the opponent's figures to attack each other, are they balanced for strong opposing figures and/or boosts that can make the powers more reliable (Puppet Master, Psycho-Man, Enchantress)?
N/A

Is the figure likely to earn its value many times over by either running out alone at the start of a battle (pre-eval Crow, Solomon Grundy) or by sitting in the startzone until the end of a battle (Arnim Zola, Silk Spectre)?
No

Will synergies in the design create concerns for future designs (Mad Thinker, pre-eval Enchantress, Star-Lord)?
Not from the Batmobile. The Remote would be the one to watch, but there are a lot of designs to test it with already.

Does the design combo particularly well with one of the design concerns above (Magma)?
No

Consistency Checklist

Spoiler Alert!

Are the character’s name and secret identity listed in a consistent format with the rest of the project? If the character shares a name and/or secret identity with another character is it properly clear whether or not they are the same character?
Yes
Consider the listed Species. Are the design’s power level, point level, and statistics (life, move, range, attack, and defense numbers) within the established range for that species? If it’s an outlier, is there thematic justification for this?
Yes, the Move, Life, and Defense are consistent with the established framework for a Car. The Defense is higher than the revised Sports Car due to the armored nature of the Batmobile. If it proves too tough, I can tweak the Defense down.
Consider the listed Uniqueness. Does the power text properly reflect whether the figure is a Hero or a squad, and whether it is Event, Unique, Uncommon, or common? If it’s Event, are the powers written with consideration for Event Hero rules? If it’s Uncommon, are the powers written to avoid stacking? If it’s common, are the powers written with this in mind?
Yes. It’s a Unique Vehicle.
Consider the listed Size. If the figure is double based, is it Large or Huge? Is the chosen miniature’s physical size consistent with other miniatures in the chosen size category?
Consider the listed Height. If you stack hexes up next to the figure, does the number listed for the height match up the layers of stacked hexes that match the miniature’s physical height?
We made the Sports Car Large 3 and this is the same size.

Consider the listed Life number. Is this number consistent with other figures of the same species?
Consider the listed Move number. Is this number consistent with other figures of that power level?
Yes. Both are consistent with the Sports Car.
Consider the listed Defense number. Is this number consistent with other figures of the same or similar species and with the same or similar armor or other defensive equipment?
Yes. It’s much more heavily armored than a typical car. There’s room to go down to 5 Defense if it seems too strong, though.
Examine all of the special powers. Are there other powers that fit the same theme already in existence in the project? If so, can they be reused? If they can’t, can those other powers be used as a basis for the mechanics and wording?
Mobile Arsenal shares similar DNA with Catwoman (II)’s Sly Arsenal. Automated Defenses tweaks the theme and mechanics of Auto Chain Gun in a way that’s not as strong competitively.
Examine any movement powers. Do they keep the figure’s speed consistent with other figures of their species and power level?

Examine any offensive powers. Do they keep the figure’s offensive potential consistent with other figures with the same powers and power levels or skills and weaponry?
This is our first VDO with any real offensive powers, but it seems fine in that regards.
Examine any defensive, healing, or other tanking powers. Do they keep the figure’s survivability consistent with other figures of the same powers or power level or species and armor class?
I think so, yes.
Examine any leadership powers. Do they exceed the activation potential of the best existing leaders? If so, is there thematic justification for this?
N/A
Consider any powers that reference darkness, electrical, figure movement, fire, gas, ice, kryptonite, light/sensory, magical, poison, psychic, stealth, or water-based abilities. Do these behave in similar ways to other powers of this type, including mentions of immunities?
No issues.
Is it clear for all special powers what phase of the turn and how they are triggered, what phase of the turn they are active in, and when and how they cease being active?
I adjusted the wording on Mobile Arsenal to clarify when the bonus glyph can be equipped and moved the once per round mention to a sentence of its own on Nitro Boosters to try to make it clearer that it can only be used once per round, not matter which player is using it.
Are special powers listed in game, round, and turn order?
Yes
If a special power includes a D20 roll, does it make sense to list a number by the title?
Yes
If a power is being reused, are the title and wording copied accurately?
N/A
Has the power title or a very similar one been used before with vastly different mechanics?
No

[IAmBatman]

Batmobile is playing well so far. I'm a tad concerned that while Batman is encouraged to ride in it and advance quickly up fairly level maps and get that bonus Utility Glyph, he's not really encouraged to stay inside it, since he can't attack from inside it, but others like Judge Anderson would be. Just a little quirk of things. I still think it makes sense as a full cover vehicle and I think there might be future design space for Utility Glyphs you can use from inside the Batmobile to do damage more actively than the Auto Defenses do.

Automated Defenses aren't very powerful so far - more of a deterrent - but I might just have to get better at going cat and mouse with them (or try the Batmobile that way against more of a melee opponent).

[Lord Pyre]

Maybe just the Batmobile could add a power that allows Vigilantes or something to attack as though it wasn't a full cover vehicle?

Agree that it should be full cover though. Unless we go the opposite route and make it partial, but have an ability that gives a defense bonus LIKE full cover.