The Pre-SoV Workshop

[Kinseth]

Originally Posted by Kinseth

Gnoll Faction
---------------
Followers of Valkrill - Gnolls naturally follow the demon lord (Yeenoghu).
Gnolls like to attack when they have the advantage of numbers, using horde tactics and their physical strength to overwhelm and knock down their opponents. They show little discipline when fighting unless they have a strong leader; at such times, they can maintain ranks and fight as a unit. While they do not usually prepare traps, they do use ambushes and try to attack from a flanking position.

I have tried to keep true to the vision of the Gnolls from DnD background. Many of their abilities reflect some of these tactics.

Costs

• Warchief is priced a little higher, he has some of the sunken costs that the Warband might have on their own.
• They are priced at 20 per figure, higher than the per figure cost of many of the other Bonding Squads(Knights Weston, Heavies, Dwarves...)
• Try to envision them as a 80 point squad for 4.

Gameplay choices
The Gnolls offer some very unique play choices when it comes to using your heroes. Can you afford to wade in with the heavy hitting War Chief and his his powerful attacks? Once he falls the warband is disfunctional and really loses alot of its power. There are times you need to risk and jump into the fray with the Chief. Not only do you lose your most powerful hero, you also lose the ability to move and attack with an extra Gnoll squad member.

Thanks to Scytale as I have borrowed some aspects of the Warband(Pack Attack) at his blessing.

I am leaning towards going to 3 Def over 4. Not that I don't think 4 is balanced, just I feel like it might still overshoot the power level I was looking for the unit. That testing is still going on.

I do however, ask that people would take a small amount of time and fill out a questionnaire I drew up to better gauge the public response to the gnolls. It is anonymous, thanks guys.

[caps]

Originally Posted by William099

I'm back! Wanted to try Rampage again with some more tweaks. Hows the point value? And what do you guys do you think of having two defense base with minus two defense from Rage?

I really dig this card.

[Just_a_Bill]

I like Rampage as well. One suggestion would be to make the title of RAGE a bit more specific, since other future units might also have their own "rage" concept specials. Warforged Rage? Barbarian's Rage?

Or maybe, call it RAGE 2 with the idea that a future unit might use the same template at a 1 or 3 level? It seems like a good special that is ripe for future re-use.

Just thinkin' out loud.

[Serenity]

Rage 2 seems cool. I could certainly imagine a squad with Rage 1.

[William099]

I wouldn't want to put numbers in it since its similar to Crag of Steel which doesn't have numbers in it. If I had to change it I like Barbarian's Rage. What do the SOV judges think? Is the power name to generic?

[caps]

I think the power name is fine. Since the numbers are the same throughout the power, putting a number after the name makes sense. But it's not required.

[Just_a_Bill]

Originally Posted by William099

I wouldn't want to put numbers in it since its similar to Crag of Steel which doesn't have numbers in it.

Probably apples and oranges ... it seems to me that Crag of Steel has a low probability of being re-used while Rage has a high probability of being re-used.

The number exists so the template has a variable "dial" in cases where re-use seems likely. It's why Darrak Ambershard has SNEAK ATTACK 2 and Augamo has STONY RESISTANCE 3. The Elite Onyx Vipers' EVASIVE 8 was a loner for years, and then the Zettian Deathwings and Beakface Sneaks cashed in on the designers' foresight with their EVASIVE 2 and EVASIVE 3. Lots of units have paved the road for future designs, with specials like First Assault 3, Bayonet Attack 1, Braced Spear 16, Quick Draw 13, Furious Wrath 3, Exosuit 15, Insubstantial 3....

[Kinseth]

These are the Versions I intend to Submit to SOV shortly, any thoughts/concerns? Names of Powers sound okay? Class/Personality etc...

Last Changes

• Dropped Overwhelm from 5 sight spaces to 3 sight spaces, thematically gives you the feel of him having body guards around him in order to wade into battle.
• Ambush Attack - After taking a turn with Gruul, instead of any Gnoll you take. Too much versatility with the previous wording.(You could get an attack after taking a turn with the Squad or another Gnoll hero you control.)
• Dropped Defense down to 3 from 4, kept price the same.
• Price Change on Ragsh from 140 to 130. Part of his cost was because of the power of the Gnoll Warband(Not as tough now that they are 3 def instead of 4) and his Overwhelm has less of an aura.

[Dysole]

I feel like there is a better way to word the latter half of Overwhelm. As is, I can easily see someone arguing that they get the -2 defense on the first attack. I can't think of a clearer way to word it but that's really about the only thing I have an issue with right now.

~Dysole, informationally

[Scytale]

I like Gruul's personality, though the Inner Sanctum may not. They are generally resistant to adding new personalities. I'm not a fan of the other two. Fearsome is ok, but tame, and lacks a sense of leadership. Worse, though, I don't think it says much about his playstyle. I like Menacing even less for the squad. They need something more active, something that better matches how they play, like Ferocious or Wild.

[Dysole]

Originally Posted by Scytale

I like Gruul's personality, though the Inner Sanctum may not. They are generally resistant to adding new personalities. I'm not a fan of the other two. Fearsome is ok, but tame, and lacks a sense of leadership. Worse, though, I don't think it says much about his playstyle. I like Menacing even less for the squad. They need something more active, something that better matches how they play, like Ferocious or Wild.

Terrifying or Tormenting for Warchief?

~Dysole, spitballing

[Kinseth]

Personalty Options
Warchief
Dominating
Merciless
Terrifying

Gnoll Squad
Ferocious
Relentless
Wild

Archer
Tricky?