New Format: Dead Weight

[ryguy266]

Heroscape Format: Dead Weight (Classic Only)

Every time you draft a unit, you must take its accompanying Dead Weight unit(s), for better or worse. For every copy of a common card you draft, you must draft the appropriate amount of accompanying common cards. Suggested point limit is between 500-600 points.

Variations:

• Can “unchain” 1 pairing of a Unique army card that is not A Tier or higher
• Can choose to draft the bad Dead Weight unit without drafting the good one (for example, can draft 3x Obsidian Guards without drafting Deathreavers x3)
• VC included

I have included my initial draft of pairings below. I am hoping that this format can spice up some local tournaments, and I'm also hoping that the forums can help refine these weights to keep everything interesting and balanced. It's my hope that a VC-inclusive version of this format could be created someday.

Here is feedback I'm looking for specifically, although any feedback is appreciated:

Pairing Balance

• Do any pairings stick out as obviously good? Obviously bad?
• Is there any clear army archetype(s) that dominates the format?
• Suggestions for alternate pairings that help to balance or create a more interesting meta?

Unit Availability (for in-person tournaments)

• Are more commonly available units paired with similarly available units? Are less available/more expensive figures paired with similarly expensive units?
• Suggestions for making the pairings similar in availability and price?

General Mistakes

• Unit uniqueness and squad/hero status were generally weighted together. Are any common units mistakenly paired with unique?
• Any squads with heroes?
• Are any units missing?
• Are any unique units repeated? (Note: Some Dead Weight common units are repeated intentionally due to lack of appropriate unit type)

I appreciate any and all help with these. I am planning to use this format at a Lincoln Seasonal at some point. I may run a small online tournament to test the format. The best way to future-proof a format is to have good players try to break it, after all.

CURRENT DEAD WEIGHTS:
(Weights are loosely organized by strength of first unit).

Spoiler Alert!

Raelin (RotV) – Kato Katsuro 280
Major Q9 – Deathwalker 7000 and Hatamoto Taro 410
Marro Warriors – Pelloth and Major X17 250
Deathreavers x1 – Obsidian Guards x1 160

4th Mass x1 – Templar Cavalry x1 190
10th Regiment of Foot x1 – The Einar Imperium x1 215
The Axegrinders of Burning Forge – Shades of Bleakewoode x1 170
Blastatrons x1 – Quasatch Hunters x1 160
Gladiatrons x1 – Feral Troll x1 170
Grimnak - Sudema 260
Heavy Gruts x1 – Master of the Hunt x1 210
Isamu - Dund 120
Knights of Weston x1 – Grok Riders x1 210
Krav Maga Agents – Deathwalker 9000 240
Marcu Esenwein – Runa 140
Marro Stingers x1 – Roman Archers x2 170
Me-Burq-Sa – Sir Dupuis 200
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - Moriko 160
Nilfheim – Empress Kiova and Gurei-Oni 375
Sir Gilbert – Kee-Mo-Shi 235

Agent Skahen – Acolarh 230
Airborne Elite – Deadeye Dan and Khosumet 245
Alastair MacDirk – Sharwin Wildborn 220
Braxas – Master Win Chiu Woo 350
Cyprien Esenwein – Saylind 230
Darrak Ambershard - Kumiko 140
Death Chasers of Thesk x1 – Shaolin Monks x1 135
Eldgrim the Viking Champion – Iskra Esenwein 80
Eltahale – Mika Connour 250
Fen Hydra – Mind Flayer Mastermind 220
Fire Elemental – Dumutef Guard 60
Greenscale Warriors x1 – Quasatch Hunters x1, Earth Elemental x1 195
Kaemon Awa – Sujoah 305
Major Q10 – Erevan Sunshadow 230
Marcus Decimus Gallus – Deathwalker 8000 230
Marro Dividers x1 – Dzu-Teh x1 125
Mezzodemon Warmongers x1 – Deepwyrm Drow x1 135
Mogrimm Forgehammer – Tul-Bak-Ra 250
Phantom Knights x1 – Wolves of Badru x1 150
Roman Legionnaires x1 - Deathstalkers x1 150
Sgt. Drake Alexander-SOTM – Elite Onyx Vipers 270
Zelrig – Agent Carr 285

Arkmer – Evar Scarcarver 160
Arrow Gruts x1 – Death Knights of Valkrill x1 100
Ashigaru Harquebus x1 – Granite Guardians x1 160
Atlaga – Sir Denrick 190
Black Wyrmling – Earth Elemental 65
Blade Gruts x1 – Tagawa Samurai Archers x1 105
Brave Arrow - Chardris 140
Charos - Parmenio 300
Crixus – Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan 155
Finn the Viking Champion – Rhogar Dragonspine 190
Frost Giant of Morh x1 – Werewolf Lord x1 280
Goblin Cutters x1 – Anubian Wolves x1 115
Heirloom - Shiori 150
Horned Skull Brutes x1 – Armoc Vipers x1 140
Krug - Morsbane 220
Kurrok the Elementalist - Retiarius 210
Laglor - Emirroon 190
Marrden Hounds x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1 190
Marrden Nagrubs x1 – Protectors of Ullar x1 140
Migol Ironwill - Torin 230
Mimring – Taelord the Kyrie Warrior 330
Minions of Utgar x1 – Warriors of Ashra x1 160
Mohican River Tribe x1 – Ashigaru Yari x1 110
Moltenclaw - Ninjas of the Northern Wind 280
Ne-Gok-Sa - Estivara 170
Ogre Pulverizer – Marro Hive 260
Red Wyrmling – Water Elemental 60
Sacred Band x1 – Ogre Warhulk x1 200
Samuel Brown – Wo-Sa-Ga 195
Sentinels of Jandar x1 – White Wyrmling x2 170
Sgt. Drake Alexander-ROTV - Shurrak 270
Sonya Esenwein - Seige 165
Swog Rider - Wyvern 125
Syvarris – Sir Hawthorne 190
Tandros Kreel – Zettian Guards 190
Tarn Viking Warriors - Ornak 150
Theracus - Othkurik 170
Tornak – Sonlen 260
Tor-Kul-Na – James Murphy 295
Valguard - Jordawn 220
Venoc Vipers x1 – Capuan Gladiators x1 110
Venoc Warlord – Izumi Samurai 180
Warforged Soldiers x1 – Microcorp Agents x1 180
Zetacron – Warden 816 150
Zombies of Morindan x1 – Iron Golem x1 160
Air Elemental x1 – Blue Wyrmling x1 75
Ana Karithon – Rechets of Bodgan 150
Brunak – Raelin the Kyrie Warrior (SotM) 230
Ice Troll Berserker x1 – Marro Drones x1 135
MacDirk Warriors x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1 120
Fyorlag Spiders x1 – Sahaugin Raider x2 90
Tagawa Samurai – Concan the Kyrie Warrior 200
Otonashi – Kyntela Gwyn 30
Guilty McCreech – Spartacus 230
Drow Chainfighter x1 – Sahaugin Raider x1 50
Kozuke Samurai – Brandis Skyhunter 190

[ryguy266]

FIRST DRAFT PAIRINGS:

Spoiler Alert!

Raelin (RotV) – Kato Katsuro
Major Q9 – Deathwalker 7000 and Hatamoto Taro
Marro Warriors – Pelloth and Major X17
Deathreavers x1 – Obsidian Guards x1

4th Mass x1 – Templar Cavalry x1
10th Regiment of Foot x1 – The Einar Imperium x1
The Axegrinders of Burning Forge – Shades of Bleakewoode x1
Blastatrons x1 – Quasatch Hunters x1
Gladiatrons x1 – Feral Troll x1
Grimnak - Sudema
Heavy Gruts x1 – Master of the Hunt x1
Isamu - Dund
Knights of Weston x1 – Grok Riders x1
Krav Maga Agents – Deathwalker 9000
Marcu Esenwein – Runa
Marro Stingers x1 – Roman Archers x2
Me-Burq-Sa – Sir Dupuis
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - Moriko
Nilfheim – Empress Kiova and Sir Dupuis
Sir Gilbert – Kee-Mo-Shi

Agent Skahen – Acolarh
Airborne Elite – Deadeye Dan and Khosumet
Alastair MacDirk – Sharwin Wildborn
Braxas – Saylind and Gurei-Oni
Cyprien Esenwein – Master Win Chiu Woo
Darrak Ambershard - Kumiko
Death Chasers of Thesk x1 – Shaolin Monks x1
Eldgrim the Viking Champion – Iskra Esenwein
Eltahale – Mika Connour
Fen Hydra – Mind Flayer Mastermind
Fire Elemental – Dumutef Guard
Greenscale Warriors – Quasatch Hunters
Kaemon Awa – Sujoah
Major Q10 – Erevan Sunshadow
Marcus Decimus Gallus – Deathwalker 8000
Marro Dividers x1 – Dzu-Teh x1
Mezzodemon Warmongers x1 – Deepwyrm Drow x1
Mogrimm Forgehammer – Tul-Bak-Ra
Phantom Knights x1 – Wolves of Badru x1
Roman Legionnaires x1 - Deathstalkers
Sgt. Drake Alexander-SOTM – Elite Onyx Vipers
Zelrig – Agent Carr

Arkmer – Evar Scarcarver
Arrow Gruts x1 – Death Knights of Valkrill x1
Ashigaru Harquebus x1 – Granite Guardians x1
Atlaga – Sir Denrick
Black Wyrmling – Earth Elemental
Blade Gruts x1 – Tagawa Samurai Archers x1
Brave Arrow - Chardris
Charos - Parmenio
Crixus – Zettian Guards
Finn the Viking Champion – Rhogar Dragonspine
Frost Giant of Morh x1 – Werewolf Lord x1
Goblin Cutters x1 – Anubian Wolves x1
Heirloom - Shiori
Horned Skull Brutes x1 – Armoc Vipers x1
Krug - Morsbane
Kurrok the Elementalist - Retiarius
Laglor - Emirroon
Marrden Hounds x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1
Marrden Nagrubs x1 – Protectors of Ullar x1
Migol Ironwill - Torin
Mimring – Taelord the Kyrie Warrior
Minions of Utgar x1 – Warriors of Ashra x1
Mohican River Tribe x1 – Ashigaru Yari x1
Moltenclaw - Chardris
Ne-Gok-Sa - Estivara
Ogre Pulverizer – Marro Hive
Red Wyrmling – Water Elemental
Sacred Band x1 – Omnicron Snipers x1
Samuel Brown – Wo-Sa-Ga
Sentinels of Jandar x1 – White Wyrmling x2
Sgt. Drake Alexander-ROTV - Shurrak
Sonya Esenwein - Seige
Swog Rider - Wyvern
Syvarris – Sir Hawthorne
Tandros Kreel – Zettian Guards
Tarn Viking Warriors - Ornak
Theracus - Othkurik
Tornak – Sonlen
Tor-Kul-Na – James Murphy
Valguard - Jordawn
Venoc Vipers x1 – Capuan Gladiators
Venoc Warlord – Izumi Samurai
Warforged Soldiers x1 – Microcorp Agents x1
Zetacron – Warden 816
Zombies of Morindan x1 – Iron Golem x1
Air Elemental x1 – Blue Wyrmling x1
Ana Karithon – Sir Hawthorne
Brunak – Raelin the Kyrie Warrior – SotM
Ice Troll Berserker x1 – Marro Drones x1
MacDirk Warriors x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1
Fyorlag Spiders x1 – Sahaugin Raider x2
Tagawa Samurai – Concan the Kyrie Warrior
Otonashi – Kyntela Gwyn
Guilty McCreech – Spartacus
Drow Chainfighter x1 – Sahaugin Raider x1
Kozuke Samurai – Brandis Skyhunter

SECOND DRAFT PAIRINGS (WITH PAIR POINTS):

Spoiler Alert!

Raelin (RotV) – Kato Katsuro 280
Major Q9 – Deathwalker 7000 and Hatamoto Taro 410
Marro Warriors – Pelloth and Major X17 250
Deathreavers x1 – Obsidian Guards x1 160

4th Mass x1 – Templar Cavalry x1 190
10th Regiment of Foot x1 – The Einar Imperium x1 215
The Axegrinders of Burning Forge – Shades of Bleakewoode x1 170
Blastatrons x1 – Quasatch Hunters x1 160
Gladiatrons x1 – Feral Troll x1 170
Grimnak - Sudema 260
Heavy Gruts x1 – Master of the Hunt x1 210
Isamu - Dund 120
Knights of Weston x1 – Grok Riders x1 210
Krav Maga Agents – Deathwalker 9000 240
Marcu Esenwein – Runa 140
Marro Stingers x1 – Roman Archers x2 170
Me-Burq-Sa – Sir Dupuis 200
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - Moriko 160
Nilfheim – Empress Kiova and Gurei-Oni 375
Sir Gilbert – Kee-Mo-Shi 235

Agent Skahen – Acolarh 230
Airborne Elite – Deadeye Dan and Khosumet 245
Alastair MacDirk – Sharwin Wildborn 220
Braxas – Master Win Chiu Woo 350
Cyprien Esenwein – Saylind 230
Darrak Ambershard - Kumiko 140
Death Chasers of Thesk x1 – Shaolin Monks x1 135
Eldgrim the Viking Champion – Iskra Esenwein 80
Eltahale – Mika Connour 250
Fen Hydra – Mind Flayer Mastermind 220
Fire Elemental – Dumutef Guard 60
Greenscale Warriors x1 – Quasatch Hunters x1, Earth Elemental x1 195
Kaemon Awa – Sujoah 305
Major Q10 – Erevan Sunshadow 230
Marcus Decimus Gallus – Deathwalker 8000 230
Marro Dividers x1 – Dzu-Teh x1 125
Mezzodemon Warmongers x1 – Deepwyrm Drow x1 135
Mogrimm Forgehammer – Tul-Bak-Ra 250
Phantom Knights x1 – Wolves of Badru x1 150
Roman Legionnaires x1 - Deathstalkers x1 150
Sgt. Drake Alexander-SOTM – Elite Onyx Vipers 270
Zelrig – Agent Carr 285

Arkmer – Evar Scarcarver 160
Arrow Gruts x1 – Death Knights of Valkrill x1 100
Ashigaru Harquebus x1 – Granite Guardians x1 160
Atlaga – Sir Denrick 190
Black Wyrmling – Earth Elemental 65
Blade Gruts x1 – Tagawa Samurai Archers x1 105
Brave Arrow - Chardris 140
Charos - Parmenio 300
Crixus – Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan 155
Finn the Viking Champion – Rhogar Dragonspine 190
Frost Giant of Morh x1 – Werewolf Lord x1 280
Goblin Cutters x1 – Anubian Wolves x1 115
Heirloom - Shiori 150
Horned Skull Brutes x1 – Armoc Vipers x1 140
Krug - Morsbane 220
Kurrok the Elementalist - Retiarius 210
Laglor - Emirroon 190
Marrden Hounds x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1 190
Marrden Nagrubs x1 – Protectors of Ullar x1 140
Migol Ironwill - Torin 230
Mimring – Taelord the Kyrie Warrior 330
Minions of Utgar x1 – Warriors of Ashra x1 160
Mohican River Tribe x1 – Ashigaru Yari x1 130
Moltenclaw - Ninjas of the Northern Wind 280
Ne-Gok-Sa - Estivara 170
Ogre Pulverizer – Marro Hive 260
Red Wyrmling – Water Elemental 60
Sacred Band x1 – Ogre Warhulk x1 200
Samuel Brown – Wo-Sa-Ga 195
Sentinels of Jandar x1 – White Wyrmling x2 170
Sgt. Drake Alexander-ROTV - Shurrak 270
Sonya Esenwein - Seige 165
Swog Rider - Wyvern 125
Syvarris – Sir Hawthorne 190
Tandros Kreel – Zettian Guards 190
Tarn Viking Warriors - Ornak 150
Theracus - Othkurik 170
Tornak – Sonlen 260
Tor-Kul-Na – James Murphy 295
Valguard - Jordawn 220
Venoc Vipers x1 – Capuan Gladiators x1 110
Venoc Warlord – Izumi Samurai 180
Warforged Soldiers x1 – Microcorp Agents x1 180
Zetacron – Warden 816 150
Zombies of Morindan x1 – Iron Golem x1 160
Air Elemental x1 – Blue Wyrmling x1 75
Ana Karithon – Rechets of Bodgan 150
Brunak – Raelin the Kyrie Warrior (SotM) 230
Ice Troll Berserker x1 – Marro Drones x1 135
MacDirk Warriors x1 – Omnicron Repulsors x1 120
Fyorlag Spiders x1 – Sahaugin Raider x2 90
Tagawa Samurai – Concan the Kyrie Warrior 200
Otonashi – Kyntela Gwyn 30
Guilty McCreech – Spartacus 230
Drow Chainfighter x1 – Sahaugin Raider x1 50
Kozuke Samurai – Brandis Skyhunter 190

[Dysole]

First thought is that Rats + Obsidians + Krav + 9K feels like it might be the strongest thing I can build off the top of my head. Need more time to brain percolate.

EDIT: Looking at it, PKs + Wolves of Badru + WWL could also be good.

~Dysole, informationally

[Foudzing]

Imo you should set pods by total price.

Some ideas I like:
2x Axe 2x Shades Darrak Kumiko 480
Marros Warriors X17 Pelloth 2xDeepwyrm Drows 2x Mezzodemons 520
2x GSW 2X Quasacht Moltenclaw Chardris 580
Nabgrubs x2 Protectorsx2 TKN James Murphy 575

Brunak Raelin Sotm Tandross Warden Zetacon Zettian Guards 570 the trahspodge haha.
BtW Zettians are in 2 different draft pod.

Honestly it's quite hard to have a good under 500 point army.

[lucasd21]

First off, I think this is a really cool idea.

The trickiest part is going to be making pairings that fit a certain point limit for a game. At some point limits, the only pairings that will be feasible are ones with lower value figures, especially if you want multiples. The option to unpair obviously helps that issue, but the point variation between pairings might make some pairings unfeasible.

One suggestion would be to have each pairing equal a certain point value, even if you have to use multiples of a common unit, or multiple uniques in a single pairing.
For example:
Arrow gruts x3 + Roman archers x2 = 240
TKN + Kyntela Gwyn = 240
Siege + Darrak + Deadeye = 240.
Armies could then be 480 pts and you only pick 2 pairings from the set list rather than figuring what to take multiples of.
Even if in a given pairing list there's one or two units that can't fit in well with the pairing point value, they can be included in the next pairing list.

[ryguy266]

Originally Posted by Foudzing

Imo you should set pods by total price.

That's a great idea. I just updated the pairs, hopefully that helps in army building.

Originally Posted by Foudzing

Honestly it's quite hard to have a good under 500 point army.

It is definitely tough to keep down on points when most of the pairings are at least 100 points, probably averaging close to 150 or 200. I think 600 might be the optimal number, but I think games would probably still go quickly because of how few figures you could draft. But that's definitely the idea! It's not about playing the "best" army, but the "least worst" army you can make with all your dead weight.

I like all your army ideas, they are interesting. I did also update a few pairings because I found some duplicate figures when I was going through to update points and also some figures that got unused.