The Book Of The Masked Gnome

[Pallindromemaster]

Any comments/input from other judges?

[whitestuff]

Originally Posted by Pallindromemaster

Any comments/input from other judges?

Sorry there's been nothing from me as the RealWorld got a bit busy. I'll try to have a play with him soon

[whitestuff]

*WARNING* the following is my honest feelings, but it turns out my honest feelings aren't all that positive.


After my play-test I'm going to have to agree with Temprit,

Originally Posted by Temprit

AH, I hate Gnomes!!!

I played two games with The Masked Gnome (TMG), giving him more moves than I normally would and he really, really frustrated me.

Let me set up the game.

There were three random 400-points armies.

Team 1 - TMG, Sgt. Drake and the Krav.
Team 2 - Braxas, Izumi Samuri, Zettian Guards and Warriors of Ashra.
Team 3 - Mimring, Arrow Gruts, Ne-Gok-Sa and Thorgrim.

For the Army I had his Mask of Disguise was useless. Strike 1
In the two games I played I tried 40+ times to Bard Song and actually achieved it 3 times. I kid you not. Strike 2
His move of 6 was a good call. He bunts for a run to first
His Climbx2 was useful. He steals 2nd
His 6 life kept him in the game for longer. A quick run to third
There were no Elves on the board... He's been tagged running for the Home Plate!

He's outta there!!!

I really wanted TMG to be a good figure but he just wasn't fit for a pick-up game. TMG needs to be supported by carefully chosen teammates and fitting a very specific enemy.

The following are the thoughts I had as I played The Masked Gnome.

In a specially configured army if TMG takes 1 wound his big ticket ability is useless. Why does he have to lose that ability after being hurt?

I cannot for the life of me figure out why he would cost 155 points. TMG is 5 points more than Mimring and Cyprien. Who in their right mind would ever pick TMG?

After 1 wound would I have to change his name? (He has no Mask after all...)

Why is Bard Song instead of attacking? Why not have it work like Mindshackle and let TMG attack after using it.

Why does Mask of Disguise say, If the Masked Gnome takes a wound, remove all mask counters from all army cards. Doesn't he have only 1 mask?

For 155 points I'd be better off having Dund who only costs 110 points (but didn't Dund score a D in the power ratings in Bixby's spreadsheet? Goes to show how disappointed I was in TMG's performance).

Did nonexistantnonexister actually play-test TMG before giving it the Stamp Of Approval?


So then, the question for me is, what could I recommend?

Well, for starters, if you didn't change the points, I think that Elf Slayer should be broadened to something like Sir Denrick's Giant Slayer. For TMG it could included all figure bigger than him. (The gnomes in the Discworld novels are tough as nails and many larger enemies are surprised as to how strong the gnomes are)

He needs to be able to attack after using Bard Song. Have Bard Song limit his ability to move in a turn as opposed to his attacking. Instead of moving, sing a song and if that fails smack them with your pointy weapons.

These two alone would probably make him worth the 155 points.

If you don't want to change his abilities then you'd have to drop his points. Honestly, at his current pricing, I'd would never chose to have TMG on my team. Not ever.

If Dund is 110, then TMG would be 120 (maybe even 115 because Isama has a similar ability in Dishonorable Attack and he is only 10 points. Actually Isamu's is even more useful than TMG's as Isamu gets the bonus dice against a whole general's army, unlike TMG's 1 singular race).

Lastly, if he is The Masked Gnome, he needs to be able to use his mask throughout the game and have a mechanic where he could change it if necessary.


So there you have it. That's what I think. I'd need to see many, many positive play-tests before I'd consider giving "The Stamp" in the card's current state. I truly think The Masked Gnome needs more cowbell.

[Pallindromemaster]

Thank you for the constructive criticism. Now I can really get to work revising this thing...

Some thoughts:
Using bardsong instead of moving is a very good idea I had not thought of. I definately want to work that in.

Mask of Disguise was supposed to follow his magic item in D&D, the mask of disguise. The disguise self ability it has is meant to last only until an offensive action is taken. Obviously this is not very conducive to Heroscapery so I tried to make another limit. Some considerations for it:
a. Lasts whole game. Many pros to this one.
b. Lasts until the Masked Gnome destroys a figure. This would keep with the theme of the spell only lasting until offensive action is taken although it kinda devalues his elf slayer ability
c. At the end of each round roll the d20. On a roll of 19 or higher, remove all mask counters from all cards.
d. Also the issue of being able to change his disguise mid-game interests me. Perhaps if a player wanted to switch he could try, but he would have to roll a d20 for each enemy figure with line of sight to him. If he rolls a 1, remove all mask counters from all army cards.
The reason for removing all mask counters is because although he is unique both sides can legally draft him into their armies. Thus it is possible for there to be more than one mask counter in play at any given time

Elf Slayer is, while perhaps not always effective, important to the theme of the character, I feel, as he really does hate Elves in my D&D game.

A point reduction, from your analysis, does seem to be in order. Must playtest a lot more, I guess. Thanks for the input!

[Pallindromemaster]

Okay, I ran some test games (four, to be exact) with this latest version of the card. The armies containing TMG won twice, and two of the armies with him lost. It should be noted he is especially effective when he can bond with other figures, and this is when he best lives up to his point value. Additionally, his effectiveness is maximized when he is sent alone into a group of active characters, with bonded archers (are there any other than the arrow gruts?) backing him up out of range of his bardsong. But enough of that. Here is the revised gnome:

[whitestuff]

This new revision is much better. I had a game with him and even though he wasn't in the winning team, I had a much better time with him. I think I'm nearing a stamp now that he is headed in the right direction.

Before I give it the stamp though I'd love to see the other judges play-tests...

[Pallindromemaster]

Hmm... Other judges? I think that was your cue!

[nerdyninja]

Originally Posted by Temprit

AH, I hate Gnomes!!!

quick fight him with elves

[whitestuff]

Originally Posted by Pallindromemaster

Hmm... Other judges? I think that was your cue!

I get the feeling that nonexistantexister stamped early and has never been back here. I looked through the thread and Fallen Templar has never made a comment about this trial. Does he even know that he is judging this?

Looks like it's just you and me here Pallindromemaster...

I'm due to give this guy another run through tomorrow with the new revision so I'll get back to you in 24hrs or so

[MegadeV]

I suggest a slight wording change to the Fascinate ability.

The first sentence currently says:

"Instead of moving, you may roll the twenty sided die once for each figure with at least one order marker on it within 3 line of sight spaces from the Masked Gnome."

To make it more official-like, I would change it to this:

"Instead of moving, you may roll the 20-sided die once for each figure that has at least one order marker on it, that is within 3 clear sight spaces of the Masked Gnome."

[Fallen Templar]

Alright this guy got some playtime at my groups NHSD campaign game. The game pit 3 teams of Hero's against an invaded dwarf mine thanks to Utgar. The Team consisited of Custom and Official Figures. I can't give a detailed playtest report.

The Dungeon consisted of 3 rooms to get the Boss.

Although I was made fun of due to the fact that he is a silly figure . He did well surviving to the overlord figure where he fell. I thought i `would get to make final critique on the figure but megade beat me to it. make that correction and your approved [/img]

[Pallindromemaster]

The requested correction has been made! He may be silly, but that is most certainly what I was aiming for