The Book of Ultraman

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Is the group not called Crime Syndicate of America/Amerika in n52? Seems like that would be a better name for the first power since just Crime Syndicate is a bit generic.

[Arch-vile]

Originally Posted by johnny139

I assume only you, the player who controls him, can ignore if he's Kryptonian, right? That's how I'm reading it, so if so, I think that's right way to word that.

Yep, that's the intention. Gets all the positive Kryptonian synergy without the weaknesses.

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Could just do Focused Heat Vision but with a lower roll and instead of attacking. I don’t think I’ve ever actually destroyed a Glyph with Superboy, but it’s a neat concept.

Cool idea for sure, I like adding the option to destroy a glyph.

HEAT VISION GLARE 6
Instead of attacking, you may choose a figure within 4 clear sight spaces and roll the 20-sided die. On a roll of 6 or higher, either inflict a wound on the chosen figure or destroy a glyph on that figure's card.

Originally Posted by Soundwarp SG-1

Is the group not called Crime Syndicate of America/Amerika in n52? Seems like that would be a better name for the first power since just Crime Syndicate is a bit generic.

They're just the Crime Syndicate in the N52. Could go with Crime Syndicate Motivation or something if that's better.

[Arch-vile]

Made the discussedchange to the heat vision power and updated the Crime Syndicate power name.

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?
Yep by design, it's bonding with one Sadistic figure. It can chain bond, but that's so Superwoman's lasso works when she bonds with 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?
Yep, on a roll of 6+ he can inflict one wound. He's a 440 point figure so probably balanced.

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?
No

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 (LONG FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

1. 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?
Consistent.

2. 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?
Consistent with Superman and other Kryptonians

3. 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?
Unique Hero

4. Consider the Class and Personality. For each, is it a reuse? If so, is the character thematically consistent with other members of that Class or Personality? If not, is there a preexisting Class or Personality that would fit as well that could be used instead? Are there any existing synergies with that Class or Personality that are undesirable or that this Design would create that would be undesirable for preexisting members of that Class or Personality?
Antagonist - thematic class, gives fun synergy with the Injustice League
Sadistic - necessary for Crime Syndicate synergy

5. 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?
Medium 5, all good.

7. Consider the listed Life number. Is this number consistent with other figures of the same species?
7-8 life is justified for Ultraman based on the Superman precedent. I lowered his defense to 6 from Superman's standard 7 to keep his cost down, so my gut is to go with the slightly higher 8 life here.

8. Consider the listed Move number. Is this number consistent with other figures of that power level?
8 move is typical for Superman.

9. Consider the listed Range and Attack numbers. Is this number consistent with other figures that use the same type of weapon or power to attack?
Pretty consistent with Superman

10. 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?
As mentioned, 7 is standard for Superman. Lowered here to keep his points down.

11. Does the figure have Super Strength? If it does or doesn’t, was this determined on the standard of that character demonstrating three things: A. The ability to throw a car B. The ability to survive a fall from a tall building and C. The ability to knock back another person when punching them?
Definitely super strength

12. 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?
3 new powers, all pretty similar to other powers though

13. Examine any movement powers. Do they keep the figure’s speed consistent with other figures of their species and power level?
N/A

14. 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?
yes

15. 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?
consistent with other Kryptonians

16. Examine any leadership powers. Do they exceed the activation potential of the best existing leaders? If so, is there thematic justification for this?
Fairly weak as far as leader powers go

17. 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?
N/A

18. 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?
Should be clear

19. Are special powers listed in game, round, and turn order?
Yes

20. If a special power includes a D20 roll, does it make sense to list a number by the title?
listed in the title

21. If a power is being reused, are the title and wording copied accurately?
N/A

22. Has the power title or a very similar one been used before with vastly different mechanics?
No

[IAmBatman]

Looks good! Pre-yea for initial. Wouldn't be surprised to see points ticking up a tad with that change to the heat vision (this version has less upside, but more utility, and should help him bond more consistently).

[Arch-vile]

I've got no set point value in mind, so I'm happy adjusting where needed.

I propose for initial testing.

[tcglkn]

Yea

[Tornado]

Yea

[Ronin]

yea

Kinda wish the first power was called Crime Syndicate Motivator or something like that - it's not exactly Sadistic Motivator, but it's close to those powers.

[Arch-vile]

This passes. I like Crime Syndicate Motivator, we can go with that.

[Arch-vile]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: Ultraman

Army Test
Map: A Couple Puddles
Units: Ultraman (440), Superwoman (250), Johnny Quick (230) (920) VS Superman II (450), Superboy Jon (120), Batman II (250), Robin Dick (100) (920)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Superman and Jon fly up. Ultraman attempts heat vision glare on Superman, and misses. Superman and Jon put 3 wounds on Ultraman. Ultraman puts 4 wounds on Superman, then has Superwoman attack Jon but she misses and her lasso misses as well. Superman and Jon miss. Ultraman puts 2 wounds on Superman, then Superman puts 2 wounds on Jon and lassos Superman, who attacks Batman (who burns the smoke pellet).

Round 2: Superman and Jon each put 2 wounds onto Ultraman. Ultraman Heat Vision glares Superboy for an easy kill, then Superwoman puts 3 wounds onto Batman. Batman and Robin miss. Ultraman Heat Vision Glares Batman for another kill, and Superwoman misses. Ultraman misses.

Round 3: Superman kills Ultraman. Superwoman beats on Superman to no avail. Superman kills Superwoman.

Round 4: Johnny Quick can’t dodge and so Superman takes him out.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Superman (6 wounds), Robin (0 wounds) win.

Very, very strong start for the Crime Syndicate, who had some insane dice. But the dice switched the other way towards the end and Superman made a comeback. Ultraman felt fun.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: A Couple Puddles
Units: Ultraman (440), Leatherface (95), Freddy Krueger (175) (710) VS Captain Cold (II), Golden Glider, Tar Pit, Trickster (I), Murmur, Weather Wizard (710)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Rogues move up. Leatherface moves up. Rogues move up. Ultraman uses heat vision on Trickster, then Leatherface chainsaws Tar Pit for 2 wounds. The Rogues manage to take out Leatherface. Ultraman wounds Weather Wizard and has Freddy wound Captain Cold.

Round 2: Murmur puts 2 wounds on Ultraman. Ultraman puts 2 wounds on Weather Wizard and Freddy puts a wound on Trickster. Murmur puts a shocking 4 wounds onto Ultraman. Ultraman kills Weather Wizard and Freddy kills Trickster. Tar Pit takes out Ultraman, leaving the Crime Syndicate with no figures on the battlefield.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Captain Cold (1 wound), Golden Glider (0 wounds), Murmur (2 wounds), Tar Pit (2 wounds) win.

Freddy was never killed but he was on his card so he lost. Ultraman kinda needs his Crime Syndicate buddies to have a chance, the Slashers are fun but too frail to be effective with him. And Murmur really shouldn’t have been able to do that level of damage to Ultraman, but that’s how the dice go sometimes.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: A Couple Puddles
Units: Ultraman (440), Crossbones (160), Superwoman (250) (850) VS Hulk II, Doctor Strange I, Wong (850)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Crossbones moves up. Strange and Wong move up. Ultraman heat visions Strange, then Crossbones misses. Hulk leaps up and Thunderclaps a wound onto Ultraman and Crossbones. Ultraman is blocked. Strange and Wong kill Crossbones, activating Hulk, who throws Superwoman into a tree and is blocked.

Round 2: Hulk wounds Ultraman. Ultraman puts 3 wounds onto Wong, activating Superwoman, who is blocked. Strange wounds Superwoman, activating Hulk, who throws Superwoman and wounds Ultraman. Ultraman heat visions Wong for an easy kill, activating Superwoman, who wounds Strange. Superwoman lassos Hulk who puts another wound on Strange. Hulk is blocked. Ultraman wounds Hulk and Superwoman wounds Strange.

Round 3: Ultraman wounds Strange with heat vision and Superwoman is blocked. Strange wounds Superwoman and Hulk uses thunderclap to wound both Crime Syndicate members. Ultraman heat visions Strange for the kill and Superwoman puts 3 wounds on Hulk. Hulk throws Superwoman for a wound. Ultraman puts 2 wounds on Hulk. Hulk throws Ultraman and uses Thunderclap to kill Superwoman and put 2 wounds on Ultraman.

Round 4: Ultraman heat visions Hulk for the win.


Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Ultraman (6 wounds) wins.

Felt like anyone’s game. Ultraman was fun and his bonding options were powerful yet fell easily enough.

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: Felt pretty solid as-is. 2 losses and one win. I used the Heat Vision Glare about half the time - it’s super useful for a 75% chance to kill a figure even if engaged to someone else. But his normal attack is quite high and can really do a lot of damage, so you shouldn’t fall into the trap of relying on the heat vision.

I would like to change Crime Syndicate Motivator slightly by adding a clear sight requirement.

[Arch-vile]

I'll propose for public testing

[MrNobody]

Yea

Pretty okay with evil Supermen being more heat vision-focused, it feels like they use it much more than regular Supes.