The Book of S.W.A.T. Assaulter

[Hahma]

The Book of S.W.A.T. Assaulter

C3G MARVEL SUPER SECRET EXCLUSIVE 33
CRIME STOPPERS

Comic PDF

Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a HeroClix figure from the Xplosion set.
Its model number and name are #010-012 / S.W.A.T. Officer.
Its model number and name are #204 / Sammy Liebman.

The figure used for this unit is a HeroClix figure from the Universe set.
Its model number and name are #016-018 / S.W.A.T. Officer.

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Character Bio - The S.W.A.T. Assaulter is a member of the S.W.A.T. team who is specially trained in dealing with close quarter threats, especially in forced entry situations where he can use his shield for extra protection. He can also use his shield to good effect in blocking close assaults from opponents, and then striking back at them. Timing is critical for the S.W.A.T. team and often multiple actions are taken at once, but a lot of that hinges on the S.W.A.T. Assaulter leading the charge.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Human, S.W.A.T. Assaulter has these Human Synergies.
• As a Lawman, S.W.A.T. Assaulter has these Lawman Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• S.W.A.T. Assaulter may use its Synchronized Assault when moved during a Unique Lawman Hero's turn. Current Unique Lawmen Heroes that can move other Lawmen on their turn.

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-Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses-

Immunities

• N/A

Benefits

• N/A

Weaknesses

• N/A

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: Hahma
• Second playtest: Viegon
• Third playtest: Red Eyed Jedi
• Fourth playtest: Yodaking
• Art:Comic and mini images
• Art by: A3n

[Hahma]

NAME = S.W.A.T. ASSAULTER


SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = COMMON HERO
CLASS = LAWMAN
PERSONALITY = DISCIPLINED

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 1

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 25

SYNCHRONIZED ASSAULT
After revealing an Order Marker on a Lawman Hero card you control and taking a turn with that Hero, if one or more S.W.A.T. Assaulters you control moved into engagement with an opponent's figure this turn, one unengaged Common Lawman figure you control may attack with its normal attack.

COUNTER STRIKE
When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent attacking figure, all excess shields count as unblockable hits on the attacking figure.

[Hahma]

Comic Images

[A3n]

Great addition.

[IAmBatman]

Looks awesome! So he could give a free shot to another Assaulter, or a different Common Lawman Hero, or a Common Lawman Squad figure like a 5th Precinct Beat Cop. Nifty. Not overpowered, but good synergy.

[IAmBatman]

We should probably specify "normal" attack, btw. Not sure we have any common Lawmen with special attacks yet, but it could get wonky to use a special attack in this setting.

Also, we'll have to be wary about whether isolating the attack phase on a bunch of figures will cause any weird interactions with before/during/after attacking powers on cards (i.e. the timeless Colossus Fastball Special issue).

Here's the current list of Common Lawmen:

SWAT Explosives Expert
SWAT Rifleman
Bad Cops
5th Precinct Beat Cops
Science Police
Hawkmen of Thanagar

I haven't vetted this for potential timing interpretation issues yet, but I will in a minute here. The idea of restricting this to Common Lawman Hero figures is always possible, as well, if some of the squads prove tricky.

[IAmBatman]

Problems that could be potential interpretation issues:

SWAT Rifleman's Assault Rifle (presumably, he could use it)

Bad Cops' Shakedown (presumably, could be used)

5th Precinct Beat Cops' Clean Up the Streets (definitely think it could be used)

Hawkmen's Nth Metal Mace (definitely think it could be used)

Most of the really involved movement type powers on the Science Police and Hawkmen are, thankfully, tied to taking turns with them. This might not be an issue based on what we have. But we'll need to watch future Common Lawmen additions very carefully.

[quozl]

In the C3V we determined that when you attack, you are taking a turn. Has the C3G ruled in the other direction?

[Hahma]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

We should probably specify "normal" attack, btw. Not sure we have any common Lawmen with special attacks yet, but it could get wonky to use a special attack in this setting.

Also, we'll have to be wary about whether isolating the attack phase on a bunch of figures will cause any weird interactions with before/during/after attacking powers on cards (i.e. the timeless Colossus Fastball Special issue).

Here's the current list of Common Lawmen:

SWAT Explosives Expert
SWAT Rifleman
Bad Cops
5th Precinct Beat Cops
Science Police
Hawkmen of Thanagar

I haven't vetted this for potential timing interpretation issues yet, but I will in a minute here. The idea of restricting this to Common Lawman Hero figures is always possible, as well, if some of the squads prove tricky.

I can see restricting it to "normal attack" only, just in case.

I would think that however the common lawman figure can attack with a normal attack would be the way they could attack from the Assaulter's power.

Originally Posted by quozl

In the C3V we determined that when you attack, you are taking a turn. Has the C3G ruled in the other direction?

I don't know that we officially ruled in the other direction, but what would make attacking considered taking a turn if moving isn't considered taking a turn? In both cases, the figure is being activated, but to me, they are just being activated for a phase of a turn.

Speedy (Roy) gets to attack before a unique hero archer attacks, would that mean that Speedy took a turn? If so, do we have powers that would/could be activated by him "taking a turn" from just attacking? I don't recall us ever considering that attacking = taking a turn.

[IAmBatman]

I'm not sure if we stated it specifically, but I would say that, yes, our rulings have involved the underlying thought that attacking =/= taking a turn. Attacking is a phase of a turn, not a full turn.

The Hired Guns are the biggest precedent here. They're allowed to attack out of turn, but they're not considered to be taking a full turn by any ruling we've made, and there'd be no logic to support the idea that they're taking a full turn, since we don't mention anywhere that they can't move during that attack activation, but they can't move during that attack activation.

[Hahma]

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

I'm not sure if we stated it specifically, but I would say that, yes, our rulings have involved the underlying thought that attacking =/= taking a turn. Attacking is a phase of a turn, not a full turn.

The Hired Guns are the biggest precedent here. They're allowed to attack out of turn, but they're not considered to be taking a full turn by any ruling we've made, and there'd be no logic to support the idea that they're taking a full turn, since we don't mention anywhere that they can't move during that attack activation, but they can't move during that attack activation.

Well if that's the case, then the Hawkmen's Battle Maneuver would allow for a Thanagarian Hero to move 4 spaces after the Hawkman squad figure attacks from the Assaulter's power. Not a big deal. The Hawkman squaddie would already have to be engaged to be able to attack. Not sure how effective the Hawkpeople/Assaulter army would be to worry about being over-powered.

The Science Police would be the biggest concern because if the "attacking" figure doesn't attack a human figure, you could attack with up to 6 Science police because of Extreme Predjudice. Because if "attacking" is considered taking a turn, then "when you take a turn with the Science Police" could be interpreted as "when attacking with the Science Police". Also, Reinforcements on the Way would allow for 4 SP to move. That's not a big deal really though.




To eliminate the Extreme Prejudice issue from the Science Police and any other issue that may be construed as allowing more than one extra figure to attack, maybe this change below make it clear that only one other figure will be able to attack this turn.

SYNCRONIZED ASSAULT
After revealing an Order Marker on this card and taking a turn with a S.W.A.T. Assaulter, if a S.W.A.T. Assaulter you control moved into engagement with an opponent's figure this turn, you may attack with one other Common Lawman figure you control. Only one additional Common Lawman figure can attack during this S.W.A.T. Assaulter's turn.

[johnny139]

I'm a bit concerned about single-figure bonding, but we're already crossed that line with Mentallo, and it seemed to work well enough.

Like the powerset, simple and straightforward, all clear here.