The Book of Kang (II)

[Karat]

Yea

[Ronin]

And I do believe this passes, on time.

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

Make sure to tag the CRB guys once this passes for some build suggestions. If I get time, I may be able to work on the Initial on Friday.

dok already made some synergy suggestions. Any further advice from @Dysole , @Soundwarp SG-1 , or @weebaer would be welcome!

[Soundwarp SG-1]

I agree with dok on pairing him up with bombers and lockdown units and such, Spider-Girl would be another decent one I think. Might also be worth timestreaming in Angel or another carrier early on so you can slingshot Kang into position asap, Kang certainly has the survivability to hang on the front lines against most armies.

[TrollBrute]

Originally Posted by Soundwarp SG-1

I agree with dok on pairing him up with bombers and lockdown units and such, Spider-Girl would be another decent one I think. Might also be worth timestreaming in Angel or another carrier early on so you can slingshot Kang into position asap, Kang certainly has the survivability to hang on the front lines against most armies.

Angel would be nice one to add in if you're using a bomber like Liz Sherman. Tons of speed with that strategy.

[TrollBrute]

Also, @Ronin , is the 350 in the SP a guess for his cost, or more of a range you'd like to hit? In other words, should I make adjustments to keep him near 350, or are you fine with his cost ending up higher or lower?

[Ronin]

It was a bit of a guess, but I'm angling for that ballpark. My intent is to get him into the 330-370 range.

[Dysole]

Other good options include Diablo, Obsidian, War Machine, Siryn, Banshee, and my personal favorite X-23.

~Dysole, who would definitely be tempted to have either Angel hang around Kang

[TrollBrute]

Knocked out two games today. Kang+Ms Marvel+Angstrom Levy+Blob twice edged out Star-Lord+MM(I)+Red Skull+Jocasta+Angel+Atom. No huge wins, but I'm bumping his cost to 370 for the next one. I've got a thing with friends this evening and plans this weekend, but I should hopefully be able to finish by early next week.

[Dysole]

Captain Cold. Forgot about him.

~Dysole, hilariously

[TrollBrute]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: Kang (II)

Army Test
Map: Sacred Shrine
Units: Kang (II) (350), Ms Marvel (350), Angstrom Levy (225), Blob (165) (1090) VS Star-Lord (250), Red Skull (220), Angel (90), Jocasta (180), (000)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 2 wounds to Atom, 1 to Skull, 3 to Manhunter, 2 to Star-Lord, 2 to Angel.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 3 figures placed on card (Ms Marvel, Levy, Blob), 3 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 6 times used; 4 wounds (1 each to Jocasta and Red Skull, 2 to Martian Manhunter) out of 15 rolls.

Spoiler Alert!

Kang and Levy get Avengers markers.

Neither team got a great start. Martian Manhunter only managed 1 blank in his first two rolls, and that left his team hanging around the startzone. However, that meant Kang either had to wait for them to come to him, or go to them. He took an early shot at Atom and knocked him out, but then took a wound from MM.

In the second round, Kang spent his time calling in Reinforcements. First up was Angstrom Levy, who put Red Skull in an Alternative Reality, but it only stuck for a turn, and Skull escaped unscathed. It hurt the Guardians for that second round, in which Blob engaged Star-Lord and Angel while Ms Marvel took down Jocasta. After that though, Skull was almost untouchable for a round. He and Star-Lord ended Angstrom's threat in the third round, while moving OMs so that Ms Marvel couldn't activate him. The Kangvengers’ attacks, meanwhile, did no damage to Skull.

Things changed at the start of the fourth round, when Kang win Initiative and finally got Skull with his Orbital Assault (after missing 8 out of his first 9 shots), then he and Ms Marvel quickly KOed Skull. After that, MM made a good threat, but he was too far down.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R6T1: Kang with 1/5 wounds, Ms Marvel with 4/5, Blob unwounded.

Army Test
Map: Sacred Shrine
Units: Kang (II) (350), Ms Marvel (350), Angstrom Levy (225), Blob (165) (1090) VS Star-Lord (250), Red Skull (220), Angel (90), Jocasta (180), (000)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 2 wounds to Jocasta, 3 to Martian Manhunter, 2 to Skull.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 3 figures placed on card (Ms Marvel, Levy, Blob), 3 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 5 times used; 5 wounds (2 each to Red Skull and Martian Manhunter, 1 to Star-Lord) out of 12 rolls.

Spoiler Alert!

This was a really hard-fought game from both sides, with the Cube of course demanding most of the attention. Kang’s Orbital Assault hit Red Skull on the very first turn of the game, and that sent the Guardians scrambling to get it back. Before they could get it, Kang summoned Blob and threw him next to Angel, Jocasta, and Red Skull, with the Cube on the other side of him. Martian Manhunter moved in to grab the Cube and moved Blob out of the way, but this sent the Cube next to Kang, who picked it up and then managed to defend it for about a round, shrugging off the Guardians attacks while summoning Ms Marvel for backup.

Skull eventually got the Cube back at the end of the second round, but an Initiative win for Kang and another successful Orbital Assault meant that the Guardians were once again fighting to get back the Cube. Martian Manhunter and Atom sat next to Kang and Ms Marvel, tying down their attacks, while MM and Red Skull tried to hit Kang once again. Red Skull got the Cube back again, and again at the end of the round, with Jocasta now dead. However, an Initiative win the other way let Red Skull pull off a turn with the Cube, sending a wound from himself to Kang.

To combat this, Kang finally called in Angstrom Levy, who sent Red Skull to the Alternate Dimension. Perfect rolls for Kang’s side here, as Skull took a wound and lost the Cube on Martian Manhunter’s OM, then was sent back to his startzone before he could pick it up. This took the Cube out of play for most of the game (Star-Lord would eventually pick it up), and Skull was picked off by Kang right after coming back. However, Martian Manhunter finished off Ms Marvel, dealing three wounds to her, and Kang was already sitting at 4 wounds. Kang and MM went head-to-head, with Martian Manhunter coming out on top, but with only a Life left. Angstrom Levy was unwounded and got the bulk of the OMs for Army One from here on out, but even with sending MM, Atom, and Star-Lord to the Alternate Reality at different times, he did little damage to them. Blob would take down Star-Lord and MM, though he took 2 more wounds and Angstrom took 4. Atom only had a Life left, and Angstrom picked him off with the Cube.

This was a very fun, fairly close game. A couple rolls here or there could have swung it either way, really. However, with the two wins so far, I’m bumping Kang to 370 for the next test.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R9T5: Blob with 4/6 wounds, Angstrom with 4/5.

Army Test (I slipped up this game and completely forgot to put Gypsy in the game. She wouldn’t have had much effect, but it makes this win stand out more.)
Map: Dark Dimension
Units: Kang (II) (370), Liz Sherman (180), Beast Boy (Pterodactyl, 40), Human Torch (225), Gypsy (180) (995) VS Scarlet Spider (Kaine Parker, 245), Hit-Girl (135), Batgirl (Cassandra Cain, 130), Oracle (110), Robin (Damian Wayne, 80), Nite Owl (130), Huntress (170) (1000)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 5 wounds to Scarlet Spider, 4 to Nite-Owl, 1 to Batgirl.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 3 figures placed on card (Beast Boy, Torch, Liz), 3 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 5 times used; 3 wounds out of 6 rolls (1 each to Oracle, Scarlet Spider, and Batgirl).

Spoiler Alert!

The Vigilantes won Init in this game, and moved a number of their figures out quickly, making it tougher for Kang to decide where to send Liz Sherman. She blew up on the second turn, (after Kang used Beast Boy to slingshot closer to the SZ) rolling 4 skulls and KOing Robin and Hit-Girl and also dealing 2 wounds to Huntress and 3 to Oracle. She rolled 0 skulls against herself out of 4 dice, but took three wounds on the next turn from Huntress and was no longer a threat. Kang used Damocles on the third turn to take down Oracle.

Scarlet Spider went right at Kang, and he got a couple turns against him using his Stingers, but only did 2 wounds, with his Sidekicks struggling. Kang dropped Human Torch down next to Nite-Owl and Scarlet Spider, but he failed both of his Flame On 4 rolls and only rolled 1 skull on his attack. He would later fail another Flame On 4 roll against Huntress, though he took her out before she could kill him.

Kang had great attacks all throughout this game, and picked off Scarlet Spider and Nite-Owl fairly quickly. He then struggled against Batgirl though, and she finished him off. She got Torch up to 4 wounds, but he used Supernova in the fifth round to take her down.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R5T4: Human Torch with 4/5 wounds, Liz Sherman with 3/4.

Army Test
Map: Dark Dimension
Units: Kang (II) (370), Liz Sherman (180), Beast Boy (Pterodactyl, 40), Human Torch (225), Gypsy (180) (995) VS Martian Manhunter (I, 300), Stepford Cuckoos x5 (400), Jean Grey (180), Yukio (120) (1000)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 1 wound to Sophie, 3 wounds to Yukio, 1 wound to Jean.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 4 figures placed on card (Beast Boy, Liz, Torch, Gypsy), 4 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 6 times used; 2 wounds out of 14 rolls (1 each to Mindee and Sophie).

Spoiler Alert!

Kang won Initiative this time, and used Beast Boy to slingshot out. Martian Manhunter rolled 0 blanks on his first Telepathic Directive roll, and left the Mutants sitting ducks for Liz Sherman. She blew up with 5 skulls, killing 3 Cuckoos outright and dealing 2 wounds to the other two, as well as 3 wounds to Jean. Liz would later be picked off by the Cuckoos.

Martian Manhunter rolled very poorly for Telepathic Directive throughout the game, but he did fine in 1-on-1 against Kang. Human Torch’s Flame On 4 dealt him 4 wounds, and he also took 1 from Torch’s normal attack. Gypsy would later finish him off. The Mutants took down Torch, and almost got Kang, but they were just too far in the hole after Liz’s attack.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R6T2: Kang with 4/5 wounds, Gypsy with 1/4, Beast Boy unwounded.

Army Test
Map: Dark Dimension
Units: Kang (II) (370), Liz Sherman (180), Beast Boy (Pterodactyl, 40), Human Torch (225), Gypsy (180) (995) VS Martian Manhunter (I, 300), Stepford Cuckoos x5 (400), Jean Grey (180), Yukio (120) (1000)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 1 wound to Phoebe, 1 to Jean, 3 wounds to Mindee.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 4 figures placed on card (Beast Boy, Liz, Torch, Gypsy), 4 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 5 times used; 4 wounds out of 11 rolls (1 each to Mindee and Sophie, 2 to Yukio).

Spoiler Alert!

This time the Initiative went to the Telepaths, and Martian Manhunter rolled okay for Telepathic Directive. This made the Liz-bomb less effective, though she still KOed 2 Cuckoos and dealt 3 wounds to another. She rolled 3 skulls against herself and was killed by an advancing Jean Grey. Jean would end up playing a huge roll in this one with her Psionic Grip really preventing Kang’s side from doing much at times.

Torch only hit his Flame On 4 once before Martian Manhunter brought him to 4 wounds. His Supernova was okay, with 4 skulls, but his decreased effectiveness left J’onn in the battle longer. Once Kang has used up his Reinforcements, he was only okay. Hard to kill, but only doing so much damage on his turn. Two of the Cuckoos stuck around for a while, slowly picking at Kang’s team, while Jean held them in place on their turns, and threw them around on her turns. The lava didn’t do much damage to Kang and Gypsy, but it did deal a wound each.

It almost seemed for a couple rounds like Gypsy might win, but she eventually whiffed her defense twice in a row and fell to Jean and Sophie.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R7T2: Jean with 3/4 wounds, Sophie with 2/4.

Army Test
Map: Sewer Labyrinth
Units: Kang (II) (370), Kang(I) x3 (810) (1180) VS Mister Fantastic (235), Invisible Woman (215), Human Torch (225), The Thing (325), Animal Man (170) (1170)
Unit Summary:
Damage w/normal: 3 wounds to Animal Man, 1 to Mister Fantastic, 5 to The Thing.
One True Kang: 0 wounds prevented by destroying NR figures.
Timestream Reinforcements: 3 figures placed on card (all three Kang (I)s), 3 turns taken with figures on card.
Damocles Orbital Assault: 4 times used; 2 wounds out of 6 rolls (1 each to Human Torch and Animal Man).

Spoiler Alert!

Mister Fantastic started off the game with a 20 for Fantastic Leader, which allowed him to move most of his team out, though he had to be careful not to cluster too much for fear of Damocles Orbital Assault. He only activated 1 Adventurer on each of his other turns in the first round, so he was prevented from doing any damage. Kang waited until his third turn to use Damocles, and he failed on Sue, but hit Torch. He then sent Kang1A to move Sue out (with 1A’s glyph), and then attack her twice, KOing her.

In the second round, OTKang attempted the same thing to Mister Fantastic with Kang1B, but he wasn’t able to kill him on that turn. Torch used Flame On 4 to deal two wounds each to Kangs1 A&B, then pick off Kang1B with his attack. During the rest of the round, Mister Fantastic and Thing racked up the wounds on OTKang and Torch finished off Kang1A, while OTKang and Kang1C knocked out Mister Fantastic.

Round three saw OTKang brought up to 4 wounds by Thing and Torch, and Kang1C KOed, but not before he finished off Torch. OTKang won Init in the Fourth round and used Damocles to put another wound on Animal Man (missing Thing), then taking out Thing. Animal Man took a shot at OTKang, but failed, and OTKang made him pay.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): R4T3: One True Kang with 4/5 wounds.

___________________________________________________________

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: The current write-up is very good. I don’t think it’s broken at all, but he is very strong. The ability to save you OMs moving figures up, and keep those figures protected until the right moment to unleash them is extremely helpful. You can build some armies with nasty tricks up their sleeves, especially bombing the startzone. However, once Kang has emptied his bag of tricks, he loses a lot of his effectiveness, and if you can outlast him, you can beat him. So many wins, but few huge wins makes me think we’re close. A point bump might be enough (I would suggest 400), but you could also try lowering his Defense by one, making Timestream Reinforcements a once-per-round power, or weakening Damocles Orbital Assault by putting a range limit on it or moving it to the end of the round.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Man, do I love Timestream Reinforcements. So many cool options for Army building, from the strong, to the gimmicky, to the weird. Super fun.

I never got a chance to destroy another Kang to save Kang (II), and in general I feel it’s not a very useful trick, but it’s a nice bit of theme, and I could see it in the right situation.

[IAmBatman]

If the design is playing really well (I like the idea that he starts out really tough but if you weather it you his effectiveness diminishes - very thematic), my preference would be keeping him as is and just doing the cost bump.

Looks fun!

[Ronin]

Originally Posted by TrollBrute

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: The current write-up is very good. I don’t think it’s broken at all, but he is very strong. The ability to save you OMs moving figures up, and keep those figures protected until the right moment to unleash them is extremely helpful. You can build some armies with nasty tricks up their sleeves, especially bombing the startzone. However, once Kang has emptied his bag of tricks, he loses a lot of his effectiveness, and if you can outlast him, you can beat him. So many wins, but few huge wins makes me think we’re close. A point bump might be enough (I would suggest 400), but you could also try lowering his Defense by one, making Timestream Reinforcements a once-per-round power, or weakening Damocles Orbital Assault by putting a range limit on it or moving it to the end of the round.

Good to hear that he's close. 400 is a little higher than I was angling for, but it's not unfitting for the first guy to conquer the Earth.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: Man, do I love Timestream Reinforcements. So many cool options for Army building, from the strong, to the gimmicky, to the weird. Super fun.

Awesome!

I never got a chance to destroy another Kang to save Kang (II), and in general I feel it’s not a very useful trick, but it’s a nice bit of theme, and I could see it in the right situation.

Yeah, that was intended to be a niche theme bit. Kang I isn't quite cheap enough to just be throwing away willy-nilly.

Originally Posted by IAmBatman

If the design is playing really well (I like the idea that he starts out really tough but if you weather it you his effectiveness diminishes - very thematic), my preference would be keeping him as is and just doing the cost bump.

Looks fun!

Agreed! I like the idea that he's not so tough when he's used up all his resources. It's very in line with the way he goes down in Kang Dynasty, which was the main inspiration for this design. Despite leading a successful military conquest of the world, when it comes down to a 1 on 1, Captain America beats the crap out of him.

I'm a little torn between leaving things at a cost bump, or maybe bumping him a little less and putting a range on Damocles, just to give opponents at least a turn or two to get out of the start zone before Kang starts bombing it.