The Book of Rocksteady

[quozl]

The Book of Rocksteady

C3G IDW WAVE 29
CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Comic PDF

Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the TMNT Heroes in a Half Shell set.
Its model number and name are #017 / Rocksteady.

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Character Bio - A Foot Clan tough that volunteered to become a mutant along with his buddy Bebop. Strong and stupid, they've decided to head out on their own after Shredder's death.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• When using the optional Knockback rules, Rocksteady's player chooses the order in which Clumsy Smash and Knockback are resolved.

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Mutate, Rocksteady has these Mutate Synergies.
• As a Brute, Rocksteady has these Brute Synergies.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Rocksteady has these Super Strength Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• As a Mutate, Rocksteady interacts differently with these special powers.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Rocksteady interacts differently with these special powers.
• As a figure with a special attack, Rocksteady can interact differently with these special powers.
• Rocksteady's Clumsy Smash special power cannot move tiny, large, or huge figures.
• Rocksteady's Too Dumb To Fall special power makes it easier for some figures with special powers that take temporary or permanent control to take control of him.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: quozl
• Second playtest: Eritch
• Third playtest: Ronin
• Fourth playtest: Yodaking
• Fifth playtest: Alexan
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by Scapemage
• Rocksteady created by David Wise and Peter Laird
• Comic art by Alex Kotkin

Card Updates:
7 March 2021 - Class changed to Brute

[quozl]

NAME = ROCKSTEADY

SPECIES = MUTATE
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = BRUTE
PERSONALITY = CLUELESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 7

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 6
DEFENSE = 6

POINTS = 290

CLUMSY SMASH
After attacking an adjacent small or medium figure, if it was not destroyed, place that figure up to X clear sight spaces away from its original placement where X equals the number of wounds you inflicted with that attack. A figure moved by this special power will not take any leaving engagement attacks. Then, one at a time, roll an unblockable attack die against all figures adjacent to the defending figure, even if it was not moved.

SHODDY GUN SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Attack 4.
When attacking with this special attack, if you roll more shields than skulls, this special attack can not be used for the rest of the game.

TOO DUMB TO FALL 4
Once per round, if Rocksteady would be destroyed by receiving wounds, he instead takes no damage. For the rest of the round, if any player rolls the 20-sided die to take temporary or permanent control of Rocksteady, that player may add 4 to the roll.

SUPER STRENGTH

[Ronin]

Pretty sure this was brought up during workshopping, but just to jog my memory - Clumsy Smash is meant to trigger even if he inflicts no wounds?

Wasn't feeling Too Dumb to Fall at first, but I'm digging it now. Go the Distance felt like it had a little too much of a 'hero' vibe for Bebop/Rocksteady, so using that mechanic in a slightly different context feels like an improvement. Very Loony Tunes vibe - whack him on the head, then put one over on him while he's dazed.

[IAmBatman]

Like where it's at! I'll echo Ronin's request for clarification. I think the answer is "yes," which I like in terms of gameplay, but wonder if it's possible to word it so that's more obvious.

The name "Too Dumb to Fall" feels a bit corny, but definitely evokes that whole "this henchman basically got a concussion from a blow to the head and is now acting cartoonishly stupid" thing that I associate with characters like Rocksteady.

[quozl]

Yes, it is supposed to trigger even when inflicting no wounds. We could word it more explicitly:

CLUMSY SMASH
After attacking an adjacent small or medium figure, move that figure up to one space for each wound you inflicted with that attack. It will not take any leaving engagement attacks. Then, one at a time, roll an unblockable attack die against all figures adjacent to that figure, even if it was not moved.

[IAmBatman]

I think that works.

[johnny139]

My only real worry is how his knockback power interacts with our Knockback rules - might be kind of weird to have stuff doubling up like that.

Mechanically he seems solid though, otherwise.

[IAmBatman]

That's a really good point. Hmm. We should at least strive to make sure it's clear how the timing works with that interaction. It's almost too bad he has Super Strength, as it could be avoided without that.

Edit: We need a Rules additions tab for the sortable index.

Edit 2: Relevant snippet from the Knockback rules

Originally Posted by KNOCKBACK

Knockback is an optional rule that is considered an extension of
the Super Strength special power on a figure’s Army Card and is
affected as such by any powers that would nullify or bypass the
Super Strength special power. When a figure with the Super
Strength power attacks an adjacent figure with a normal attack,
and the adjacent figure does not ignore the attack and after
damage has been resolved, determine Knockback. To determine
Knockback, each skull rolled by the attacking figure counts as one
Knockback point (KP). Each skull rolled by the defending figure
cancels out one KP rolled by the attacker.

KNOCKBACK: ADJACENT
If the attacking figure has any remaining KPs, move the defending
figure directly away from the attacker in a straight line a number of
spaces equal to the remaining KPs. When determining a straight
line, use the attacker's hex and the defender's hex as the first two
points in the line. These first two points are not counted as part of
the Knockback. If multiple straight lines can be determined due to
figures with double spaced bases, the attacking figure chooses
which to use.

[IAmBatman]

I don't think there's any clear distinction between "when attacking, after damage is resolved" and "after attacking." So under the current rules, were we to FAQ it, I think Rocksteady's controller would get to choose the order in which the effects were resolved.

[quozl]

Well, this power has to be done after damage is resolved too since you're counting wounds. I think an FAQ is all we need though. I'll add it to the OP.

[Scapemage]

What a fun design! Too Dumb to Fall is a funny rendition of Too Tough to Die, and Shoddy Gun is a quirky mechanic. I really like the Clumsy Smash utility and the other powers should keep his cost reasonable. He's reading to me like a guy who could fall apart at any moment in the game. That's a type of gameplay we don't get often enough.

[quozl]

Thanks! I'm trying to ride that fine line between the super-tough IDW comics version and the cartoon version most everyone knows. His power level should be way up there but he should still be super dumb.