johnny139's Classic Customs - Cyberpunk Sniper (8/17/14)

[johnny139]

So, I had a custom thread a long, LONG time ago - half a dozen years or so. But I figured since I'm getting in with Valhalla Customs, have a lot more playtesting and design experience, am buying miniatures, and all that... I thought I'd get my customs together and maybe, ideally, eventually aim for an SoV nomination! So let's see what I've got!

LATEST CUSTOMS

AGENT KAGAMI

#034/035/036 - Silver Sable from Heroclix: Mutant Mayhem

The oft-ignored genre of cyberpunk lends itself well to Heroscape's tradition of sci-fi spies and agents, so introducing Agent Kagami, inspired by the classic Ghost in the Shell series of films, comics, and more!

Her cloaking technology allows her to sneak past enemy lines easily, though her cover is blown if she's not careful; the goal is to get into position for her Surgical Strike and blow an important figure away in one hit. Once she's taken her shot, though, her suit will power down and leave her defenseless... so you'd better not miss!

The Silver Sable figure isn't perfect, but it's cheap and widely available and it fits the overall theme of a futuristic lady with a big, powerful gun. Keeping my eyes peeled for a good alternative, though...

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AEGIS HERRED OFFICERS

Spoiler Alert!

#22 - Eagle Knight (Uncommon) and #23 - Eagle Knight Officer (Uncommon) from Pathfinder: Legends of Golarion

These figures were begging for the squad treatment, so drawing on Napoleonic history, the burgeoning flavor in steampunk Arctorus, and shows like Sym-Bionic Titan, the Aegis Herred Officers were born!

It should be pretty straightforward how they work - you set up some units, split up your Officers, and hold onto that Tactician boost for as long as possible. As long as you have men to protect them they should be mostly safe from range, and they have reasonable defense to help them out.

They might be a bit on the expensive side for what you're getting, but I think there's a lot of potential there for strong pods of units. I'm wary of playing with universal boosts like this, so hopefully there's nothing broken about them...

ALKEIDES

Spoiler Alert!

#118/119/120 - Hercules (Rare) from Heroclix: Infinity Challenge

Bio:

Spoiler Alert!

In ancient Greece, men became heroes and heroes became myth, and in his day none were more mythic than Alkeides. While brutish, dull, and more than slightly arrogant, he nonetheless could turn a sea of men into a sea of bodies. He claimed to be of divine birth, armed with the strength of the gods, and ultimately immortal - and, when he was torn from history to the battlefields of Valhalla, only the myths remained.

When he arrived, Einar put the would-be demigod to good use. Forsaking any enchanted gifts of weapon or armor, finally Alkeides accepted the Crest of Atli, giving him the godlike strength he'd always claimed. With it, he may well tear Valhalla asunder - so long as he remembers that even "gods" are mortal.

After seeing a few old-school Hercules flicks, I felt compelled to bring the old-school hero to Heroscape boards. Tanned, bearded, and muscular brawlers are a type of hero long forgotten!

Whirldwind Assault is pretty self-explanatory, but when combined with Grappling it lets Alk weave his way through squads and chain a TON of attacks in the right situation - it'll definitely encourage enemies to spread themselves out, though, but even then it can help him grab the high ground if necessary. It SHOULD work the way I want it to, but I'm not 100% on how the powers interact.

A Coward's Reward is there to keep baddies from fleeing his threat range and is a nice flavor touch. He bonds with the Dreadguls, which is a pretty fitting combination, I think, and shouldn't be a broken one. Price is definitely up for discussion.

UNHALLOWED TITAN

Spoiler Alert!

Firbolg Skeleton from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures [Double-Spaced]

Same as the Mermaid, I made a point of getting my hands on this upcoming giant skeleton from DCM! Only in this case, rather than getting just one, I'm getting five... so naturally, I wanted a multiple-based system.

When thinking of powers for these guys, Cleave seemed like an obvious mechanical choice - it seemed to fit the sculpt and helps give squad control. But I wanted something that would encourage playing them in pairs - since I'll be getting them in two different colors, Kickstarter Green and Basic Red, it should be easy to track which Uncommon is which if you play them two at a time. This power PROBABLY encourages playing even more than that... but should work pretty well with a duo, I think.

Essentially, you can move them up together, and when they're in the fray, get two attacks per Order Marker - and potentially kill up to four squaddies with some luck. On top of that they've got some solid stats and help further expand my undead hordes!

KEEMA

Spoiler Alert!

Mermaid from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures

This one uses a figure that's not even out yet, as should be self-evident!

Having put down my money for the DCM Kickstarter, I felt the need to get the ball rolling on some units that actually use them... they won't ship until November, which gives me more than enough time to get things straightened out.

The trouble with a mermaid is that they're by nature water-based - they need to be largely terrain based. But if Heroscape has shown us anything, it's that terrain-based units are HARD to manage... so I knew she'd need some way to bring the battle to her enemy. With her trident and arm raised, she seems to have some magic to her, so I can easily picture her as an aquamancer.

Call the Seas lets her spread some water tiles around, Water Tunnel lets her hop from space to space, and Aquatic (essentially a souped-up Amphibious off of the Sahuagin Raider) gives her a boost when she's camping in her puddles and some solid mobility on a more water-based map. She's terrain-dependent, but if the map's not in her favor? Well, she can make it in her favor.

TOMA MAAT

Spoiler Alert!

#005 - Boggard from Pathfinder Battles: Shattered Star (Common)

Toma Maat is one I'm not 100% set on... I love the figure, and like theme behind it. I picture him as being from Grut, and the outfit is sort of vaguely native South American in style. So giving him some weird cross-planet synergy with the Mohicans. I think he's a good alternative to Brave Arrow in that he'd provide ranged support. But he's weaker, doesn't provide any direct boosts... I think Swamp Camoflague (loosely lifted from the Glacier Camoflague) might make him too terrain-dependent, so I wouldn't mind swapping that.

I think Stealth Leap should provide ease of height, War Cry should net him quite a few activations... he might end up being a bit overpriced, but maybe I'm underestimating him and Swamp Camoflague.

Not as many seem to be out in the wild as I'd hoped... but they're on sale from Paizo's site, and he's common, and it's still in print. So he shouldn't be too hard to find.

LT. SCOTT WEAVER

Spoiler Alert!

Prowler from the AT-43 Cogs Prowler Unit Box

This one is more of a top-down theme unit. I saw the figure on sale on Miniature Market and was inspired... the Cogs seem to be still widely on sale, but I think they make for a great "construction" vibe to them. This one in particular was evocative of the classic powerlifter from Aliens. So, that's the theme here - it's a guy in power armor, slow but steady. His special attack is sort of a combination of the "Armor Piercing" mechanic from C3G and the Rapid Fire Special Attack. I think it combined the industrial feel with the heavy weapons look.

Pilot's Cockpit is the secondary, more thematic addition - the essential theme is, when he's hit, it's a 50/50 shot that you'll damage the guy or damage the armor. If you just hurt the armor, the suit'll malfunction, but he'll still survive. I think the mechanic would make for a good balance with his general slowness and short range, because he's gonna get POUNDED from afar.

I suspect this guy's availability is pretty low, but he seems pretty unpopular, so you'll probably find him.

 

[bacchus]

Re: johnny139's Classic Custom Thread!

My first impression was that Toma Maat might be overpriced, but perhaps not. While his range is not massive, with stealth leap it could put a number of opposing figures in his threat range in the right conditions. It's not flying and range, but it's the next best thing.

I think the first sentence of Pilots Cockpit might need to read "If Lt Scott Weaver would receive only one wound from a normal attack and has at least one unrevealed order marker, ..."

As is, it is possible to put him in favourable position such as a chokepoint or on a glyph, and then never put an order marker on him again. That said, he is worth a lot of points to be a doorstop. And it is only half the time, so maybe I'm overexaggerating. I don't like abilities that may actively discourage you to use a unit, but that is just personal preference.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Custom Thread!

That's a good suggestion, actually - I hadn't considered the "camping" approach, and it's definitely something to be avoided here. I don't think it would make much of a balance issue, but it's to be discouraged either way.

And thematically I can handwave it pretty well.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Mermaid (4/14/13)

New custom! Bring on the Mermaid!

KEEMA

Mermaid from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures

Placeholder image, obviously, until some shots of the painted versions come in... or the miniature itself is released. I'll probably be choosing the Kickstarter Paint version, so that'll likely end up on the final card.

I wanted a terrain-unit with utility, so I drew pretty heavily from Mika Connour, who gets bonuses from terrain and can shape the battlefield herself. Hopefully I'll play around with her a bit today... see how she feels.

 

[Super Bogue]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Mermaid (4/14/13)

New custom! Bring on the Mermaid!

KEEMA

Mermaid from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures

Placeholder image, obviously, until some shots of the painted versions come in... or the miniature itself is released. I'll probably be choosing the Kickstarter Paint version, so that'll likely end up on the final card.

I wanted a terrain-unit with utility, so I drew pretty heavily from Mika Connour, who gets bonuses from terrain and can shape the battlefield herself. Hopefully I'll play around with her a bit today... see how she feels.

I like your ambition Johnny! I am hoping that Pathfinder will also release a mermaid miniature with their Skulls & Shackles set. If so then I am planning to make a squad. If not then I'll make a common/uncommon hero of her, anyway on to your design.

Working left to right, I would prefer Merfolk to Mer as species. Unique Hero is required for a named unit. Resolute works for the personality. Medium is right though she might be closer to 5. I guess we won't know for sure until November.

Keema is a fine name. Aquilla makes sense for the allegiance since she already has the Water Elemental. Aquatic and Water Tunnel are great. Call the Seas SA borrows enough from Mika Connor's Blend Into Shadows. There may be a potential corner case here, but I can't think of one off the top of my head though.

Statwise, 5 Life and 4 Attack might be too much for a mergirl. 3 Move, 1 Range, and 3 defense are right on. 80 points is right on for what you have, but if you drop her Life and Attack by one then I think she would fit at 70 points.

I like her but hopefully Pathfinder will give us another sculpt to work with. I would prefer to design squads than heroes especially unique heroes.

 

[Arch-vile]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Mermaid (4/14/13)

What Super Bogue said.

Nice design, johnny. Call the Seas is perfect and can help out some water-dependant units or even the Vipers by slowing down their opponents (it also helps the GIE, oddly enough).

 

[bacchus]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Mermaid (4/14/13)

Call The Seas is a nice ability, and I think any concerns I would have are balanced nicely. Having to destroy a figure means you can't just spam a moat near the beginning of the game and even if you do manage to destroy a clump of figures with her you only get 4 tiles to place.

My only concern is if there is a map that this ability might break, but I can't think of how... maybe getting 2 Water tiles adjacent to each other on different heights may close of access to double spaced figures and prevent them from moving. I'd say that would be a really rare case though.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Mermaid (4/14/13)

I played some more casual games with her yesterday on Mole Hills - her army won both times, but that was more thanks to Q10 and the Krav than anything she did. The first game she went down a bit too easy (a cursed 1 movement roll stymied her getting into the pool), but in the second she was able to utilize her Water Tunnel to get right up in Raelin's face and deal a ton of wounds. Not enough to kill her, but Q10 was able to move next turn and finish her off.

She was never really able to get good use out of Call the Seas (destroying a figure and placing a tile, that is), but I may have been playing her too aggressively - shouldn't have gotten out of the water to play with height advantage, particularly since she can avoid leaving engagement attacks with Water Tunnel.

To keep her points down I'm considering lowering her Life by one - that sounds like a good call, Super Bogue, as she's pretty much a goner once caught either way. I'd like to keep her Attack as is, though, to only give it some more utility... I mean, that trident looks pretty pointy! I don't think it'd be unprecedented.

Thanks for the input, all - she was fun to play basically speaking, so hopefully with some more testing she'll be golden!

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

UNHALLOWED TITAN

Firbolg Skeleton from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures [Double-Spaced]

I wanted a way to use my eventually-will-arrive Firbolg Skeletons - in their two different colors - in a way that encourages pairing them up, which would help keep them straight on the battlefield. So I came up with Warband, which lets Uncommon Heroes work in pairs... I'm afraid I'm missing some major mechanical loophole in my wording, though. I'm too used to C3G's language.

Cleave is essentially thematic (I mean LOOK at that sword!), but also helps give them better squad-eliminating power, which is always something I like to see.

 

[greygnarl]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

Maybe let Warband be used on other Large or Huge Undead Heroes? That leaves some options open. Zombie Hulk Tag Team?

 

[caps]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

I think the wording looks okay. Greygnarl's idea is good and bad at the same time.

Very cool custom, johnny. I think you might have overpriced him by 10-30 points. Think about what they would be priced as a 2-figure Unique Squad. In that case Warband would be a pretty prohibitive power for a 230 point 2-figure Unique Squad.

Spitballing power text:
After revealing an order marker on this card, instead of taking a turn with this Unhallowed Titan, you may either:
*Take a turn with this Unhallowed Titan and one other Unhallowed Titan, during which they cannot attack.
Or
*Take a turn with this Unhallowed Titan and one other Unhallowed Titan, during which they cannot move.

The important thing is to make sure that
- no one is attacking on someone else's turn
- no one is taking a turn before someone else's turn has ended

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

Yeah, I think going with the bonding option would probably be the best option... I like the aesthetic of the power text I have right now, but it does interact with turns poorly.

As for pricing, I'm aiming more for the point range than the powerset. I'd probably up them to 6 Attack, maybe 4 Life? I'd like to go 115 or 125 (since those are 5-ending unused power points).

 

[caps]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

Yeah, I think going with the bonding option would probably be the best option... I like the aesthetic of the power text I have right now, but it does interact with turns poorly.

As for pricing, I'm aiming more for the point range than the powerset. I'd probably up them to 6 Attack, maybe 4 Life? I'd like to go 115 or 125 (since those are 5-ending unused power points).

Something like that.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

Alright, Unhallowed Titan V2:

This one draws pretty heavily on Ulginesh for the double bonding, which I'm happy with. Not quite as certain on the second half... I think it's implied that the opposite is also true, but I can see someone rules-lawyering it. Any thoughts on how to tighten it up?

We've got shots of the painted Mermaid... I might update my card with them, but since mine's going to be blue, I might just wait on it.

 

[caps]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/20

The new wording is not very clear. I would replace the last sentence with something like "During these turns, both Unhallowed Titans must either (not?) move, or (not?) attack."

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/20

How does this feel?

WARBAND
Instead of taking a turn with this Unhallowed Titan, you may take a turn with up to 2 Unhallowed Titans you control. This Unhallowed Titan must be one of the 2 Unhallowed Titans. The Unhallowed Titans either cannot move or cannot attack during these turns.

 

[caps]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/20

How does this feel?

WARBAND
Instead of taking a turn with this Unhallowed Titan, you may take a turn with up to 2 Unhallowed Titans you control. This Unhallowed Titan must be one of the 2 Unhallowed Titans. The Unhallowed Titans either cannot move or cannot attack during these turns.

That should work, but you need the part about revealing an order marker in the beginning there or you can endlessly chain it.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/20

Yup, good point - here's the final alpha version of the Firbolg Skeleton!

Now to get to testing...

 

[bacchus]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

I like the power this (these) guys represent, and that they force both yourself and your opponent to make interesting decisions. Two attacks of 6 plus the opportunity to Cleave is pretty good... A good opponent should try and keep guys out of engagement with 2 or more at a time, but that won't always be possible.

I'm not an experienced player by any means, but I'm wondering what I'd put them with. 3 plus Raelin and some special attack ranged support? (the only thing that comes to mind to make up to 500 points is James Murphy or a couple of Wyrmlings). Is 2 a better number? Is 4 figures overkill? I really like the way how this guy doesn't seem to scream out for a particular build and would differ a lot depending on how many you want to invest in.

Have you thought about what army build you are going to test them with?

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

I feel like - in a pair - the Unhallowed Titans would perform a lot like Jotun, only split in two.

Part of me wants to go big, starting with a Dragon (or possibly Wyrmlings, like you said, though I actually don't have any of them so that'd be a bit tough to manage) to break the enemy lines, then sending out the Skeletons as a second wave trending toward cleanup. I think Cleave is well-suited for that, and the utility of two huge attacks in two different places really takes advantage of a broken line. So maybe...

Zelrig (185)
Unhallowed Titan x2 (415)
Raelin OR Deathreavers x2 (495)

That's probably what I'd go with... but that's with two. You could probably do three Titans and a smaller "breaker" (like you mentioned, James Murphy comes to mind) or even give a full band of four + filler (Siiv?). Lots of options, should be fun.

EDIT: Actually, working off of the newest addition to the VC family...

Brimstone (150)
Greenscale Warriors x2 (270)
Unhallowed Titan x2 (500)

Titans on cleanup, naturally... man, I feel like they're suited for cleanup, but I might be barking up the wrong tree there, and they'd be better breakers. I dunno, testing will tell.

 

[SirGalahad]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/18

UNHALLOWED TITAN

Firbolg Skeleton from Dungeon Crawler Fantasy Miniatures [Double-Spaced]

I wanted a way to use my eventually-will-arrive Firbolg Skeletons - in their two different colors - in a way that encourages pairing them up, which would help keep them straight on the battlefield. So I came up with Warband, which lets Uncommon Heroes work in pairs... I'm afraid I'm missing some major mechanical loophole in my wording, though. I'm too used to C3G's language.

Cleave is essentially thematic (I mean LOOK at that sword!), but also helps give them better squad-eliminating power, which is always something I like to see.

Missing an 'r' in 'Order Marker'

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

Not anymore.

(Many thanks.)

 

[Scytale]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

Keema
I like the overall design, though on a map without water she may be difficult to get rolling. Really strong on a swamp map with a lot of swamp water though; maybe too strong. Is there a reason Call the Seas only puts water on the space if the figure is destroyed? If she destroyed a double-spaced figure, which space gets the water tile?

Unhallowed Titan
Cool unit name. Cool design too; I'm always a fan of uncommons that have synergy with more copies of itself, an unmined design space. Hard for me to tell if the price is about right without playtesting; fairly close I think. Question about Warband: if one Titan does not move during its turn, can the other Titan move but not attack? Or do they have to do the same?

Toma Maat
I love that you made him a Tribesman. A couple of useful abilities, terrain-dependent, but not much attacking power. A decent option for the Mohicans, and not a terrible bit of filler on a swamp map.

Lt. Scott Weaver
The overall design feels like a mismatching theme to me. The look of the figure and the Auto Nail Gun suggest a construction robot, but the Lt. title and the Mercenary class suggest a mercenary soldier. I think the design would be tighter if you focus the design on one side or the other. Other than theme, solid design here. Slow but some solid offensive output potential. Pilot's Cockpit is an interesting, clever power with lots of theme and both good and bad potential.

 

[johnny139]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

My plan for the Titans was that their choice would have to be the same - either they both move or they both attack, it can't be one moving and one attacking. Any ideas on how to make that clearer in the text?

For Keema, I suppose it's purely mechanical - I don't want it to be TOO easy for her to get water out there, and it seems aesthetically most reasonable to require the destruction of the figure as far as board state goes. You'd probably get to choose which space for a double-spaced unit... maybe I'll update it to "a space the figure occupied."

Weaver is supposed to be a merc using a modified construction exo-suit... picture Ripley from Aliens in the powerlifter. I couldn't think of a good excuse to get a non-combat concept like the suit onto Valhalla without putting a warrior of some kind inside, and it seemed too non-standard for any sort of real soldier, so gun-for-hire using modded suit was my excuse.

I get that that'd be pretty muddled if you don't know my exact thought process, though! Maybe something worth fiddling with.

 

[Arch-vile]

Re: johnny139's Classic Customs - DCM Firbolg Skeleton (4/21

I'll try and pull a Scytale here.

Unhallowed Titan
Nice way to use both painted versions of the Big Skeletons. Warband would make for interesting gameplay, and I imagine the Titans will do well against melee squads with cleave and their staying power.

Toma Maat
I also like the Tribesman class. Stealth Leap is very thematic for this froggy. Swamp Camouflage is also thematic, and makes him terrain-dependent. Because of that he won't be used competitively, but he's thematic, cheap, and looks fun.

Lt. Scott Weaver
Is there a visible human on this thing? I think the top of it might be a helmet, but I'm not sure. It looks more like a Soulborg (or a Mariedian using a Soulborg as Armor). Auto Nail Gun could be really strong, but 75% of the time it will be useless with 1 skull or less. This guy has some great stats too! He is a very unique custom; I'm not sure what to compare him to, which is great.