The Book of Alfred Pennyworth

[whitestuff]

The Book of Alfred Pennyworth​

C3G DC WAVE 3
SHADOW OF THE BAT​

Comic PDF​

Mini PDF​

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Batman: Alpha set.
Its model number and name are #014 / Alfred.​

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Origin set.
Its model number and name are #214 / Alfred Pennyworth.​

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Character Bio - Alfred was a retired intelligence agent who followed the deathbed wish of his dying father, Jarvis, to carry on the tradition of serving the Wayne Family. To that end, Alfred introduced himself to Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson at Wayne Manor and insisted on becoming their butler. Although the pair did not want a butler, especially since they did not want to jeopardize their secret identities with a servant in the house, they did not have the heart to reject Alfred. That night, Alfred awoke to moaning and followed the sound to the secret door to the staircase leading to the Batcave and met his would be employers in their superhero identities (Wayne had been injured while out in the field). As it turned out, the wounds were actually insignificant, but Alfred's care convinced the residents that their butler could be trusted. Since then, Alfred included the support staff duties of the Dynamic Duo on top of his regular tasks.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Human, Alfred has these Human Synergies.
• As a Butler, Alfred may take a turn before Bruce Wayne, due to his Gentleman's Gentleman special power.

Outgoing Synergy:

• Alfred may move a wounded Vigilante or Sidekick. adjacent to him and heal that figure with his Remote Field Extraction special power.
• Alfred may heal a wounded Unique Human Hero with his Field Medic special power. Alfred adds to his 20-sided die rolls for his Field Medic special power when healing a Vigilante or Sidekick.

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• As a Human, Alfred interacts differently with these special powers.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• CharosInCharge Strategy Tips

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial Playtest: whitestuff
• Second Playtest: SirGalahad
• Third Playtest: tcglkn
• Alfred Pennyworth created by Don Cameron and Bob Kane
• Comic art by Alex Ross

 

[whitestuff]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

NAME = ALFRED PENNYWORTH

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = BUTLER
PERSONALITY = LOYAL

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 3

MOVE = 5
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 2
DEFENSE = 2

POINTS = 60

SHOTGUN BLAST SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Attack 3.
Choose a figure to attack. Any figures adjacent to the chosen figure are also affected by the Shotgun Blast Special Attack. Alfred Pennyworth only needs a clear sight shot at the chosen figure. Roll attack dice once for all affected figures. Each figure rolls defense dice separately. Alfred Pennyworth cannot be affected by his own Shotgun Blast Special Attack.

REMOTE FIELD EXTRACTION
Before moving, choose a wounded Vigilante or Sidekick that you control. Place the chosen figure adjacent to Alfred Pennyworth and immediately remove one Wound Marker from its card. Figures moved by Remote Field Extraction do not take any leaving engagement attacks. Alfred Pennyworth may only use Remote Field Extraction once per game.

FIELD MEDIC
After revealing an Order Marker on a wounded Human Unique Hero figure you control that is adjacent to Alfred Pennyworth, and before using any other special powers on any Army Card or Glyph, you may first roll the 20-sided die. If you roll 13 or higher, remove up to 2 Wound Markers from that Hero's Army Card. If the chosen figure is a Vigilante or Sidekick, add 2 to your roll.



Original Post:

Spoiler Alert!

History: Things not resolved in red

-Started thread
-GreyOwl wants all shotguns to work with the same mechanic (in terms of LOS)
-Batman wonder if Field Medic and Field Extraction shouldn't have slightly more specific titles, like Vigilante Field Medic and Vigilante Field Extraction due to the class specific additions. - Any thoughts?
-Griffin has a problem seeing Alfred's hidden Shotgun; thinks perhaps it should be removed - no-one else minds the sculpt not matching the ability so it's not changing, plus whitestuff posts some awesome Alfred action
-Range of 7 needs changing to 1
-Spidey suggests a double-barrel shotgun for a double attack; not met with much interest from others
-Hahma, along with everyone else, is shooting for a low cost hero, but Griffin wishes he could shoot an automatic shotgun...
-Tweaked the wordage of the medic ability
-Initial playtesting green lighted
-Griff suggested a quick rewording as to when the Medic ability happens.
-Initial playtesting to occur - finished.
-whitestuff was concerned after the one-on-one hero tests as the only figure Alfred was able to beat was Onatashi
-Others are not concerned as they believe that Alfred will see little action in a game. He is a support figure.
-Dropped the range restriction in Field Extraction
-Griff catches a missing qualifier for Field Extraction. You can now only extract figures you control.
-whitestuff's growing concerns lead to a failed test.
-Alfred has his healing ability changed so that it is more automated. He also is slashed in price.
-Bats comes over all English guy, tightening up wordage.
-Some concern over who would activate first if Ana was drafted into the same team as Alfred. Rolling a D20 was determined to be how to deal with such a situation.
-ERB response was that the theme of the Field Extraction was missing so the ability has been renamed Remote Field Extraction.
-Into playtesting
-playtesting finished...
-some concern over the low cost of 40 points
-extra testing by Hahma proves very little (other than he beats himself well )
-cost bumped to 60
-finalized and cards finished
-done and dusted

 

[GreyOwl]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I think whatever we decide for the Shotgun on Punisher should be consistent with what we do here (as far as the LOS requirement and affecting himself).

 

[whitestuff]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I think whatever we decide for the Shotgun on Punisher should be consistent with what we do here (as far as the LOS requirement and affecting himself).

I think that the Punisher is using an auto-shotgun so that can account for the differences in the attacks.

 

[GreyOwl]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

But a shotgun either affects the shooter or not, regardless of whether it's automatic. And it either shoots around corners or not.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I think it should affect both of them. Part of the fun, in gameplay, of the shotgun is having to decide whether or not to hit adjacent foes with it knowing you could take out yourself.
I've got to ask, by the way, what accounts for his normal range of 7? That seems like a bit much for a Butler ...
I wonder if Field Medic and Field Extraction shouldn't have slightly more specific titles, like Vigilante Field Medic and Vigilante Field Extraction due to the class specific additions.
Really liking everything here, though.

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I kinda have a problem visualizing a shot gun hidden under those coat tails.... I just don't think a Shotgun belongs on this card.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Doesn't bother me - from Wiki - Alfred is quite a brilliant man. He primarily keeps up day-to-day operations of Batman’s home of Wayne Manor and maintains much of the equipment of the Batcave beneath it. A former actor, he can use his acting and disguise skills to help Batman in the field when necessary, and is even capable of impersonating Bruce Wayne on the telephone convincingly. He has also provided first aid up to and including suturing wounds and removing bullets, as well as occasional tactical support. With time, he has increased his surgical skills, and he's now able to perform arthroscopy and other advanced medical procedures, thus limiting, if not eliminating, the need for hospital medical treatment even in front of grievous injuries.

While not as skilled at hand to hand combat as Bruce Wayne, Alfred is still nearly as resourceful. During a time at which he was kidnapped, he readily escapes and overcomes his captors without disturbing the cut of his suit. It was later mentioned that he had been kidnapped unsuccessfully 27 times (it should be noted, however, that these events take place in the Gotham Adventures comics, based on the animated adventures of Batman, and not within the standard DCU continuity).[12] In the recent Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul story, Ubu, Ra's massively muscled bodyguard and henchman, attempts to use Alfred as a hostage, only to be disabled by a well timed sucker punch from Alfred.

Presumably due to his lack of superpowers, the advanced combat training Bruce's other associates have, and Alfred's age, Alfred is the only member of the "Batman Family" that Bruce does not mind using a firearm, in his case favoring a shotgun.

I think if Alfred is coming to a superhero brawl, he's bringing his sidearm.

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

That doesn't explain where he is hiding that Shotgun under his tux though. I think this is a case of not having the right sculpt to reflect the desired theme.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I'm willing to use my imagination in cases like this. I don't think the sculpt always needs to 100% represent everything on the card, especially when there are limited options with sculpts.
I mean, with this sculpt, the extraction power doesn't really make sense either - he should be riding in a Batmobile or Batcopter for that one.
If anything, based on this sculpt, he should have a "dressing the Batman" power, but I don't think we want that.
So, yeah, still in favor of the Shotgun.

 

[GreyOwl]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I don't mind the sculpt not matching the powers either. It's not like Spider-Man's sculpt has his webline or anything...

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I don't mind the sculpt not matching the powers either. It's not like Spider-Man's sculpt has his webline or anything...

But Spiderman has hands, and you know those hands shoot webbing. Bad comparison.

 

[GreyOwl]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Batman's Bat-grapple?

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Batman's Bat-grapple?

Not only could he hide that device in many places on his person (and he does in the comics), but he is actually holding it in his hand if you look closely.

 

[GreyOwl]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Didn't know that, since I don't use that particular mini.

But still, the sculpt not matching doesn't bother me.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Doesn't bother me either.
Alfie is probably hanging in the Manor and it's right there on the wall. Not hard for him to pick it up.
That normal range of 7 still has me lost, though ... I don't see him having a rifle and a shotgun both ...

 

[whitestuff]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I agree, 7 is a bit much.

Matching abilities to sculpts makes little sense to me.

Renaming abilities can be done if that is what people think need doing.

And this is for Griff...

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Heh, cool.
So how about a normal range of 1 for him, and then the shotgun representing his only ranged option?

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

It is certainly easy to sell me on a shotgun when I can see it in his hand...

 

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Wow, I was just going to comment that he usually uses a Double-Barrel Shotgun and then you post a series of pics with him having only a single! But I still think he should have a Double Barrel Shotgun and be able to use it twice.

Only other comment other than that is about the Bio, LOL. That is the GA Alfred's bio, who was added to Batman in the late 40's for comedic relief. The current continuity is more like he was Wayne Family Butler before Thomas and Martha's death and became a father figure to Bruce after their death. In fact, after Bruce dies, a recorded message is found by Alfred on the computer that tells him that he (Alfred) was a father to him (Bruce) and that he loved him as such, even if he never was able to tell him.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I'm good with the single barreled shotgun just on the basis that I don't think he's a figure that should really be a major offensive threat.
We want to keep his cost on the real low side here (under 80, I think, for sure).

 

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

But if his base stats are low (and they should be, he is most likely in his 60s!) then his SA will really be his only real way of dealing damage. So, I don't see a Double Barrel Shotgun SA as broken. I mean as a man in his 60s, even with Batman's training he should be no better than A-2, D-3 or vice versa.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

I'm not saying broken, I'm just saying a little much for the character, IMO.

 

[Griffin]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

But if his base stats are low (and they should be, he is most likely in his 60s!) then his SA will really be his only real way of dealing damage. So, I don't see a Double Barrel Shotgun SA as broken. I mean as a man in his 60s, even with Batman's training he should be no better than A-2, D-3 or vice versa.

Do you need an offensive Alfred though? I mean Kelda isn't really an offensive unit... and though some people refuse to draft her, I do occasionally and it usually pays off. What I am trying to say here is that a single Shotgun attack is really all you need on the old man. Lets keep him sorta non-lethal, and just let his main purpose be that of a Healer/Assist unit with a very low point cost if possible. Personally, I would like to see his cost at around 60, but I don't see that happening with his card as is and a double attack Shotgun to boot.
FYI, double attack doesn't equal double barrel shotgun, any more than Special Attack equals Special Ed.

 

[Hahma]

Re: Alfred Pennyworth - Design Thread

Love the concept Whitestuff, seems thematic and pretty useful.

I like the single barrel shotgun. No need for double attack with it. The only reason that Punisher has 3 attacks with his is because it's an automatic weapon, like a machine gun (though not quite as fast). Hold the trigger, shotgun keeps a blasting and it holds a lot of ammo, not just 2 rounds in a double barrel shotgun.

I like the field extraction and the healing abilities, especially for vigilantes and sidekicks.

His cost should be kept relatively low.

If opponent's are concentrating on him, they aren't paying attention to the Vigilantes and Sidekicks in his army

Automatic Shotgun