The Book of Biollante

[IAmBatman]

The Book of Biollante

C3G IDW SUPER SECRET EXCLUSIVE 94
TOKYO SOS

Comic PDF

Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Bandai figure from the
Godzilla Movie Monster Series set.
Its model name is Biollante.​

_________________________________________________________________

Character Bio - Biollante began life as a heavily mutated and semi-sentient rose, spliced with DNA from Godzilla. After badly losing a battle to the king of the monsters in that form, Biollante fully regenerated and evolved into her final phase as a giant creature with grasping tendrils and corrosive spores ready to go toe-to-toe with Godzilla.
_________________________________________________________________

-Rulings and Clarifications-

• Base Clarification: Biollante is a six-spaced figure where every base space must touch another base space, in an arrangement of two rows of three hexes and uses the Irregular Base Movement Rules. Here is an example of Biollante's basing.
• Biollante is an Event Hero and follows Event Hero rules.

_________________________________________________________________

-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Kaiju, Biollante has these Kaiju Synergies.
• As a Destroyer, Biollante has these Destroyer Synergies.
• As a Huge figure, Biollante has these Huge Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• N/A

_________________________________________________________________

-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: (IAmBatman part one, part two)
• Second playtest: (Arkham)
• Third playtest: (Skinderella)(Toyhandle)
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Card Art by tcglkn

*8/11/2022 - Modified Grasping Plant Tendrils to allow for player choice of wound or lockdown

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

NAME = BIOLLANTE
SPECIES = KAIJU
UNIQUENESS = EVENT HERO
CLASS = DESTROYER
PERSONALITY = WILD
SIZE = HUGE 13

LIFE 6

MOVE 6
RANGE 6
ATTACK 6
DEFENSE 5
POINTS=1000

SPORE REGENERATION
Start the game with 2 yellow Spore Markers on this card. If Biollante would receive any number of wounds and be destroyed, you may instead remove a Spore Marker from this card, ignore those wounds, and remove all Wound Markers from this card.

GRASPING PLANT TENDRILS
At the start of each player’s turn, you may choose up to 2 figures within 12 spaces of Biollante. Roll one unblockable attack die against each chosen figure. If you roll a shield, the player controlling the chosen figure must choose for that figure to either receive a wound or it may not move until the start of the next player’s turn.

CORROSIVE SPRAY SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 9. Attack 9.
Biollante may only use this special attack if there are no Spore Markers on this card. If the defending figure receives one or more wounds from this attack, that figure is not considered to have clear sight on any other figures for the remainder of this round.

SUPER STRENGTH

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Mini Picture

Comic Picture
Tickle has it

Background

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

OK, did a few tweaks since LCW. I'm hoping it streamlines the design a bit and makes the regeneration feel more "accurate." Basic idea is she starts out in giant rose form doing a lot of stuff with her vines, but gets taken out and regenerates and eventually is close enough to death that she gets desperate and goes full corrosive spray on her attacker.

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Looks solid.

 

[tcglkn]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Just an idea I had now when this thread started, what if it did something with the Animated Vines squad?

 

[Lord Pyre]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Pretty cool! She kinda boils down to having 18 life which is pretty good.

Of note, Brainiac and Atom Eve can remove markers from Event heroes, which make them pretty hefty counters to her.

I'd love if there was a way to give her SA a bit more pop, to differentiate from the tendrils? The clear sight removal is cool, but maybe something that does "burn damage"? Because on HER turn, it's basically the same as her normal attack with an extra die or two.

Cool take on a big beasty though!

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

The spray is pretty much a last resort anti-Godzilla weapon that blinds the target if it hits.

Just an idea I had now when this thread started, what if it did something with the Animated Vines squad?

Biollante doesn’t animate other vines. She has her own. I want to keep her at 1000 as well so I wouldn’t want her reliant on another unit.

 

[tcglkn]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Making her 955 with synergy with the Animated Vines seems cool too since she is depicted as controlling wild vines everywhere and it could give her more range. The vines could very easily be justified as part of that figure and it would be a neat thing that made her more different from the other Kaiju.

 

[Arch-vile]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

I'd reword this slightly - I think it could be unclear as to which powers require clear sight. I don't have any concrete examples, but I think this wording gets the same mechanics across.

CORROSIVE SPRAY SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 6. Attack 8.
Biollante may only use this special attack if there are no Spore Markers on this card. If the defending figure receives one or more wounds from this attack, that figure is not considered to have clear sight on any other figures for the remainder of this round.

Neat design, reminds me of Nekron with the regeneration mechanic. Grasping Plant Tendrils should be pretty useful. I'd watch the kiting potential there, but I doubt it'll be an issue considering Bio's base size.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Making her 955 with synergy with the Animated Vines seems cool too since she is depicted as controlling wild vines everywhere and it could give her more range. The vines could very easily be justified as part of that figure and it would be a neat thing that made her more different from the other Kaiju.

It's an interesting idea. Ultimately, though, I don't think it's a fit here.

Thematically, she's no someone who has control over plants in general, she's just an oversized flower who has big vines herself. Those vines should be able to stretch all over the place, but I feel like the mini here will feel too small and too small in reach compared to what she would be able to do.

To make it work, I'd also need to replace one of her current powers with Plant Control, which isn't a thematic fit, IMO.

Mechanically, it feels like it makes the design less elegant and adds extra hardware for not much of a gain other than just being an interesting interaction. I prefer the current, more streamlined approach.

I'd reword this slightly - I think it could be unclear as to which powers require clear sight. I don't have any concrete examples, but I think this wording gets the same mechanics across.

CORROSIVE SPRAY SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 6. Attack 8.
Biollante may only use this special attack if there are no Spore Markers on this card. If the defending figure receives one or more wounds from this attack, that figure is not considered to have clear sight on any other figures for the remainder of this round.

Neat design, reminds me of Nekron with the regeneration mechanic. Grasping Plant Tendrils should be pretty useful. I'd watch the kiting potential there, but I doubt it'll be an issue considering Bio's base size.

Good call. I'll change that when breathing is up here.

Grasping Plant Tendrils is definitely one to watch in playtesting. Her own range being pretty short until she's on her last set of life should help, IMO.

Edit: I forgot I bumped her base range to 6 .... hmm, might have to set that back at 4 if she's too much to deal with.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Planting Seeds (Breathing)

Updated the special attack language per Archie's suggestion. I also lowered the base range to 4 to hopefully avoid how much he can kite. I'll try to run the checklists in the next few days, but I'm feeling happy with where the design is at.

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Taking Root (Design)

It think you will struggle to find a spot to place her on some maps. You will need that range.
Just guessing though.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Taking Root (Design)

Yeah, I think you're right after looking at her base again, so I boosted her to 6 range.

COMPETITIVE REVIEW BOARD CHECKLIST

Spoiler Alert!

Efficiency- Check to see if your design is providing armies with turns/moves/etc. to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to keep up with your output.

1. Does your design allow itself or figures to move/attack/take a turn/etc. instead of/in addition to your normal turn for revealing an Order Marker? Is it granting these benefits to too broad a range of units? Does it combine with other powers to create overly long or powerful chains of actions?
No issue
2. Does your design allow you to take actions during an opponent's turn? Can it combine with other powers to create tediously long reactions to enemy actions or a restrictive environment?
No issue
3. Does your design allow you to rearrange your Order Markers or otherwise bypass the costs of Order Marker requirements on the special powers of other figures?
No issue
4. Is your design doing anything outside of a player's turn, at the start or end of the round? Is the effect too powerful by itself or when combined with other powers?
No issue
5. Does your design have any powers that trigger anytime it moves as opposed to only when it moves normally on its turn? Will it be too efficient when combined with figures that grant extra moves to figures?
No issue
6. Is your design adding or subtracting from initiative rolls? Will it pair too easily with other figures that alter initiative or have powers triggering on the results of initiative rolls?
No issue

Potency- Check to see if your design is wounding/removing/etc. enemy figures, increasing the chances of other figures in your army doing so, or otherwise directly effecting the number of figures available to players to a degree that would make it difficult or impossible for an opponent to recover from.

1. Does your design have a chance to inflict wounds or destroy figures? Is it getting these chances too frequently or having to high a chance of success? Is the power balanced against expensive targets that can cause a massive swing in the game when destroyed?
Yes. The giant base should hopefully limit the kiting issue presented by Grasping Plant Tendrils. This will be a big focus of testing.
2. Is your design adding to the stats or 20-sided die rolls of other figures in your army? Is it a boosting a broad enough range of units effectively enough to become a 'mandatory' draft or inhibit future design space? Can it be combined with other boosts too easily?
No issue

3. Will your design benefit from stat boosts or other enhancement to an overpowering degree? Will it restrict future growth within its faction or point cost by limiting available boosts to others?
No issue

4. Does your design take control of enemy figures permanently or temporarily? Is it too difficult to for your opponent to regain control of their figure or recover from the losing the figure? Does the method of taking control expose the enemy figure to the powers of other figures in your army that can easily destroy it?
No issue

5. Can your design heal itself or others or revive itself or others? Is it doing so in a way that an opponent cannot hope to overcome in certain scenarios?
It can heal, but there’s a pretty solid ceiling on how far that can go. If it proves too powerful in practice, numbers can be tweaked. This will be another focus of testing.

6. Does your design place enemy figures on its card or otherwise have an unconventional method of temporarily removing enemy figures from play? Will it guarantee your victory against a single remaining enemy figure?
No issue


Chicanery- Check to see if your design is preventing your opponent from taking actions with too much ease or is otherwise causing negative play experience through tactics that make your opponent feel you're 'not playing fair'

1. Does your design restrict the movement of enemy figures, or allow you to move enemy figures? Can it do so in a way that results in an unwinnable scenario for your opponent if they are down to one figure, posses only figures with a range of 1, etc.? Can your design easily combine with other figures to greatly impede enemy figures or otherwise gain an excessive advantage?
Grasping Tendrils can make life very difficult for melee or short ranged figures, but each roll is a 50/50, which I expect will balance out over time. This is a major part of making the design viable as a single 1000 point figure, so this will be a focus of testing.
2. Does your design effect/change the placement of an enemy's Order Markers, or remove their Order Markers entirely? Can it force Order Markers to go onto cards that have no figures on the battlefield? Can your design easily combine with other figures to completely dictate the placement of an enemy's Order Markers or remove all of their Order Markers?
No issue

3. Does your design inhibit your opponent from attacking your figures or make attacking a losing proposition? Are there scenarios or combinations that make your opponent totally unable to harm your figures through attacking?
No issue

4. Does your design directly negate the powers of enemy figures or otherwise ignore them in a way that can completely disrupt the opponent's strategy or leave them feeling like they are stuck playing figures without special powers?
No issue

5. Does your design become overly powerful in a podded group of figures, or provide significant benefit to your army without leaving your Start Zone?
No issue

6. You can attack your own figures in Heroscape, does your design have any powers that will trigger off of doing so or otherwise wounding/destroying your own figures? Is this intentional on your part? Will the design be too efficient or potent when doing so?

No issue

CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM)

Spoiler Alert!

Consistency Concerns
Name and Identity
Verify character is named in a way that is clear, accurate and feels consistent with the way other characters are named.
All good
Uniqueness and Type
Verify that the power text reflects the listed uniqueness and type, that the uniqueness fits the character, and that squad size is listed for squads.
All good
Left Box
If the character's species, class or personality is reused, verify that the character feels thematically consistent with other figures that have that species, class or personality. If they are not reused, verify that there is no pre-existing species, class or personality that would make more sense.
All good
Size and Height
Verify that the listed size and height are accurate. Standing the mini up next to a stack of tiles, and a few other minis of various sizes, is encouraged.
All good. Just measured this. I went with 6 spaces for the base to account for all the overlap, but like Godzilla, there will be spaces blocked by appendages that go beyond the base.
Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.
All good
New Powers - Names
Verify that any new powers are not using power names identical to, or very similar to, pre-existing powers. Verify that any new powers are actually new and not old powers with new names.
All good
New Powers - Effects
Verify that the effect and timing of all new powers is clear. Verify that any logical immunities, benefits, or weaknesses (whether those be necessary for thematic or mechanical reasons) are implemented: consider whether defensive powers that work against normal attacks should also work against special attacks, whether or not a power has an elemental component that some figures should resist, and whether or not unliving figures (such as Undead and Androids) should be affected.

Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing special powers in place of creating new ones (and, where relevant, reusing power markers in the place of creating new ones), where reused special powers (or power markers) could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused special powers have the correct text.
All good
Power Level
Verify that the character's movement, attack, range, and defense (in conjunction with any special powers that enhance those stats) feel consistent with the capabilities of characters with analogous powers and abilities. Verify that the character falls into a similar point range to characters with comparative powers and abilities.
All good

I propose we move to Initial Playtesting

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Growing (VOTE for Initial Playte

Yea
It was an eye opener testing Octus. The first time I went to move him I realized there was pretty much nowhere I could go besides sliding sideways across my start zone. There is just one area on City Park where a large base like that can escape without really good movement.

 

[MrNobody]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Growing (VOTE for Initial Playte

Yea

We're all about that base, bout that base.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Growing (VOTE for Initial Playte

Yea

 

[Lord Pyre]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Growing (VOTE for Initial Playte

Yea

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Growing (VOTE for Initial Playte

This passes. The base could be a real challenge, so I'll test him against things that can out range him and if need be I'll just jack up some of the ranges here.

 

[tcglkn]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

Her

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

Oye, yes. At least pretty sure I have that correct in the SP now.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

Yeah, just got on TTS with a sample six hex base and ... woof. It's rough. I pretty much shouldn't expect her to be able to move around at all, which means if I don't want her kited and killed by range all the time, some adjustments are needed here.

I think I'm going to bump her base range and the range on all of her offensive powers to 12.

I think something probably also has to be done about Intangible types that can stay just out of reach and never let her engage.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

So right now I'm thinking I either need some way for Biollante to attack without clear sight or some way for her to teleport. I think the former probably takes less wording, makes more sense thematically (she's sending out long vines and sensing her enemies), and works better mechanically (gotta be able to find a landing spot to teleport) so I'm leaning that way.

Do y'all think that'd be a good addition to Tendril Swipes?

 

[Arch-vile]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

Seems reasonable. Though with a triple attack at 12 range you can't evade, I imagine she might be frustrating to play against. Worth keeping an eye on in testing.

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Biollante - Watering (Initial Playtest)

Two attacks.
Would it be too cheesy to reduce the attack power if the target is 7+ hexes away?

You may want to try to run her with something that can place or remove tiles?