The Book of Flamebird

[LordVenoc]

The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var)

C3G DC WAVE 42
SUPERMAN FAMILY

Comic PDF

Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a repainted Heroclix figure from the Superman set.
Its model number and name are #003 / Kryptonian Infiltrator.

The figure used for this unit is a repainted Heroclix figure from the Superman: Battle for Smallville Fast Forces set.
Its model number and name are #005 / Kryptonian Renegade.

Tutorial on how to paint this figure​

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Character Bio - Thara Ak-Var was a childhood friend of Kara Zor-El before Argo City was taken by Braniac and integrated into Kandor. Overtime, Thara eventually took on the role of security chief of Kandor, where the city's religious guild came to believe she was the living avatar of the Flamebird. She felt a mysterious connection to Christopher Kent, going as far as going into the Phantom Zone to save him. Eventually the two actively worked to protect the world as Nightwing and Flamebird, especially working to find sleeper agents sent by Zod.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Kryptonian, Flamebird has these Kryptonian Synergies.
• As a Champion, Flamebird has these Champion Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• Flamebird can trade out her movement or attack for movement or attack with a figure with the Nightwing's Avatar special power.

_________________________________________________________________

-Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses-

Immunities:

• As a figure with the Flying special power, Flamebird cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Flying special power.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Flamebird cannot be affected by aspects of certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Super Strength special power.

Benefits:

• As a Kryptonian, Flamebird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interacts Differently with Kryptonians.
• As a figure with the Super Strength special power, Flamebird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Super Strength special power.

Weaknesses:

• As a Kryptonian, Flamebird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interacts Differently with Kryptonians.
• Kryptonian figures can bypass Flamebird's Kryptonian Defense special power. Current Kryptonians.
• As a figure with the Flying special power, Flamebird interacts differently with certain special powers. Current Special Powers that Interact Differently with the Flying special power.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: LordVenoc
• Second playtest: Arkham
• Third playtest: Arch-Vile
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by Arkham

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

NAME = FLAMEBIRD
SECRET IDENTITY = THARA AK-VAR
SPECIES = KRYPTONIAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = CHAMPION
PERSONALITY = DISCIPLINED

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 6

MOVE = 7
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 5
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 280

FLAMEBIRD'S AVATAR
After revealing an Order Marker on this card and instead of either moving or attacking with Flamebird, you may either move or attack with a figure with the Nightwing's Avatar special power. When Flamebird would be affected by a glyph or special power, you may ignore her species of Kryptonian.

FLAMES OF KRYPTON SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 6. Attack 4 + Special.
Before attacking with this special attack, you may choose one other Kryptonian Hero you control within 4 clear sight spaces of Flamebird. Roll 1 additional die for each Wound Marker on that figure's card, to a maximum of 3 additional attack dice. If Flamebird destroys a figure with this special attack, she may attack one additional time.

KRYPTONIAN DEFENSE
When rolling defense dice against a normal attack from a figure that is not a Kryptonian, if at least one shield is rolled, all blanks rolled count as extra shields.

SUPER STRENGTH

FLYING

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Mini Pics:

Spoiler Alert!

Comic Art:

Spoiler Alert!

Background Art:

Spoiler Alert!

Thought is to homage this pair of covers:

Spoiler Alert!

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Alright, skipped LCW on this one to get her moving. Already updated the first power to match what's on Nightwing. Power two I'm not sold on, and am looking to find something to make them continue to mesh well.

 

[Ronin]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Nightwing is now also an auto-wounder. Would you rather differentiate her more? Mimic the after-moving/before-attacking thing on Nightwing for symmetry? Not sure what to suggest, not knowing the character.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

I'm thinking either something mimicking the timing on Nightwing, or a special attack that powers up from Lava like Nightwing does from shadow. She's relatively protective of other, so that actually might be an even better angle there.

 

[Ronin]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

An SA could definitely expand their toolbox a bit and give them both slightly different offensive options.

Might be nice if she had a ranged SA option. It'd create some flex on her OMs if she could attack without needing to close to melee range all the time. Easier to spend her move on moving or attacking with Nightwing instead.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Maybe something like this:

FLAMES OF KRYPTON SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 4. Attack 3+ Special.
Before attacking with this special attack, you may choose one other Kryptonian Hero you control within 4 clear sight spaces of Flamebird. Roll 1 additional die for each Wound Marker on that figure's card, to a maximum of three additional attack dice. After attacking with this special attack, if the defending figure is within 2 spaces of a molten lava tile, you may roll 1 unblockable attack dice against that figure.

Possibly too high a ceiling though? I could see ticking it down to 2+3, or doing a 3+2.

 

[Ronin]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Power level doesn't seem out of control as-is, but you know the character better than I do.

I think that pushes her toward Kryptonian-heavy builds a bit? Like I imagine if you're just trying to go Flamebird + Nightwing in a JL build or something, the SA might not get powered up, since she can just get targeted first. Could be a good thing, if that's where you want them to go.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

That's fairly on point for Thara, as she's more of a pro-Kryptonian type of mindset in terms of her heroing. Chris is definitely a bit more broad in his heroing.

Some other thoughts:

So immunity-wise, Thara is actually immune to just Gold Kryptonite, which can negate abilities. Chris has the more general Kryptonite resistance. Not sure what our stance would be on having different initial clauses across the two here.

Going off of the fire/lava aesthetic seems like something people aren't super on board with, so I'm wondering if leaning more toward the Destructiony angle would be better here.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Don't know her, so not much to add here. Terrain specific powers are kind of like match up specific powers, though. I'm fine with them, but there's something "meh" about designing something you won't use the majority of the time (or with much predictability).

But she's not someone I'm super invested in, so if tying her to Magma in army building is desirable, so be it.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Don't know her, so not much to add here. Terrain specific powers are kind of like match up specific powers, though. I'm fine with them, but there's something "meh" about designing something you won't use the majority of the time (or with much predictability).

But she's not someone I'm super invested in, so if tying her to Magma in army building is desirable, so be it.

Ditching it is the plan. Ideally tying it into something more destruction-y, like:

FLAMES OF KRYPTON SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 4. Attack 3 + Special.
Before attacking with this special attack, you may choose one other Kryptonian Hero you control within 4 clear sight spaces of Flamebird. Roll 1 additional die for each Wound Marker on that figure's card, to a maximum of three additional attack dice. If Flamebird destroys a figure with this Special Attack, she may attack one additional time.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

That’s pretty cool. These two could probably work nicely with JL Wondy or Green Arrow.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

Officially swapped Divine Flames to Flames of Krypton SA.

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?

Just Chris. Adding OM requirement per Chris.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.


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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Same as other Kryptonians.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.


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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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?

Nope.

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.

Yep.

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.

Yep.

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.

Yep. Disciplined fits slightly better than protective I think.

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.

Yep.

Super Strength and Flying
Verify that these special powers are present if they make sense, and not if they don't.

Yep.

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.

Kryptonian Defense is a reuse.

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.

Avatar power aligns structurally with Nightwing's, though different immunities.

Reused Powers
Verify that the design is reusing powers in place of creating new ones, where reused powers could implement the same theme and mechanics with no differences or only trivial differences. Verify that any reused powers have the correct text.

Yep.

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.

As with Chris, could argue for 6.

Like Chris, thinking starting in the 280-300 range.

Checklist Change Summary:

Order Marker requirement being added to Avatar power.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Breathing)

I propose we move Flamebird to initial testing.

 

[Arch-vile]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

yea

 

[tcglkn]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Yea

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Yea

 

[Lord Pyre]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Just for reference, here's all the figures that have negation powers that Flamebird can avoid:

Nimrod
Crystal (Just flying)
Zatanna I
The Doctor
Noob Saibot
Psycho-Man
Prometheus
The Mask
Hawkeye III

Yea

 

[MrNobody]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Yea

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

This passes.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Just for reference, here's all the figures that have negation powers that Flamebird can avoid:

Nimrod
Crystal (Just flying)
Zatanna I
The Doctor
Noob Saibot
Psycho-Man
Prometheus
The Mask
Hawkeye III

Yea

Wonder Woman (I) as well.

What's the theme of the no-negation mechanic?

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Vote for Initial)

Just for reference, here's all the figures that have negation powers that Flamebird can avoid:

Nimrod
Crystal (Just flying)
Zatanna I
The Doctor
Noob Saibot
Psycho-Man
Prometheus
The Mask
Hawkeye III

Yea

Wonder Woman (I) as well.

What's the theme of the no-negation mechanic?

She's immune to Gold Kryptonite, which is the Kryptonite that takes away powers. I can drop it if people don't like it, but preferred going with the more accurate immunity here as opposed to copying Chris's. She less susceptible than your average Kryptonian with regular Kryptonite, but not to the degree Chris is. I can add that in the bio for clarification.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Initial Testing)

I was just curious. Don't know the character at all.

 

[LordVenoc]

Re: The Book of Flamebird (Thara Ak-Var) (Initial Testing)

Yeah most of the sciencey ones on that list I buy as thematically implying using Gold Kryptonite in that situation. Zatanna I or The Mask are obviously shaky ground, but grand scale I think it works from the theme perspective.