The Book of Haduc

[Filthy the Clown]

The Book of Haduc​

C3V Wave 1 – "Thormun's Reprieve"​

AEGIS OF THE CRIMSON SIGIL
When Haduc, or any Elf Wizard you control adjacent to Haduc, rolls defense dice, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled for each revealed order marker on Haduc's Army Card.

ELVEN SUPREMACY
Any time you roll the 20-sided die for an Elf Army Card, you may add 1 to your die roll.


Figure to use for this unit:

1. Dungeons and Dragons figure from the Desert of Desolation set (Snaketongue Cultist/#56).

The PDF for this card can be downloaded here:

• http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=3394

Character Bio:

Spoiler Alert!

"Go, Haduc, this task falls to you now!" Ulginesh's voice was strained and desperate. He rarely barked orders at any of his kin, but as the wounded elf surveyed the moonlit battlefield, it was becoming clear that even the combined strength of the Order of the Crimson Sigil would not withstand the fury of this onslaught.

"No, brother! I'll stand and fight with you to the end. We'll not let these wolves ..." Haduc's words were cut short as the elven leader spoke directly into his mind. The words echoed coldly through his head as the distractions of the battle faded to nothing.

"Your bravery is noted, brother, but your resolve will serve us better if you use it to escape. The princess is lost and Theracus along with her; soon the Stone will be lost to us as well. You must get word back to the Council of Ashra!"

Three days later Haduc, one of his eyes and half his face destroyed by the claws of the Anubians, stumbled into the village of Ashra. He reported the fate of the Order to Bereth in a choked voice, refusing to allow the village healers to tend his wounds.

A month passed. The last of The Nine, his face now hidden deep in the hood of his cloak, was present at the walls of Castle Esenwein as the Warriors of Ashra, taking advantage of the conflict between Cyprien and Nicholas, staged a valiant raid to end the reign of vampiric terror. It was there that, beset on all sides by Badru, thralls, and zombies, he came close to death for the second time ... and woke to find himself in Valhalla.

Now in the service of Ullar, reunited with the Order of the Crimson Sigil, he employs his powerful defensive magic in the fight to defend the wellsprings. He keeps the scars he gained in Feylund, and he keeps his face deep in his cowl. And when others celebrate their victories over the forces of Utgar and Valkrill, Haduc keeps his silence. For he fights not for glory—only for atonement.

_________________________________________________________________

-Rulings and Clarifications-

Aegis of the Crimson Sigil
Q: Can Haduc reveal the X Order Marker to add to Aegis of the Crimson Sigil?
A: No; unless a special power requires it, the X Order Marker is not revealed during a round.
_________________________________________________________________

-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Offered

• - AEGIS OF THE CRIMSON SIGIL: Elf Wizards

• Acolarh
• Arkmer
• Chardris
• Emirroon
• Jorhdawn
• Kyntela Gwyn
• Morsbane
• Ulginesh

• - ELVEN SUPREMACY: Any Elf Army Card

• Arkmer
• Aubrien Archers
• Elaria the Pale
• Emirroon
• Morsbane
• Sonlen

• - ARKMER : Staff of Lerkentin
  As an Elf, Haduc may aid Arkmer with his Staff of Lerkentin defense enhancement.
• - CHARDRIS : Fire Strike Special Attack
  As an Elf Wizard, Haduc may aid Chardris with his Fire Strike Special Attack.
• - EMIRROON : Elven Summoning Spell
  As an elf, Haduc may aid Emirroon with his Elven Summoning Spell.
• - JOHRDAWN : Rain of Flame Special Attack
  As an Elf Wizard, Haduc may aid Johrdawn with her Rain of Flame Special Attack.
• -4th MASSACHUSETTS LINE: Valiant Army Defense Bonus
  Having a Valiant personality, Haduc may aid the 4th Massachusetts Line with their VALIANT ARMY DEFENSE BONUS.

Synergy Benefits Received

• - ACOLARH : Leaf of the Home Tree Aura
  As an Elf, Haduc may benefit from Acolarh’s Leaf of the Home Tree defense bonus.
• - ACOLARH : Ullar’s Amulet
  As a follower of Ullar, Haduc may benefit from Acolarh’s Ullar's Amulet movement bonus.
• - EMIRROON : Elven Summoning Spell
  As an elf, Haduc is subject to Emirroon's Elven Summoning Spell.
• - KYNTELA GWYN : Strength of Oak Aura 1
  As an elf, Haduc may benefit from Kyntela Gwyn's STRENGTH OF OAK AURA 1 defense bonus.
• - ULGINESH : Mind Link
  As an Elf Wizard, Haduc may benefit from Ulginesh's MIND LINK activation synergy.

_________________________________________________________________

-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-
- TBA
_________________________________________________________________

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-


Power Ranking and Master Index

By far, the strongest Elf Wizard. The Elves aren't tier 1 even with him, but they are dangerous against most opponents. B+

Unit Strategy Review
- TBA

 

[lefton4ya]

Great work! Makes the Elves last a little longer, but having to take turns with Haduc instead of taking two turns using Ulginesh makes him a little harder to use and doesn't overpower the Elves.

Filthy, you may still be editing, but here is some missing synergies:

Spoiler Alert!

-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Recieved

• - ACOLARH : Leaf of the Home Tree Aura
  As an Elf, Haduc may benefit from Acolarh’s Leaf of the Home Tree defense bonus.
• - ACOLARH : Ullar’s Amulet
  As a follower of Ullar, Haduc may benefit from Acolarh’s Ullar's Amulet movement bonus.
• - EMIRROON : Elven Summoning Spell
  As an elf, Haduc is subject to Emirroon's Elven Summoning Spell.

Synergy Benefits Offered

• - ARKMER : Staff of Lerkin
  As an Elf, Haduc may aid Arkmer with his Staff of Lerkin defense enhancement.
• - CHARDRIS : Fire Strike Special Attack
  As an Elf Wizard, Haduc may aid Chardris with his Fire Strike Special Attack.
• - EMIRROON : Elven Summoning Spell
  As an elf, Haduc may aid Emirroon with his Elven Summoning Spell.
• - JOHRDAWN : Rain of Flame Special Attack
  As an Elf Wizard, Haduc may aid Johrdawn with her Rain of Flame Special Attack.

 

[Tai-Pan]

The higher range lets him sit a little further away, which means he can surround himself with his friends as a buffer and shoot over their heads.

I'll be interested to see how good this guy is. I'm more of a believer that the best defense is a good offense, and that's not what this guy's about, but we'll see. One instance I can really see his use is after your pod is set up but your enemy's not within range yet (and they still have to move into range). If an order marker's gotta be played, best to have this guy stand still and not attack than anybody else.

I find it a little sad Syvarris doesn't get a boost here, his 2 defense is kind of weak, but there would have been no way to get around boosting Sonlen to a frightening level.

 

[Filthy the Clown]

Filthy, you may still be editing, but here is some missing synergies

Thanks, lefton4ya ; I added your additional synergies.



Elf Wizard builds aside, part of me wants to run Haduc with Venoc Warlord and Aubriens to capitalize on the Frenzy d20 enhancement that both heroes provide. Note that including both Frenzy boosters gives the Aubriens a 35% chance to Frenzy, so roughly 1 in every 3 Frenzy rolls should be successful, statistically.

The following build sounds fun:

Haduc 100
VW 120
Aubriens x3 210
Romans x2 100
530, 19 spaces

Leading with the Romans makes for a bit of a shield buffer for the Aubriens, although I would prefer to lead off with the Aubriens to thin out the ranks as much as possible and draw your opponent to you. The Romans/VW become your mid-game force (you could work in Armocs or Death Knights, but I like the 5 attacks per turn that the Legion provides with the Warlord). Haduc, besides acting out the part of the passive cheerleader, can also prove to be a worthy cleanup figure with his range of 7.

 

[boromir96]

Soooo,How come his Bio isn't on here?He does have one.

http://www.heroscapers.com/community/blog.php?b=1750

Same with Varan.

http://www.heroscapers.com/community/blog.php?b=1738

 

[dok]

The following build sounds fun:

Haduc 100
VW 120
Aubriens x3 210
Romans x2 100
530, 19 spaces

Leading with the Romans makes for a bit of a shield buffer for the Aubriens, although I would prefer to lead off with the Aubriens to thin out the ranks as much as possible and draw your opponent to you. The Romans/VW become your mid-game force (you could work in Armocs or Death Knights, but I like the 5 attacks per turn that the Legion provides with the Warlord). Haduc, besides acting out the part of the passive cheerleader, can also prove to be a worthy cleanup figure with his range of 7.

I had one crazy game in testing with Haduc+VW+Aubriensx4, where I kept rolling 14's and 15's and got something like 7 frenzies in 2 rounds. It was pretty funny.

 

[caps]

Can Haduc reveal the x order marker to add to his Aegis of the Crimson Sigil special ability, sort of like Siege or Evar Scarcarver?

 

[SirGalahad]

Can Haduc reveal the x order marker to add to his Aegis of the Crimson Sigil special ability, sort of like Siege or Evar Scarcarver?

Unless a special power requires it, the X Order Marker is not revealed during a round, so no.

 

[caps]

Okay. Cool. Good to know.

 

[Grungebob]

This card is superb! I just love it!

 

[Sir Dendrik]

This guy is my favorite C3V so far. He's got his tolkein place as one of the Elf Wizard horde, but also many other fringe rolls. Aubrien cheerleader/endgame cleanup sounds fantastic. I'd like to use him on his own as a defense tank, but I don't think that would be super useful with only one attack of 3.

OM 1 on Haduc, 2,3 on Ulginesh. That's probably going to be the most common play.

 

[elvenwizard9]

Being the elf wizard fan I am, I can't wait to try this guy out.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

This card is superb! I just love it!

I just came back from Staples, where I had them print up a bunch of the C3V pdfs.

They are all really, really good. People who are enjoying these customs but not printing and using the pdfs are missing out.

Public tip o' the hat to our fine Art Department...

Thanks, Filthy, for setting up the Book and for attaching the Bio. I did like this bio particularly...

 

[tcglkn]

This design is so much fun to play! I had the pleasure of running the initial playtest for this guy and that was the first time I played the Elven Wizards. Playing OM 1 on him and 2 and 3 on Uglinesh is by far one of the best strategies for him.

 

[dalu]

Haduc is Valiant, you should add the following in "Synergy Benefits Offered".

-4th MASSACHUSETTS LINE: Valiant Army Defense Bonus
Having a Valiant personality, Haduc may aid the 4th Massachusetts Line with their VALIANT ARMY DEFENSE BONUS.

 

[Dad_Scaper]

Haduc is Valiant, you should add the following in "Synergy Benefits Offered".

-4th MASSACHUSETTS LINE: Valiant Army Defense Bonus
Having a Valiant personality, Haduc may aid the 4th Massachusetts Line with their VALIANT ARMY DEFENSE BONUS.

Good idea. PM Filthy.

 

[Scaper Nerd]

I really like Haduc. He can last a little bit longer than Syvarris, can hold his own once the going gets tough with the Crimson Sigil, and can help the Aubriens, Acolargh, and even Morsbane... hmmm. I see a 19 on a d20 to kill the opponent's big gun in the near future.

OM1 on Haduc
OM2 on Morsbane to move into range of the target, and Boom! Either negation on a 15 or a kill on 19... Sounds like fun... I'll have to try it out once I get the card and figure.

 

[BrandonD]

I love this guy. My only complaint is that there aren't MORE elf wizards. Elf wizards are my favorite characters thematically, but for me they've never stood up well against opposition.

 

[caps]

I love this guy. My only complaint is that there aren't MORE elf wizards. Elf wizards are my favorite characters thematically, but for me they've never stood up well against opposition.

The Elf-Wizard army is typically very fragile. You have to adopt a very agile strategy to keep them around and still get hits in. Adopting the WoA as a screen can prolong their life a little bit, but I think they're most effective in team games where other players can provide a strong screen and/or diversion to let the Elves move more freely.

 

[Major Q23]

I'm not a big fan of him in the conventional elf wizard army with Ulginesh because you have to use a order marker on Haduc to activate Crimson Sigil. He is however THE BEST clean up figure the the game, by order marker 2-3 he is impenetrable. Initiative is key when it comes to using Haduc.
An army that went 6-1(I think) played by NecroBlade was very successful and won the Louisville monthly tournament is:
Aubrien Archer x4
Venoc Warlord
Haduc
Isamu
With Frenzy on a 14 or higher NecroBlade's frenzy count on a few games were rediculus, something like 20 extra turns. He was able to pull out Haduc at the ends of his games and sweep the leftover pieces.
I'm a big fan of Haduc, only not in the conventional elf army, I love him as a clean up figure however.

 

[infectedsloth]

I'm not a big fan of him in the conventional elf wizard army with Ulginesh because you have to use a order marker on Haduc to activate Crimson Sigil. He is however THE BEST clean up figure the the game, by order marker 2-3 he is impenetrable. Initiative is key when it comes to using Haduc.

I disagree, I think Haduc is part of the best 500 point Elf Wizard army. In my opinion the best non C3V Elf Wizard army is.

Ulginesh
Arkmer
Emirroon
Chardris
Jorhdawn
Kyntela Gwyn
Isamu

If you remove Isamu and Chardris and add Haduc, it makes that army significantly better. It is true that you have to sacrifice you first order marker to activate Crimson Sigel, but it's definitely worth it especial if you win initiative. Two of the biggest weakness of the typical elf wizard army (besides there low defense which Crimson Sigel obviously solves) are Ulginesh vulnerability, and once your army core falls they become weak and fall one by one. Haduc solves both these problems, if you win initiative and activate Crimson Sigel, your opponent will probably not want to target Ulginesh because he as higher defense then the other Wizards and with the automatic shield becomes extremely hard to kill. That forces your opponent to try to kill your other less significant parts of your army. You said if yourself that Haduc is the best clean up figure in the game (I'm not sure if I agree with that), that alone solves the second problem of there weakness once there army core falls, you still have Haduc to pick up the slack, and keep you in the game.

 

[NamibianScaper]

Well, the family is getting back into Heroscape (on again, off again) and I'm logging onto the forum for the first time in a long time.

When I first saw Haduc, my reaction was negative and someone at the time commented that I should try to improve on the design. It looks like those comments are down now... I guess they didn't want public invitations to mod 'new' units, which I understand. I like the concept of new community tested and approved units and random comments shouldn't hurt the momentum. Some I like. Some I don't like. Same with official units. But this one in particular is obviously more meaningful to me than others as an indispensable (there are only 9) part of my favorite army.

Let me roll out the evidence of my thoughtful dedication to this group of units:
a.) Very thorough analysis of what the Elf Wizard Army has and needs

b.) Elf Wizard Army, A House of Cards?

c.) and here I went toe-to-toe with Aldin about the power of Elves multiple ranged special attacks.

So, where am I now, 9 months after Haduc was revealed?

First of all I want to start shopping for many of the CV units y'all have made. Great work overall. I will even be looking to get the Haduc figure... I will even try him as made... and I will KEEP the D20 Bonus to Elves--good idea, one thing I did not cover in my articles. (BTW, I think some responders here are using his bonus for all Ullar figures, not just Elves.) BUT I just know that it's not going to work giving up double-turns with Ulginesh. * Double-turns = multiple turns over multiple rounds, one double-turn per round. One normal attack of 3 does not a Chardris or Johrdawn attack make.

So here are some other ideas I'm going to try out:

1. When a friendly Elf within 3 clear sight spaces of Haduc rolls defense dice, any shields rolled above the number of skulls rolled in the attack remove one wound from the Elf.
-- I think this is just cool and different and not overpowered considering your Elf Wizards have such low defense. It punishes mostly armies of squads with low attacks (Squadscape) which almost everyone wants to counter anyway. They whiff their attack, you roll shields and heal up. Won't work too well against Krug but that's okay.

2. After taking a turn with Haduc, roll the D20 for every Elf within 3 clear sight spaces. 17 or higher, remove a wound from that Elf.
-- Kinda boring I know

3. Subtract 1 from all opponent's D20 rolls
-- D20 protection!

 

[awesomeunleashed]

BUT I just know that it's not going to work giving up double-turns with Ulginesh.

I think you're thinking about it wrong. Haduc should get the first OM, but Ulginesh should get the other two. You only give up one of your six turns, and you get (basically) +3 defense for Elves adjacent to Haduc. I'll make that trade any day. Piling your OMs on Haduc obviously isn't going to work, unless Ulginesh is dead, in which case it will make him an awesome cleanup figure.

 

[caps]

BUT I just know that it's not going to work giving up double-turns with Ulginesh.

I think you're thinking about it wrong. Haduc should get the first OM, and Ulginesh should get the other two. You only give up onetwo of your six turns, and you get (basically) +3 defense for Elves adjacent to Haduc. I'll make that trade any day.

Fixed. Taking a turn with Haduc sacrifices the flexibility to take a turn with any of the other elves on that OM.

Where are you getting +3? I'm not sure the probabilities fall out exactly that way.

I'll give it to you, NamibianScaper, that Haduc is very tricky to use. You should try him as a cleanup figure independent of the Elf Wizards sometime.

 

[awesomeunleashed]

BUT I just know that it's not going to work giving up double-turns with Ulginesh.

I think you're thinking about it wrong. Haduc should get the first OM, and Ulginesh should get the other two. You only give up onetwo of your six turns, and you get (basically) +3 defense for Elves adjacent to Haduc. I'll make that trade any day.

Fixed. Taking a turn with Haduc sacrifices the flexibility to take a turn with any of the other elves on that OM.

Where are you getting +3? I'm not sure the probabilities fall out exactly that way.

I'll give it to you, NamibianScaper, that Haduc is very tricky to use. You should try him as a cleanup figure independent of the Elf Wizards sometime.

You don't give up two turns, 1 & 1/2 at most. Haduc's attack easily rivals those of the other Wizards.

While it's different depending on how many attack dice are being rolled, an automatic shield will have the same average benefit as three extra dice, because on average, three dice=one shield.

I will certainly admit he's tricky, though.