The Book of Lady Blackhawk

[Scapemage]

The Book of Lady Blackhawk
​

C3G DC SUPER SECRET EXCLUSIVE 31
BIRDS OF PREY

Comic PDF

Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Streets of Gotham set.
Its model number and name are #002 / Lady Blackhawk.

The figure used for this unit is a Heroclix figure from the Streets of Gotham: Birds of Prey Fast Forces set.
Its model number and name are #002 / Lady Blackhawk.​

_________________________________________________________________

Character Bio - Zinda Blake, determined to become the first woman member of the famed World War II unit known as the Blackhawks, trained herself to pilot a wide range of modern aircraft and made herself an expert in various forms of combat and weaponry.

Her first attempt to join the group came when she helped rescue a member from a modern-day pirate called the Scavenger. Despite her able assistance, Zinda was told that the Blackhawk codes forbade a woman from joining the team.

Zinda followed this exploit by rescuing the entire Blackhawk team from the Scavenger, and in return was told, by Blackhawk himself, that she could become an honorary member of the team.

Due to the time-warping effects of Zero Hour, Zinda is now in the present DC continuity, looking as she did in 1959. (wikipedia)
_________________________________________________________________

-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

_________________________________________________________________

-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• As a Human, Lady Blackhawk has these Human Synergies.
• As a Pilot, Lady Blackhawk has these Pilot Synergies.

Outgoing Synergy:

• Lady Blackhawk may move Vehicles she occupies one additional space and add 2 to their 20-sided die rolls.

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• N/A

_________________________________________________________________

-Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses-

Immunities

• N/A

Benefits

• N/A

Weaknesses

• N/A

_________________________________________________________________

-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• N/A

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: quozl
• Second playtest: TrollBrute
• Third playtest: Bats
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by A3n

Card Updates:
21 July 2021 - Updated Adept Operator wording
7 March 2021 - Class changed to Pilot

 

[Scapemage]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

NAME = LADY BLACKHAWK
SECRET IDENTITY = ZINDA BLAKE

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = PILOT
PERSONALITY = DAUNTLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 2

POINTS = 110

ADEPT OPERATOR
If Lady Blackhawk is a vehicle's driver, add 1 to that vehicle's Move number and when rolling the 20-sided die for that vehicle, you may add 2 to your roll.

CLOSE COMBAT EXPERT
When attacking an opponent's adjacent figure with a normal attack, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled. When defending against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled.

 

[SirGalahad]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

SA says "Spawn"

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Unless she has Super Strength, there's no way she can operate a Heavy Machine Gun.

 

[A3n]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

I got nothing to add here. Don't really know the character.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Unless she has Super Strength, there's no way she can operate a Heavy Machine Gun.

She should have Bucky's version.

Also, she has no direct connection to birds that I know of, and no power over them, so I'm not understanding Six Billion Pairs of Eyes at all. I don't think that fits her.

Here's what wikipedia says about her powers:

Powers and abilities

Zinda is an ace flyer, able to easily handle any type of aircraft. She is a fine markswoman, skilled in the use of a variety of weapons, and has superior abilities in hand-to-hand combat.

She's basically a WWII era fighter pilot lost in time who fights and flies planes pretty well and carries a gun.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Actually, should she have a machine gun at all? She seems to carry a pistol more often? Maybe something to represent her being a marksman? (Don't go overpowered, though, she's not the toughest character around).

 

[A3n]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Judging from that wiki exert, she doesn't appear to be better than any of the robins .

 

[Lord Pyre]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Yeah, I'm not really feeling this design so far.

No bird powers that I know of, so that power shouldn't really be here. Definitely not heavy machine gun. From my limited knowledge of her she never used a machine gun, just handguns, but I admittedly don't know her that well.

And 4/4 with Close Combat Expert makes her a better fighter than Batman, which I'm kind of doubting she is. If we want to keep CCE, at least go down to 3/3, in my opinion.

An ability that gives her a bonus when driving vehicles might be kind of cool, especially if we ever get to aircraft.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Yeah, if we give her a special attack representing her gun, I wouldn't mind seeing her base stats go down to 2/2 with CCE.

 

[Margloth]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

I think Dauntless would be a good personality (it's been used on a lot of the WWII era figures).

I'm not big on CCE... It gets overused and really... Pretty much any superhero could probably technically qualify.

I'm actually kind of sad to not see any tie in to Vehicle Destructible Objects... That seems to be her primary thing. I know we've discussed problems with that since VDO rules are technically optional at this point... But is there a workaround?

Finally, once [redacted] gets finalized, his SA might be a good fit here?

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

I like CCE on her as her skills define her. I'd also like to see Double Attack (or a a double attacking special for her guns) and a vehicle ability that lets a vehicle with her in it move an additional space.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

I'd love to see a vehicle specific power for her too. We have enough figures at this point that having one of them reference VDOs won't ruin the game for folks.

Other than that, I'd prefer to see only one more power on her. I really think she's an excellent candidate for a two power card.

 

[Scapemage]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Alright, in my little free time I have absorbed all of the information present, and thusly I present the new and improved SP! I'll send this to ERB later tonight unless anyone objects. I can't do an initial until the weekend as it is.

NAME = LADY BLACKHAWK

SECRET IDENTITY = ZINDA BLAKE

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = ADVENTURER
PERSONALITY = DAUNTLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 2

POINTS = ???

ADEPT OPERATOR
Lady Blackhawk can move one additional space when operating a Vehicle Destructible Object.

CLOSE COMBAT EXPERT
When attacking an opponent's adjacent figure with a normal attack, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled. When defending against a normal attack from an adjacent figure add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled.

 

[Lord Pyre]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Does she carry guns? If so, maybe give her a normal range. Otherwise CCE is kind of redundant with no range.

 

[Scapemage]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Doh, I forgot 5 base range.

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

You don't operate vehicles according to the vehicle rules so it should be worded like this:

ADEPT OPERATOR
When moving a vehicle after revealing an Order Marker on this card, you may move that vehicle one additional space.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Good tips, guys. With those changes, I'm happy with this direction.

 

[A3n]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

Looks like a much better direction.

 

[Scapemage]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

ERBs are back in! I'll be doing this initial this weekend sometime, after Aquaman, with no impending ERB issues.

Cool stuff, Scapemage. Thanks for sharing.

Just a few comments:

Hey all, I've got two coming down the brink for you. Enjoy!

NAME = LADY BLACKHAWK

SECRET IDENTITY = ZINDA BLAKE

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = ADVENTURER
PERSONALITY = DAUNTLESS

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 5
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 2

POINTS = ???

ADEPT OPERATOR
When moving a vehicle after revealing an Order Marker on this card, you may move that vehicle one additional space.

[Nice idea. We actually haven't used vehicles in our games yet (), so I can't say more, but this sounds like a great idea.]

CLOSE COMBAT EXPERT
When attacking an opponent's adjacent figure with a normal attack, add one automatic skull to whatever is rolled. When defending against a normal attack from an adjacent figure add one automatic shield to whatever is rolled.

[Love the appropriate reuse of a great power. Well done.]

Nice work, Scapemage! Thanks for sharing, V

I see no issues with Lady Blackhawk and I like the way she turned out!

No concerns on Lady Blackhawk.

I'll do these two designs individually and send under separate PMs. If I don't get to the second when you get this, I will work on it later today.

Let's go!

Lady Blackhawk

So if you defeat her, do you get to say, "Blackhawk down?"

(and I see she's an adventurer, which is neat)

Adept Operator
I love this, and perhaps it will encourage people to try the vehicle rules. Since you don't draft vehicles, the use of this will depend on whether your opponent or the scenario played allows it.

Close Combat Expert
Needs comma after "from an adjacent figure".

Vetted!

Final Thoughts
I love the way C3G explores new territory and then builds on it in future designs. I wonder if you could add an ability where she starts with a Sports Car (similar to the way a figure might start with a glyph or terrain piece). With a Defense 2, I think she needs the protection. Plus, knowing that she'll have her vehicle will stabilize her cost.

I'll add that comma!
I don't think she needs a vehicle on her person. She is intended to be of low cost. If, after the initial, I feel she would perform better with a vehicle to start, we can always explore that realm.

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

C3G INITIAL PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Lady Blackhawk

- THEME TEST/ Check to see if there are any powers or stats on the test unit card that does not accurately reflect the theme or likeness of what the character would and could do. Also consider destructible objects, and whether or not this characters powers should affect them.
? PASS

- MIRROR TEST/ Check to see if the unit were played against itself, if there would be any loops that would upset the balance of the Game.
? PASS

- BONDING TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing Bonding abilities to make sure there are no continual Bonding possibilities that do not stop appropriately or do not stop at all. This is to prevent loops in Bonding.
? PASS

- SYNERGIES TEST/ Compare the unit card with all possible currently existing synergies to make sure there are no factors that could break the game by making any unit to powerful or too weak.
? PASS

- POWER CHECK/ Consider the test unit and all existing units and all glyphs to compare to and check for any powers that could be over amplified and break the game. Each power must define when it takes place, who or what it affects, and What are the stipulations on the power if there are any.
? PASS

- FUN TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play.
? PASS

- FUN COMPETITIVE TEST/ Consider whether or not the design was fun to play against.
? PASS

- DRAFTING TEST/ Consider whether or not this design is worth drafting.
? PASS

- USAGE TEST/ Consider whether or not all of the powers on this card were used or at least usable.
? PASS

- STRATEGY TEST/ Consider whether or not the design offers any real strategy or interesting tactics to the overall game.
? PASS

Heavy Hitter or Mid-Level Hero Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 100
- Give a brief overview. She's weak from range but fast and gets much tougher in melee. With jungle or shadow upping her defense, she can survive until she closes in.
Map: Fulcrum (BoV map)

Spoiler Alert!

TEST 1
Units: Captain Boomerang (90)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Captain Boomerang had 3 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 2
Units: Captain Boomerang (90)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 3 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 3
Units: Vulture (90)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 1 wound (of 4 Life).

TEST 4
Units: Vulture (90)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 3 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 5
Units: Mister Zsasz (100)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Mr. Zsasz had 2 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 6
Units: Mister Zsasz (100)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 0 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 7
Units: Ragdoll (100)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 1 wound (of 4 Life).

TEST 8
Units: Ragdoll (100)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 0 wounds (of 4 Life).

TEST 9
Units: Dagger (105)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Dagger had 1 wound (of 4 Life).

TEST 10
Units: Dagger (105)
(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 3 wounds (of 4 Life).

_____________________________________________________________


Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 100
- Give a brief overview. A lot of shots fired scares Lady Blackhawk really bad. She almost survived though.
Map: Fulcrum (BoV map)
Units: 2x Bad Cops (110)

Spoiler Alert!

(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Bad Cops with 1 figure left.

_____________________________________________________________


Squad Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 100
- Give a brief overview. The inmates only got 1 wound on her. They're just too slow with no range.
Map: Fulcrum (BoV map)
Units: 2x Arkham Inmates (minus one figure) - about 100

Spoiler Alert!

(summary).
Who won and how many wounds did they have? Lady Blackhawk had 1 wound (of 4 Life).

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 110
- Give a brief overview. Lady Blackhawk drove the car once, getting to the middle of the map before it was destroyed. She never attacked from range and was never attacked. She did put 2W on Phoenix and 1W on Gorilla Grodd.
Map: Icy Road with a sports car near each startzone
Units: Mr. Fantastic (235), Lady Blackhawk (100), Jocasta (180), She-Hulk (310), Mass Master (80), Lightspeed (40), Energizer(50) = 995 vs. Emma Frost (170), Gorilla Grodd (225), Manchester Black (190), Phoenix (230), Sage (180) = 995

Spoiler Alert!

R1: Sage enhances Phoenix, Mr. Fantastic & Lady Blackhawk get in a car, Phoenix moves up, Lady Blackhawk drives, Phoenix psionic blasts the car for 1W then attaks and destroys the car, giving 1W each to Mr. Fantastic and Lady Blackhawk. Lady Blackhawk runs up and uses Close Combat Expert to give Phoenix 2W when she whiffs her defense roll, Jocasta moves up the road, Mr. Fantastic attacks Phoenix but gets no wounds.

R2: Manchester Black flies up and puts 1W on Mr. Fantastic with Telekinetic Crush. Jocasta and She-Hulk move up the road. Lady Blackhawk attacks Phoenix but gets no W. Mr. Fantastic attacks Manchester Black but gets no W. Sage enhances Emma Frost. Jocasta attacks Manchester for 1W. She-Hulk leaps and attacks Phoenix for no W. Lady Blackhawk attacks Phoenix for no W. Mr. Fantastic smacks Manchester hard, KOing him. Emma frost gets in a car and then does 1W of damage on Mr. Fantastic using psychic proxy but Jocasta takes it and deals it back to Emma. She-Hulk KOs Phoenix and both she and Lady Blackhawk each take 1W from Phoenix Fire. Mr. Fantastic moves up.

R3: She-Hulk heals. Gorilla Grodd climbs on top of a car and fails Cognizant Control. Lady Blackhawk runs down and puts 1W on Grodd. She-Hulk leaps and puts 1W on Sage. Jocsta attacks the car but gets no W. Then Mr. Fantastic KOs the car. Emma Frost goes diamond form and attacks Jocasta for no W. Mr. Fantastic attacks Emma for no W. Grodd takes 1W from an LEA and attacks Jocasta for no W and fails his roll again. She-Hulk KOs Sxage and Mr. Fantastic KOs Grodd.

R4: Emma attacks Jocasta for no W. Mr. Fantastic attacks Emma for no W. Emma attacks Jocasta for 2W. Lady blackhawk, Jocasta, She-Hulk, and Mr. Fantastic all attack Emma but she blocks them all. Emma puts 1W on Jocasta. She-Hulk then KOs Emma Frost.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Mass Master, Lightspeed, and Energizer were never used and were unwounded. She-Hulk was unwounded (out of 6 Life). Jocasta had 4W (out of 6 Life). Both Lady Blackhawk (4 Life) and Mr. Fantastic (5 Life) had 2W each.

_____________________________________________________________

Army Test
- Does it pass, Yes or No? Yes
- What should be the unit's point value? 110
- Give a brief overview. Lady Blackhawk drove the car once and used Hit and Run to put 1W on Black Widow. She shot from range once and put 1W on Black Widow. She used Close Combat Expert once and put 1W on Black Widow.
Map: Icy Road with a sports car near each startzone
Units: Baron Helmut Zemo (170), Tiger Shark (240), Livewire (260), US Agent (230), Lady Blackhawk (100) = 1000 vs. Nick Fury (220), Ant-Man (60), Spider-Woman (210), Gorilla-Man (160), Dum Dum Dugan (90), Black Widow (170), Sharon Carter (90) = 1000

Spoiler Alert!

R1: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Gorilla-Man, and Sharon Carter drop on height near the opponent's startzone. US Agent attacks Sharon with Shield Ricochet but gets no W. Dum Dum attack US Agent twice and put 4W on him but also takes 4W from Ruthless Counterstrike, KOing himself. US Agent puts 2W on Giorilla-Man then Gorilla-Man KOs US Agent. Tiger Shark KOs Sharon Carter. Gorilla-Man attacks Tiger Shark but no W.

R2: Tiger Shark puts 1W on Nick Fury. Gorilla-Man puts 3W on Tiger Shark, weakening him. Tiger Shark still puts 2W on Gorilla-Man. Gorilla-Man puts 1W on Tiger Shark. Tiger Shark KOs Gorilla-Man but falls to the curse and becomes him. Nick Fury takes 1W from Gorilla-Man's LEA and then shoots Gorilla-Man for 1W.

R3: Black Widow uses Espionage to move up the road then moves farther up the road. Livewire gets in a car. Black Widow shoots at the car but gets no W. Lady Blackhawk attacks Black Widow with Close Combat Expert but gets no W. Nick Fury shoots the car for 1W. Lady Blackhawk takes 1W from LEA and gets in the car.

R4: Black Widow attacks Baron Zemo but gets no W. Lady Blackhawk drives and uses Hit and Run to put 1W on Black Widow then gets out of the car (along with Livewire) and shoots Black Widow for 1W. Spider-Woman flies on the road. Gorilla-Man puts 1W on Black Widow. Spider-Woman moves up the road. Livewire uses Shock Jock to put 1W on Nick Fury.

R5: Black Widow moves with Espionage out of Zemo's range. then she gets height and shoots him for 3W. Gorilla-Man attacks Black Widow for no W. Black Widow disnegages (no W) and KOs Baron Zemo from range. (Masters of Evil lose OMs 2 & 3.) Black Widow attacks Livewire for 2W.

R6: Livewire attacks Nick Fury for 1W. Black Widow attqacks Livewire but gets no W. Livewire KOs Nick Fury. (Agents lose OM 2.) Gorilla-Man uses his machine gun on Black Widow but gets no W. Spider-Woman attacks Livewire with Venom Blasts but gets no W.

R7: Gorilla-Man KOs Black Widow. (Agents lose OM 1.) Livewire attacks Spider-Woman for 1W. Spider-Woman KOs Livewire. (Masters of Evil lose OM 3.) Spider-Woman KOs Lady Blackhawk with Venom Blasts.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Ant-Man was unwounded and unused. Spider-Woman had 3W (out of 5 Life).

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Design Phase

With such a simple figure, there's not much to say in the summaries. She ran up quick, fired a few shots from range but she's much more survivable using Close Combat Expert.

I'm not sure when I can get to the army tests but I thought I'd knock this part out while I had some free time.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Initial Playtesting

She's looking 100-110 so far. Are you going to use a VDO in the army tests?

 

[quozl]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Initial Playtesting

I was planning to do one with and one without. For the one with VDOs, I was just going to put a sports car near each startzone.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Lady Blackhawk - Initial Playtesting

Cool. Makes sense to me.