The Book of Megatron

[Ronin]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Will do.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

What are you wanting to see here, YK? I’ll probably test against Order Marker hubs. Should Ivrun him with fast figures that don’t mind being engaged? Maybe some Speedsters?

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Nothing sticks out for me. Just try him however you think he might do the best.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Sounds good! Can't promise they'll come fast, but hopefully within a week or two!

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM

NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: MEGATRON

Army Test
Map: Custom
Units: Ray Palmer (50), Ragdoll (100), Green Lantern (John Stewart) (340), Megatron (410), Robin (Dick Grayson) (100), Blob (165), Skrull Infiltrator (x3) (30) (1195) vs Mister Fantastic, Human Torch, Thing, Invisible Woman (1,000), Wasp (I) (50), Iceman (150) (1200)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Initiative Fantastic Four. The round is spent positioning, with Megatron’s team more effective thanks to Green Lantern moving everyone but Megatron up twice and the Fan Four struggling thanks to low Fantastic Leader rolls.

Round 2: Initiative Megatron. He advances from the back, while his further advanced allies wait on a nearby hill. Mister Fantastic moves up with Human Torch and Invisible Woman, just out of attack range. Megatron advances, just out of attack range.
Human Torch seizes upon an opportunity to go Supernova while hitting every enemy figure. He only rolls 3 skulls, but puts one wound on Megatron, one wound on Atom, and three wounds on Blob. Mister Fantastic catches Robin whiffing and KOs him. But it turns out the Boy Wonder was a Skrull Infiltrator the whole time!
Green Lantern returns the favor by flying down and engaging Invisible Woman, getting her and Wasp Stuck on Blob, and hitting a whiffing Sue for 4 Wounds.
Thing uses a double Clobberin’ Time to burn two Battery Markers off Green Lantern (who strikes Thing for two wounds). Iceman and Mister Fantastic can’t hit Green Lantern or make him burn the last battery, though.

Round 3: Initiative Megatron’s team. Green Lantern KOs Invisible Woman.
Thing, depowered without Invisible Woman around, KOs Atom, who was a Skrull. Mister Fantastic and Iceman fail to hit targets.
Megatron advances, but even with the +5 bonus, he doesn’t roll well enough to make Mister Fantastic Cower. But he does blast Mister Fantastic for a quick four wounds.
Wasp stings Blob for a wound. Thing goes Clobberin’ crazy and drains Green Lantern’s last shield, then puts 3 wounds on him. Iceman can’t finish Green Lantern, but Mister Fantastic finally does. Green Lantern was a Skrull.
Megatron rolls successfully for Cower, but picks the “X.” Megatron takes a swipe from Thing, engages Mister Fantastic, and fails to KO Mister Fantastic.
Mister Fantastic has a terrible Leadership roll, Stretch Walks away, and KOs a Skrull.

Round 4: Initiative Fantastic Four. This is a huge swing, because this lets Thing go after Megatron, fully Clobberin’ Time powered up. Thing does and KOs Megatron on the second hit. This takes OM1, 2, and X from Megatron’s Army.
Mister Fantastic still leads terribly and can’t hit Ragdoll either.
Iceman KOs Blob.
Ragdoll can’t KO Mister Fantastic.

Round 5: Initiative Ragdoll, but both he and Mister Fantastic waste turns with bad rolls. Then Ragdoll wastes another. Thing Clobbers the last two Skrulls and kills OM3. Wasp puts two wounds on Ragdoll.

Round 6: Initiative Fantastic Four. Thing KOs Ragdoll.

Unit Summary: This was a blowout, but mostly due to Thing being able to maximize Clobberin’ Time on several occasions, Robin whiffing, and bad luck stopping Cower Before Megatron from being effective. I think Megatron is probably better than his showing here.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): 4 Wounds on Mister Fantastic.
• COWER BEFORE MEGATRON: 1 for 2. Removed the “X” from Mister Fantastic.
• P38 HANDGUN TRANSFORMATION: N/A
• HANDCANNON SPECIAL ATTACK: N/A
• Damage Taken: KOed at the start of Round 4.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Mister Fantastic with 1/5 Life, Thing with 3/6 Life, nullified Human Torch with 5/5 Life, Wasp with 1/1 Life, and Iceman with 4/4 Life win.

___________________________________________________________​

Army Test
Map: Custom
Units: Atom (Ray Palmer) (50), Ragdoll (100), Green Lantern (John Stewart) (340), Megatron (410), Robin (Dick Grayson) (100), Blob (165), Skrull Infiltrator (x3) (30) (1195) vs Captain America (240), Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo (700), Archangel (260) (1200)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Initiative Avengers. Cap and Archangel advance on one side while Megatron advances twice with Ragdoll and Atom in tow. Leonardo and Michelangelo (twice) advance thanks to Turtle Power and Cowabunga. Green Lantern flies the rest of the army up behind Megatron.

Round 2: Initiative Megatron. He takes a hill with Atom and Ragdoll alongside. Cap goes, facing Megatron from an opposing hillside, still 7 spaces away.
Megatron comes down off the hill, with Atom and Ragdoll, fails a Cower roll on Archangel and fails an attack on Cap. Atom takes a wound from Avenging Angel.
Archangel goes, but can’t hit any of Atom, Ragdoll, or Megatron with Razor Wing Slash or a normal attack boosted by Cap.
Green Lantern fails an attack on Archangel. Archangel Razor Slashes Megatron (and misses attempts on Green Lantern and Robin).
Leonardo KOs Atom and the Skrull that replaces Atom. Donatello Staff Vaults next to Cap, but isn’t in attack range.

Round 3: Initiative Avengers. Cap inspires the troops by tossing his shield, missing both Megatron and Ragdoll.
Megatron misses his Cower roll on Leonardo by one, then hits Leo for three wounds.
Leo, inspired by Cap, double attacks Megatron for three wounds, then uses Turtle Power to activate Mikey, who KOs Ragdoll (he was a Skrull), but can’t Cowabunga, and finally Donatello, who hits Megatron for another wound following a Staff Vault.
Megatron transforms into the P38 Handgun, the Skrull picks him up, and Cap is blasted for two wounds on a ten dice, six skull attack.
Green Lantern engages Cap and plants Blob next to Mikey and Cap and Robin next to Cap. Green Lantern puts a third wound on Cap.

Round 4: Initiative Avengers. Cap attacks Robin, but Green Lantern removes a Battery Marker to Shield Strike Cap for a wound.
Megatron makes Leonardo Cower, then hits Leonardo for a fourth wound.
Leonardo lost Order Marker 2.
Green Lantern can’t finish Cap.
Mikey KOs a Skrull, but can’t Cowabunga.
Green Lantern can’t finish Cap.

Round 5: Initiative Avengers. Leonardo sneaks in the first turn, his double attack putting Megatron up to six wounds. Donatello can’t finish Megatron, though.
Megatron fails to hit on Cower, can’t even move into range for his P38 without risking a swipe, and attacks Leonardo, finishing the Turtle Leader.
Archangel is too far away to Razor Slash anyone, but attacks Megatron, failing to put the big bot down on a four skull roll.
Robin circles to engage Mikey and Archangel. He hits Archangel for one wound, then Razor Slash hits Megatron for a seventh wound and Green Lantern for a first.
Green Lantern can’t hit Archangel, but Archangel hits Robin with Razor Slash.
Cap can’t hit Robin.

Round 6: Initiative Megatron. He wastes a P28 transformation on a five skull attack that Archangel completely blocks.
Cap fails an attack on Robin.
Blob takes two swipes, engages Archangel, and fails an attack on Archangel, but Avenging Angel and Razor Wing Slash are shut down for now.
Donatello wounds Robin with the Anti-Grav Gauntlet.
Green Lantern finally KOs Cap.
Donatello throws but can’t KO Robin.

Round 7: Initiative Megatron. He makes Donatello Cower and then hits Donatello for two wounds and makes the Anti-Grav Gauntlet fly.
Green Lantern can’t hit Archangel.
Mikey can’t finish Megatron or Cowabunga.
Megatron has Robin fire the P38 (No!!! Batman shouts) and put one wound on Donatello.
Raphael advances.

Round 8: Initiative Megatron. Robin fires off the P38 again and KOs Donatello.
Donatello had OM1 so Green Lantern takes a swipe from Archangel and hits Raphael from height for a quick two wounds.
Raphael engages Green Lantern and double attacks, but GL blocks.
Blob sticks Raphael to the spot, but can’t hit him.
Mikey tries to KO Megatron, fails, but then Cowabungas and pulls it off.

Round 9: Initiative Blob. He hits Raph for a wound. Mikey engages Green Lantern from height, getting Stuck, but can’t hit. Green Lantern KOs Raph. Mikey can’t hit Green Lantern or KO him. Robin engages Mikey and Archangel to put them in an impossible spot. Archangel can’t hit Robin.

Round 10: Mikey takes out Robin and drains Green Lanterns last two Battery Markers, taking two wounds back. Blob puts four wounds on Archangel.

Round 11: Mikey KOs Green Lantern. Blob KOs Archangel. Mikey can’t hit Blob. Blob KOs Mikey.

Unit Summary: Megatron was pivotal here. He could’ve fallen a few times earlier, which probably would’ve swung the game the other way. Cower Before Megatron only hit twice, but the first was huge and the second was significant. He did 7 Wounds with his normal attack and 4 with his Special Attack, which got the job done against mostly mid-level Heroes. This wasn’t domination by any means, though, so I could see his cost potentially dropping a little. Blob being the perfect Archangel counter really helped here.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): 5 Wounds on Leonardo, 2 Wounds on Donatello.
• COWER BEFORE MEGATRON: 2 for 5. Steals OM2 from Leonardo and thus Turtle Power for the round; steals OM1 from Donatello.
• P38 HANDGUN TRANSFORMATION: Used once to attack Cap and once to attack Archangel and twice to attack Donatello.
• HANDCANNON SPECIAL ATTACK: 10 dice used once to put 2 Wounds on Cap, 0 Wounds on Archangel, 2 Wounds on Donatello.
• Damage Taken: KOed at the end of Round 8.

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Blob with 4/6 Life and one Skrull Infiltrator win.

___________________________________________________________​

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

He felt solid. Based on my tests at least, I wouldn't mind seeing him drop to 390-400.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Thanks! I like how you used Blob, Ragdoll, and the Skull Infiltrators to try and keep figures from engaging Megatron so the SA could be used. He felt solid but not maximizing his potential in my games too, so I am a bit worried now that the same thing happened in your tests.

I'd really like to get him up to 410 if he's feeling low, him and Prime were thought of as pretty evenly matched. Any thoughts on some small tweaks or that might boost him up to 410? I already lowered the d20 roll on cower and it does look like it worked a little better in your tests, so I'm thinking somewhere else. He has taken a serious beating on several times, even seemingly been defeated more than once only to return later, so maybe give him 1 more life than Prime? Would that push him up over 410 though?

 

[Tornado]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

You could always bump the Cower back up if the Life bump is too much.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Thanks! I like how you used Blob, Ragdoll, and the Skull Infiltrators to try and keep figures from engaging Megatron so the SA could be used. He felt solid but not maximizing his potential in my games too, so I am a bit worried now that the same thing happened in your tests.

I'm confused. I did that to maximize the bonus for his Cower power, not because of the special attack. Unless I missed something, which is possible, there's no requirement for him to not be engaged in order to use the special attack, is there? I'd hope not, as I didn't play him that way, and that'd make him less powerful.

I'd really like to get him up to 410 if he's feeling low, him and Prime were thought of as pretty evenly matched. Any thoughts on some small tweaks or that might boost him up to 410? I already lowered the d20 roll on cower and it does look like it worked a little better in your tests, so I'm thinking somewhere else. He has taken a serious beating on several times, even seemingly been defeated more than once only to return later, so maybe give him 1 more life than Prime? Would that push him up over 410 though?

The longer he's around the more value he's going to get out of his powers, I suppose. The special attack is cool, but it's once per round and all or nothing (I wouldn't waste time with the 4 and 6 version unless I'm after someone really hard to hit like Robin (Dick Grayson) or trying to off squaddies) and the Cower power is good, but in order to get the roll down you have to really set it up, and even then it's a 50/50. I'm sure he's something the competitive guys could exploit though, so I'd resist making him too much stronger.

His normal attack from range might actually be his strongest feature, but between being huge and having this threat level, he's hard not to target in a big way. Blob can keep him clean for a bit, but the enemy has every reason to target him.

Maybe I should've played him with more defensive back up and not just screeners?

I'd consider adjusting the Cower roll down one more or Life up one or just getting another test and seeing if the luck evens out a bit. I really do think the potential is there.

Oh, actually, thinking of this as I'm typing, probably the biggest thing holding him back from really unleashing is the range 4 for his powers. So if you really wanted to bump him some, just move the range of his powers up to 5 from 4 and that'll make a huge difference for him, IMO.

 

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I support a Range bump as opposed to Life bump.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

It looks like you played it right Bats, I guess the unengaged clause got cut at some point from the SA and I was just mis-remembering what got passed. I feel like I rarely used the SA in my initial though due to him being engaged so I might have messed up my own tests.

I kind of wanted him to have a powerful normal ranged attack, but with a limited range to help keep it in check, so I'm not sure about increasing his base range. Maybe increase the range by 1 for the SA though since someone else is the one using it and to help show why he has & uses the gun mode (ie. it is stronger with 10 att. dice and has a longer range). Also would be fine with expanding the range on Cower, as that has proved to be not as impactful as I first feared it might be. That is a really good thought. I could even see that aura going up to 6 as he is a Huge figure that cast a long shadow. Due to the defense also being so high, I am leery of messing with the life as that could result in going over 410 by quite a bit.

 

[Karat]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

That is an interesting tweak and might just help out enough to bump him up to 410.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

This is what I think I'll send out to the next tester and see how it works out.

COWER BEFORE MEGATRON
After moving Megatron, you may choose a figure within 6 clear sight spaces of Megatron that is not Valiant. If there are 1 or more unrevealed Order Markers on the chosen figure's card, roll the 20-sided die, adding 1 to the roll for every figure you control engaged with a figure in that opponent's army up to a maximum of +5. If you roll 15 or higher, remove one unrevealed Order Marker from the chosen figure's card.

P38 HANDGUN TRANSFORMATION
Once per round, instead of taking a turn with Megatron, you may attack with a Hero you control within 2 clear sight spaces of Megatron that is not tiny. During that attack, it must use Megatron's Hand Cannon Special Attack and cannot use any other special powers.

HAND CANNON SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Attack 4, 6, or 10.
Start the attack with 10 attack dice. You may attack with 4, 6, or 10 attack dice until all 10 attack dice have been rolled. Megatron cannot attack with this special attack.

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Can we go 5/5? Just seems odd to have three different ranges on three different functions (more for the brain to process and screw up). I think that upping the range on Cower will do the most to improve his effectiveness, though.

As it is, I had opportunities to use the special attack, but it felt more effective to just try for Cower and his normal attack most of the time unless I really wanted to try to take a target out.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

How about if we leave the SA at 4 then and just Cower up to 6 as the only change?

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I'm cool with that.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Alright then, that is what I'll update the SP with then (only a change to Cower's aura up to 6).

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I think that's the power that'll truly unlock his potential, so the better you can screen him and keep him out of the thick of it, the stronger he'll be. Hopefully not too strong! But 400+ gives you some room to be fairly nasty.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I added a bio as well today, pretty basic so if anyone wants something more just let me know what you are looking for.

 

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Just a thought, but the power of that hand cannon seems ripe for an "each skull you roll is doubled" clause. What if it was Range 4, Attack 2, 3, or 5? Start the game with 5 instead. I'd actually push for 1-5 at that point. Gives him that giant attack, "miss=big miss, hit=big hit" feel.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I'd be okay with that. I do kind of prefer the 2 attacks or 1 though rather then turning the pistol into a machine gun with 5 attacks possible. So I'd just advocate leaving it at 2, 3, or 5.

Anyone else have any thoughts it?

 

[IAmBatman]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

I like rolling ten dice.

 

[Karat]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Same. It's fun to roll a fistful.

 

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

As do I, but mechanically, the 2 for 1 mechanic works better for him, IMO. Think about those gun blasts, often miss, still feared, really damages when he does hit.

 

[Yodaking]

Re: The Book of Megatron - Public PT

Quick turn around by LV.

Here it is. Ran the same team with Megatron twice, as it proved to be quite effective. Two quite big wins here really. Let me know if you have questions.

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM
NAME OF THE TEST UNIT Megatron
Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Megatron, Arthrian Invaders x3, Skrull Infiltrators x5 vs Mister Fantastic, Thing, Human Torch, Invisible Woman
Unit Summary
Damage: 6 wounds dealt total.
Abilities: OM’s Removed: 2/6 Attempts
Hand Cannon Wounds: 6 additional wounds.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – The Invaders advance and quickly tie up the Fan 4 in engagements. Megatron gets 3 wounds on Mr F. and the Invaders put 1 on Invisible Woman. Two Skrulls comes out from the dying Invaders. Fan 4 lost turn 2 to Cowering.
Round 2 – Megatron starts with his Hand Cannon, allowing one of the Skrulls to blast IW for 3 wounds. Fantastic fails his leader roll, kills a Skrull. Megatron deals two wounds to Fantastic across 2 turns, killing him.
Round 3 – Hand Cannon takes two shots, but IW goes down. Thing kills an Invader, and as the invaders continue to swarm, Megatron gets a wound on Thing. Megatron removes X Marker from Torch before shooting Thing for another wound. Torch takes two leaving engagement strikes and only kills 1 Invader (replaced with the last Skrull), also failing to wound Megatron.
Round 4 – Torch gets two wounds on Megatron by Flaming On, and in an attempt to clear the field more, only manages to kill 1 Skrull with a measly 2 skulls rolled on Supernova. Thing takes more wounds from the Invaders, and Megatron’s Hand Cannon finishes him off. Invaders kill Torch.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Megatron’s Invasion wins. 2 wounds on Megatron, 3 Skrulls and 3 Invaders living (at least 4 or 5 brought back total?).

_____________________________________________________________​

Army Test
Map: Conflict Chernobyl
Units: Megatron, 3x Arthrian Invaders, 5x Skrull Infiltrators vs Optimus Prime, Captain America, Ms. Marvel
Unit Summary
Damage: 9 wounds dealt
Abilities: OM’s Removed: 1/2 Attempts
Hand Cannon Wounds: 8 additional wounds.

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1 – Armies converge and conflict begins fast. Megatron gets a wound on Optimus. However, Optimus’s Avengers can’t crack some solid defense rolls from the Invaders.
Round 2 – Invaders get a wound on Carol, who kills it in return. Megatron tries to eliminate Cap’s OM, but Optimus saves it for him. Cap tosses his shield to try and hit the Invaders, but they manage to block the hits. Megatron wounds Carol, who hurts him back. Optimus kills an Invader, who is replaced by a Skrull. A massive 8 skull roll from a 10 attack Hand Cannon wipes Cap off the map in a single shot. Optimus and Ms. Marvel each kill an Invader, but both are replaced by Skrulls.
Round 3 – Hand Cannon from Megatron gets five skulls on 10 dice, killing Ms. Marvel exactly with 3 wounds. Optimus manages to kill off another Invader, but it isn’t enough to break through the ranks as Megatron deals 2 wounds, and then 6 more wounds, ending Optimus’s fight.

Who won and how many wounds did they have? Team Megatron wins. 1 Skrull destroyed. 1 wound on Megatron. All Invaders on map (4 killed and returned).

_____________________________________________________________​

THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT'S COST, BALANCE, & DRAFTABILITY: Megatron is a solid powerhouse. I’m not sure if the success of these games is on his strength or the power of the combo with the Invaders. They were a really excellent screen against these foes, and managed to hold up well against multi-attacks. Megatron’s bulk makes it easy to just keep recycling in Invaders while he works to take out foes between his power and occasionally arming Skrulls that pop in.
GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE TESTED UNIT: He has an interesting play style that I enjoyed a lot. I’m really not sure where I might say to reign him in, if that’s your feeling from these games. The OM removal didn’t play a tremendous part in all honesty. For these games, I really felt like it was on the sheer swarming potential of the Invaders. Foes just couldn’t clear them fast enough to even try and get to Megatron, who stayed so close that there was no real way to get to him without clearing the swarm.

Beating the Fan4 was pretty impressive, since they have the multi-turn potential to cut through the Invaders. Second game I'm not as concerned about, all 3 of those heroes want OM's for different powers on their cards so it wasn't as efficient at the Fan4 can be. Lots of damage from Megatron in that one though, which is actually kind of nice to see. He should be deadly.