The Book of Othkurik the Black Dragon

[spiteofthedice]

The Book of Othkurik the Black Dragon

Master Set III - Battle for the Underdark​

If you cannot see the Army Card graphic, check Hasbro's Unit Page for stats and special powers, plus "character biography" and other non-game unit info.


Character Bio: TBA

_________________________________________________________________
-Rulings and Clarifications-

Target Point : Where'd Everybody Go?
Q. It seems some of the Othkurik sculpts' heads are ducked beneath their wings. Doesn't that make targeting a problem?
A. FAQ 11.3 : ERRATA: Othkurik can use his neck spikes as a secondary Target Point.​

_________________________________________________________________
-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Received

- GREENSCALE WARRIORS : As a Unique, Large Dragon Hero, Othkurik may be chosen as to benefit from the Greenscale Warriors' LIZARD KING BONDING Activation Synergy.​

Synergy Benefits Offered

- GREENSCALE WARRIORS : As a Unique, Large Dragon Hero, if selected as the Greenscale Warriors "Lizard King," Othkurik may aid the Greenscale Warriors with their LOYALTY TO THE LIZARD KING Attack and Defense Enhancements.

- OTONASHI : Tricky Speed 4:
As a unit with a Tricky personality, Othkurik may enable Otonashi's TRICKY SPEED 4.​

Terrain Benefits Received

- SWAMP WATER HEXES : LURKING AMBUSH
- SHADOW HEXES : LURKING AMBUSH
​

C3V and SoV Custom Synergies

Spoiler Alert!

Synergy Benefits Offered

​

Synergy Benefits Received

​

Synergy Imposed

NHAH SCIRH CULTISTS : DRAGONKIND ENMITY
As a Dragon, Othkurik The Black Dragon provides the Nhah Scirh Cultists one additional attack die when it is targeted.
​

_________________________________________________________________
-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

TBA
​

_________________________________________________________________
-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Othkurik the Black Dragon Pre-Release Discussion Thread
​

Power Ranking and Master Index

Unit Strategy Review

TBA​

 

[spiteofthedice]

Not to be a tool, but in fairness to Rev Bookman, I'm going to just ask that the general comments stay in the reaction thread. The Book is meant for rules-clarification purposes and strategy discussions.

~Spite, who would just like to add that he is a champion, my friends, and will keep on fighting til the end, because Rev will unfortunately have to delete this post eventually anyway.

 

[Revdyer]

(This message, too, will be deleted)

Thanks, spite. I am not seeing any proof of proxy play testing in these comments, so, sooner or later, they are likely to be deleted.

 

[Taeblewalker]

Edit: Ignore! I didn't realize that faction-wide synergies don't go here - I really need to read the books more carefully.




Don't forget Ornak's Red Flag of Fury Aura. Othkurik is a unique hero who follows Utgar.

 

[Vilsara]

Yay, my message got deleted!

Anyway, I DO have a small overview of Othkurik;

I sort of realized in observation that he's the sort of unit that you would build an army around as opposed to providing filler. He's sort of a mid-game predator... too fragile to be taken out in the heat of battle, but doesn't provide the best cleanup because of single attacks and situational Special Attack.

However, if you can provide a good screen (Rats, preferably) and another unit to tie squads up for a while (I smell Izumi), then you'll have a lot of chances to sneak up and inflict some impressive damage on unsuspecting heroes.

Ironically, Othkurik looks to play well with Tandros Kreel, since he looks to be a very good staller (setting aside Charos, since that would be far too expensive).

Otherwise, you're left with about 320 points with Rats x3, Izumi, and Othkurik, so even on boards without Shadow or Swamp, he might perform pretty well- but again, with proper support.

 

[Warlord Alpha]

I sort of realized in observation that he's the sort of unit that you would build an army around as opposed to providing filler...

...

However, if you can provide a good screen (Rats, preferably)]...

Actually, you have given me a great idea!

What if you used rats to "bridge the gap" between figures? As in, your opponent might spread his figures out to avoid Acid Spray. So, get rats to plug the holes and then target the rats. Sure you will lose a rat here and there and it won't activate scatter (for two reasons), but if you are using 4x rats that won't matter much.

Othkurik - 140
4x Rats - 160 (300)
Something else - 200 (500)

And all the things you could do with those last 200 points! Imagine this:

Othkurik - 140
4x Rats - 160 (300)
Q9 - 180 (480)
Filler - 20 (500)

That would just be cruel, especially on the right maps.

 

[Rich10]

I assume that Lurking Ambush does not work with Acid Spray Special Attack. If it did, it would give the ability to attack 3 figures with 7 dice. I realize that special attacks generally don't get bonuses, but Lurking Ambush says, "add 3 to his Attack value." It doesn't specify normal attack. Could we get a clarification on this?

 

[Warlord Alpha]

I assume that Lurking Ambush does not work with Acid Spray Special Attack. If it did, it would give the ability to attack 3 figures with 7 dice. I realize that special attacks generally don't get bonuses, but Lurking Ambush says, "add 3 to his Attack value." It doesn't specify normal attack. Could we get a clarification on this?

I really doubt it would modify his special attack.

Although I do find it interesting that it says "attack value" (I don't think I have seen that on any other cards thus far, correct me if I am wrong), I believe that it only modifies his base attack.

I think it would say that it modifies the special attack as well as the base attack if that was the case.

 

[Frylock]

Why not some 'trons?

Othkurik
2x Blasts
3x Glads

 

[Taeblewalker]

I assume that Lurking Ambush does not work with Acid Spray Special Attack. If it did, it would give the ability to attack 3 figures with 7 dice. I realize that special attacks generally don't get bonuses, but Lurking Ambush says, "add 3 to his Attack value." It doesn't specify normal attack. Could we get a clarification on this?

I really doubt it would modify his special attack.

Although I do find it interesting that it says "attack value" (I don't think I have seen that on any other cards thus far, correct me if I am wrong), I believe that it only modifies his base attack.

I think it would say that it modifies the special attack as well as the base attack if that was the case.

Special Attacks are never modified.
Special Attacks are never modified.
Special Attacks are never modified.
Repeat.

Edit: I don't presume to imply that I have as much insight into the rules as the designers/playtesters, but and others have told us this repeatedly.

 

[Heroscape Elffy]

Why not some 'trons?

Othkurik
2x Blasts
3x Glads

I don't see trons as helping much. The Blasts use the Glads as Attack Boosters and Clampers so they don't get attacked. If you're using them as "Gap Fillers" as Warlord Alpha said, I'd say it's a waste of points. If you're using Othkurik as late game clean-up, or the Glads as protection for Othkurik (Maybe clamping guys in groups?) then it'd be better.

 

[Frylock]

Why not some 'trons?

Othkurik
2x Blasts
3x Glads

I don't see trons as helping much. The Blasts use the Glads as Attack Boosters and Clampers so they don't get attacked. If you're using them as "Gap Fillers" as Warlord Alpha said, I'd say it's a waste of points. If you're using Othkurik as late game clean-up, or the Glads as protection for Othkurik (Maybe clamping guys in groups?) then it'd be better.

That was my plan, yes. I shoulda been more clear.

 

[Zealot]

Edit: Ignore! I didn't realize that faction-wide synergies don't go here - I really need to read the books more carefully.




Don't forget Ornak's Red Flag of Fury Aura. Othkurik is a unique hero who follows Utgar.

I concur with this statement. Othkurik is a unique hero who follows Utgar, as such, Ornak's Red Flag of Fury Aura applies to him and should be added to the "Synergies Benefits Received" section.

I can see Othkurik and Mimring making a good team. Its a little pricey at 290 but Othkurik's attack can target clumps while Mimring can attack the figures that try to spread out. If you throw in any of the orc combinations: Arrow Gruts with Beast bonding for Mimring or Orc Warriors with Ornak's Flag for both dragons; you can get some fairly deadly synergy.

~Zealot

 

[Kroc]

Rev has asked that we do our pre-release discussion in the thread Tai-Pan created for this purpose. It's here.

 

[Grungebob]

Our esteemed Grishnak has brought up an interesting concern about Othkurik. His sculp with it's bent neck positioning, creates visibility issues for Lil Blacky.

I will be consulting with the rules team. Until we have an official sighting answer, perhaps just use the dragon's neck spines as a sighting point.

 

[Oliver Upshaw]

One thing to keep in mind when using Othkurik's Acid Spray Special Attack is that you "may also choose up to two other figures adjacent to the targeted figure to be affected by Acid Spray Special Attack." So unlike when you use Zelrig's or Mimring's special attack you do not half to worry about attacking your own figures that are adjacent to the targeted figure. If you have the defending figure surrounded you could just say that it is the only target of the attack.

 

[spiteofthedice]

One thing to keep in mind when using Othkurik's Acid Spray Special Attack is that you "may also choose up to two other figures adjacent to the targeted figure to be affected by Acid Spray Special Attack." So unlike when you use Zelrig's or Mimring's special attack you do not half to worry about attacking your own figures that are adjacent to the targeted figure. If you have the defending figure surrounded you could just say that it is the only target of the attack.

Which, as has just been covered in Tandros Kreel's Book, provides a way of attacking 2 other figures adjacent to Tandros even when Tandros engages the scary dragon.

 

[Oliver Upshaw]

One thing to keep in mind when using Othkurik's Acid Spray Special Attack is that you "may also choose up to two other figures adjacent to the targeted figure to be affected by Acid Spray Special Attack." So unlike when you use Zelrig's or Mimring's special attack you do not half to worry about attacking your own figures that are adjacent to the targeted figure. If you have the defending figure surrounded you could just say that it is the only target of the attack.

Which, as has just been covered in Tandros Kreel's Book, provides a way of attacking 2 other figures adjacent to Tandros even when Tandros engages the scary dragon.

The discussion in Tandros Kreel's Book is how to attack him with a multiple figure attack in order to bypass his protection ability. I am talking about the fact that Othkurik has a multiple figure attack that can be dialed down if you do not want to attack a figure that is adjacent to the targeted figure. It might be because the other figures are your own, an allies, Krug, one of the viking figures, Tul-Bak-Ra, a Marro Divider, Isamu, or the human champion of the MacDirks. I can see reasons why in some cases you would not want to attack any of these figures if you did not have to.

 

[RattyZ]

Thusfar, Lil Blacky has been devistating by using a fight-then-flight technique. Swoop in for a monster hit, then distance using his acid breath special.

He's been very devistating in the dungeon crawl format, and was used well with a Rat Screen during a standard format game.

 

[Syvaris]

Thusfar, Lil Blacky has been devastating by using a fight-then-flight technique. Swoop in for a monster hit, then distance using his acid breath special.

He's been very devastating in the dungeon crawl format, and was used well with a Rat Screen during a standard format game.

This is the tactic my friend used against me in our most recent game. He took out Erevan in one hit, faded back to the shadows and the swooped into finish of the dwarf. I was able to engage him with Tandros and get three wounds on him. He disengaged and took another wound. Orthkurik did not come back for a bit(I fought of the Drow and Pelloth with Tandros+Ana very tense battle). He swoops back in when Tandros has 6 wounds, and wiffed his attack. He then faded out and his luck failed.

If Orthkurik had disengage he would be amazing, I would love to see that over acid breath. He's a good figure but a little fragile. I cannot wait to see how he does in a "competative" game.

 

[Killometer]

Our esteemed Grishnak has brought up an interesting concern about Othkurik. His sculp with it's bent neck positioning, creates visibility issues for Lil Blacky.

I will be consulting with the rules team. Until we have an official sighting answer, perhaps just use the dragon's neck spines as a sighting point.

Has there been any official word on this yet?

 

[Robotech Master]

Our esteemed Grishnak has brought up an interesting concern about Othkurik. His sculp with it's bent neck positioning, creates visibility issues for Lil Blacky.

I will be consulting with the rules team. Until we have an official sighting answer, perhaps just use the dragon's neck spines as a sighting point.

Has there been any official word on this yet?

I thought you didn't have to worry about facing and figures could look through most of their bodies, with a few exceptions. That's why we ended up with questions about Mimring looking through his own wings and such right?

So shouldn't Othkurik be able to look through his bent neck?

 

[Filthy the Clown]

What if you used rats to "bridge the gap" between figures? As in, your opponent might spread his figures out to avoid Acid Spray. So, get rats to plug the holes and then target the rats. Sure you will lose a rat here and there and it won't activate scatter (for two reasons), but if you are using 4x rats that won't matter much.

I like the idea of giving a good screen/targeting beacon for Othkurik's acid spray. Rather than using rats, how about Marrden NaGrubs? They are the same price as rats (10 pts each), have an extra attack die, and if you add Warden 816, you get 7 movement out of each NaGrub. Sure, they don't have scatter or as much staying power, but a large swarm of them will still provide a screen/targeting beacon for acid spray, as well provide a small offensive gain over the rats.

Othkurik: 140
Warden 816: 230
NaGrugs x 5: 380
Krav Maga: 480
(21 spaces[Othkurik takes 2])

Krav take height, Nagrubs advance, Othkurik runs and guns with Acid Spray, and Warden plays cleanup.

If you have more points, add Chain drow or Zettian Guards. Both take advantage of the Warden's move bonuses and add something to the mix (Zettians add some range pepper and/or clean up duties; Chain assist the Krav or provide NaGrub support as needed, setting up targets for Othkurik's acid bombardment).

Othkurik: 140
Warden 816: 230
NaGrugs x 5: 380
Krav Maga: 480
Drow Chain X2: 580

OR

Othkurik: 140
Warden 816: 230
NaGrugs x 5: 380
Krav Maga: 480
Zettian Guards: 550

 

[Hogg]

Our esteemed Grishnak has brought up an interesting concern about Othkurik. His sculp with it's bent neck positioning, creates visibility issues for Lil Blacky.

I will be consulting with the rules team. Until we have an official sighting answer, perhaps just use the dragon's neck spines as a sighting point.

Has there been any official word on this yet?

I thought you didn't have to worry about facing and figures could look through most of their bodies, with a few exceptions. That's why we ended up with questions about Mimring looking through his own wings and such right?

So shouldn't Othkurik be able to look through his bent neck?

For meele attacks facing doesn't matter, but ranged attacks always have to have LOS. Single spaced figures can be rotated during your turn so facing doesn't matter for them as long as they can get LOS and still be centered on the hex.

 

[Sonlen4MVP]

I thought this guy looked really interesting the other day and I decided to build a 500 point team around him.

Deathreavers x 2 = 80
Marrden Hounds x 2 = 180
Othkurik = 140
Raelin (ROTV) = 80
Marcu Esenwien (filler) = 20
------------------------------
500 total

This team has worked really well for me if I lead out with the rats tying up as many figures as possible. I then proceed with the hounds who work really well with the rats because their plague doesn't work on soulborgs and if the opposition is spreading out its pretty easy to find adjaceny to atleast 2 with the hounds due to their size. I also like to keep Raelin close enough to the rats/hounds to increase their defense to 6 and 7. I feel this allows me to breath acid on my own troops without the worry of losing them everytime. I feel like this is a very fun team to play.