The Book of Van Nessing

[dalu]

The Book of Van Nessing

C3V Wave 1 - Thormun's Reprieve - Veterans of Disaster

PDF Download
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The figure used for this unit is a Dungeons and Dragons figure from the Unhallowed set, the Vampire Hunter (#11/60) (Check availability).

Character Bio:

Spoiler Alert!

The full details of Van Nessing's past are a mystery even to him. The records of the Royal Library state that he was found on the edge of the Elven Sacred Copse, half-dead, already into middle age, and lacking any memory of his past life. Regardless of what his past concealed, Queen Elana Starling enrolled him in the ranks of the Kresnik, an elite group dedicated to hunting the forces of darkness that roam Feylund. Over the course of many years, Van Nessing became a master of techniques that made him more than a match for any common foe encountered in Feylund's creeping night.

An expert in many forms of weaponry as well as unarmed combat, he was driven to constant training. Above and beyond his extensive knowledge of undead lore, Van Nessing is armed with an eclectic mix of items and weapons designed to take maximum advantage of the traditional weaknesses of the forces of darkness, including silver bolts and relics blessed by the Elven Queen herself.

Despite Van Nessing's unrivaled hunting prowess, he quickly grew weary of defending the forests and hunting the walking dead that plagued Morindan. He also found it hard to keep his opponents alive in accordance with Kresnik dictates, which state that all followers must make it their mission to discover the cure for the conditions that beset their former brethren. But Van Nessing found it hard to see past the perversion of reanimated corpses and lycanthropic curses.

During one of his hunts, selfish arrogance caused him to abandon his companions to chase after Ophois the Darklord, and he was overwhelmed and infected by the werewolf lord in the process. Aquilla saw him in the midst of this transformation, and saved him to assist her in fighting the undead in Kinsland. The Archkyrie's hatred of all things unnatural parallels Van Nessing's determination to rid the earth of the foul creatures. Doing all he can to find a cure for his own curse, he serves valiantly, promising never again to forget his Kresnik duty.

SILVER BOLTS SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Attack 3.
When a Lycanthrope or Hybrid figure receives one or more wounds from Silver Bolts Special Attack, that figure receives one additional wound.

DIVINE MISSION
After revealing an order marker on Van Nessing's Army Card, after taking Van Nessing's turn, you may reveal an "X" order marker that is on Van Nessing's Army Card and take another turn with Van Nessing. During this additional turn, Van Nessing adds 2 to his normal attack against Undead figures.

HOLY RELIC
When the 20-sided die is rolled for a special power on an opponent's Undead Army Card and at least one of the figures from that Army Card is within 3 clear sight spaces of Van Nessing, subtract 3 from the die roll.

-Rulings and Clarifications-

Q. What happens when Van Nessing's Holy Relic affects an opponent's Undead 20-sided die roll of 1, 2 or 3? Does the result become -2, -1, and 0 respectively?
A. No. The minimum result is 1.​

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefit or Penalty Received

WEREWOLF LORD: MOON FRENZY
Van Nessing being an Hybrid hero, a Werewolf Lord can use Moon Frenzy to make an attempt to take a turn with him.
It's a benefit if the Werewolf Lord is in your team.
It's a penalty if the Werewolf Lord is an opponent.

SELEENA: FERAL SWIPE
Seleena rolls 2 additional dice when attacking adjacent Hybrid figures.
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Synergy Benefits Received

LYCANTHROPE OR HYBRID FIGURES: SILVER BOLTS SPECIAL ATTACK
When he inflicts one or more wounds with SILVER BOLTS SPECIAL ATTACK, Van Nessing inflicts an additional wound to Lycanthrope or Hybrid figures.

• Any Unique Hero turned into an Hybrid by the Werewolf Lord's Lycanthropy power.
• Van Nessing
• Werewolf Lord
• Seleena
• Maltis Tez

ARKTOS: HUNTER ATTACK ENHANCEMENT
As a Hunter figure, Van Nessing may receive an additional attack die when adjacent to Arktos

COUNT RAYMOND: DEVOUT LEADERSHIP
Having a Devout personality, Van Nessing may benefit from Count Raymond's DEVOUT LEADERSHIP movement bonus.

UNDEAD FIGURES: DIVINE MISSION
When he takes an additional turn with DIVINE MISSION, Van Nessing adds 2 dice to his normal attack against Undead figures.

• Bloodburst Thrall
• Crypt Guardian
• Cyprien Esenwein
• Darkprowl Thrall
• Death Knights of Valkrill
• Deathstrike Thrall
• Iskra Esenwein
• Marcu Esenwein
• Nicholas Esenwein
• Phantom Knights
• Preyblood Thrall
• Rechets of Bogdan
• Shades of Bleakewoode
• Skeletons of Annelintia
• Sonya Esenwein
• Sudema
• Tomb Skeleton Archers
• Tomb Skeletons
• Zombies of Morindan
• Zombie Hulk

Synergy Benefit or Penalties Offered

UNDEAD FIGURES WITH A POWER WHICH USES THE 20-SIDED DIE: HOLY RELIC
While rolling the 20-sided die for a power on an opponent Undead Army Card, if at least one of the figures from the card is within 3 clear sight spaces of Van Nessing, you must substract 3 from the die roll.

• Bloodburst Thrall: Mindless Pack, Engorge, Rupture
• Cyprien Esenwein: Chilling Touch
• Darkprowl Thrall: Mindless Pack
• Deathstrike Thrall: Mindless Pack
• Iskra Esenwein: Summon the Retchets of Bogdan
• Marcu Esenwein: Eternal Hatred Benefit offered to an opponent Marcu Esenwein !
• Preyblood Thrall: Mindless Pack
• Shades of Bleakewoode: Soul Devour
• Skeletons of Annelintia: Necromancy
• Sudema: Stare of Stone

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-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Power Ranking and Master Index
Van Nessing - More than just a counter to undead, Van Nessing is a tough hero who can deliver multiple ranged special attacks using Divine Mission. B+ by dok

Unit Strategy Review
- TBA

 

[ZBeeblebrox]

Great work dalu...

 

[boromir96]

Van Nessing is AWSOME!!!!
He is exactly the same as when I playtested him,Except he was bumped up 5 points.

Edit:300th post!!!!!!!!

 

[samuelfrost4]

Van Nessing is AWSOME!!!!
He is exactly the same as when I playtested him,Except he was bumped up 5 points.

I know right? Hes like a cyp killer.

 

[tcglkn]

I really don't like this guys cost is 105. Such an odd point cost with no reason here. To mean it means that Van Nessing, Cyprien and Sonya = 300 points even which is an odd synergy.

 

[dok]

Sorry, tcglkn, but C3V figures are not priced to assuage the OCD of people that hate leaving 5 points on the table.

One point I'd like to make about this guy is that he's a decent figure even outside of his obvious use as a counterdraft to the undead. If you put just one numbered OM on him each round, plus the "X", you get a double turn from him each time he activates. That could mean grabbing a key glyph at the beginning of the game, or firing off a pair of ranged special attacks, or several other nice tricks.

 

[faure]

I love that the Werewolf Lord can take advantage of him right at the start of the game, whether on his side or his opponents!

 

[Margloth]

This guy is just so awesome. The C3V team is really impressing me... almost maks me want to play a game of classic again!

 

[Sir Dendrik]

This guy makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Just drenched in theme/potential/synergy. I absolutely love this figure. I really fell in love when I realized he was a hybrid and that he filled in that potential with the Werewolf Lord.

Ugh, this guy is incredible! Great job, C3V. Outstanding.

 

[lefton4ya]

I can't see him being played in a a normal tournament setting, as he is better as a counter in draft settings. Maybe in a heroes only or treasure quest tourney where Cypren shows up a lot, he would do good.

 

[dok]

I can't see him being played in a a normal tournament setting, as he is better as a counter in draft settings. Maybe in a heroes only or treasure quest tourney where Cypren shows up a lot, he would do good.

Yeah, if I want a double ranged special attack for less than 120 points, I'll just take... uh...

I don't deny that he's better in a counterdraft situation, but he's not bad in a double blind environment.

 

[Sir Dendrik]

I could see some crazy metagame where everyone plays Cyprien with Omegacron and Repulsors. Then Van Nessing would be very relevant, as usually I'd imagine Gladiatrons/a Soulborg core would be the go to counterdraft for Cyprien. Against the PK he'll get off a 6 die turn, but this isn't as powerful against squads that would have died from a 4 die attack anyway.

The problem with only having 1 OM on Van Nessing to get the double turn is that Van Nessing is going to be sitting there dormant on the front lines at times while your other 2 OM's get into position. But all of this talk is just concerned about the uber tier, so it doesn't really matter.

The first thing I'm going to do is try out the Werewolf Lord combo, as this seems like it's going be an absolute blast. 2x Werewolf Lord with Van Nessing would be great in an all hero format. Not as efficient as possible, but those silver bolts are going to see some action.

 

[Griffin]

Wow Dalu. You did a great job on this book. Lots of info.

I am so happy that you guys dig Van Nessing. Having a great design named after the greatest Heroscaper of all time is a good thing.

This one's for you Craig Van Ness.

 

[flameslayer93]

Of the three released this time, I'm going to go ahead and say it...

THIS GUY IS AWASOME-SAUCE!!!11!!1

As for him being named after the great , I completely think it was a perfect name.

 

[nate the dawg]

Pretty neat how Holy Relic, while great as a counter to Cyprien and his oh so overdrafted friends Sudema and the Shades, actually makes an opponent's Marcu even better!

 

[Shockma Ranyk]

Pretty neat how Holy Relic, while great as a counter to Cyprien and his oh so overdrafted friends Sudema and the Shades, actually makes an opponent's Marcu even better!

I always wondered why Marcu backstabbed on a 17+ instead of a 4-, but maybe it was for this exact reason!

 

[Tiranx]

I just realized that Shades of Bleakwoode will never be able to Soul Devour Van Nessing. That is really awesome.

 

[Kroz]

Pretty neat how Holy Relic, while great as a counter to Cyprien and his oh so overdrafted friends Sudema and the Shades, actually makes an opponent's Marcu even better!

I always wondered why Marcu backstabbed on a 17+ instead of a 4-, but maybe it was for this exact reason!

It's because he gets so ticked at Van Nessing for having that Holy Relic that he just gets into a hate frenzy.

 

[GromBloodboy]

Witnessed this guy against my Zombie Horde. He eventually fell, but that Holy Relic is nasty. This guys is just a cool character in general, and I definitely think he is a success story.

 

[Taeblewalker]

FAQ to be added to the OP:

Q: What happens when Van Nessing's Holy Relic affects an opponent's Unead 20-sided die roll of 1, 2 or 3? Does the result become -2, -1, and 0 respectively?
A: No. The minimum result is 1.

 

[dalu]

FAQ to be added to the OP:

Q: What happens when Van Nessing's Holy Relic affects an opponent's Unead 20-sided die roll of 1, 2 or 3? Does the result become -2, -1, and 0 respectively?
A: No. The minimum result is 1.

Done.

 

[Sir Dendrik]

I played Van Nessing with a Werewolf Lord in Chaos in the Catacombs- this is their niche.

Hero play is prevalent, so the Werewolf Lord gets to lycanthropize his fair share. And between Moon Frenzy and Divine Mission you'll be getting more activations in than most opposing heroes.

They counter Cyprien. Cyprien is the defining figure of Chaos in the Catacombs. He'll be in most games. Gladiatrons will most likely be around to tie him down, and Van Nessing/Werewolf Lord can finish the job.

Moon Frenzying an opponent's figure and dropping their treasure is a one-turn victory. I bit my opponent's Nicholas Esenwein, and the following turn I dropped all 3 treasure he had and then overextended him into engagement with a neutral monster.

The next time you try Chaos in the Catacombs, try the Van Nessing Werewolf Lord tag team. The scenario really lets the pair come alive.

 

[ZBeeblebrox]

Thanks Sir Dendrik, glad you enjoyed him...I'll have to try him in the Catacombs soon.

 

[Taeblewalker]

I always found Moriko to be a great unit in that game, much like Cyprien. Now we have three major players. Thanks!

 

[Prometheus]

I find it interesting how the card itself seems to portray this guy as having a conflicted nature. His Silver Bolts would seem to make him a counterdraft to the Werewolf Lord, but his Hybrid nature would be a significant danger when playing against a Werewolf, and a powerful bonus when he is allied with a Lycanthrope. Aquilla is really the only one who would accept him. Utgar and Varkrill would hate a vampire hunter, but Jandar, Ullar, and Einar could never accept his lapses in loyalty, and Vydar is just out of the question. Thankfully we have Aquilla for the units that are good, yet still somehow monstrous.