Ollie's Unsaintly Customs

[ollie]

Unsaintly? Yes: no chance of being canonised.

Over the years I've seen a tendency for map-makers to adopt BoV standards, regardless of whether they are best suited for their needs or whether they ever intend for the map they are building to be considered by the BoV panel. I've been guilty of this too. It's a bad thing for map-making creativity in general, I think; there's a thread called Playgrounds of Valhalla floating around somewhere that attempts to counteract it.

I was never into the world of customs while the game was in production. There was (and still is) so much fun and thought to be invested in that that it seemed unnecessary and distracting. I regret that now.

But as we enter the Fanscape Era, I worry that the awesome SoV project is in people's minds when creating customs. It shouldn't be. There's the also awesome HoSS, C3G, etc. stuff too. Customs, I'm now convinced and wish I appreciated 5+ years ago, are awesome. There's lots of fun to be had from a specific custom that is not available for drafting in all of your games.

So I want to make some. I'm lucky enough to be behind the scenes with C3V and so my sensible, canon-suitable, saintly ideas will go that way. This is a thread to have some fun, and create some units that will be, I hope, a blast to play but should not be anywhere near the canon.

That's enough rambling theory, where are the customs that come from this build up, you ask. Good question. I'll index them here, and there are a couple of old competition entries I'll dig up to start things going. If anyone wants to dispute or discuss the rambling theory I'm always up or that though.

[Hat-tip to Arch-vile for accidentally/brilliantly inspriring and encouraging this train of thought. If it produces good stuff give him, say, 5% of the credit. If it's a horrible mess then it's all his fault. ]

What's here:

• Seasonal Customs
  • Easter Bunny
  • Cupidalia
• Lieutenants
  • Jandar
  • Utgar
  • Vydar
  • Einar
  • Ullar
  • Aquilla
  • Valkrill
  • Mercenary

 

[flameslayer93]

I agree, there's a lot of customs that almost seem to devote thier time to entering the SoV. I've tried, failed, and pretty much gave up on that quest.

So, good luck in your endeavors to create units who will never be part of the canon, (but you can make them part of a cannon).

 

[Arch-vile]

Looking forward to what you have cooking here, Ollie. My next customs are going to try and follow this train of thought.

 

[ollie]

Thanks both. Here goes... Two oldies first, from Lamaclown's massively entertaining seasonal competitions.

My entries might not have caught the attention of the voters, but were pre-emptively in the spirit of this thread. Here's my Easter entry:

Of all the units I haven't played out there, this is perhaps the one I think would be most fun.

 

[ollie]

Next up, Valentine's Day. I'm not shy about proclaiming the moments in which I make a great intellectual leap that moves Heroscape forward for the unwashed masses. This is third of the big three: initiative hats, adjacent startzones and properly constructed poetry for card language.

If I've got my jargon right, it's iambic pentameter with a Shakespearean rhyme scheme. Wait for the stamp of approval from 1Mmirg before telling your friends though. You don't want to look silly if I've just made it all up.

 

[ollie]

OK, some new ideas now.

The next seven posts are for generals' Lieutenants. They don't (and won't) have point values. Each player gets a lieutenant to add to whatever the point total is for that game. This means that they have to be balanced against each other, which will take a little work and experimentation, I think, as they all have the power:

<General>'s Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows <General>. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with <This Guy> before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.
​

R&C I chose the Knights of Weston to be Sir Olborn's reverse bonding unit. Can I also take a turn with a Human Champion? Or use a Champion and Olborn and not activate the Knights?
No. Choosing the Knights makes Sir Olborn effectively a Human Champion. Play within the spirit of the card; don't be a twazzock.

 

[ollie]

The first lieutenant.

Figure: A SparkleInTheWater custom-made horse-riding figure of me, as a king. Customs don't come much better than that. If you don't have one, use Sir Dupuis, but imagine a luxuriant beard.

Sir Olborn
Jandar

Human
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Honourable
Large 6

Life: 5
Move: 7
Range: 1
Attack: 3
Defence: 3

Jandar's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Jandar. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Sir Olborn before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Honourable Defence
When defending with a figure who follows Jandar that is within 4 clear sight spaces of Sir Olborn you may use Jandar Valkyrie dice. All symbols rolled count as shields.

 

[ollie]

Next up, Utgar.

Figure: Ornak.

Ollak
Utgar

Orc
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Wild
Medium 5

Life: 5
Move: 4
Range: 1
Attack: 3
Defence: 3

Utgar's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Utgar. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Ollak before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Vicious Attack
When attacking with a figure who follows Jandar that is within 2 clear sight spaces of Ollak you may use Utgar Valkyrie dice. All symbols rolled count as skulls.

 

[ollie]

Einar.

Figure: A silver spray-painted Crixus I won at a tournament. Spartacus would be another good choice if you don't have such a thing.

Ollicus
Einar

Human
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Disciplined
Medium 5

Life: 5
Move: 5
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defence: 3

Einar's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Einar. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Ollicus before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Counterthrust
When defending against a normal attack from an adjacent figure with a figure who follows Einar that is within clear sight of Ollicus you may use Einar Valkyrie dice. If no wounds are taken from the attack, all symbols rolled count as unblockable hits against the attacking figure.

 

[ollie]

Onto Vydar.

Figure: Lex Corp Security (Cosmic Justice #015) or Agent Carr.

Agent Ollix
Vydar

Human
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Tricky
Medium 5

Life: 5
Move: 6
Range: 7
Attack: 3
Defence: 3

Vydar's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Vydar. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Agent Ollix before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Extended Range
Before taking a turn with a unit who follows Vydar you may roll 8 Vydar Valkyrie dice. Add the number of symbols rolled to that unit's Range for the duration of this turn. Any figure using Extended Range must be within clear sight of Agent Ollix before moving.

Stealth Dodge

 

[ollie]

Ullar.

Figure: Something elfy. Acorlarh or Morsbane would be good choices.

Ollandda
Ullar

Elf
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Valiant
Medium 5

Life: 7
Move: 6
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defence: 2

Ullar's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Ullar. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Ollandda before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Ollandda's Speed Boost
Before taking a turn with a unit who follows Ullar you may roll 12 Ullar Valkyrie dice. Add the number of symbols rolled to that unit's Move for the duration of this turn. Any figure using Ollandda's Speed Boost must be within clear sight of Ollandda before moving.

 

[ollie]

Aquilla.

Figure: a dwarf. I've got one I intend to use who is propped on a big axe and has a cheery, avuncular feel. Once I work out where it's from I'll post a link.

Olof Flamebeard
Aquilla

Dwarf
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Fearless
Small 3

Life: 6
Move: 4
Range: 1
Attack: 4
Defence: 4

Aquilla's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Aquilla. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Olof Flamebeard before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

The Bigger They Are...
When attacking with a figure that follows Aquilla and is within 6 clear sight spaces of Olof Flamebeard you may use Aqullia Valkyrie dice. If the defending figure is larger than the attacking figure, all symbols rolled count as skulls.

Scale 2

R&C "Larger than"? You've just made that up; it's not official 'scape language.
Yes. It means what you think it does: Small, medium and large figures can use it against huge figures. Small and medium ones can use it against large figures. Small figures can use it against medium ones. Height does not matter for this power; it's determined purely by the size (small, medium, etc.) attribute.

 

[ollie]

Finally, Valkrill.

Figure: Morgoloth. Valkrill's troops are thin on the ground without using them for other units too though---I'll probably change this at some point.

Ollinquar
Valkrill

Demon
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Terrifying
Large 7

Life: 5
Move: 6
Range: 1
Attack: 5
Defence: 3

Valkrill's Lieutenant
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows Valkrill. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Ollinquar before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Chaotic Twist
When attacking or defending with a figure that follows Valkrill that is within clear sight of Ollinquar you may use Valkrill Valkyrie dice. Immediately after rolling the dice you may roll a single additional Valkrill Valkyrie die. Whatever shows on that additional die is what you count as skulls (for attacking figures) or shields (for defending figures). Count the additional die towards the total.

R&C Chaotic Twist. Huh?
An example. You are attacking with a figure that has four attack. You roll one skull, two shields and one symbol. You may now choose to roll an additional die. If you roll a skull, you count 2 hits (the original skull and the one on the die). If you roll a shield you count 3 hits (the two original shields and the one on the die). If you roll a symbol you count 2 skulls (the orginal symbol and the one on the die). Similarly for defence, except you count them as blocks rather than hits.

 

[ollie]

Ooh, just in case they're not uncanonical enough...

Figure: Iron Man or Darth Vader, or some other superhero or Star Wars figure of your choice.

Olliman
No general

Human ??
Unique Hero
Lieutenant
Iconoclastic
Medium 5 ??

Life: ??
Move: ??
Range: ??
Attack: ??
Defence: ??

Mercenary
At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows no general. When you reveal an order marker on that unit, you may immediately take a turn with Olliman before taking a turn with the chosen unit. This power may not be used to take turns with more than two units on a single order marker and, unless the card expressly allows you not to, you must take a turn with the card on which the order marker is revealed.

Appropriate Power
Something using the white dice involving blanks.

Optional Power
Something suitable given your choice of figure and metagame.

You'll have to make some choices of what to fill in before use.

 

[ollie]

Dodeca-post.

That's really one idea stretched over eight (seven and a half?) customs. But I like the idea. Do you?

If you do, what do you think about balance? What needs to be tweaked to get them roughly in line? What's the best choice of reverse-bonding unit for each of them? Or are there better ways to implement this idea? I suspect the answer is yes in some, possibly all, cases.

 

[IshMEL]

Just a thought on the Lieutenant power wording. What about this?

At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows [x]. After revealing an order marker on that unit's Army Card and taking a turn with that unit and only that unit, you may take a turn with [L]. When using [x's Lieutenant], you may not take any additional turns with any other special powers on any Army Card or Glyph.

Other than reversing the bonding order, I think that does practically the same thing, but it seems a bit clearer (to me, anyway).

 

[Balantai]

R&C "Larger than"? You've just made that up; it's not official 'scape language.
Yes. It means what you think it does: Small, medium and large figures can use it against huge figures. Small and medium ones can use it against large figures. Small figures can use it against medium ones.

Is a figure that is Medium 6 'larger' than a figure that is Medium 5?

Also, customs like this are sorely lacking on this site. I love customs that think outside realm of heroscape but still function within the ruleset. Well done, sir. Now where's the card that will incorporate Rock, Paper, Scissors?

 

[DanieLoche]

Can't resist making this:

 

[ollie]

Just a thought on the Lieutenant power wording. What about this?

At the start of the game choose a unit you control that follows [x]. After revealing an order marker on that unit's Army Card and taking a turn with that unit and only that unit, you may take a turn with [L]. When using [x's Lieutenant], you may not take any additional turns with any other special powers on any Army Card or Glyph.

Other than reversing the bonding order, I think that does practically the same thing, but it seems a bit clearer (to me, anyway).

Yeah, something along those lines might well be nicer. I'll keep on thinking and tweaking until it's perfect before changing it in all nine places though!

R&C "Larger than"? You've just made that up; it's not official 'scape language.
Yes. It means what you think it does: Small, medium and large figures can use it against huge figures. Small and medium ones can use it against large figures. Small figures can use it against medium ones.

Is a figure that is Medium 6 'larger' than a figure that is Medium 5?

Also, customs like this are sorely lacking on this site. I love customs that think outside realm of heroscape but still function within the ruleset. Well done, sir. Now where's the card that will incorporate Rock, Paper, Scissors?

Thanks Balantai!

No, Medium 6 is not larger than Medium 5, for the purpose of this power anyway. It was only supposed to reflect the size category rather than the height one too (otherwise we get in a mess with Large 4 Deathstalkers and the like). I'll adjust the R&C to make this clearer.

Can't resist making this:

But thanks to you two, I'm now toying with a couple of ideas that might draw in aspects of other games.

 

[ollie]

A power for the Grim Reaper.

Remind me, again, how the little horse-shaped ones move
Instead of attacking choose an opponent's figure adjacent to the Grim Reaper. Play a game of chess against that opponent. If you win, the opponent's figure is Mindshackled [I'll dig up the appropriate language in the unlikely event this ever gets near a card]. If it's a draw, the Grim Reaper receives one wound. If you lose, the Grim Reaper receives one wound and may not attack or use this power on that figure for the rest of the game.
​

More excellently,

Dicing with Death
Instead of attacking choose an opponent's figure adjacent to the Grim Reaper. That opponent may choose any game. Play it. If you win, the opponent's figure is Mindshackled [I'll dig up the appropriate language in the unlikely event this ever gets near a card]. If it's a draw, the Grim Reaper receives one wound. If you lose, the Grim Reaper receives one wound and may not attack or use this power on that figure for the rest of the game.
​

 

[Arch-vile]

Those powers looks perfect for Mephisto (from Marvel comics). Love the Rock Paper Scissors Daniel.

 

[ollie]

My original aim with this thread was to make playable but non-canonical customs. But sometimes events in the real-world take precedence.

IRon Bell

Human
Unique Hero
Cricketer
Majestic
Medium 4

Life: Unnecessary
Move: Graceful
Range: All Corners
Attack: Sumptious
Defence: Solid

Defensive Agility
When IRon Bell rolls defense dice against a normal attack from an adjacent figure, one shield will block all damage.

Sherminator
When attacking or defending against an Australian figure, add 2 dice.

Cover Drive
Ooooh, lovely. After IRon Bell rolls attack dice all players should sigh appreciatively. Aaaah.

If you have no idea what this is about then, well, I can only hope that you discover what you're missing out on.

 

[ollie]

18 months on from a failed attempt to ignite the Heroscape community's love of cricket, I present an idea prompted by the C3V suggestions thread.

Special Rules:

• To roll half a defence die, roll a D6 and it counts a shield on a 6 (and only on a 6),
• To roll half an attack die, roll a D4 and it counts as a skull on a roll of 4 (and only on a 4)

Deathwalker 8500

Soulborg/Unique Hero/Deathwalker/Rational/Large 7

Move: 5
Range: 6
Attack: 3.5
Defence: 8.5

Life: 1

Points: ??

Popcorn Machine Special Attack
Attack 0.5, Range 10
Deathwalker 8500 may attack any and all figures within 10 clear sight spaces with Popcorn Machine Special Attack. Roll each attack separately. The defending figures cannot roll defence dice when attacked with Popcorn Machine Special Attack.
​

Will it get traction within the C3V's Inner Sanctum? Only time will tell. [Disclaimer: people able to say "no" can also tell.]

Sculpt info:

Spoiler Alert!

 

[Tornado]

A few other figure options.

Spoiler Alert!

 

[ollie]

Oooh, that second one is perfect.


While it was meant as a joke, as I think about it more I believe using half dice like that opens up some interesting spaces for variation and fine-tuning of units. If I ever make a serious non-C3V custom I might well consider using it.