W2 "Suds" Merrick- released

Marrakesh "Suds" Merrick, where "Suds" Merrick is what is on the card is what I am leaning towards.

Derek and I got a play test in with the Pirates and "Suds". We pointed him at 100 to start with. Derek's army consisted of Piratesx4, Pirate hero "Suds", Evar Scarcarver, and Martial LaHire for 520 points. I went with Elaria, Drowx3, Pelloth, and Moltenclaw for 540 points. The Pirate army won with about 170 points left or so.

"Suds" was pretty cool. His increase of 1 attack and decrease of 1 defense for each OM revealed on a pirate card was very interesting and changed the strategy for this figure through out a round. Suds took care of Moltenclaw and a couple of Drow before falling. I would play against Suds differently now that I know what he can do.

Conclusion: I really like his powers as written and wouldn't change a thing and 100 points seems about right for now. Of course, more play tests are needed.

We all happy with moving this guy to playtesting?

Play testing sounds good to me. I really like this guy.

Suds proved well worth his 100 pts in a playtest. Sent Evar and Martial out holding Suds back until most of the opponents were tied down or close to being tied down by the Pirates.

What General do you guys see Suds falling under?

The Pirates and Suds seem more like UTGAR to me.

Did a play-test against "Suds" and the Pirates today with Huskies16 and Nomad.

"Suds" rolled up and got a +1 Attack Glyph and Height and was dropping HUGE attacks at Range. His base of 3 attack - became 4 attack with the 1st OM + Height + Treasure = 6 attack, then 7, and then 8. With the Pirates as a screen he was crushing it.

He killed the Gnoll Hero in one shot (7 attack against 4 defense/4 life), and basically annihilated the Squad figures with each attack. He finally went down after the Gnolls won initiative and got 3 figures around him for attacks. By OM2 he was down.

I think he should start at 2 attack - which will become 3 attack on the 1st OM. Still powerful, but it balances out. I'd put him around 120 points, though maybe the Squad needs to drop by 5 points.

After the play testing, I concur with Kai regarding a drop to 2 on his attack. I'm not so sure that his points should be bumped to 120. More play testing is needed to flesh out the points.

OP updated with Utgar and attack dropping to 2. Left points at 100 for now.

Could change this guys class to Captain. Then have the Barbary Corsairs bond with Captains and have the future pirates bond with relentless heros. What do you all think.

I like the Reckless Hero Bonding. I'm not sure why we would change it, but I am not totally opposed. See my comments for Corsairs.

Would you guys like Suds to have the pay, die, or join power, or save it for a future hero. I don't want both powers and think Suds current power is fitting for the sculpt.

My opinion is to keep Suds the way he is and use the pay, die, or join power for a different pirate captain.

See the Corsairs for a report. Was thinking to limit his + attack to 2 and/or bumping his points to 110.

From input and playtests bumped his points to 110. Still needs some playtests to accurately point.

OP changed to final editing.  Here is where he is currently at.

General- Utgar
Planet- Earth
Name- "Suds" Merrick
unique Hero
class- Pirate
species- Human
personality- Reckless
size- medium
height- 5
life- 5
move- 5
range- 5
attack- 2
defense- 4
points- 110

RECKLESS ABANDON

For every revealed Order Marker on a Pirate card you control, add 1 to "Suds" Merrick's attack and subtract 1 from his defense.

Utgar seems to work a little better for me here than with the Corsairs, although I could see him being Valkrill or Vyadar as well.  110 pts. or 100 pts is the only other real question.  I am good either way or even splitting the difference.  He sure doesn't seem to be in Sir Denrick, Alastair MacDirk, Van Nessing, Brunak, or some of the other 110 pointers class, so I would probably prefer the 100 pt cost.



- Rulings and Clarifications -
_______________________________________



- Combinations and Synergies -

Synergy Benefits Offered
-

Synergy Benefits Received
-Reckless Abandon: “Suds” Merrick
For every revealed order marker on a Pirate army card you control add 1 to “Suds” attack.  Pirate army cards include “Suds” Merrick, Barbary Corsairs.
- Ornak: Red Flag of Fury Aura
As a Unique Hero that follows Utgar, “Suds” Merrick may benefit from Ornak’s RED FLAG OF FURY activation synergy.
-Reckless Hero Bonding: Barbary Corsairs
Being a Small or Medium Hero with the Reckless personality, “Suds” Merrick may benefit from the Barbary Corsairs RECKLESS HERO BONDING activation bonus.

Synergy Imposed
- Reckless Abandon: “Suds” Merrick
For every revealed order marker on a Pirate army card you control subtract 1 from “Suds” defense.  Pirate army cards include “Suds” Merrick, Barbary Corsairs.

Maybe we should just split it at 105 and call it good. I see him as strong as Dendrick, but not the others. I am also happy with keeping him at 100.

I think all of the pirates should be either Utgar or Valkrill, but I'd vote for Utgar. There seems to be more of an organized badness to them rather than chaotic evilness.

"Suds" really kicked my butt in a few play-tests against Huskies16 so that made me think he was uber-powerful. But that was when he was at Attack 3 to start. "Suds" did have the benefit of an Attack glyph, so that probably skewed the play-test but I think he's more balanced now.

He's hard to compare to other figures, because "ranged Hero" bonders with a melee screen makes me mostly think of Greenscales.

At Attack 2 .. leading to Ranged attacks of 3, then 4, then 5 ... I can see "Suds" at 100 points (especially with his defense flaw).

Sounds like 100 pts and Utgar to me, or 105 and Utgar. With no glyphs he is 2 attack 4 defense, 3 attack 3 defense, 4 attack 2 defense, 5 attack 1 defense with a range of 5, life of 5, and only 1 attack. He should probably be 100 pts and still won't be too playable outside the Pirate faction.

100 points once, 100 points twice, 100 points . . . gone!

Hit him on the 3rd OM and he'll fall overboard like a drunken pirate.

OP should be good and the bio is coming.

Bio- Merrick was well respected for his unquenchable desire for plunder and his fearlessness to achieve the goals of the ship and crew.  Soon Merrick was captain of one of the most profitable ships.  But it was not enough for Merrick and soon he would awake to an Ale in his hand.  The crew dubbed him "Suds" Merrick but still loved the Plunder that their fearless captain won, but over time rumors whirled about the crew that "Suds" did not really care if he survived their mission.

Derek wrote:Bio- Merrick was well respected for his unquenchable desire for plunder and his fearlessness to achieve the goals of the ship and crew. Soon Merrick was captain of one of the most profitable ships. But it was not enough for Merrick and soon he would awake to an Ale in his hand. The crew dubbed him "Suds" Merrick but still loved the Plunder that their fearless captain won, but over time rumors whirled about the crew that "Suds" did not really care if he survived their mission.

Awesome and fitting bio. My suggestions . . .

To his pirate mates, Merrick became respected for his unquenchable desire for plunder and his fearlessness to achieve the goals of the ship and crew. Merrick quickly rose to become captain of one of the most profitable pirate ships scourging the waters of the Mediterranean. Merrick was always driven with the need for more and increasingly found himself with pint in hand to soothe his passions. The crew dubbed him "Suds," but still loved the loot that their fearless captain won. Over time, rumors whirled about the crew that "Suds" may not really care if he survived their exploits on the high seas.

Thanks for the suggestions on the bio, OP updated. I may still do a little work on the bio but may not either.

Sounds good. I will try to get to his card in the next day or two.