webhead's cache

[webhead817]

Hey all, how's 'Clix?

I've finally got around to setting up my own little corner of the web again, somewhere I can post files and photos and what not. It's a Yahoo Group named webhead's cache (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/webheads_cache/).

What IS webhead's cache?
- A Yahoo group where I can store cool HeroClix related stuff, and you can download from.

What ISN'T webhead's cache?
- Another forum for HeroClix discussion. Members will not be able to post messages, that's what this site if for after all.

Currently uploaded on the cache...

HeroClix Tactics and Artifacts Rules

DC Artifacts
Aegis Armor
Kryptonite Ring
Nabu's Helm & Amulet
Neptune's Trident
Oan Power Ring
Worlogog

DC Tactics
Apokoliptic Agenda
Aquatic Assault
Arkham Underground
Double Team
Graduation Day
Homebase Defense
Oracle Connection

Indy Artifacts
The Darkness Armor
Witchblade Gauntlet
The Samaritan
Summoner's Gauntlet

Marvel Artifacts
Shield of Captain America
Mjolnir
Ultimate Nullifier
Cerebra

Marvel Tactics
Cut Off One Head...
Espionage Ops
Fastball Special
Massive Infiltration
Mutant Master Race
Stay In Formation

DC Traps
Which Way Is Up?
A Drop of Honey
Flip of the Coin

If you have any questioins or comments, please let me know here. Also, I know HeroComplex used the DC Artifact set at some of the events he judged, so if you've already played with them, please let me know what you thought of them.

FAQ

Q: How do I join the group?
A: Two ways, click on this link (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/webheads_cache/) and click on Join, or send an e-mail to this address; webheads_cache-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Q: Hmm, those artifacts kind of remind me of the new stuff they're doing for Mage Knight. Is that where you got the idea?
A: Nope, but great minds think alike I guess. :) I did most of the work back in March of this year, and you might have seen us playing the Artifacts at Origins.

Last but certainly not least, I need to give credit where credit's due. I'd like to thank my buddy Rob (HCR: Lex Luthor) for help fine tuning some of the original ideas and doing the early playtesting with me, and I'd also like to thank fellow mod HeroComplex for the brainstorming sessions and remote playtesting in tourney environments. You guys rock!

[webhead817]

I thought I'd give you a little sneak preview into my DC Tactics series 1, which will go up on the cache over the weekend, as well as give you some insight into how I come up with these ideas...

/begin card text/
D.E.O. Secret File…

HOMEBASE DEFENSE

Cost: 1

Tactic: Ability - Your Checkmate and Lex Corp figures are Defense Value +2 while they are in your starting area.

“Checmate Agents are guarding all entrances. Of course, your personal security forces are in place within the installation President Luthor.” - Hope
/end card text/

First off, you'll notice that there's a little added flavor to the top of the card...all of the DC Tactics will be "D.E.O. Secret Files". In the DCU, the D.E.O. is sort of the equivilant of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Marvel, a government agency that collects information, in the D.E.O.'s case, specifically information regarding superhumans. (D.E.O. stands for Department of Extra-Normal Operations, and was featured recently in JLA/JSA Secret Files.)

When desiging this tactic, my first intention was to build up the Checkmate faction, as they were left with no real support in Hypertime. They have no "leader" (like Commisioner Gordon for the Police), and they don't have a team ability to call their own either. I remember in JLA #1 that the Checkmate Agents were on the scene when the Martians first landed on the White House lawn, so it occured to me they might be the equivalent of the Homeland Defense department. Hence, the tactic's name is a fictional takeoff on that real life organization.

So then, the question is, how do you represent "protecting homebase" in the HeroClix game? What is your homebase? It has to be your starting area. From there, a defensive bonus makes the most sense. +2 Defense isn't unheard of in HeroClix, it's the bonus from ES/D as a matter of fact. A quick check of the Checkmate figs let me know that while it would give them a significant bonus, it wouldn't make them too good either.

The cost of 1 was easy to come by, as the bonus granted is to a relatively small group of characters, and isn't overpowering in the game. A cost of 1 leaves room for two more low level Tactics, or one additional mid level Tactic.

But wait, where does Lex Corp fit into this? Good question. I was considering the flavor text, and I like to use only characters within the game for quotes. Since there are no named (read=LE) Checkmates, it occured to me that the President is in Cosmic Justice - Lex Luthor. Maybe "President" Lex could be given the quote. But that got me thinking, just because he's President doesn't mean he wouldn't keep his personal security with him. Voila, Lex Corp figs share in the bonus as well, and furthermore, the quote can go to Hope, the named Lex Corp Security fig.

(Ironically, as is the case with several of the Marvel Tactics, the "quoted" figure can't actually benefit from the Tactic. But that's OK, Hope and Eddie Carlin are both a fair shake better than their unnamed cohorts.)

[webhead817]

Update - DC Tactics series 1 added to files section.

Sorry I'm late with this, was having some problems with my Acrobat output. As they turned out, I'm pretty pleased with the symmetry between Oracle Connection and Arkham Underground.

[webhead817]

Update - the first Marvel Artifact is up, Shield of Captain America. It's in the files section under Artifacts.

[Manchine]

Hey stop Bumping this thread. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: J/King

Needless to say. Webhead has some interesting ideas at his Site.

:laugh: :cool: :)

[DCFan#1]

I just printed off all the artifacts and cards. What an awesome idea! Please do more, these will enhance the game a ton!!

Rich

[webhead817]

Glad you like!

A couple of quick updates today; minor update to the rules sheet, and added a DC Tactic: Aquatic Assault. (This one will look familiar to anyone keeping up with the MK 2.0 changes.) Also, later tonight I'll be uploading the second Marvel Artifact: Mjolnir. Enjoy!

[mathmonk]

Thanx!!!!!

now if only I could figure out how to work them into a tourney...

I'm thinking random artifacts on each map...

[DCFan#1]

Hey webhead, any plans to do the Infinity Gems? Or the Infinity Gauntlet if you collect all the gems? That would be a lot of fun!

Rich

[webhead817]

Originally posted by DCFan#1
Hey webhead, any plans to do the Infinity Gems? Or the Infinity Gauntlet if you collect all the gems? That would be a lot of fun!

Funny you should ask...an Infinity Gauntlet scenario is one of the first I came up with back in the IC days...I actually ended up collaborating with Eric over at X-Fan for the final version, I'll have to post the link.

As for Infinity Gem/Gauntlet artifacts, I think it is a definite possibility. ;)

[Meepo]

I remember that scenario, ahh how it takes me back! We had a ball with it!

Please do post the link, I'd love to give it another whirl with the new rules!

[DCFan#1]

Well ya, post it up man. I'd love to try it out.

Let us know if and when you post the infinity gems. I know we love the other artifacts so far.

One question on the Hydra card. I'm kinda foggy on exactly how that works. If I'm reading it right, you have a bunch of rookies waiting in the wings, and once one of your higher point Hydra guys dies, he's replaced by two more from that pile? If I'm reading that right, that's harsh! I like it!

Rich

[webhead817]

You're reading it right Rich. That's probably the trickiest one, mostly because it bends the rules of the game so much. One thing I need to add to the faq is an explanation of "unnamed" figs and the difference between say Hydra and Checkmate (on the DC side). Since Hydra is a team ability, it refers to any character with the Hydra team ability (in this case, just the "generic" ones, like the Hydra Agent or A.I.M. Medic). On the flip side, Checkmate is not a team ability, so it refers to only figs with "Checkmate" in their name.


edit: OK, one more thing, the Rookie figs that enter the game later don't count towards your build total, they're "free", but they'll count for victory points as normal.

[HeroComplex]

I just wanna say that I've used the Artifacts a bunch, and they're really fun. They really change the game, but on both sides, and make it so that anything can happen. In the old rules, imagine Cheetah with Probability Control, or an Impervious Paramedic.

The games just get crazy-fun.

[Manchine]

Have to say these add some level of fun to the game.

[webhead817]

HeroComplex, Manchine, thanks again for the praise.

I finally got some updates done today, the first two Indy artifacts, Witchblade Gauntlet and The Darkness Armor. Enjoy!

[DCFan#1]

YES! I can't wait to print these out and use them! Thanks man!

Rich

[Manchine]

I really want to use these. I am using them in fun games a lot. Having it like get the prize.

[Web_Spinner]

Could you make the Cosmic Cube??? give the character like, prob control, RCE, Impervious, and +1 to all combat values.

just a thought!

[Manchine]

Once he gets a few more in there. I might play a type of Retrieve the Artifacts type games. One mission after another. :laugh: :p ;) :laugh: :p ;)

[webhead817]

@Manchine, yes, I'm woefully behind on Marvel Artifacts, many of them are written out, but I just need to collect the art I need and put it all together.

@Web_Spinner, the Cosmic Cube probably is on the docket for sometime in the future, in fact, I plan to hit every item from Avengers/JLA. However, I try to balance the individual artifacts out somewhat, as you'll see on the Aegis Armor or Darkness Armor.

[DCFan#1]

I'll tell ya guys...nothings cooler than seeing ol' Red Skull chuggin' around the map w/ Cap's shield! Makes for an interesting story, that's for sure!

The Cosmic Cube would be fun, but I'm still pullin for the Infinity Gems. Get them all and form the Infinity Gauntlet. Now that would rule! Either way, I'm sure that once you play with these, you'll love them. Thanks again webhead!

Rich

[DCFan#1]

I'm running a tourney next week, and decided to use the artifacts for fun. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Rich

[webhead817]

Rich, any feedback from a tourney setting would be greatlye appreciated! I've gotten a little feedback already, but more is always better.

[DCFan#1]

Alright, just finished running the tourney, and everyone LOVED the artifacts! It was really cool to see people scrambling after them right at the beginning of the game!

A few questions that aren't addressed in the general rules did come up. First, if you TK someone adjacent to the artifact, I assumed it takes an action to pick it up, thus not allowing them to continue moving. That's how I ruled on it, because it makes sense (and stays consistant with the written rules). Second, and this was the big one - do the artifact powers over-rule the powers on the dial. I had a situation where a fully healed Thanos picked up the Darkness armor (toughness and stealth). I ruled that you could use either your dial powers, or the artifact powers, but it must be declared before a move/attack/whatever. How do you guys feel?

All in all, it was a nice change to the game. It certainly made it more interesting, and a guy who has never won before took first! In a 12 player tourney with most of our regulars, that was huge!

Rich

[webhead817]

Well, I can give you answers on how I've intended them to be played...

On the TK issue, you are correct, you ruled the way I intended, the TK'd fig would still need a move action to acquire the artifact.

As for the second question, any powers or abilities a fig acquires through artifacts work in tandem with the powers they already have. So, if you have Invulnerable and gain Toughness, damage is reduced by 3 instead. However, you can't have double Toughness, if a figure gets a power they already have, treat it as a single instance of the power. If a figure gains a second (or third) team ability, use the same logic you would for wildcards, the figure must choose to use only one TA per action.

Any other questions?

[DCFan#1]

That makes sense. There was a situation where She-Hulk had charge on her dial already, and then picked up the Darkness artifact. From your explanation, that would have given her charge, stealth, invuln, and toughness. Whoa...nice!

The two most popular pieces were the Kryptonite Ring and the Aegis Armor. At one point, one of my players transfered the Aegis Armor to his Jane Foster. Needless to say, she survived the game.

Rich

[webhead817]

Cool, I'm just glad everyone liked them so much.

While I'm working on my next batch...I can tell you that the next thing on it's way are traps...

[webhead817]

...and I've got the first trap up now on the site. I need some feedback on how these would work best in the game, my current theory is that players could elect to replace 1 or 2 of their artifacts with traps instead...but I'm not sure how that would play out.

[Manchine]

How much does the trap cost?

[webhead817]

My idea for traps is that at the beginning of the game when you are placing artifacts face-down, you would mix in some traps to add risk to the reward of the artifacts. So it's not so much a cost issue as figuring out the right mix of traps to artifacts so that it's not too much of a gamble to go after the artifacts.

[Manchine]

Ohhhhh. Still should come up with a point cost. After you get enough traps you could just have it bought by groups. WOuld add a whole new level of playing to the game.

Just an idea.

[shiffy0295]

well l eariler this year i thought of an army map. you keep the objkects face down, then if someone steps on it, you flip it over and if its a "mine" (inthis case a token with a mark on it) they get 2 damage and knock back unless the ygot invulnerability which is just knockback

[webhead817]

Update: Two new DC traps, and a timely Galactus themed Marvel artifact I've been working on for a while.

Special thanks to HeroComplex for help with the wording on these.

[webhead817]

Update: I put up two Hellboy themed artifacts over the weekend....The Samaritan and Summoner's Gauntlet...enjoy!


(p.s., if anyone is having problems with the quality of the .pdf's, let me know, I work from my word originals and don't always see the same output in Adobe. - Brett)

[webhead817]

Update: with all of the artifact hoopla, I managed to get Cerebra up between changing diapers. :)

[Manchine]

Diapers, Your knee deep in Diapers! Soggy diapers at that! With Green Fillings!


:laugh: :p ;) :laugh: :p ;)

[webhead817]

OK, I've updated the rules sheet and included the rules for Traps, please let me know if you have any questions.

[Manchine]

Hey webhead, are you going to do more traps?

[webhead817]

Yes.

My plan for traps is to complete a "Batman Enemy" rotation, then do a "Spider-Man Enemy" rotation.

Also, right now I'm in need of art, if anyone has good scans of the following, please shoot them over to me via e-mail:

Lasso of Truth

Kick Inhaler

Silver Surfer's Board

Thanks!

[webhead817]

Updated - I've added a link to my Decktech page - which has a listing of some of my theme teams as well as articles. I've also added a new DC tactic that deals with Poison. Enjoy!

[webhead817]

Question on the photos section...I had posted some photos of my Fantastic Four team and the way they deploy, is everyone able to see these ok, and if so, would you like to see more of them?

[webhead817]

Updated last night with Spidey's Web Shooters...enjoy. :)

[webhead817]

Originally posted by Manchine
Hey webhead, are you going to do more traps?

Oh yeah...huge update last night....2 new artifacts (Mother Box and Venom Injector) and SIX new traps! Probably my biggest update since the initial release. :)

[Manchine]

Cool defiantly cool!

I will be taking a look at it.

[webhead817]

I've also finally found Lasso of Truth art that I liked...so that's up on the site as well under the artifacts section.

[Firestorm78583]

Uh, Web, Your site is gone. Do you have a link to your techdeck site?

Please repost those artifacts and traps.

Will