Halo TCG - Halo - The Covenant (9/22: Not your everyday pack of Jackals)

[DáinIronfoot]

...just kidding! I don't feel like making poor lem0n's head explode. Today, at least.

Here's the sword. Hope it proves to be worth the wait.

Plasma Sword [Covenant]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +3
To play, remove a threat. Bearer must be an Elite minion.
Bearer is damage +2.
Bearer must take all sniping wounds (if able to take sniping wounds).

[sickofpalantirs]

maybe +2 while skirmishing a spartan 2...wow dain, when I saw that first thing I was like...the dwarfen b*stard 
than I was like coolio!


anyway the swords should be ok, maybe only add damage +1...sooo hypothetically if I tossed it on a 2 vitality minion, and there wqas 4 archery, would just the minion die?

I don't quite get the rules implications of that.

[DáinIronfoot]

Yeah, the sniping thing is the only real drawback and helps (in my mind) offset the crazy damage +2.

Think about it. If playing one of the Halo games (especially Combat Evolved), even with a Hunter or a couple Banshees around, if there was an Elite with a sword on the battlefield, where would you direct your fire first? I, for one, am making sure to take that sword-toting guy down FIRST before he charges close enough to stick it up my rear. I bet 99% of players would say the same.

So that translates into the card version basically absorbing any sniping fire first, and THEN, if its bearer survives, that Elite closing the final distance to its target and slashing away. In a sniping-heavy deck (which likely wouldn't be nearly as common in Halo TCG as it is in LOTR TCG with all its Elven Bows and such), this sword is all but useless unless you have a way to prevent sniping fire on bearer (Isna ‘Nosolee, anyone? ). In most situations, the sniping penalty shouldn't be a big issue.

Isna brings up something I hadn't fully thought through, though...what if bearer CAN'T take sniping wounds? I don't want that to inadvertently turn into a negator of ALL sniping fire! I added a little clause to the card that should fix that.

Anyway, how is Zuka, SoP?

[Elf_Lvr]

Looks pretty awesome, Dain!

EDIT: Wait, what would happen if you had two guys out both bearing these? Since they each have to take all wounds... um...

[lem0nhead]

•Zuka ‘Zamamee, Prophet-Blessed Assassin [Covenant]
Minion • Elite
Strength: 9
Vitality: 3
Site: 4
Star: Gold
SpecOps. Ambush . Damage +1. Fierce. Hunter 1.
Yayap is strength +1.
While skirmishing a Spartan II, Zuka ‘Zamamee is strength +1.
While at a battleground, Zuka ‘Zamamee is strength +1.
"‘Once I receive authorization, you and I will find this human. Then, we will kill him.'"

Think he would be ok at four, hes very similar to ugluk uf in balance and he cost 4. Dont think he needs ambush though. Hes cool.

Changed my mind about the hand weapon. Check back in for that tomorrow.

...just kidding! I don't feel like making poor lem0n's head explode. Today, at least.

I love the "today" bit, dont you even think about it! Youve done it often enough before between you and Thran. Its like Humpty Dumpty; pieces everywhere! And it hurts so much.

Here's the sword. Hope it proves to be worth the wait.

Plasma Sword [Covenant]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +3
To play, remove a threat. Bearer must be an Elite minion.
Bearer is damage +2.
Bearer must take all sniping wounds (if able to take sniping wounds).

Sounds about right. I understand your point, the maniac guy with the lethal melee is gonna be your first target but this seems heck harsh. Really wish i could see these in play as only then could i truly judge balance.

EL makes a good point, i suppose you would assign them between the two, but you would need like a CRD clarification for it.

[DáinIronfoot]

Plasma Sword [Covenant]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +3
To play, remove a threat. Bearer must be an Elite minion.
Bearer is damage +2.
Bearer must take all sniping wounds (if able to take sniping wounds).

EDIT: Wait, what would happen if you had two guys out both bearing these? Since they each have to take all wounds... um...

EL makes a good point, i suppose you would assign them between the two, but you would need like a CRD clarification for it.

Yes, that's what I think that would default to, so I guess getting two out really helps your chances of at least one surviving (or both if you can spread the wounds around enough). But yes, I suppose in real life, a CRD clarification would be in order.

Thanks for the reviews, guys.

[Thranduil]

But having 1 person taking all the wounds is also a massive advantage. Against an archery-heavy deck, you just put it on someone you don't care about and therefore all your other minions must survive. It should be that the bearer has to to take any sniping wounds before others can, otherwise it's actually very OP.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

But having 1 person taking all the wounds is also a massive advantage. Against an archery-heavy deck, you just put it on someone you don't care about and therefore all your other minions must survive. It should be that the bearer has to to take any sniping wounds before others can, otherwise it's actually very OP.

It would seem to me that the "(if able to take sniping wounds)" would cover that.

If not, what wording change(S) would you recommend?

[Thranduil]

But having 1 person taking all the wounds is also a massive advantage. Against an archery-heavy deck, you just put it on someone you don't care about and therefore all your other minions must survive. It should be that the bearer has to to take any sniping wounds before others can, otherwise it's actually very OP.

It would seem to me that the "(if able to take sniping wounds)" would cover that.

Wa
What do you mean? It could be that I've completely missed something...

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

The card once again, with the phrase in question in italics:

Plasma Sword [Covenant]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +3
To play, remove a threat. Bearer must be an Elite minion.
Bearer is damage +2.
Bearer must take all sniping wounds (if able to take sniping wounds).

I mainly added that to prevent minions that CAN'T take wounds during the sniping phase from becoming sniping-negators, but I would think it would also form a protective blanket from players saying that their now-dead minion with 2 vitality just absorbed 5 sniping wounds when he died. Nuh-uh. He can't take any more wounds once killed, so the remaining 3 have to go elsewhere.

[MR. Lurtzy]

You also could make the sword unique... but I guess it's fine either way. The drawback isn't that bad with the enduring guys. I really like Zuka, he really feels like the character from the book.

[Elf_Lvr]

I mainly added that to prevent minions that CAN'T take wounds during the sniping phase from becoming sniping-negators, but I would think it would also form a protective blanket from players saying that their now-dead minion with 2 vitality just absorbed 5 sniping wounds when he died. Nuh-uh. He can't take any more wounds once killed, so the remaining 3 have to go elsewhere.

Makes sense, since archery wounds are taken one at a time, right?

[Frodo58]

Hey Dain, nice to see our old Halo cards back into action!

[AgentDrake]

He-HEY! Look who's here! Have a . Not that they're useful anymore!

Nice cards, BTW. I think the "if able to" clause should solve any balance problems with the sword being OP, though it's one of those things where theoretical balance could end up substantially different from actual practical balance. Not sure.

[DáinIronfoot]

Hey Dain, nice to see our old Halo cards back into action!

Hey, you're back! Good to see you again, my friend! How'd you find TLHH?