Essence

DIGID said the Griffon needed a good defensive unit in order to 'balance it

out'. So, here you go. ;p


Kineticist (Human Spellcaster; Double Gold; one only)

HP: 19
Armor: -
Blocking: -

Power: Focus Force
Range: initial square selection as Golem Ambusher, but with area of
effect as Pyromancer; must target a cross of 5 empty squares

Focus Force - as long as the Kineticist remains Focused, the chosen
squares are filled with an emanating kinetic energy that slows movement dramatically -- all squares in the area require 2 movement 'points' to move into, and the squares block LOS as though they were normal units.

Move: 3
Wait: 5
Special: Force Shield - all squares adjacent to the Kineticist are
considered occupied; no unit can enter those squares, and no LOS attacks may
pass through them. This ability stops working if the Kineticist is Paralyzed
or Poisoned. This does not prevent the Kineticist from moving to a space adjacent to a wall.


Why This Unit Is the Way It Is:
HP/Armor: It really should die to DMWs, DSMs, and BRs, but it should be
able to stand up to a single Scout shot.
Blocking: none needed; it can't be melee attacked except by BRs.

Power: Like a Furgon on crack, only it's a Focus spell, so it can be broken.
Range: Having it be able to summon Force effects too close to itself would
make preventing a majority of dangerous Scout shots way too easy, so it has to be 'out there' a ways.

Move: Human.
Wait: With a 5 wait, even if the Kineticist doesn't move, he's still going to be
down for a couple of turns if you break his focus early. And really, he
shouldn't need to move very often with that huge range.
Special: This is the game-breaker. By creating a unit that 'occupies' 5
squares, you're making a unit that can really screw over flankers and Scouts
trying to get in the critical Stone/Cleric shot. Also, immunity to melee
beasts means an automatic draw against anyone with dead casters. But I
think as weak as it is, and since it's double-gold to begin with (it can be
beaten by LOTs of Gold units - BRs, Frosties, DSM-powered Pyros,
Wisps...), it's definately acceptable.

How This Unit would Change the Game:
By blocking off 5 squares with a single unit, the 'standard' Stone Golem
setup would become dramatically different, using the Kineticist to set up a
large defensive wall, by standing to one side and blocking the flank, then
summoning a Force cross to block straight-on attacks. A HUGE boon to the
Stone crowd - and everyone else, really.

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Essence

Light a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a night. Light a man on fire, and you keep him warm for the rest of his short, agonizing life.

Gypsy

This screams modified Furgon, I don't like units that make other units obsolete.

MisterBlockey

Ya, I'm sorry but I have to say I agree on that. It is different, and it is a more powerfull furgon, but it's just so much like one that it seems like you're trying to overpower a furgon. Perhaps if you kept the special but gave it some different sort of primary ability?

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lookit Tomorrow you'll wake up do a bunch of stuff and then go back to sleep. Woah I'm psychic!
On the other hand, you have different fingers.

Girshwin

^^Agrees with the above two posters. This would make it almost impossible for a grey to win against a gold.

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You cannot diplomotize with terrorists.
-Solomon's Revenge

DIGID

Too much alike the furgon, but well-made.

It seems balanced, only problem I find is If the gold is decent, greys would have to sacrifice multiple mages to get the Kineticist, so gold would have an automatic advantage.

Also, this adds another advantage to bombs in that if the opponent is using one, it's useless, and they have a one-unit advantage.

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Essence

Yeah, OK. If it's too much like a Furgon, I'll change the attack -- but I'm keeping Force Shield.

I changed out the 'cannot be entered' aspect of Focus Force for a 'slows movement' aspect. It keeps most of the same function, but cannot be used as an impenetrable barrier anymore. Is that sufficienctly different from a Furgon?

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Essence

Light a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a night. Light a man on fire, and you keep him warm for the rest of his short, agonizing life.

DIGID

So this unit always has the force shield around it? So it walks around taking up 5 squares?

Or is there some other way of doing the special, and if so does it affect recovery or anything?

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Essence

The Kineticist always has the Force Shield around it. There is no 'activating' the special.

__________________
Essence

Light a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a night. Light a man on fire, and you keep him warm for the rest of his short, agonizing life.

DIGID

I understand, thanks. Wow, a unit occupying 5 squares.

I think the movement should be 2.

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