There are a lot of pieces in this game that I don't really like using because of some sort of negative ability they have, like Savage: being forced to end your turn adjacent to an enemy even if it would be strategically smarter to do something else; or Mercenary: having to stand still instead of being able to move to a tactically better position, just because you can see an enemy. Etc. ...Abilities like that. This week's contest is to make a piece (unique or non-unique) that helps out pieces with negative abilities; something that makes them more worth using. Preferably something a bit more creative than just "______ characters lose [negative ability]". I'm not going to ban it, but you guys are a creative bunch. I'm sure you'll come up with cool new approaches to this!
For the purposes of this contest, I'm going to say that "Melee Attack" doesn't count as a negative ability if that's alright with you guys. ...Just to keep this contest focused on the more obnoxious abilities.

I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with!
Good luck.

Rules

1. The character must be canon and from the chosen faction when required. They can have affinity, but the character must start in the chosen faction. EDIT: Since Canon is all screwed up, just a known character is fine.

2. You may update any existing versions you already have and/or create a new one. You may update/create several versions of the character but you must ultimately select 1 you wish to run with. (this must be done by the schedule below)

3. Place a hyperlink in this forum to make it easier to find your character. You can just post the stats or image here but if changes are needed it would be easier (and save space) if you just used a Hyperlink (If you don't know how to post Hyperlinks in a forum setting please ask and we will help you. It's not hard )

4. Voting works as follows, pick your three favorite customs based on accuracy to the character, design, balance or whatever you decide makes the best incarnation of the challenge character. First place receives 3 points, 2nd place receives 2 points, and 3rd place receives 1 point.

6. To make things fair you must vote in order to win the contest. You must choose three characters entered in the contest and you may not rate or vote for your own character.

7.. The winner will be decided by how many points they receive. Ties will be broken by most 1st place votes, then if still tied, 2nd place votes and then 3rd place votes. If still tied, then the outcome is a tie.

8. you may not change or update the entered character AFTER the deadline.


You will have until Friday, Aug 20th, 2016 @8pm EST to get your submissions in. Anything submitted after this point will not be included in the voting.

Voting will start at 8pm on Friday evening and end at 12 noon EST on Monday, Aug 22nd, 2016.

At the conclusion of the voting the scores will be tallied and the Winner will then post the next round.

Negative abilities ... ok, another intellectual exercise, and right before I go back to work. Ugh ... no fair Laf.

Ok so, there are a lot of negative type abilities and I'm not giving anybody any ideas so I'll stick to my favorite and how I negate it. Mercenary.

It's simplistic definition is soldier for hire; its WOTC definition would read more like "I'll fight, but I'm not sticking my neck out if I can shoot you from where I am." Usually, I just add a CE that says something like "follower's lose the Mercenary movement restrictions" but Laf doesn't want the easy solution so .....

How do you move (which is their "negative" ability) without moving? You give them an ability to move before/after they attack. Now mobile attacks defeat the purpose and seem to be contrary to what the one/other are trying so that's out. Letting them move After attacking doesn't help the attack, just giving him a better defensive position, so give it to him before the attack.

I'm going with Intuition and I'm going Gotal. They have that species ability to sense their "prey" so ....






Now this "Squad Intuition" is hopefully worded so that it's effects Can't be extended by anything like Booming Voice, Relay, etc. I wanted it to be strictly the 6 squares and keep it mercenary non-uniques; I hope its wording is correct. It's a Trap reflects his ability to sense prey (so to speak) and Accurate because since he can sense his prey, he won't be fooled by cover. The CE reflects his ability to coordinate his fellow merc followers in an attack.

My head hurts ... time to go back to being brain dead till I start work again ......

PS - apologizes for the poor Gotal pic; he's the only one I had lying around ....

"Blast Bug" isn't itself a negative ability, but has a negative impact on many players

I am tentatively going to go with this one (have a few more ideas in the works, so I might change my mind)

http://www.bloomilk.com/Custom/25788/veteran-mercenary-leader

Yes, I know he doesn't have the "Mercenary" ability, but I was sort of imagining him (as the name implies) to be a veteran mercenary with enough experience to know when to stand and fight, and when to move to a more tactical position. (and experienced enough to know that he's gonna get himself killed much faster if he just stands in one place the whole time) To keep the mercenary flavor though, he only benefits from his abilities if he stands still.

Does handing out regeneration seem like too much? I really wanted to make it regeneration 20, but I was pretty sure THAT at least would be too much.

Hmmm. well I wouldn't send a Queen.

This is an interesting category. Neat pieces submitted here.

I have an old piece that helps a variety of sub-factions, mercenary being one of them. Does that count or does it have to help only negative pieces?

Well, I guess I'll just post it and if you guys tell me it's not in the spirit of the contest I'll try to make something else.

My entry:
http://www.bloomilk.com/Custom/15848/chagrian-crime-lord

I will be gone until sometime on Saturday. Go ahead and start voting etc when the time comes.