Tag Archives: concepts

Thursday in the Zone

Proposing a Perfect New Clix Power Color: Pink!

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HeroClix has introduced a couple of new colors to characters’ dials over the years. Time was, the Light Green power color didn’t exist; Earthbound, Quake, Combat Reflexes, and Exploit Weakness simply weren’t printed abilities. Even the Silver and Brown/Gold powers didn’t exist all the time either, and who could imagine a HeroClix game without Hypersonic Speed, Impervious, Leadership, or Telekinesis?

But despite the range of power colors in Clix, there’s one color they don’t have yet, and that’s Pink.

Are You Kidding Me? PINK in Clix?

I fully admit, as a concept, this is hard to take seriously. HeroClix, almost completely male-dominated by definition, having a PINK power color? Ridiculous!

…And yet, it could flesh out some abilities that as yet are only handled by special powers and traits. It could end up simplifying a good bit of rulings, too–the addition of a new color leads to better shorthand references for such abilities. Should we care that pink has such a feminine association, if it will end up being an asset to the metagame?

Personally, I think adding a new color, whatever it ends up being, could help shore up some missing strategies in Clix, and potentially breathe new life into the sets. After all, there are some very funny (but very effective) strategies that pink could represent.

Potential Pink Powers

For each power slot, I’ve come up with two possibilities for what pink could represent on the dial. (Also, forgive the low-quality illustrations–I had to make up a blank Clix dial myself in Paint, and I am certainly no technical artist… xD)

Pink on Movement

  • Sashay: (for grounded characters only) This character may move by opposing characters without stopping. Any opposing characters who come into adjacency in this way cannot attack this character next turn.

    Why: Walking in high heels is only done for the effect on other people, not comfort. xD

  • Perfume Cloud: (for flying characters only) Wherever this character moves on the board, leave up to four “perfume” tokens in their exact path, which fade at the beginning of the controller’s next turn. Friendly characters who are in or enter these marked squares receive a +1 to attack; opposing characters who are in or enter these squares receive a -1 to attack. This is not treated as Hindering Terrain.

    Why: Because reactions to perfume are either “Ooh, girl, I like that perfume!” or “Ugh, what are you wearing?!”

Pink on Attack

  • Distraction: If this character makes a successful attack roll on an opposing character, no damage is dealt. Instead, the attacked opposing character is not allowed to attack this character next turn. (Successful attacks do not have to be able to deal damage in order for Distraction to go off, such as in the case of hitting an Invulnerability character with a 2-damage character.)

    Why: Low-cut shirt. That’s all I’m saying. LOL

  • Super Slap: If the first attack by this character is successful, reduce the target’s defense by -1 and make a second attack immediately afterward. The target’s defense goes back to normal after this action resolves.

    Why: Because no girl slaps another girl just once. There’s always a backhand-slap after the first one. 😛

Pink on Defense

  • Presentation: Place an action token on this character to modify defense by +2.

    Why: ‘Cause makeup, hairstyles, and nice clothes really do make a difference, and they boost your (social) defense, at least. And it does require action on one’s part to affect this transformation. 🙂

  • Rebuff: When an attack made on this character is unsuccessful, modify the attacking character’s stats by -1 until the end of your next turn.

    Why: When a girl gets hit on and tells the guy “no,” it usually leaves him feeling pretty low.

Pink on Damage

  • Rumor: When this character makes a successful attack against an opposing character, after damage is resolved deal 1 unavoidable damage to another opposing character with at least one shared keyword. The character given the unavoidable damage does not need to be within line of sight or line of fire.

    Why: Rumors fly faster than Hypersonic Speed and always damage the target, no matter how tough the person is.

  • Pep Talk: Place an action token on this character to modify 1 adjacent friendly character’s stats (values of movement, attack, defense, damage, and range) by +1 for this turn. This effect fades at the beginning of your next turn.

    Why: Boosting another person’s confidence is key to keeping friendships!

Thoughts on the Pink Power?

Despite the slightly tongue-in-cheek nature of this post, What do you think about these abilities? Do you think HeroClix is ready for pink on its stats? Could these abilities really work in-game? Tell me in the comments! 🙂

Thursday in the Zone

Creature Types M:TG Should Try

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Magic: the Gathering is literally riddled with creatures of all different types. Whether you like Horrors or Avatars, Angels or Demons, Vampires or Humans, Goblins, Beasts, or Wizards, you’re sure to find a creature type you like in Magic. (For instance, my favorite creature types are Angels, Walls, Treefolk, Dryads, and Clerics.)

But there are a few creature types for which I’ve seen little to no representation in Magic…and I’d kinda like to see them in print.

Forestwalk Plus: The “Deer” Creature Type

I love deer, and I’m not talking about venison; they are such peaceful and graceful creatures. Living deep within the forest as my family does, we see a lot of deer in the woods around the house–they seem to know it’s a safe place where they won’t be shot or hit by cars. But the most surprising thing about them is how well they can hide. I’ve often stared right at a deer in the middle of a group of trees, and not known it was there until it moved. (And yes, I was wearing my glasses at the time, LOL)

Thus, I came up with a conceptual mechanic called “Forestshade” to capture this ability for the “Deer” creature type (or any creature that can hide itself well). I believe this would set the Deer creatures apart from the rest of Green’s creatures.

Forestshade: If controller has a basic Forest in play, this creature has Hexproof and +0/+2.

Source for Sable Fawn art
Source for Soft-Footed Doe art
Source for Regal Stag art

The “Bounding” Mechanic: The “Rabbit” Creature Type

While there have been a few Rabbits (such as Zodiac Rabbit), there are not nearly enough bunnies in the game for my liking. All that cuteness in a little itty-bitty package? You could kill your opponent with cute overload! LOL

All joking aside, I have always liked rabbits for their speed and agility, as well as their cuteness. And, like the Deer, I sought to make M:TG Rabbits different enough from other similar Green creatures to warrant making a new creature type. So I created a mechanic called “bounding”, which I feel accurately captures how bunnies bounce around and evade capture like almost no other creature I’ve ever seen. (We had two pet bunnies when I was a kid, and one of them was an escape artist…’nuff said.)

Bounding: This creature is chosen to block, but evades the attack and is not damaged. Attack is considered blocked, but neither creature’s damage is dealt.

Source for Littlest Hare art
Source for Warren of Rabbits art

A Little Bit Like Slivers: The “Noble” Creature Type

I am aware that tribe-boosting “Lord” cards like Faerie Noble/Sprite Noble, Eladamri, Lord of Leaves, Kobold Overlord, and Lords of Atlantis and Lineage have been released before. But perhaps the concept of “royalty” could be taken in a new direction?

To give M:TG perhaps a little more medieval-fantasy flair, I thought about introducing a “Noble” creature type, plus several Noble sub-types. I think this could be a fun way to incorporate the political complexity of a traditional court within a game scenario. Something like the following, where each subtype boosts its own subtype and gets bonuses for a second subtype being played:

Source for Princess Adi art
Source for Titled Knight art

What’s Your Take?

Would you play any of these creature types or use any of these mechanics? Do they seem workable within the existing M:TG framework? Let me know in the comments!

All concept card images made with the help of Magic Set Editor. Great program if you like to create your own funny or concept cards!