The overall purpose of these efforts is to make the game of HeroClix a more enjoyable experience for current players and to make HeroClix more accessible for new players.<\/p>\n
As we work towards completing a new rulebook and PAC, we\u2019d like to introduce some rules revisions that are relevant to the release of the new Colossal figures in the\u00a0DC Comics HeroClix: Superman\/Wonder Woman<\/em><\/strong>set.<\/p>\n A character\u2019s size is determined by the damage combat symbol it possesses.\u00a0 There are four possible sizes a character may be.\u00a0 A Tiny-sized character has the\u00a0 The purpose of this article is not only to inform players of changes to the rules relating to Size of HeroClix characters and the game effects granted by a character\u2019s Size, but also to provide some insight (hence the series name \u201cDesign Insight\u201d) into the reasons why we are making these changes.<\/p>\n Before jumping into a comparison of old vs new, let\u2019s take a look at the Size categories and the abilities that they grant\u2014as this remains largely unchanged (with one noted exception marked as\u00a0NEW<\/em>).<\/p>\n SIZE CATEGORIES AND ABILITIES GRANTED<\/u><\/p>\n Now let\u2019s go over each individual combat ability and see the game effects granted by these abilities (as currently written):<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n SIZE-RELATED ABILITIES AND GAME EFFECTS GRANTED (CURRENT)<\/u><\/p>\n Tiny Size Ability:<\/p>\n Great Size Ability:<\/p>\n Colossal Stamina Ability:<\/p>\n When designing the new Colossal figures featured in the\u00a0DC Comics HeroClix: Superman\/Wonder Woman<\/em><\/strong>set, we took a close look at the rules relating to Size.\u00a0 In our review, we determined that one of the issues with the Size-related rules\u2014 and perhaps why there tends to be a good deal of confusion surrounding Size-related rules\u2014 is that many of the granted abilities had multiple different game effects rolled into those abilities that represented vastly different game concepts.\u00a0 As such, we felt that the Size-related rules tended not to be very intuitive\u2014 for example: if I was to reference the\u00a0Colossal Stamina<\/em>\u00a0ability and ask what it does, many veteran players would likely come up with an answer that it (functionally) allows characters to take an action even if they already have two tokens\u2013 and this would be true.\u00a0 However, what many players, even veteran players, might forget is that the Colossal ability (as written) also included game effects relating to break away as well as their ability to make ranged attacks out of adjacency\u2014 certainly two important game effects for Colossal figures, but perhaps not ones that most players would associate with the concept of \u201cStamina.\u201d<\/p>\n As such, we decided to consolidate the Size-related abilities into groupings of like game concepts that we feel are more intuitive\u2014mostly because the name of the ability is evocative of its major effect without additional and unrelated effects that are not communicated in\/associated with the ability name.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s go over each individual combat ability and see the game effects granted by these abilities under the new, revised Size rules:<\/p>\n SIZE-RELATED ABILITIES AND GAME EFFECTS GRANTED (REVISED)<\/u><\/p>\n Tiny Size Ability:<\/p>\n Great Size Ability:<\/p>\n Colossal Stamina Ability:<\/p>\n Giant Reach Ability:<\/p>\n The following game effects have been pulled out from individual abilities and now are inherent to a character\u2019s Size category:<\/p>\n We have created this \u201cSize Chart\u201d to act as a player aid explaining the game effects inherent to a character\u2019s Size and the abilities granted by their Size category.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n HeroClix Size Chart PDF<\/a>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013<\/p>\n SIZE-INHERENT GAME EFFECTS<\/strong><\/p>\n Lines of Fire<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Lines of fire drawn to or from a character are not blocked by characters smaller than themselves.<\/p>\n Break Away<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 When breaking away from only smaller characters, you increase your break away result by 1.\u00a0 If all the characters you\u2019re breaking away from are two or more sizes smaller, you automatically break away.\u00a0 Note that if even one character you\u2019re attempting to break away from is the same size or larger, you wouldn\u2019t get any of the bonuses.<\/p>\n Knock Back<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Characters can\u2019t be knocked back by a character smaller than themselves. In order to knock back a character, it must be the same size as you or larger.<\/p>\n Carry<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Characters can\u2019t carry characters larger than themselves (this remains unchanged). All characters now have the innate ability to use the Carry ability (in addition to normal Carry granted from other sources) to carry one character smaller than themselves\u00a0regardless of the carried character\u2019s combat symbols and does not reduce its speed value for doing so<\/span>.\u00a0 So, for example, a Colossal character can carry a Giant character but a Giant character can\u2019t carry a Colossal character\u00a0and a Standard-sized flier can carry a Tiny-sized character as well as another Standard-sized character (assuming the Standard-sized character can be carried)<\/span>.\u00a0Other rules for carry are still followed normally (no multi-base, no one holding an object, etc.)<\/span><\/p>\n INDIVIDUAL SIZE-RELATED ABILITIES<\/strong><\/p>\n TINY SIZE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CURRENT:\u00a0<\/strong>Modify this character\u2019s defense value by +1 against ranged combat attacks. A friendly character that is larger and adjacent can use the Carry ability to carry up to one\u00a0 REVISED:\u00a0<\/strong>This character modifies its defense value by +1 against ranged combat attacks. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/em><\/p>\n NOTES\/RATIONALE:\u00a0<\/strong>Since carrying one smaller character is now an innate ability for all characters, the references to Carry has been removed from Tiny Size.<\/p>\n GREAT SIZE\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CURRENT\u00a0<\/strong>This character ignores opposing character\u2019s Plasticity, can use\u00a0 REVISED\u00a0<\/strong>This character can use\u00a0 NOTES\/RATIONALE:\u00a0<\/strong>What we\u2019ve done here is focus\u00a0Great Size<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to game effects that represent a large character on the battlefield\u2014<\/p>\n Terrain:<\/u>\u00a0Great Size<\/em>\u00a0characters retain their ability to move through most terrain.\u00a0 If the Great Size character happens to be a multi-base character, its base can occupy multiple different levels of elevation.<\/p>\n Lines of Fire:<\/u>\u00a0We have removed the clause of allowing\u00a0Great Size<\/em>\u00a0characters to have lines of fire drawn to and from them from any elevation. Now, lines of fire drawn to or from them are not blocked by elevated terrain or outdoor blocking terrain.\u00a0 No more hiding behind a building or outdoor blocking terrain to avoid getting targeted by them.\u00a0 Of course, if they can see you, you can see them. Also, when drawing lines of fire to or from a Great Size character, those lines of fire aren\u2019t hindered unless the target of the line of fire (either the character the Great Size character is targeting or the Great Size character itself) is occupying hindering terrain.\u00a0 Note that multi-base rules still apply, so if a multi-base figure only partly occupies hindering terrain, if you target a square it occupies that isn\u2019t in hindering terrain it won\u2019t be a hindered line of fire.<\/p>\n Ranged Attacks Out of Adjacency:<\/u>\u00a0In the current iteration of the Size-related abilities, the ability to make ranged attacks out of adjacency was part of\u00a0Colossal Stamina<\/em>\u00a0(see\u00a0Colossal Stamina<\/em>\u00a0below).\u00a0 We figured that regardless if a character is wielding a weapon 20\u2019 feet up in the air or 100\u2019 up in the air, it is probably just as difficult to prevent them from using that weapon effectively\u2014 so, we decided that the Improved Targeting: Out of Adjacency made more sense as part of the\u00a0Great Size<\/em>\u00a0ability.\u00a0 What this does mean is that Giant characters now gain the ability to make ranged attacks to adjacent and non-adjacent characters even while adjacent to an opposing character when this was previously only allowed for Colossal characters.<\/p>\n The following two abilities are granted to Giant and Colossal sized characters as part of their Size, but it is important to note that these abilities can be granted to other non-Giant\/Colossal characters to represent superhuman endurance and being able to hit people at a distance.<\/p>\n COLOSSAL STAMINA\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CURRENT:\u00a0<\/strong>This character automatically breaks away and can use REVISED:<\/strong>\u00a0When this character has two action tokens, it can be given a non-free action. If you do, after actions resolve deal it 1 unavoidable damage and do not clear action tokens from it at the end of the turn. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/p>\n NOTES\/RATIONALE:<\/strong>\u00a0Originally, Colossal Stamina contained wording on automatically breaking away and Improved Targeting abilities.\u00a0 The Improved Targeting effect has been moved to the\u00a0Great Size<\/em>\u00a0ability and the break away effect is now part of the rules that are inherent to the different Size categories.\u00a0 Colossal Stamina now focuses specifically on allowing characters to be given a non-free action when it has two action tokens\u2014 this is particularly important when we look to provide this ability to other non-Giant\/Colossal characters and do not want to also grant them the ability to automatically break away and shoot out of adjacency (which may or may not make sense for the particular character).<\/p>\n GIANT REACH\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CURRENT:\u00a0<\/strong>This character adds 1 to its d6 roll when breaking away. This character can use the Carry ability. When this character is given an action that includes a close combat attack, all squares within a range of 2 and line of fire are considered adjacent. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/p>\n REVISED:<\/strong><\/p>\n GIANT REACH: X<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 When this character makes a close combat attack, characters occupying a square that is within X squares and line of fire may be targeted as if they were adjacent. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/p>\n NOTES\/RATIONALE:\u00a0<\/strong>To focus this ability on the singular concept of being able to make close combat attacks at a distance, the break away effects and the granted Carry ability have been removed from\u00a0Giant Reach<\/em>\u00a0and are now part of the rules that are inherent to the different Size categories.<\/p>\n The most notable change here is that\u00a0Giant Reach<\/em>\u00a0is now available to Colossal figures and it is a variable effect\u2014 whenever a character is granted the\u00a0Giant Reach<\/em>\u00a0ability, the X will be replaced by a number and that number will be the number of squares away the character can count for the effect.\u00a0 By default, Giants have Giant Reach: 2 and Colossal characters have Giant Reach: 3. If a character is to have a different \u201creach\u201d, a game effect will tell you what the new number is.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at a specific example when this change to\u00a0Giant Reach<\/em>\u00a0affects one of the new Colossal figures in the\u00a0DC Comics HeroClix: Superman\/Wonder Woman<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0set.\u00a0 SMWW #G003 Brimstone has the Colossal Retaliation power:<\/p>\n Colossal Retaliation: Flaming Sword<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Give Brimstone a free action if no other Colossal Retaliation power has been activated this turn and choose an opposing character that attacked Brimstone or damaged a friendly character since your last turn. Place Brimstone such that he can make a close combat attack targeting the chosen character along a direct line, then do so with an area of effect that includes all characters along that direct line of fire to the target. Roll\u00a0a d6, and each hit character is dealt damage equal to the result instead of normal damage.<\/p>\n Since Colossal figures did not have the\u00a0Giant Reach<\/em>\u00a0ability with\u00a0previous Size-related rules,\u00a0Brimstone would have only been able attack to an opposing character in an adjacent square.\u00a0 Now, with Colossals having\u00a0Giant Reach: 3<\/em>, Brimstone may be placed such that he is 3 squares from his target and his massive Flaming Sword strike will be able to hit all characters between him and his target.<\/p>\n And one last change that is needed to tie this all up (get it?) is a change to the standard power\u00a0Plasticity<\/em>:<\/p>\n CURRENT:\u00a0<\/strong>This character adds 2 to its d6 roll when breaking away. Opposing characters can\u2019t automatically break away from this character and subtract 2 from their d6 roll when breaking away from this character. Opposing characters entering a square adjacent to this character must end their movement, even if they would not have to do so normally.<\/p>\n REVISED:\u00a0<\/strong>This character adds 2 to its d6 roll when breaking away. Opposing characters subtract 2 from their d6 roll when breaking away from this character.\u00a0 Opposing characters of the same size or smaller can\u2019t automatically break away from this character and must end their movement when entering a square adjacent to this character, even if they would not have to do so normally.<\/p>\n NOTES\/RATIONALE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0This change simply comes down to trying to adopt some real-world logic to our game of superheroes\u2014 while allowing larger size characters to automatically break away from characters two size categories smaller, this would not have worked when compared to the wording of\u00a0Plasticity<\/em>\u00a0that did not allow opposing characters to automatically break away.\u00a0 It simply would not make much sense for a character the size of an ant to be able to tie-up a character the size of a building.\u00a0 So, with the revised wording to\u00a0Plasticity<\/em>, the automatic break away is preserved for characters two sizes larger and characters one size larger are given a better chance at breaking away\u2014so a Standard character with Plasticity would effectively subtract -2 from another adjacent opposing Tiny or Standard character\u2019s breakaway, -1 from another adjacent opposing Giant character\u2019s breakaway (-2 fromPlasticity<\/em>; +1 from size bonus) and Colossal character will automatically break away.<\/p>\n Thank you all for joining us for some Design Insight on some early release rules.\u00a0 There\u2019s still lots more to come.\u00a0 These rules changes are effective immediately and we\u2019ll have the errata\u2019d ability wordings posted in the Errata & Clarifications section of our WizKids Rules Forum.\u00a0 We hope you enjoy using these new rules with the new Colossal figures recently released with the\u00a0DC Comics HeroClix: Superman\/Wonder Woman<\/em><\/strong>set.<\/p>\n Until next time!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear HeroClix Players, Over the past year, we have been exploring ways in which we can improve the game of HeroClix.\u00a0 A few areas for improvement we have identified are (in broad strokes): Streamline the game rules Increase consistency in rules\/power wording so it is clearer\/more intuitive for players to understand intent of game effects […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-errata-clarifications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Tiny\"](\"http:\/\/heroclix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Tiny.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0symbol, a Standard-sized character has the\u00a0![\"Damage\"](\"http:\/\/heroclix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Damage.png\")
<\/a>symbol, a Giant-sized character has the\u00a0![\"Giant\"](\"http:\/\/heroclix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Giant.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0symbol, and finally a Colossal-sized character has the\u00a0![\"Colossal\"](\"http:\/\/heroclix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Colossal.png\")
<\/a>symbol.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0Tiny-sized characters gain:<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>\u00a0Standard-sized characters gain<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>\u00a0Giant-sized characters gain:<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>\u00a0Colossal-sized characters gain:<\/p>\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0character regardless of its other combat symbols, does not reduce its speed value for doing so and can continue to use the Carry ability if it can normally. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>:\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>and can\u2019t be knocked back. When this character makes a close combat attack, it may target characters on higher elevations. This character may draw lines of fire (and have lines of fire drawn to it) as if the character occupied the elevation equal to or greater than the elevation it occupies, using the elevation level with the least restrictive line of fire. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>:<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0<\/a>:\u00a0<\/a>.\u00a0 Lines of fire drawn to or from this character are not blocked by elevated terrain or outdoor blocking terrain, and are not hindered unless the target occupies hindering terrain. This character may occupy multiple elevations. This ability can\u2019t be countered or ignored.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>:\u00a0<\/a>. When this character has two action tokens, it can be given a non-free action. If you do, after actions resolve deal it 1 unavoidable damage and do not clear action tokens from it at the end of the turn. This ability can\u2019t be countered.<\/p>\n