Vandar Tokare, Hologram (Virtual KotOR)

[gwek]

Vandar Tokare, Hologram
Cost: 21
Hit Points: --
Defense: --
Attack: --
Damage: --

Unique
Old Republic Hologram (Ignores all terrain. Cannot open doors. Cannot attack or be damaged, and does not count as a legal target. Does not provide cover. This character is defeated if it activates when no Soldier ally is within 2 squares.)
Support of the Council (At the start of the skirmish, choose an allied, unique Old Republic character with a lightsaber. That character gains Lead the Attack [The attacks of this character may benefit from Combined Fire, even if he has Melee Attack])

Commander Effect:

Allies with a Force rating start with +1 Force and gain Double Attack.


Design Notes:

Although I think there is already be a Vandar in the database, I wanted to explore the character a little more, and this is one attempt. I've seen folks try to model Vandar after the PT version of Yoda, but I wanted to try something a little different.

This version of Vandar is designed to make your Jedi more effective. Although many of the Old Republic characters (and a few Fringers) will benefit from the extra Force point, the Jedi Consulars and Sentinels really gain with Double Attack. Mira, as a side effect, becomes a bit of a monster, with Double Attack added to Twin.

Support of the Council helps the Old Republic capitalize on the benefits of Combined Fire. Assisted by Lead the Attack and various effects related to combined fire, characters like Bastila Shan and Lucien Draay become true powerhouses. Even second-tier Old Republic can potentially achieve beatstick status with the Support of the Council.

[gwek]

Anyone have thoughts on this version of Vandar?

How about Lead the Attack? Is it too rules-altering?

[maverick]

I think it might be. You might just want to think about dropping support of the council or replacing Lead the attack with squad assault or something like that.

Does it need a speed ability...how does it move?

[gwek]

Feb 4, 2009 6:43:02 GMT -5 maverick said:

I think it might be. You might just want to think about dropping support of the council or replacing Lead the attack with squad assault or something like that.

You may be right about Lead the Attack, but before I gut it, I'd like to hear from a few folks. I was on the fence with it myself, but wanted to try something to make melee (especially Jedi) more effective.

Because of Bastila, Combined Fire always comes to mind when working on the Old Republic...

Does it need a speed ability...how does it move?

Er... I assume it moves just like Holo-Veers (adapted the text from his special ability).

[maverick]

I've never actually seen that Veers piece. Is it just a translucent fig on a base?

[gwek]

Yep. Similar to the ghosts, or HoloSid.

[gwek]

Any more thoughts on Holo-Vandar?

Or even on Lead the Attack?

[gwek]

Bump.

[Sharrakor]

I've never really understood why ranged character couldn't combine fire with Melee Attackers (but not the other way around). I mean, is combining fire just where others characters fire along with you, increasing your chances of hitting?

So, in that way, I think Lead the Attack is great (and helpful) ability.

I'd suggest on the wording of Lead the Attack to remove the part that mentions "even if this character has Melee Attack." It'd only be on character with Melee Attack (seeing how non-Melee Attackers can combine fire anyway), right?

[gwek]

I suspect the dynamic with Melee Attack and combined fire stems from the idea that melee combatants were pretty potent in the early days of the game. I agree that it doesn't make much sense, but I'm always loathe to mess with it too much...

So that's one vote for, and one against, Lead the Attack. [I'll reprhase once we decide if we're keeping it).

Any thoughts on the commader effect? From the official pieces, it only benefits the Sentinel and Consular, there are a few customs who can take advantage (Atris, Feln, Xamar, Vrook [who has Twin]...). Perhaps it should be "Followers"? Or even "non-Unique followers"? (Oddly, Logray benefits now!)

[Sharrakor]

Well, its only giving it to one Unique OR ally (with a Lightsaber). It would be different if it was any ally.

[gwek]

Well, Lead the Attack is for a single ally, but the Double Attack part of the commander effect is (currently) for any ally with a Force rating.

[Sharrakor]

Oh, you were referring to the CE. My mistake.

Well, I think Double is fine. But I would recommend raising the cost slightly to compensate for the combos that can occur (Mira, for one).

[gwek]

Maybe it should be limited to those without Twin? Or non-Unique?

Or maybe change to something that can still be quite good but with less potential for abuse? Something along the lines of Swarm or Gang?

[Sharrakor]

Maybe give it out to Followers with a Force rating and a single attack?