Fan Faction: Dukedom of Cliffport

[Niko White]

These guys seem to have either been lost in the time warp or scrolled off the boards, but I was fond of them, and it seems some of our newer members didn't get to see them, so here they are back for more!

At some point Chad ran the points calculator on these guys, but I don't remember if I ever updated the costs, so even if you have played Cliffport before, this post may contain new information!  Similarly, I had some changes I wanted to make that I'm not sure ever made it in, so I've updated some of the units, cards, etc. as well.  I still don't consider this faction finished, but this is draft 2.

Faction Overview

The Dukedom of Cliffport is a rich, mercantile city of Halflings built into and on top of a high cliff surrounding a perfect natural harbor.  Well positioned for both defense and naval adventures, the Halflings of Cliffport have built a thriving trade empire, bringing wealth and renown to their city.  They have also established colonies and merchant houses throughout the world, including on several islands inhabited by fierce Hobgoblins, who now serve as elite guards and muscle in Cliffport's armies.

Based on Venice, Cliffport has an Italianate culture.

Cliffport Units

Cliffport Light Infantry
A (6) 5/4  D 3/1  R --  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
169 Points -- Core
4/3/4

Revelers
A (6) 4/4  D 2/1  R --  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
97 Points -- Core
3/2/3

Cliffport Pavisse Crossbowmen
A (4*) 5/5*  D 2/2  R 14"  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
A (+2) 0/-1 while engaged.
252 Points -- Core
3/2/3

Hobgoblin Auxiliaries
A (5) 5/6  D 1/3  R --  M 3.5"  C 12
230 Points -- Core
4/3/3

Hobgoblin Pavisse Crossbowmen
A (3*) 5/6*  D 2/3  R 14"  M 3.5"  C 12
A (+2) 0/-1 while engaged.
374 Points -- Standard
4/3/3

Cliffport Heavy Infantry
A (6) 5/5  D 2/3  R --  M 1.75"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
228 Points -- Standard
5/3/3

Rake's Entourage
A ( 5/4  D 3/1  R --  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
203 Points -- Standard
4/4/3

Minstrel's Retinue
A (4) 5/4  D 3/1  R *  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
Casts spells during Movement and Command.  Friendly units with a center point within 3.5" of the Minstrel's front center point get the benefit until your next movement and command phase.
-Call the Dance: When the unit moves, you can discard a command card to give it +1 MC.
-Triumph of the Small: If the unit is Small, you can discard a command card to give it A (0) 0/+1 when it attacks.  This counts as playing a command card.
-Heroic Ballad: When the unit fails a rout check, you can discard a command card to reroll the check.
127 Points -- Standard
3/2/3

Mistress of Masks
A (4) 4/3  D 2/1  R *  M 2.5"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
Casts spells during Movement and Command.
-Masks of Horror (Blessing): Battlefield range.  The blessed unit is Terrifying.  Remove the blessing if the unit is engaged at the end of a Movement and Command phase.
-Masks of Allure (Blessing): Battlefield range.  Enemy units with their front center point within 7" of the blessed unit's front center point treat it as the nearest enemy, regardless of standing order modifiers.  Remove the blessing at the end of the opponent's turn.
-Masks of Mystery (Blessing): Battlefield range.  The blessed unit has soft cover.  Remove the blessing after a ranged attack is made against the blessed unit.
100 Points -- Elite
2/2/2

Household Guard
A (7*) 6*/6*  D 1*/3  R --  M 3.5"  C 13
A (-2) 0/0 while charging.
A (0) +1/0 and D +1/0 vs. Cavalry and/or Large.
A (0)0/+2 while holding vs. charging Cavalry and/or Large.
400 Points -- Elite
5/3/2

Doge's Companions
A (7) 6/5*  D 2*/2  R --  M 5"  C 13
Cavalry.
A (0) 0/+1 and D +1/0 while charging.
362 Points -- Elite
3/2/2

Cliffport Ship-Killer
A (4*) 5*/8*  D 0/2  R 21"  M 1.75"  C 13
Large, Wheeled, Cannot Move and Shoot.
A (0) -1/-3 while engaged.
A (0) -1/-0 during ranged attacks against non-large targets.
305 Points -- Elite
3/2/2

Cliffport Army Ability

(Author's Note: I am not happy with the current cards and ability for these guys; they are fine, but not great.  I am running out of revision time at the moment, though, so am posting them as-is.  Suggestions welcome!)

Noble's Favor
During the movement and command phase, you can spend one command action to mark the Noble's Favor box on a unit.  You can also choose to remove marks during the movement and command phase.
While the box is marked, the unit gets +2 Courage.  Remove the mark if the unit routs.
When the mark is removed for any reason, draw a command card.

Cliffport Command Cards

Reach for Glory (2): Play when one of your units attacks, before you roll to hit.  Play only on a unit that isn't charging or being charged.  Your unit gets A+(1) 0/1 this attack.  If your unit has Noble's Favor marked, it gains an additional A+(0) 1/0 this attack.

Fly the Standard (1): Play during your movement and command phase or at the end of any courage phase.  Rally all your routing units.  You may give new standing orders to any of your units with Noble's Favor marked (even those you just rallied.)

Lady's Favor (1): Play before one of your units takes a courage check.  That unit passes that check.  If that unit does not have Noble's Favor marked, mark it.

Mask of Mists (2): Play when an opponent's unit attacks one of your units that it is engaged with, before the opponent rolls to hit.  The opponent's unit gets A (-2) -1/0 this attack.

Mask of Blades (2): Play when one of your engaged units attacks one of your opponent's engaged units, before you roll to hit.  Your unit gets A (+2) +1/0 this attack.

Heroic Resolve (2): Play when an opponent's unit attacks one of your units, before the opponent rolls to hit.  Your unit gets D+1/0 this attack.  If your unit has Noble's Favor marked, it gets an additional D+0/1 this attack.

[Quelmotz]

Great Faction! 

Really puts my faction to shame! 

http://yourmovegames.com/forum/index.php/topic,846.0.html

I'll be grateful if you comment. 


I was viewing the older version found in the search engine yesterday but didn't have time to post so I will post here instead.

A lot of flavor and interesting units!

Light Infantry: Interesting. I'll think of them as having MC 3.5" though. EDIT: Suddenly realised that heavy infantry only have MC 1.75", so I think its ok.

Revelers: Ok!

Cliffport Pavisse Crossbowmen: Interesting kind of crossbowmen

Hobgoblin Auxillaries: Seems like a tradeoff of better attack stats for lower courage and health. But I'll always take these guys if possible though.

Hobgoblin Crossbowmen: Holy crap, they cost 374 points!?!?!?!? Is that a typo? I'm guessing it was meant to be 274 points.

Cliffport Heavy Infantry: They're incredibly tough for such a cheap unit IMO. With 5 green health, 13 courage, Defense 2/3, they're going to give heavy infantry some competition if not for the incredibly horrible speed.

Rake's Entourage: I assume the ( 5/4 is actually ( 8 ) 5/4 ?

Minstrel's Retinue: Interesting spellcaster unit.

Minstrel of Masks: How come they cost less than the minstrel's retinue and are ELITE? I suppose its the poor attack and defense stats.

Household Guard: This unit's going to make Elephants and other large/colossal enemies run for their lives! If you manage to get them to hold right in front of a colossal/large/cavalry unit, they're (7) 7/8 and 2/3 !!! But at a whopping 400 points, they aren't as effective as anti-cavalry, since they cost more than the cavalry...

Doge's Companions: Interesting. Knights with better attack stats but lower defense. Reminds me of my Gnasher Cavalry.

Cliffport Ship-killer: Erm...shouldn't it be "ship-destroyer" or something? Ships aren't alive. Other than that, interesting. Makes us think why scorpions, ballistas and stuff like that aren't MC 1.75".

Faction Ability: Interesting. Nice twist.

Command Cards
Reach for glory: Interesting!

Fly the standard: It is apparent that you are determined to give "the plan" some competition!

Lady's Favor: I'm goin' to kill you meself for this! I think this command card is sort of overpowered. I mean, its similar to IKYM, except you don't know the result, and you will probably mark "noble's favor" 90% of the time since with noble's favor, a unit will have decent courage already, and thus not need a auto-pass courage check command card.

Mask of Mists: Interesting, but I think its a tiny bit too powerful.

Mask of Blades: Interesting, but I think its a tiny bit too powerful.

Heroic Resolve: Nice. +1/+1 is kind of weak compared to mettle though, but taking the faction's general 3/1 defense into consideration, it doesn't seem so bad. a 3/1 unit with +1/+1 becomes Celestial Guard standard defense!

I really like how you try to incorporate your faction ability into your command cards! 


P.S. How can you have played cliffport before? Was there a playtest?

[Niko White]

I'll reply to some of the rest later; I will say there wasn't an official playtest, but I have a program that makes it really easy for me to generate proxies so I made them up at some point and played a few games with them; so did a few other boards members.  I'm still thinking of updating some of these faction cards and maybe the ability, but once I'm satisfied with draft 2 I can make up proxies to email people again.

[Quelmotz]

I'll reply to some of the rest later; I will say there wasn't an official playtest, but I have a program that makes it really easy for me to generate proxies so I made them up at some point and played a few games with them; so did a few other boards members.  I'm still thinking of updating some of these faction cards and maybe the ability, but once I'm satisfied with draft 2 I can make up proxies to email people again.

Can you give me that program? 

[Niko White]

I'll reply to some of the rest later; I will say there wasn't an official playtest, but I have a program that makes it really easy for me to generate proxies so I made them up at some point and played a few games with them; so did a few other boards members.  I'm still thinking of updating some of these faction cards and maybe the ability, but once I'm satisfied with draft 2 I can make up proxies to email people again.

Can you give me that program? 

It isn't a program, it is a Microsoft Word sheet with a mail merge set up; unless you know how mail merges work in Office, it won't do you much good.

[Quelmotz]

I'll reply to some of the rest later; I will say there wasn't an official playtest, but I have a program that makes it really easy for me to generate proxies so I made them up at some point and played a few games with them; so did a few other boards members.  I'm still thinking of updating some of these faction cards and maybe the ability, but once I'm satisfied with draft 2 I can make up proxies to email people again.

Can you give me that program? 

It isn't a program, it is a Microsoft Word sheet with a mail merge set up; unless you know how mail merges work in Office, it won't do you much good.

You said it was a program  . But nevermind, I don't know what's a mail merge.

[Niko White]

You said it was a program  . But nevermind, I don't know what's a mail merge.

Yeah, sorry, was writing quickly

If you have Office and like making games, you should think about learning how to do a mail merge.  It is basically a way of automatically getting Excel data formatted into a Microsoft Word document, and is invaluable for making proxies and the like

[RushAss]

Cliffport Heavy Infantry
A (6) 5/5  D 2/3  R --  M 1.75"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
228 Points -- Standard
5/3/3

I recall from my playtest that these guys where serious tanks.  Didn't they used to have a 3/3 defense, or am I miss-remembering that?

[Quelmotz]

Cliffport Heavy Infantry
A (6) 5/5  D 2/3  R --  M 1.75"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
228 Points -- Standard
5/3/3

I recall from my playtest that these guys where serious tanks.  Didn't they used to have a 3/3 defense, or am I miss-remembering that?

5-3-3 health, 2/3 defence and 13 courage with a courage boosting faction ability isn't enough? 

[Niko White]

Cliffport Heavy Infantry
A (6) 5/5  D 2/3  R --  M 1.75"  C 13
Small (This unit does not block line of sight for units larger than it.)
228 Points -- Standard
5/3/3

I recall from my playtest that these guys where serious tanks.  Didn't they used to have a 3/3 defense, or am I miss-remembering that?

They might have.

Basically, a basic Halfling warrior unit with one-handers and no shields is (6) 5/4  2/1  M 2.5"  C 13, 4/3/4.  (Compared to humans, this is +1 defense skill, +1 attack die, +1 red health, +1 courage, -1 MC, -1 Strength.  The health and attack die are because they're small so more of them fit in a unit, the rest is because they are dodgy and brave, but tiny.)

Right now these guys are a great weapon unit: they have two-handed warhammers and plate mail, inspired by Venetian Heavy Infantry in Medieval 2: Total War.

Thus:

Plate mail: +2 toughness, -1 MC
Great weapons: +1 strength.
I also shifted one of their red hits to green to represent their elite status and tendency not to break.

For a while, I might have had them as sword and board, which would have made them 3/3 on defense but just 5/4 on attack stats.  I could also give them elite defense, I suppose, which is +1 (see Orc Marauders) but that would up the cost a lot; my guess it'd be around 50 points, and I really wanted them to be sort of a mid-range unit, not super elite (those are the Companions.)

[Niko White]

Also note that if I make them great weapon + elite defense, they're virtually identical to Hawkshold's Heavy Infantry, which didn't seem as interesting to me.

[Quelmotz]

Stand N Shoot!

2x Cliffport Ship-Destroyers - CSD
2x Cliffport Heavy Infantry - CHI
2x Cliffport Pavisse Crossbowmen - CPC
1x Hobgoblin Auxillaries - HOB
1x Cliffport Light Infantry - CLI
1x Command Card

1994 points 

Probably something like this.

CLI-CPC-CHI-CHI-CPc-HOB
            CSD-CSD

Just pure speculation, doubt it'll work though. Not enough firepower.

[Mexico]

Any progress on this, Niko?  They look fun and I think I'll be trying them out against either Kevin or John next month...

[Niko White]

Any progress on this, Niko?  They look fun and I think I'll be trying them out against either Kevin or John next month...

I haven't been working on these guys lately because I've been consumed by Dark Elves and other things that are prone to being actually published, but they do hold a special place in my heart.  I think they should be decently playable as-is; let me know how it goes!

[ZiNOS]

I have played the previous version sometimes and they were actually playable....... and fun...... and then came the Dark Elves.............. 

cheap flyers and enemy units manipulation. What's not to like