Tortuns: Expanded

Discussion in 'Rune Ideas and Suggestions' started by Shell Dorado, Aug 5, 2014.

  1. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Dedicated to compiling a reliquary of homebrewed Tortuns as an exercise in balancing, entertainment, and expressing ideas to the community. Please, brainstorm some ideas, throw up some fan art, provide constructive feedback, but most importantly have fun!

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    [​IMG]
    Aggrat, Dark Augur
    Faction:
    FS/FW
    Race: Tortun | Class: Witch | Rarity: Exotic
    Artwork: By Thiago Afonso Silva
    Flavor Text: "Nora churns in the unknowable depths of the sea.
    I hear it callin' out, like it's wantin' to be heard."
    Nora Cost: 76

    Champion Stats
    DAM: 10 | SPD: 5 | RNG: 3-5 | DEF: 3 | HP: 56

    Champion Abilities
    Attack: Electricity
    Elsari Coven
    - Upgrades: [Banditry (+2) | Nora Vitality (-1)]
    Pain Curse - Upgrades: [Haunting Visions (+1) | Intimidating (+4)]
    Horrid Revelation - This unit and friendly champions within 3 squares have Madness. Any unit damaged by Madness becomes Frightened for 2 turns.
    Ponderous
    Split Hero
    Tortun Shell

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    What role is this Rune intended to fill?
    In the case of the other Tortun heroes (Mangleshell and Tremir Craghide), two of PoxNora's archetypal roles are fulfilled; Mangleshell acts as a skirmisher, doing high damage from range while avoiding enemy attacks. Tremir Craghide is the classic bruiser, jumping into the fight and brawling it out. What we don't have in a Tortun hero is much in the way of utility. Aggrat, Dark Augur fulfils that role well with solid debuff mechanics in exchange for speed and damage. Plus, with the advent of Tortun Bokor and now Risen Grenadier, I thought it would be time to see a Tortun hero to fill that FW niche.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    While some of the Split Heroes provide good utility in various ways (Timothy the Vile with his swarms, Matriarch Sarinda with her champion recycling, et cetera), few provide most that do have a specific niche in which their built around. Sarinda needs Stitched, Ruubgaal needs dead stuff, Spirit of the Mountain focuses on Beasts, Aggrat, Dark Augur provides support and utility without being forced into one particular theme or strategy. While of course, he's not only a Tortun and Witch, and would supplement a either deck, his abilities do not confine him to the Tortun's usual strategy of attrition and the long game.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora
    Aggrat, Dark Augur fulfills an unused niche among Tortun tribal BG's and provides expanded split options for Witches. Aggrat, Dark Augur also provides a unique form of defensive support to provide additional flexibility.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    Aggrat, Dark Augur provides an interesting combination of debuffs and protection which is kept in balance by a low speed and damage.​
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2014
  2. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [​IMG]
    Tortun Crossblade
    Faction:
    FS/KF
    Race: Tortun | Class: Warrior | Rarity: Common
    Artwork: By Clinton Felker
    Flavor Text: "How many Stitched, you say? Ten? Ha! Jus' send out the
    crossblades. They'll take care of 'em quick as an Elven arrow!"
    ~ Kolash, Captain of the Zouladeshk
    Nora Cost: 65

    Champion Stats
    DAM: 14 | SPD: 6 | RNG: 1 | DEF: 3 | HP: 50

    Champion Abilities
    Attack: Physical
    Counterattack: Melee
    - Upgrades: [Cleave (-4) | Whirl of Blades (+6)]
    Tortun's Trade - Upgrades: [Banditry (+3) | Pillage (+0)]
    Melee Specialist (1)
    Ponderous
    Tortun Shell

    __________________________________________
    What role is this Rune intended to fill?
    The Tortun Crossblade is intended to act as a new bruiser for the Tortuns, focusing less on defense and more on damage and creating a threat for the enemy to focus on, distracting opponents from allied ranged units.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    With the Tortun's reliance on ranged support, most of the melee champs in their repetoire act as utility rather than full-on melee contenders.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora
    The Crossblade shares some basic qualities with what the Tortalleon Pygmy was; providing a high-threat target to antagonize the enemy with. However, the Crossblade is designed as more of a skirmisher, exchanging solid area damage that is not prevalent in the Tortun's melee repetoire in exchange for a lower pool of HP.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    With the ability to spread damage around and punish the enemy for grouping, the Tortun Crossblade provides lends itself as a good melee contender and further provides Tortuns with a viable option of focusing more on melee than ranged.​
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  3. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [​IMG]
    Tortun Peacekeeper
    Faction: FS/KF
    Race: Tortun | Class: Shaman | Rarity: Common
    Artwork: By Esben Lash Rasmussen

    Flavor Text: There are few among the indigenous Tortuns who show such
    wisdom and mercy. These solemn few are all that lie between
    the Tortun race and a self-imposed extinction.
    Nora Cost: 72

    Champion Stats
    DAM: 0 | SPD: 5 | RNG: 1 | DEF: 4 | HP: 50

    Champion Abilities
    Healing Breath (1)
    - Upgrades: [Healing Breath (2) (+5)]
    Mindwipe Aura (1) - Upgrades: [Invigorate (1) (-2) | Nexus Aura (-3)
    Favor
    Ponderous
    Tortun Shell


    __________________________________________
    What role is this Rune intended to fill?
    The Tortun Peacekeeper is designed to provide casting support with a focus on defense as opposed to offense.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    While the galesinger now provides reasonable defensive support with his newly given powers, but focuses on forced movement, which is the standard schtick for the Tortuns. The Peacekeeper provides an alternative in defensive support with solid healing and damage mitigation in exchange for a lack of offense.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora?
    As is evident, the Peacekeeper is a true pacifist; he does not have any attacks or offensive capability. His sole purpose is to protect his comrades from violence.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    The Peacekeeper plays interestingly in that rather than spending his time attacking, he cycles through different cooldown abilities, providing consistent utility and sustain to his allies.​
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  4. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [​IMG]
    Tortun Native
    Faction: FS/KF
    Race: Tortun | Class: Warrior | Rarity: Uncommon
    Artwork: By Jose Arias
    Flavor Text: They say the Tortuns set to sea looking for danger,

    but the truth is they were running from it.​
    Nora Cost: 74

    Champion Stats
    DAM: 12 | SPD: 5 | RNG: 2-4 | DEF: 2 | HP: 46

    Champion Abilities
    Attack: Spear
    Impair Vision
    - Upgrades: [Logistics: Flanking (+1)]
    Tortun's Trade - Upgrades: [Banditry (+3) | Pillage (+0)
    Poison (1)
    Ponderous
    Tortun Shell


    __________________________________________
    What role is this Rune intended to fill?

    The Tortun Native is designed to act as a medium range striker that brings offensive utility to the table, providing supporting damage for melee champions while providing cover for longer range champions and keeping them out of danger with Impair Vision.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    In such a broad category, many Rune's fulfil the role of a medium-range damage dealer, but each champion brings something different to the table. The Tortun Native brings another option to the table to help keep decks varied and interesting.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora
    The Tortun Native brings utility that is woefully underused in Kthir Forest and Forglar Swamp, and provides new methods of keeping the opponent on their toes when it comes to tactical positioning.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    With mechanics like Impair Vision and Flanking, the Tortun Native provides an interesting buffer between melee and long range, allowing the longer range Tortuns some safety or alternatively, providing strong fire support for the close range champs.​
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  5. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [​IMG]
    Tortun Pathfinder
    Faction: FS/KF
    Race: Tortun | Class: Ranger | Rarity: Rare
    Artwork: By Danil Shunkov
    Flavor Text: "So what if I'm small? I'd like to see you lug
    that big
    ugly shell of yours through the Storm Lands!"
    Nora Cost: 52

    Champion Stats
    DMG: 9 | SPD: 5 | RNG: 1 | DEF: 2 | HP: 42

    Champion Abilities
    Attack: Physical
    Opportunistic
    - Upgrades: [Accrue (+2) | [Hit and Run (+2)]
    Tortun's Trade - Upgrades: [Banditry (+3) | Pillage (+0)]
    Climb
    Ponderous
    Tortun Shell


    __________________________________________
    What role is this Rune intended to fill?
    The Tortun Pathfinder provides a role that the Tortuns direly lack in; and that's a skirmisher to capture and contest fonts.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    Being turtle people, they were not exactly designed with mobility in mind.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora
    The Tortun Pathfinder creates a niche in the Tortun theme turns some of the usual Tortun qualities around. With much lower survivability, and lower damage, the Pathfinder provides a more viable early game in exchange for less power in the long run.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    With the ability to skirt the battlefield while the mainstay of the Tortun forces hold their ground, the Pathfinder finds a unique niche in the Tortun theme.​
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  6. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [​IMG]
    Draksar Spikeshell
    Faction: Sundered Lands
    Race: Draksar, Tortun | Class: Brute | Rarity: Exotic
    Artwork: By Eric Yan
    Flavor Text: "Another Groundpounder came back to the ship 'turned'.
    I don't know what Cap'n Mangleshell's up to, but I want no
    part in it, no sir."

    ~ Last entry in the journal of Corsair Grefka​
    Nora Cost: 84

    Champion Stats
    DAM: 14 | SPD: 5 | RNG: 1-2 | DEF: 3 | HP: 55

    Champion Abilities
    Attack: Physical

    Battlemaster (1) - Upgrades: [Battlemaster (2) (+1) | Battlemaster (3) (+2)
    Scrapper - Upgrades: [Berserker (3) (-1) | Kill Frenzy (-9)]
    Violent
    Razorback*
    - When this unit is attacked, this unit gains a rank of Tough for 4 turns. If the attack is a close-combat attack the attacking unit becomes Eviscerated 2.
    Ponderous
    Tortun Shell


    __________________________________________
    What role is this Rune intended to fill?
    The Draksar Spikeshell provides a dangerous melee combatant with a lot of beef, and a lot of damage to dish out. Designed to be up in the action, disrupting the enemies forces.​
    Why isn't this Rune's role being fulfilled by similar Runes?
    The Draksar Spikeshell brings us the first Sundered Lands Tortun under Mangleshell's command. I always found it strange to have a Sundered Lands Tortun hero, then nothing at all to give that split some love.​
    How is this Rune different from what is already in PoxNora
    Hopefully, my goal is to usher in a new era of Non-FW unconventional Tortun splits. With Violent providing synergy between both Draksar and Tortuns, it opens up some build diversity for Split-Faction or Full-Faction decks.​
    What makes this Rune unique and fun to use?
    To be honest? Because he's a juggernaught. Sometimes it's just satisfying to see a big baddie run into a group of enemies and fight to the death.​
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2014
  7. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    [RESERVED]
     
  8. OriginalG1

    OriginalG1 I need me some PIE!

    this is some official looking stuff. Tourtons are already split up in kf, fs, sl, and fw adding a SP/FS tourt seems really crazy to me. Cross-blade excites me.
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  9. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Thanks! :D The Rune mockups take a bit of work, but once I got the template set up it wasn't too difficult to replicate. When I have the time I'm hoping to see if I can do a mockup of the flipside of the rune, but unfortunately, I'm not good at pixel art, so I don't expect to do a model :3

    You pose a good point on how much the Tortuns are split. It would make more sense, logically to have a FS/FW Tortun hero with all the undead tortun action there is nowadays, but I was hesitant since Timothy the Vile is already a thing. Maybe when I'm done putting up the last four Torts I have locked and loaded I'll try experimenting with it.
     
  10. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Added some more Torts to the mix <3
     
  11. GabrielQ

    GabrielQ I need me some PIE!

    nice, where did you get so many anthropomorphic turtles artwork?
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  12. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Countless hours of scouring the internet. Mostly DeviantArt.

    (As you can tell, I really dig on Turtles.)
     
  13. OriginalG1

    OriginalG1 I need me some PIE!

    stoked about draksar spikeshell. SL could use some more torts! Just a little detail that makes him kinda confusing: the rune art you show has him at 5 speed, and the description says 6. I would love him at 6 speed.
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  14. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Whoopsie-doodle. Yeah, I put him at 5 speed to compensate for his high health and defense, and his decent damage. What are your thoughts on that in terms of balance?
     
  15. OriginalG1

    OriginalG1 I need me some PIE!

    I think most people would say my sense of game play balance is off. I am studying architecture though, so I am really good at finding any inconsistencies in design work. I like the idea of pathfinder being a cheep tortun, however I also believe he is a good detection candidate! Detection is something torts lack if I recall correctly.
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  16. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    They once had two sources of Detection; the Minelayer and the Corsair, but they both lost it in the recent patches (which makes me sad all day).
     
  17. OriginalG1

    OriginalG1 I need me some PIE!

    ah that is right! minelayer used to my favorite torton! He could hold a font down in his day!
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  18. Shell Dorado

    Shell Dorado The King of Potatoes

    Man, yeah he could. I remember just leaving a Minelayer and a Repeater at a font and it would never be taken ever.
     
    OriginalG1 likes this.
  19. Pheezy

    Pheezy The King of Potatoes

    Love the artwork! Would be pretty cool to see some of these runes in play haha. Especially the SL tortun (although not a split). Awesome stuff. :D
     
    Shell Dorado likes this.
  20. GabrielQ

    GabrielQ I need me some PIE!

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