Cactus Game Design Message Boards

While brainstorming ideas for a new project, I gathered upon an idea for a new special ability.

Individual Strike
"If character is the only character in battle (or all characters of the same alignment have Individual Strike) and is opposed by multiple characters, this character battles them in the order they entered battle. (All characters are still in battle, but when determining initiative and outcome by numbers, each opposing character is treated separately.)"

To try and give an example of this (admittedly confusing) ability, let's make a hypothetical card. To fit with the ability, we'll make Joseb (one of David's Mighty Men, who killed three hundred people with a spear in one encounter) a 7/9 red hero with Individual Strike. Let's say that he attacks, and is blocked by Assyrian Archer (3/5) banded to the Rabsaris (8/8) banded to Assyrian Siege Army (12/12). If the battle were to end right there,  Joseb would defeat Archer, would have a stalemate with Rabsaris, and be defeated by Siege Army. Archer and Joseb would be discarded, and Rabsaris and Siege Army would return to their owner's territory. If the battle were not to end there, Joseb would have initiative (since he is being defeated and evil characters are surviving).

What do you guys think? Rewording, criticism?

For initiative, the rule of thumb would be the first strength higher than your toughness or the highest toughness higher than your strength, whichever comes first. Joseb would need to get his strength to 12 (enough to kill Siege Army) before the blockers had initiative. Any other hero would have until his strength was 25 (5+8+12), but Joseb is defeating all of them much earlier.

How would banding work with Joseb? Let's use your example except Asahel is banding to Joseb. Would Asahel's numbers combine with Joseb's against each EC and therefore be killing ASA and Rabsaris in addition to Archer? I can't really think of an alternative besides making the rule that Gladiators cannot be banded in or use banding abilities which would be fitting since he was flying solo.

Cleave seems to be the opposite of what you want (hitting multiple things at a time) so I don't think that would fit. What about "Individual Strike"? It's similar to "First Strike" and also conveys how it works (the characters fight on an individual basis).

That's a neat idea!

Only thing is I could see this making some super confusing situations.