Zone Effects in Use – Pics and a bit of a 4E battle report
We played the final, climactic battle in my friend Rick‘s 4E campaign ‘Post Tenebrous Lux’ last night, so I was able to trot out the Zone Effects markers for the first time. Now, I had only received them from Armorcast earlier that day, so I did not have time to paint them [thus all the markers are grey].
The Markers worked GREAT! We had several ongoing effects, a huge one that radiated out 5 squares in all directions from the origin point, a 3×3 zone of lightning that was in the midst of that, and the power which really showed how useful the markers were – a mobile 3×3 zone that the cleric set up.
While there was a tiny bit of confusion due to the markers from the three effects all being the same colour[easily remedied by PAINT], were able to easily distinguish between them and the areas they covered were obvious on the table top. I am quite certain that the cleric’s hopping zone would have been far less useful and far more difficult to adjudicate if we had not known exactly where it was each turn. As it was, that was the single most effective power in the battle. The cleric moved the zone just about every turn and it was easy to do [even on a crowded battlemap] and clearly denoted the affected square.
I was so pleased, I didn’t mind so much that my Avenger could not hit the broad side of an Oni.
Here are a couple of pics that my friend Erik [with a K!, dammit] took of the proceedings. Apologies for the photo quality, we had to choose between a camera from a phone and no camera at all.
Rick has posted a session report on his site, so you can read the details of the end of his campaign over there.
on 07 Nov 2009 at 5:06 pm # Erik
I found the corners *insanely* useful. If I’d had to control that cleric’s zone by erasing and redrawing marker lines, or dragging pencils around, or 4d4 or something, there’s no way it would have worked remotely as well. The corners fit beautifully in the small space allowed by the other minis, and it made it easy to deal with.
on 07 Nov 2009 at 5:26 pm # Clint
Yeah, I REALLY want to get some of these painted up [in a few different paint schemes to reduce the possibility of confusion]. As it was, they certainly did not detract from the look of the game, but I think even a basic paint job will have them adding some coolness to the tabletop.
And for the Sorcerer’s lightning box – Lightning Breath [Sorcerer 1 Daily] it meant that it actually worked as a barrier, because the DM could see where it was and had to either work around it or suck it up.
on 09 Nov 2009 at 9:08 am # Trachalio
They look great man! I’ll be ordering them as soon as they’re available
on 09 Nov 2009 at 9:14 am # Clint
Hey Trachalio,
There are available even now. Just click on this link to the product.
More to come – a Bloodied base, 4 mark like markers, a Cloud/mist Zone effect similar to the Flame Effects, and the first wall – stone.
on 09 Nov 2009 at 10:33 am # Trachalio
Oh, I knew the fire ones were available but I was waiting on the rest so I could make a single order
on 09 Nov 2009 at 10:41 am # Clint
Fair enough. But you should know that it may be a few months before we get all the Zone Effects in production. I have a lot of other commitments right now, so I won’t even be able to shake free time to sculpt more til after Christmas.
The Cloud and the other stuff mentioned in this blog should be out in the next couple of weeks though.
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see for new Zone Effects, fire away.
Cheers
Clint
on 10 Nov 2009 at 10:03 am # Trachalio
A “Free Chocolate” zone would be heavenly
on 11 Nov 2009 at 10:31 am # Clint
I have always been in favour of ‘Free Cholocate’. I think it is deplorable the way they are kept in forced labour camps.