Inhalt:

• Der Beginn der Promo-Ära

• re161 - Khujeret

• re162 - Djakmaukar

• re163 - Ramkare

• re164 - Anunub

• re165 - Nessa Nettle

• re166 - Rowan

• re167 - Byrch

• re168 - Oakes

• re169 - Goltusep the Zombie

• re170 - Kerraii

• re171 - Digger Khep

• re172 - Ravarshi

• re173 - Fickett Townley

• re174 - Snow

• re175 - Alessi Ost

• re176 - Torengor

• Spielbarkeit

• Sammler-Preise

Der Beginn der Promo-Ära

Fickett Townley

WizKids hat sich vor allem in 1.0 - und hier besonders in den ersten Serien - viel Mühe gemacht, die Hintergründe und Geschichten rund um die Figuren und LE´s/Promos niederzuschreiben und uns mitzuteilen. Hier sind jene der ersten 16, jene der Serie Rebellion, mit berühmten Namen wie Anunub sowie den Helden aus den Rebellion und Unlimited Starter-Comics Kerrai, Rowan, Byrch und Karrudan´s Attentätter Snow.

Promos gab es auch nicht vom Start des Spieles Ende 2000 an, diese kamen erst gegen Ende des 1. Quartal 2001 vor Erscheinen der Lancers-Edition. Für Turniersiege gab es zu Beginn ´nur´ Rarity4 bis Rarity6 (also auch Uniques) - Figuren aus Boostern als Preis. Wer in den Anfangszeiten gesammelt hat, weiß vielleicht auch noch, dass Rarity 5 Figuren aus den Anfangsserien schon sehr schwer zu ziehen waren (wie zB. Skeleton***, Werewolf *** oder Ki Devil ***, ein Steam Golem *** war hingegen ´noch´ L4).

Die Texte sind original englisch und stammen aus der ersten Homepage von WK.

re161 - Khujeret

Khujeret is one of a handful of Utem Crossbowmen who was offered a promotion to the Guardsmen, but turned it down. He chose to remain with the Crossbowmen so he could continue his attempts to develop what he calls ra´Preysor, the Way of the Killing Shaft. His path is intended to teach a systematic approach to crossbow training, enabling warriors to reach higher levels of expertise.

re162 - Djakmaukar

Djakmaukar

Djakmaukar is an Utem Guardsmen of the first order, a man who has lived up to his early aptitude for greatness. Recently, Djakmaukar defeated a Temple Blademaster who made the mistake of underestimating him. Djakmaukar blindsided the Elf, driving the Blademaster back with a series of sudden, shocking blows. Before the Elven warrior could recover, Djakmaukar decapitated him with two swift slashes to the neck.

re163 - Ramkare

Ramkare, als Metal-Figur
der Non ´Brass Golem´

The Ramkare golems were designed by Guild Magus Korrinth, one of the best and brightest of Tezla´s students. Because of his exceptional magical skill in installing magestone spines, these golems performed better in combat than almost any production-class that followed. Magus Korrinth´s death in battle against the heretic Elementalists was a great tragedy. Who knows what kind of power his skills might have instilled in the more powerful varieties of combat golems that followed?

re164 - Anunub

Anunub is one of the new breed of scholar - mages who devote more attention to research than to combat, but his research lends itself readily to the battleground. Anunub´s successes in the field of telekinetic theory have prompted some technomancers to revisit the concept of flying golems. Anunub has been singled out by the Necropolis Sect´s Order of Vladd with orders to destroy on sight. What Anunub did to trigger that kind of attention is just another closely - guarded Guild secret.

re165 - Nessa Nettle

Nessa Nettle belongs to the Nam d´elvan, one of the nomadic tribes that never set down permanent roots on the plateau. Woodland scouts of these tribes are as highly valued for their speed afoot as they are condemned for their rogue behavior. It is not uncommon for a Nam d´elvan scout to appear in camp one night, enter a battle with the army the next, and disappear the following.

re166 - Rowan

"It was Weyr Anise who informed me I bore a natural aptitude for the Elemental school of magic. ´The seed of a special talent,´ he called it. And so I accepted his counsel, and his sponsorship to Sanctuary.

Lady Rowan

I attribute my skills as much to his kind guidance as to any special ability of my own. Once I was finally allowed to leave Sanctuary, I spent several years among the Seeker traditions, wandering, studying, and learning. Then I met Blackwyn and joined his cause. Mageprince or not, he respects The Land and the people, and he therefore is a leader I can support."

re167 - Byrch

The bladesman Byrch is making a name for himself, most recently as a member of Snow´s rebel command. Warlord Wither has set a bounty on his head great enough to make up for every purse Byrch has lifted off the fallen soldiers of the Necropolis Sect. Rumor claims Wither established the bounty after Byrch robbed two of Wither´s nightblade - scouts, letting them live only on condition that they deliver this message: "You should pay your warriors better. I have standards to maintain."

re168 - Oakes

˜excerpt from the report of Bracken Gall

"I came to a moment later. I could just see through a break in the undergrowth, and there he was. Oakes. No mistaking the scar. That ranger walked clear of some flowering fern as if he´d materialized there. He strode across the bloody field and cut through my prisoner´s bonds with his crystal sword. Together they faded into the woods, and I limped back here to report."
"One man. One ranger destroyed my entire command."

re169 - Goltusep the Zombie

While most zombies are roughly comparable in combat, differentiated only by their staying power, some few show a definite edge. The zombies created by the necromancer Goltusep, for instance. Goltusep was known for his shadow armor, and some of this strength leeched into the corpses he animated, making them more resistant to steel or magic.

re170 - Kerraii

Nightblades are rarely trusted by their commanders or comrades. The few exceptions to this rule are extraordinary warriors like Kerraii, who fought hard to escape the damnation of the deathsport games and then turned her back on the Sect to seek a more honorable path. Kerraii is a member of Snow's well - known mercenary team, which serves the warlord Blackwyn. She has proved herself an impressive and respected warrior with a strong aversion for ´anything that smells of the Sect.´

re171 - Digger Khep

It is perhaps fortunate for the Sect that Grave Robbers rarely retain enough intelligence to understand how their masters have twisted and used them. Still, a few, like Khep, retain their mental faculties. Such men are considered dangerous, and would be destroyed if not for their refined skill in necromancy and even in combat. This makes them an asset on the battlefield, not to be lightly thrown away. But as more of these grave robbers defect from the Necropolis Sect, this policy could change on a moment´s notice.

Ravarshi

re172 - Ravarshi

Feral bloodsuckers are powerful but undependable fighters who constantly test their allies´ mettle, challenging them and demanding constant shows of strength. Ravarshi is no exception. Although Ravarshi sought out human contact, drawing warriors and magespawn into the fist he leads, he still remains a wild and unpredictable force. This savage warrior sometimes joins warhosts just for the pleasure of killing.

re173 - Fickett Townley

For the longest time, the widespread availability of freelance pistolmen out of Khamsin encouraged warlords to treat them as disposable. It took Fickett Townley and his veteran Irregulars to show the value of a well - organized pistol company. Wheeling his three small squads around the field on seemingly reckless maneuvers, Townley can harry an enemy line until it breaks out of sheer frustration. His pistolmen's stinging attacks turn most lethal when Townley begins his trademark ´leapfrog advance´, moving and firing his squads in staggered order.

re174 - Snow

"Rowan, It is only fair to return your courtesy with some history of how I came into Blackwyn´s service.

Karrudan´s Attentäter: Snow

You know I am a Khamsin native, and you no doubt have an idea of what that implies. I came too late to fight in the civil war that destroyed our kingdom - state, though I saw some action in the many chaotic struggles following that bloody time. I held the rank of captain, which meant I shot well enough that they trusted me with a Dwarven - made fuser–a rifle, in the common tongue. This one piece of equipment and slightly more extensive training are all that separate me from the pistolman freelancers you may have met. There is not much to this once - secret weapon: a long barrel attached to a short wooden stock, which can hurl a small metal ball with killing force. The only real mystery is the black powder, which must be purchased from rebel suppliers.

As an officer I commanded a small troop of men. Eventually I sent them to their deaths. Our warlord, a prince - pretender of Khamsin, had decided we were ´expendable´ and offered us up as bait for a trap he then failed to spring in time. Only one of my men made it out with me, and he later died from his wounds.

After my ... resignation ... I was forced from Khamsin and took to mercenary ways. The story of that time would cover too many pages to tell here. But eventually I met up with Blackwyn, then a simple mercenary commander, and he took me on for the battle near Xandressa. In the long retreat that followed, I found in him honor, and loyalty to his men. It was enough to remind me why I had first begun to fight: to support a just cause. So I stayed with him. And eventually, before the battle of Black Ridge, he introduced me to you."

By my hand, 432 Tz, Snow

re175 - Alessi Ost

Although most leech medics are fairly ineffective fighters, the exception is Alessi Ost and others like her from the free - territory of Scythria. With her detailed knowledge of anatomy and´some say´lethal drugs, Alessi and her brethren can strike hard and fast and leave even experienced warriors writhing in the dust. The fact that many soldiers tend to discount field medics as a potential threat only works further in her favor.

re176 - Torengor

Torengor

The Dwarf Torengor is one of a select few berserkers who pursue the skills of combat off the field, always preparing for their next battle. As a consequence, his first great blow often inflicts a mortal wound on an enemy. Very little in life seems to bring this great warrior joy, unfortunately, which he often hints has something to do with his past. "I am a little man," he has been known to say, "with a big ax to grind."

Spielbarkeit

Diese erste Serie beinhaltet wohl jene LE, von der man zu Recht behaupten kann, dass sie die begehrteste Figur des gesamten (also auch incl. 2.0, wenn auch die Spielbarkeit aufgrund der Regeländerungen dahin war) Spieles war: Anunub. Dies hat sich auch im Preis niedergeschlagen, dazu jedoch später.

Anunub - die am teuersten
gehandelte Promo in Mage Knight

Die Promo der Demi-Magus-Figur mit ihren 32 Punkten besticht auf den ersten Blick sicher nicht mit ihren Kampfwerten: 8 Angriff, 14 Verteidigung, selbst für Rebellion Verhältnisse wenig. Was Anunub so mächtig machte war in seinen Spezialfähigkeiten wie aber auch in Kombination mit einer mit "´Nub" gespielten Amotep Gunner *** Fernkampfformation zu suchen. Mit magischer Levitation, magischem Schuss bei einer Reichweite von 12" und magischer Unterstützung war er der Allround-Magier schlechthin und sein geringer Punktewert unterstrich dies nur noch mehr. Als zentrale Figur von Levitations-Rammen (LE Wandering Mochoch zB), oder der JoJo-Taktik mit schnellschießenden Figuren (zB. Scorpem Gunner***) spielte er die Levitation aus, als Teil einer Amotep Gunner Einheit seinen magischen Schuss als Hauptangreifer (dann mit 10 Angriff bis zu 6 Schaden) oder als magischer Unterstützer, bei der die Formation auf 12 Angriff und 4 Schaden raufkam - mit Punktekosten von 32+24+24=80 in einem 200 Punktespiel wohl die mächtigste Fernkampfformation lange Zeit.

Die zweite Figur aus dieser Serie, die zumindest öfter am Schlachtfeld zu erblicken war (wiewohl weit weg von Anunub), war die LE der Heilerin Leech Medic - Alessi Ost. Ab und zu auch noch die mit 10" weit gehende Nessa Nettle, beide Figuren denke ich aber zumeist eher aus dem Zwang heraus, fraktionsrein/formationsgebunden zu bleiben.

Als absolut spielbar und ihren Punktekosten gerecht werdend sehe ich auch noch Djakmaukar (9 Angriff mit Waffenmeister, 3 Schaden, für 17 Punkte sehr günstig, und Ravarshi, der mit 10 Fliegen und 11 Angriff/Waffenmeister für 36 Punkte sicher zu den stärksten Nahkämpfern in 1.0 gehörte. Auch Kerrai (getarnt, 10/3 für 19 Pkte), Oakes (getarnt, 10/3 für 23 Pkte) und Byrch (Waffenmeister 10 für 19 Pkte) fallen vor allem durch ihr gutes Preis-/Leistungsverhältnis in diese Gruppe. Ich denke aber vor allem, dass von diesen 5 Figuren nicht wirklich viele in Europa unterwegs waren.

Sammler-Preise

Mir liegt eine Liste eines amerikanischen Händlers aus dem Juli 2003 (also Wechsel 1.0 auf 2.0) vor, in der Anunub mit noch sagenhaften USD 350 (Wechselkurs damals in etwa 1:1) drinsteht - und das war (bis) zu dieser Zeit wohl auch sehr realisitisch. An diese Preisgrenze kamen meiner Erfahrung nur Bakkus und Khumeret of Caero ran - dies aber nur für kurze Zeit. Der tiefste von mir beobachtete Preis für ´Nub war Anfang 2007 für rund €20,-.

Byrch

Preise zu den anderen Figuren Mitte 2003: zwischen 50 (Fickett, Goltusep) und 75 (Oakes, Snow) USD, also ebenfalls satt. Auch die Preise der weniger begehrten Figuren sind nach dem Ende des Games gefallen, so um die 10-15 €. Jedoch waren und sind im Moment (2009/2010) diese Figuren nur sehr selten auf ebay zu finden, und eine steigende Tendenz der Preise ist ebenfalls wieder zu beobachten.

Zu den Auflagezahlen lagen und liegen keine offiziellen Werte seitens Wk vor, jedoch erinnere ich mich an eine Diskussion auf realms, bei der ein WK-vertrauter Spieler die Stückzahlen der 1.0 Serien bei Promos mit generell 1000 je Figur weltweit bezifferte. Ausnahmen hierzu seien die Conquest-Promos und jene Unlimited gewesen, die mit Regelwechsel 1.0/2.0 den Sekundärmarkt überschwemmten und als Preise für das Unrestricted-Format in 2.0 herhielten.

strat, 07.03.2010

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Für die Statistikwerte der Figuren die Battleplanner-Dateien im Download-Bereich