An Oni Rework

[Hobby Wyrd]

Heya Wyrdos,

Asami Tanaka has struggled to find a healthy place in Malifaux, Third Edition. Her special connection to the Oni is very interesting and ties her to conflicts in Malifaux, Earth and the Beyond. Asami was also one of the first non-Dual Factioned Ten Thunders Masters in the game, giving her a lot of visibility and name recognition. Oni models are flavorful and a lot of fun to paint. All of these things should combine into a Master and Keyword that folks are excited to play, but Asami has struggled to translate that excitement to gameplay. In the lore, the transitory nature of Oni models makes perfect sense, but its current implementation makes her difficult to learn and explain to players. This is a shame, because the Oni Keyword has some of the most interesting sculpts in the Ten Thunders Faction.

To help Asami Tanaka and the Oni Keyword out, we’re taking a similar approach to what we did with Som’er Teeth Jones and his Big Hat Keyword by giving Oni a full Keyword Rework. There are a lot of reasons for doing a full Keywork Rework instead of changing a few specific models, the biggest one being the number of shared Abilities in the Keyword that need to change.

Reasoning for Keyword Rework

When we were reviewing the Oni Keyword cards, the same thing continued to come up as one of the major issues: Flicker Tokens and how the Crew used them. On the surface, Flicker Tokens seemed like an interesting direction for the Crew but they had a lot of problems, mainly around balance and ease of learning.

In regards to balance, Flicker Tokens made the models into the ultimate glass cannons. Flicker Tokens added a + to both the duel and damage, this allowed the Keyword to gain the benefits of the Focused Condition at the cost of gaining a Flicker Token. This meant that Oni models punched above their weight class and did not need to spend precious Actions Concentrating. The downside to this power was that any Oni model that used From Beyond too often would die. This made expendable models, like Summons, too good with From Beyond, while lynchpin models like Henchmen often avoided using their Keyword mechanic.

Balancing Flicker Tokens required adjusting multiple Abilities, shared across loads of models throughout the Keyword. An Oni needed both From Beyond and Devour Souls to give that model a way to gain and spend Flicker Tokens, or they had no game effects. Additionally, Emerald Shimmer was necessary on the Leader of an Oni Crew to prevent enemy Obeys from forcing Oni models to gain Flicker and die. This caused a lot of problems when designing Oni models with more than one Keyword. Defining Flicker Tokens took up a lot of space, and if they used Flicker they were a liability to a Keyword not designed around helping manage their Flicker. This resulted in newer Oni models only interacting with Flicker Tokens in passing.

Flicker Tokens also increased the barrier to entry for the Oni Keyword. Most Summoners in Malifaux follow a similar template. Fulfill the requirements for targeting and have the correct card and suit in hand, and you can Summon a model that will stay on the table until it dies. Oni models bucked this trend as Oni Summons came in with enough Flicker Tokens to die after they Activated. This caused an issue for newer players as it was harder to understand how to use their Summons compared to other Masters. It also made the Keyword have a lot of resources to track as models were Summoned in with Flicker Tokens and gained more Flicker Tokens with From Beyond. Understanding when a model reached a dangerous point took a lot of trial and error.

That said, once a player understood the workings of Flicker Tokens they could be abused. Between spikey damage tracks, Unnatural Speed Triggers and Demise effects, an Oni player could dominate an opponent by gaining five or more Flicker Tokens in a single Activation as nothing stopped an Oni model from going past the three Flicker Token limit during an Activation.

Focus of the Rework

To address these issues, we focused on streamlining the Keyword and limiting the Keyword’s dependence on Flicker Tokens. To do so we started by removing From Beyond, Devour Souls, and Emerald Shimmer from the Keyword, and instead defined Flicker Tokens on the Summon Upgrade. This allows players to always know how long a Summoned Oni model would stay on the table. To make up for the lack of + flips, we made the Oni Keyword sturdier, gave them ways to add additional damage, and situational + flips on Attack Actions. To tie these changes together and to make up for the removal of the Keyword defining From Beyond Ability, we decided to expand upon a mechanic that Asami Tanaka, Shintaku pioneered: Rift Markers.

Currently, Asami Tanaka, Shintaku Drops Rift Markers and uses them herself in interesting ways, but they were not integrated into the Crew very well due to the fact that the Crew came out before Asami’s title. This rework allowed us to design the entire Keyword in harmony from the ground up, and in doing so, sprinkle Rift Marker synergies around the entire Keyword. Where before Rift Markers were used solely to teleport Oni models around the table, they now are also used for + flips, to target enemies at range, for increased healing, and other benefits.

To help make sure that there are enough Rift Markers on the table to be a threat, a majority of the Oni models have a new Ability: Demise (Spiritual Tear).

This Ability allows Oni models to continue to affect the board after they are removed, Creating Rift Markers that are either an impediment to enemies or a resource to the remaining Oni models.

Card Break Downs

In addition to the Flicker Token changes, we looked at the Keyword as a whole and solidified the connection between Keyword’s playstyle and lore. Oni are driven by aggression and are known for being a threat. In this Rewrite we wanted to make sure to keep the underlying theme of aggression across both Titles and the Crew. Furthermore, since Oni models come from the Beyond we want players using this Crew to feel like they are bending the rules of space.

Now, let’s look at some of the cards!

Asami Tanaka

On the surface, Asami Tanaka’s card hasn’t changed that much. She still has Another Mouth to Feed, a Summon Action and a way to move models around. To really understand how her playstyle has changed we need to start with her brand new Upgrades.

The Hunt Through Time and Space Upgrade is Attached to the Crew if Asami Tanaka is the Leader. This is a new way of Attaching Upgrades in Malifaux and is something we’re thinking of doing more often going forward. Attaching Upgrades to the Crew in this way allows for three benefits: The first is that it is another way to differentiate Titles, as each Title can have their own Crew Upgrade. Secondly, it simplifies model cards as we can put Crew-wide Abilities and Actions on the Upgrade and not have to repeat them across multiple models. This both frees up space on model cards and makes it easier to modify Crew-wide Abilities in the future. Finally, it means that Keyword models will not have access to Keyword-specific Abilities when taken by a different Keyword, limiting the power of hiring a model Out-of-Keyword.

The Hunt Through Time and Space Upgrade gives the Crew two powerful Abilities. The first is Not of this Reality, which makes it so Oni models are not harmed by Rift Markers. The other Ability, Violation of Reality, is what shakes up the way Asami Tanaka plays. Violation of Reality allows Oni models to draw LoS and range for y Actions from Friendly Rift Markers within a8. Being able to target models 8” away through a Rift Marker forces Asami to think ahead when Creating Rift Markers, gives Asami Tanaka a benefit for having friendly Oni die near enemy models, and allows the Keyword to play more aggressively.

Now that From Beyond doesn’t exist, the Given Flesh Upgrade has changed a lot. When a model is Summoned by Asami Tanaka it comes into play with up to two Flicker Tokens. Flicker Tokens can be gained by either Summoning in a model of 6 cost or less or by Summoning closer to enemy models. Flicker Tokens are removed at the end of the Turn so both players know exactly how long a model will survive. This means that it is very difficult to keep a Summon alive for the entire game, but easier to keep it alive for two to three Turns.

With this knowledge the changes to Asami Tanaka’s playstyle are more clear. Beyond’s Reward gives Asami Tanaka a benefit for killing enemy models with Another Mouth to Feed. Demonic Tresses and Open the Rift are great ways to get additional Rift Markers on the table. From the Maw, They Come, may be very similar to the currently live version, but the changes to the Given Flesh Upgrade mean that Asami Tanaka is incentivized to get close to enemy models as Summoning near a clump of enemies will increase the amount of time a large model like a Jorogumo will remain on the table.

All of this combines to give Asami Tanaka a definitive playstyle. She is an aggressive Master who wears down enemy models with either a lot of Summoned models or a few big Summons. Killing or allowing her Summons to Flicker out of existence doesn’t lower her threat, as each death will add another Hazardous Rift Marker to the table and another spot for models to directyAttacks through.

Asami Tanaka, Shintaku

The best thing about the Title system is that it allows each Title to utilize their Keyword in different ways. This is especially interesting for Summoning Masters, as a non-Summoning Title provides new ways to view a Keyword. That said, creating a non-Summoning Title that is internally balanced against its Summoning Title is a difficult task. Summoned models tend to be a bit weaker than non-Summoned models of similar Cost and Station.

Som’er Teeth Jones, Loot Monger, sidestepped this issue by having a way to grow Bayou Gremlins into larger Minions. While he didn’t directly Summon in larger models, “Take This Seriously!” allowed the Crew to get a similar efficiency. Here we did not go that route. Instead, Asami Tanaka, Shintaku’s design allows her ways to protect her hired models more efficiently through the A Mother’s Love Ability.

A Mother’s Love lets Asami Tanaka, Shintaku reduce damage to friendly Oni Models in a8 and suffer the damage herself instead. This elevates her to a true support piece for the Oni Crew and it feels like she takes all of their lives very seriously. To go along with this theme Asami Tanaka, Shintaku digs deeper into support with some new Actions.

Oni’s Strength gives Fast to friendly Oni models and A Heavenly Design is a very efficient way to Heal the damage Asami Tanaka, Shintaku suffers from A Mother’s Love. Rounding out her update, she gained a new version of Spiritual Pressure that Drops Rift Markers instead of giving out Injured and a new Upgrade, Entangled Spiritsl, which gives Oni Models Not of This Reality and a way to teleport around the board with Dimensional Rifts.

These Actions and Abilities combine to create a different type of aggression than the original Asami Tanaka has. Where Asami Tanaka is all about bogging down an enemy and taking them out via volume of Summoned models, Asami Tanaka, Shintaku powers up a few chosen Oni models and makes sure they’re exactly where they can do the most damage. Giving a large beater like Ama No Zako Fast and Focused and teleporting her into an enemy is a threat like no other, but it is balanced by the limited range from which Asami Tanaka, Shintaku can protect and support her Crew.

Minako and the Katashiro

Before we get to the rest of the cards we wanted to discuss Minako Rei and the Katashiro models. Minako Rei is not part of the Oni Keyword but she can Summon an Oni model, and Katashiro can use Flicker Tokens. To ensure the changes to Katashiro don’t unfairly penalize Minako, she has been adjusted alongside them.

Katashiro were changed pretty radically as they were very efficient models. Between Made to Kill and Blown by the Wind they were able to be Scheme runners or melee pieces. They were even able to pitch in as anti-Condition models with a combination of Spiritual Transference and Shrug Off. This made it very difficult for other Oni Minions to find a role a Katashiro couldn’t do better. To help with this, Katashiros were updated to be more of an annoyance piece than a jack of all trades. At 3 Cost and with the Demise (Torn Up) Ability that functions similar to Demise (Cannon Fodder), they are a good model to Summon near an enemy to get a Made to Kill hit off and then die and Create a Rift. Their new melee Action Paper Cuts gives them a secondary role as an anti-Schemer.

As for Minaki, she received the most changes to her Summon Action. Create Katashiro is now a f Action with a lower and standardized TN. Beyond her Summon, Minako’s Metal Claws gained the Instigate Trigger which makes putting out the Karmic Fate Upgrade easier and she has a new version of Spiritual Transference with the Focused Cleansing Trigger.

We hope that these changes allow her to be just as popular, but with a different role. Current Minako Rei is a great Summoner, but she is resource intensive and has a habit of falling behind. With Create Katashiro as a fAction and more opportunity to affect the board by removing Conditions or putting out the Karmic Fate Upgrade, she should be a threat in her own right, rather than just a threat for what she can Summon.

Rest of the Cards

Without further ado, let's look at the rest of the cards!

Updated Card Availability

For those excited, the Oni Rework cards will be available soon in a few ways:

• Visible in the Malifaux Crew Builder Application.
• Print for free from the Wyrd Dropbox.
• Order from DriveThruRPG.

That’s it for Oni! We hope that you enjoy this Rework for the Keyword as much as we enjoyed writing it and I look forward to seeing a lot of amazing Oni paint jobs at upcoming events. Get out there and show Misaki Katanaka that she is wrong for underestimating the threat of the Oni and the Beyond.

[Undead Content]

Well this is a big rework and I'm excited about it. 

However, I'm also interested in if this errata cycle only affects Oni, or if we can expect some surgical changes elsewhere?

[abunboy]

Asami is planned to be my next master and keyword after Linh Ly, so I'm very excited to see this rework now! Can't wait to see how it plays on the field!

[Okairo]

Does this mean Story of Suzaku will get reworked before release too? Its abilities don't utilize Rift Markers, but it's main synergy requires removing a flicker to gain burning. So it can only be hired in Asami 1 lists?

[BigHammer]

31 minutes ago, Okairo said:

Does this mean Story of Suzaku will get reworked before release too? Its abilities don't utilize Rift Markers, but it's main synergy requires removing a flicker to gain burning. So it can only be hired in Asami 1 lists?

The same action can also remove a condition for the cost, so it's simple enough to, eg, use an Obsidian Oni to attack a friendly Oni model to heal them and give them stunned, then have Suzaku remove the Stunned for the cost instead, if running Shintaku.

[Okairo]

I guess, but I'd love to see it say "Remove a Rift Marker or a condition..." instead - given the rework to have Rift markers so easily dropped. Makes it far more likely for Story to what Story is supposed to do without having to attack your own models or waiting for conditions on friendly models.

[Mortarion]

I am really liking these Keyword reworks (and the detailed reasoning behind them). In fact, I wouldn't mind having the next book/release cycle be just a collection of Keyword reworks and some new sculpts for the models to accompany the new rules. There are still a lot of old models with rules which feel quite outdated.