Looking for Ideas - Walter the Wobot

[MongooseMatt]

We have a miniature of Walter the Wobot, and he will be available soon enough, but we have a problem.

I am kinda drawing a blank on what he should actually do in the game (one of the rules we have for this range is that everything should have a purpose in the game itself).

He should probably only be available when Dredd himself is about, but can we make him useful in a firefight? Or should he be something the opposing player can purchase when Dredd is used by the Justice Department, thus becoming a foil of sorts?

What do you think?

 

[Dave Chase]

He can be purchased by the other side (not the one Dredd is on) but both sides can move him.

He is a distraction for Dredd.

Dave Chase

 

[Da Boss]

mobile cover?

Reward to the player if you keep him alive

 

[cfirpi]

YEah.

For a non dredd side he is mobile cover for a side with Dredd he can also attempt to
1) once pergame heal Dredd of 1d5 hits
2) On a failed agility check can take damage for Dredd
3) with a will check can give on of his actions to Dredd
If controlled by the non-Dredd site he does the opposite, wounds, ensures the enmy hits or loses actions as Walter the Wobot fumbles him, gets in the way and just overall makes himself an incredible nuisance.

 

[cheetor]

From time to time I would love to play games featuring Walter. I like the character and I am looking forward to painting the model up but I wouldnt like Walters banana-skin sort of antics to feature in every game that Dredd takes part in. I would like to play the occasional game with a more serious tone, rather than having to feature Walter if Dredd is on the table.

Walter strikes me as something suited to act as an environmental hazard in games, wandering around either under the control of a random side or acting according to some sort of routine. Although he has been instrumental in saving Dredd/MC1 on a few occasions, largely he is a nuisance. Wandering around in the middle of the table disrupting firing lines and getting in the way sounds a little uninspired, but it does sum up the characters behaviour.

Of course, Walter would fit in more important roles during games based on specific stories, the First Robot War being the most obvious one.

 

[GamerDude]

We have a miniature of Walter the Wobot, and he will be available soon enough, but we have a problem.

I am kinda drawing a blank on what he should actually do in the game (one of the rules we have for this range is that everything should have a purpose in the game itself).

What do you think?

I say make it like "K-9" from that 'obscure' brit show from the telly "Dr. Who". Make his actions a little more random OR he helps Dread on a successful check.

I can just imagine it talking "Yes Mah-ster Dr-ead, com-pu-ting!"

 

[havercake lad]

A reto game might feature Walter as the leader of a robot rebellion, going back to the strip where the current Judge Giant got his full eagle.

Plus an even earlier strip had an evil 'brother' of Walter.

 

[Judge Xombe]

YEah.

For a non dredd side he is mobile cover for a side with Dredd he can also attempt to
1) once pergame heal Dredd of 1d5 hits
2) On a failed agility check can take damage for Dredd
3) with a will check can give on of his actions to Dredd
If controlled by the non-Dredd site he does the opposite, wounds, ensures the enmy hits or loses actions as Walter the Wobot fumbles him, gets in the way and just overall makes himself an incredible nuisance.

i'm liking this.

when dredd is on a force you could add:
if dredd player loses deployment initiative roll , opponent may choose to add walter to the table (for both sides to control as above)

you could also make it so that whoever loses initiative gets to activate walter that turn... maybe walter must always activates first or last. any combination of those ideas...

 

[Judge Xombe]

i suppose he could also have some kind of attachment bonus to a robot gang..

or he could give a dredd player some kind of bonus when facing a robot gang

 

[steders]

Going to have to dig out my old comics, but I'm sure Walter was more of a help than a hinderance, even by accident. Even when Walter got into trouble Dredd would risk life and limb to save him, (showing he did actually care about something).
He also turned evil and tried to kill Dredd (but repented)
Although I do like the suggestions given by cfirpi, I'd see him more as an Umpire driven scenario specific character, a linked mini campaign 'The Rise and fall of Walter the Wobot' which runs along side a main campaign. In the first scenario, whatever JD is doing Walter must deliver a flask of soup, even walking across expressways or through toxic pools. In the second scenario he has been captured by a gang of perps who want revenge against Dredd. In the final one a mysterious perp is trying to kill Dredd with elaborate traps (no brakes on lawmaster, out of control construction bot, etc its Walter!! Dredd has to take him down.

 

[nozza_uk]

Surely if we have Walter, then we need to have Maria?

 

[lastbesthope]

Surely if we have Walter, then we need to have Maria?

How do you solve a problem like Maria?



LBH

 

[Tordelback]

Been thinking about Walter's possible role in the game.

Strip-wise Walter's main role has been to save Dredd's tight-booted behind (he saves Dwedd in the Hall of Justice during the Apocalypse War, and triggers the booby trap in Wowdy Yates after Narcos' Doomsday), as well as a general irritant. I would make him a moveable obstacle, a double-edged sword but with greater benefit for the Justice Dept player, so allow him to function as a awkward bodyguard for any specified judge (not limited to Dredd) with the following rules:

- If Walter is within 6 inches of the specified model, then all attack rolls made against or by that model are at -1 for both players.

- Any one attack that would otherwise hit the specified model can be chosen to hit Walter instead.

Also, we desperately need Mrs. Gunderson and her apparent immunity to Judge Death.

 

[Doctor-Warlock]

He should also be "immune" to the Loyal Follower talent, after all he only idolizes Dredd!!

 

[havercake lad]

Maybe Walter can 'appear' near a threat to Dredd if the Lawman is shot at at close range. In the strips Walter arrives in the nick-of-time via hatches, grav cars etc.
Maybe he can take a hit for Dredd at the cost of his own (temporary) demise.

 

[FinH]

Beats me. I was just gonna use him to stand in for any generic, vaguely anthropomorphic robot in the Judge Dredd roleplaying game. Maybe he could supply Judge Dredd with a limited number of rerolls per game (like he needs them) by giving him a nice hot, steaming cup of synthi-caf if he comes into base-to-base contact.

 

[squattingmouse]

How about a he costs no points but the controlling player is random? So he has to try and stay within a set distance of Dredd and if able to interferes with his actions?

Although quoting what some may regard as the satanic prohepsy something like Gollum from the GW lord of the rings game?

 

[Doctor-Warlock]

Although quoting what some may regard as the satanic prophesy something like Gollum from the GW lord of the rings game?

LMAO! Good Idea Though!

 

[squattingmouse]

LMAO! Good Idea Though!

He is generally the source of some of the more amusing incidents I've had playing that game. Bungling in between a charging troll and the ringbearer for example when the good player had control.