Man, thank you so much for this video! My kids and i have been playing JOTL gor the past year and have LOVED it!!! Rather than waiting for GH 2.0 we are going to jump to FH next. This won't be until December probably, but we are already looking at starter / non-spoiler info. Most of what i had seen about Banner Spear just seemed overly down on her. But knowing how we play and specifically how my oldest daughter, 15, plays i kept thinking, "She seems like she'd be good!" This video sealed it for me and I'm going to recommend my daughter pick her. My son, 9, may even want to do it instead of Drifter after he watches this! Seriously, great info. Thanks again! Im definitely going to see what else you have on FH now. 🤘👍
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it and have fun in Frosthaven. I know I emphasized my preferred build in this video, but one of the great things about the Banner Spear is she is very versatile. She can be a strong support/healer type as well.
Just watched this again with my kids. They agreed, really great. I may listen to your hour long one tomorrow! Since you seem to have a bead on this and can explain stuff, have you played Deathwalker or Blink Blade? I'm tempted to take on Deathwalker as my first class but read so much negativity on it. I feel like it's like Banner Spear though and people don't know how to play them. Blink Blade gets a lot of love and looks like a lot of fun but looks like our party will be Boneshaper, Drifter and Banner Spear so I feel like Deathwalker could be a lot of fun. Plus I love being the dark shadow operative! Haha I played Demolitionist in JOTL and love them. But I would like something that's more ranged or support this time. Less, "go in to bam and boom".
I think it can be helpful to add a ranged class in the Deathwalker to your group. The Drifter, Banner Spear and skeletons will all be up front already. I think the problem with the Deathwalker is it needs a level or two before it really starts to get powerful combinations. But with your enjoyment of the Demolitionist, I think you'll be just fine!
Love this class reached lvl 6 with it an im not trying to ritire. I suggest playing it one difficulty higher and enable to speak about the cards everybody is gona use so u can get the formations off easier. Dont play it with gimini that or another class that requires specific positioning to be able to attack.
Sadly, yes. Right from page 21 of the rulebook: "When any figure or hex is targeted by any ability, the acting figure must have a clear line‑of‑sight to the target in order to perform the ability."
The biggest problems I see with the Banner Spear are: 1) for the amount of setup and coordination required to enable to formations, they are not that powerful. Most are Attack 3 in some sort of pattern with a condition applied. That's very mediocre damage for abilities that, due to the complex positioning required, are far from guaranteed to hit multiple enemies. That is ignoring the fact that - due to the general way the game works - high damage single target attacks are almost universally more valuable than middling damage AOE attacks. Dead enemies cannot act. Damaged enemies can. Banner Spear has a few high damage abilities, but the positioning requirements make them hazardous. 2) The fact that the formations are all or nothing, failing to go off entirely when the requirements are met, is very poor game design. I cannot think of any other class that has such a restrictive mechanic. For everybody else, it's a Base effect, which is enhanced by some means. Say an attack that consumes an element to get additional effects. If something messes up the positioning with Banner Spear, you can enjoy a round of basic action attacks. 3) The Banners are another very underwhelming feature. The buffs are decent, but the static nature of them means it requires a significant investment in resources to lugging them around, or they get left behind, wasting a loss card on a 10 card character. 4) Banner Blade is outshone by the Drifter in almost all regards. With the correct persistent cards out, Drifter is simply better than Banner Spear at everything except AOEs and party wide buffs, both of which have problems of their own, as detailed above. In short, I argue that Banner Spear is a class built around a poorly designed mechanic that required an inordinate amount of coordination for pretty lackluster payoff. Especially at low levels, the character feels like a collection of really disappointing gimmicks that were apparently not thought through all that well.
You make some very strong points here, for sure. The Banner Spear isn't rated so lowly by mistake, that's for sure. 1) I agree with this to a certain point, but with one caveat. For each extra target you can get into a formation, their power level multiplies, even if they are only base attack 3s in many cases. I think the better you can plan and utilize the formation, the more true value you get out of them. I almost always got at least 2 enemies in multiple target formations, and sometimes 3 or even 4. 3 attack 3s is still quite a strong action. But I totally agree that they do have a fiddliness you have to deal with. 2) I more strongly agreed with you here. That's perhaps the biggest downfall of the Banner Spear. If you are prepping for a formation and it falls apart it turns into a total fail rather than a less effective attack. 3) I agree quit a bit here as well. I only used banners in very specific situations, and never made them a point of focus. The benefits they give are more "nice to have" than truly powerful. And loss cards in most cases have more power. 4) I haven't played the drifter nor seen him played, so I can't comment much here, but maybe I'll pick up the drifter after my next retirement. Thanks for watching and for the lengthy and detailed comments!
Man, thank you so much for this video!
My kids and i have been playing JOTL gor the past year and have LOVED it!!! Rather than waiting for GH 2.0 we are going to jump to FH next. This won't be until December probably, but we are already looking at starter / non-spoiler info. Most of what i had seen about Banner Spear just seemed overly down on her. But knowing how we play and specifically how my oldest daughter, 15, plays i kept thinking, "She seems like she'd be good!" This video sealed it for me and I'm going to recommend my daughter pick her. My son, 9, may even want to do it instead of Drifter after he watches this!
Seriously, great info. Thanks again! Im definitely going to see what else you have on FH now. 🤘👍
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it and have fun in Frosthaven. I know I emphasized my preferred build in this video, but one of the great things about the Banner Spear is she is very versatile. She can be a strong support/healer type as well.
Just watched this again with my kids. They agreed, really great. I may listen to your hour long one tomorrow!
Since you seem to have a bead on this and can explain stuff, have you played Deathwalker or Blink Blade? I'm tempted to take on Deathwalker as my first class but read so much negativity on it. I feel like it's like Banner Spear though and people don't know how to play them. Blink Blade gets a lot of love and looks like a lot of fun but looks like our party will be Boneshaper, Drifter and Banner Spear so I feel like Deathwalker could be a lot of fun. Plus I love being the dark shadow operative! Haha
I played Demolitionist in JOTL and love them. But I would like something that's more ranged or support this time. Less, "go in to bam and boom".
I think it can be helpful to add a ranged class in the Deathwalker to your group. The Drifter, Banner Spear and skeletons will all be up front already.
I think the problem with the Deathwalker is it needs a level or two before it really starts to get powerful combinations. But with your enjoyment of the Demolitionist, I think you'll be just fine!
Yep, here's where I'd said all the things already. 😁 I knew I did! I'm commenting and reading and watching so much I lose track! 😜
great video! looking forward to more
Thank you! I plan to keep these coming.
Watch the old guide of u and it was realy great im interested to see how u brake it down now.
Another banger.. the other one is more complete but liked that u spoke about party size with this one. U have another sub;)
Thanks for watching and for the sub. Party size does make a difference for this class.
This class seems like it'd be great in a full, four person party and with a necro who's putting out summons (allies) everywhere.
This is 💯 true. In the right party, the Banner Spear can really cook!
Love this class reached lvl 6 with it an im not trying to ritire. I suggest playing it one difficulty higher and enable to speak about the cards everybody is gona use so u can get the formations off easier.
Dont play it with gimini that or another class that requires specific positioning to be able to attack.
I like that idea.
Pinning Charge with Boneshaper seems to make sense. A Boneshaper in the group really seems to change this class’s direction.
That's a good point. I had a Boneshaper in the party when I took that card, but he then retired a couple scenarios later and I kept on going!
@@PTD-Gamingoh man! Good point.
do you really need line of sight for the at all costs heal? it says all allies
Sadly, yes. Right from page 21 of the rulebook: "When any figure or hex is targeted by any ability, the acting figure must have a clear line‑of‑sight to the target in order to perform the ability."
@@PTD-Gaming 😭
The biggest problems I see with the Banner Spear are:
1) for the amount of setup and coordination required to enable to formations, they are not that powerful. Most are Attack 3 in some sort of pattern with a condition applied. That's very mediocre damage for abilities that, due to the complex positioning required, are far from guaranteed to hit multiple enemies. That is ignoring the fact that - due to the general way the game works - high damage single target attacks are almost universally more valuable than middling damage AOE attacks. Dead enemies cannot act. Damaged enemies can. Banner Spear has a few high damage abilities, but the positioning requirements make them hazardous.
2) The fact that the formations are all or nothing, failing to go off entirely when the requirements are met, is very poor game design. I cannot think of any other class that has such a restrictive mechanic. For everybody else, it's a Base effect, which is enhanced by some means. Say an attack that consumes an element to get additional effects. If something messes up the positioning with Banner Spear, you can enjoy a round of basic action attacks.
3) The Banners are another very underwhelming feature. The buffs are decent, but the static nature of them means it requires a significant investment in resources to lugging them around, or they get left behind, wasting a loss card on a 10 card character.
4) Banner Blade is outshone by the Drifter in almost all regards. With the correct persistent cards out, Drifter is simply better than Banner Spear at everything except AOEs and party wide buffs, both of which have problems of their own, as detailed above.
In short, I argue that Banner Spear is a class built around a poorly designed mechanic that required an inordinate amount of coordination for pretty lackluster payoff. Especially at low levels, the character feels like a collection of really disappointing gimmicks that were apparently not thought through all that well.
You make some very strong points here, for sure. The Banner Spear isn't rated so lowly by mistake, that's for sure.
1) I agree with this to a certain point, but with one caveat. For each extra target you can get into a formation, their power level multiplies, even if they are only base attack 3s in many cases. I think the better you can plan and utilize the formation, the more true value you get out of them. I almost always got at least 2 enemies in multiple target formations, and sometimes 3 or even 4. 3 attack 3s is still quite a strong action. But I totally agree that they do have a fiddliness you have to deal with.
2) I more strongly agreed with you here. That's perhaps the biggest downfall of the Banner Spear. If you are prepping for a formation and it falls apart it turns into a total fail rather than a less effective attack.
3) I agree quit a bit here as well. I only used banners in very specific situations, and never made them a point of focus. The benefits they give are more "nice to have" than truly powerful. And loss cards in most cases have more power.
4) I haven't played the drifter nor seen him played, so I can't comment much here, but maybe I'll pick up the drifter after my next retirement.
Thanks for watching and for the lengthy and detailed comments!
@@PTD-GamingSure, I thought you made good points and a decent analysis of the character and wanted to put my 2 cents in.