... god damn.
LEONA HEIDERN
First Appearance: King of Fighters '96
Game Appearances: King of Fighters' 96-03, KoF XII-XV (all but one game since her debut), SNK Gals Fighter, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, Metal Slug XX
Role: Emotionless Ice Queen, Blue-Haired Anime Girl
PL 9 (142)
STRENGTH 3
STAMINA 3
AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 11
DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 2
AWARENESS 2
PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Acrobatics 8 (+13)
Athletics 9 (+12)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+13)
Expertise (Martial Arts) 5 (+7)
Expertise (Soldier) 6 (+8)
Intimidation 6 (+6)
Investigation 4 (+6)
Perception 6 (+8)
Ranged Attack (Blasts) 2 (+12)
Stealth 2 (+7)
Vehicles 4 (+8)
Advantages:
Equipment 5 (Army Gear), Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Critical (Voltaic Launcher), Improved Critical (Moon Slasher), Improved Critical (I Slasher), Improved Critical (X Caliber), Improved Initiative, Ranged Attack 6
SNK Fighting Style: Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Defensive Roll, Extraordinary Effort, Fast Grab, Improved Defense, Improved Hold, Improved Trip (Throw), Power Attack, Takedown, Withstand Damage (Block)
Powers:
"Voltaic Launcher- Energy Ball" Strength-Damage +1 (Extras: Multiattack 4) (Flaws: Distracting) Linked to Affliction 4 (Toughness; Dazed & Vulnerable/Stunned & Defenseless) (Extras: Extra Condition) (Flaws: Limited Degree) (Inaccurate -1) (7) -- [11]
- AE: "Moon Slasher- Energy Circle" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: Reach) (Inaccurate -1) (2)
- AE: "I Slasher- Slow-Moving Circle" Blast 4 (Reduced Defenses -2, Diminished Range -1) (3)
- AE: "Earring Explosion" Blast 4 (Reduced Defenses -2, Diminished Range -2) (2)
- AE: "X Caliber- Grab & Blast" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: +2 to Hit if Opponent Parried Last Turn) (Inaccurate -1) (2)
Offense:
Unarmed +13 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Special Moves +11 (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Voltaic Launcher +12 (+4 Damage & Affliction, DC 19 & 14)
Moon Slasher/Earring Explosion +12 (+4 Ranged Damage, DC 19)
Initiative +9
Defenses:
Dodge +12 (DC 22), Parry +12 (DC 22), Toughness +3 (+4 D.Roll), Fortitude +6, Will +7
Complications:
Responsibility (Heidern's Group)- Leona is a dutiful soldier under her adoptive father's group.
Relationship (Clark)- Leona has a degree of feelings for the strong, stoic Clark.
Relationship (Heidern)- Heidern took Leona in after the death of her family and whole village years ago.
Involuntary Transformation (The Riot of Blood)- Leona is afflicted with the "Riot of Blood", as Orochi's self has tainted her bloodline. If in close proximity to Orochi, she can go insane and attack everyone in range until they're all dead. Only now has she learned to control this effect, which used to be random.
Weakness (Predictability)- SNK Characters cannot simply "spam" out the same attack over and over again, as the opponent will expect the attacks, and be ready for them (and a counterattack). The third time they try the same technique (or same combo of techniques) in a short span, they will be at -2 to Accuracy, AND to his Active Defenses in that round. All will decrease by 2 every successive round the same move is done.
Total: Abilities: 60 / Skills: 54--27 / Advantages: 17 + 11 / Powers: 11 / Defenses: 16 (142)
-I really feel like Leona, who was clearly meant to be "A Big Deal" from Day One, was a failure in design, at least at first. I find her character awesome, but like the
Fighters Generation guy, I think her blue hair contrasts so sharply with that olive drab gear that she totally clashes visually, and it prevents her from seeming as "big" or as memorable as much stronger designs like King, Yuri, Blue Mary, or a bunch of the men. It really took until the modern-day graphical upgrades that took her general look, threw out the crappy army gear and added baggy pants and a dark tank top that her blue hair and combative design really stood out. THAT SAID, she is apparently enormously popular both with fans and SNK's developers, as she was topping out character polls even back in the '90s, particularly with women. Who knows- maybe the less-fanservicey girl really appealed? I know guys ALWAYS go for the "Ice Queens"- I remember Lindsey Ellis going on about that in her review of
The Last Unicorn (where the Prince is falling over himself to impress the disinterested Amalthea). HOWEVER, I do think that if they'd used the design they ended up with in the most recent games, the character would be far, far more well-known and beloved by gamers, outsiders, and fan-artists. For what it's worth.
-Leona debuted as a replacement for Heidern, whom few were taken with. They also wanted an "Adopted Daughter" take for him, and she fit the bill. She was clearly meant to be a "Big Deal" from day one, as they also tied her into the whole "Orochi Saga", being one of three characters (along with Iori & Yamazaki) who were tainted by his bloodline. Several of the series designers have mentioned that Leona is their favorite character, and she was immediately very popular. With her around, Heidern was largely retired.
-Her full origin is that she was from a village where everyone was descended from Orochi- when Orochi's agent Goenitz arrived and demanded they pledge their loyalty, the village leader refused- the people had become peaceful, and didn't like the violent tendencies Orochi let out of them. Enraged, Goenitz left, and that night, young Leona entered the "Riot of Blood" and slaughtered her entire village. A pleased Goenitz lets the blood rest in her- she is dazed and amnesiac, and found by Heidern, who adopts the girl (his own wife and daughter had been killed years ago). Impressed by her natural physical capabilities, Heidern trains her as an Ikari Warrior. In 1996, she is finally allowed to join the King of Fighters tournament, investigating Geese Howard's intentions.
-Generally, her personality is very cold and distant- trauma and amnesia have left her very hesitant to show emotions. In 1997, she is too close to Orochi himself, and enters the Riot of Blood, badly injuring Ralf & Clark and becoming one of many possible Sub-Bosses with an enhanced, red-haired variant. This also clears up the mysteries of her origin, which at that point had been unexplained. Despondent after she has been subdued and Orochi sealed away once more, she attempts suicide- Ralf stops her.
-Leona takes a side-seat during most of the later games, which typically only include a minor "Heidern is investigating ______" sub-plot. With Orochi's power coming forth in
KoF 2003, she enters the Riot of Blood again and attacks her teammates- the emotional trauma leads Heidern to take her off the squad (she misses
KoF XI- the only game she's missed since her debut), and she only returns later with a different design- baggy pants and a tank-top. Finally, in the thirteenth game, she learns to accept the Orochi blood within her- passing out, she awakens with her team concerned for her. Comforted by their concern, she laughs for the first time in the series (WAIFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU).
-Leona fights more similarly to Heidern than Ralf & Clark, but adds her own variations. She has a short-range and long-range Blast, making her a good "Zoner" character (controlling the enemy's movements for fear of being struck- one even moves slowly, which is very hard to dodge in a Fighting Game). She's also very athletic and has some great poses- her "V Slasher" super creates this wicked V-shaped slash of energy (inspired by a Giant Robot series in Japan). Naturally, two of her moves are inspired by
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure- the Earring Explosion and her Grateful Dead Desperation (a draining effect).
LEONA HEIDERN (RIOT OF BLOOD)
First Appearance: King of Fighters '97
Game Appearances: King of Fighters '97 only (Sub-Boss)
Role: Blood-Frenzied Warrior
PL 10 (150)
STRENGTH 3
STAMINA 3
AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 13
DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 2
AWARENESS 2
PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Acrobatics 8 (+13)
Athletics 9 (+12)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+13)
Expertise (Martial Arts) 5 (+7)
Expertise (Soldier) 6 (+8)
Intimidation 6 (+6)
Investigation 4 (+6)
Perception 6 (+8)
Ranged Attack (Blasts) 2 (+12)
Stealth 2 (+7)
Vehicles 4 (+8)
Advantages:
Equipment 5 (Army Gear), Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Critical (Voltaic Launcher), Improved Critical (Moon Slasher), Improved Critical (I Slasher), Improved Critical (X Caliber), Improved Initiative 3, Ranged Attack 8
SNK Fighting Style: Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Defensive Roll, Extraordinary Effort, Fast Grab, Improved Defense, Improved Hold, Improved Trip (Throw), Power Attack, Takedown, Withstand Damage (Block)
Powers:
"Voltaic Launcher- Energy Ball" Strength-Damage +1 (Extras: Multiattack 4) (Flaws: Distracting) Linked to Affliction 4 (Toughness; Dazed & Vulnerable/Stunned & Defenseless) (Extras: Extra Condition) (Flaws: Limited Degree) (Inaccurate -1) (7) -- [11]
- AE: "Moon Slasher- Energy Circle" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: Reach) (Inaccurate -1) (2)
- AE: "I Slasher- Slow-Moving Circle" Blast 4 (Reduced Defenses -2, Diminished Range -1) (3)
- AE: "Earring Explosion" Blast 4 (Reduced Defenses -2, Diminished Range -2) (2)
- AE: "X Caliber- Grab & Blast" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: +2 to Hit if Opponent Parried Last Turn) (Inaccurate -1) (2)
Offense:
Unarmed +15 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Special Moves +13 (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Voltaic Launcher +14 (+4 Damage & Affliction, DC 19 & 14)
Moon Slasher/Earring Explosion +14 (+4 Ranged Damage, DC 19)
Initiative +17
Defenses:
Dodge +12 (DC 22), Parry +12 (DC 22), Toughness +3 (+4 D.Roll), Fortitude +6, Will +7
Complications:
Responsibility (Heidern's Group)- Leona is a dutiful soldier under her adoptive father's group.
Relationship (Clark)- Leona has a degree of feelings for the strong, stoic Clark.
Relationship (Heidern)- Heidern took Leona in after the death of her family and whole village years ago.
Involuntary Transformation (The Riot of Blood)- Leona is afflicted with the "Riot of Blood", as Orochi's self has tainted her bloodline. If in close proximity to Orochi, she can go insane and attack everyone in range until they're all dead. Only now has she learned to control this effect, which used to be random.
Weakness (Predictability)- SNK Characters cannot simply "spam" out the same attack over and over again, as the opponent will expect the attacks, and be ready for them (and a counterattack). The third time they try the same technique (or same combo of techniques) in a short span, they will be at -2 to Accuracy, AND to his Active Defenses in that round. All will decrease by 2 every successive round the same move is done.
Total: Abilities: 64 / Skills: 54--27 / Advantages: 21 + 11 / Powers: 11 / Defenses: 16 (150)
-Riot of Blood Leona is much like the other ones- a faster fighter, but not unbeatable.