After thinking about it for a few more days, the answer is almost certainly going to be anti-step attack cards. Maybe armor that works like pushback parry, or a card like forgetfulness except it forces the target to discard two step attacks, or like quick reactions except you draw cards when targeted by step attacks.
Here is the ultimate step-attack solution: An armor card that prevents step attack movements from ending with 1 square of the character.
Mildly off-topic, but this reminds me of something from the vault: a card design that narrowly missed inclusion in Sky Citadel, when we decided not to print any new class skills in that set-- Eye of the Storm | Boost | Trait. Attach to self. | Encumbered characters can't move adjacent to you. Slotted for Arcane Skill items. Quality irrelevant since we cut the suite before even implementing, much less playtesting
Changing my 3rd vote from Syringe of Chemotherapy to Death's Embrace since it was my 4th favorite and it has a better chance of passing the icky Nimble Nibbler and Ninetynine Knive! Maybe the rest of the undecided folks or folks who hate those two items too, will follow suit!
The votes are in. I'm going to check with Jon how many items he wants us to pick this round, but most likely scenario is we'll take the top two - 3-Stage Rocket Boots & Vanity Mirror. Thanks everyone for participating in this community selection process, and double thanks to everyone who submitted a great design!
Once Vanity Mirror gets in, i'll make a Dwarf Reflect Warrior with it! A Laser Halberd, Vanity Mirror and a some Ducks! Muhahahahahahaha!
please tell me that warriors will get something less costly than nova axe for their purging needs in the next expansion, axe is good, but it is hard to justify 4 of them after the elven maneuvers nerf.
It's official! I did not want to jump the gun and say anything until there was an official announcement, but I am super excited that my boots will be made! It took a year and four tries, but at last they will be a thing. A huge thank you to everyone who voted for them, and to anyone who "liked" them in previous contests, and of course to Flaxative for putting them on the list of candidates for voting. I look forward to charging all over the place in October.
Well done on the design, I was super impressed with them the first time I saw them ages ago and I too can't wait to get the item to put on one of my non traditional builds!