Team Ideas – It’s Not Suicide to Play the Squad

Idea

Suicide Blonde

Opps… I’ll have to cancel the INXS reunion I planned. Apparently they have nothing to do with the Suicide Squad.

So during my Flash Review I pointed out that Amanda Waller was one of the worst pieces in the set. My reasoning was that even though she can add a nice figure to the Suicide Squad, there really weren’t many reasons to actually play the other figures in Suicide Squad. They were okay, but not great. Add to this the fact that Amanda is about 40 points of offense in a 60 point body and I was just not seeing a good way to use the Suicide Squad in Modern Age games.

However, I like a challenge. So I’ve created 3 teams that actually seem to work with the Suicide Squad in a Modern Age,  No-Tactics environment.

Fiddler

Be careful of the B-Sharp…

Team Name: Fiddler’s on the Roof!

Theme: Suicide Squad

Roster: FFFL001 Captain Cold FFFL003 Mirror Master FL012 Captain Boomerang FL029 Fiddler

Total = 299 Points

How it Works: I’ve gotten around that whole Amanda Waller not being that good problem by omitting her completely. Problem solved. Instead the leader of this team is the Fiddler. Fiddler has no defensive ability on his whole dial (not even Shape Change) and he’s still a great piece. What he has in his defense slot instead of a reducer is a Special called “SONIC FORCE BUBBLE: Fiddler can use Defend. Adjacent friendly Characters with a lower point value modify their defense values by +1.” What that means is that Captain Cold, Mirror Master, and Captain Boomerang will be sporting a 19 Defense in addition to the defensive abilities they already have. Plus Fiddler and Mirror Master both have Probability Control for added headaches for your opponent. With no defense himself and the ability to ignore other figures for targeting, Fiddler is at home hiding behind of your other figures. Make sure to remember that Fiddler ignores elevation. Have fun blasting an opponent straight through a mountain if the situation presents itself.

Cheetah

So she’s like not wearing any clothes. You guys see that too right?

Team Name: Crouching Cheetah, Hidden Boomerang

Theme: Suicide Squad

Roster: FFFL003 Mirror Master FL034 Amanda Waller FFFL002 Captain Boomerang SLOSH017B Cheetah

Total = 300 Points

How it Works: Cheetah’s movement power states “POUNCE MY PREY: Cheetah can use Leap/Climb. When Cheetah resolves a move action, you may give her a close combat action as a free action.” That means that she should be garnering the majority of opponent’s attention. Then maybe they won’t notice that FFFL002 Captain Boomerang packs triple target energy explosion on to a dial that only costs 75 points. That will be the last time your opponent ignores that character. Mirror Master is transportation and support. Waller is just sort of support, but you need her to make the team possible.

Black Mask

He has a vast fortune.. and Pliers!

Team Name: Black Puddin’

Theme: Suicide Squad

Roster: FL034 Amanda Waller FL046 Harley Quinn FFFL003 Mirror Master BMAO015 Black Mask

Total = 300 Points

How it Works: Unlike the other teams I’ve mentioned above Mirror Master and Amanda Waller are actually primary attackers on this quirky team. Once your team is within approximately 14 squares or less from the opposing team, give Black Mask a Power Action to use his Special Attack Power (VAST FORTUNE: Give Black Mask a power action and all adjacent friendly characters that have the Assassin keyword or share a keyword with him may immediately be given a move action as a free action.) Everyone moves up as a free action (make sure to carry Black Mask), uses the three available Outwits, and takes a ranged combat shot. If you make Mirror Master Harley’s Puddin’ then he can get up to 4 damage with her Petplex. If you can Outwit the opposing defense, that’s going to hurt.

Nick Fury and the Agents of Roundup!! (Or, The Weekly Roundup for 02/01/2015!!)

Roundup

 

Ooooooooooooohhhhh, it’s good to be back! With the Critters* now behind us, it’s time to start looking forward to 2015!! There’s already been a ton of releases announced–Justice League: Trinity War, Avengers Assemble, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Age of Ultron and now Nick Fury and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.–and that just takes us to July!! There’s also been a slew of Previews that just hit the street, including the entire 2015 Convention Exclusive line!

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Well get to all that in…

THE WEEKLY ROUNDUP!!

 

Microphone

PODCASTS:

Dial H

Dial H for Heroclix is new every week; this past week brought us Episode 81, wherein the guys discuss the recent Con-Exclusives announcement for 2015, among other things!

This is Ultimate Play, b!tches!

–The latest episodes are Eps 30 & 31! In Episode 30, the Roundtable is back with analysis on the Tulsa and British Columbia ROC’s, as well as their takes on the recent Watchlist rulings and changes. Haven’t listened to 31 yet, so I don’t have a synopsis for you…

"We're a Thing again!"

–Well, just as quickly as they came back, ClixCast seems to have gone away! They have yet to release an episode since their September offering, so I’m removing them from the Podcast rundown until we get some sort of activity from the guys!

 

Welcome... to the ROC!

–You can find the latest ROC tourney announcements right here!

–A slight rules clarification has dropped that essentially mirrors standard protocol for WizKids-sponsored tournaments. It basically means that sets aren’t legal for ROC events until they’ve been out for a week or more. You can read the full announcement right here.

 

Preview

 

Justice League Heroclix Trinity War

–Justice League: Trinity War just keeps getting spoiled left and right!

As of today, 50 different figures (including the Gravity Feed) have been spoiled, plus two members of the CSA Fast Forces Pack (By the way, both of the spoiled Fast Force-ers are pretty damn good, so I’d order early if you want to get these guys. Fast Forces usually sell out pretty quick. Atomica alone will provide a 19 Defense character with the CSA Team Ability for just 25 Points!!).

The Super Rares seem extremely effective so far. Highlights include John Constantine, his Prime version (Nick Necro) and Despero (Oooooo, he’s gonna be fun to play).

Also, the 7 Deadly Sin 3D Objects seem almost as good as Hammers. Plus, you don’t actually need a Resource to play them IF you’re running the objects Chase piece (this will all make more sense once the set releases, trust me).

Check out the HCRealms.com Units page to look over all the spoiled dials.

 

nick_fury_agent_of_shield_booster

–We have a new set announcement! Nick Fury and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be out in July, and it’ll bring with it a Fast Forces that features the TV versions of Agent Coulson, Skye, Fitzsimmons and Agent May!! The proper set will also feature random inserts like more Avengers Roundtable ID cards and the first ever Assembl-A-Fig (or somesuch spelling) wherein you combine different 3D objects to make Iron Man’s Hulkbuster Mk. 2 Armor!

You can read ICv2’s article about the release right here!

 

Wait--it's already listing this post!! Huh?! Whaa?! Must be magic!!

Critical Missives:

–No Army of the Week, Local Games or Hollywood News this week–look for those sections to return next time. Especially Army of the Week, where we’ll look at how the new JL:TW Chases work with Resources and Entities (Hint: Very well.).

–Ninwashui built another Build column, and of course we gave out some Critters* in our second annual “Simply the Best” Awards article!

–We’ll be back later this week with a look from Ninwashui at some of the Justice League: Trinity War Gravity Feed figures, as well as in in-depth look at comic books on TV.

 

Until then, Stay Safe, and Watch where you draw you Lines of Fire!!

 

All Work and No Play Makes Shuma a Dull… Uh, Horror-Creature. Thing!! (Or, The Build 2/11/15–1000 Point Rampage)

So on 2/11 Comics’n More is having a 1000 Colossal Rampage. I have a family thing that I need to attend and can’t make it. However, I didn’t realize that until I had already designed 3 teams (eh, it happens). So here is what I would have been playing…

The Format: 1000 point Rampage! Oreo Age. (Which includes Superman and any sets which came out later – except for Star trek and Yu! Gi! Oh! Because having Iron Fist knock out the Enterprise is too weird and because Yu! Gi! Oh! has always sucked.) Each team should have a Colossal, if possible. Otherwise, bring your best giant slayers.

My Team (s): (One of which I would have played at the event)

Medieval Dentistry.

Medieval Dentistry.

“There Is Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself… and This Team.” (Asgardian Themed Team)

  • FI026 Kuurth
  • FI024 Greithoth
  • FI107D The Serpent
  • ATA072 The Mighty
  • Total= 1000 points

How it works: Greithoth will want to try and hit someone with Invincible or Impervious (like an opposing Colossal) right away so that his trait EXTREME ABSORPTION will let him use that power on all 8 of his clicks. He’s got Running Shot so he has a 9 square attack range. (move 5 shoot 4) If he lands exactly on click 5 you should Revert him to IIM103 Absorbing Man. On click 6 or 7 revert to IIM033 Absorbing Man. Being a giant he is also the taxi that carries Kuurth in battle. Try and picture that in your head.

Kuurth is great against smaller, squishy characters that can be carried. His opening Movement lets him charge 6 squares and still attack. That can surprise some people–especially if Kuurth is running through a wall to do it. If he lands on click or 6 or 7 you can consider Reverting to IIM032 Juggernaut, but Kuurth has a 10 click dial so you may not want to Revert at all.

The Serpent needs to build up Fear Counters as fast as possible. To best way to do this is to use Running Shot along with his printed 3 Bolts to target your opponents weakest pieces 3 at a time. Divide up your 7 damage to do at least 1 to everyone. That’s 3 Fear Counters a turn. It will only take 2 turns of that to build up a enough Fear to take multiple actions every turn. While rolling all those attacks with the Serpent you could roll doubles to activate the Mighty ATA. If you do, then your force will have a serious advantage. You will gain 10 counters which you can use to modify the next 10 attacks against your team by -1. That should be a serious advantage.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Only a person with a dark, dark soul would even think to play The Mighty ATA during an event like this...]

 

The best game of Hollywood Squares ever.

The best game of Hollywood Squares – ever.

“Pop Quiz”  (Cosmic Themed Team)

  •  GOTG047AE Thanos
  • GGG002C Ziran the Tester
  • Total= 1000 points

How It works: If you’ve ever played (or played against) Ziran the Tester then you know about his (her? its?) TESTING Trait. For those of you who are new to this figure, the TESTING Trait allows you to do up to 6 damage to an opposing force before the game even starts. Thanos brings a lesser version of that with his CHOOSE – THE GAUNTLET OR THE TRIBUTE Trait. Both of these Traits can be used to damage an opposing character like a Colossal without needing to make an attack roll and before the game even starts.

Once the game does start your opponent’s attention should be focused entirely on the 12 range, 13 attack, 6 damage, Psychic Blasting, Multi-Attacking Ziran the Tester. That distraction will let Thanos make the most of his A BLOODY PATH TO FIND MY SON Trait. People largely panned this character when he came out, but I believe they were wrong. At the 200 point level he can lead himself and if he’s not the opponents main target, he can use Outwit to dish out a bunch of damage.

 

Having given up their dreams of destroying the universe Shuma Gorath and Dormammu make the natural transition to - gangster rap.

Having given up their dreams of destroying our universe, Shuma Gorath and Dormammu make the natural transition to  gangster rap.

“Welcome to the Defenders – Shuma Gorath!” (Mystical Theme Team)

  • ASM005 Dr. Strange
  • ATA088 Midnight Sons
  • AVX006E Scarlet Witch
  • WXM034 Magik
  • ASM008 Doctor Druid
  • WKM-G001E Shuma-Gorath
  • Total= 1000 points

How It works: In a game where you know the other team is most likely going to be centered around a large point character, Shuma Gorath’s EMERGE THROUGH YOUR GREATEST CHAMPION should go a long way towards keeping him healthy and in the game. The last thing you want to face is someone with the Mystics TA that can automatically heal. Do your best to put Shuma within 5 spaces of the enemy team so that you can use Flurry (and later, his Special Incapacitate)

Dr. Strange will use his GATHER THEM: SECRET DEFENDERS OR MIDNIGHT SONS Trait give everyone the Defenders Team Ability. That will let Shuma Gorath share his 19 Defense Value with the rest of your team who (except for Doctor Strange) can add their Energy Shields for a total Defense of 21 against ranged attacks. The team all need to stay adjacent to make this work, so line them up in front of Shuma. Further complicating your opponents attack strategy is the Mystics TA and the fact that your team has 4 Probability Controls!

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Including “No More Mutants” Scarlet Witch in this team is just sick and wrong. You are a troubled, troubled man…]