Avengers Archives - Page 6 of 6

From Panel To Play: Iron Fist

CP49 Iron Fist

Sure, lots of people know how to punch things. But how many people can draw on the spirit energy of an ancient dragon to make their punches superhumanly strong and impervious to pain or damage? That’s gotta be a much shorter list. This time on From Panel to Play, we’re looking at Danny Rand, inheritor of the Rand-Meachum Corporation, adventurer, Hero for Hire, and the Iron Fist!

Danny Rand is a martial artist and the master of the mystical Iron Fist, which allows him to harness and focus his chi to devastating effect. As a young child, Rand traveled with his parents to the hidden city of K’un-L’un, which his father discovered years earlier. Rand’s parents died in the treacherous mountains, but the mysterious city’s inhabitants took him in and taught him the martial arts. Later, he confronted and defeated the dragon Shou-Lao. Plunging his fist into the dragon’s molten heart gave him the Iron Fist’s power and burned Shou-Lao’s mark on his chest.

Rand returned to America, where he ultimately met and befriended Luke Cage. Together they formed Heroes for Hire, Inc. The pair offered their extraordinary talents to help protect New York City’s citizens who needed them the most.

Iron Fist’s miniature is a snapshot of the last thing his opponents ever want to see. The master martial artist leaps into the air, summoning the power of Shou-Lao’s spirit and his own Chi into the terrifying Iron Fist strike. Whoever is on the receiving end is about to have an awful day. The dragon-shaped wave of energy holding Iron Fist in the air is an excellent opportunity for painters to show off their object-source lighting skills. Still, it can also be painted with simple washes and highlights thanks to the miniature’s incredible detail.

On the table, Iron Fist is a ticking time bomb for the enemy forces. As Iron Fist pummels opponents with flurries of Chi Strikes, a solid Strength 5 energy attack with the potential to stun his targets, he is gradually building up Power. This is further enhanced by his innate power Immortal Weapon. As one of the Immortal Weapons, the champions of the Seven Cities of Heaven, Iron Fist can manipulate his chi’s flow. In the game, this power gives Iron Fist 1 bonus Power during the Power Phase.

Once Iron Fist has accumulated enough Power and focused his chi’s flow, he can unleash the Iron Fist’s devastating power. With a punch strong enough to bring down a Helicarrier, he strikes with an astounding Strength 9 energy attack. This strike’s shockwave is strong enough to cause enemy characters within Range 3 of the initial target to suffer damage, and whoever is on the receiving end of this empowered punch can be Staggered and thrown back from the impact. Perhaps more damaging for the enemy’s plans, if the Iron Fist attack’s target didn’t already have an Activated token, this attack places one on them. He won’t be able to do it all the time—in early stories, this attack left Iron Fist drained and exhausted —so you’ll have to spend 8 Power to pull off the strike.

While his Iron Fist attack is undoubtedly eye-catching, Iron Fist has other attacks and powers to reflect his martial arts mastery. Unfortunately, that’s all we have time for today!

That’s all for our first look at how Iron Fist leaped Panel to Play. Check back for our next installment, when we examine another of your favorite characters as they jump onto the table in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Until then, this is Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off.

From Panel To Play: Luke Cage

CP49 Luke Cage

In this installment of From Panel to Play, we’re taking a look at the people’s protector and the real power of a good man. This time, we’re looking at how Luke Cage made the jump from the panels to the table in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Wrongfully imprisoned at Seagate Prison for a crime he did not commit, as a convict, Luke Cage volunteered for an experimental cellular regeneration procedure that gave him impervious skin and strength beyond standard human capabilities. Cage used his new powers to escape Seagate and returned home to New York City to become Power Man, the Hero for Hire.

Working to keep the streets safe, Heroes for Hire, Inc. is an independent organization that offers comprehensive investigation and protection services for people who need it. As the savvy muscle of Heroes for Hire, Luke Cage uses his enhanced strength and durability to take on criminal outfits and powered villains alike.

Luke Cage is a man who shrugs off bullets with ease, and his miniature needed to capture a sense of his incredible durability, stern demeanor, and raw physical strength. Arms folded across his chest, Cage has an expression like someone just tried to test the strength of his impervious skin. Under one foot, the crushed steel beam shows just how much power this hero has.

Luke Cage is a steady defensive player able to keep his whole team in the fight. His above-average Physical Defense lets him get in close with his foes, where he can use his enhanced strength to good use. Power Man Punch, his primary attack, hits at a respectable Strength 5, and if you’re lucky enough to get two wilds in the attack roll, will leave Cage’s target reeling from the impact thanks to the Stagger condition. When Luke Cage rings somebody’s bell, it stays rung.

Of course, if you want to lay a massive hit on someone, look no farther than Luke Cage’s signature Sweet Christmas attack. Cage wallops his target with a shout of his festive catchphrase and sends them flying back with the impact’s force. Though it costs him 4 Power to use, it’s worth it to see the dazed and confused expression on their face as they pick themselves up from whatever debris they just got power-housed into.

While his enhanced strength will let Cage get some solid hits in, where he stands out is his imperviousness to damage. The medical experiment that transformed Luke Cage gave him bulletproof skin and the ability to heal from wounds at an accelerated rate. When Cage shows up to a crisis, his enemies know they have to figure out how to deal with him and fast. The power Too Dangerous to Ignore represents just how threatening this Hero for Hire can be. When an enemy attacks a nearby friendly character, Cage can spend 2 Power to force the attack to target him instead. This ability is even better combined with his innate power Impervious Skin, which allows him to reduce the damage he takes by 1. Luke Cage can draw fire from multiple attacks, shielding more vulnerable allies from harm and redirecting some of the nastier enemy effects from his teammates who hold critical objectives. He can help a team pull through a crisis on the power of his presence alone.

That’s all for our first look at how Luke Cage leaped Panel to Play. Check back for our next installment, when we examine another of your favorite characters as they jump onto the table in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Until then, this is Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off. Sweet Christmas!

Team Tactics Talk: Cable & Domino

CP47 Cable & Domino

Cable and Domino bring all-new tactics to the battlefields of Marvel: Crisis Protocol with four Team Tactics cards. The tactics in this character expansion pack emphasize the X-Force as a fast and flexible team, able to respond to a crisis and opposing force with swift action.

The first tactic in the set, Cat and Mouse, demonstrates the unpredictability of fighting against the X-Force. They are a small and elite team strengthened by the combat experience of members like Deadpool and Cable, as well as the cunning and unpredictability of Domino and, well, Deadpool. This tactic allows you to choose one member of the X-Force after all the characters have been deployed and reposition the chosen character anywhere within Range 2 of its current position before the start of the game.

This tactic has numerous uses to give you an advantage before the first turn of the game. You can use it in a straightforward way, as a kind of advance-deployment to bring you closer to a valuable objective, but you can also use it to psych out your opponent, offering them a matchup that favors one of their characters before pulling your character back to a better position. It also lets you be reactive, bolstering your position after seeing who your opponent places where and countering with a strong character of your own.

The next tactic, Dirty Work, is another one for the X-Force affiliation and shows how the members of this particular team are willing to get their hands dirty in order to overcome a crisis and defeat their opponents—particularly opponents who represent the greatest threat. Any member of the X-Force can pay 3 Power to play this card and mark the enemy character with the highest Threat. If the team can daze or KO the marked target before the end of the round, every member of the X-Force gains 2 Power as a reward.

Dirty Work is a useful tactic as a Power booster. Since the number of attack dice usually outweighs a character’s potential defense dice, focusing fire on a single target is often going to take that target out. When combined with Power generating attacks, your whole crisis team can comfortably build up the resources you need for a massive follow-up round.

The third tactic in the Cable & Domino Character Pack, Warpath, is an Unaffiliated tactic that perfectly suits characters like Cable, who shrugs off enemy attacks on his unstoppable advance. When a character suffers damage from an enemy attack, it can pay 1 Power to play this tactic and make a Short advance toward the attacking character.

Warpath is a solid reactive tactic. With it, you can pull a character in close for a counterattack, close the distance on an enemy who is foolish enough to damage you. Even better, since the tactic is Unaffiliated you can pair it with characters who can shrug off a bit of damage like Wolverine or Sabretooth, whose Healing Factor can put their health back into a safe position as they come within striking range.

That’s it for our look at the tactics in the Cable and Domino character expansion pack. Remember that you can preorder the expansion at your local gaming store, or through our webstore.

Until next time, this is Atomic Mass Games, signing off!

Team Tactics Talk: Deadpool & Bob, Agent Of Hydra

CP45 Deadpool & Bob, Agent Of Hydra

The Deadpool & Bob, Agent of Hydra Character Pack brings some weird and wonderful new Team Tactics to Marvel: Crisis Protocol. Which is appropriate, if you think about who is going to be using these tactics: the Merc with a Mouth and his friends.

This character expansion comes with three new Team Tactics: one for the X-Force affiliation and two Unaffiliated cards.

Let’s talk about the tactic for the X-Force, Pretty Sneaky, Sis. Leave it to Deadpool to reference a commercial from the 80s to describe a tactical maneuver. This tactic allows the X-Force to infiltrate deeper into hostile territory before their opponents even know they’re on the prowl. Any member of the affiliation can spend 2 Power, and for the rest of the round members who spent Power have a kind of “super stealth,” preventing enemies further than Range 2 from targeting them with attacks.

You can play Pretty Sneaky, Sis during any Power Phase. You can use it to get a round of breathing room early on, as an opportunity to rest and recharge mid-game, or in the last push of a game to help you clinch victory. Forcing the other player to close the gap if they want to put damage on your team eats into their total number of actions during the round, which reduces their potential damage output, and it pairs nicely with the X-Force members who can heal from their injuries like Deadpool and Wolverine.

Next up is a part of any balanced breakfast, Chimichangas. These deep-fried staples of Tex-Mex cuisine are more than just a hearty meal, they’re also a powerful asset in Deadpool’s hands. By scarfing down a piping-hot chimichanga, Wade Wilson is more than mere man or mutant. He is unstoppable. When you use this tactic, a chimichanga asset is added to the game in Deadpool’s hands. At the end of a character’s activation, if they have the chimichanga they devour it to gain 1 Power and either remove 1 damage or one special condition.

Deadpool is a gracious host, though, and he can hand off his pack lunch to someone else thanks to the Interact: Chimichanga action, allowing any character to pick up the token.

Last, and certainly weirdest, is the Yoink tactic. Deadpool is known for his bizarre shenanigans and how… frustrating he can be to his closest friends and allies. This tactic puts his odd behavior front and center. After spending 2 Power to use this tactic, Deadpool has his pick of four different unusual effects. He can glom on a friendly Cable within Range 2. He can borrow a bit of Domino’s unusual luck to bounce a grenade at the enemy. He can pick the pockets of a friendly side of Canadian bacon and take a token held by Wolverine. He can even empty the magazine of Bob, Agent of Hydra (if Bob is foolish enough to be fighting for the other side).

This tactic is as wild and unpredictable as Wade Wilson himself, giving you a host of different tactical options based on the characters you—or your opponent—bring to the table. When Deadpool is on the field, expect the unexpected.

That’s it for our look at the Team Tactics releasing with the Deadpool & Bob, Agent of Hydra Character Pack. If you want to get your hands on a chimichanga hot out of the fryer, don’t forget to pre-order your copy at your local gaming store, or through our webstore today!

Until next time, friends, this is Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!

From Panel To Play: Deadpool

CP45 Deadpool

This time on Atomic Mass Transmissions, we’re happy to give you a taste of an exciting new addition to Marvel: Crisis Protocol. Without further ado, let’s talk about the Regenerating Degenerate, Deadpool!

Wade Wilson, the Merc with a Mouth, is

a dangerous and unhinged mercenary who made a living as an international assassin before the Weapon X program transformed him. Wilson was diagnosed with terminal cancer and turned to Department K, a segment of the Weapon X program, in the hopes of a cure. As a test subject, he was given a healing factor derived from Wolverine’s natural mutation. While it stopped the advance of his disease and granted him superhuman healing abilities, it did not cure him and rendered him wildly unstable and prone to violent outbursts. As Deadpool, he is an unpredictable force in the world, a mercenary out to enjoy himself no matter what consequence others might face.

the greatest mercenary who’s ever lived. And the most handsome. Don’t listen to anyone when they say his face “looks like a smashed armadillo with skin problems.” Those people are liars who don’t love you. Y’ see, kids, Deadpool was a sexy international assassin who had a little mano-a-mano with a fun little condition called “really bad cancer.” So, he rang up the boys and girls at the Weapon X program and talked them into giving him a healing factor that kept him alive, and strong, and not at all covered with horrible scars, riddled with cancer, or in a permanent state of diminished mental function.

Exactly as you might expect, Deadpool’s miniature caught in an absurd situation. Traipsing down a rocket in mid-flight, the fourth wall’s serial breaker has both his swords extended and is ready to tear into his unlucky opponents. With your choice of a “normal” head and one with oversized hearts for eyes, you get to decide what your Deadpool is looking at: a rival about to suffer a storm of swords or something that makes his heart beat faster—a pile of unattended explosives or a pile of freshly assembled tacos?

Hahaha. Rocket goes fwhoosh!

Deadpool’s rules are as delightful and weird as the man himself. Starting off with his offensive ability Bang Deadpool puts his pistol to use with a wild barrage of gunfire. Not known for his self-restraint, this physical attack hits at Strength 4 and has the chance to trigger a second

(Bang, Bang!)

attack, which can, in turn, trigger a third

(Bang, Bang, Bang!)

as Deadpool recklessly pulls the trigger. For up close and personal combat, he’s got trusty swords that he can use to stab a target.

(Or poke ‘em right in the duodenum)

Deadpool’s unique combination of Weapon X engineered regeneration and unhinged mind makes for an unusual piece for your opponent to figure out. While his Stamina isn’t the highest out there, having Healing Factor (2) means that he’ll be a difficult target to put down as his body knits from cuts, bruises, and third-degree burns in moments.

(Plus, if I get my hand cut off, I can stick it in the glove box for Bob to find later. Hilarious!)
Plus, as any telepath who has encountered him can attest, trying to muck around in Deadpool’s mind is a baffling, unpleasant experience. In-game, this is represented by his innate power, Unicorns, Rainbows, and Sugar Plums Dancing Through My Head, which makes Deadpool immune to enemy powers that would otherwise force him to move.

Of course, Deadpool has several other powers that make him a fun new addition to Marvel: Crisis Protocol, but that’s all we have time for today. Be sure to check back next time—

Hey, hang on! You didn’t talk about Maximum Effort. It’s a weaponized dance party that lets me tango through the bad guys! What about All Right, Now It’s Serious… Did you even read the rules? C’mon, the people have spoken, and they want more of what I’ve got to give!

—Ahem. Get ready for the upcoming Deadpool & Bob, Agent of Hydra Character Pack, releasing soon! You can pre-order it at your local gaming store. And be sure to check back next time when Atomic Mass Transmissions shows you how another of your favorite characters makes the jump from Panel to Play. Until then, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!

You didn’t even tell them about my buddy Bob. Or the taco truck.

People deserve to know about the taco truck.

From Panel To Play: She-Hulk

CP39 She-Hulk

The old saying goes, “Blood is thicker than water.” Well, if you’re talking about the gamma infused blood of one Robert Bruce Banner, then you’re darn right. This time on From Panel to Play, we’re looking at none other than She-Hulk.

Jennifer Walters was a high-powered Los Angeles lawyer who got caught in the crossfire between her father, Sheriff Morris Walters, and the crime boss Nicholas Trask. Severely wounded and in critical condition, Walters might have died if not for the desperate intervention of her cousin, Bruce Banner.

Also known as the Incredible Hulk.

Banner gave her a blood transfusion. His gamma-irradiated blood caused a speedy recovery, but it also transformed Jennifer Walters into the savage She-Hulk!

Despite being savage after her transformation, She-Hulk eventually gained the ability to keep her full intellect even while big and green. The confidence she experienced while transformed led to Walters remaining as She-Hulk for her day-to-day life. If she’s fighting crime in the courtroom or with one of the many teams who’ve called her a member, She-Hulk is both strong and sensational.

She-Hulk’s miniature showcases her immense strength by capturing the moment before she hurls a few tons of steel girder at a target. She is impressively large and has the detailed muscular definition you would expect to see. She-Hulk’s outfit takes some visual cues from the uniform of a female bodybuilder, down to the fingerless weightlifting gloves she wears and her size 23 high tops.

She-Hulk is an absolute powerhouse on the tabletop. A Threat 6 character with 20 stamina and decent defenses, her character card is jam-packed with powers and abilities to make her a force to be feared.

Her basic attack, Sensational Uppercut, hits at an impressive Strength 7, but it’s not even her heaviest strike. The Defense Rests hits a target in Range 3 with a nine dice attack that imposes the Slow and Stunned special conditions. If She-Hulk hits a target that’s already Slowed, it becomes Staggered instead. While this attack might cost 5 Power to dish out, every time it lands, your opponent will feel it!

She-Hulk has a ton of superpowers to boot. Her Leadership, Defenders of Arcadia, allows members of the A-Force affiliation gain 1 Power when an ally is damaged by an enemy effect—perfect for juicing up She-Hulk for her heavy attack. The Legal Defense power allows She-Hulk to spend 2 Power when an ally within Range 2 is the target of an enemy’s attack. She becomes the target of the attack, regardless of the range or line of sight. I suppose when a nearly 7-foot tall green lawyer wants to get your attention, she has it.

Not that targeting her will do your opponent much good. Thanks to the power Gamma Infusion, after an enemy attack that damages her is resolved, She-Hulk gets an immediate Short advance toward the attacker. The more you shoot at her, the sooner she’ll be within smashing distance. When She-Hulk gets there, her target hopes she doesn’t use her Superior Weight Training power. For 3 Power, it allows her to add her target’s Size to the number of dice she rolls in an attack. That means she can hit characters like M.O.D.O.K., Black Dwarf, and her cousin for an 11 dice Sensational uppercut… for just three power!

Whether she’s in the courtroom or the battlefield, She-Hulk is built to crush the opposition. When she hits the field, you better hope she’s your public defender.

That’s all for our look at She-Hulk. Check back next time when we dive in with a closer look at yet another character for Marvel: Crisis Protocol!

From Panel To Play: Black Panther

CP07 Black Panther

In this latest installment of Atomic Mass Transmissions Panel to Play series, we’re taking a moment to hail to the king. It’s the Black Panther!

T’Challa is the extraordinary ruler of the nation of Wakanda, and wearing the mantle of the Black Panther, is its most powerful protector. Gifted with superhuman senses and strength from through his connection to the god Bast from the heart-shaped herb reserved for those who become the Black Panther, T’Challa combines these innate qualities with the advanced technology of Wakanda and its precious vibranium to confront his foes.

There have been many other Black Panthers before T’Challa, including his father T’Chaka, the former king. Unlike his many predecessors, T’Challa often travels into the world outside his nation to confront evildoers. Fighting beside groups like the Avengers, he has faced off against a litany of foes. Among them was none other than Ulysses Klaue, the mercenary villain responsible for the death of the previous Black Panther and T’Challa’s father.

As the Black Panther, T’Challa balances his heroic duties with the responsibilities to his people. He returns home to be a strong and wise ruler for years at a time, only to once again heed the call to travel into the world and put an end to the wicked deeds of those who threaten all humankind. All the while, he protects and preserves the Wakandan people against any peril.

Black Panther is among the most regal heroes in the pages of Marvel Comics, and his miniature needed to reflect the power, grace, and sheer fighting prowess of Wakanda’s king. Crouched low as if he’s coiled to spring on an opponent, T’Challa’s prominent vibranium claws are ready to tear into everything in his way. His close-fitting vibranium suit and cowl are packed with detailed musculature, and the crisp lines of the Claw Necklace allow for easy painting.

The Black Panther’s rules make him a fast, punishing character to face. His Long speed allows you to move him into position from across the battlefield, and the Pounce power lets him fling himself onto an enemy in Short range without suffering damage. Once Black Panther is stuck in with an opponent, a flurry from his vibranium claws drives the enemy back, perfect for knocking pesky foes off of objectives.

Black Panther’s suit offers more than just razor-sharp talons, however. The Vibranium Armor power increases T’Challa’s survivability, letting him treat blanks as successes when defending against physical or energy attacks. All of that stored up energy has to go somewhere, so consider letting off a Kinetic Burst. With a base cost of 3 power, you can increase its damage by spending additional points to unleash a devastating wave of energy that damages and flings your enemies back.

As the king of Wakanda, Black Panther also has an affiliation to aid all who fight by his side. For the cost of 1 power, affiliated characters can reroll a die in an attack, defense, or dodge roll. A good king looks after his subjects, and T’Challa is a very good king.

That’s it for this installment of From Panel to Play. Join us next time!

Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!

From Panel to Play: Thor

CP11 Thor

No matter what form the enemy takes, all must tremble at the might of the God of Thunder. For this installment of the Panel to Play series, we’re diving into the century-spanning heroics of the mighty Thor!

Born as a union between Midgard (Earth, to us non-Asgardians) and Asgard, Thor is the son of Odin the All-Father. As an Asgardian, Thor has lived incredibly long. Ancient peoples of Earth worshipped the Asgardians as the Aesir gods, Thor among them. For many centuries he has fought as a champion of Earth and other realms, wielding his mighty hammer Mjolnir as he fought beside vikings in the 9th Century and ice giants who threatened his realm. In the modern age, Thor fights with the Avengers against a litany of foes, each more devious and treacherous than the last, though none are as cunning, more conniving, than Thor’s adopted brother and god of mischief, Loki.

Thor’s miniature captures the God of Thunder in a familiar pose. With Mjolnir aloft, he looks poised to call down a bolt of lightning on his foes, while a stormwind blows at his command and whips at his cape. Thor is appropriately imposing and commanding, contrasting the dynamic and fluid shape of his cape with his stern stillness. The knotwork on his belt is reminiscent of Megingjord, Thor’s magic belt he wore to augment his strength above its already godlike level.

Thor’s rules needed to be… ahem, worthy of the God of Thunder. His basic Strike attack throws out six dice per attack, which he can use to send even massive foes flying as he throws them Short range. He can also hurl his hammer to shock a target with a blast of lightning before returning unerringly to his hand. Shocked enemies lose a die from their attack rolls, making retaliation unlikely. Surrounding Thor won’t do your opponents much good either; it’s usually a bad idea to crowd around someone who can summon a localized electrical storm dealing seven attack dice (!) at will that targets every enemy within Range 2.

As the prince of Asgard, other Asgardians benefit from Thor’s presence. Fighting by his side allows them to shrug off injuries and conditions and stay in the fight until the bitter end. With a battle cry of, “For Asgard!” Thor hurls Mjolnir and rides it forward, walloping and staggering an opponent at the point of impact.

That’s it for our look at Thor, but we’re nowhere near done with the Asgardian invasion. Check back next time when we talk about another warrior of legend.

Until then, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!