Some more lessons learned by a Newbie: Team Building.

Well, I have been playing every Saturday and spending way too much time on HCRealms and have learned more about the game. I still don't know nearly enough but the local shop where I play has a good mix of new and experienced players and the experienced players are more than ready to explain rules and help out the newer players.

Anyway, two weeks ago, I sat down and thought about how I usually built a team. At our venue, someone will ask how many points we are doing and someone will toss out a number and we go from there. So, it never fails, if I work out a 300 point team, we will play 500, 600 and then a 400 point game.

So,we spend a bit of time after deciding on a point total, looking through our collection and building a team.

I have too many Clix. I had decided I needed some sort of organization and split my Clix into Marvel and DC groups. It didn't really help in my building, though. I then realized (one of) my problems. I didn't have any good way of building my team.

I'd search through my cards, or even worse, my containers of Heroclix and yank one that I wanted to play, or had never played, or had played and did well with. Then I'd repeat the process to find the next figure and do it again until I realizes I was over the limit or had too many points left on the table....

So, I organized my cards by points. Under 50, 51-99 points, 100-150 and 151 +. This simple organization has helped a lot in the two weeks I have used it. So, pull a primary attacker from the 100-150 area, two secondary attackers from the 51-99 pack and a cheap under 50 Clix.

That brings me to my next point. USE UNDER 50 POINT CLIX ON YOUR TEAMS. I don't know what I have been doing but I guess I was building teams like all new players do, damage damage and more damage. By breaking the cards into groups, it piled all of my under 50 figures together. Let's look at some of the typical powers and stats on low cost figures. Let's pick ten random under 50 Clix that I own....

(And a big note first, I totally used the HCRealms site and specifically anonymOuse's Primer Reviews for a better understanding of the powers involved and for the dials. I posted about his reviews before. If you are a new player, they will help you learn about the figures you have and make you a better player!)

From Wolverine and the X Men:

wxm005 R Oracle
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 6 
Points: 49
Keywords: Imperial Guard, Shi'ar

9 10 16 2

9 10 16 1

9 10 16 1

8 9 15 1

8 9 15 1

8 9 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

For 49 points Oracle has Mind Control, Smoke Cloud, Barrier, Pulse Wave, Probability Control and Shape Change and six clicks of life.

Ok, looking at the dial you see she isn't going to take too many hits and will be hit easily with only a 16 defense. But even before she gets turned into a grease spot, Prob a few rolls, use barrier to protect your team as they move into position . If she does take some damage, she can then use Mind Control. This figure is a bargain! (Why didn't I use her today?!?)

Next up:

wxm006 R Toad
Team: Brotherhood of Mutants
Range: 0 
Points: 40
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants

9 9 17 1

8 9 17 1

8 9 16 1

7 8 16 1

10 10 17 3

9 10 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

I haven't used Toad, but he's 40 points and is more of a cheap attacker.He has a high defense with the plus two from combat reflexes and can cover a lot of ground with his special movement power. If he makes it to his special attack, he can use any standard attack power. Not bad at all for 40 points. 

The next under 50 character:

wxm017 R Jean Grey
Team: X-Men
Range: 6 
Points: 40
Keywords: X-Factor, X-Men

8 10 16 2

7 9 16 2

6 9 16 2

6 9 15 1

6 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Jean Grey has Telekinesis and Penetrating/Psychic Blast, so she can help move her team into place and even do some damage with some good rolls. I don't think she's nearly as good as Oracle, though. 

Next:

cw026 R Ant-Man
Team: Avengers|S.H.I.E.L.D.
Range: 3 
Points: 43
Keywords: Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., Thunderbolts

6 9 17 1

6 9 16 1

6 9 16 1

5 9 16 1

5 8 15 1

5 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Ant Man is different. To be honest, I'm not sure how I'd use him, he has a really cool movement power that would allow him to move twice in one turn, once on his own and then tagging along with someone else. But, once he gets there, he won't do much damage but he can outwit an opponents power or perplex. He also has energy explosion and a click of blades, claws and fangs. But counting on being able to use those clicks would pretty much guarantee I'd get hit and land on click 4 and then be KO'd. Still, for 43 points, you would have outwit....

Number 5 on the list:

Madame Web

asm048 U Madame Web
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0 
Points: 24
Keywords: Mystical, Spider-Man Family

3 7 16 .

2 6 15 .

3 7 16 .

2 6 15 .

3 7 16 .

2 6 15 .

3 7 16 .

2 6 15 .

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

A Super Rare for 24 points? Ok, cool. This was my first super rare and to be honest, I happily traded her away as that dial and all the powers and no damage meant I didn't want to use her. But, the ability to use outwit, perplex and prob? In one figure for 24 points? Add in possibly increasing a friendly's attack by 3? Way cool.

Note to self, use her next week! With Oracle!

Number 6:

asm007 Johnny Blaze
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4 
Points: 50
Keywords: Champions, Heroes for Hire, Legion of Monsters, Midnight Sons

9 10 17 1

9 10 16 1

9 9 16 2

8 9 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Johnny Blaze is interesting because he can alter ego in ASM Ghost Rider but due to game mechanics, I don't think anyone worries about that and just plays Ghost Rider if they have him. But, for the sake of this post, he is a 50 point figure that can do some good damage, with the Special Damage power he has. So he can do 3 penetrating damage if he is adjacent to someone. Not too bad for the cost.

And Number 7:

asm014 R Werewolf
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0 
Points: 31
Keywords: Animal, Monster

7 9 16 1

6 9 16 1

6 9 15 1

8 11 15 1

9 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

  

Werewolf uses a d6 roll at the beginning of every round. If you roll 1-3 you can use shape change. If you roll a 4-6 you move your dial to click 11, where you have BCF, 10 attack and charge. He's a great tie up piece since his dial moves every turn, so if someone doesn't KO him in one shot, his dial will reset. But if you are able to set him on the 11th click, you get an awesome attacker for 31 points with the potential for an 11 attack and 6 damage.

Note to self again, use Werewolf next week. 

Numbers 8 and 9: Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox:

#031 Experienced Uncommon Alfred Pennyworth
Team: Batman Ally
Range: 0  
Points: 42
Keywords: Batman Family

6 9 16 1

6 9 16 1

6 9 16 1

5 9 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

bm041 V Lucius Fox
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0 
Points: 42
Keywords: Batman Inc, Gotham City, Politician

6 8 15 1

5 7 15 1

5 7 15 1

5 7 14 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

For 42 points, take your pick: outwit and perplex or perplex and support. Lucius Fox has a weird trait, he can't be targeted if it is the first non-free action. So, another character moves, then you can blast away at Fox....

For the same points, you lose outwit but gain a nice support power, a 4 range and +1 to the heal. And he has stealth when he gains the support.

I'd take Alfred.

And number 10:

fi002 R Asgardian Troll
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0 
Points: 25
Keywords: Asgardian, Monster

8 10 17 3

7 9 16 2

7 9 15 2

6 8 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

The Asgardian Troll is 25 points, and with a bit of strategy and/or TK/Carry/Etc can do up to 5 damage on his first click with Super Strength. Not a bad price for that potential. If he hits twice, he's definitely earned his cost.

Well, that's a good mix of characters under 50 points, in almost every aspect. Commons, uncommons, rare and even a super rare. 

Smart use of a 50 point character can make them worth as much as that primary attacker you (or your opponent) uses.

HCRealms Primer Reviews....

I've been reading HCRealms for months now,spending way too much poring over the forums and units subsections, trying to learn as much as I can about the game and the pieces in it. For some reason I had never noticed the HCRealms Primer Reviews, which are figure by figure reviews, divided by rarity of every figure in the set.

With the new Wolverine and the X Men set just released, the person that does the review, anonymOuse, has completed the Common, Uncommon, Rare and Super Rare sections. I have to say, those articles are excellent. For a new player, they have been extremely helpful in learning about the Set and which figures may turn out to be the best. YDRMV (your dice rolls may vary).

And in case you needed the advice, Fantomex is very good. Shatterstar and Lady Deathstrike are also, nice. Yeah, I guess I like Blades, claws and fangs.

Stay tuned for more Heroclix goodness, including my brick of Wolverine and the Xmen!

Went to my first tournament!

I got an email from the shop in Valdosta and they had planned a tournament on August 10th, so I went and had a blast! There were four of us, so we paid the fee and sat down to open our boosters. In my first booster, I got Red She Hulk (number 6), Titania, Sin, Speedball and the SR Spiderman. In the next booster, I got Dr. Strange, Tyr, Sin (again!) and made my 300 point team using Ms. Marvel and Valkyrie.

My first opponent had gotten a Null, and that sculpt looks cool, except for his disco shoes. I was doing well in this match, and  that sculpt looks cool, except for his disco shoes. I was doing well in this match, and was wearing Null down. Null had missed every roll....until he hit one time for 7 damage. If you're going to hit once in a game, hit once with Null! That and two critical misses in a row ended my first game. Fun game, though.

The second match was against the eventual winner of the Tourney, he used Monkey King, Raizo and Red She Hulk. Well, I got outplayed in this match. He has been playing since the game was first released and knew what he was doing. Red She Hulk with a Hammer and a big dumpster is a scary sight. 

He won the next match and that was the tournament. I was the lucky winner of the Fellowship prize, Hela and I can not wait to use her next week, she looks awesome.

We then had a second tournament! I totally blew my budget and signed up, paid and got my next two boosters. In my first booster, I got the Serpent, Tanarus, Tyr (again) and an Asgardian Troll. In the second booster, there was Prodigy, Black Widow, Tanarus (again), Titania (again) and Sin (three of her! anyone need one?!)

Oh, wait, there was one figure I missed in the first booster, Colossus!!! YES!!

So I picked, Colossus, Prodigy and the Serpent as this match was a 400 point game. I felt confident, I felt good, I got my butt kicked. Colossus missed the impervious roll, and I forgot the Shape Change! And my opponent landed some incredible hits on him. I then did something really dumb and planted the hammer that gives running shot, just as his battle fury sets in. I lost badly.

The next round was against the winner of the first tournament. He pretty easily destroyed me, and then whupped his opponent in the finals to claim the LE Thor.

All in all, this was a lot of fun. I don't think I'll use hammers at my local shop as they seem way over powered to me, and I'd rather not start an 'árms race' at my local shop. 

Oh, after the final tournament, we were hanging out and the winner gave me a FI Hawkeye. He had pulled one in the Tournament and the one he gave me has a slightly wobbly hand that needs to be repaired but who cares? It's Hawkeye!!

The owner handed out the hammers for month two and three and gave me a FI map! 

After loading everything up, and telling the owner I'd be back next month, I headed for home.

Here are the figures I pulled:

Titania, Prodigy, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Tanarus, Sin.

Hawkeye and Black Widow.

Asgardian Troll, Tyr, Speedball and Red She Hulk.

Ms. Marvel, Valkyrie, Dr. Strange, The Serpent

And here was the LE Fellowship prize and the best figure in my four boosters:

Hela and Colossus!

Wolverine and the X-Men gravity feed pulls!

Made it to my local shop and they only had two singles left. I wanted Colossus and Wolverine, since I don't have either. Well, I have a Weapon X and a Tab App Wolverine, but I wanted a classic Wolverine.

I opened both packs.... 

both of them Shadowcat. Yay.

After a game, the shop owner opened a new CTD so I bought three more. I opened them and got:

a Shi'aar Guard, Cyber and a Collossus!

Traded one of the Shadowcats so all in all, not too bad. Very happy I got a Colossus!

Some of the Marvel Heroclix I bought last week....

In the last post, I showed the DC Clix I bought, but I also bought some cool older Marvel Clix, too. Like this one:

Nightmare. He is old, from the Infinity Challenge set, but he has a powerful dial.

SLOT 10 14 18 3 1 10 13 17 3 2 10 13 17 3 3 9 12 16 3 4 9 12 16 3 5 9 11 15 2 6 8 11 15 2 7 8 11 14 2 8 7 10 14 2 9 7 10 14 2 10 KO KO KO KO 11 KO KO KO KO

I want to try him out just to see how he does with new Clix. A 14 attack value, neat!

Speaking of cool dials, this is the next Clix I bought:

I gots a Hulk! And this dial looks,cool, too, I think I will play him tomorrow!

SLOT

6 7 14 1 1

6 8 15 2 2

6 10 15 3 3

7 10 15 3 4

7 11 17 3 5

8 11 17 4 6

8 12 17 4 7

8 12 17 4 8

9 12 17 5 9

6 11 15 3 10

KO KO KO KO 11

And this one is just cool looking:

And I also picked up a Spider Man:

I'm glad that guy emailed me with the offer, I picked up some cool Heroclix, a bit old, but some of them are pretty useful. I'll let you know how the Hulk did in a game tomorrow.