Friday, February 28, 2025

Errata & Crisis Thoughts

 Errata & Crisis Thoughts

I have struggled with thoughts of this blog for most of this month. When I so recently started blogging, I made the typical agreement with myself to produce something, anything, on a weekly basis. I made my last blog, just before “The Errata”, in preparation for my upcoming tournament. Giving me a whole day-ish preparation to relearn how to run Thor. Since then, it has been twenty-one days of me trying to settle my thoughts into speech. The Thanos, Thor, Hellfire errata, and Crisis update to come are too grand in details, that I find myself treading in opinion and discovery. In my private circle, the current conversation is marveling at the new leaf turned by the recent changes. Such simple changes, it seems such a simple idea to speak about it. However, I don’t find any of it simple.

 

Asgard

Though I am wounded by the Thor, Hero of Midgard…adjustment. The other changes feel so revitalizing that I have resolved to take Thor as he is now. Knowing that though, I cannot see the merit of it. The designers are more often right than wrong.
I’ve reoriented the strategy of my Asgard list, which included removing Thor, Hero of Midgard. With the crisis changes to come, his current form makes me uncomfortable. He now struggles to fund his own kit which means the only Asgard leadership that supports his stalled gameplay is The Mighty Thor, as her leadership is free. There is a place under Loki where Thor’s role is to fund Loki’s turn, but Angela does that without trying, is a Threat less, and completes her role with ease rather than at a rasping pace. Angela is even more defensive with her modification negation. Especially in the face of the Zemo/Namor meta chasers.
Overall, my list is shifting closer to midrange attrition. I’ve welcomed Thor, Prince of Asgard and Hela, Queen of Hel. My practice games are fun and without exasperation commentary. Thor, Prince of Asgard’s leadership, should see a resurgence within Asgard, now that he is not overshadowed by his alter ego. My practice games under it so far showcases an Asgard that weathers a lot of punishment, and most inspiringly stagger storms. Mixed with Indomitable to cut some displacement. The Prince of Asgard leadership ability creates a salve for some of the common strategies against Asgard.
I have an infectious idea of running Versatile Strategy. Because Prince of Asgard lacks relevance on Turn 1. Mighty Thor’s Renegade Thor of Asgardia, mixed with Angela, Sif, Valkyrie, and other Turn 1 chargers. Leaping out and smashing in as many Range 2 attacks, while having the defensive re-roll available to cover their exposed positions. Then switching to Prince of Asgard when relevant or necessary. This idea mostly stems from the lack of action Prince of Asgard is needed for Turn 1. Verses Renegade Thor of Asgardia. However, the thought of wasting a Tactic Card for this one-turn trick makes it seem foolish. The upcoming Crisis pool does not have enough options that support that style of opener either.

 

Hellfire

I think Hellfire is going to lose its pariah status. Though, it is awkwardly gaining a mockery for its affiliation list. A mockery that I find hazardous. The leadership ability did not change at all. The option to splash in models has not been negated. The affiliation list is not lacking in quality models. In fact, several are renowned. I go more into this later in remarks about AMG’s apparent design philosophy. Within the affiliation list, there is a slew of options simply requiring creativity and an ounce of dedication. MCP is not a game won in list building but on the tabletop.
Not to be caught with my hand in the cookie jar, but I’ve been brewing a Brotherhood-Hellfire list for a couple of months. (Creatively dubbed the “Brotherhood Club”) The errata has shed the splash-fat from the list but introduced some wish list items, such as Magneto. He was acting counter to my Brotherhood win condition and barely being pushed out by more tactical splash options on the Hellfire side, pre-errata. But now dual affiliated has him in an MVP role. Saving the day against tall lists in Brotherhood and acting as a centerpiece for Hellfire.

 

Black Order

I believe Black Order either sees a renaissance, or shows AMG where more needed adjustments are. It is incredibly interesting to me. An example of a character finding a better balance with the game itself. So that it reveals a deficiency in its most related models. On the surface within Black Order, Thanos has barely changed. The changes; Cosmic Portal and Reality gem. Which only changed slightly but are forcing Black Order to reevaluate their list building strategies. I only played Black Order during year one of the game and abandoned them because of internal turmoil within my gaming group because of our casual scene, and the original character cards being un-hinged. I went as far as selling off all my models, which at the time were my only painted ones. All of this was before the release of Black Swan, Supergiant, and Cosmic Ghost Rider. So, through the errata I became inspired to try a hand of list building them. The mini-game of Gem swapping is more involved than I remembered, reminding me of my friend’s fun dealing in the Horseman of the Apocalypse.
While I think attrition is in a season of martyrdom. Black Order may find success in dedicated players seeking niche crisis combinations and skillful character play. The ability to be unpredictable and dramatic, I believe, is at an all-time high.

 

Errata Conclusion

To me, it seems AMG is interested in models that are expressed skillfully, or dramatically. The latter being the models that are more likely to miss the mark the first pass. By dramatically, I don’t mean that they are inherently over-powered. One of the best examples is Magneto’s terrain throw. The most, hands down, awesome terrain throw in the game. Balanced by its power consumption and a host of game interactions; opposing Tactic Cards, dodge rolls, and collision mechanics. Fueled by a great power builder attack of Reverse Polarity, and respectable Stamina pool. When Magneto is ready to prove his moniker, “Master of Magnetism”, the game blossoms into a slurry of effects. There is nothing skillful about him having power and chaining terrain throws, but by my definition, it is dramatic. By being a 6-Threat Magneto also has skill-based features in his defense dice buffing and Small movement. Both of which require a fair amount of tact and Squad based teamwork. The Thor and Thanos errata’s respectfully, are obviously pushing the characters back into more skillful play patterns. Removing our capacity to make placement errors and have their superpowers bail us out. I agree with AMG’s philosophy, as it creates more dynamic gameplay and a fairer field of play.

 

Crisis Update

I think the Crisis update is nothing more than a brilliant display of AMG’s leadership and wisdom. Their capacity to shed the weight of unbalanced or unfit gameplay is nothing short of well-worn maturity. What has occurred is a move of their power over the game, and on top of it they did it without reaching into our pockets for our money. Allowing the support of digital assets, so that those disinterested in the accompanied model may freely participate without hesitation. What is happening is NOT a Games Workshop rebalance of the model base to promote sales of previously underpowered models to make them relevant and saleable. Instead, I see the reign in of a prominent and escalating win condition that became overly relevant and had mastered specific play patterns. All for the game to remain a game.

Never have a trusted a game, and it is designers more than with AMG. They weave magic into their character design, both physical and mechanical. It is a pleasure and a privilege to participate in their masterpiece, and by proxy with those that choose to participate in it too.

Thank you for participating.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Do Not, Not KO Hulk

 Do Not, Not KO Hulk

Going into my local monthly tournament this weekend, I am reflecting on a regretful situation in my last tournament.

During the third Turn of my second game, Gamma/Skrulls (15). My squad Beta Ray Bill, Thor, Hero of Midgard, Loki, God of Lies. Against Hulk, Namor, Captain America (Steve Rodgers). I successfully debilitated the enemy Hulk down to 8-5 wounds remaining. He had taken the first turn to collect the extract on my left. For which I advanced my Thor immediately from his mirror deployment, and Loki to attrition hulk Turn one, and duel Turn 2. During Turn two Hulk triggered Giants Blood and I retreated Loki into the middle onto a Gamma Secure, to support Bill and shore up points. By the end of Turn two, Thor had pushed Hulk far away from the center but at the edge of Range three where Thor could still attack him from his position. However, instead of remaining there, I paid for Have at The and pulled Thor to the middle.

This is the decision that cost me the game. Without considering it, I allowed my opponent an opportunity to Patch Up Hulk. If Thor had earned another opportunity to activate into Hulk, which was likely, I truly believe he should have KO’d him. But, because of my alleviation of pressure, my opponent pulled Hulk back in. Patch Up Hulk up and cost me several other activations to KO him. Because of those focused activations on the Hulk problem. I could not control Captain America, who was braving the Gamma storm to collect the far-right Extract, which we had both ignored at the start of the game. Who then retreated completely into the corner of the map. Whom, with my taxed activations, I could not reach with my remaining characters Loki and Bill, before my opponent scored his sixteenth point and finished the game.  
To give myself credit where it credit is due. I scored fourteen points, and could have scored fifteen points, if the Skrull Bill collected at the final moment hadn’t pushed him off the Gamma Secure, but I am choosing to ignore the credit of this memory.

The lesson learned in this instance is that if you have an enemy character at the door of Death. Remove them with extreme prejudice. Especially, if that model is Squad defining. I remember distinctly the conversation I had with myself where I concluded I could Throw Thor to the middle and cost Hulk his activation to move back to the middle. I concluded that allowing Hulk to leap and double walk back was enough time wasted for me to “finish him off later”. “Don’t put off to tomorrow, what can be done today.” Within this lesson, there is a statement of lacking expertise on my part. Where I was not making my decision based on the option of Patch Up by my opponent. However, I believe that should have nothing to do with it. I should have made the game three on two. Thor carried a few wounds from Hulk, but regardless, I should have made a fifteen Threat game into fifteen against nine Threat game. All of which isn’t even bringing up the amazing gift that Turn one Captain America attempted to take my Skrull and was pushed toward my Gamma Secure where Bill Advanced and struck with six successes to no defense. Dazing Captain America and dropping a Skrull. Which means besides everything else, I was healthier than my opponent the entire game.

This is the first TTG that I have pursued competitively. MCP is the first game I have ever traveled to more than my local game store to play. I love the game and find myself trapped in the effort to express all parts of the game when I play. Making sure I attack, react, throw, move, trigger, and roll dice. Not capitalizing on my own successes has been an issue while learning to run a Type 4 attrition team. I get confused in places, trying to collect VP instead of setting up my next turns approach. Targeting characters who aren’t threatening and not scoring points. Putting crises into my list based on my ability to score points. Part of these troubles is bad habits ingrained from running my preferred team tempo of Type 3 attrition. However, I know that excelling at this playstyle will make me a better player all around.

One reason I am so hung up on this tournament game, and most games that I have lost recently, is that in hindsight, I can always identify the personal decisions that caused my defeat. Never dice, opponent dice, or opponent tactics. My personal decisive failures, which is clinically a recipe for depression, but not an issue because of the overwhelming affection I have for the game and all my opponents. At worst, demoralizing. But again, the reason I am so hung up by this specific game is that my opponent ended up four and zero as the grand champion of the tournament. Which to me means that I could have beat the leader of the tournament. My final record was two and two. Beating him would elevate me to three and one, creating a four-way tie for first place. Devolving by SOS and VPS. I would not have had the higher SOS, but simply a contender. Far better than my sixth-place finish. Key to this to me is that I, in my own hypothetical interpretation of the board state, should have defeated the lead player. Which begs the question.

Should I be the lead player?

 

Here is my List for my upcoming Tournament
*disclaimer*
Not the list I played with at the tournament referenced in the blog.

Characters (10)
Thor, Hero of Midgard (6)
* Loki, Prince of Lies (5)
* The Mighty Thor (5)
Angela (5)
Beta Ray Bill (4)
Lady Sif (4)
Heimdall, The All-Seeing (3)
Mysterio (3)
Valkyrie (3)
Winter Soldier (3)

Team Tactics (10)
Freyja‘s Blessing
Odin‘s Blessing
Skuttlebutt, on Me!
Joint Effort
Trickster‘s Boon
Giant‘s Blood
The Grand Illusion
Brothers in Arms (R)
Indomitable (R)
Rainbow Bridge

Secure Crisis
Intrusions Open Across City As Seals Collapse (C, 19)
Gamma Wave Sweeps Across Midwest (E, 15)
Demons Downtown! Has Our Comeuppance Come Due? (E, 19)

Extract Crisis
Deadly Legacy Virus Cured? (C, 19)
Fear Grips World As “Worthy“ Terrorize Cities (D, 18)
Alien Ship Crashes In Downtown! (C, 17)