Batrep: Avengers vs. Hydra

 

In yet another classic matchup Steve's Avengers took on Red Skulls Hydra in the dessert on Gamma Shelters and Hammers. 

Priority was with B. And I choose 18 threat. 

Steve, Sam, Vision, Hawkeye and Black Panther 

Vs. 

Red Skull M.o.H., Baron Strucker, Baron Zemo, Spider-Woman and Luke Cage. 

First turn saw the side Hammers being grabbed by Zemo and Black Panther and the back D ones by Red Skull and Hawkeye respectively. 

T1 already started the Hawkeye show who, through Steve's Leadership, was able to Hook Arrow and fire twice immediately. He spiked hard and dazed Zemo with his first shot and somehow his arrows pierced through Lukes invincible skin too as he got three Damage through on him too (probably just a bad Hydra clone this Cage...). I placed Zemos Hammer to where I was sure Sam could grab it and get in range of the shelter afterwards. I didn't realise Strucker could reach it with a double move which he did. 

Vision ended up dazing Cage which gave me a pretty big attrition advantage as well as a score of 4:3 for Round one. 

From then on the game was a big brawl in the middle as you'd expect on Gamma Wave. 

Hawkeye continued to be an absolute terror with his shots while constantly scoring me two VPs. 

In the center of the Board Sam did his best to defend Vision against Cage with a Sacrifice that ended up throwing him into Vision. 

B. Was able to daze Vision and Interrogate him with Spider-Woman. 

Zemo lived through the round with a single Health point left on his injured side and B. still had priority which would prove to be a problem in Round 3. 

Per the Interrogate B. Scored 4, with me scoring 4 as well again. Bringing the total to 8:7.

Zemo rushed in on Hawkeye who was saved by Steve on the first attack but had to defend himself against the second as Steve was out of Power (he only took one Damage). 

To my immense luck Clint lived on 1 and Zemo moved away. 

He was thanked with an arrow in his back which took him out of the game for good. 

Spider-Woman spiked on her attack against Black Panther dazing him in a single attack action, leaving the Hammer for Red Skull to pick it up and moving away. 

Steve left Hawkeye's side to push Strucker away so he couldn't reach Clint. 

Vision got taken out by Red Skull who didn't even break out a Sweat when counting blanks, and Sam was also dazed. 

It was a big VP swing on Hydras Favour leaving me with only the two VPs Hawkeye consistently scored while B. Got a massive 5 to take the lead.

In T4 Panther woke up fully powered and let the world see what a King of Wakanda can do with that. He took care of Spider-Woman rather quickly and Strucker also ended up getting dazed by him, with Panther taking his Hammer.  Steve took the daze from Red Skull who was B.s Only activation. 

Sam tried and failed to push RS and the Grunts of the point.

The round ended with a Score of 14:15. 

Round 6 stared with Spider-Woman racing towards Clint, Gliding and dazing him, taking his Hammer in the process. 

Black Panther retaliated in fashion with a pounce into Red Skull (his only power) that did: nothing... Off to a great start. No power meant a Strike with no dice mod would be next thing he's got to do. He got two damage through and luckily the building stopped Red Skull from being pushed out of range. Two power meant I could use mantle for my second attack. And boy did it matter. Red Skull made honour to his name and rolled 4 Skulls for his defence. And Panther, with his Mantle rerolls? Did exactly 5 damage, thus dazing Red Skull and taking both his hammers.

Strucker used the world is mine to straight up punch Sam into his next life and secured the back Gamma. 

Steve was the last activation of the round and game. 

The board state was: 

Spider-Woman scoring 3 VP (my back Gamma + 1 Hammer), Strucker scoring 1 VP (B. Back Gamma) and Black Panther scoring 3 VP (3 Hammers). 

Since I was already behind by 1 it would've meant I would lose unless Steve could do something. We measured carefully and came to the conclusion that he could move on the center Gamma and be in range 2 of Spider-Woman to Strike her and hope for a Spike, or more realistically but pretty far from a safe bet: hope for the wild push. 

If only Steve would have two power to use his spender... 

Gambling on the wild it was: 

And it came through! 

Even though Jessica Drew blocked all incoming damage, the wild push got her off of the objective thus reducing B. To 2 VP while I scored 4 making it a 18:17 Avengers win. 💪

Pretty awesome cinematic ending for a very tight game with Steve himself landing the winning blow (although of course Black Panther dazing Red Skull was what even made the win a possibility). 

Next week we'll see Avengers once again but with a pure Sam list and on the other side of the table when B. Plays his Avengers against my Asgard (Sam must've done something to piss off Thor I guess 😃)

Until then! 

Cheers from Germany 🍻

MY Hellfire Club - 2nd Chance League Roster

With the 2nd Chance League starting this week I decided on a Roster I'm going to be playing in it and also the Fury's Finest Secret War 6 Patreon League starting August 6th. 

As you've seen above it's going to be Hellfire Club: 

I'm going over each character, tactics card and Crisis choice and end the article with who else is on my shortlist of possible characters for the Roster. 

Competitive TTS Hellfire Club

Characters: (10)

Emma Frost (Emma Frost) Threat: 4

The absolute every game piece because she is the only leader. Roster spot locked in 100%.

---Doctor Strange (Stephen Vincent Strange) Threat: 5

The defensive 5 threat. He'd be there if my game plan is outlasting rather then outfighting an opposing attrition team. Roster spot not fully locked in. 

Ulik (Ulik) Threat: 5

I love Ulik for his incredible movement and durability. He is the offensive 5 threat choice here. If I face a fast scenario team he'd probably be in my squad. Roster spot pretty much locked in (90%). 

Sabretooth, Apex Predator (Victor Creed) Threat: 4

Sculpt by Trident

One of the characters that really get turned on by the leadership. With enough power turns in to a rather fast killing machine while being hard to put down himself. Roster spot locked in 100%.

Beta Ray Bill (Bill) Threat: 4

Steaming hot take: Bill is pretty good. Basically an every game piece. Roster spot locked in 100%.

--Crimson Dynamo (Dimitri Bukharin) Threat: 4

The King of the E. Will be out whenever I'm playing an E and not too often otherwise probably. Spoilers: I don't bring E's myself so he might have to be a meta cut but with the continued popularity of the shape for all kinds of attrition teams it seems unlikely. Spot is pretty locked in currently (80% maybe?)

Iron Man (Tony Stark) Threat: 3

Generally solid 3 threat. Competes for a role with Emma a bit but is tankier and brings access to Helios Laser to help out against Hulk and other big boys. Not all that secure in the Roster. Maybe 55%.

Lizard (Curtis Connors) Threat: 3

My favourite model and amongst my favourite characters in lore. Was a work horse for me with Spider-Foes and I don't expect anything less with HFC. Baring 16 threat where I'll probably always go 4 4 threats he is an every game piece. 100% locked in.

Luke Cage (Luke Cage) Threat: 3

Generally considered great but while I often put him in Rosters I tend to not often put him on the actual table. Might be a bad call on my terms. Comes with Heroes for hire stapled to him. Pretty on the brink 55%.

Baron Mordo (Karl Amadeus Mordo) Threat: 3

Sculpt by Trident. 

Maybe the most surprising character on this list and more an experiment than something I can say is tried and tested. I liked what he brought to the table with Strucker Hydra and he can be a fast objective runner. I don't expect him to do a lot of damage but spreading Hex against my overall pretty durable team will drastically improve my staying power even more. 

Might be a bad call but currently I rate him above both Cage and Iron Man. Locked in 60%.

Tactics: (10)

Helios Laser Bombardment

Stapled to Tony. Comes out against big guys. Obviously depends on whether Tony stays or not. 

Heroes for Hire

Stapled to Luke Cage. Stays as long as Luke stays. 

My Hellfire Club

It's the leadership. So yeah locked in 100%. 

Skuttlebutt, On Me!

Situationally very good card on Bill who is gonna be in most if not all games. Pretty likely to stay. 70%.

Eyes on the Prize

Pretty much auto included when Bill is on the table. Can also be used by Ulik. 100%.

Mission Objective

I have an extract team that should be well powered up most of the time. A bit more on the brink about this one. 70%.

Recalibration Matrix

Can help keep a key model alive or get the needed damage through. Probably a keeper. 80%.

X-Ceptional Healing

Speaking of keeping a key model alive. Stays as long as both Apex and Lizard are in. So most likely indefinitely.

Brace for Impact

The auto pick for 1 restricted. Emma brings it on her card and aside from Mordo the physical defense is pretty high on average. Might change to something else. 75%.

Indomitable

My favourite restricted card. Stays until I have a specific plan for either of Patch Up, Sacrifice or Advanced RnD. But all of those would probably replace Brace before this. 

Secure Crisis: (3)

Deadly Meteors Mutate Civilians (Threat: 17)

Pay to flips might not seem like a typical HFC choice but I feel pretty good about them currently. Also give Emma something to do in Diamond form. 

It also hopefully scares people away from choosing their extracts. 

I also like the I shape. 

Mutant Madman Turns City Center Into Lethal Amusement Park (Threat: 18)

Same concept as with Meteors just that the average physical defense is higher in the team. 

Cosmic Invasion! Black Order Descends on Earth (Threat: 16)

I really like 16 threat and my team doesn't care too much about being displaced. 

Extract Crisis: (3)

Struggle for the Cube Continues (Threat: 17)

My favourite crisis of the bunch. Pretty self-explanatory good for HFC. The damage can be healed against and your extract carriers floating in even more power is never a bad thing.

Spider-Infected Invade Manhattan (Threat: 17)

As with Cosmic Invasion my team can handle being displaced better than most opponents. 

Skrulls Infiltrate World Leadership (Threat: 20)

Same concept once again and the high physical defence can shine again. 

Biggest questions going in: 

Can I manage without a 2 threat? 

With my typical core of Emma, Bill and Lizard my only option for 17 is taking 2 more 3s. Something I will decide over the course of the league(s). 

Are P2Fs actually good for me or will they proof to have been a stupid idea? 

Only time will tell really. But I loose priority in a very statistical 90% of cases so who knows when they will actually ever come up... 

Here's a bunch of characters I also considered for the Roster who could flux in an out: 

TTS Hellfire Club additional player pool 

2 Threats:

Toad (Mortimer Toynbee) Threat: 2

Arguably the best 2 threat extract runner. 

Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) Threat: 2

Faster than Toad and brings Stealth and Martial Artist. Also I own her and Toad not. I don't like playing models in TTS I don't own IRL (stupid I know)

3 Threats:

Black Cat (Felica Hardy) Threat: 3

Stagger bot with a steal. 

Baron Zemo (Helmut Zemo) Threat: 3

Fast damage dealer. Not that power hungry so might not be the best fit here.

---Captain America (Sam Wilson) Threat: 3

Fast and tanky. Might like the leadership a lot. 

Iron Fist (Danny Rand) Threat: 3

Faster but less tanky Luke Cage alternative. 

4 threats:

---Black Panther (T'Challa) Threat: 4

The faster alternative to Apex Predator. A very strong contender for the list. 

Rhino (Aleksei Sytsevich) Threat: 4

Brings his excellent tactics card as well as highly mobile durability. 

Rogue (Anna Marie LeBeau) Threat: 4

My favourite mutant in the fluff but I hadn't had the chance to put her on the table. She might get a look over the course of the league(s)

Agent Venom (Flash Thompson) Threat: 4

Doesn't fit HFC really but is such a fun model to use. 

Killmonger (N'Jadaka) Threat: 4

I have a 66,6% winrate with him in squads (2/3) and a 100% success rate with Ursurp the Throne. He like AV doesn't fit the typical HFC tropes but might benefit a lot from the power and heal. Bigger concern is that he isn't typically going to be an objective piece. 

Mr. Sinister (Nathaniel Essex) Threat: 4

Fast and durable and another favourite character in the fluff for me. Profits a lot from the leadership to get the beam of. Currently out edged by Dynamo. 

Omega Red (Arkady Gregorivich Rossovich) Threat: 4

Another favourite fluff character. Doesn't shine too brightly on the table outside of Kingpin and maybe Strucker. Might be higher on the list if I was to go back to regular secures. 

Psylocke (Elizabeth Braddock) Threat: 4

Reliable and rather durable killer. 

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) Threat: 4

Fast, stealthy objective runner. Kind of 4 threat Black Cat in a way. 

5 threats: 

Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (Stephen Vincent Strange) Threat: 5

The offensive version of the Doctor. He is another potential user of Eyes on the prize. For this roster I'm higher on OG Strange currently. 

So that's what I'm bringing to round one which started today. I'm gonna keep you posted on how well (or not) I fare with Emma and her Club. 

There's also gonna be a Cabal (RS1) Vs. Shield IRL Batrep coming up this week. On my new dessert board which you can see glimpses of with the character shots above. 

See you then and cheers from Germany 🍻

Batrep: Spider-Foes vs. Web Warriors

 

In a truly classic match up in our IRL game this week B. and I faced off with me bringing out Goblin and his friends against the Spider Menace of the Web Warriors. 

B. Got priority and we ended up on: 

Riots and Skrulls at 20 threat. 

Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Lizard, Venom, Carnage and Bullseye

Faced off against 

Miles, Gwen, Agent Venom, Squirrel Girl, Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel.

Should I have brought Rhino? Yes obviously but even before we rolled priority I had decided that I was going to play Venom and Carnage no matter what. How well did that pan out? 

Well not terrible actually:

On my left flank Lizard was able to hold his own against Squirrel Girl while, for the longest time, holding a Skrull. 

In the middle of the board Venom, who sadly was pushed way up the board by the Skrull, Goblin and Bullseye took care of Agent Venom and Ms. Marvel, but Venom bid the dust in round 2 already. 

On my right side Carnage and Doc Ock where up against Gwen, who left them there to support the middle and score, and Moon Knight who got sent to Konshu by Carnage but only after he spendered Carnage into dazing once. 

The scoring was very tight the entire game with us going into full 6 rounds at the score of 13:15. 

I was kind of sure I had the game when Gwen to my suprise flat out KOed Doc Ock who had his full health on his injured side. 

Lizard went and threw Squirrel Girl of a secure and score me another 2 VPs, Goblin tried, and failed to take care of Miles, Bullseye had to stay on his secure and on the other one I had Carnage. Gwen, Squirrel Girl and Miles still had Skrulls, with Miles also holding the secure on his healthy side. With Lizard and Carnage injured and Goblin and Bullseye slowed by a very effective all webbed up play the only possible was for me to deny the 2 points Miles was getting was: 

Move Carnage once, hope he dazes Gwen and then use paint the town red to reach Miles and daze him, too. 

Being the incredibly amazing Damage Dealer that Carnage is to make up for his terrible defence. He failed miserably... 

This brought me to 16 VP. Yes 💪

But sadly those damed Spider Folks were allowed to score to bringing their total up to 19 😩

I'll get you next time Spider-Man! 

Aside from the IRL game I played no less than 4 more games over TTS last week: 

A pick up game from the MCP on TTS discord with me going with pure Strucker against Wakanda with CGR. Ended 15:16 for Wakanda. 

Lessons learned: Dynamo rules/ Strucker LD is real sad against models with immunities. 

And then 3 games against B.: 

1. Pure Strucker (again) vs. Inhumans.

 I don't remember the final score but it came down to basically me making a terrible mistake in activating. I chose Strucker who double spendered to do a whole of 0 damage. Then Medusa made quick work of Pyro, who had 10 power on his injured side and would have been in a perfect position to beam and fire wall. Apparently I took some stupid pills that day... 

Lessons learned: Viper is infinitely better in this game than people give her credit for. She was by far and large my best scoring model in both Strucker games. Long move, Stealth and a R2 place are just great for an extract runner. Her only sin is not being Mystique or Black Cat. But in Hydra where I needed her to be affiliated she performed very well. 

Also I'm not going to go with Strucker in the competitive leagues. The leadership is great on paper but I can count on one hand how often I got to trigger either effect in to games. Drowning the opponent in conditions is great fun but I felt my rather wide list lacked the punch to take advantage of it then. 

2. A-Force vs. AIM (Nudok CS) / Hydra. 

We played on Deamons and Alien Ships making it a rather low scoring game where I was able to go up 8:4 after two rounds. But it left She-Hulk and Okoye in the middle where Red Skull 2, Bullseye and Ulik took both out. Captain Marvel, Psylocke and Domino kept fighting the good fight but ultimately couldn't come up with enough answers against Nudok (who was the chosen leader) and his friends ending in a 10:20 Blow out. 

Lesson learned: I'm no Kurtis O. I heavily overextended She-Hulk early ending in her being out of the game early without having done a lot before. 

3. Hellfire Club vs. Defenders. 

Speaking of Blow outs. B. Wanted to bring Ghost rider no matter what so he went with Defenders on Fisk/ Cubes at 16 threat. Apex took out GR very easily with leaping in to him repeatedly, Dynamo tanked damage, Emma scored and Bill closed out the game in Round 3 with picking up no less than 4 cubes. It ended in a 16:4. 

Lessons learned:

Hellfire Club it is for the competitive season. I already singed in for the 2nd chance season 11 league starting next week and for Fury's Finest Secret War 6 (Patron league) starting at August 6th. A while both allow different lists each week I'm going to play HFC every game no matter what. 

I'm going to write about my starting Roster and possible other candidates in detail next week. 

See you then!