Why should you play the affiliation
Everybody loves Wizards and the Marvel ones are super cool, too.
On the table Convocation are complicated but super rewarding to play. You also get to feel very big brained with them 😉😅
How to start the affiliation
You basically have to pick up Supreme Strange and Clea as it comes with one of the core pieces of the affiliation as well as the leadership TTC (and more affiliated TTCs). Clea sadly is one of the few characters I’d say desperately needing a rules update. Which is a shame as she is cool as hell in the comics (at least the recent stuff). Next up you should probably pick up Ancient One and Baron Mordo for two more affiliated models and Doctor Voodoo and Hood next. Just be sure to use Voodoos updated card. Hood isn’t affiliated but fits the style of the affiliation. At some point you’ll also want to look at Doctor Strange and Wong even though the former will almost never see the table for you here.
What leaderships are available and what is the typical game plan?
By far the best handling of a leadership TTC. It is incredibly flexible in who plays it and doesn’t even take a spot in your 5. It also has two modes making it even more flexible in play. Circle of the Cosmos is a drug. Note that it is not once per turn but once per turn per character. Meaning if they damage multiple of your Wizards (or their friends) everyone gets to “Bump”. Moons of Monnopur is a bit more niche but can also be effective sometimes. You’ll probably spend most of your game on the Cosmos side though.
In terms of game plan you can take the affiliation basically anywhere you want them. They’ll probably sit best at a type 3 (midrange attrition, with some scenario play if they can’t kill you), but a type 2 is also easily doable.
Type 1: Pure Scenario team, as many VPs on the table as possible and try to win by scoring out as early as possible and with as little engagement
Type 2: Midrange Scenario team. Similar to Type 1 but can fight and chase if necessary
Type 3: Midrange Attrition team. Wants to be the beatdown but can shift to scenario play if the other side is clearly the beatdown.
Type 4: Pure Attrition team. Wants to murder you as quick as possible. Tabling is a possible and achievable goal here, but not the only way to win (they mostly score their points and deny yours by virtue of your models being dazed or KO'ed))
Who could be added to the affiliation in the future, especially as leaders?
No one apparently. It seems unlikely that they’ll ever get another leadership since every affiliated model can be the leader. But we had a multitude of characters that could have been affiliated from Wanda to Loki (who is even on the leadership card) but none were.
Probably the most likely additions in the future are two characters fresh in peoples minds from their excellent Disney+ series: Agatha Harkness and Wiccan. I’d also like some of the Strange Academy kids but AMG might be (understandably) hesitant to put actual kids in the game. Nico Minoru is another possible addition.
Rating every affiliated TTC and Character
Team Tactics (8)
Astral Ring
B-. Some Convo players swear by it but it is very tricky to use.
Bane of Damballah
B. AoE Root is good.
Book of Cagliostro
C. While removing an activated token is obviously great it is expensive and very hard to set up. And also pro tip if you’re ever thinking about the discard two TTCs to get this card back mechanic: Don’t.
Iron-Bound Books of Shuma-Gorath
A. Significantly worse now since it doesn’t trigger the return on a Grunts death anymore but still a card you’ll play in basically every Convo game.
Orb of Agamotto
A. Teleportation is good. Who would’ve thought.
Plane of Pohldahk
A. Chances are you’re bringing a lot of Mystic attackers in your squad and this works on every allied character not just Convocation affiliated ones.
The Bar With No Doors
A. Your excellent leadership as seen above.
Wand of Watoomb
B. Cool and flexible card.
Characters (8)
Ancient One (4)
B. Ancient One is much tankier than her raw stats would suggest and can punch people pretty hard. Displacement in their turns is also very good. She probably nowadays a bit overshadowed by Shang-Chi who plays a similar role but here she at least has the advantage of being affiliated.
Baron Mordo (3)
B. Mordo is very fast with a 50mm base, Medium Move and flight. He also loves being pushed by the opponent as he has a reactive superpower that allows him to move after the push. He doesn’t have the biggest offensive output himself but is a great objective piece and can spread Incinerate and Hex on the opposing team, as well as boosting the dice of allied attacks making him a great support character and often the default 3 threat here.
Clea (3)
C-. Clea is one of the few characters in the game in need of a rules update. She isn’t totally useless but a little change to her power generating superpower, where she’d only take 1 damage if she rolled any Skulls would go a long way to making her better. As is it is much to dangerous to actually use it as there’s a non zero chance of outright killing her with her own superpower (though highly unlikely) and with her already low health pool and below average defenses that is even more debilitating.
Doctor Strange (5)
B-. Original Doctor Strange isn’t bad per se. He has a very good builder, can boost defense dice and has a heal. You’ll probably never play him here though because of:
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (5)
A. Supreme Strange is fantastic. With 3 power per Power phase, Scalpel of Strange (which isn’t once per turn), great and flexible attacks this version of Stephen Vincent Strange is much more of an offensive power house than the “Defenders” version. He’ll probably be in every game you play as Convocation.
Doctor Voodoo (4)
A. Many people discarded Jericho after his (much much needed) nerf in 2023 but the community has slowly come around on him still being really good. He remains one of very few action less steals and brings even more control with the throw trigger on his strong builder. His spender is also fantastic and he can be fast too if he needs to be.
Magik (3)
B. Magik is a mobile flexible damage dealer through her place and brings a fantastic personal TTC in Journey through Limbo. Her biggest weakness is how squishy she can be so be careful with her.
Wong (2)
A. As much as I personally dislike playing him I can’t deny how good Wong is as a 2 threat especially here where he’s affiliated and can sometimes even be made the leader to safe guard a home secure. His strongest opening will usually be to give Supreme Strange an additional power for him to use Scalpel in Round 1 so he can get in range immediately. But there’s basically an infinite number of plays you can achieve here depending on your squad.
Popular Splash Characters for the affiliation
Ultron, Metal Tyrant (5)
A. While not especially thematically fitting and not nearly as oppressive as he was with Age of Ultron still around, the Metal Tyrant makes great use of Iron-Bound Books (though thankfully the Grunts dying no longer triggers the recycling of the card), has great attacks, a much needed terrain throw and good control. Also loves to use the Bump to get into attacking range as he hates walking.
Dracula (5)
A. Bumping into range to clap back with Drac sounds like a lot of fun and will catch opponents of guard. He could even use the offensive side of the LD on his spender.
MODOK, Scientist Supreme (4)
B+. MODOK can help recycle Iron Bound books by redirecting attacks where you want them to go and adds a terrain throw and good attacks.
Shang-Chi (4)
A++. Shang is arguably the best all around 4 threat in the game so of course he's also great here. The reactive Bump helps him get into Range 3 for his Supreme Martial Artist and can also sometimes Bump him into Range 2 for his reactive throw.
Ebony Maw with Space Gem (6)
A-. While he struggles in comparison to other 6 threats Ebony Maw (with Space Gem) has his best home by quite a margin here. He of course benefits heavily from Iron-Bound Books, has fantastic attacks and a throw that's basically always online.
Example Roster
Characters (10)
Ancient One (4)
Baron Mordo (3)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (5)
Doctor Voodoo (4)
Magik (3)
Wong (2)
Shang-Chi (4)
Ebony Maw (Space) (6)
M.O.D.O.K. Scientist Supreme (4)
Black Panther, Chosen of Bast (3)
Team Tactics (10)
Astral Ring
Bane of Damballah
Book of Cagliostro
Iron-Bound Books of Shuma-Gorath
Orb of Agamotto
Plane of Pohldahk
The Bar With No Doors
Wand of Watoomb
Brace for Impact (R)
Sacrifice (R)
Secure Crisis
Infinity Formula Goes Missing! (B, 17)
Intrusions Open Across City As Seals Collapse (C, 19)
Gamma Wave Sweeps Across Midwest (E, 15)
Extract Crisis
The Montesi Formula Found (E, 18)
Deadly Legacy Virus Cured? (C, 19)
Alien Ship Crashes In Downtown! (C, 17)
If you want to support me in what I do here and get something out of these articles you could consider becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/sgprotocol
Thank you for reading and Cheers from Germany 🍻
No comments:
Post a Comment