What keeps YOUR characters safe from a KO?

[brevard321]

What keeps YOUR characters safe from a KO?

Simply put, in your opinion, based on all of your Heroclix games, what is the most important thing(s) that has kept your Heroclix characters from being KO'd by your opponents?

If you've been playing for 5 years, or 5 minutes, let us all know what is that one thing you look for to keep your characters on the board, and out of the KO pile.

Discussion is welcome, and I'm sure there will be many great team-building and general strategy hints to come from this poll and/or discussion. Thanks! :)

EDIT: I allowed for multiple choices on this poll in case anyone had several VERY strong strategies that they use together (like using very high defense values with a JSA team).

Keep your poll choices down to the couple REALLY strong powers, tactics, or strategies you have used in your games. Basically, what has worked for you the BEST? :)

[Webheadman]

One word.


Positioning.


Key positioning out of LOS and stuff can be KEY to winning the game and making sure your key pieces dont get KOed.


Also my opponent rolling badly can help alot:p

[Slayer_Xtreme]

The main thing I think to keep a figure on the board without paying wussyclix and running away when a figure gets hurt is being able to alter your team's strategy when you face a team that whose build has a serious advantage against yours. You have to be able to see that a team will be able to handle your team's basic strategy pretty well and figure how how to adapt it to make it a better matchup. Even something as small as carrying a different figure out with a flyer on turn 1 or placing different figures next to your TKer in the starting zone can greatly improve your chances to keep figures in the game. Also remember this is may not be wussyclix but that doesn't mean you should just rush in when your at a disadvantage and hope for the best. Being at a disadvantage does not mean its over it just means you have to think a little harder to get the job done.

w00t... first vote in the poll now that it's actually posted

[Pfligman]

Clicking backwards when my opp isn't paying attention...

not really, I tend to hide wounded figs behind nice healthy ones.

(Don't worry Thor, just duck behind Space Phantom)

[Dead_man_wadE]

present a nice jucy target that has been ignored.

[brevard321]

For those who got the early discussion going, make sure you vote in the poll as well. Heck, the discussion started before I even finished the poll, I guess the thread was posted before the poll was added! Thanks all!

PS I'm going to pick damage avoiders & stealthy pieces. I like my Batfamily, and I'd love to see more of the Batfamily with Super Senses. I get a LOT of my Super Senses rolls... :)

[Space Jawa]

Oh, SINGLE most important?

That's the main issue with these things being on the main page, isn't it? Hard to make such specifications in the title.

I voted for seven. :noid:

[invisibo]

single most important thing:

positioning.

next: monster range or stealth.

[brevard321]

Clicking backwards when my opp isn't paying attention...
not really, I tend to hide wounded figs behind nice healthy ones.

Cheating was NOT one of the choices! Ha, ha! :)

But I guess we can put that under Other as well...

Slayer, sorry the poll itself was a little late, just tried to get it as accurate as possible. I didn't know that anybody could see the thread before the poll was posted!

deadmanwade, I often use decoys as well. Sometimes they really work!

webhead, I guess strategic positioning would be your main choice. That would be the choice of all the chess players as well, I would say. :)

[brevard321]

Oh, SINGLE most important?

That's the main issue with these things being on the main page, isn't it? Hard to make such specifications in the title.

I voted for seven. :noid:

Don't worry spacejawa, yeah, I didn't think about the polls visibility on the front page. Ah, it'll all even out. I'm sure that after a while, it will be very obvious what those 2 or 3 main strategies are. I'll change the initial thread post itself to kind of go with that line of thinking.

EDIT: I changed the wording of the initial post to give people some breathing room on the number of choices. :)

[Benandorf]

Positioning is most definitely what keeps my team alive.

[brevard321]

Positioning is most definitely what keeps my team alive.
My main problem IS my positioning. You don't know how many times I've set myself up for the pain, by putting my Batman right within someone's Charge range, or someone pulls out a Perplex to hit me at 13 range... :(

[JRS4]

I <3 Shape Change :laugh:

Super Senses and Impervious fail me all the time. But Shape Change Does me proud.

[brevard321]

I <3 Shape Change :laugh:

Super Senses and Impervious fail me all the time. But Shape Change Does me proud.

Finally a vote for Shape Change.

Your Shape Change is my Super Senses, I get more successful Super Senses rolls than I get successful attacks! :)

[Space Jawa]

And when you got 'em both together, then you're really talkin'.

[brevard321]

I want a character with Super Senses, Shape Change, Skrull TA or Hypertime TA, and Impervious! Then you're really, really talking.

Can you imagine 4 rolls to get 1 hit in???

On the DC side of things, I could almost see the Matrix Supergirl getting all 4 of those abilities, the Hypertime TA would be very unlikely though... :(

[NucGhost]

I wont vote in this because mine's not there: Dumb Luck

[shazam256]

For me, these three:

Damage Reducers (Impervious, Invul, Toughness, etc.)

Naturally High Defense Values (18, 19, 20, etc.)

Other (Prob, Long Dials, Power Cosmic)

[zero_cochrane]

Positioning is huge.

But I am shocked to see that my #1 method for keeping my characters from being KOd isn't even on the list - aggressive maneuvering and consistent attacks.

Worried about being Outwitted? KO the Outwit.

Seriously, knowing when to strike hard (and exactly when, neither too soon nor being too defensive) is what generally keeps my characters in the game.

The best defence is a good offence.

[Granite Moose]

One word.

Positioning.

Key positioning out of LOS and stuff can be KEY to winning the game and making sure your key pieces dont get KOed.

Agreed. I've come to learn how important positioning is in this game. I used to rely more on feats or damage reducers, but now those are secondary ways to save my characters.
Also, never discount the usage of a good decoy target. Sometimes placing a character where your opponent can't resist attacking them opens up many things for the rest of your team.

[Bob]

I like Regen myself and have been really lucky with Gargoyle (Regen PLUS PC), so I voted Other...

[TheRedHood]

I answered a number of things(high defense, regen, damage reducers), but rightn now the answer is: Nothing. I can't seem to keep anyone from being KO'd:confused:

[Ignatz_Mouse]

Positioning, which includes long ranges.

[MaxFortune]

What keeps YOUR characters safe from a KO?


The only thing that keeps mine safe from a KO is leaving them in the Plano box. :(

[ZZZ]

I cheated and chose all of them except for retaliation (Mystics) because I utilize all of these things depending on the game/team. There is no one method that works better for me.

[FCAIRSOFTER]

id have to say skrull and shape change save me half the time, i swear im the luckiest SOB when it comes to those.

[PMMJ]

id have to say skrull and shape change save me half the time, i swear im the luckiest SOB when it comes to those.

And I'm completely not. I can't rely on anything that requires a dice roll. Hate it when people praise Super-Senses or Shapechange as a way to keep a fig alive. Sure, it helps, but you can't count on it. That's why so many people are talking about positioning and why Protected is so cheaty/popular: no dice, so no chance.

[TheFreak]

Where is the option for "nothing, they drop like flies"

[sstralkowski]

I voted other because often times outranging my opponents keeps me alive longer.

[Shuttle]

I voted high defence for it's intimidatory factor.

"Hmm. I only have a single arrow. Do I fire at Hawkman stood in the tree with a 20 defence, or at Mr Terrific in the open with the 16 defence? I wonder..?"

If people are anything like me then they'll go for the easier option.

[airdomin8]

single most important thing:

positioning.

next: monster range or stealth.

Agreed 100%.

Maneuver your pieces, force your opponent to make tough decisions and make it hard for him to retaliate.

[spaznitro]

I like to T Bolt an Avengers team to Defenders and have either or both IC Antman or IC U Wasp on the team. Works like a champ. Of course this doesn't work if you are playing in a lame "reitrement" game.

[larthosgrr8]

the one thing to truely need in this game SKILL. you sprinkle that with some luck and your good to go. a skilled player can take a couple good hits and still win. a skilled player can make a bad move or two and still come out on top. a skilled player can still be a threat WITHOUT fancy powers/feats/TA's.

i chose other because i like to think that it's my skill(team building/ positioning/planning,etc) that keeps my figs from getting ko'ed.

[larthosgrr8]

Positioning is huge.

But I am shocked to see that my #1 method for keeping my characters from being KOd isn't even on the list - aggressive maneuvering and consistent attacks.

Worried about being Outwitted? KO the Outwit.

Seriously, knowing when to strike hard (and exactly when, neither too soon nor being too defensive) is what generally keeps my characters in the game.

The best defence is a good offence.
true dat!!! thats why the ko points are so cool. it rewards you for actually fighting and not sitting around hiding. batman will throw down in a secong and he's one of the smartest ppl in comics PERIOD!!:laugh:

[jmainse]

I voted other. I try to hit harder and faster. If I have a statistical advantage , I tend to win. If I miss my first attempt at a big hit, I tend to lose.

[Devon_v]

I had to cast five votes. Damage Reducers, High DV, Stealth, DV Sharing, and Defense Modifiers.

My favorite teams involve defense sharing from high DV figures onto wildcard figures with damage reducers and/or DV mods, preferably also giving them stealth via Batman Ally. It was crazy before Fantastic Forces retired, but it can still be done in high point games.

[coyotejack]

I'm an attack avoider! Super Senses FTW! (And I mean the original FTW...not "For The Win". :laugh: )

[Surfer13]

There is simply no better defense than not getting hit, and the best way to not get hit is to have a defense value that makes it unlikely that your opponent will roll well enough.
Each and every power is subject to being outwitted (barring PC or Q TA), so damage reduction/avoidance isn't reliable. Some figures can even counter TAs, and a Skrull roll only works one out of six times.
The only thing that comes close to naturally high defenses are the JSA/Defenders TA, but those require adjacency, and in the end you are still looking for a naturally high defense to help shield your teammates.

All that being said, though, damage reduction is a close second. If an opposing piece can't hurt you, then it doesn't matter how likely they are to hit you.
I usually combine a few of these elements, though. I like some damage reduction, some decent defensive values, and why not throw a protected on top of that? If I can cheese it up with some hyper-sonic hit and run, then so much the better, and if you can't outwit my powers due to stealth or TA, then I have pretty much all I need.

[normalview]

If you can't reach/attack my pieces, you can't KO them ;)

Strategic positioning for the win!

[JKLantern]

I like my characters to be Thick as a Brick. High Defenses and Damage Reducers for me.

[joh-marko]

I would have to say. i take the most comfort in having a 19 defence. this is a game of probability where it is harder to roll an 8 than it is to roll a seven. with a natural 19 and some supersenses, theyare welcome to try. though i must say, i played a friendly game the other night against doomsday. my team consisted of zzax , warskrull and black tom. warskrull is just awesome, with his skrull, shape change, than after that his 18 defence....wow. but i now make it a strategy to try to involve at least one figure with an 18 defence on my team when ever i play. ES/D and CR are ok, but can be outwitted. lets go warskrull!!!

[pxb006]

One word.......... Turtleling :cheeky:

[Neverfate]

I'm going to have to say strategic positioning is the most important aspect of my game. Doesn't matter what the number are, you get everyone set up right and you can win with mediocre, sometimes even bad pieces.

I know, if I'm not paying attention and make a wrong move, that my game is shot.

[antedoX]

If you can't reach/attack my pieces, you can't KO them ;)

Strategic positioning for the win!


Agreed 100%

I primarily rely on terrain to position and aggressive attacking strategies to keep the tempo of the game on my side of the board.


Oh, and as much Probability Control as I can get. My dice stink on ice. :p

[brevard321]

I would love, love, love, a new Batman that would start with something like an 18 defense, with Shape Change and a Combat Reflexes and Super Senses special power to go along with the Batman Ally TA.

There are not a whole lot of figures than can reach a 20 defense naturally, but I think Batman could be one of them to reach it with a little bit of help, with Combat Reflexes or Energy Shield, for example.

According to the units section there are only 2 characters who have at least an 18 defense with Combat Reflexes on their dial (AW U Spider-Man & LEG Exp Joker), and only 2 characters who have at least an 18 defense with Energy Shield (AW Vet Quicksilver & JL SR Flash)... :)

All 4 of those characters are 105 points or under!

[Kenny Wisdom]

A mix of everything obviously, but usually it's positioning/stealthy pieces, etc.

Good poll.

[Ococatam]

I have to say positioning!!! when a opponent try roll the dice to hit my pieces the always do it!!!! I mean ALWAYS!!!!!!:angry:

[TheMummyBoy]

damage reducers (Impervious, Invul, Toughness, etc.) - High damage values still affect your characters

damage avoiders (Super Senses, etc.) - There's a good chance you still will take damage.

attack avoiders (Skrull TA, Shape Change, etc.) - Same as Damage Avoiders

stealthy pieces (Batman Ally TA, Stealth, etc.) - Requires good positioning but works

naturally high defense values (18, 19, 20, etc.) - No matter what, there is a chance to get hit.

shared defense (JSA, Defenders, etc.) - Same as naturally high defense.

defense modifiers (Combat Reflexes, ES/D, hindering, etc.) - Same as naturally high defense.

strategic positioning (Barrier, blocking terrain, etc.) - with carefully considered placement, there is no chance to get hit.

high mobility (Phasing, Hypersonic, Leap/Climb, etc.) - Useful for achieving strategic positioning.

retaliation ability (Mystics, high attack & damage, etc.) - To retaliate means you had to have been hit, when you are hit, you are that much closer to being KOd.

Feat cards (Protected, Fortitude, Nanobots, etc.) - Protected is a one time use, Fortitude doesn't prevent you from taking damage, and there are a finite amount of objects for Nanobots (usually) - all of these won't consistantly protect your characters from KO.

other (ie swarms, Prob, long dials, Support, Power Cosmic, etc.) -All other powers are helpful but if it isn't strategic positioning, it just doesn't make the grade.

I see strategic position akin to abstinence and everything else a form of birth control. Sure you reduce the chance of getting knocked out (up):confused: with damage reducers, high DVs, and damage avoiders but eventually you will get hit or something will get through. If you position yourself correctly, just out of range or behind blocking terrain, or whatever that just prevents the attack from even being attempted, then you are safe.

[lensnart]

I went with positioning, but honestly I think that attacking the other guy first is a lot more my style. Te best defense is a good offense.

[Monkey Joe]

Glue!


Avengers dials! (no glue required)


Greased up laminated maps! (those dice just slide off)

[Sgt Grimes]

can't go wrong with high defenses, prob and free movement powers eg LC and PT

[zero_cochrane]

I went with positioning, but honestly I think that attacking the other guy first is a lot more my style. Te best defense is a good offense.Exactly how I feel.

[SLVRSR4]

A good strong pimp-hand. I look at my opponents and say, "You can KO my Blue Beetle if you want to, but you better be prepared to suffer the consequences!"

I then hold up my hand in a threatening manner, and shake it mildly to further warn them of the impending beat-down.

[AbraKadabra]

My favorite power and the one that pays off the most for me is Super Senses. It's saved my AK many times! :)