fenway
04/12/2010, 20:29
AVENGERS/DEFENDERS War (1973)
Dormammu conspires with Loki to trick the Defenders into gathering the pieces of an instrument of invasion. Loki intervenes, alerting the Avengers to the plan – but to what end? A super team battles a non-team for the scattered, mysterious pieces of the Evil Eye!
For this completely non-competitive look at a famous event, I’ve briefly broken down each battle as they took place – 1 on 1 or 2 on 1, with an eye toward possibly bringing them together for a ‘team vs. team’ war. You choose – do you want to go completely comic accurate, and have six small games, or within the confines of the characters and representations, do a ‘What If?’ and re-imagine the battle as an all-out slug-fest.
Each individual battle looks at choosing an accurate representation of the characters, hopefully, without sacrificing the RELATIVE competitiveness of the match-up. A consideration is made for each game’s contribution to overall point totals as well. Finally, typical of the times, I’ve included in each game, a cheesy quote from the corresponding issue for someone to annoyingly (but thematically) yell as the dice tumble.
For an interesting ‘running commentary’ on this comics event, check out:
http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2009/11/avengersdefenders-war-part-1.html
…on to the clix!
Battle #1 – Silver Surfer vs. Vision/Scarlet Witch
A cosmic Surfer would be too much for this battle. Here we need a Surfer that can hold his own, contribute eventually nicely to a team, but not destroy his opponents should individual battles be chosen. Supernova’s R Surfer has higher attack values, and greater damage output for basically the same cost, but it feels like, for his Defenders TA and his Charge (hey, he got in a punch-up this battle), Sentinel of the Skyways is your choice.
Given that 120 point range, we look for a Vision that brings options to puncture reducers (EW and PB, or Perplex), as well as some mobility to face off with Surfer. At 108 points, E SN Vision fits the bill. The cheapest Witch to bear an avengers affiliation is AV SR Scarlet Witch, at 35 points (Barrier and PC? A nice support for Vision!)
So:
AV LE Sentinel of the Skyways – 120 pts
Vs.
E SN Vision – 108 pts
AV SR Scarlet Witch – 35 pts
Total this battle:
Avengers – 143 pts Defenders – 120 pts
Issue – Avengers #116 (Quote of the issue: “I do not naturally take to offense. I am much more of a DEFENDER!”)
Battle #2 – Iron Man vs. Hawkeye
This seems like Shellhead outclasses the archer in almost all iterations. But let’s take a look – Clearly, the 100 point FCBD Iron Man is a great use of a ‘modest’ amount of points. BUT, SHIELD TA? Not here, True Believer. We need an Avengers TA (or none at all). So we ask, “Over or under the 100 points?” Knowing the Hawkeye choices, its best to go under. At 89 points, R AW Iron Man is our pick. The only Hawkeye sporting the Defenders keyword, E FF Hawkeye is on the radar for this battle. Unfortunately, except for a brief trip with Valkyrie, Hawkeye spent NO time in the air. That leaves AV SR Hawkeye as our most viable option (less mobile than V CT Hawkeye, but, I think, more comic accurate, and more capable).
So:
R AW Iron Man – 89 pts
Vs.
AV SR Hawkeye – 56 pts.
Total this battle:
Avengers – 89 pts Defenders – 56 pts
Total so far:
Avengers – 232 pts Defenders – 176 pts
Issue – Defenders #9 (Quote of the issue: “Its time for action – IRON MAN STYLE!”)
Battle #3 – Dr. Strange vs. Black Panther/Mantis
Mantis offers only 3 options (4 counting her Celestial Madonna), but only one with the Avengers TA – and with decent attack, and damage options (EW, CCE), the 50-point E SN Mantis packs an impressive punch. Now we can go two ways – adding the AV Black Panther likely means we’ll have to counter with the SI Dr. Strange (a powerhouse game changer, and a figure who doesn’t really belong in this modest weight class). That being said, either E or V Black Panther from way back in Infinity Challenge will have to do. BP’s final attack on Strange features such a series of leaps that the LC’ing Vet needs to be chosen over my preferred E. His 46 points bring our total to 96. PERFECT! The 96-point E FF Dr. Strange is a Defenders-TA sportin’ 96 points! He’s a valuable team player that will shine in the ‘big’ game, without standing out as a definite MVP before the game begins (like his SI counterpart).
So:
E FF Dr. Strange – 96 points
Vs.
E SN Mantis – 50pts
V IC Black Panther – 46 points
Total this battle:
Avengers – 96 pts Defenders – 96 pts
Total so far –
Avengers – 328 pts Defenders – 272 pts
Issue – Defenders #9 (Quote of the issue: “Challenge comes all too rarely to me. Win or Lose, I shall enjoy this.”)
Battle #4 – Swordsman vs. Valkyrie
Uh-Oh. Well, at least the Defenders will catch up in points overall! The E Swordsman represents the Avengers version (and has the TA). At only 35 points, he doesn’t seem like a match for any version of Valkyrie. The transporter would be fantastic, even accurate for this battle (in terms of her winged steed Aragorn being present), but not with respect to her teammates. The E Sin Valkyrie sports the TA, and seems to be the one from this issue as well. (Hey – she won her battle in the comic too, with an assist – maybe its accurate after all!). Not a lot to see here, folks.
So:
E Sin Valkrie – 60 pts
Vs.
E Sin Swordsman – 35 pts.
Total this battle:
Avengers – 35 pts Defenders – 60 pts
Total so far:
Avengers - 363 pts Defenders – 332 pts.
Issue – Avengers #117 (Quote of the issue: “Threats? From a man with a pretty moustache?”)
Battle #5 – Captain America vs. Sub-Mariner
SI Namor? Don’t even ask. He’d laughably outclass Cap, IMO – so he’s a no go. But these two were the second last battle in the comics because they were the only battle that was to give the finale a run for its money. We need two figs that will be comparable, and somewhat high cost relative to their teammates. V AW Cap, at 116 points, seems to be the obvious, most expensive, most capable 616 choice here. With that in mind, the E FF Sub-mariner, though notoriously ‘over-costed’ for his supposedly missing Flurry clicks, brings 130 points of Defender TA to the table. Imperius Rex!
So:
AW V Cap – 116 pts
Vs
FF E Sub-Mariner – 130 points
Total this battle:
Avengers – 116 pts Defenders – 130 pts
Total so far:
Avengers - 479 pts Defenders – 462 pts.
Issue – Avengers #117 (Quote of the issue: “Luck can be broken – exactly like YOU.”)
Battle #6 – Hulk vs. Thor!
Sometimes clix is not at all comic accurate. In most clix games, a solid Thor will beat a solid Hulk by Alpha striking with his ranged attack… and yet, the lasting image from this entire ‘war’ is the grappling god versus the hand-to-hand Hulk, locked in CLOSE COMBAT. Bypassing today’s new-fangled Thunder Gods, we see a R SN Thor that sports CHARGE INSTEAD OF RS!! Perfect! At 112 points, he’s a powerful Avenger that may need to get in Greenskin’s grill. The analogous E IC Hulk is a Defender that can last quite a while when mixing it up close (but don’t get me started on how he obviously highlights the need for a NEW DEFENDERS HULK!!). At 117 points, it even sounds fair. (sounds…). Also, these point totals have both teams falling nicely under 600!
So:
E IC Hulk – 117 pts
Vs.
R SN Thor – 112 pts
Total this battle:
Avengers – 112 pts Defenders – 117 pts
Issue – Defenders #10 (Quote of the issue: “Hulk, I would have words with thee”/ “RRRRR”)
WAR TOTAL:
Avengers - 591 pts Defenders – 579 pts
Epilogue:
In filling out your 600-point team (should you choose to play it that way), I’d suggest the Avengers player using feats on Swordsman, to assist what seems to be should otherwise be a Defenders ‘gimme’. Another option? Choose which team you would consider at a disadvantage, and have that player select first between HoT SR Loki (208 pts) and CM Dormammu (206 pts). Though the former might likely be on the Avengers side (having brought them into the fray), and the latter on the Defenders side (as they were inadvertently doing his bidding), I suppose the choice doesn’t really matter. It also brings the totals to : Avengers – 797 to 799 and Defenders: 785 to787.
I hope this gets some comic readers to break out the old tale, and some clix players to dig deep in the tackle box. (Infinity Challenge Hulk and Black Panther are getting a tad dusty). If anyone manages this event in clix form (in whole or part), let me know how it goes!
Dormammu conspires with Loki to trick the Defenders into gathering the pieces of an instrument of invasion. Loki intervenes, alerting the Avengers to the plan – but to what end? A super team battles a non-team for the scattered, mysterious pieces of the Evil Eye!
For this completely non-competitive look at a famous event, I’ve briefly broken down each battle as they took place – 1 on 1 or 2 on 1, with an eye toward possibly bringing them together for a ‘team vs. team’ war. You choose – do you want to go completely comic accurate, and have six small games, or within the confines of the characters and representations, do a ‘What If?’ and re-imagine the battle as an all-out slug-fest.
Each individual battle looks at choosing an accurate representation of the characters, hopefully, without sacrificing the RELATIVE competitiveness of the match-up. A consideration is made for each game’s contribution to overall point totals as well. Finally, typical of the times, I’ve included in each game, a cheesy quote from the corresponding issue for someone to annoyingly (but thematically) yell as the dice tumble.
For an interesting ‘running commentary’ on this comics event, check out:
http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2009/11/avengersdefenders-war-part-1.html
…on to the clix!
Battle #1 – Silver Surfer vs. Vision/Scarlet Witch
A cosmic Surfer would be too much for this battle. Here we need a Surfer that can hold his own, contribute eventually nicely to a team, but not destroy his opponents should individual battles be chosen. Supernova’s R Surfer has higher attack values, and greater damage output for basically the same cost, but it feels like, for his Defenders TA and his Charge (hey, he got in a punch-up this battle), Sentinel of the Skyways is your choice.
Given that 120 point range, we look for a Vision that brings options to puncture reducers (EW and PB, or Perplex), as well as some mobility to face off with Surfer. At 108 points, E SN Vision fits the bill. The cheapest Witch to bear an avengers affiliation is AV SR Scarlet Witch, at 35 points (Barrier and PC? A nice support for Vision!)
So:
AV LE Sentinel of the Skyways – 120 pts
Vs.
E SN Vision – 108 pts
AV SR Scarlet Witch – 35 pts
Total this battle:
Avengers – 143 pts Defenders – 120 pts
Issue – Avengers #116 (Quote of the issue: “I do not naturally take to offense. I am much more of a DEFENDER!”)
Battle #2 – Iron Man vs. Hawkeye
This seems like Shellhead outclasses the archer in almost all iterations. But let’s take a look – Clearly, the 100 point FCBD Iron Man is a great use of a ‘modest’ amount of points. BUT, SHIELD TA? Not here, True Believer. We need an Avengers TA (or none at all). So we ask, “Over or under the 100 points?” Knowing the Hawkeye choices, its best to go under. At 89 points, R AW Iron Man is our pick. The only Hawkeye sporting the Defenders keyword, E FF Hawkeye is on the radar for this battle. Unfortunately, except for a brief trip with Valkyrie, Hawkeye spent NO time in the air. That leaves AV SR Hawkeye as our most viable option (less mobile than V CT Hawkeye, but, I think, more comic accurate, and more capable).
So:
R AW Iron Man – 89 pts
Vs.
AV SR Hawkeye – 56 pts.
Total this battle:
Avengers – 89 pts Defenders – 56 pts
Total so far:
Avengers – 232 pts Defenders – 176 pts
Issue – Defenders #9 (Quote of the issue: “Its time for action – IRON MAN STYLE!”)
Battle #3 – Dr. Strange vs. Black Panther/Mantis
Mantis offers only 3 options (4 counting her Celestial Madonna), but only one with the Avengers TA – and with decent attack, and damage options (EW, CCE), the 50-point E SN Mantis packs an impressive punch. Now we can go two ways – adding the AV Black Panther likely means we’ll have to counter with the SI Dr. Strange (a powerhouse game changer, and a figure who doesn’t really belong in this modest weight class). That being said, either E or V Black Panther from way back in Infinity Challenge will have to do. BP’s final attack on Strange features such a series of leaps that the LC’ing Vet needs to be chosen over my preferred E. His 46 points bring our total to 96. PERFECT! The 96-point E FF Dr. Strange is a Defenders-TA sportin’ 96 points! He’s a valuable team player that will shine in the ‘big’ game, without standing out as a definite MVP before the game begins (like his SI counterpart).
So:
E FF Dr. Strange – 96 points
Vs.
E SN Mantis – 50pts
V IC Black Panther – 46 points
Total this battle:
Avengers – 96 pts Defenders – 96 pts
Total so far –
Avengers – 328 pts Defenders – 272 pts
Issue – Defenders #9 (Quote of the issue: “Challenge comes all too rarely to me. Win or Lose, I shall enjoy this.”)
Battle #4 – Swordsman vs. Valkyrie
Uh-Oh. Well, at least the Defenders will catch up in points overall! The E Swordsman represents the Avengers version (and has the TA). At only 35 points, he doesn’t seem like a match for any version of Valkyrie. The transporter would be fantastic, even accurate for this battle (in terms of her winged steed Aragorn being present), but not with respect to her teammates. The E Sin Valkyrie sports the TA, and seems to be the one from this issue as well. (Hey – she won her battle in the comic too, with an assist – maybe its accurate after all!). Not a lot to see here, folks.
So:
E Sin Valkrie – 60 pts
Vs.
E Sin Swordsman – 35 pts.
Total this battle:
Avengers – 35 pts Defenders – 60 pts
Total so far:
Avengers - 363 pts Defenders – 332 pts.
Issue – Avengers #117 (Quote of the issue: “Threats? From a man with a pretty moustache?”)
Battle #5 – Captain America vs. Sub-Mariner
SI Namor? Don’t even ask. He’d laughably outclass Cap, IMO – so he’s a no go. But these two were the second last battle in the comics because they were the only battle that was to give the finale a run for its money. We need two figs that will be comparable, and somewhat high cost relative to their teammates. V AW Cap, at 116 points, seems to be the obvious, most expensive, most capable 616 choice here. With that in mind, the E FF Sub-mariner, though notoriously ‘over-costed’ for his supposedly missing Flurry clicks, brings 130 points of Defender TA to the table. Imperius Rex!
So:
AW V Cap – 116 pts
Vs
FF E Sub-Mariner – 130 points
Total this battle:
Avengers – 116 pts Defenders – 130 pts
Total so far:
Avengers - 479 pts Defenders – 462 pts.
Issue – Avengers #117 (Quote of the issue: “Luck can be broken – exactly like YOU.”)
Battle #6 – Hulk vs. Thor!
Sometimes clix is not at all comic accurate. In most clix games, a solid Thor will beat a solid Hulk by Alpha striking with his ranged attack… and yet, the lasting image from this entire ‘war’ is the grappling god versus the hand-to-hand Hulk, locked in CLOSE COMBAT. Bypassing today’s new-fangled Thunder Gods, we see a R SN Thor that sports CHARGE INSTEAD OF RS!! Perfect! At 112 points, he’s a powerful Avenger that may need to get in Greenskin’s grill. The analogous E IC Hulk is a Defender that can last quite a while when mixing it up close (but don’t get me started on how he obviously highlights the need for a NEW DEFENDERS HULK!!). At 117 points, it even sounds fair. (sounds…). Also, these point totals have both teams falling nicely under 600!
So:
E IC Hulk – 117 pts
Vs.
R SN Thor – 112 pts
Total this battle:
Avengers – 112 pts Defenders – 117 pts
Issue – Defenders #10 (Quote of the issue: “Hulk, I would have words with thee”/ “RRRRR”)
WAR TOTAL:
Avengers - 591 pts Defenders – 579 pts
Epilogue:
In filling out your 600-point team (should you choose to play it that way), I’d suggest the Avengers player using feats on Swordsman, to assist what seems to be should otherwise be a Defenders ‘gimme’. Another option? Choose which team you would consider at a disadvantage, and have that player select first between HoT SR Loki (208 pts) and CM Dormammu (206 pts). Though the former might likely be on the Avengers side (having brought them into the fray), and the latter on the Defenders side (as they were inadvertently doing his bidding), I suppose the choice doesn’t really matter. It also brings the totals to : Avengers – 797 to 799 and Defenders: 785 to787.
I hope this gets some comic readers to break out the old tale, and some clix players to dig deep in the tackle box. (Infinity Challenge Hulk and Black Panther are getting a tad dusty). If anyone manages this event in clix form (in whole or part), let me know how it goes!