Xplosion from MegaCon

[dcclixsuck]

on madame masques defence it looks teal is it me or the light. the same on destiny but on her damage?

[Jadehorde]

Originally posted by Iron Man 49
You forget Freddom Force has defeated the Xmen and gone toe to toe with the Avengers. Toad was never in FF btw. Spiral is a freakin assasin. Mystique would infiltrate disguised as a member of the team, Pyro would cook, Avalanche would crush Puck and Sasquatch, and Blob woould smother the speedsters. You still have Commando Stonewall, Super Sabre, and if you want to stretch Spider woman all accounted for. Not to mention the groups resident seer, destiny.


Except you have three people that can detect Mystique transformed or not...Shaman, Sasquatch and Snowbird so that's a wash...true though if they can then Alpha flight will be in serious trouble...but I don't see it happening as easily as you think...

Cause I'm assuming a straight up fight where both teams know about each other and are prepared for combat...

Otherwise, as equally likely, Shaman can open some insane dimensional gateway like he did recently in Wolverine...and have Alpha Flight send in the speedsters to soften then send in the heavy hitters....

And While Blob can smother the speedsters...how is he catching people who fly at Mach 1? Is he gonna surprise them?? They'll be flying back and forth taking out the human level opponents in seconds...leaving the rest to be taken out by the heavy hitters of Alpha Flight...

Though the Sabre is apparently a speedster too...hmm...interesting...though ALpha flight does have two of them...

Alright here goes the fight as I see it

Northstar with flight stalemates Super Sabre...
Aurora knocks out Destiny, Mystique, Crimson Commando (he's only around peak human near as I can figure), Pyro, and Avalanche in the first opening seconds fo the fight...

Shaman/Vindicator fights Spiral
Sasquatch fights Blob
Puck fights Spider Woman (loses...but keeps her occupied for the few seconds that Aurora needs)
Snowbird fights Stonewall (can't be knocked down, but can be ripped apart)

Looking at the fight now..it looks like an Alpha Flight victory, close, but there it is...at least without stupid talking and forgetting powers...

[montecchi]

anybody else notice he has a 12 range?
yowsa!

[Heimdall]

Hil!

Really funny that you argue about what team would win. I am a bit sorry that there are not (or not enough) german superheroes. Maybe we will get Alpha Flight in a further expansion as i am hoping (Sasquatch with Superstrength, Snowbird could be like Changeling from DC, Guardian as flyer with RCE, Puck with Charge and Perplex or Outwit, and Northstar and Aurora with HYPERSONIC SPEED!!!!!).

Heimdall

[skyounkin]

With it being a red base it is probably the new spider man they have on their website, but I could be wrong

[Basil Elks]

I'm dissappointed in Task Master, he's in his piece of guano new suit, I'd rather have him in his AWESOME original suit.

[cattmoe]

Have to say, X-plosion looks like a mixed bag to me. As cool as it is to see Iceman, Colossus, Apocalypse... I can't help but wish there were some other X-folk, like Bishop, Mr. Sinister, and Angel. Guess we'll probably see them in later sets, though.

And what's up with Mystique not getting Shape-shift?! That makes absolutely no sense. It's like how Rogue doesn't have Super Strength, I just don't understand it.

[liquid drive]

apocolypse is only 133 pts. his attack sucks. im disappointed. other than that xplosion looks to be very sweet. although i think the leader should have been hulks archenemy. and who cares about beathbird really. terrible unique. i dont like shadowcat unique either. im very impressed to see the hulk the way he should be though. at 201 points hes in shape to fight superman now. i cant wait to see the rest. if anyone can get me a list of the xplosion clix my email address is liquidfunbox@yahoo.com. and any new stats would be nice too.

[Jadehorde]

Originally posted by Basil Elks
I'm dissappointed in Task Master, he's in his piece of guano new suit, I'd rather have him in his AWESOME original suit.

I actually like his new suit...his old suit was way too colorful for the character he was supposed to be. A sneaky ninja type with an insane bite if needed...his randomly colored old outfit just doesn't work to that effect.

[JoFo]

Originally posted by liquid drive
although i think the leader should have been hulks archenemy.

Leader is indeed Hulk's AE.

[skyounkin]

Okay so you have the veteran mandarin in at it looks 141, but the exp. iron man is already at 161, now the biggest problem I have is how greatly out weighed the arch nemesi can be, another example is thor who weighs in at close to two hundred points in his veteran version but his nemesis is enchantress (not loki?) wieghs in at 91 points so, if enchantress takes out thor she gets almost double the points he would get if he took her out, you would think that arch nemesi should be at least within 20-30 points of each other, does anyone else agree?

[WarHULK]

Taskmaster is very much an urban assasin now, and his look suits his lifestyle very well. When he was off fighting tons of costume types his old costume was cool and all but for what he's been doing lately it just wouldn't be... well, functional. I honestly like his more functional, sensible look he's sporting these days. I think it makes him a little more believable.

But hey, we are talking comic characters and all heh, so unbelievable is good too. His old costume was cool, his new costume is cool and functional *shrug* I would be happy with either, but I'm extra glad they chose the one they did.

[Orpheus]

Originally posted by Heimdall
Hil!

Really funny that you argue about what team would win. I am a bit sorry that there are not (or not enough) german superheroes. Maybe we will get Alpha Flight in a further expansion as i am hoping (Sasquatch with Superstrength, Snowbird could be like Changeling from DC, Guardian as flyer with RCE, Puck with Charge and Perplex or Outwit, and Northstar and Aurora with HYPERSONIC SPEED!!!!!).

Heimdall

I think a new extension with new teams rather than new individual powers would be a nice alternative. We could have, for example :

- Alpha Flight
- The Champions of Xandar (featuring Nova)
- The Circus of Crime (LOL)
- The Inhumans
- The Sh'iar Imperial Guard
- The Serpent Society
- The Ani-Men (yes, only four, but well...)
- The Squadron Supreme (yessss) !!!!

X-etera.

Of course, I would have loved to see the Champions, but now it would imply making new versions of Iceman, Black Widow and Hercules (plus the Beast ??) ; still, there are some we haven't seen yet : Angel, the Ghost Rider (YESSSSS !!!), the russian girl (what's her english name ?)... Could be a great team !!

And of course, there can be a team constituted of Captain Marvel's cosmic friends (or the guys with the Gems led by Warlock ?).

Who needs more powers when you can get so many interesting new teams ?

Orpheus

[dcclixsuck]

DID ANYBODY NOTICE THE TEAL COLOR ON MADAME MASQUE ON HER DEFENCE? AND THE SAME ON DESTINYS DAMAGE?

[Manchine]

They are up in the warrior section.

[SuperSkrull]

Am I crazy or is that a new Team grouping at the bottom of the SWAT team figs?

This is VERY VERY nice stuff.

I'm still waiting for one of those people who decided that the "pineapple" was fake, even after WK asked us to pull it out of circulation, to tell us that every fig in those pics is a mod.

That usually happens sometime around this point, doesn't it? ;)

I'm really looking forward to this expansion.

Joe

[bullseye100]

Page 18 baby--can you beat that???

Anyway, the pics got me feelin' like a crack baby--I need these clix, and I need them bad. Ohh, lucious Gambit, sweet Apocolypse, manly Beast, cool Iceman, I need you All.

There's only 1 thing missing--my Mr.Sinister!!!!!!

Oh, by the way, who's the chick in the baseball cap!!!!

[scowlingone]

Originally posted by SuperSkrull
I'm still waiting for one of those people who decided that the "pineapple" was fake, even after WK asked us to pull it out of circulation, to tell us that every fig in those pics is a mod.

After being so loud about how it was fake, Manchine's been awfully quiet about the pineapple...

[Iron Man 49]

I make a habbit of owning up when I'm wrong, but I was on board with this thing from practically day 1. Thank you btw, Scowlingone, for providing me said lucious fruit. Now..as it were, I remember one adamant naysayer in particular. Darkhawk76. I only remember because of how emphatic he was. Well...step up and eat crow brother. The list was as Collin Farrell would say a.... "BULLSEYE!"

[Basil Elks]

Does Scorpion have a spike on his tail?

[Pontifex]

Originally posted by JonL
Your suppositions are hilarious. I don't know where you heard that I was making a whole new game with the Xplosion set, but you heard wrong. No such thing is happening, all I'm doing is adding characters to the mix.

The new characters add new powers to the mix that weren't there before, and the cheap availability of these new powers (i.e. the con artist) does change the nature of the game and how it will be played. But you knew that...right?

As for Gambit, personally, I don't like the character, never have, so I made him the way he is in the books. I tried really hard to make him reflect the character in the books.

You said before that you haven't designed all the characters; why, then, choose one that you didn't like? Was it a case of not enough designers available, or that nobody at Wizkids likes Gambit?

Iceman on the other hand I like, just becuase he's been powered up in the past couple of years doesn't mean he's always been that way, I think he's accurately represented.

Iceman's power-up, resulting from White Queen's meddling, was a major change in the comics, one that turned Bobby Drake from a snowball-flinger to a Bullseye-level danger. I could take a poll here as to which one most people would prefer - Little Bobby Drake or the I'll-stick-you-in-the-eye-with-an-ice-spear Iceman...


Scorpion has a long range because at one point in the comics he had some kind of blaster in his tail.

The sculpt, if the pictures are accurate, DOESN'T have the blaster in his tail - it's the original clubbing-tail. I have two Scorpion action figures right here, one with and one without, and the differences are easy to spot. It's one thing to say which version of a character you're trying to represent, but it might be a good idea to get with the sculptor so you're both on the same page.

I've said it before and I'll repeat it for you; I don't get to pick all the characters. It's a group effort. If my favorite characters were the only ones you found in the sets, well, you'd be seeing very different sets.

So, why didn't someone who LIKED Gambit design his stats?

Our playtesters do a lot of work for us. If you don't think they do it well enough, then volunteer to do it yourself -- but it's work, not just fun.

Playtesters can only do so much. I've seen playtesting going on, and I was a playtester for the fun game GIANT MONSTER RAMPAGE - my name's even in the credits (Beliech). If the design team doesn't like what the playtesters say, they still get the final choice in the matter, so it's useless for anyone, fan or staff, to blame the playtesters .

I'm sorry you're not happy with what you've seen so far with regards to Xplosion -- or the other sets apparently. Maybe I'll get it right someday and I'll hear nice words come from your computer.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids




Jon - we appreciate that you take time out of your busy schedule to respond to us and give us feedback. However, this sarcasm does neither you nor your company any good. When I'm posting here, I don't represent my employer, so I can be snide. When I do represent my employer in any capacity, I realize that I have to be careful how I speak to those who will judge both me and my company by my performance. I'm sure you realize that while the Internet is home to many unsatisfied people, some of them know as much - if not more - about comics and/or gaming as you (I'm not claiming to be one of them, by the way), or may have found an issue that neither playtesting nor genius design may have come up with.

Besides, no matter how much you may protest about your job being real "work", and that you put a lot of effort into what you do and that it's not all fun, I'm sure that 90-plus percent of us on this board would switch jobs with you in a heartbeat, no matter how much work it is. Personally, I think you're simply hurting yourself by trying to argue or debate people on this forum. We appreciate the information, but really, while we don't expect you to kiss up to us, we aren't going to let you parade around like you run this place, either. If it bothers you that Thanoseid, or anyone else, has some gameplay concerns about the set and is willing to bring them up - rather without making it personal, I might ad - perhaps you might want to avoid interacting with these forums. If I got worked up every time one of the people I work with, or interact with in the course of my job (I deal with students), got upset or didn't like something I did, I'd be in the bread line. Take us all with a grain of salt, but buck up, show some pride in your work, and learn to deal with criticism. I've read all the praises for Xplosion as well as the criticisms, and all things considered, it looks to me like you've got at least three times as many fans here as you have critics. If I'd put out a gaming expansion getting the positive response that Xplosion is largely getting, I'd be on cloud nine right now, and it makes me wonder why you aren't.

Quite frankly, speaking as a comics- and gaming-fan who's been messing around with this stuff, as fan, player, gamemaster AND playtester for about 23 years, I can say that if you don't have a thick skin for criticism, you might be in the wrong business.

[Brigadier M]

Originally posted by Pontifex (quoting JonL)
As for Gambit, personally, I don't like the character, never have, so I made him the way he is in the books. I tried really hard to make him reflect the character in the books.

You said before that you haven't designed all the characters; why, then, choose one that you didn't like? Was it a case of not enough designers available, or that nobody at Wizkids likes Gambit?

I've said it before and I'll repeat it for you; I don't get to pick all the characters. It's a group effort. If my favorite characters were the only ones you found in the sets, well, you'd be seeing very different sets.

So, why didn't someone who LIKED Gambit design his stats?


If I understand correctly, Jon has designed all the characters from CT forward, and is the only one doing so. When he's talked about not having designed all the characters, he is speaking of IC and HT, before he had his current position.

M!

[darius_dax1]

There is a big difference between comics and Heroclix games. Just as there is a difference between comics and the movies/television shows/cartoons inspired by them.

Some people chalk this up to a different or alternate universe (something that has existed in comics for many years). One could argue that Heroclix is it's own alternate universe and not everything in the game will reflect the comics exactly. There are certain limits to Heroclix that comic books can brake. I would hate for a fun, quick game to turn into another library of rulebooks.

When introducing a new player to HC I tell them to use their knowledge of the comics as a backdrop for their imagination while playing the game. Just because the Wasp could not carry the Thing in the comics does not mean that she can't in the game. For some it is hard to break away from their comic book know-how and just enjoy a fun game.

If you are complaining about how it will affect your win/loss column in tournament play then either stop playing tournaments or learn to adapt the new figures and rules into your stratagies.

I would also like to thank JonL or any other Wizkids designer for giving their input in this forum. I am sure they read the input you have all given and will use it in the future.

[melon_head]

I believe the other thing that JonL is saying is that he does not get to choose all of the characters that are in a set. I am guessing WizKid's contract with marvel and DC gives them some say on what characters are in a set and what time period they are from.

[Pontifex]

Originally posted by Brigadier M


If I understand correctly, Jon has designed all the characters from CT forward, and is the only one doing so. When he's talked about not having designed all the characters, he is speaking of IC and HT, before he had his current position.

M!

Ah, then I either misunderstood the comment or the context. I stand corrected.

However - and I hope I'm not beating Thanoseid to the punch, here - my second question, in an altered form, still stands, if what you say is correct, M. Would it be a good idea for one person to be solely responsible for all the character designs in even one set, especially a person who doesn't like some of the characters? That's a big responsibility for someone handling characters that were each created by a number of other people, and for which large amounts of fan fiction and fan opinion has been created. Since I don't have all the information on precisely who designed what, I can't judge here. All I know is that since I don't like, for example, The Mandarin, Destiny and Apocalypse as characters (as clix, they seem nifty), I wouldn't consider myself to be the one who ought to make designs for them. Then again, I believe Jon himself mentioned that he doesn't have full choice over what he does and doesn't get to do, so perhaps this whole point is moot.

[bizzaro]

Originally posted by Pontifex



Jon - we appreciate that you take time out of your busy schedule to respond to us and give us feedback. However, this sarcasm does neither you nor your company any good. When I'm posting here, I don't represent my employer, so I can be snide. When I do represent my employer in any capacity, I realize that I have to be careful how I speak to those who will judge both me and my company by my performance. I'm sure you realize that while the Internet is home to many unsatisfied people, some of them know as much - if not more - about comics and/or gaming as you (I'm not claiming to be one of them, by the way), or may have found an issue that neither playtesting nor genius design may have come up with.

Quite frankly, speaking as a comics- and gaming-fan who's been messing around with this stuff, as fan, player, gamemaster AND playtester for about 23 years, I can say that if you don't have a thick skin for criticism, you might be in the wrong business.

Can't take criticism? Geez .... sure a lot of people like the game and set ...but I've read a TON of negative comments before the set has even come out!

This is a nice forum to discuss things that might have been done differently or understanding why a character was given a poarticular power ...but in general I'd say I read much more negative (without solid reasoning) feedback than positive feedback.

With all your experience and knowledge, perhaps you should try to produce your own game based of comicbook characters.

[Grinner]

Originally posted by Pontifex:
Iceman's power-up, resulting from White Queen's meddling, was a major change in the comics, one that turned Bobby Drake from a snowball-flinger to a Bullseye-level danger.

Maybe I'm looking at a different set of clix than you are, but I'm pretty sure that we have the vet Bobby (who would be the only 'powered up' version) with 8 range, 2 bolts & 3 clicks of RCE at 1 damage. And we have rookie Bullseye with...8 range, 2 bolts & 3 clicks of RCE at 1 damage. Moving to the experienced Bullseye, we only add 1 more click of RCE and 2 range. And the same with the vet. Now, since I know you're not going to argue that Bobby should have as high an attack value as Bullseye (and a 9 is only 2 less), I'd have to say he sounds pretty darn close to a Bullseye-level danger.

[FlatFootedBoy]

Taskmaster's attack should go up as he gets on his gets, until his halfway point, then he should get gradually lower.
To represent his learning, then beaten to weakness.

[Grinner]

Originally posted by FlatFootedBoy
Taskmaster's attack should go up as he gets on his gets, until his halfway point, then he should get gradually lower.
To represent his learning, then beaten to weakness.

The problem with that idea is that it would only work against someone he's never seen/fought/studied before. He's already gained what he can from most of the Marvel figs already in the game.

[xanubisx]

wow... two whole pages without thanoseid running his pompous mouth... what an arrogant tool...

and i seem to remember someone saying something about perplexing up movement on a charge... is that even possible? wouldn't the perplex either A) go into effect before the movement or B) go into effect after the attack? either way, it doesn't seem like you can preplex up someone's charge movement... correct me if i'm wrong here

[CyberVenom]

That I know of, you can perplex it, but it'd be pointless if you do it afterward, you wouldn't be able to use it, since the character already moved.

If you do it beforehand, you could only really help by one square. If the character's speed is 6, then they could move 3 Charge Spaces. Perplexed to 7, and you get 4, since you round up 1/2's.

[hemlock]

Personally I don't understand why you would go through the trouble to even mention Thanosied's name, since you probably will get a nasty post sooner or later from him. He is just expressing his views on a "PUBLIC" forum that is free. I personally agree with him on some of his views of the characters that have been created. Iceman is a little weak. They did make a diamond hardened White Queen, why couldn't they have made what she did to Iceman for the Vet.? You can't say the mildly modified Veteran Iceman is that transformation.

[Thanosied]

quote: xanobisx

______________________________________________
wow... two whole pages without thanoseid running his pompous mouth... what an arrogant tool...

and i seem to remember someone saying something about perplexing up movement on a charge... is that even possible? wouldn't the perplex either A) go into effect before the movement or B) go into effect after the attack? either way, it doesn't seem like you can preplex up someone's charge movement... correct me if i'm wrong here

_______________________________________________

Wow I feel honored so many people are talking about me. Maybe Jon L can get me as his Lex Luthor of the Creative Process. That would be the ULTIMATE crossover, LOL. No but seriously I just wanted there to be at least some reasoning about a few to be obviously made mistakes. For one Iceman. I will let that one go for now because he is a small example of a bigger problem. I do like the set and some figures ie. Mandarin but common all the Paramedics and all the Con-Artists change the game full circle.

Did Microsoft hack the computer that has the program they use to make figs? Or did the power go down at WizKids that day and they had to wing it for a few characters? Sarcasm aside seriously what where you guys thinking? But for Jon L I will be a playtester soon so thanks for the invite.

Pontifex is still the man..

[MCalamari]

Originally posted by Orpheus


I think a new extension with new teams rather than new individual powers would be a nice alternative. We could have, for example :

- Alpha Flight
- The Serpent Society

Who needs more powers when you can get so many interesting new teams ?

Orpheus

Even if we don't see new teams (which I too think would be nice), I certainly hope some of the characters from these two groups make it into a future expansion.

[darius_dax1]

There may be potential for the use of the more common Paramedic or Con-Artist figures but I think that the point cost may not be beneficial in the instance of a S.H.I.E.L.D. Medic or Hydra Medic versus a regular non-affiliated Paramedic. Paying the extra cost associated with a 'teamed' common would be a better bet in the long run.

This could also be said in the instance of paying the higher cost of a rookie Harley Quinn instead of 'cheaping out' with the Con-Artist. The few extra powers and abilities would be worth paying the higher cost.

There are more risks involved with using weaker figures in lieu of the more powerful 'named' figures. Weaker figures that specialize in only one power are usually an easier target and more of your resources would need to be used to protect that figure.

I don't believe that these new 'cheap' figs will change the game much if at all. I don't think that these characters are powerful enough to be anything more than a minor annoyance. Use your brains to formulate the strategies to deal with these new figures or adapt them into your teams to equal the playing field. Or are all the complainers saying that they will not be able to keep up with the release of each new set? If that is the case perhaps it would be a good thing, at least we could get some 'new blood' winning tournaments. The boasting was getting stale anyway.

If your argument is that these figures are too powerful, why then also argue that Iceman is not powerful enough? Wouldn't making Iceman more powerful change the game as much as making common characters more powerful?

[predator322]

i like collossus but i hope he dose not start with the stats you can see 6 6 14 1 i hope that is him nealry dead hope he is not like hulk but if he is i will still use him all the time

[Gargantua]

I fear Colossus will be one of those figure with the "power-up" click. It seems they do that as a matter of course with any hero who changes his shape in hero form.

[powerrangers#1]

Colossus has nothing on thanos, black panther, and veteran thug.

[Heimdall]

@Gargantua: They do some of the Power-Up Clix for a good reason. With the X-men it is perfect for their team ability. You can push your key-characters like Xavier, Cyclops and Jean Grey and get the damage to White Queen, Wolfsbane and Collossus making them better while keeping the other Characters at peek efficiency. The LE Fantastic Four will be prevented from using them too much in tournament play, and there are not much more Power-Ups.

Heimdall