Feat Spotlight: Power Barrage

[anonym0use]

<img src="http://www.hcrealms.com/images/FeatSpotlightBanner.jpg" style="width:350px;">
Friday Feat Spotlight on:

POWER BARRAGE

The second of four Brave and the Bold Print and Play feats benefits duos! But is it really a benefit? Or is this a duo don't-o?

Click Full Story below to read more!

[anonym0use]

Brave and the Bold released in April, but it wasn't until July when the feats hit the streets in this Normal Distribution article (http://wizkidsgames.com/blog/2010/07/13/normal-distribution-gencon-prizes/). Appropriately, the duo-heavy set gave players some duo-useful feats like Power Barrage:


Cost: 6 points
Prerequisites: Duo

Choose a character. If this character possesses Blades/Claws/Fangs, Energy Explosion, Pulse Wave, Quake, Incapacitate, Penetrating/Psychic Blast or Telekinesis and uses it as an attack, after actions resolve, it may make a close or ranged combat attack as a free action, but modifies its attack and damage values by -1 for that attack.

What does it do?

First, let's focus on what it doesn't do. It does not let a duo figure use powers during a Duo attack. Upon reading the text, NOWHERE is the duo attack ability mentioned, which means powers and feats that key off the Duo Attack Ability (like the Show Off feat) won't stack with this feat - so don't make the mistake of using B/C/F (or some other power) to KO a figure, and expect to get away without applying an action token to your duo.

Back on track - this feat gives a duo figure a free attack (close or ranged) as a followup should the duo figure forgo a duo attack and use one of the powers listed (Blades/Claws/Fangs, Energy Explosion, Pulse Wave, Quake, Incapacitate, Penetrating/Psychic Blast or Telekinesis).

The exception to this rule would be figures that can use powers as part of the duo attack ability. Iron Man and War Machine's Adaptive Response Armor would allow them to Psychic Blast twice then Power Barrage lets them make a free attack after the fact.

Drawbacks: For starters, the free attack is worse than a duo attack, with more negative modifiers (-1 to damage AND -1 to attack). You also have to forgo a duo attack - something that may not be desirable depending on what other feats or powers the character has. Keep in mind the feat ONLY provides a free attack, not an action, so powers that require a "close combat action" or a "ranged combat action" or even a "power action" won't stack. In short the attack is likely a vanilla attack - bound to deal printed damage modified by the feat's stipulations. In essence, it's just like a duo attack.

How is it best used?

Power Barrage gets more mileage from figures with naturally high (3+) damage values, ones that can offset the -1 damage penalty and still inflict some harm to a figure using Toughness.

It's probably a waste on figures like Jack and Ten, who follow up a 2 damage Psychic Blast, with a meager 1 damage ping (I'd sooner suggest Armor Piercing for this pair). Brainiac and Luthor, and Goodness and Mercy can use the feat a few clicks into their dials, Batman and Green Arrow and Fire and Ice can use it on their top dials, and most of the way though - though both duos may be better served using other attack powers than Incap it's still an option - especially if Stunning Blow is stacked with it. Thor and Loki could have fun Quaking figures away then shooting as a follow up, and the aforementioned IM/WM duo makes great use of the feat.

Thanks for reading!

[VanisherPunisher]

The exception to this rule would be figures that can use powers as part of the duo attack ability. Iron Man and War Machine's Adaptive Response Armor would allow them to Psychic Blast twice then Power Barrage lets them make a free attack after the fact.

IM/WM can't use Power Barrage with ADA, because they can only use the powers, but don't possess them. The feat requires possession of the powers.

[Kurenai]

Also, Batman & Green arrow can only use the feat once they get to Psychic blast, the special incap power won't work.

Thor&Loki are also right out.

[Kurenai]

After some searching, the first (and possibly only) characters i could find that can use power barrage their entire dial are:

cr058 E Nightwing and Starfire
Team: Titans
Range: 8 :bolt::bolt:
Points: 125
Keywords: Detective, Teen Titans, Warrior
m-winga-duod-shieldg-starburst1010173101016291016299162891728917278162KOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKO

Which actually is fairly good with the feat. Running shot to a double-target EE, then follow up with another shot.

[Kurenai]

Full List of Duo's, and on what click numbers they can use Power Barrage:

WEB OF SPIDER-MAN
059 Iron Man/War Machine: Click 1-3, 9

HAMMER OF THOR
057 Thor and Loki: None
058 Gertrude Yorkes & Old Lace : 5-6
061 Thor's Mighty Chariot: 4-7

SECRET INVASION
039 Cloak and Dagger: 1-3
058 Power Man and Iron Fist: 3-4

MUTATIONS AND MONSTERS
040 Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy: 3-9

AVENGERS
060 Cap and Bucky: 3-6

DC 75TH ANNIVERSARY
059 Wonder Twins: None

WATCHMEN
020 Larry and Mike: None
021 The Comedian and Nite Owl: 5-8
022 Silk Spectre and Dr. Manhattan: None
023 Ozymandias and Bubastis: 3-5
024 Nite Owl and Rorschach: None

BRAVE AND THE BOLD
009 The Atom and Hawkman: None
025 GOODNESS AND MERCY: 2-4
040 Lex Luthor and Brainiac: 2-3, 6-9
046 Batman and Green Arrow: 5-8
047 The Flashes: 7-9
048 The Flash and Green Lantern: None
049 Superman and the Flash: None
050 Fire and Ice: 1-8 (ah! there's another figure that can use it whole-dial)
051 Green Lantern and Green Arrow: None
052 Blue Beetle and Booster Gold: None
053 Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy: 5-8
054 Mister Miracle and Oberon: None
055 Black Adam & Shazam!: None
100 Batman and Catwoman: 3-5

CRISIS
025 Jack and Ten: 4-6
027 Trickster and Pied Piper: 4-7
032 Hawk and Dove: None
034 Lead and Tin: None
049 Will Magnus and Platinum: None
051 King and Queen: 4-5
058 Nightwing and Starfire: 1-7
061 World's Finest: 9-13

JUSTICE LEAGUE
038 Batman and Robin: 5-7
053 Big Barda & Mr. Miracle: 4-7

[commandercool]

057 Thor and Loki: None


Thorki should be able to use it on clicks 5-10 by my count, but only on 8-10 barring some special circumstances, since on 5-7 they can only use it with Quake and can only make close combat attacks. Not super useful, but technically usable.

[Kurenai]

Thorki should be able to use it on clicks 5-10 by my count, but only on 8-10 barring some special circumstances, since on 5-7 they can only use it with Quake and can only make close combat attacks. Not super useful, but technically usable.

Nope, Power Barrage specifically says "Possesses", not "Can use".

Thor&Loki never possess any of the powers listed in power barrage, they can only 'use' them.

[BATCRAZEE]

You can outsiders the fig using barrage and avoid the modifier. Which makes it even cooler. Sprinkle in some perplex and enhancement and this could be interesting.

[fastcat99]

You can outsiders the fig using barrage and avoid the modifier. Which makes it even cooler. Sprinkle in some perplex and enhancement and this could be interesting.

Yeah, but if you Outsider them, you can't perplex or enhance them.

[BATCRAZEE]

Yeah, but if you Outsider them, you can't perplex or enhance them.

True dat. Oops, options was the thought.

[UniqueLoginNamor]

This, Show off, and vamipirism on DD & Moon boy.

[Komixfrk75]

Gawd am I the only one that thinks feat cards need to just go away....

[Striker Mcbain]

Gawd am I the only one that thinks feat cards need to just go away....

No you're not. They're not modern age legal and they are obsolete with special powers. If they think that the duo power is weak, and it is, it should have been a rule change not a feat. Even if they could just let them use a power on the first attack it would be useful. They should spend more time making ata instead since they are usable andat least encourage themes.

[bgreyloc]

There is nothing wrong with the duo ability. it works fine with the right dial set up. feat cards are great, except when people abuse them. Of course something is not useful if you don't learn how and when to use it.

[vamroc]

Deleted by user

[weaponzer0]

Gawd am I the only one that thinks feat cards need to just go away....

No sir you are not.


There is nothing wrong with the duo ability. it works fine with the right dial set up. feat cards are great, except when people abuse them. Of course something is not useful if you don't learn how and when to use it.

Do you remember Protected and Fortitude with indestructible dumpster on V Icons Supes??? that was NEVER fun to play against...... no matter how much you knew about the game, he who possesses Supes wins.
now a days... E-2 Supes is a beast... w/o feats, he is still mean, but beatable!

[brevard321]

Yeah, Duo Attack is so useless on Batman/Catwoman!!! :)

That Double Pounce power is crazy good when combined with Leap/Climb and Outwit and Willpower, not to mention 10 attack and 3 damage.

[Glen Quagmire]

Gawd am I the only one that thinks feat cards need to just go away....

What more do you need? They're out of boosters, out of modern age tournaments and out of any regular release schedule. They're in print-and-play, but that's largely an out-of-sight, out-of-mind state, even for NECA. Not much more can be done outside of a Scarlet Witch declaration.

No you're not. They're not modern age legal and they are obsolete with special powers. If they think that the duo power is weak, and it is, it should have been a rule change not a feat. Even if they could just let them use a power on the first attack it would be useful. They should spend more time making ata instead since they are usable andat least encourage themes.

That's where NECA/WK is at now, actually. They've put out more ATAs than feats since taking over the game. And then you have the retooling of all the previous ATAs.

[Wilx]

Love this with fire and ice. Especially when they are next to green lantern/ green arrow so they don't push. Add in blue lantern flash for enhancement on both pairs and it's alot of damage going out from a few characters.

[spider_ham]

Power Barrage is awesome with Nightwing and Starfire, and Beast Boy to target them with Outsiders to avoid the AV and damage penalty.

Iron Man/War Machine are probably the best duo to take advantage of the feat with Pulse Wave, as they can deal all targets within range 1 penetrating damage, then follow-up with a triple target attack with a 10 AV and 3 damage. Too bad they don't possess EE or PW on their fourth click, as they'd be able to use Nova Blast and follow-up with a less-impressive, but effective finishing attack.

If Recharge is used in conjunction with Power Barrage, would the attacking duo have to wait until the second attack is resolved before being healed?

Prerequisites: Energy Explosion
Choose a character. Whenever a total of 2 or more damage is taken by opposing characters while this character is using Energy Explosion, heal this character of 1 damage after actions resolve.

If Vampirism (Steal Energy) is used and would result in the loss of B/C/F, would a second attack be prevented?

Prerequisites: Blades/Claws/Fangs
Choose a character. The character can use Steal Energy if it can't already.