RavenProject
03/12/2003, 00:03
Gabriel Jones (http://www.hcrealms.com/cgi-bin/get_unit.cgi?num=ic151) and Operative 128 (http://www.hcrealms.com/cgi-bin/get_unit.cgi?num=ic153)
Infinity Challenge #151 and #153
Based on: SHIELD Agent and Hydra Operative
Type: V+
Current eBay Value: Jones - $20.85 Operative - $7.72 (11 March @ 10:00PM)
As promised, today we're tackling my first Reader Request: Gabriel Jones. I decided to spare myself some future redundancy by covering his equal-but-opposite number, Operative 128, considering how similar to two are. It also let me do that old high school standby of "Compare-and-Contrast."
Both figures are upgrades of their V counterparts. Jones gains a second click with two Damage, the Operative gains a boost from seven to eight on his first Attack click, and both gain a single click of Leadership.
At 17 and 16 points, both figures serve one primary purpose: *Cheap* Leadership. There are no cheaper figures in the game with that ability. This makes them wonderful choices in low-point games, where an extra action can be a tremendous advantage.
If you're confident in the rest of your team, then you can just tuck your little leader away from the fray. He can bark orders over the comlink while your real fighters carry them out. This will tie up points on your side, but should keep that Leadership safe for a while. If that's what you're going to do, then either one is equally useful. Take the one that fills in your points best, or consider that Jones has a slightly better Defense than the Operative.
On the other hand, maybe you take a look at your team and realize that you don't really need that extra action once things have hit the fan. It can be a big help early in the game in order to get everyone in position, but once the fighting and a guy or two may be KO'ed you don't have enough active characters to take advantage of that extra action anyway. In that case, you'll send your boys into the fray, and that's where they differentiate themselves.
Once again, I have to point out that we've gotten spoiled by the improved "generics" of later Clix sets. V Agents on both sides topped out at an Attack rating of 7, so boosting Operative 128 to an 8 Attack made him a real standout among his kind at the time. Not only was he a bonus to hit like all the other Hydras, but there was actually a better chance that he could hit something himself! As a result, Operative 128 became valuable for more than just that grey square. Even now, he's a very solid value for only 16 points.
Jones doesn't fare so well. His Damage bonus comes on a click with a 6 Attack, so the odds of him actually connecting are slim. It helps keep him from being totally useless after being knocked off of Leadership, but it's not enough. Jones is best suited for hanging back and calling the shots, not charging in and taking them.
Of course, there is one other factor to consider: Wildcards. If you're loading your force with Team Abilities for your Wildcard to borrow, you may already have one or the other. As of *today,* odds are you got Hydra by taking the superior Support options with AIM Medic or even a Scientist Supreme. In that case, you can take Gabe to get that cheap Leadership and SHIELD ability. However, as of 26 March that's going to change when the Paramedic likely becomes the Medic of choice. Now things get reversed... while Hydra cornered the market on Medics, SHIELD offers fantastic support staff with the Trooper and Sniper. So in order to get that Hydra ability along with the cheap Leadership, Operative 128 becomes your guy. (And yes, I know that if you're playing with Wildcards you can get Leadership in V Doombot. But as an active combat piece, Robo-Doom probably won't hold on to it for long, making a secondary source useful.)
So between the two... if you need a guy calling the shots from the back, Jones is your man. But if your leader has to get in the trenches as well, Operative 128 is the one to call on. (Wait, he's a Leader! He'll be calling you!)
Now... take a look at that pricing oddity. Gabriel Jones turned up in only three completed searches tonight, compared to sixteen for Operative 128. Jones' average is thrown off by one low bid, with the others being above $25. Operative 128 topped out at $12.50. Gotta love those distribution patterns, because it sure wasn't based on playability. I'd definitely recommend picking up Operative 128 for that extremely low price; he's a fantastic piece for your collection. I wouldn't go for Jones at that price, though. Since you're buying him for that Leadership, you can do much better and cheaper with the Operative. Beyond that, you're paying for a collector's value.
*** *** *** ***
No clever title this week; had to fit the guys' names in. Anyone want to make one up?
I'm dubbing next week's selections "HeroClix Most Wanted." We'll be covering the most hotly desired figures out there -- one from DC (gee, guess who?) and one from Marvel.
And wish me luck... Thursday night I step up for my first night as a Judge. I'll be filling in at Crooked Hat Games in Schaumburg while their regular Judge takes a break for the summer. If you're in the Chicagoland area, swing by at 6!
-J
Infinity Challenge #151 and #153
Based on: SHIELD Agent and Hydra Operative
Type: V+
Current eBay Value: Jones - $20.85 Operative - $7.72 (11 March @ 10:00PM)
As promised, today we're tackling my first Reader Request: Gabriel Jones. I decided to spare myself some future redundancy by covering his equal-but-opposite number, Operative 128, considering how similar to two are. It also let me do that old high school standby of "Compare-and-Contrast."
Both figures are upgrades of their V counterparts. Jones gains a second click with two Damage, the Operative gains a boost from seven to eight on his first Attack click, and both gain a single click of Leadership.
At 17 and 16 points, both figures serve one primary purpose: *Cheap* Leadership. There are no cheaper figures in the game with that ability. This makes them wonderful choices in low-point games, where an extra action can be a tremendous advantage.
If you're confident in the rest of your team, then you can just tuck your little leader away from the fray. He can bark orders over the comlink while your real fighters carry them out. This will tie up points on your side, but should keep that Leadership safe for a while. If that's what you're going to do, then either one is equally useful. Take the one that fills in your points best, or consider that Jones has a slightly better Defense than the Operative.
On the other hand, maybe you take a look at your team and realize that you don't really need that extra action once things have hit the fan. It can be a big help early in the game in order to get everyone in position, but once the fighting and a guy or two may be KO'ed you don't have enough active characters to take advantage of that extra action anyway. In that case, you'll send your boys into the fray, and that's where they differentiate themselves.
Once again, I have to point out that we've gotten spoiled by the improved "generics" of later Clix sets. V Agents on both sides topped out at an Attack rating of 7, so boosting Operative 128 to an 8 Attack made him a real standout among his kind at the time. Not only was he a bonus to hit like all the other Hydras, but there was actually a better chance that he could hit something himself! As a result, Operative 128 became valuable for more than just that grey square. Even now, he's a very solid value for only 16 points.
Jones doesn't fare so well. His Damage bonus comes on a click with a 6 Attack, so the odds of him actually connecting are slim. It helps keep him from being totally useless after being knocked off of Leadership, but it's not enough. Jones is best suited for hanging back and calling the shots, not charging in and taking them.
Of course, there is one other factor to consider: Wildcards. If you're loading your force with Team Abilities for your Wildcard to borrow, you may already have one or the other. As of *today,* odds are you got Hydra by taking the superior Support options with AIM Medic or even a Scientist Supreme. In that case, you can take Gabe to get that cheap Leadership and SHIELD ability. However, as of 26 March that's going to change when the Paramedic likely becomes the Medic of choice. Now things get reversed... while Hydra cornered the market on Medics, SHIELD offers fantastic support staff with the Trooper and Sniper. So in order to get that Hydra ability along with the cheap Leadership, Operative 128 becomes your guy. (And yes, I know that if you're playing with Wildcards you can get Leadership in V Doombot. But as an active combat piece, Robo-Doom probably won't hold on to it for long, making a secondary source useful.)
So between the two... if you need a guy calling the shots from the back, Jones is your man. But if your leader has to get in the trenches as well, Operative 128 is the one to call on. (Wait, he's a Leader! He'll be calling you!)
Now... take a look at that pricing oddity. Gabriel Jones turned up in only three completed searches tonight, compared to sixteen for Operative 128. Jones' average is thrown off by one low bid, with the others being above $25. Operative 128 topped out at $12.50. Gotta love those distribution patterns, because it sure wasn't based on playability. I'd definitely recommend picking up Operative 128 for that extremely low price; he's a fantastic piece for your collection. I wouldn't go for Jones at that price, though. Since you're buying him for that Leadership, you can do much better and cheaper with the Operative. Beyond that, you're paying for a collector's value.
*** *** *** ***
No clever title this week; had to fit the guys' names in. Anyone want to make one up?
I'm dubbing next week's selections "HeroClix Most Wanted." We'll be covering the most hotly desired figures out there -- one from DC (gee, guess who?) and one from Marvel.
And wish me luck... Thursday night I step up for my first night as a Judge. I'll be filling in at Crooked Hat Games in Schaumburg while their regular Judge takes a break for the summer. If you're in the Chicagoland area, swing by at 6!
-J