I've been looking at potential Quiet Council teamups from the HoX-universe storylines, but not necessarily using the dedicated HoX Keywords. I'll post some of my ideas here and look forward to seeing other concepts.

For reference, here are the initial seating arrangements:

Krakoa & Doug Ramsey are 'adjuncts' to the council.

Spring: White Queen (Emma Frost), Black King (Sebastian Shaw), Red Queen (Kate Pryde)

Summer: Jean Grey, Storm, Nightcrawler

Autumn: Professor X, Magneto, Apocalypse

Winter: Mister Sinister, Exodus, Mystique

The team-up that appeals most to me is the Spring faction, as it is more-or-less represents a straight-up Hellfire Club, albeit with a HoX twist:

125 XDPS049 Sebastian Shaw
90 HX027 Emma Frost
TUC HX027.01 Team Up: Hellfire Club Themed Team
65 HX055 Kate Pryde
BST HX055bt Lockheed

= 280 points

The dials:

xdps049 Sebastian Shaw
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 125
Keywords: Hellfire Club, Politician, Ruler

9 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

7 10 18 3

7 11 18 4

7 11 18 4

6 12 18 4

6 12 19 4

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

() INNER CIRCLE CLUB: BLACK KING: Outwit, but only to choose a black power or a special power. // Leadership, but may remove the action token regardless of adjacency.

() KINETIC ENERGY ABSORBTION: Sebastian Shaw can't be knocked back.

() THE MORE YOU FIGHT, THE STRONGER I BECOME: When Sebastian Shaw is hit, give him a number of Energy tokens equal the damage dealt to him by that attack. // FREE: Remove any number of Energy tokens. This turn, Sebastian Shaw can use the effects listed for that number and lower numbers: 1: Willpower 2: Charge 3: Super Strength 4: Flurry 5: Modify all combat values +1 6: Regeneration as FREE.

hx027 Emma Frost
Team: X-Men
Range: 6
Points: 90
Keywords: Cabal, Hellfire Club, Marauders, Politician, Quiet Council, Ruler, X-Men

8 11 18 3

8 10 18 3

8 10 18 3

7 11 17 3

7 11 17 3

6 11 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

() Krakoan Revival: For all characters with this trait, when a friendly standard character with the X-Men keyword and a lower point value would be KO'd by an opposing effect, you may instead choose to turn that character to it's starting click (this game) and place them adjacent to a friendly character that can use this trait. If you do, your opponent scores that character and generates a bystander on this card (of their choice) adjacent to any of their characters. Your opponent then scores 10 points for every bystander they generated this game via this trait, regardless of source.

() All Krakoans Enjoy The Privilege Of Diplomatic Immunity: Emma Frost has PROTECTED: Penetrating/Psychic Blast. // Friendly characters within 4 squares with the X-Men keyword who have taken damage this turn take a maximum of 1 damage from attacks.

() Team Up: Hellfire Club Themed Team: At the beginning of the game, friendly characters gain the X-Men keyword. (After revealing forces, you may replace character cards with their alternates. You can't choose a Team Up if your starting characters share a name).

hx055 Kate Pryde
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 65
Keywords: Excalibur, Hellfire Club, Marauders, Pirate, Quiet Council, X-Men

11 10 18 3

10 10 17 3

9 10 19 2

9 10 18 2

8 10 18 2

7 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Movement: Characters

() Krakoan Revival: For all characters with this trait, when a friendly standard character with the X-Men keyword and a lower point value would be KO'd by an opposing effect, you may instead choose to turn that character to it's starting click (this game) and place them adjacent to a friendly character that can use this trait. If you do, your opponent scores that character and generates a bystander on this card (of their choice) adjacent to any of their characters. Your opponent then scores 10 points for every bystander they generated this game via this trait, regardless of source.

() Release The (Tiny) Dragon!: At the beginning of the game, generate a Lockheed bystander.

() Confiscate And Disrupt Illegal Drug Shipments: Friendly characters with the Hellfire Club, Marauders, or Pirate keyword can use Steal Energy. // When Kate Pryde moves through an equipped opposing character, after resolutions roll a d6. 5-6: That character unequips their equipment.

(Speed) Call... Me... Kate! The Uh, Red Pirate Queen: Phasing/Teleport, Sidestep, Stealth, Passenger: 3.

hx055bt Lockheed
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4

7 10 17 2

With the Hellfire Club team-up card, both Emma and Kate provide some very strong backup to Sebastian Shaw, via Emma's Diplomatic Immunity and Kate's granting of traited Steal Energy for everyone on the team. This looks as if it could be a slow team to play, but Kate Pryde's top-dial brings plenty of mobility, and Shaw's special Leadership can certainly help to keep things moving.

Krakoan Revival only matters for Kate Pryde (as it should), and she'd be a perfect candidate to bring back (because of top-dial Probability Control and mobility) in a pinch.

I'm not sure what the last 20 points would be spent on, in another era the ATA Hellfire Club (18 points for all three figures) would be a good choice, since it is very likely that at least two of the characters will be adjacent at any given time.

My first pass at a Summer teamup. I don't think it is particularly creative, and on the surface it doesn't appear as threatening as the Spring team. Team-up cards aren't quite as vital to this team, IMO.

85 HX039 Storm
80 HX020 Marvel Girl
60 HX056 Nightcrawler
40 HX070 Krakoa
35 HX006 Cypher

= 300 points

The dials:
hx039 Storm
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 7
Points: 85
Keywords: Marauders, Pirate, Quiet Council, X-Men

9 11 18 3

9 11 18 3

8 11 17 3

8 10 17 3

7 10 17 2

7 10 17 2

7 10 18 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Targeting: Characters

() Krakoan Revival: For all characters with this trait, when a friendly standard character with the X-Men keyword and a lower point value would be KO'd by an opposing effect, you may instead choose to turn that character to it's starting click (this game) and place them adjacent to a friendly character that can use this trait. If you do, your opponent scores that character and generates a bystander on this card (of their choice) adjacent to any of their characters. Your opponent then scores 10 points for every bystander they generated this game via this trait, regardless of source.

() My Best? No, the Main Bolt Is Still Charging: When Storm hits with a range attack, after resolutions give a hit character a Lightning Rod token. When Storm targets a single character with a Lightning Rod token with a range attack, she modifies damage +3. // At the end of your turn, remove all Lightning Rod tokens that weren't given this turn.

hx020 Marvel Girl
Team: X-Men
Range: 6
Points: 80
Keywords: Cosmic, Phoenix Force, Quiet Council, Ruler, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men

10 11 17 3

10 11 17 3

9 10 18 3

9 11 17 2

9 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Targeting: Characters

() Krakoan Revival: For all characters with this trait, when a friendly standard character with the X-Men keyword and a lower point value would be KO'd by an opposing effect, you may instead choose to turn that character to it's starting click (this game) and place them adjacent to a friendly character that can use this trait. If you do, your opponent scores that character and generates a bystander on this card (of their choice) adjacent to any of their characters. Your opponent then scores 10 points for every bystander they generated this game via this trait, regardless of source.

(Damage) PSYCHIC BACKLASH: Outwit. // When a friendly character with the X-Men keyword is targeted by Outwit, after resolutions roll a d6. [4-6]: Deal the opposing character that used Outwit 1 penetrating damage.

hx056 Nightcrawler
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 60
Keywords: Excalibur, Martial Artist, Monster, Pirate, Quiet Council, Spy, X-Men

12 10 18 2

12 10 18 2

9 11 19 3

9 11 19 3

12 10 18 2

12 10 18 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Krakoan Revival: For all characters with this trait, when a friendly standard character with the X-Men keyword and a lower point value would be KO'd by an opposing effect, you may instead choose to turn that character to it's starting click (this game) and place them adjacent to a friendly character that can use this trait. If you do, your opponent scores that character and generates a bystander on this card (of their choice) adjacent to any of their characters. Your opponent then scores 10 points for every bystander they generated this game via this trait, regardless of source.

() Passenger: 1

(Speed) Getting The X-Men Into Position: Phasing/Teleport, Stealth. When Nightcrawler uses Phasing/Teleport and carries a friendly character that shares a keyword, after resolutions you may place him in the square he began movement from.

(Defense) Saving Mutantkind...One Mutant At A Time: Super Senses. When a standard friendly character within 5 squares and line of fire that shares a keyword is attacked, they can use Super Senses, but only if Nightcrawler has line of fire to the attacker. When they use it and succeed, after resolutions place them adjacent to Nightcrawler.

hx070 Krakoa
Team: X-Men
Range: 8
Points: 40
Keywords: Future, Horsemen, Quiet Council, X-Men

13 10 18 1

13 10 18 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Targeting: Hindering, Blocking

() Simulacra Body Connected To Krakoa: If Krakoa is 40 points, he is KO'd when he crosses the red line. // Protected: Pulse Wave.

() Strategically-Placed Safe Havens: At the beginning of the game, generate 5 Safe Haven hindering terrain markers anywhere on the map at least 5 squares from any starting area and each other. // Friendly characters with the X-Men keyword that are adjacent to Krakoa or occupy one of his Safe Haven markers have "POWER: Place this character adjacent to Krakoa or in the square of one of his Safe Haven markers." // Friendly characters with the X-Men keyword have [Improved Movement: Hindering].

() The Living Island of Refuge For Mutantkind: Phasing/Teleport, Poison. Smoke Cloud as FREE.

() Maintain All That Cypher Was: When an opposing character within range uses Outwit, Perplex or Probability Control, Krakoa can use that power until the end of your next turn.

hx006 Cypher
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 35
Keywords: Hellions, New Mutants, Quiet Council, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men

7 9 17 1

6 9 17 1

6 8 16 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Targeting: Hindering, Characters

(Defense) I've Designed All Of Krakoa's Defenses: Barrier, Toughness. When Cypher uses Barrier, after resolutions you may knock back any number of opposing characters adjacent to his Barrier markers 2 squares each.


The appeal of this team to me is to try to leverage the different forms of mobility that the team has to offer. I'd be sorely tempted to pull off the offensive tricks of Storm and Krakoa... neither would be trivial, so I like the idea of trying the hard thing!

The XDPS Sebastian Shaw got an errata to return some of his utility under the 2021 rules. Any time he removes at least one energy token the errata basically gives him a the same chance as triggering the effects of NuWillpower at any point during his turn (i.e. remove a token).

THE MORE YOU FIGHT, THE STRONGER I BECOME: When Sebastian Shaw is hit, give him a number of Energy tokens equal the damage dealt to him by that attack. // FREE: Remove any number of Energy tokens. This turn, Sebastian Shaw can use the effects listed for that number and lower numbers: 1: He has: “FREE: Roll a d6. 5 or 6: Remove an action token from Sebastian Shaw.” 2: Charge 3: Super Strength 4: Flurry 5: Modify all combat values +1 6: Regeneration as FREE.

With this errata, I'm starting to think this chase piece actually got better in the 2021 rules, since his special traited version of Leadership means he has a chance to remove a token from himself at the beginning of a turn, and if he pulls energy tokens he gets the same chance to remove an action token after he's taken one. It's a little bit of 'being willing to stay in the fight' (if he never ends a turn with 2 action tokens) and 'willing to get back into the fight' (if he starts a turn with 2 action tokens and risks a d6 to be able to act again).

---

I have to admit, I'm not exactly thrilled with the small number of new Quiet Council options from X-Men: Rise and Fall. I'm a little bit hurt inside because 2 of the 4 figures with the keyword are SRs, and then there are new Legacy cards which are sure to be hot wants. I can sort of see that TPTB wanted a completely different Xavier and Magneto (than HoX), but for a set lineup that is already a bit of a hot mess (not a bad/unavoidable thing for X-Men) it feels weird to get them as repeat characters.

My top wants for Quiet Council consideration are:

SR Mystique (a weird, but great dial by any measure)
C Hellfire Guard (more is better, but only 1 is needed with the HoX Emma Frost TUC 27.01)
R Exodus (absolutely necessary for 'completeness' and at a surprisingly friendly point cost... one of the scarier Mind Control figures in the game)

The R Sebastian Shaw seems like a poorly considered dial... not at all as difficult to KO as he should be... and unlikely to be any sort of offensive threat. I'd always use the LE Black King (for the same cost) instead. I suppose that there are some shenanigans to be had with his (printed) X-Men keyword, but 100 points is a huge investment for a dial that is not that threatening.

The R&F SR Emma Frost doesn't have a bad dial (at either point cost) but each of them look to be outclassed by other versions of the character, including ones from HoX and WCR. The R&F dial seems like a throwback to the high-cost dials of Mind Control/Incapacitate (and X-Men TA!) of past figures that used to appear in Unique slots (in the REVU days).

The Legacy Card for GSX Magneto is a nice gesture to make a beloved piece available in Modern, but it simply doesn't feel the same with the new rules.