I heard there are some figures that have been "retired" is there a list somewhere that shows which ones they are?

The wizkids site has some listed but its not really updated.

Also, there are two types of constructed tournies: Restricted games and Unrestricted games.

Restricted means you can't use figures from Infinity Challenge*, Clobberin' Time, Xplosion*, Critical Mass, Hypertime, or Indy. (*please note figures reprinted in Universe are legal regardless of the set they came from)

Unrestricted means you can use any figures you want.

I see, are the reprints weaker than their originals?

No, just different. But if you ask some, they may say that the old ones were weaker. I think it is that power interpretations have changed, there are more powers to choose from that symbolize their abilities more and just the fact that WizKids wanted to have some system of retirement going for some reason or another. WK has said it is to keep the game fresh and allow new players a more level plane to play with. Now the debate of the necessity of Retirement is really, ..., um..., ugly.

Actually, the figures in Universe that are reprints of some of the figures in Infinity Challenge and Xplosion are not weaker *or* different. They are exactly the same as their older counter parts (with some errata); the only difference is they now have an Universe set symbol and Universe figure number. Compare XP V Taskmaster versus UNI V Taskmaster and you will have the exact same stats and powers.

The reprints in Icons, however, are very different from their older counter parts. Comparing HT V Superman and Icons V Superman is almost like comparing apples and oranges.

Shoot... more like comparing apples to orange paint. Completely different things.

Doh! I don't know why, but my mind went a different direction for that question. The Reprints in Universe are almost exactly the same as aforementioned. Also, there are some changes in AE bases. Mostly, anyone in Universe can be played on a team with a fig from IC or XP, because they are not from the same set (even if they are the same color, which I think all of them were changed to clarify the AE rule). In some cases, Arch Enemy groupings were dropped in Universe. The figure is there, but some AE bases are not on the fig. That may be the only other big difference.

I know that IC, XP, & CT were retired except for those pieces included on the errata list but I haven't seen or read anything from Wizkids website about Hypertime or Critical Mass being retired yet. No news bulletin or anything under the resources icon that suggest that has happeneded just yet, although I anticipate it will soon. If you know of some "Official" announcement that I can clarify this information I would love to be able to access that info. I even looked under DC and still couldn't find this annoucement.

More like comparing Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis Superman...

It happened last week officially, although the announcement was further back.

Officially retired --

DC -
Hypertime
Bystander Tokens from the DC map set

Indy -
Indy

Marvel -
Infinity Challenge (except those figures reprinted in Universe)
Clobberin' Time
Xplosion (except those figures reprinted in Universe)
Critical Mass
PSM Hulk (aka Leaping Hulk, Constipated Hulk)
Bystander Tokens from the Marvel map set

From now on, there will be three sets introduced each year and three sets retired each year.

That kinda sucks.............. It makes the game expensive to play.

There's always at least one unrestricted tournament each month. Ask your local venue/judge to sign up for those. With the exception of the Marquees and like one Contructed tourney, that'll all we play at my venue.