I'm thinking of using Calculator as a sub for Luthor on a Secret Six team (thread here), but I was waffling on how to play him. Should I bring him up close in order to perplex everybody, or just leave him 10 spaces back and use him as a regular perplexer/outwitter/contingency planner? If anybody has had success with him, I'd be appreciative if you shared your experiences.

Bring him in slightly behind the rest of the team and let stealth and Mastermind protect him. I let my hitters go for the jugular with Calculator powering them all up and my opponent had his hands far too full to attack a guy who seemed no threat. Just in case leave someone with decent close combat and toughness next to him for mastermind. He is great, and easily earned his points for me!

I used him with modest success, but he always had a taxi. I'd have him hang back. He's not an attacker, and doesn't handle attacks well.

Do I need to bring him up 6 spaces in order to get the full use out of his power, or should I just let him hang back and use regular Perplex/Outwit?

If I play him with the Secret Six, he won't be having a taxi, since there's no thematic piece that could carry him besides Parademon, and he's a close combat piece that needs to be in the front lines.

Though I dunno, maybe using a cheap taxi as "radio" or something could work.

....

Calculator should've had longer range. He's never actually in battle, yet they gave him both LOF and 6 range restrictions. Ridiculous.

Then give him brilliant tactician if you want him to hang back. The character is made to be in a close vicinity for some reason and it does work.

I've lost against him once because there were a lot of little people tieing me up and he was perplexing everyone's defense. It was pretty annoying. Also if you keep him closely knit with others he shouldn't be the main focus, you can kinda easily use him as bait though when people realize how annoying he can be.