An example of my process:

Let's say I get a hunkering to play a Defenders Theme team. I'll start by making a broad list of characters in clix both with and without the TA, people that were members at one time or another.

Defenders
Full timers
Dr. Strange
Silver Surfer
Hulk
Namor
Hellcat
Angel
Iceman
Beast
Moondragon
Part timers
Hawkeye
Black Knight
Ghost Rider
Moon Knight
Power Man


Now assuming a 500pt build (which is what we play around here) I could play the big four, but that wouldn't be too playable. So I'll focus on the Silver Surfer and the new Vet Dr. Strange;

Vet Dr. Strange w/ force field 110
U Silver Surfer w/auto regen 185

This gives me 205pts to work with and I think I'll need 3-4 pieces, so I'll look for cheaper pieces first and then I can upgrade.

The cheapest figs on the list are:
Vet Hellcat 38
LE Patsy Walker 37
Exp Iceman 36
Exp Beast 59
Vet Angel 68

For very few points beast gives us perplex and Patsy Walker gives us Psychic blast and Angel will give us someone to heal Dr Strange with the X-men TA, so they make the cut.

Vet Dr. Strange 110
U Silver Surfer w/auto regen 185
LE Patsy Walker 37
Exp Beast 59
Vet Angel 68

That leaves 41pts, this leaves 3 options.

1) I can trade out Angel and pick up Vet Power Man who also has the Spidey TA to share their defense.
2) I could swap Beast for Vet Ghost Rider (ult)
3) or I could keep the 5 and add Exp Iceman for some barrier

I'll choose 5 solid figures over extra weak figures anyday, and Ghost rider's lack of a useful TA and activation click eliminates him.


Final Team
Vet Dr. Strange 110
U Silver Surfer w/auto regen 185
LE Patsy Walker 37
Exp Beast 59
Vet Power Man 109
Total 500pts

That gives me a couple of bricks, 2 psy blasters and a perplexer that can fight. and with proper placement they'll all have at least an 18 defense with powers including ES-D, invulnerability, super senses, and toughness.


And that's how I build a team.

I think that I have a basic way I like to do things for anything 400 or 500pts (what I have been playing lately):

1 Main Attacker with Running Shot (been experimenting with charge)
1 Small attacker (min 3 Damage to bust walls and attack as needed)
1 Transporter or mid level attacker w/ move and attack powers
1 HSS character w/ armor piercing and usually swingline (I am on my last one!!!! Otherwise I have used all of mine)
Prob
Support
TK usually

after that, I don't really have a formula, but even this is untrue sometimes, just depends on what I want to play, but the above has worked for me with great success.

Here's how I do it:

Step 1: Read a bunch of comics
Step 2: Realize that some of the team ups/teams I just read about might work as a Heroclix team
Step 3: Make said teams
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Profit! (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

Yeah the real question is if I'll make it to WWTX this year. It's looking good though!