The exciting part: announcing upgrades and a new recruit for the West Coast Avengers.

- Mockingbird 'graduates' to the Experienced version (from Sinister), which costs her 8 IXPs and the team 8 TXPs.

- Dr Pym moves up to the Experienced Ant-Man version (from Supernova), which costs him 7 IXPs and the team 7 TXPs.

- I would like to recruit the Vision, whose least expensive version is the 65-point Rookie Vision (from Supernova), which costs the team 130 TXPs.


Hence, here are the

West Coast Avengers
U Iron Man (Avengers) 154 (21 IXPs, 2 IAPs)
V Wonder Man (Avengers) 117 (25 IXPs, 2 IAPs)
V Hawkeye (Clobberin' Time)* 64 (13 IXPs, 3 IAPs)
E Scarlet Witch (Fantastic Forces)** 49 (19 IXPs, 3 IAPs)
E Ant-Man (Supernova) 66 (12 IXPs, 0 IAPs)
V Tigra (Fantastic Forces) 54 (8 IXPs, 1 IAP)
V Moon Knight (Critical Mass) 34 (9 IXPs, 3 IAPs)
E Mockingbird (Sinister)*** 27 (0 IXPs, 3 IAPs)
U Sersi (Critical Mass) 76 (4 IXPs, 3 IAPs)
R Vision (Supernova) 65 (0 IXPs, 0 IAPs)
Team: 0 TXPs, 0 TAPs

* with Trick Shot 20
** with Armor Piercing 10
*** with Vault 3

The sum of all the highest-point-value versions of my team's characters is: 706, which according to the rules, gets rounded up to 750, then divided by 2, and then 50 points are added. This all means that my new squad size per issue is: (706 > 750 / 2 = 375 + 50 = ) 425

( that's almost getting too big for my taste.... but i love the way my team is looking and the options i now have for different characters' versions... )

Some very nice upgrades there mike!

If we make the slight change to the rules (section 1c) as i hope, then my squad size per issue changes:

The point total of all of my highest-version characters adds up to 706, which (according to the new rule, rounded to the nearest 50) would be rounded down to 700, then divided by 2, which results in 350. Adding 50 points, we arrive at an even 400 points.

Yup, i prefer this.

I'll get totals and final upgrades for the Avengers in today.

Pity I didn't get a few more IXP for Thor.... he's only a few shy of the Vet from SN and the exp will be lost.

Individual Achievements: 44 TAP
Captain America: 0 IAP
Thor: 2 IXP
She-Hulk: 4 IXP, 2 IAPS
Falcon: 0 IAP
Starfox: 3 IXP

FROM KOs: 44 TAP

Issue totals:
The Avengers: 22 TXP
Captain America: 0 IAP
Thor: 2 IXP
She-Hulk: 4 IXP, 2 IAPS
Falcon: 0 IAP
Starfox: 3 IXP



New totals:
The Avengers: 185 TXP, 1 TAP
V Captain America*,** (ULT) (103) 2 IXP
LE Dr. Donald Blake (Thor)*** (SN) (202) 27 IXP, 3 IAP
E Wasp (AVG) (49) 1 IAP
V Black Panther (IC) (46) 12 IXP
V Hercules (IC) (83) 9 IXP, 3 IAP
LE Monica Rambeau (SIN) (79) 7 IXP, 3 IAP
R Falcon (SIN) (30) 9 IXP
U Jack of Hearts (SIN) (105) 8 IXP, 3 IAP
R She-Hulk (SN) (65) 15 IXP
E Starfox (AVG) (121) 4 IXP, 3 IAP
R Mantis (SN) (35) 2 IXP
*Armor Piercing (10)
** Protected (8)
*** Haymaker (10)

Total: 918
Squad Size: 525






Ok End of arc rolls can't get anyone to level up so is there any point in doing it?

He WakandaMan, are you going to let Sabe have a one time chance to buy any of my team with their exp still?

Thor would probably have gotten those IXPs if that Skrull Commando hadn't made his Skrull TA roll (twice! turn 3 and turn 8) and/or the Super Skrull hadn't made his Super Senses roll on Thor's Energy Explosion Critical Hit (in turn 10)... ( also turn 6, when the Super Skrull made his Shape Change roll on Thor's attack... that could have been huge... )

Okay, i have a tentative squad for the next issue: WCA #22 (first issue in the new arc):

V Wonder Man (Avengers) 117
E Scarlet Witch (Fan.Forces) 49
R Hawkeye (Ultimates) 40
LE Ant-Man (Infinity Challenge) 43
V Tigra (Fan.Forces) 54
E Mockingbird (Sinister)* 27
R Vision (Supernova) 65
* with Vault 3
==> 398 points

This is, of course, pending editorial approval. (It could well be that Sersi or Iron Man are 'required' in the next issue... )

Okay, here's the thing. For the next issue, you must build your squad only using the following characters:

Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Tigra and Moon Knight - since they stayed with the ship. I also want you to include the Vision in your next issue, as he was able to escape from the Skrulls using his phasing.

You can also use any of the following Avengers characters to fill out your 400pt squad: She-Hulk, Eros (Starfox), Jack-Of-Hearts, Hercules, Monica (Capt.Marvel), Wasp, Black Panther and Mantis! These guys also stayed with the ship, so they are in the same boat as your team. You can use them up to their current unlocked versions, and any feats that Vance had on them, but they won't earn any IAP/IXP if you use them- only TAP/TXP as if they are guest stars.

Depending on how you go next issue (which will be a rescue story), you might get some or all of your regular WCA back for the rest of the next arc.

What about Sersi? Could i play her? She was also one of the WCAvengers 'guarding the escape route.'

Ah sorry...yes you can use Sersi as well. For some reason I thought she was in the squad for this issue.

As per the editor's instructions (see above), i've adjusted the Avengers squad for WCA #22:

E Hawkeye (Ultimates) 60
E Ant-Man (Supernova) 66
V Tigra (Fantastic Forces) 54
V Moon Knight (Critical Mass) 34
R Vision (Supernova) 65
plus two 'guest stars:'
R She-Hulk (Supernova) 65
R Mantis (Supernova) 35
== > 379 points

These are the characters (except for Vision) that weren't knocked out by the Skrulls last issue...

EPILOGUE

She-Hulk aimed the alien weapon at the Skrull soldier again, saying, “This is kind of fun.” At the last second, the Skrull shifted its shape yet again, shrinking to take on the form of some winged primate. She-Hulk’s shot missed, and Jen cursed under her breath.

Nearby, Eros dealt a knockout blow to another Skrull soldier, whose shape-shifting could not save him from the Eternal’s powerful punch at such close range. He quickly turned to She-Hulk and said, “My dear compatriot, it would seem that we are hopelessly outnumbered here. Should we not retreat to my vessel and ascertain the well-being of our other teammates?”

She-Hulk grunted with exertion as she hurled a heavy piece of regal furniture at the winged primate, which screeched with an other-worldly expression of pain upon impact. She-Hulk’s face bore a wry smile of bitter satisfaction that she had hit the Skrull soldier. “Retreat?” she replied through heavy breath. “I’m just getting warmed up!”

Eros’ centuries of experience meant that he was no fool. He recognized the misplaced bravado in She-Hulk’s zeal. Thor was down, Wonder Man unconscious, and Iron Man was knocked out, too. Eros turned and grabbed She-Hulk under both arms, then flew toward the nearest portal.

“Hey!” exclaimed She-Hulk. Her resistance softened, however, as she noticed the battered body of Mar-Vell lying on the ground. His blood mingled with the ornate design on the throne room’s floor. “Okay, Eros, you’re right,” she said. “But you have to put me down for a second; otherwise, the Skrulls will simply follow us to the others.”

Eros recognized immediately what She-Hulk had in mind. Her feet hardly hit the floor before she was tearing at the walls and portal’s supports.

“Stop them!” ordered the Super Skrull. Filled with equal parts blood-lust and military obedience, several Skrull soldiers pursued Eros and She-Hulk, hoping to garner the recognition of the Emperor.

She-Hulk had to work fast, and her fists tore at the columns, arches, and walls of the throne room’s portal. Very soon, its structural foundation removed, the heavy ceiling around the portal collapsed behind Eros and She-Hulk.

“That won’t hold ‘em long,” She-Hulk said, stating the obvious. “Let’s go!”

After a harrowing flight through the imperial compound, Eros and She-Hulk arrived at his small ship, exhausted. “Wha..?!” exclaimed Hawkeye. “Where are the others?!”

“I fear we have sobering tidings,” Eros said. “We need to consider our immediate course of action carefully. Perhaps it would be wisest to leave the planet as soon as possible.”

Moon Knight’s eye slits narrowed, and Mantis took a couple steps closer to see better. Hawkeye exclaimed, ”Are you nuts?! Bobbi’s back there!”

She-Hulk brushed them aside so that Eros could take his place in the pilot’s seat. “He’s right,” Jennifer said. “You know I’m not one to run from a good fight, but we had to get out of there – fast.” Interpreting She-Hulk’s jumbled and excited account of the trap they had all fallen into, the Avengers registered with amazement that their most powerful teammates had been defeated by the Skrulls. Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, and the others were all in the clutches of Dorrek, the Skrull Emperor.

For WCAvengers issue #22, I've decided to switch out She-Hulk for Black Panther and Wasp, in keeping with the role-playing idea that the Avengers would send in their 'stealth' or 'espionage' team:

Avengers
E Hawkeye (Ultimates) 60
E Ant-Man (Supernova) 66
V Tigra (Fantastic Forces) 54
V Moon Knight (Critical Mass) 34
R Vision (Supernova) 65

plus three 'guest stars:'
E Black Panther (Infinity Challenge) 36
R Mantis (Supernova) 35
E Wasp (Avengers) 49

==> 399 points

If the editor(s) think, however, that it is unfair for the Avengers to change their team because i know roughly what the next issue is about, then i will gladly go back to the first team i posted.

Not at all. In fact I love the idea that you're going with a 'black ops' style squad after hearing what the scenario will be. In fact, that makes me want to give my players more of an idea about the next issue in future before they make their squads so they can tailor them appropriately just as you've done here.