I honestly don't expect Punisher War Machine to feel like a significantly different challenge than LE Wakanda Storm, or the recent LE Phoenix, or XTAS Archangel, or Regenesis 102 Cyclops (that's a lot of X-Men). They all have pros and cons, they all have similarly terrifying first clicks, they all take a hit pretty well, and they're all going to take concerted effort and a couple attacks to put in the ground before you can feel safe from them. Punisher's specialty is reducing damage; Cyclops and Phoenix have STOP clicks that heal them; Storm is invisible (and so are her friends); Archangel is deadly in a variety of ways.


Again, power creep is subjective insofar as it needs to actually invalidate what came before, and I'm just not convinced that these new figures will perform SO EGREGIOUSLY better that older figures will feel like wasted points.

The last set seemed weak because it's based on cartoons. The next set will seem weak because it's based on cartoons. The Mighty Thor was just as strong as this set compared to the sets released around it when it released.

Since we only get 1 DC set a year, and it's has mostly been Batman based, we've gotten a bunch of weaker sets. We'd need a Superman/Darkseid/New God set based on the comics in order to get similar powerhouses.

I've said this before, but the sparkly nu-ness is to distract us from the most egregious cost-cutting move WK has ever taken.

We should be rightfully outraged they are pawning off old (mostly crappy) sculpts in a set without a single penny discounted.

I really feel this set is going to be a stand alone with the next 2 marvel sets and, of course the DC set, being designed more like the standard 2019 sets.

Its disappointing to be handed low quality sculpts when we know they can make good ones. To be handed them a second time is just insulting.

I do think the power leap is a bit extreme here. Heroclix has always been a collectible game for me first and foremost, and to be presented with the possibility that stuff even a couple years old is obsolete is very disheartening. Might as well sell everything and just cycle thru the newest 4 sets.

preach

that was the marvel format, after all. heroes with flaws
oh yeah, I bout spit out my tea reading that one. and I love cap. but 11/3 cce on 45 pts? that has a ed non-stop click stop click regen that bypasses all the weaknesses of stop clix? yeesh. way op
very good point. I knew DoC would influence dial design whether your venue observed DoC or not. and if this is the answer? yuck all the more. DoC does more to devalue reducers than outwit or ppb ever will

The best Marvel Comics Captain Marvel will always be Monica Rambeau, it broke my heart a little to see Monica in the MCU Captain Marvel movie. She would have made a far more compelling character.

Heck Ms. Marvel ( Kamala Khan ) has more personality and character than Carol on her best day as Captain Marvel.

Personally I thought Carol was best as Binary, but that's just me.

As far as the Power Leap in this set, is there really any way to deny it?

To get people to buy a set loaded with reused sculpts and themes that they know their players may be fatigued with they loaded the set down with low costed high powered figures.

Personally I'm going to be more than just upset if Sam-Cap gets put into a Super-Rare slot.

Reusing Super-Rare sculpts in a rare slot would be almost acceptable, especially a great character like Sam in his Captain America garb who was hard to get.

However if they start reusing Super-Rare sculpts AS Super-Rares that's just indefensible and I will be p***ed.

At least I'm looking forward to Spymaster and M.O.D.O.K. .

Oh and Skein...though I would have rather had her in her Gypsy Moth costume.

All the hate on Carol, I just don't get it. I think her arc taking the name of Captain Marvel and discarding Ms Marvel was great, and I enjoy her character. But to each their own. As to the power creep. It's here, we see it, we're just not ready to say the sky is falling, as happens almost every set anyway(too overpowered, too underpowered, too many Colossals, too generic, not enough generics, etc.). I'm not saying people don't have a right to complain, that's how companies hear from their customers and adjust, but this is getting a bit tense, and it really shouldn't be.

As for Sam-Cap, I'm pretty sure we know he's a rare, not a SR.

This. Couldn't say it any better.

I'm loving that new captain marvel

I've remarked on the blatancy of the Power Creep in some of these figs we've seen, and while I see a number of people with me, I also see saturnflight and others offering a very solid "hey, it's not that bad!" and perhaps only to quiet my own mind, I'd like to share some thoughts supporting that.

When we really think about "broken" elements in this game, or elements that have fundamentally shifted how the game is played, the culprits are usually guilty of at least one of the following things:

1. Does the element allow you to do multiple costed actions at once for free? (I'm thinking back to Ghost Rider Heroes for Hire attack novas, and Team Bases.)

2. Does it shut off the normal flow of the game on a massive scale? (Felix Faust, or the dreaded SIF/Underbuild for those old timers among us.)

3. Does it render positioning largely moot? (Ghost Rider/H4H again, WatX Spiral pre-errata, and I'd also say Colossal Retaliation -- it may not be "broken" by some standards, but it definitely changed the way the game is played.)

4. Does it allow you to consistently do damage or nullify opposing figs without touching the dice? (This one has a rich history stretching all the way back to LAMP, stopping along the way with the GCPD Cruiser, Shredder Elite and presently is seen in Kobik-Cube shenanigans.)

I'm sure there's plenty of other examples of the above, and maybe even a 5th or 6th category I didn't think of, but in most cases, it's hard to think of a piece that changed the way the game is played just based on numbers and open-handed application of PAC powers. You've got to go back to Icons Vet. Supes for something like that.

Most of these new mega-Creep figs don't really do that. Arno Stark may verge on #3 with the missile platform able to ignore anything but being inside while pinging everyone for 1 penetrating, and Carol verges on #4 with her Hypersonic SP, and Punisher War Machine DOES get to attack EVERY. STINKING. ROUND. (if he wants) but it's still mostly the numbers and powers that make these figs scary. While that will earn the animosity of players who see them too often (ask the Kingdom Come Chases about that) it still doesn't mean they're unbeatable or promote an un-fun play environment by their very nature.

That said, some of these guys are rocking the absolute sickest points-to-power ratio I have ever seen.

Don't want to double-post, but didn't feel like this fit my above rant/Ted Talk: honestly my biggest umbrage with the set so far might be the Shifting Focus Iron Man.

I've enjoyed Shifting Focus since we first saw it; it highlights a particular ability a diverse or resourceful character has, sacrificing other things they do until you make the switch. Each has a shortcoming of some kind.

Those Iron Mans don't. They all have rock solid armor and attack options, they all have Indomitable, and because of the wacky Variable Weapon Systems Trait, they never lack for the options provided by the other figs in the cycle. That's exactly how Shifting Focus is NOT supposed to work! Heck, it's easier to keep the attack power you want to use on your sideline rather than actually bring it into the game!

So I'm cranky about that.

It is rather boring design.

I'm worried too that keeping 2 of each Iron Man on your sideline might give you access to your current choice's full attack track options too, removing even that small bit of interest.

It shouldn't break your heart - she is going to be on a Disney Plus show as an adult, and I'd imagine on future movies. Kamala Khan is also getting a Disney + show.

Also, as far as Captain Marvel, I mean she practically was Binary in the movies. She didn't look it, but power wise she was.

Quick question. When Arno goes into his stationary mode to receive the range upgrade and see through everything, does that also apply to his outwit - or just the special attack? Thanks!

Notice he gets his Improvement before the RANGE action. He can use it with Outwit and then activate the RANGE.