A while ago, Flyingicarus and I did a series of 300 point games testing one team against another in single elimination combat in order to see which team was the best, in our own unscientific, inconclusive way. Some results were predictable (Silver Surfer leading the Defenders to final victory) others surprising (Legion of Superheroes taking down the Ultimates in the simefinals, Injustice League making the final four).

Several months have passed. New figures have been added to the pool. We've forgoten how long this took the first time. We're ready to try again. This time with 500 point teams, to spice things up a bit, and prevent single figures like the Silver Surfer and U Thor from being quite such a dominant factor - hopefully.

So here we go with

Round 1, Game 1: Mystics vs. the Legion of Superheroes

Some rule clarification for these.

1. Since we're playing a series of games, to keep map choice as unbiased a factor as possible, we're going to run the games on the maps on Creation Matrix in order of appearance, so game 1 (here) will be played on Marvel 1. Game 2 on Marvel 2, etc.

2. Since high roller for initiative doesn't get to choose map, he'll get his choice of A. Choosing Side of the Map or B. Taking the extra Heavy Object

3. To keep really good TAs from being too dominant (Mystics, Batman Ally...), only 1 figure per team will get use of the TA. In most cases it will be the highest point cost figure. For the Titans/X-Men ability, the highest point figure can heal or be healed by a teammate. For TAs where attack or defense values are shared, the LOWEST point cost figure can share the value of any of the figures next to him. When and if that figure is KOd, the TA passes to the figure who is highest or lowest.

4. Wildcards may borrow the TA of the team that they are facing.

Note that a few teams are not participating because they are unable to field a 500 point team of name figures: SHIELD, Police, Serpent Society, Suicide Squad, Calculator, Crime Syndicate, Morlocks, Outsiders. I think that's it.

And my Mystics team for game 1:

V Dr. Fate 155
V Demon 119
V Shade 73
V Obsidian 110
LE Zatanna Zatara 35

492 points

My Legion team is:

LE Drake Burroughs 127
LE Rokk Krinn 76
V Saturn Girl 76
V Live Wire 50
V Brainiac 5 52
V Kid Quantum 80
R Chameleon 30

Total 499

Probably crazy not using Kara but feeling good about this team.

Initiative is 11. Probably means I go first...

Initiative Roll: 3.

Yup. You go first. Also your choice - choose sides or two heavies?

"Rood nepo!"

A portal opened in the air and Zatanna stepped through. When she emeged on the other side she was on the other side onthe continent, in a room with walls of gray stone, not unlike a medieval castle.

"Thank you for coming," the man in the golden helmet said.

"Hey, Dr. Fate leaves a message on your mystical voicemail, it's not something you want to ignore," Zatanna replied.

"You know the others?" Fate asked.

"Jason Blood and I go way back. Hello Jason," she said. The man with the white streak in his brown hair nodded back. "And Obsidian I've never met, but know by reputation. I have to say I'm a little surprised by your last guest."

"Times change," Shade admitted. "While I'm not about to risk my neck to save a cat in a tree, I'm not the complete scoundrel I'm made out to be."

"Oh, really?" Zatanna asked.

"Well, perhaps I am. But if by lending my power I can keep reality as we know it from being destroyed, then I'm willing to do so. I'm rather fond of reality as we know it."

"Mighty big of you," Obsidian said.

"So now that the gang's all here, Fate, what's whis all about?" Blood asked.

"Mordru. If we cannot stop him, his quest for power will unleash forces that will destroy this, and probably several neighboring dimensions."

"Mordru, eh?" Obsidian asked. "And how much time do we have before he does this?"

"About a thousand years."

"Come again?"

"It will come to pass in the early 31st century, but the effects will extend both forward and backward in the timestream. We will be annihilated at the same time if we do not stop him."

"I wonder if I'm still alive in the 31st century," Shade wondered quietly.

"If we don't stop him, you won't be alive now," Zatanna pointed out.

"But isn't the fact that I am, in fact, still in existance an indication that we've stopped him?" Shade ponited out.

Jason Blood began to speak, but thought better of it.

"Gentlemen," Zatanna plowed on, ignoring Shade, "shall we go?"
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"That's right," Mordru said, scrying their appearance in the 31st century. "Perhaps you may have managed to stop me. Perhaps the Legion may have managed to stop me. But now that you're both here, it won't take much to arrange for you each to keep each other occupied until my schemes have come to fruition."

I'll take 2 heavies please, you get the side and choice of set up.

"Look at me, I'm Mordru, once again I'm gonna spank your Legionnaire butts," says Mordru who suddenly morphs back into Chameleon.

"I'm not sure now is the time," a pensive Brianiac 5 says.

"Mordru's sent five on his minions. 21th century mages if I access this correctly," Saturn Girl says.

"I'm sure you have, Imra," gushes Live Wire.

"We'll get 'em either way, huh Wildfire?" Kid Quantum asks.

Wildfire's energy swirls around him, "Looking forward to it, actually."

Cosmic Boy smiles at his team, "OK gang, let's show Mordru and his minions what the Legion of Superheroes can do!".

And with that command, they're off.

V Dr. Fate M2
V Demon M1
V Shade K1
V Obsidian K2
LE Zatanna Zatara L2

HO K9
LO O11, J11

"We're here," Zatanna announced.

"What is this place?" Obsidian asked.

"Looks like nothing so much as a teenager's idea of a 31st century shopping mall," Shade sneered. "Is this the best the future can offer? If so, I prefer the past."

"I sense seven meta-powered individuals approaching," Dr. Fate said.

"No doubt Mordru knows we're here already and has sent his agents to delay us," Jason said.

"They'll get a taste of good old-fashioned 21st century butt-kicking. Magic-style," Obsidian said.

J23 LE Drake Burroughs 127
N23 LE Rokk Krinn 76
K23 V Saturn Girl 76
L23 V Live Wire 50
P23 V Brainiac 5 52
M23 V Kid Quantum 80
O23 R Chameleon 30

HO I17, Q17; LO O11

OK Drake Burroughs has Mystics ta (do we agree that once the highest point figure is down the next highest gets the ta or no).

Drake Burroughs to K16
Saturn Girl to K17
Brainiac 5 to P17 (hindering)
Rokk Krinn to N16
Kid Quantum to N17


K16@ LE Drake Burroughs 127
N16@ LE Rokk Krinn 76
K17@ V Saturn Girl 76
L23 V Live Wire 50
P17@ V Brainiac 5 52
N17@ V Kid Quantum 80
O23 R Chameleon 30

HO I17, Q17; LO O11

The Legion sneak through the park to just outside the building.

"All five are inside," Saturn Girl says.

"Perfect," Cosmic Boy says, "Live Wire and Chameleon are left behind for back up. Ready to go in, Wildfire?".

"Never more, pal, let's go pound some deadbeats," Wildfire says.

"My friend, I like your style," Rokk replies.

Well, no beating around the bush here.

Dr. Fate taxis Demon. Fate in O11, Demon in P11

Dr. Fate uses his Defend on Demon

Obsidian taxis Shade. Obsidian to I11, Shade in J11

Zatanna to J8

V Dr. Fate @ O11
V Demon P11
V Shade J11 (Stealthed)
V Obsidian @ I11
LE Zatanna Zatara @ J8

"Here they come," Zatanna announced.

"Very well. The way to Mordru is through them," Dr. Fate said.

"Let's not keep Mordru waiting then," Obsidian said. He wrapped darkness around both himself and Shade both reappeared in the lobby area.

"You know I could have done that," Shade pointed out.

"I know, but now you can attack instead."

Shade merely shrugged. Dr. Fate came through the wall at the other side of the entrance area, carrying Jason Blood.

"Surrender now," Fate announced, "and you will not be harmed."

"Funny," Cosmic Boy replied, "I was about to say the same thing."