After playing the Royal Flush Gang (RFG) a few times, I have a few random incoherrant thoughts. This may be one of the most ill thought out theme teams ever designed. As individuals, each figure is decent and can be used effectivley. King and Queen, with the Shape Change / SS combo is really a decent figure. However, there are many things that make them, as a theme team, less than desirable to play.

1. No Outwit

As a team, the RFG lacks any outwit what-so-ever. For any team to be anywhere near competitive, you should have at least one outwitter, and due to their singular keyword, there is no other optional character to use as an outwitter. Sure you could play Amadeus Cho x2, but getting him to position and then having to use an action to use outwit just isin't satisfactory.

2. Singular Keyword

The only keyword these guys have is RFG and there are no other RFG characters with that keyword, meaning its hard to gain any good support figures on your team.

3. No Probability Control

None of the characters have this power, which, while not gamebreaking, could help you get out of some major hits taken, and help you possibly deal out some damage.

4. Low Damage

Only Ace is packing a natural 3 damage, and its only for a few clicks. Jack and Ten have the SP with Phy Blast and EE, but even with a duo attack to succeed, with a 9 AV, would only deal 3 total damage. King and Queen never have more than a 2 damage. Contingency plan can help with attack, but for damage, you are on you own.

5. Calculator TA

I know the RFG is based on cards, and the Calculator TA is perfect for characters called the Royal Flush Gang, but as a theme team, having a wildcard TA, with no other possible TA's to copy is most irritating. In unrestricted play you could use the Alfred pog with the Batman TA, but for regular tournament play, this is a useless TA.

It is very unlikely there will be major game changing desicions based around one group of figures, but here are a few quick suggestions I would like to see, just to make this team a little more competitive.

1. Alternate Calculator TA

This would be a quick easy fix, involving a feat card, as has been used in the past to beef up teams like Green Lantern and Legion of Super Heroes. Just having a TA that you could use while using a RFG theme team would be a huge help.

2. Addition of Keywords to RFG

A simple change to keywords, such as creating a "crimminal" keyword, which could be attatched to other support style characters would make the Calculator TA more tempting, and could just be errattaed in the rules for other characters as well. I'm certain that there could be a few characters from DC and Marvel who could be given a crimminal keyword, or something similar.

3. Adding RFG keywords to other characters

This would be a little more difficult as the RFG really is only the characters that were made into heroclix, but maybe, if you looked hard enough through old comics involving the RFG, you could find a couple characters who at some point, teamed up with the RFG to cause mayhem and havoc. This could possibly gain a few figures to add Outwit, PC, or even Perplex would be nice.

In conclusion, if you plan on playing RFG, its a fun time, but plan on losing.

I believe that Hector Hammond had something to do with the (Post-Crisis) formation of the RFG...Adding him to the team would add some much needed support powers.

He doesn't have the keyword, alas. :disappoin

I agreed with all of your assessment on RFG, excellent! rep to you.

I hope to see a Joker in the next set with the keyword - RFG on his card so he'd be the one who will be their outwitter.

I also hope to see Prof Amos Fortune and Gambler in clixes...they will be their PCer. maybe perplex from Fortune.

Being the Wildcarders really helps the RFG to do well in the game. Without the Calculator TA, they won't be seeing the light, they will be in the dark inside the tray box in the basement or garage or even in storage.

Again, I hope to see any three of them in the next set so I can use them to team up with RFG.

And....can use 10 little Indians or #2 to #9 pogs to make a full deck.

I think you place too much emphasis on the need for a keyword theme, but you make some good points.

1) All-wildcard team: I've been advocating for a while for either a ATA or a rule-change that would allow WCs on teams with no non-WC team abilities to pick *one* single copiable power in the game. A less-abusable Thunderbolts.

2) My main problem with the RFG is the stats and powers. Simply too low for their cost, outside of Ace.

Now, if you are willing to forego the theme bonus, RFG isn't too bad, depending on who you team them with. Jack and Ten, thanks to the naked defense and no move-and-attack power really, really need stealth. A Bat-ally can provide that. It also greatly helps out Ace (as well as any giant) thanks to the rules about making ranged attacks from two squares away from him. And of course, it helps with that pesky Outwit that makes King and Queen more of a target.

Superman Enemy can also help, as it provides the ever-useful Outwit to pair in adjacency. As overpriced as it is by itself, it can be more than worth it on a multiple-WC team.

Superman Ally/Ultimates is very useful in offsetting Jack and Ten's low AV, as they can ignore their enemies' hindering bonuses.

But yeah, they're lame all together. Any single one of them might find a use on the right team (again, if you are willing to give up the theme bonus).

Bad keywords are one of the most limiting things on figs right now for those that want to use theme bonus benefits.

I'd love to see an Updated Siphon Power feat that allows ALL the WIldcards on a team to use the feat.

I don't know man...I think that they have a ton of potential.

My idea for a 600 point Royal Flush team:

King & Queen x 2 = 178
Ace x 2 + Protected x 2 = 148
Jack & Ten x 2 + Compel x 2 = 150
R Klarion = 76
R Question = 40

= 592 points

Keep Klarion in back (hindering near starting area) if fighting Stealth-busters, or put him up close if need be. Ditto Question. If facing non stealth-busters, bring them up within LOF/LOS to your figs. Set up a gauntlet with the RFG. Use your Aces for up close, and Compel them to move and then charge, hopefully with Super Strength. Any figure wanting to nerf wildcard fodder will have to run the gauntlet. Likewise, any figure looking to take out the RFG without nerfing the wildcard fodder will take at least 6 clicks of unavoidable damage.

Not perfect, but its a start.

Concur 100%! But hopefully it wouldn't be more than 20 points... that's already too expensive.

Oh, it's worse than that - Psy Blast doesn't work with Duo Attack (neither does anything else except Super Strength and Steal Energy). So they can Psy Blast for two penetrating or try to Duo Attack for three soakable.

Well, the mind control helps make the wildcard people useful - if you can pull it off. Which is difficult.

I indeed was basing by thoughts around a theme team, and I agree that I was playing these guys based strictly on a theme teamn. you have some great points and ideas for using these guys effectivly.

I saw Jack and Ten do very well in sealed, provided they had Stealth, and I myself used they pretty well in a sealed game. I've used Ace a couple of times, he's actually pretty mean. Again, Stealth helps him a lot. Apart from his lack of keyword, I think he's pretty abusable.

I haven't really figured out a good use for King and Queen yet.

Compel, dude. Compel. Ace is great, but a COMPELLED Ace is, well, ACES!

I meant independent of theme. They suck out loud!

The other night I played the RFG along with Emp Joker and the Rookie Harly.

With some feat cards it came in at 499 points, and did a *very* nice job. Two mind controllers for the first few rounds was useful, and Emp Joker was enough of a tent pole that King and Queen, could sneak in a few good shots.

Yeah, I know...they're not that great...:disappoin

I just wanted to make myself feel better for pulling a 2ND one last night, the only SR out of 4 boosters I bought, okay? OKAY!?
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