Super Power Creep: Generics

Through the course of the game, we have seen figures grow in point cost, and optimized stats. Does the old Clobbering Time Elektra hold a candle to her SI dial? In much the same way, Generics have become more than just a team filler. Normally, possessing little in the way of powers, today, these generics are closer than ever to their super-hero counter-parts. Is it simple evolution of the game, or is Super-Soldier Serum spreading through the ranks of the common generic? Step inside to find out!

Ninjas are stealthy masters of striking the deadly blow, and they often like pizza (assuming said ninja is a turtle). But, should they be able to take on someone with powers far beyond those of mortal men? Or, at least, a blind lawyer, and a sai-wielding chick with an Elektra complex?

This article will look at the New Hand Ninja and compare them to the older Daredevil and Elektra at around similar point costs. But first, let's take a moment for a quick retrospective:

The Old Hand Ninjas:
xp006 V Hand Ninja
Team: Hydra
Range: 0
Points: 17
Archenemy: Daredevil (Orange)
Keywords: Martial Artist, The Hand, Warrior

6 8 15 2

6 7 14 2

5 6 13 1

4 5 12 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Stealth, 0 range and blades. Now we know where the dial came from that inspired the Indyclix set . With an 8 attack, he may not always slice through his target, and the Hydra TA may not see play with 0 range; still, this Ninja is a great bargain for his points and with his ability to potentially blade out 6 clicks of damage, cannot be easily ignored. A solid figure.

xp009 V Hand Ninja
Team: Hydra
Range: 8
Points: 16
Archenemy: Daredevil (Orange)
Keywords: Martial Artist, Spy, The Hand

6 8 15 2

6 7 14 2

5 6 13 2

4 5 12 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

A great ranged/stealth sniper, particularly with a fellow Ninja Hydra TA buddies to boost up his starting AV to a solid 11. Watch out for flying ninja stars.

The great thing about the old ninja's were their cost efficiency. For a combined cost of 33 pts, you get a nice mix of stealth with close combat and sniping abilities.

But, someone along the line must have stepped up the Hand's boot camp training (and given them 401K's). The new Hand Ninja in HoT boasts a substantial cost increase, and an array of powers and special abilities that would make the fighting in The Matrix look like a dance routine from High School Musical.

The New Ninja:

ha003 R Hand Ninja
Team: Hydra
Range: 6
Points: 38
Keywords: Martial Artist, The Hand

8 9 16 2

7 8 16 2

6 8 15 2

6 7 14 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Damage) From the Shadows: Once during your turn, if Hand Ninja occupies hindering terrain and has no action tokens, he can make a close combat attack as a free action.

The Hand Ninja has seen a bit of an upgrade from its Xplosion counterpart, and now cost more than both old Ninja's combined.These Ninjas are best as team players. Taxi them in on a map with plenty of hindering (or make your own), have your ranged attackers make use of the AV bump, and watch the Ninja's free action attack and blades go to town on the opposing team. However, in this article, the Ninja has to hot-foot it around solo, so automatically, the new Hand Ninja is taken down a belt.

This ninja is a much better attacker, with a 9 av. Stealth and blades isn't something new. But, it doesn't take away from its lethality. What's more, this ninja didn't forget his throwing knives at home, as it packs 6 range in as well.

Still, like any good member of the common horde, this guy isn't very long lived, with only 4 clicks of life. You don't want to push them, particularly off that first click, unless the benefits are plenty. The second click is fairly unimpressive, but after that, with new tricks like L/C and Supersenses, he may live long enough to either reposition or survive by dodging some arrows. This guy has clearly added some supplementation to his workout routine.

What's more significant is that we are seeing common generics at point costs greater than that of our super-powered heroes. In point of fact, the New Ninja costs more than some of the older Daredevils and nearly all of the Elektras. So, how does they stack up against the new ninja? Afterall, shouldn’t the head of the ninja clan be a bit better than it's own hand? Since, for just 5 points more, you could play the old E Critical Mass Daredevil:

Old Daredevil:
cm035 E Daredevil
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4
Points: 43
Keywords: Martial Artist

8 9 16 2

8 8 15 2

7 7 15 2

7 7 14 1

6 6 13 1

6 6 13 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

We'll look at this lawyer over the IC E Daredevil primarily because the powers are a bit more congruent. Both the Ninja and Daredevil boast L/C, stealth and Supersenses, just at different points in their dials. Daredevil has more clicks of life, plus a nice Outwit surprise that might catch a ninja off-guard. But, the Ninja could theoretically get in a nice attack with blades, and spin DD right past outwit to KO. This Daredevil lacks any real damage capabilities and relies too heavily on Supersenses to stay in the fight.

Still, I think this battle would ultimately come down to SS's rolls, which could swing the battle either way. Perhaps this is an example where this isn't a case of power creep, rather than a good compliment of powers on either side.

Now, lets look at the old IC U Elektra,with the Hand Keyword, that is actually 2 points cheaper then the Hand Ninjas she commands.

Old Elektra:
ic144 U Elektra
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4
Points: 36
Keywords: HYDRA, Martial Artist, The Hand, Warrior

8 11 16 2

7 10 15 2

7 9 14 2

7 8 13 1

6 7 12 1

5 6 12 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

36 points buys you a whole lot of stealth and blades. Still, she has an impressive 11 attack going up against only a bare 16 defense, plus, 2 extra clicks of life, and more clicks of BCF's to takedown any Ninja's that might challenger her leadership. She has a better than average chance of getting that one-shot KO.

But, mostly her dial is pretty blank, which for the leader of the hand, is less inspiring than the colorful rainbow 2 pts more can buy you. To be fair, a battle between the two would probably come down to who hit who hardest with their BCF roll as the Ninja could still conceivably take her out. Still, one has to wonder how Elektra slacked off enough for the Hand Ninja's to outpoint-cost her. Maybe Bon-Bons and episodes of Lost?

True, the new HoT Daredevil and SI Elektra make great leaders for the new Hand ninja’s. But, that’s not the point. What has turned these otherwise extraordinary common ninja’s into Ninja Assassins? Did Daredevil amp their training? Have the Ninjas not listened to the dangers of steroid abuse? Or did someone dump a batch of Super Soldier Serum into the Hand’s water-cooler?

More importantly: When is Sam Cole (of the Hellfire Guard) and Bill (of Hydra) going to get the super-powered upgrade? (Their current health plan sucks!).

For Next Time: Can the common thug take down the Bat?

No, you were pretty much spot on with the initial assessment. Rolling the BCF isn't likely to be a deciding factor. The IC Elektra would pretty much own the new Hand Ninja in anything other than a wide open OK Corral shootout. And maybe even then. 5+ to hit vs 7+ to hit is a big odds swing (unless I'm the one trying to roll the 5), giving the Ninja an almost even chance of missing if he does get the first crack, but Elektra a mere one in five of not pimp slapping a black mask.

And Elektra doesn't even have to bother with blades - just hit for 2 straight up, and unless the Ninja gets his Super Senses choreographed by the Wachowski brothers it should be over. On the other hand, the Ninja pretty much *has* to go the blades route if he gets a chance at a first hit. Trading 2 click punches still results in a dead ninja unless Super Senses kicks in - and this with allowing the Ninja the first hit.

2 points cheaper isn't slacking off, its being *efficient*. If that IC dial was slipped into a modern set for the same cost, the figure would rate a 4/5 in a heartbeat.

can you use blades with the free attack

No. BCF's requires a close combat action to activate. The Hand Ninja only grants a free close combat attack.

You are of course, correct. Elektra is going to win most of the time. I only meant that it was possible for the Ninja to get a solid hit in and one-shot K.O. her. But, it certainly isn't probable.

Almost forgot, not only possible, I've seen it happen. One of my first Clix games, with Hypertime pieces. 4 large teams going at it, and one player was sporting Bats (HT Rookie or Experienced) and a Swamp Thing (Rookie). Swarming his beat down tag team on an opponent's Joker, and proceeded to swing and miss. Repeatedly. Joker didn't exactly answer back in stellar fashion, but didn't do as horrible.

Meanwhile Joker's Criminal Vet side kick was 'ku-click BLAM! ku-click BLAM! ku-click BLAM!' every attack, while Bats remained with his thumbs snagged in the back of his utility belt and ol Peat Moss pushing well past Imperv in angry frustration trying to make up for lost time. Soon enough the Caped Crusader was plowing the pasture with his chin, and it was Swamp Thing's turn to face the 9mm wrath. By the time ol Holland spent his long dial making poor trades of punches to finally take out the cackling prankster, the fiesty convict soon after turned Swampy into compost.

Eh, don't like comparing new figs to old ones. Comparing the old ninja to the new ninja is fine, but kind of pointless to compare the new hand ninja to an old daredevil. What's the point? We have a new daredevil, who completely wastes the new hand ninja, which makes total sense. So I fail to any point in trying to make the new hand ninja look like major power creep by comparing it to the old daredevil. Plus the article just sort of stopped. You are reading, thinking maybe this will eventually have a point to it, then the article is just over with. Leaves a lot to be desires, and hungry for pizza now.

Funny, doesn't take much of an excuse for me to crave pizza, but that's an interesting Pavlovian response you've managed to acquire.

"This article ain't going anywhere....wait? it's finished? just like that? what the.....oooohhh.....hmmmmm......pizza!"

Save a slice for me!

I was simply showing that generics have moved up in cost. They are now more expensive to field than actual named superheroes of yesterday, i.e Daredevil and Elektra (the head of the Hand).

As for the ending, well, I had a hankering for pizza.

wait....if this is about ninjas.....why is there a cover to a wolverine comic?

EDIT: that cover makes sense to me.

I love the new ninjas (and the old ones) so very much. Makes me proud of this picture:

very good. I have twice as many old xplosion ninjas but have had a hard time finding the new ones. Only got 3 of them right now.

I agree this would have made a better picture for the article:



Cheezwiz fel free to grab it and change it if you want.

Thanks! And Rep!

Originally, it was an article that was to cover several generics and their more modern counterparts, thus the original picture (I want new Hellfire Guards!)). I split the article up, with possibly more to come. We'll see.

Thanks again!

this makes me so jealous of you. i have like 30 of the old ones, but 4 of the new! i was even thinking of printing the new dial and putting them on the old bases!