Welcome back to the battle for Hope! At the end of our last episode, we saw Wolverine and Spider-Man sneaking off through the sewers. Where are they headed? What are their plans once they get there? Let's join our comic book brawl, already in progress.

The Comic Book


While the X-Men and Avengers are battling on the beach, Emma tosses Hope inside one of the buildings in Utopia, where the other students are already watching the battle below unfold. Hope's pretty pissed off that she is basically being held prisoner while people fight are fighting to basically possess her down below.


She, being the angsty teen she is, wants to fight for herself. The other students are scared, and rightfully so, since they have some of the most powerful beings on Earth fighting outside their door. Hope isn't having any of that, though. She's getting out of there, one way or another.


While Hope is busy kicking the crap out of her classmates, Wolverine and Spider-Man have managed to sneak in. Spider-Man is totally fine with this until Wolverine pops his claws. Then the realization that they aren't there to rescue Hope kicks in, and Spider-Man suddenly has a very big problem with this.


Spider-Man tries to stop Wolverine, but you can imagine how that might go. What Wolverine didn't anticipate, though, was that Hope might already possess the power of the Phoenix due to it's proximity to Earth, or at least a portion of that power. Hope quickly puts him in a less than comfortable position and knocks everyone else out.


Danger warns Cyclops that their defenses are failing and they should retreat, but Cyclops notices Wolverine is missing. Uh-oh. Both Avengers and X-Men rush inside the complex, only to find everyone down for the count, and Hope long gone.


Hope has decided that neither team truly has her best interests at heart, and decides to go it alone. Fortunately, she was raised in the future by a nomadic cyborg mutant with a bad attitude, so she can take care of herself.


Winner: Hope

The Battle

For the map, I chose the obvious Utopia map from the AvX set. It's a very straightforward indoor map with a central room, and walls that do a fair job of dividing up the battlefield. There's a chunk of hindering terrain in the center of the map, as well as some squares here and there. Pretty cut and dry.


As for our teams, I was relieved to have a smaller battle after that last monster 1,300 pointer I did. I thought this would also be a good opportunity to use the Phoenix resource to add some spice and simulate Hope's Phoenix powers.

X-Men

avx009 V Cyclops
Team: X-Men
Range: 8
Points: 150
Keywords: Ruler, X-Men

9 11 17 4

9 11 16 3

8 10 17 4

7 9 17 3

7 9 16 3

6 9 15 2

6 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) I Can Still See the Dream: Improved Targeting: Ignores Blocking Terrain. When a ranged combat attack resolves, any blocking terrain along its line of fire to the target is destroyed; May make a ranged combat attack when adjacent to an opposing character.

(Speed) Ongoing Optic Blasts: Cyclops can use Force Blast and Running Shot. When he uses Running Shot, after actions resolve, he can use Force Blast as a free action.

(Damage) Let's Put The World Back On Track: Cyclops can use Leadership and Outwit. When he uses Leadership, adjacent characters with a shared keyword are considered to have a lower point value.

avx010 V Emma Frost
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 125
Keywords: Hellfire Club, Hellions, X-Men

8 10 17 3

8 10 18 3

7 10 17 3

6 9 17 3

6 8 16 3

7 9 16 2

6 9 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Scott Can Handle It: Emma Frost's powers can't be countered. When a friendly character with the X-Men keyword is more than four squares away, Emma Frost can use Sidestep.

(Attack) It's Her Decision: Emma Frost can use Outwit and has a range value of 7.

(Defense) Diamond Form: Emma Frost can use Exploit Weakness, Impervious, and Shape Change.

aw021 V Warpath
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 68
Keywords: New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men

10 9 16 3

8 8 16 3

7 8 15 3

7 7 15 2

6 7 16 2

6 7 15 2

5 8 14 3

5 8 13 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

avx016 E Hope Summers
Team: X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 122
Keywords: Avengers, Future, K'un Lun, X-Men

10 10 17 2

10 10 16 2

9 9 16 2

9 9 16 2

8 9 15 2

8 10 15 2

8 10 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Power Mimic: Give Hope Summers a free action. Choose a standard power possessed by any character within 4 squares. Hope Summers can use that power until your next turn as if she had a range value of 6.

(Speed) Jet Pack: Hope Summers can use Charge and the Flight ability.

I also assigned her the Cyclops Phoenix Fragment, which grants her Poison, Flight, and Ranged Combat Expert. In addition, she can use one of the following powers each turn:
Fragments Phoenix Power
Namor - Avengers, Defenders, and X-Men team abilities.
Colossus - Invulnerability
Emma Frost - Telekinesis
Magik - Characters can use the Mystics team ability, but only when hit with a ranged combat attack.

The Phoenix dial itself starts by granting her +2 speed, Telekinesis, and Invulnerability, but as she KO's or rolls doubles, it can click into new powers.

All of that comes to a total of 495 points with an X-Men Theme Team bonus. I already knew that Warpath would prove to be a one-hit wonder at best, and Emma isn't a character I've had much luck with, but I was hopeful for Cyclops and Phoenix-powered Hope to deal the bulk of my damage.

Avengers

avx001e E Captain America
Team: Avengers
Range: 5
Points: 100
Keywords: All-Winners Squad, Avengers, Invaders, Past, S.H.I.E.L.D., Soldier

9 10 17 3

8 9 16 3

7 9 16 2

8 10 15 2

9 11 17 3

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

(Improved) Combat Training: Improved Movement: Ignores Hindering Terrain, Ignores Characters

(Special) Avengers Assemble!: Captain America can use Leadership. When he does and the result is 6, you may place a friendly character with the Avengers keyword, a lower point value, and within 4 squares adjacent to him, but only if you remove the action token from that character.

(Special) Super Soldier & Shield: At the beginning of your turn choose either Combat Reflexes or Energy Shield/Deflection. Captain America can use that power until the beginning of your next turn.

(Attack) Take Down: Captain America can use Incapacitate as if he had 2 targets. When he does and hits 2 characters, he may give one hit character 2 action tokens instead of giving each of them one. If that character can't be given the second action token, deal it 1 penetrating damage instead.

avx005e E Wolverine
Team: Avengers|X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 125
Keywords: Avengers, Martial Artist, Soldier, X-Force, X-Men

9 10 17 3

8 9 17 3

8 10 18 2

7 10 17 2

7 9 16 2

6 9 17 3

6 8 16 3

7 11 18 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Best There Is...: Improved Movement: Ignores Hindering Terrain

avx004e E Spider-Man
Team: Avengers|Spider-Man
Range: 5
Points: 100
Keywords: Avengers, Scientist, Spider-Man Family

9 10 18 3

9 10 17 2

9 9 17 2

9 9 16 3

9 9 16 3

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

(Improved) Webs Get Me Anywhere: Improved Movement: Ignores Elevated Terrain, Ignores Hindering Terrain, Ignores Outdoor Blocking Terrain, Ignores Characters

(Special) Whatever a Spider Can: When Spider-Man is the target of a ranged combat attack, he can use Super Senses, but evades the attack on a result of 4 - 6.

fi007 E Iron Fist
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 80
Keywords: Avengers, Defenders, Heroes for Hire, Martial Artist, Mystical

9 11 17 3

8 11 16 2

8 10 16 2

8 10 16 3

7 10 16 3

7 9 15 2

7 9 15 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Improved) Master of K'un Lun: Improved Movement: Ignores Elevated Terrain, Ignores Hindering Terrain, Ignores Characters

(Defense) Immortal Weapon of Agamotto: Iron Fist can use Combat Reflexes and Super Senses.

(Damage) The Iron Fist: Iron Fist can use Close Combat Expert. When he does and has no action tokens, if his attack total is at least 2 greater than his target's defense value, modify his damage value by an additional +1.

av038 R Giant-Man
Team: Avengers
Range: 0
Points: 82
Keywords: Avengers, Scientist, West Coast Avengers

8 9 18 3

8 9 17 2

7 9 17 2

7 8 16 1

7 8 16 1

6 8 15 1

7 7 16 1

8 7 17 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Damage) Genius: Giant-Man can use Perplex, but can target only himself or a friendly character within 4 squares and he can modify a combat value only by +2 with each use.

I gave each of our Avengers the Avengers (Heroic Age) ATA, which allows them to roll a die after they take a move action, and if they roll a 6, they remove the action token. The total came out to 497 points. Captain America was great in the last fight, and his Leadership and Takedown abilities are just awesome. I was also excited to use a modern Spider-Man. Giant-Man would probably hold his own, but I was really looking forward to his Genius ability coming into play. Finally, this is not my favorite Wolverine dial, but he should be able to tear any of our X-Men apart in close combat just the same.

Avengers win roll-off for first turn

Starting Locations
Avengers
Spider-Man – H2
Giant-Man – I2
Captain America – J2
Wolverine – K2
Iron Fist – L2
X-Men
Warpath – F23
Emma Frost – H23
Cyclops – I23
Hope – J23

Cap fails his leadership roll, and moves to M11, D6 for ATA – 3
Wolverine moves to D10, D6 for ATA – 4
Giant-Man moves to the ultra-heavy object at G9, D6 for ATA – 1
Spider-Man perplexes his own speed and moves to E11, D6 for ATA – 4
Iron Fist moves to L11, D6 for ATA – 5
Cyclops moves to I17 and Outwits Giant-Man’s Super Strength
Warpath moves to D18, Emma moves to I18, Hope moves to J15


Cap rolls a 6 for his leadership, which allows him to move Iron Fist adjacent to him in M12, and remove an action token from him.
Cap running shots to M15 and tries to use Take Down on Hope. He misses on a 16, but Iron Fist uses TTPC to reroll that into a 17 which hits Hope, maxing her action tokens and giving her a push damage.
Wolverine moves to E18, D6 for ATA – 6 = Token removed
Giant-Man and Spidey clear
Cyclops Leadership succeeds and he removes a token from Emma
Warpath punches Wolverine with Exploit Weakness and misses on a 12. He takes a push damage.
Cyclops outwits Cap’s Invulnerability and shoots him, rolling a hit with a 22. This deals 5 damage because of Emma’s Enhancement, which KO’s Cap with a single hit.
Emma moves to F18, and Hope clears

Giant-Man charges to H13 with the ultra-heavy object and tries to crush Hope, but he misses on a 16 thanks to her Combat Reflexes. The ultra-heavy is gone now.
Wolverine attacks Emma, hitting on a 20. Unfortunately for him, she rolls a 6 for her Super Senses
Spider-Man moves to E17, D6 for the ATA – 4. He then perplexes Wolverine’s defense +1
Iron Fist Clears
Hope mimics Energy Shield before using Ranged Combat Expert (from Cyclops Fragment) on Giant-Man for +2 damage. She rolls a 19, which hits and deals him 3 damage thanks to his toughness.
Emma, Cyclops and Warpath clear


Iron Fist charges to J17. He hits Cyclops on an 18 for 3 damage.
Giant-Man uses genius to perplex Iron Fist’s defense by +2
Wolvie and Spidey clear
Emma outwits Spidey’s Invincible and punches him, missing on a 16
Warpath punches Spider-Man and misses on a 13
Cyclops Force Blasts Iron Fist, knocking him back into a wall and dealing him 1 damage.
Hope clears

Giant-Man moves to G16, D6 for ATA – 1. He then perplexes Spidey’s damage by +2
Spidey then perplexes his own attack by +1 and punches Emma, missing on a 16. Wolvie then uses TTPC to reroll that to a 19, hitting for 5 damage.
Iron Fist clears
Hope charges to H15 and punches Giant-Man, hitting on an 18 for 2 damage. I’m hoping to KO him so she can increase the clicks on the Phoenix dial.
Cyclops shoots at Iron Fist, rolling a critical miss and taking a damage.
Emma tries to Mind Control Wolverine, but misses on a 13. She uses her probability control to reroll that into a 20, which hits.
Wolverine attacks Spider-Man, missing on a 14
Warpath clears

Iron Fist charges to J17 and hits Cyclops on a 20, dealing 2 damage.
Giant-Man and Spidey perplex Wolvies damage by +3, and Wolverine punches Emma and hits on a 17. He deals 6 damage which KO’s her.
Giant-Man and Spider-Man clear
Hope has Poison from the Cyclops fragment, and she uses that to deal 1 damage to Giant-Man
Warpath punches Wolverine, but misses on an 11
Cyclops and Hope clear

Giant-Man and Spider-Man perplex Spidey’s attack and damage by +1, then Spidey charges to G15, and hits Hope on a 19, dealing 2 damage due to her invulnerability from the Phoenix resource
Iron Fist and Wolvie clear
Hope poisons, but Giant-Man and Spidey have toughness so they’re OK.
Hope Power Mimic’s Blades/Claws/Fangs from Wolvie, perplexes her attack by 1 and hits Spider-Man on an 18. She then rolls a 2 for the BCF, which is reduced to 1 damage.
Cyclops uses Ranged Combat Expert to pump his attack by +2. He then shoots at Iron Fist but misses on a 14.
Warpath clears

Wolvie attacks Warpath, missing on a 14
Giant-Man tries to break away from Hope, but fails. He then perplexes Hope’s attack by -1
Iron Fist uses CCE on Cyclops and rolls a 21 and doubles, KOing him
Spidey clears
Warpath misses because that’s what he does.
Hope clears


Wolverine hits Warpath on an 18, but his BCF only hits for 1 damage
Spidey crits Hope and deals 1 damage thanks to invulnerability
Giant-Man and Iron Fist clear
Warpath…CRITS WOLVERINE! Wolvie takes 3 damage due to toughness, Warpath then takes a push damage
Hope tries to punch Spidey but misses on a 14

Spidey outwits Hope’s perplex and punches her, missing on a 14
Iron Fist charges to I15 and hits Hope on a 21, but deals no damage due to invulnerability
Wolvie clears
Hope poisons Iron Fist for 1 damage
Hope and Warpath clear

Wolverine attacks Warpath, hitting on a 17 and rolling a 5 for BCF, which is reduced to 4 from toughness
Spider-Man outwits Hope’s perplex again
Spider-Man and Iron Fist clear.
Hope poisons Iron Fist again for 1 damage and then attacks Iron Fist, but misses on a 15

Wolverine attacks Warpath, rolling doubles on an 18 and dealing enough damage with BCF to end him.

Iron Fist hits hope on a 19 with Exploit Weakness, and KO’s her as well.

Winner: Avengers

Well, that was a fun one, but it felt one-sided. That usually means I messed up somewhere. I thought it was going to be one-sided in the other direction at first when Cyclops one-shotted Cap, but Hope just never managed to wear through Giant-Man's dial, and Iron Fist Vs. Cyclops is a battle we've seen before. It was still great fun, though. Next up, we start our first of a 5-part mini-series of single panel battles and see where Hope ran off to!

Again - nice write up, well played and commentated!
Keep it up!

Thank you

Thanks! I don't know how well-played it was, but I appreciate the compliment all the same :D

We have a battle in Tabula Rasa coming up here in a few days!

another great read!