The Tease of Things I Don't Need

More Heroclix notes

Late update: It's confirmed that the New Guy Night Spider-man for Sinister will not be the "Iron" Spider-man (Spidey in the Stark-designed suit) as Sinister was designed before any of the pre-Civil War arc info was released.

Seen up top is a leaked shot of a brick of Sinister -- quite a bit earlier than I'd expected to see with the set not due until June.

People were immediately blowing the image up and using line-sharpening tools to be sure that, yes, that's Black Bolt on the left, leading face. The left side of the box also shows what is almost universally believed to be the Scarlet Spider (along with the already seen Daredevil and Electro.) Scarlet Spider hasn't been officially confirmed, though Black Bolt has been.

At the same time, a shot of the Danger Room starter set was shown
...which reveals a more open, toy-like display box. The box is supposed to open in a way that helps form a control booth type window looking onto the Danger Room map.

Yesterday, while mentioning updates on the mechanics of The Spectre, I rushed through a mention of the Angry Spirits mechanics without even presenting the cool, cool dial they came up to define them.

As with the similarly-sized Galactus from two years back, the base of the Spectre has more than one dial. He has four. The dial shown below is the fourth one and it's one that grants powers to the angry spirits that The Spectre summons to seek vengeance on those who oppose him.

If someone attacks the Spectre, an Angry Spirit appears beside him. At the end of each turn one appears next to the Spectre anyway. There are limits on how many can be in play -- linked to his power level -- but that involves a table we haven't been shown.

If the Spectre has been damaged, a single, six-sided die is rolled. If it comes up 1 or 2, all of the spirits on the board - as free actions - attack. If any of them can't attack - say, they're out of range of all targets - they must move as close as possible to an opposing character. Once the opposing players have all had their go the Angry Spirits, again as a free action, attack wherever possible.

So... what powers do the Angry Spirits have? That's where that fourth dial I mentioned comes into play (click on this or any of the other images for a larger view):

At the start of the game the dial is placed on its starting position -- noted by a green mark (not shown) since this dial has no KO slots. Two dice are rolled and the dial is turned that many clicks. Until this changes all Angry Spirits have the powers and stats shown. If any Angry Spirits take damage from an attack they're removed from the game, but the number of clicks of damage dealt to them becomes the number of clicks that fourth dial is turned. Consequently, each time you manage to take one of the damned (literally) things out the powers of all the remaining ones change.

Angry Spirits do not take pushing damage, are not assigned tokens, and are immune to Incapacitate, Mind Control, Support or any effect that duplicates those powers. Angry Spirits do not feel pity, and won't stop. Ever. Do not taunt Angry Spirits... I've gotten off course.

If the power of any individual spirit is Outwitted that only applies to that single spirit. All the rest remain at their full power.

So, if that opening roll comes up a 5 (landing it on the 6th click), any Angry Spirit will have an 11 Attack Value, Blades/Claws/Fangs and Flurry. That's a close combat nightmare. Let's say someone targets a ghost and takes him out, another dice roll - this time a 6 - and the spirits are on their twelvth click, capable or Incapacitating or Mind Controlling their opponents if they can make the dice roll. So on and on. Any time a spirit is eliminated the set of powers change as the endles dial goes 'round and 'round. If it ends up on that first click then they'll all have a 10 movement with Hypersonic Speed, an Attack Value of 10 and a Damage of 3.

Each turn one or more spirits (up to whatever maximum is in play) comes onto the map, and each will get a chance to attack or advance on the enemy at least once during each round -- possibly twice.

It shows every sign of being a glorious bloodbath.

As for the Spectre himself, they've created a three-layered character, out of sequence with time but reflecting the power levels seen. Since Hal Jordan was considerably more restrained than the others...

...the rookie is the 600 pt Hal Jordan, complete with the Mystics Team Ability.

The experienced is the 1200 pt Jim Corrigan, complete with the JSA Team Ability.

The veteran is the 1800pt Spirit of Vengeance, with the Quntessence Team Ability.

I'm still drinking all this in. Strategies for battling him at each level are being formed, but he's going to be an exceptionally tough nut to crack.

No wonder he looks so damned pleased with himself.

Oh, before I go -- they've also just announced that they've finally sold out of the Dark Phoenix.