And He Shall Be... King!
This week's sneak peek from late June's Avengers set is T'Challa, the Black Panther.
Let's get straight to it:
Okay, we have a much pricier Black Panther than the three levels we received in Infinity Challenge. Back in May of 2002, even the veteran version was only 46 points. At 92 points he costs more than his veteran and experienced versions combined. Fortunately, he's a far more capable, nuanced interpretation, too.
Seth's done a fair job of giving us a Panther who can be plugged into a broad stretch of his history - depending upon how loosely one wishes to interpret matters. Some of the language on the card - the vibranium armor and anti-metal claw - can be taken at face value or attributed to other skills. Indeed, as readers of Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II saw there's considerable room for sensible ret-conning of all manner of things, and I don't have a great problem with T'Challa having incorporated some early Wakandan tech in even his early costumes, back when he might have been especially guarded about revealing any of it openly even to his teammates. Wakandan tech is a national resource, and his first responsibility must always be as king.
Deciding to give him the wildcard Spider-man TA was a fine stroke, especially along with the "Avengers" and "Fantastic Four" (and "Ruler") keywords on his card. This way he can battle alongside his Avengers allies or his friends in the Fantastic Four as one of the group, and also be open to copying other TAs in a build as situations demand.
The ample mix of Outwit and Perplex with a wildcard TA makes him a potential choice for Brilliant Tactician, letting him hand out bonuses to his teammates.
He's also - even moreso - an excellent candidate for Pounce. Allowing him to move up to his full Speed value and strike with a +1 to both his Attack and Damage Values... on his first click he could hit for 3 Damage with a 12 Attack -- 13 if he decides to use his Perplex on himself. Sure, he'll take a click of damage for doing it, but it'll find him on his second click, with the same 17 Defense and Toughness, but now with Blades/Claws/Fangs and Outwit. He remains playable and useful over the course of his entire dial.
This is one of the figures (one of many) in this set that will be picked at by those who don't care for one aspect of the set configuration change: We're no longer getting rookie/experienced/veteran sets as a standard mechanic for most of the set. Indeed, in most cases we'll likely only see a single interpretation of a given character, though we may see two and even three from time to time. In general, though, it's going to be a single version, and with so many characters having histories that go back decades there will be fans who will balk at one interpretation being chosen over another. I understand, and expect to feel a little stung by it here and there, too, but I'm looking at expanded character rosters and am interested in seeing which versions, interpretations and compromises Seth decides to make.
Finally, here's Seth's write-up:
This week's sneak peek from late June's Avengers set is T'Challa, the Black Panther.
Let's get straight to it:
Okay, we have a much pricier Black Panther than the three levels we received in Infinity Challenge. Back in May of 2002, even the veteran version was only 46 points. At 92 points he costs more than his veteran and experienced versions combined. Fortunately, he's a far more capable, nuanced interpretation, too.Seth's done a fair job of giving us a Panther who can be plugged into a broad stretch of his history - depending upon how loosely one wishes to interpret matters. Some of the language on the card - the vibranium armor and anti-metal claw - can be taken at face value or attributed to other skills. Indeed, as readers of Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II saw there's considerable room for sensible ret-conning of all manner of things, and I don't have a great problem with T'Challa having incorporated some early Wakandan tech in even his early costumes, back when he might have been especially guarded about revealing any of it openly even to his teammates. Wakandan tech is a national resource, and his first responsibility must always be as king.
Deciding to give him the wildcard Spider-man TA was a fine stroke, especially along with the "Avengers" and "Fantastic Four" (and "Ruler") keywords on his card. This way he can battle alongside his Avengers allies or his friends in the Fantastic Four as one of the group, and also be open to copying other TAs in a build as situations demand.
The ample mix of Outwit and Perplex with a wildcard TA makes him a potential choice for Brilliant Tactician, letting him hand out bonuses to his teammates.
He's also - even moreso - an excellent candidate for Pounce. Allowing him to move up to his full Speed value and strike with a +1 to both his Attack and Damage Values... on his first click he could hit for 3 Damage with a 12 Attack -- 13 if he decides to use his Perplex on himself. Sure, he'll take a click of damage for doing it, but it'll find him on his second click, with the same 17 Defense and Toughness, but now with Blades/Claws/Fangs and Outwit. He remains playable and useful over the course of his entire dial.
This is one of the figures (one of many) in this set that will be picked at by those who don't care for one aspect of the set configuration change: We're no longer getting rookie/experienced/veteran sets as a standard mechanic for most of the set. Indeed, in most cases we'll likely only see a single interpretation of a given character, though we may see two and even three from time to time. In general, though, it's going to be a single version, and with so many characters having histories that go back decades there will be fans who will balk at one interpretation being chosen over another. I understand, and expect to feel a little stung by it here and there, too, but I'm looking at expanded character rosters and am interested in seeing which versions, interpretations and compromises Seth decides to make.
Finally, here's Seth's write-up:
Friend, ally, and member of not only the Avengers but the Fantastic Four, he's also king of one of the most technologically advanced nations on Earth. A master strategist, he's can often plan his way to victory before he steps onto the battlefield.
He is T'Challa, the Black Panther.
A Veteran ready for battle, a full dial of Leap/Climb agility keeps the Panther mobile, while his VIBRANIUM COSTUME (Toughness) helps take the edge off incoming attacks. Information coming from his network of supercomputers and the Wakandan intelligence network via his KIMOYO CARD (Perplex) helps him adapt his strategy as needed until he gets into position.
Knocked or pushed into the second or third slots on his dial, the Panther is ready to fight, using Outwit to counter his opponents’ abilities and slashing into them with his ANTI-METAL CLAWS (Blades/Claws/Fangs). Deeper in his dial the power of the HEART-SHAPED HERB (Super Senses) that binds him to the Panther God will help him survive in the later parts of a battle, moving in for surgical strikes and Perplexing or Outwitting as needed.
The Panther’s membership in the Avengers and the Fantastic Four is represented via the keywords on his character card, paired with the Spider-Man team ability making him a wild card and allowing him to use the team ability of his choice.
A 92-point character that can be a solid front-line lynchpin for a force, the Black Panther has the combat values he needs to be effective in a fight, as well as the ability to twist any situation to his advantage. As befits the King of Wakanda and the champion of the Panther Cult, he is a force to be reckoned with.
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Comments
Overall, yes, this one's a winner. The lack of Stealth is going to aggravate many, though, and I myself will miss the IC Vet's 4 range, although I understand I'm the only person on the planet who ever played the IC Vet. Still, the wild card TA makes up for many sins. Now, if only Marvel had an equivalent to the Batman/Kabuki TA, so we could get T'Challa some much needed cloaking... I guess, though, the better option would be to field him with the FF and use the Alternate TA to make him tougher to hit.
A fairly reliable source posted it in an HCRealms thread, so I took the plunge and included it rather than waiting and waiting. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up in the gallery before Monday, but who knows? During one of the purges in the past year they appear to have lost anyone at Wizkids with any real technical skill with their website software, and I think the people they have are almost afraid to touch anything because a wanted change here causes an unwanted one there.
The rarity's the green on the card behind the set symbol, so he's an uncommon. So far that makes him, Red Skull and Taskmaster (if the photo of that we have is accurate) as three of the sixteen uncommons. So it should be reasonably easy to come by if the numbers hold true.
He definitely needs to tie into a source for Batman TA, yes. It's one of the many, lingering rough edges in the game... but we seem to be getting somewhere.
That big Sunday morning game sounds interesting, but, again, my inability to play in a game where my Spider-Man, Daredevil, and other similar pieces cannot start on a rooftop, move to street level, and kick an opponent in the face in the same move, would make it virtually impossible for me to deal with anything in a tourney. I may have to try, though, if I want any Heralds of Galactus this summer.
Or, on the other hand, maybe I really will just sell everything I have that's worth much of anything before I get any deeper into a game I never get to play, anyway. Time will tell... probably soon.
Still, in the meantime, I have my old Alfred pog for a few points for me to allow some of the Spideys, Daredevils, veteran Cloak, etc. to tap into some of what should be theirs.
In the official game everyone's stuck with the same rules... so it's a just a matter of adjustment. I know that the person in charge of the game now has a long history in gaming and is trying to carefully steer it, and I'm not finding myself in a rush. The urge to move to changes independently is there -- it's been there since early on -- but for good or ill I've resisted going with it so far.
The summer tournaments are a big sticking point for some, with some people wanting to protest them either because all Wizkids is offering this summer are sealed events, or because their supply of precious prize LEs has been temporarily cut off. Some are saying they'll come to the event, buy two boosters, get the herald and scoot at the first opportunity. Presumably savvy judges will do what is done at marquees and wait until the first round of the tournament is underway before handing them out. I'm hoping that without a prize on the line the players will simply be able to enjoy playing the game and getting to work with the new pieces.