Standard HS in Marvel HS Universe - Thematic Playability

[EyeOfSauron]

I think this topic was touched on in a couple of threads prior to release (including this very weird thread:http://heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=8432)...

...but now that I have Marvel HS, I am wondering what people's thought are on which standard HS units play well in Marvel? And when I say "play well", I'm not talking just points-wise, because obviously the standard common squads are out-classed. But, I'm talking more about "thematically".

We just played a game where the Krav Maga (as FBI agents) helped out Captain America and Spidey while Dr. Doom lead an army of Gladitron and Blastitron robotic minions.

Anybody had similar experiences, or has anyone come up with scenarios that make good use of standard HS?

It seems to me that off-the-bat Vydar has the most to offer....

Thoughts?

[IAmBatman]

Off the top of my head, I'd say any Soulborgs, agents, or fairly modern soldiers (i.e. Drake and the AE) fit in seemlessly. While some of the more historical units and fantasy based units have a harder time fitting in. Anything that looks like a generic monster can work thematically, though, and the ninjas work nicely as well, IMO. Vampires and Zombies can work all right.

[Taeblewalker]

Off the top of my head, I'd say any Soulborgs, agents, or fairly modern soldiers (i.e. Drake and the AE) fit in seemlessly. While some of the more historical units and fantasy based units have a harder time fitting in. Anything that looks like a generic monster can work thematically, though, and the ninjas work nicely as well, IMO. Vampires and Zombies can work all right.

Krav Maga seem like good stand-ins for SHIELD agents (as do Microcorps).

If Marvelscape comes out with Thor (and possibly Loki), then a Marvel Asgard feel can come about with Jotun and Krug (and maybe dragons). After all, the whole feel of Valhalla is similar anyway.

Soulborgs can be Mandroid or even small Sentinels (Deathwalkers 8 and 9 come to mind).

The Roman soldiers go with that one issue where Spiderman fought a bunch of inexplicably attired guards in Professor Power's floating castle (for those who remember; I think it was an X-factor book). But this is not the norm for the comics.

[yagyuninja]

The Roman soldiers go with that one issue where Spiderman fought a bunch of inexplicably attired guards in Professor Power's floating castle (for those who remember; I think it was an X-factor book). But this is not the norm for the comics.

Wolverine was there too. Talk about goofy. :P

[jcb231]

Given the insanity that is the Marvel U and the world of Valhalla, I wouldn't have my senses shattered by any mixing. Romans against Red Skull sound fine to me. I'm betting there was a comic that featured it at some point in the hundreds of thousands of issues out there.

As for common squads not working against Marvel heroes....I think you need to do some more swarming! Swarms seem to take down the lesser Marvel heroes rather well in my experience. They're not as great against Hulk or Abomination though.

[ArgosCap]

Well, like JCB said, the Marvel U is pretty crazy. Any super hero who has been in comics for more than 30 years, has probably fought EVERY conceivable type of enemy at one point or another. Obviously the modern and sci-fi characters fit into Marvel themes better than historical units, but any of them can work with a little imagination. Did you ever see my "Capital One" scenario, where the vikings raid a modern city (because of some irresponsible credit card user) and one or two superheroes have to fend them off?

Now, let me think some other scenarios using HS characters in the Marvel U.

*As you know, soulbrogs make great stand-ins for Dr. Doom's Doombots.

*Krav Agents can easily stand in as FBI/CIA. However, I think that the Nakitas and Micro Corp. Agents look more like SHIELD operatives.

*Another obvious one is to have Captain America leading the AE or Micro Corp Agents against the Red Skull (depending on which time era you set the scenario in).

*Hulk vs. AE is also pretty thematic. Hulk has also fought a lot of big robots like the Soulborgs. Good chance for him to smash things.

*Zombies, Ghosts, Ninjas, Robots and Werewolves fit seemlessly in almost any Marvel Scenario.

Here are some more scenarios I can think of:

*Krav Agents (as Men in Black), are assigned to track down an alien symbiote worn by a human host named Eddie Brock (or a known alien hostile codenamed Super Skrull). Or maybe they need to stop an impending invasion of Marro aliens. Obviously the Krav/MIB will need to enlist the help of another powerful earth hero for any of these missions. OR maybe Eddie's symbiote is actually from a planet called Marr, and it senses the presensce of one of its natural enemies here on earth!

*Doctor Doom summons an ancient evil to destroy his enemies: Taelord and the Minions of Utgar! Note: Finally a reason to use lots and lots of minions.

The blue Orcs of Grut have a prophecy that one day, an angry RED GOD will come to them, and lead them to victory. When the Red Skull finds a scroll that will release them from their otherwordly prison, they are prepared to offer him as many bloodied red skulls as they can obtain!

*Red Skull hires the Krav Agents, and an assassin named Isamu to finish off his oldest enemy: Captain America. (In this scenario, consider Cap a Jandar figure, for Isamu)

*Captain America goes back in time and finds himself aiding the 4th Mass. Line in a desperate battle against several red coat squads in the American Revolution.

*Iron Man goes back in time and is deemed the "Golden Knight" by the Knights of Weston, who aid him against all manner of wizards, elves, ogres and dragons.

*Spider-Man stumbles upon a cave filled with the new jungle spiders. Will he survive the deadly encounter?

*Silver Surfer finds a world being overrun by the vicious marro, and he decides to intervene.

*The gorillinators could be the result of twisted experiments on apes by Doom, Red Skull, Dr. Octopus or even Tony Stark.

The possibilities are endless!

[johnny139]

Wow, Argos, some great ideas there! The Golden Knight and The Surfer on Marr are my favorites by far. Iron Man as a new Champion, the Vipers with a new ally, all seem like fun, and with the Jungle, Marr scenarios will be a real possibility.

GAH! I want MarvelScape so bad! Just another $10 and I'll have enough...

[EyeOfSauron]

Now, let me think some other scenarios using HS characters in the Marvel U.

*snip*

The possibilities are endless!

Argos, that is exactly what I was looking for! Well done!

Here's one: Peter Parker is attending a local Highland Games crowded with in-costume participants (McDirk warriors) all set to relax when Venom shows up to mess up his day. One participant (Allister) rises to the challenge and actually assists the now revealed Spiderman take Venom on....

Ok, maybe not as good as yours...but still fun. :)

[Argent]

Or if you really want to include anyone/everyone.

Valhalla is a far of planet where the heroes are summoned by a cosmic being ala The Secret Wars.

or what was the other one.... Contest of Champions or something like that. I don't remember exactly. I only had one issue and it was a looooong time ago.

[TheMightyAargh]

Also, Morlocks, Shi'ar, Savage Land Mutates and Inhumans can be cover ups for a great number of units.

[g1shark]

Here's one: Peter Parker is attending a local Highland Games crowded with in-costume participants (McDirk warriors) all set to relax when Venom shows up to mess up his day. One participant (Allister) rises to the challenge and actually assists the now revealed Spiderman take Venom on....

offtopic but you could use MacDirk as mccloud from highlander :p there can only be one!

[ArgosCap]

Good point Mighty Aargh. With the new jungle terrain packs, it will be easy to represent the Savage Land, or Black Panther's nation of Wakanda. The Savage Land is a pre-historic preserve hidden in a huge underground structure in Antarcitca. It is inhabited by dinosaurs, sabretooth tigers, monsters and several tribes of various humanoid species.

The grut orcs, with their primite tribe-like nature, and the fact that they actually ride dinosaurs, would fit SEEMLESSLY as another race of the savage land. The vipers could be another race. The Tzu Teh would make another good race at the antarctic perimeter of the savage land. And that big mosquito looking creature from Aquilla's Alliance and the big spiders from the jugle set itself would make good savage land creatures. Most of the earth heroes have been to the savage land at some point. Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Panther and Beast for sure. And Thanos was in a major story arc set in the Savage Land, where he had come in search of a powerful artifact of some kind.

Also, the Fantastic Four often battle the Mole Man in Subterranea. This was a place inhabited mainly my "moloids" (which were made in heroclix). But subterranea was also inhabited by Lava Men, which could be respresented by Obsidian Guards, and all kinds of giant monsters, which could be represented by Brunak, and maybe the marro "worm" and that cyclopian creature from Aquilla's Alliance.

The morlocks were a group of bizzare looking humanoid mutants, that lived under NYC, but I'm not sure which Heroscape figs I'd use for them. Maybe the vipers and marro?

[TheBigVoiceInTheSky]

Iron Man and the Omnicron Snipers: One can easily imagine Stark Co. (or whatever his company is called) developing the sniper's armor for plant security personnel.

Red Skull and the Anubian Wolves: Nothing like a bunch of Nazi werewolves to help the Skull bring down Captain America. We played a game recently where the Skull had a couple packs of Marrden Hounds at his beck and call.
The Marro faction can be used as a group of not-quite-perfect clones created in some lab in the jungles of Southeast Asia or the Arctic wastes or wherever. The fact that Ne Gok Sa and the Red Skull oth have some sort of mind control power links them thematically.

Captain America and the Gorillinators: In the abovementioned game, Cap and the gorillas stomped the Red Skull's army. We put Cap on a small rise, surrounded by the 'Nators, and they went to town. I'm guessing SHIELD can be seen as the creator of the Gorillanator Army, or maybe they're mutant gorillas who were found by Professor X.

Thanos and the zombies: Nothing says 600 point army like Thanos and four squads of zombies.

[EyeOfSauron]

Iron Man and the Omnicron Snipers: One can easily imagine Stark Co. (or whatever his company is called) developing the sniper's armor for plant security personnel.

Red Skull and the Anubian Wolves: Nothing like a bunch of Nazi werewolves to help the Skull bring down Captain America. We played a game recently where the Skull had a couple packs of Marrden Hounds at his beck and call.
The Marro faction can be used as a group of not-quite-perfect clones created in some lab in the jungles of Southeast Asia or the Arctic wastes or wherever. The fact that Ne Gok Sa and the Red Skull oth have some sort of mind control power links them thematically.

Captain America and the Gorillinators: In the abovementioned game, Cap and the gorillas stomped the Red Skull's army. We put Cap on a small rise, surrounded by the 'Nators, and they went to town. I'm guessing SHIELD can be seen as the creator of the Gorillanator Army, or maybe they're mutant gorillas who were found by Professor X.

Thanos and the zombies: Nothing says 600 point army like Thanos and four squads of zombies.

Nice 2nd post Voice! I like the ideas a lot!

The Marro as incomplete clones is a great idea.

The more I read everybody's ideas, the more I think that Marvel lends itself to much more of a objective/scenario type play than standard HS. We have tried running scenarios in standard HS, but we usually enjoy the all-out battles much more. Marvel may prove to be more fun using scenarios.

Anyway, keep the ideas coming! I'm kicking myself for never being that big of a comic fan...there is a wealth of good stories out there that I just am unfamiliar with....

[TheBigVoiceInTheSky]

Two more, which I forgot previously.

Silver Surfer and Dund: They both have the ability to remove order markers. And can't you see the promos - "The Silver Surfer, rider of the starways, and his heroic pet, Dund."
And then Dund, (in a Scooby-Do voice) says "Ret's go get 'em, Rurfer."

(That whirling noise you hear is Jack Kirby spinning in his grave.)

Venom, Ninja, Agent Carr, Krav Maga Agents, Microcorp Agents: Or, as we called 'em, the All-Blacks. (Apologies to New Zealand.) Except for Carr, they are all thematically linked by their ability to avoid damage. And Agent Carr is just too cool to be kept out of the lineup.

[johnny139]

Hmm... here are a few...

Hulk vs. Various Agents
Somewhere, the Hulk has gone berserk, and a group of secret agents have been called in from Washington to take him down. You could also substitiute Hulk for Abomination, and have it so they're taking down Emil Blonsky in order to interroagte him. Hmm... on a snowy map, that would be cool. Russia!

Spider-Man vs. Venoc Vipers x4
While tracking down the Lizard, Spidey runs across a group of snake-men mutated in an accident caused by Dr. Conner's formula. They're fast, angry, and hungry for blood...

Dr. Doom vs. the Esenwein Clan
After returning to Latveria, Doom finds a group of Vampires have taken over his castle. You know, since Esenwein is an Eastern European name and all.

Just putting it out there.

[Cavalier]

Two more, which I forgot previously.

Silver Surfer and Dund: They both have the ability to remove order markers. And can't you see the promos - "The Silver Surfer, rider of the starways, and his heroic pet, Dund."
And then Dund, (in a Scooby-Do voice) says "Ret's go get 'em, Rurfer."

(That whirling noise you hear is Jack Kirby spinning in his grave.)

Venom, Ninja, Agent Carr, Krav Maga Agents, Microcorp Agents: Or, as we called 'em, the All-Blacks. (Apologies to New Zealand.) Except for Carr, they are all thematically linked by their ability to avoid damage. And Agent Carr is just too cool to be kept out of the lineup.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[IAmBatman]

I think it'd be interesting to play the AE as commons against Hulk and see how many you have to drop until they take him out ... maybe a rule that you can only roll for drop if you have no more than one *complete* squad of AE on the board (that way the max you could ever have on the board would be 11 AE).

[Aldin]

Welcome to the boards, TheBigVoiceInTheSky!

On behalf of our linguistic and journalistic community I extend to you a laurel and a hearty handshake.

As a new member, you can begin your journey on the path to the fellowship, praise and respect of your Heroscapers peers by checking out this announcement: http://heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=6970

~Aldin, procrastinistic (sorry :oops: )

[rdhight]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but the Aquilla's Alliance/jungle packs look like prime candidates for a thematic match with Marvel. You've got a dragon, a huge venomous bug that bonds with spiders, a killer robot, an eastern-mythological ogre-thing, and that Marro worm/snake. Not exactly going to be hard to work those in, is it?

[Troll Warrior]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this ...

But it's not even a full two pages ...

[rdhight]

Yeah, but the Wave 8/8.5 and convention threads are enormous. They could have spent 10 pages in there on Aquilla/Marvel issues and I wouldn't know about it.

[skyknight]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this ...

But it's not even a full two pages ...

:lol: :lol: :lol: You mean I have to read the whole first page??? What kind of time do you think I have :roll:

[Lotus]

I think he meant he didn't read through all the Gencon discussions and such to notice if someone had mentioned the new units mixed with Marvel.

[naps420]

My play group and myself were throwing around ideas such as these a while back. One of the ideas my buddy Tommy came up with was to get a second set of AE with Drake and repaint them in nazi outfits. Once this was done, you could easily have Capt America with the AE and Drake vs. Red Skull, a squad of nazi paratroopers, and a nazi general.