The Book of Rick Jones

[IAmBatman]

I propose we move to initial playtesting.

[Arch-vile]

yea

[Tornado]

Yea

[Ronin]

yea

[IAmBatman]

This passes. Danka. Should be up next for me after Perry White.

[IAmBatman]

C3G STANDARD PLAYTEST FEEDBACK FORM
NAME OF THE PLAYTEST UNIT: RICK JONES
VERSION TESTED

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = RICK JONES

SPECIES = HUMAN
UNIQUENESS = UNIQUE HERO
CLASS = ADVENTURER
PERSONALITY = LOYAL
SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 4
MOVE = 5
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 3
DEFENSE = 3
POINTS = 60

HONORARY AVENGER
If a figure in your Army places an Avenger Marker on this card, you may place an Avenger Marker on that figure's card. At the start of the round, you may reveal an "X" Order Marker on the card of any other Hero you control with an Avenger Marker on its card. If you do, for the remainder of the round, enemy figures cannot target Rick for an attack or special power if they could target a figure with an Avenger Marker on its card instead.

DARING DISTRACTION
If a Unique Hero you control that is a Gamma Mutate or has an Avenger Marker on its card attacks a figure engaged with Rick Jones, subtract 1 from the defending figure’s Defense number.

SNEAK AND SURVIVE
When adjacent to any terrain, obstacle, or destructible object with a height higher than Rick Jones' base, Rick Jones cannot be targeted for an attack by a non-adjacent figure. At the end of the round, you may immediately move Rick Jones up to 2 spaces. Rick Jones cannot end this move engaged. When Rick Jones moves with Sneak and Survive, he will not take any leaving engagement attacks.

Army Test
Map: Dark Dimension
Units: Rick Jones (60), Captain America (240), Ms. Marvel (350), Hawkeye (Avengers) (220), Black Widow (Avengers) (230) (1100) vs Luke Cage (190), Iron Fist (260), Shang-Chi (230), Daredevil (II) (200), Jessica Jones (220) (1100)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Avengers. Rick advances. Hawkeye moves up three spaces.
Iron Fist and Luke Cage advance.
Ms. Marvel advances. Hawkeye moves up three spaces.
Jessica Jones and Luke Cage advance.
Hawkeye advances.
Daredevil and Luke Cage advance.
Rick advances two spaces.

Round 2: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Heroes for Hire. Shang-Chi and Luke Cage advance.
Ms. Marvel has Black Widow advance. Hawkeye advances and hits Luke for a wound.
Iron Fist advances and heals Luke. Luke backs off a tad.
Ms. Marvel has Cap advance then Hawkeye takes height but can’t hit Iron Fist.
Shang-Chi and Luke Cage advance.
Hawkeye can’t hit Iron Fist from height.
Rick advances two spaces.

Round 3: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Heroes for Hire. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage advance.
Ms. Marvel advances.
Luke has Daredevil advance.
Ms. Marvel has Black Widow advance.
Daredevil and Luke Cage advance.
Hawkeye can’t hit Luke Cage with his special arrow. Ms. Marvel rolls too well and would one-shot Daredevil, but he goes the distance.
Rick advances two spaces.

Round 4: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Avengers. Black Widow hits Luke Cage twice from height for two wounds and her Stun Baton removes OM2 from him. Ms. Marvel can’t hit Luke Cage.
Daredevil attacks Black Widow twice and hits her for one wound. Luke can’t hit her.
Rick Jones engages Luke Cage and catches him whiffing for three wounds and a KO. Ms. Marvel would KO Daredevil, but he goes the distance.
Jessica Jones engages Black Widow, but can’t hit.
Black Widow hits Daredevil for one wound from height. Ms. Marvel hits him for two more.
Jessica Jones can’t hit Black Widow.


Round 5: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Avengers. Rick engages Daredevil, then Hawkeye shoots Daredevil for what would be the kill. But he’s going the distance. Ms. Marvel attacks Daredevil and finishes him.
Jessica Jones finally hits Black Widow for a wound.
Rick Jones engages Black Widow. Hawkeye hits Jessica Jones for three wounds. Ms. Marvel finishes Jessica Jones off.
Iron Fist advances and punches out Black Widow.
Hawkeye whiffs an attack on Iron Fist.
Iron Fist engages Rick Jones and punches him for three wounds.

Round 6: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Heroes for Hire. Iron Fist stealth leaps to Ms. Marvel, but can’t hit her.
Rick Jones engages Iron Fist and Hawkeye hits him for four quick wounds. Ms. Marvel fails to finish him.
Shang-Chi advances.
Hawkeye finishes Iron Fist. Ms. Marvel hits Shang-Chi for two wounds from range.
Shang-Chi advances and can’t hit Hawkeye.
Hawkeye hits Shang-Chi for two wounds from height.

Round 7: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Shang-Chi. He hits Hawkeye for one wound, then advances towards Cap.
Rick moves towards Shang-Chi. Hawkeye whiffs an attack. Ms. Marvel finishes Shang-Chi.

Unit Summary: Ms. Marvel with a boosted attack and bonding for up to a full round against a bunch of melee figures was a nasty combo. Rick is worth it for Honorary Avenger alone, but probably got a bit too much out of Daring Distraction. I’m going to bump it down to -1 defense instead of -2 defense after this.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): Inflicted (3) wounds on (Luke Cage (3))
• HONORARY AVENGER: Placed an Avenger Marker on (Captain America); revealed the “X” marker (7) times on (Captain America (7)).
• DARING DISTRACTION: Used to subtract defense ( times
• SNEAK AND SURVIVE: Used to move (3) times

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Rick Jones with 1/4 Life, Hawkeye with 3/4 Life, Ms. Marvel with Full Life, and Captain America with Full Life win.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Grundy’s Grave
Units: Rick Jones (60), Captain America (240), Wasp (Avengers) (160), She-Hulk (Avengers) (370), Tigra (170) (1000) vs Fantastic Four (1000)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Fantastic Four. Thing and Mister Fantastic advance.
Tigra Stealth Leaps over water. She-Hulk jumps with Rick Jones over the water.
Human Torch can’t wound Tigra from range. Invisible Woman hits Tigra for one wound. Mister Fantastic Rubber Wraps She-Hulk, but can’t hit her.
Tigra hits Mister Fantastic for two wounds from height. She-Hulk hits him for two more.
Human Torch takes a swipe and Flames On Tigra for two wounds but can’t hit her to finish her off. Mister Fantastic hits Tigra for a fourth wound.
Tigra KO’s Mister Fantastic in two attacks. She-Hulk leaps over with Rick Jones to move them both into engagement with Invisible Woman and She-Hulk blasts Invisible Woman for four wounds.

Round 2: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Fantastic Four. Thing would go, but She-Hulk has an objection.
Tigra KO’s Human Torch in two attacks. She-Hulk fails to finish Invisible Woman.
Thing KO’s Tigra, then fails to hit She-Hulk.
Rick KO’s Invisible Woman. She-Hulk can’t hit Thing.
Human Torch had OM3.
Rick can’t hit thing. She-Hulk hits him for four wounds.

Round 3: Rick reveals the “X” on Cap. Initiative Avengers. Rick can’t hit Thing. She-Hulk hits Thing for a wound.
Thing hits She-Hulk for a wound.
Rick can’t hit Thing. She-Hulk finishes Thing off.

Unit Summary: The defense reduction going down to one felt more balanced, but being able to activate Cap while Cap stays completely out of the fray is a powerful effect. Tigra and She-Hulk with Cap’s boost just had too much offense and mobility for the Fan Four.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): Inflicted (1) wounds on (Invisible Woman (1))
• HONORARY AVENGER: Placed an Avenger Marker on (Captain America); revealed the “X” marker (3) times on (Captain America (3)).
• DARING DISTRACTION: Used to subtract defense (4) times
• SNEAK AND SURVIVE: Used to move (0) times

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): She-Hulk with 6/7 Life, Rick Jones with Full Life, Captain America with Full Life, and Wasp with Full Life win.

___________________________________________________________

Army Test
Map: Ivy’s Greenhouse
Units: Rick Jones (60), Invisible Woman (215), Mister Fantastic (235), She-Hulk (310), Jocasta (180) (1000) vs Original X-Men (1000)

Spoiler Alert!

Round 1: Initiative Fantastic Five. Invisible Woman, Jocasta, and Mister Fantastic advance.
Angel carries Professor X forward. Jean advances and throws Cyclops beside her.
Rick Jones, She-Hulk, and Mister Fantastic advance.
Beast and Iceman advance.
Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic advance.
Iceman hits Mister Fantastic for a wound from range. Jean Grey advances, but can’t hit her throw.
Rick moves up 2 spaces.

Round 2: Initiative X-Men. Angel carries up Jean, who can’t throw or hit Mister Fantastic.
Rick advances. Jocasta advances and fails to hit Jean from height. Angel moves Cyclops. She-Hulk leaps next to Prof X and fails to hit Professor X from height disadvantage. Angel moves the Prof.
Jean throws Mister Fantastic but can’t hit for a wound. She does hit him for one wound with her attack. Beast can’t wound Mister Fantastic.
Invisible Woman advances to put Mister Fantastic back in her shield, then attacks Jean from height. She rolls poorly, but Prof X still uses the “X” just to end the turn.
Jean can’t throw or hit Mister Fantastic. Beast Negotiates OM3 off of Mister Fantastic.
Rick advances 2 spaces.

Round 3: Initiative Fantastic Four. Jocasta and Mister Fantastic combine to KO Jean Grey.
Beast Negotiates OM3 off of Mister Fantastic and smacks Jocasta for two wounds. Iceman can’t hit Mister Fantastic.
Rick engages Angel and attacks, but Prof X ends the turn.
Cyclops blasts She-Hulk for two wounds. Iceman fails to hit Jocasta.
OM3 is gone.
Cyclops can’t hit She-Hulk. Iceman tags Jocasta for a fourth wound.
Rick moves a space.

Round 4: She-Hulk heals up. Initiative X-Men. Beast Negotiates OM2 off of Mister Fantastic and Iceman finishes Jocasta.
Rick engages Cyclops and attacks. Professor X shuts down the turn.
Cyclops avoids a swipe, circles, and puts two wounds on She-Hulk and KO’s Rick with his Optic Blast. Iceman can’t hit Mister Fantastic.
OM2 is gone.
Cyclops can’t hit She-Hulk and Iceman can’t hit Mister Fantastic.
She-Hulk hits Cyclops for a wound. Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic both fail to hit Professor X.

Round 5: She-Hulk heals a wound. Initiative X-Men. Beast Negotiates OM3 off of Mister Fantastic. Iceman hits Mister Fantastic for a third wound but can’t get his OM.
Mister Fantastic leads poorly, but puts three wounds on Professor X.
Cyclops takes a swipe, but can’t hit Invisible Woman. Iceman KO’s Mister Fantastic.
Mister Fantastic had OM2.
Beast wounds Invisible Woman and Iceman finishes her off.
Mister Fantastic had OM3.

Round 6: She-Hulk heals a wound. Initiative X-Men. Beast and Iceman both fail to hit She-Hulk.
She-Hulk punches Beast for a wound.
Beast Negotiates OM2 off of She-Hulk. Angel relocates Professor X and fails to hit She-Hulk from height.
She-Hulk lost OM2.
Beast hits She-Hulk for a wound. Cyclops can’t follow up.
She-Hulk attacks but Prof X ends the round.

Round 7: She-Hulk heals a wound. Initiative X-Men. Beast Negotiates off OM1. He and Iceman both fail attacks.
OM1 is gone.
Beast can’t hit. Iceman does three wounds.
Psychic Defense X ends the next attack.
Iceman finishes off She-Hulk.

Unit Summary: Rick didn’t have half of his tricks here without Avenger markers and the boost from Invisible Woman and activations from Mister Fantastic weren’t enough of a trade off. The X-Men had plenty of tricks to stymie the Fan Four here.

• Damage Done (Normal Attack): Inflicted (X) wounds on (X)
• HONORARY AVENGER: Placed an Avenger Marker on (no one); revealed the “X” marker (0) times.
• DARING DISTRACTION: Used to subtract defense (0) times
• SNEAK AND SURVIVE: Used to move (3) times

Who won? List figures remaining in the winning army (include life remaining for heroes): Professor X with 1/4 Life, Beast with 2/5 Life, Cyclops with 3/4 Life, Iceman with Full Life, and Angel with Full Life win.

___________________________________________________________

I think he's probably only worth it with Avengers, and Cap especially, but I think that's OK, and it's a really strong combo. I'm leaning towards trying him at 80 in public testing and insisting he be tested with Cap.

[tcglkn]

Testing him with Fantastic 4 just cause he’s an adventurer seems pointless. I don’t see how he adds anything to that faction at all.

[IAmBatman]

He passively receives some good bonuses and he can still use his defensive subtraction with someone like She-Hulk, but after I toned that subtraction down and tested things out I agree it's not an interaction that needs any testing going forward.

[IAmBatman]

I propose we move to Public Playtesting (once I have an opening).

[Arch-vile]

Yea

[MrNobody]

Not in love with Cap being the character he’s an absolute must-draft with, but I’m kinda viewing this as Avengers Rick Jones rather than just regular Rick Jones.

Yea

[IAmBatman]

There's probably some other stuff in our library that likes having a revealed "X" at the start of the round that you can combine with Avenger stuff, but Cap is the most direct fit.

I think he'll still be solidly useful in Avenger builds without Cap just as an obnoxious tie-down figure that can get the -1 defense in. But the Cap trick is the best thing he does for sure. It does give a design hook if someone wants to do more Rick compatible Gamma Mutate stuff or something, though, in that you could have them benefit from a revealed OM.