wednesday game night review

Warning: this post is very image intensive. If you have dial up you may be doomed.

Warning #2: I got carried away typing. This started to get long winded. If you start getting bored just scroll through and look at the pictures, I won't mind... I promise I'll do better next time :)

Every Wednesday night is game night for me. I get together with some friends and we play games. Usually we play some form of Heroclix, but we also play board games and occasionally video games. Tonight's game was Heroclix. If you aren't familiar with heroclix, think of it as a chess game with dice rolls and comic book characters. Check out the link if you want to find out more.

The Map:
Chris* has a great modular map setup where it is really easy to change the map we play on each game.

*(Side note: I tend to drop names on this blog without much reference to who they are. Not sure how to remedy that, because I don't want to waste time explaining who everybody is. When you see a name mentioned, just think "friend." Except for the name Angel. That would be my wife.)


The mind transfer device is placed in the center of the map. What is the mind transfer device?? Read on!

The Special Rules:

400 point teams. Heroclix 101: Each character piece in the game has a certain point value. The higher the points, generally the more powerful the character is. You then make a team that adds up to 400 point total. Again, check the Heroclix link if you want more info.

We usually play with a bunch of different random rules each time we play. This game felt like it could have been a Silver Age comic book story. In the center of the map we placed this object. Blurry image ahead...

This was a mind transfer device. If you placed a character next to it, on your next turn you could attempt to take control of another character within 8 squares of the generator (must have clear line of fire). If successful you gain control of that new character. The original character (who used the generator) more or less became useless(couldn't do anything b/c of the mind transfer). I know that all sounds confusing but I'm moving on.

The only other special rule we had was random placement. Chris has a number randomizer on his pc that will corresponds to every square on the map. We place each of our characters randomly as determined by the number randomizer.

The Teams:

Half of the fun of Heroclix is building a team. Even better is creating a team with a theme. Alot of times I'll play general comic book teams like X-men or Avengers. Our theme teams can get pretty out there...

Adam's Team - "Christmas Time" (all characters have either red or green costumes)
Iron Fist(E), Daredevil(V), Green Arrow(E), Green Lantern Hal Jordan(E), Green Lantern Kyle Rayner(E)(I might have spelled that wrong). Heroclix 101: Each character typically has 3 versions, each one more points than the last. Rookie(R), Experienced(E) and Veteran(V).


Jeff's Team - "Spider-Man and 2 Chicks"
Spider-man(E), Jean Grey(V), Black Costume Spider-man(E), Scarlet Spider(U), Jessica Drew(Spider-Woman)(U) and err, Jumpin' Spider-man(V).


Chris's Team - "DC Characters"
Batman(E), Dr. Mid-Nite(V), Firestorm(R), Black Canary(E), Green Arrow(R), Flash(R), Manhunter(V)


Dan's Team (That's me!) - "The Man Team" (Every character's name ends in "man")
Batman(E), Antman(E), House of M Spiderman(U), Titanium Man(E), Multiple Man(E), Starman(R) and Swordsman(E).


After random placement the start of the game looked like this. I know it is hard to make out who everyone is. It is just to give you an idea of how spread out the teams were. The turn order was Adam, Jeff, me, Chris. Generally with random placement, if you have the last turn in the turn order you're screwed.


Game Highlights:
The game started off with everyone pretty much attacking anyone that was adjacent or in range. Adam's Green Arrow started things off by sinking an arrow into Chris's Green Arrow and Black Canary for 1 damage each. Green Lantern(Kyle) flew up a hilltop and blasted Chris's Dr. Mid-Nite for 3 damage.

Adam's other Green Lantern(Hal) tried to smack Chris's Flash up close, but missed. That Flash is fast!

Jeff started out moving most of his characters towards the center of the map where the mind transfer device was. His black costume Spiderman started the game next to my Batman. Spidey tried to land a hit on Bats in hand-to-hand combat, but missed. Meanwhile Jeff's Spider-Woman had her hands full with my Spiderman(House of M). That attack by Spider-woman also missed (you can also see the Green Lantern vs. Flash battle in the background).


My swordsman started the game adjacent to Chris's Manhunter. I was hoping to inflict some good damage, but it was a swing and a miss. I was more successful in the Batman vs. Spidey(Jeff) showdown, with Bats landing an uppercut for 2 damage.

Chris tried to retaliate in the Dr. Mid-Nite vs. Green Lantern Kyle(Adam) battle, but his attack was brushed off by GL's energy shield. His Manhunter laid a solid kick on my Swordsman for 2 damage.

Jeff rallies most of his team around the generator. At first everyone stayed away, not wanting to lose a character from the mind transfer device.


Jeff's Spider-Woman KO's Chris's Green Arrow with a blast for 4 damage.

I landed a crushing attack on Jeff's black costume spiderman by charging up my Titanium Man and dropping a motorcycle on him for 5 damage and the KO. Batman really appreciated it.


About the same time, Chris rolled a critical hit with his Batman, dealing 4 damage to Adam's Green Lantern(Kyle). Those explosive batarangs, I tell ya...

Later on, it was Black Canary (Chris) vs. Spiderman(Dan). Black Canary hit for 3 damage to Spiderman.

Adam made quick work of my poor Starman who got into a close combat fight with his Iron Fist. He completely dropped Starman after 2 attacks.


My Multiple Man had no affect on the game and was quickly KO'ed by Adams Green Lantern(Hal). The Green Lantern gets around, because he also KO'ed Chris's Black Canary later on.

Jeff has a special ability when it comes to the super senses roll. Heroclix 101: you completely avoid an attack if you roll a 5 or 6. He always seems to make these rolls. He did it again when Adam thought he was going to land a solid hit on Jeff's Leapin' Spiderman with Green Lantern(Hal). What do ya know, though Jeff dodges it with a Super Sense roll...

I had finally moved my Batman (who was pretty useless after taking a few hits) next to the mind transfer device. I was able to gain control of Jeff's Scarlet Spider, who was still at full health! BWAHAHAHAHA!

The end game was a battle between Flash(Chris), Adam's Green Lantern(Hal), Iron Fist(Adam), Antman(me) and Scarlet Spider(me - after stealing from Jeff). Green Lantern and Iron Fist whittled away at Scarlet Spider while Flash kept trying to lay hits on Iron Fist. After Scarlet Spider was KO'ed I was just left with Antman, who still had a really high defense (18) and super senses. The Flash was KO'ed by Adam, leaving it between Adam and I. After a few tries with Iron Fist and Green Lantern, it was decided that neither would be able to land a hit on Antman. Deciding to live another day, GL and Iron Fist retreated, giving the victory to Antman (and me)!!!


Here are some more random pictures...

Chris's Green Arrow takes aim at Spider-Woman(Jeff)


Spiderman(me) takes a kick to the chin from Chris's Manhunter


Batman(me), Spider-Woman and Spidey(both Jeff) take time out to compare JLA vs. Avengers insurance plans


Next time I post this it should be much shorter and less pictures. I got excited this time, in case you couldn't tell.