Marvel Crisis Protocol event - The November Revolution

Miniatures, rise up! You have nothing to lose but your round bases.

Off to Bristol for a Marvel Crisis Protocol tournament in Bristol. We've done Collateral Damage part 12, 13 and 14, so my streak continues with 15.

Avengerz with a Z

This time, I'm taking the Winter Guard - a very small affiliation and really not that popular (well into the bottom quarter of recorded games played). But I don't mind an underdog, and the lure of a freshly-painted model was enough for me.

Characters: Crimson Dynamo (4), Red Guardian (3), Omega Red (4), Ursa Major (4), Darkstar (3), Black Widow (2), Winter Soldier, Operative (4), Captain America (4), Taskmaster (3), M.O.D.O.K. (5)

Team Tactics: Sacrifice, Indomitable, Patch Up, Carbonadium Synthesizer, Comrade's Keeper, Psychic Fortress, Recalibration Matrix, Sovereign Strike, Warpath, Winter Rush

Secure Crisis: Infinity Formula Goes Missing!, Lockdown! Security Systems Stymie Breakout, Power Overload! Factory Goes Up in Flames, Survivors Search for Safe Shelters, Wedding Party Targeted in Terrible Attack!

Extract Crisis: Surprise Assault! Mutant Homes Destroyed, Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe, Unexpected Guests Crash Royal Wedding, Salvaged Supplies Fuel Resistance Efforts, Skrulls Infiltrate World Leadership

Crimson Dynamo is the only leader, who is pretty tanky with a good builder and the ability to mess with opponents' attack dice. Red Guardian has some fantastic attacks that automatically Push and Throw their target. Omega Red brings lots of Poison, can heal himself and Push several opponents with his coils. Ursa Major, aside from being a big bear, has a spender attack that automatically Throws and Staggers.

So the theme of the affiliation appears to be about absorbing damage and displacing your opponents. The leadership plays into this, giving the team a 3/8 chance of not being pushed if they're on an objective. Plus, they can remove a condition at the start of each activation (no getting Staggered for me!)

Black Widow (painted here as Yelena) can do none of these things, but makes for a good 2-Threat objective runner. Darkstar and Winter Solider, Operative are the last two affiliated models, but I can't see how they fit into this playstyle.

I did splash in M.O.D.O.K., since his large damage pool and ability to advance opponents does seem to fit the team. Taskmaster and Captain America (US Agent) are just here to fill out the roster in homage to Thunderbolts.

Of the tactics cards available, Sovereign Strike seems very promising - allowing me to blow up a piece of terrain and damage those around it. Comrade's Keeper is a good one for Red Guardian, allowing him to leap to a comrade's defence.

Game 1 - Winter Guard vs Cabal

Winter Guard: Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Omega Red, Ursa Major, Black Widow

Cabal: Sin, Killmonger, Skurge the Executioner, M.O.D.O.K. Scientist Supreme, Black Widow Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Crisis: Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe, Survivors Search for Safe Shelters

Threat: 17

My first game was against Steve, who was relatively new to MCP, but certainly had a handle on the game. He was running a Cabal list, led by Sin, although my main concern was Killmonger, whose Usurp The Throne tactics card could net him an easy couple of VPs.

We played 17 Threat, which allowed me to take my preferred squad. And the 'Scientific Samples' crisis gave a bonus VP if all characters with red extract objectives ended the round contesting the blue secure ones. This could play into my hands, since my displacement abilities could ensure my opponent never got the bonus.

Cabal took priority and their Black Widow stole a march on mine by snagging the centre-left objective. This threw me for such a loop I forgot to grab the centre-right one (it was hidden behind a building and my brain hadn't warmed up yet). But Crimson Dynamo did take the back extract and secure, while Yelena took the central secure.

Cabal scored their back points and Skurge took the centre-right objective. I steamed up the centre with Ursa Major and Omega Red to pressure them and we ended the round on 4-4.

By the second round, Ursa Major was taking some serious hits from Skurge, but that was just fuelling him with power, which he used to Stagger and Throw Killmonger away. This was less debilitating that I hoped, as Killmonger had a charge ability to get back into the fray.

I had abandoned the left flank to Black Widow, as I had nothing fast enough to reliably chase her down, but threw everything into the right side (where there were more points to be had). Sin, however, proved to be troublesome to bring down and while M.O.D.O.K. was happy to launch attacks from the back line, Crimson Dynamo felt isolated. I brought Yelena back to watch the objective so he could jump forward next round.

Round 3 was Killmonger's big play, targeting Ursa Major for his Usurp The Throne. Red Guardian took the first attack with his Comrade's Keeper tactics card and, if I had brought Sacrifice, I could have stymied Killmonger. Sadly it was not to be, and the bear was dropped, earning Killmonger 2VPs.

By this time, our game had timed out (being a semi-introductory game, we were taking it slow), so we quickly talked through the rest of the round and agreed what could realistically have been scored. I was still behind on points and unlikely to catch up, so it was over for me. We did squeeze in one last play - M.O.D.O.K.'s Mind Games card - which cost me another 2VP!

The final tally was a 9-17 loss for me. Steve went on to win the day undefeated, so I'll take that in my stride. Despite the score, I had really enjoyed playing all the characters, and was prepared to put the learning curve to the test.

Game 2 - Winter Guard vs Guardians of the Galaxy

Winter Guard: Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Omega Red, Ursa Major, Black Widow

Guardians of the Galaxy: Star-Lord, Gamora, Yondu, Groot, Drax the Destroyer
Crisis: Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe, Survivors Search for Safe Shelters

Threat: 17

The second game was against Aaron, another newcomer, fielding my bogey team, the Guardians of the Galaxy. We did randomly draw exactly the same crisis, so I picked exactly the same team, treating it as a do-over.

This time, I won priority and made a dash with Black Widow for the centre-left objective. This triumph was short-lived when Gamora immediately dazed her and took it back.

On the other flank, once again held by Ursa Major and Omega Red, things were more promising. Ursa Major continued to soak up damage, which gave him the power to charge and spender. Every round, he Staggered and Threw Star-Lord away, essentially nullifying him all game. 

Ursa also had time to do the same to Drax, so with that flank held down satisfactorily, Omega Red pivoted over to the left, using his coils to drag Yondu with him. He managed to herd Yondu, Gamora and Groot into the same building, then blow it up with Sovereign Strike (which was immediately nullified by the healing We Are Groot card, but it's the thought that counts).

Also on the left flank, Crimson Dynamo's beam attacks were pounding Gamora and Groot, while Red Guardian flung the slow-moving Groot out of contention. I even managed to get an early daze on Gamora, allowing Black Widow to take back her objective and retreat to the back point.

Round 3 began with a KO on Gamora and, with most of my team clustered around the left hand side holding objectives, Yondu needed a big attack to draw level. His Whistle While You Work scored two Wild results to tear through my team, but Crimson Dynamo had already played his Disruption Field to force him to reroll them - and come up blank! Yondu barely had time to swallow his disappointment before he was dazed.

Once again the clock was against us, but the final few VPs were easy enough to work out. All of the Guardian's remaining troops were on the right, while mine were on the left, with more scoring points in hand. We shook hands on 18-13 to me, and the Winter Guard had their first win.

Game 3 - Winter Guard vs Defenders

Winter Guard: Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Omega Red, Ursa Major, M.O.D.O.K.

Defenders: Doctor Strange (Soul Gem), Blue Marvel, Man-Thing, Hulkbuster
Crisis: Unexpected Guests Crash Royal Wedding, Wedding Party Targeted in Terrible Attack!

Threat: 20

I played my third opponent, Matthew, in the last tournament, which ended as a nail-biting draw. We were playing up to 20-Threat this time, and including the 'Wedding Party' crisis that only has two objectives, but worth double VPs.

I stuck to the core of my time, as I was getting a feel for them, and switched out Black Widow for M.O.D.O.K. I was very nervous about what I was facing, since I know how good Doctor Strange and Blue Marvel can be, and I've never beaten Hulkbuster (his new incarnation is even better).

My advantage would be that Strange Defenders lay down a lot of conditions, and I would be able to remove most of them. I also had numbers and a lot of displacement - which I would need because I didn't fancy my chances of taking any of these characters down!

With a great big bus dividing the battlefield, our forces quickly split. I had overwhelmed the left side, with Crimson Dynamo and M.O.D.O.K. facing just Man-Thing (9 vs 3 Threat). Whereas on the right, Hulkbuster, Doctor Strange and Blue Marvel were coming towards Red Guardian, Omega Red and Ursa Major (17 vs 11 Threat!)

The first round ended 4-4, with us each holding two objectives, Winter Guard securing the left and Defenders securing the right. My plan was to take Man-Thing's objective and hang onto my own two - that would just nudge me ahead that I could score out the game without needing to take on the Defender's big characters.

Man-Thing started Round 2 by laying a big hit on M.O.D.O.K., then running away and teleporting out of sight behind a truck. He also put Mystic Ward on my secure objective, meaning no-one could score it for the round (so much for nudging ahead).

The scuffle on the right had become really congested, with the tight alleyway preventing many Throws or Pushes (and, for the first time, Ursa Major wasn't being targeted, which slowed his power gain).

Despite having a choice of targets on the right, I decided to burn Sovereign Strike to take out the truck that was screening Man-Thing. That exposed him to M.O.D.O.K.'s attack and he was able to run him down and take his objective.

Over on the left, Doctor Strange had Staggered Omega Red and Pushed him towards his back line. That would normally neutralise him, but the Winter Guard's leadership meant I could remove Stagger, walk towards Strange and hit him back with an attack that healed all Omega's damage.

Even better, Omega Red now had the power to use his Ensnare ability. He tried to Push Hulkbuster off the objective - but Hulkbuster's Built To Take It ability denied the Push. After much consulting the rules we learned that, because the Push never happened, Omega Red was allowed to try the ability on the same character - and this time Hulkbuster had no power to prevent it. First he was dragged off the point, and then Blue Marvel followed. 

What should have been a big swing for the Defenders had turned into a narrow lead for Winter Guard.

Round 3 became a case of holding my lead. M.O.D.O.K. once again laid into Man-Thing and KO him. Ursa Major put a Stagger on Blue Marvel, who jumped up to hit both Red Guardian and Ursa Major with his Let Loose area attack. To protect Red Guardian (who was still holding my objective), I played Sacrifice and let Ursa Major take both hits. The bear was dazed, but it spared Red Guardian to run the objective over to the left-secure, freeing Crimson Dynamo to get into the fight.

As Omega Red dazed Doctor Strange, and then dragged the whole team back towards him, there was no way back for the Defenders. We finished on Round 4 with 16-10 to the Winter Guard.

A hugely enjoyable game with a very good opponent. I rode my luck there and was glad to pull off some nice manoeuvres against a list that I don't think I would have been able to physically dominate.

Game 4 - Winter Guard vs Brotherhood of Mutants

Winter Guard: Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Omega Red, Ursa Major, Black Widow

Brotherhood of Mutants: Mystique, Blob, Pyro, Emma Drost, Wolverine
Crisis: Sentinel Schematics Sabotaged!, Infinity Formula Goes Missing!

Threat: 17

My final game of the day was against Dave, who has convincingly beaten me twice before (Web Warriors and Hydra) and I knew I was in for a good game. 

This time, he was playing Brotherhood of Mutants, which at least was a list I knew well. The Blob would be annoying, as he would be immune to my displacement shenanigans, and attacking Emma Frost and Wolverine would be an uphill struggle.

Our crisis selection meant that we would gain extra power for the blues and extra attack dice for the reds (these were also source extracts, so no-one could run into a corner with them).

We started off warily, each grabbing their respective objectives for 4-4 at the end of Round 1. I had charged Ursa Major up the table to tempt some attacks into him (he'd been working well as a Distraction Carnifex), but no luck.

I also moved Omega Red up the table, so start spreading his Poison conditions around - I thought it wouldn't hurt to mess with the Brotherhood's power generation.

The first to attack was Wolverine (naturally), who laid into Crimson Dynamo and threw him into Red Guardian. Luckily, Red Guardian dodged and Crimson Dynamo used Warpath to walk back onto the point. He then lined up an Electric Blast that twice-hit both Wolverine and Pyro (Pyro would have dropped, but a judicious used of Recalibration Matrix saved him).

Red Guardian shield-slammed Wolverine to Throw him away. One more point of damage and I would have blown up the building with Sovereign Strike and dazed him, but Wolverine is even tankier now (he subsequently used Patch Up and, with his Healing Factor, I never got close to taking him out for the rest of the game).

On the right, Ursa Major and Omega Red were displacing the Mystique and Emma Frost without doing much damage (I was ignoring The Blob entirely), while Black Widow was running between secure objectives. The plus point was that I was also taking very little damage and removing whatever conditions were put on my team.

By the third round, I was able to press a bit more, dazing Pyro and Mystique and getting a lead in the objective game. The Blob ambled forward to take my back secure, but Black Widow was able to run up to the Brotherhood's secure and return the favour. Mystique finally dazed to Omega Red and, while Wolverine sprinted across the battlefield to get involved, Ursa Major kept frustrating him by Throwing him away.

In Round 4, Crimson Dynamo had moved up to start laying down his beam attack. Pyro was KO and, though I also lost Black Widow, I felt I was running with the tide. Mystique was KO and even Emma Frost's diamond form was dazed when Omega Red hit her with Death Factor. 

Wolverine and The Blob were basically unscathed, but as the round ended, the Winter Guard had ground out a 19-11 victory.

Back in the Lubyanka

Well, that was quite a day! I went along hoping to learn a new affiliation and maybe grab one win, so three victories against some very good opponents was an absolute bonus. More importantly, I really enjoyed Winter Guard. They bring a nice mix of displacement abilities (which helps with scenarios) and robust defence (which helps with attrition). They may get caught out by an affiliation that specialises in either direction, but I'd happily play another tournament with this lot.

• Crimson Dynamo: great leadership, great support piece, can throw out long-range beams and inflict Shock (which helps my survivability). Never even got dazed.
• Red Guardian: another must-have. Automatic pushes and throws, good power generation and a great tactics card. I can't see why he wouldn't be splashed elsewhere.
• Omega Red: absolute menace. Inflicting poison and soaking damage are good, but his ability to push limitless enemies is game-changing. He even moves faster post-update. His drawback is getting enough power to do all of this.
• Ursa Major: distraction carnifex. Runs up the table and gets hit, then uses all that power to neutralise high-threat characters. The trick is to tempt your opponent into attacking him, or he may be short on power.
• Black Widow: fragile, compared to the rest of the team, but a solid objective-runner. If she survives the initial grab, she'll score well.
• M.O.D.O.K.: my favourite splash may have found a home. His displacement abilities fit right in, as does his defensive tech (neutralising wild hits into him). He even brings a Mystic attack, which is one area the team is lacking.

True to a Russian team I think psychological warfare played a part in my success. Not only were people unfamiliar with Winter Guard, so had no reflexive responses, but half of their code-names have some kind of red in them, which can get confusing! (wait until I splash Red Hulk and Red Skull).

In addition to my wins, I finished third in the tournament, won TO's Favourite (I think it was the bear) and Underdog Award (for finishing top with a 'worse' affiliation). Spasiba!