Friday 29 January 2016

Marvel Universe - Factions and Team Building


Hey True Believers!
Slight change of plan today. Where I was going to look at the stat cards, they have needed a few tweaks so today is Factions and Team Building.

Factions and Alignments
Each character in the Marvel Universe Miniature Game belongs to one of more Factions.
These, at release are Superhuman (Avengers), Mutant (X-Men) and Cosmic (Guardians)
As well as a Faction each model also has an Alignment. Hero, Villain or Neutral.
These are show on the stat cards as symbols with either different backgrounds. For example, An X on a green background is Mutant Hero.

Team Building
Building a Team for the MUMG is really easy.
To start of with you need to know the Level of the game you are playing. Usually 30-50. This will either be set by the scenario or decided between the players.
Each character has a Faction, Alignment and Level on their card.
You can take characters whose Levels add up to the total scenario size and all share the same Faction and Alignment. Neutral character can be taken by both Heroes and Villains

Models that share the same 'true' name can not be taken more than once. Ironman Mk7 and Ironman Mk 44 are both Tony Stark so you can only take one or the other.
Peter Parker and Miles Morales as two Spider-men would be fine though as they are different People.
(Examples may or may not appear in game)

Lets try a quick team using the X-Men above

Game Level: 30
Faction: Mutant
Alignment: Hero

Cyclops      
Level 7    Mutant / Hero

Colossus      
Level 7    Mutant / Hero

Wolverine  
Level 8    Mutant / Hero + Superhuman/Hero

Rogue          
Level 8    Mutant / Neutral

(These may not be the final levels etc)

Any questions?
Let us know below.

Until next week......
- Hendybadger

Thursday 28 January 2016

Marvel Universe Miniature Game - The Rules



Update: Free PDF V3 Rulebook can be found >HERE<. FAQ is >HERE<

Today I want to take a closer look at the rules for the Marvel Universe Miniature game from Knight Models.

First of all there are a few basic points-

The rulebook will come in the starter sets.
Each character comes with a stat / rules card. Including the characters Level. (4-20)
The game works on 2D8 ( 2 x 8 sided dice). These are rolled together and compared to stats. You will need at least 5 to play.
Measuring can be done at any time and is in Inches.
Models can see 360 degrees.
The game is played on a 36"x 36" board of your choice. The more terrain the better.
Models are used on an alternating basis. One model from one player at a time. Then the same from the other.
Games are set in scenarios which have different 'achievements' to gain Victory Points which decide the winner.

Power (POW)
Each character has a Power stat. This is used when the model 'activates' and this Power is spent on Movement, Attacks and Special Powers.

Movement
A character has 2-3 movement speeds in Inches. For example, 4/7/12. It costs 1 POW for the first stat, 2 for the second, 3 for the third. You can usually only move once per turn.
Models with the Agile rule can use a second Movement action per turn.
Crossing rough terrain or climbing / jumping costs double movement. Models with Fly ignore these and can move in any direction.
It is possible for a model to fall and take damage.

Attack vs Defense
Attacks and Defenses come in 4 types. Physical, Energy, Mental and Supernatural. Most characters are strong in some areas and weak in others.
Some attacks also have a secondary type like Cold, Sharp or Laser. Some characters are weak / immune to some of these types.
An attack has a POW cost, range, damage and often additional effects like Push.
Some have Expansive Wave, or Spray instead of a range. These use a distance or template and can be dodged with a models Agility.
Attack also come in 3 frequencies. Blue, green and purple. (these will have better names)
Green can be used as many times as you like.
Blue can be used once a turn.
Purple can be used once a game
To attack you pay the POW cost, roll 2D8 + Attack Stat and compare to the opponents matching defense type. Physical Attack vs Physical Def etc. If you beat the defense you damage is applied.

Overloads and Criticals
Attacks can be Overloaded. You pay 1 extra POW for 1 extra D8. This can only be applied once.
Some Attacks have a different Overload listed and you can choose this effect instead of the +1D8 if you want to.
When rolling to attack, any double is a Critical. Basic criticals cause +1 Damage. Some attacks have a different Crit which is used.

Special Powers
Like Attacks, Special Powers also come in 3 types. Green, Blue and Purple with the same frequency uses.
Some have a range and all are either Active or Reactive. Active are used in your turn, Reactive when attacked by an opponent.
Most Special Powers are things like movements and boosts. Non-damage abilities.

Damage
Each model has an Endurance Bar. This is set in three colours. Green, yellow and red.
As you take damage you progress along the bar and could get + or - stats in each section of Endurance.
If you are in the Yellow or Red, you use your Stamina stat to see if you become Knocked Out. A Knocked out model has to make a Stamina roll to activate in the next turn.
If your Endurance Bar if filled, the model is Incapacitated and removed from the game.

Terrain / Throwing
ALL terrain on the board can be damaged, destroyed or thrown. The stronger the character, the more damage they can cause and larger items they can throw. It is even possible to throw friendly and enemy models.


I don't want to add too much more as this seems to be enough to give you a basic idea of the game.
Tomorrow we will look at the character cards.

Any question, post below.
- Hendybadger

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Marvel Universe Miniature Game - An Intro


It's here! It's finally here! The Marvel Universe Miniature Game is coming from Knight Models.
Above you can see the first teaser which has already spread around the internet like wildfire. I'm not surprised as comic / tabletop fans like myself have been waiting for years to see something like this.

I am going to be posting all sorts of info on the MUMG over the next couple of weeks and answering any questions I can.
How about we start with a little intro into the game?

What is the MUMG?
This game is a small scale skirmish level game where Superheroes and Villains face off against each other in a 3D tabletop set up. It could be a city, the Wakandan desert, the Savage Lands, the blue area of the moon or anything you like. In Marvel they fight anywhere.
It is played on a 36" x 36" board so will fit on most tables without a problem.

In a game you will usually have between 4-7 characters on your team. Each of these characters act individually using their own Power to carry out different attacks and use Special Powers.
Many can help or hinder each others though with boosts and actions like a Fastball Special.

The aim of the game is to win set scenarios by completing different tasks and scoring Victory Points. These could be anything from take down / save the highest Level model in the team or rescue and keep a Cosmic Relic.

Each character comes with their own Stat Card which shows everything they can do. Attacks, Defence, Skills, Power, Damage and such.
These are then used in a 2 D8 mechanic during the game. For example, 2D8 plus Attack Stat vs Defence Stat or 2D8 against your own Agility.

The first wave of the MUMG will include 3 Starter set of four models each. Avengers, X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy as well as an additional character for each faction and a miniature rulebook in each starter set.

A couple of questions that have come up already-

Is it compatible with the Batman and Spider-Man games?
- No. The MUMG is a completely different rules set. But, I do expect to see the main Spider-Man characters get rules.

Can I buy this in my local store?
- Yes! The MUMG will be available to anyone that stock Knight Models products.


Tomorrow I will have a closer look at the main rules and some of the more interesting and different mechanics.

If you have any questions, post them below or check out the Official Marvel Minis group on Facebook HERE

Until next time True Believers!
- Hendybadger

Friday 22 January 2016

Arkham Asylum Complex 2.0



After trying out the Arkham Asylum kit on a road board the other day, I wondered if it would work on my angled board.
I prefer roads at an angle as it draws away from games played straight across the board and people don't always stick to the roads as it isn't always the most direct route.

From suggestions I have added some more scatter terrain to try and make it a bit more playable.
The Iceberg and Vale billboards may have to go thought as they don't really fit the look.






What do you think?
Do you prefer this set up or the last one? Or even the original with courtyard?

- Hendybadger

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Batman Heading for PAW 2016. Plymouth - Feb 6th/7th



It's almost time for PAW 2016. A great two day gaming show held in Plymouth Devon on Feb 6th and 7th.
After missing a couple of years, ToaTS will be back there this year with some Batman Demos on the Arkham Board.


Come and find us at PAW, try out a demo of the Batman Miniature Game and you could win some goodies.
Do you play already and not need a demo? Bring a 200 Rep crew and challenge us to a game at Arkham!
We have Ra's al Ghul, Poison Ivy, Arkham Inmates, some game tokens, a Hardback Rulebook and more!
All you need to do is draw a black Bat-Token from the Bat-Bag after your demo or game!

Hope to see many of you there.

For full details of the event, check out the PAW 2016 Site

Monday 18 January 2016

New Arkham Asylum Layout Idea


An idea came to me the other day to split up the Arkham Asylum kit from Knight Models and try to make it into a more playable board.

While the original layout looks great it does leave a big open space in the middle of the board and you can't really use the edges.
I grabbed one of my road boards and a selection of the other MDF bits from KM and started to play.



This is what I came up with!
I think it needs a little more scatter terrain for cover and Ping! rolls but it seems to be a fairly playable and balanced board.

What do you think? Would you play on in?
What would you do differently?

- Hendybadger

Saturday 16 January 2016

Batman January Releases! Animated Harley, Court of Owls, Hawkgirl, Cyborg and more!


Yay! The Knight Models January releases are up for the Batman Miniature Game.
First up is Animated Harley Quinn. Like the other animated models, she is low Rep with basic rules. This time she is a 40 Rep, $200 Free Agent for the Joker armed with her own little pop-gun.


The second Court of Owls box is the one I've really been waiting for. Led by a classic white masked Leader, the 3 generations of the O'Malleys from the Talon comic bring a lot of new options to the Court and up them enough to compete in 350Rep games.


I never expected to see Hawkgirl appear in the game but I'm very happy she has. With Legends of Tomorrow starting next week, Kendra Saunders can be added to an Arrow or Batman crew as a 99 Rep Free Agent armed with an Nth Metal Mace!


Another unexpected release is Victor Stone aka Cyborg. A 123 Rep, $500 Sidekick for Batman means you can start a small Justice League or even Teen Titans.


The final model this month is Catman. I don't really know much about this character but hes a nice looking model that cant be taken with any crew except Law, Joker or Lexcorp.


The finish off the month's releases, we have some Watchmen markers and an MDF Construction Set to add a bit more flavour to your boards.

Which are you favourites this month? For me it has to be the Court and Hawkgirl.

- Hendybadger

Friday 15 January 2016

2016 Batman Tournament Cards Appearing


Over the last few days, the 2016 set of Batman tournament cards have started to appear.
You can see the first ones on http://elsobacodebatman.blogspot.com.es/ and http://labibliotecadealfred.blogspot.com.es/.

We have Zur-En-Arrh Batman, Borj the plant, Shadowstorm the Ninja and Mr Pink the Mobster.
You can see them below and they have been added to our Who works for Who post.






So, what do you think of these new additions?

For those that didn't see the 2015 set, I have added them below. (BA is Willpower 6)




- Hendybadger

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Happy New Year + Happy Spider-Fans!



Hey folks!
Welcome to 2016 on ToaTS!

Lots to come this year. Especially for you DC and Marvel fans out there. ;)
While I will be covering the usual type of posts, I'd also love to know what you want to see in the comments below.

The gaming year started awesomely (is that a word?) with the delivery of the new Spider-Man models from KnightModels.

I have made a start on them, but after an arm injury at work I haven't finished building them quite yet.


More on these soon when I can move my arm a little better.
Until then, don;t forget to post below what you want to see on ToaTS this year.

- Hendybadger
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