Sunday 21 February 2016

28mm ZTV2 Battle Report: Lobster Johnson, Molly Hayes, Moon Knight & Doctor Who Verses Rasputin, The Joker, Travis & The Grey Hulk - Act Two

“The story so far… Lobster Johnson and a team of heroes have cornered the mad monk Rasputin in the dimension of the Ogdru Jahad, in order to thwart the servant of the Dark Gods' latest nefarious plan. Having already defeated the Federation Space Commander Travis, the New York City vigilante must push home his numerical advantage against the Mad Monk and his remaining villainous brethren..."


Turn One of Act Two began with the Joker behaving like a “Diva!” and insisting that no-one could strike at him until the start of the villain’s next turn. The Clown Prince of Crime then opened fire with his pistols upon Moon Knight, and despite Marc Spector desperately trying to be Lucky, caused his opponent a single bullet wound. Nearby the Grey Hulk elected to collect the statue objective marker and gain is side two additional plot points before lumbering south towards an injured Moon Knight and Molly Hayes. Rasputin meanwhile, found his mad self just within range of Lobster Johnson and charged into his foe. The Sinister Mystic’s target was already weakened, and courtesy of the monk’s Psychic special effect and Crystal Knife suffered two murderous wounds.
THE JOKER GOES MAD AS THE GREY HULK OBTAINS A VICTORY POINT FOR THE VILLAINS
Fortunately for the heroes, Turn Two saw Rasputin suddenly suffer with “Stage Fright” and therefore count his Defence at -1 for the turn. Molly Hayes quickly collected the oil barrel objective marker, whilst Doctor Who kindly rescued some hapless ducklings simultaneously. This generated four additional plot points for Lobster Johnson’s super-team and Moon Knight quickly put them to good use by inadvertently forgetting the Joker’s “Diva!” status and wounding the green-haired crook with a crescent moon-shaped throwing blade. Hoping to press home his advantage, and finish off the cackling maniac, the Action hero activated his Star Quality Burst of Action in order to make an (another) immediate shoot action. Sadly Spector’s aim was off-target… utilising a plot point himself in order to remove his weakened status, Lobster Johnson punched the mad monk straight in the nose, causing Rasputin to gain the weakened status himself. The vigilante then produced a Sleep Spray and stunned the villain with the gadget.
MOLLY HAYES AND DOCTOR WHO COLLECT TWO MORE OBJECTIVE MARKERS
As Turn Three would entail some “Location Filming” Rasputin and his comrades in crime could only spend half of their meagre plot points in activating models for this turn. Fortunately the Joker’s Leader(2) special effect meant his colleagues could activate for free as they were both within six inches of the Clown Prince of Crime. The grinning psychopath continued to rain hot lead towards Moon Knight. But the Egyptian deity Khonshu was clearly watching over his agent, as not a single bullet struck the white-cowled superhero. Worryingly however, the Grey Hulk stomped southwest towards Marc Spector’s location and would have attempted to smash him to the ground if not for his pedestrian four inch Move. Rasputin used a plot point to remove his stunned status, stood up and then failed miserably to capture Lobster Johnson with his Disorientating Gaze.
THE JOKER CONTINUES TO POUR LEAD TOWARDS MOON KNIGHT
Turn Four began with a “Stuntman [being] Required”. But as there were no Extras on the set the Countdown Card had no effect on the battle taking place. Instead Lobster Johnson opened up with his pistol at Rasputin and wounded the mad monk with the first of his two shots. Inspired by the vigilante’s success, Moon Knight charged the Grey Hulk and having successfully passed a Spirit Test in order to attack the Fearsome Marauding Monster, Marc Spector actually managed to wound the brute. Meanwhile Molly Hayes moved east towards the Grey Hulk, whilst Doctor Who scampered east and rested beside a boulder.
WITH RASPUTIN AND THE GREY HULK WOUNDED, THE HEROES LOOK TO WIN THE DAY
With the second load of advertisements starting in but a turn's time, and Act Three due to commence once they'd finished, it currently looked like the heroes were likely to attain a momentous Decisive Victory over Rasputin and his diabolical brethren by six Victory Points to one… But during the third part of this episode anything could happen and the Dark Gods' black-robed servant would demonstrate just how dangerous a foe he really was...

22 comments:

  1. Excellent mate. Looking forward to act 3

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    1. Thanks Simon. I do like the way the Countdown Cards make each Turn a completely different experience and helps balance the game out.

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  2. Your batreps are always superb...and with two of my favourite characters (Lobster Johnson and Doctor Who) in an unlikely alliance, too!

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    1. Cheers Gordon. Lobster Johnson and Doctor Who are certainly two of my faves as well, and the Heroic Star/Co-Star cards for "7TV2" seem to suit their abilities rather well.

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  3. Brilliant as always, will there be a twist in the tale...

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    1. Thanks Michael. There will indeed "be a twist in the tale" as just when it looks like Rapsutin is about to... But I'll be giving the game away ;-)

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  4. I'm thoroughly enjoying this wonderful 7TV2e batrep. Reading it makes me even more determined than ever to run my own 7TV2e batrep I have planned. I'm just holding back until I finish painting some of my cast.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. I'm delighted this is encouraging you to push on with your BatRep as I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with - I've been rereading your excellent "7TV" cast posts btw, so can we expect Doctor Who verses Captain Scarlet? Or are you planning something different? The Third (and final) Act should be posted up next weekend and then I'm hoping to post up some more which show off extras etc.

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    2. I'm glad you find my new page devoted to 7TV2e, Simon. I definitely want to run a Captain Scarlet episode, although probably not with Doctor Who, although that does open up interesting possibilities. Perhaps they'd be better suited working together. Anything you post for 7TV2e will guarantee my interest. :-)

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    3. Thanks Bryan. It'd be nice to run through the "7TV2" scenario book with a set cast over the next few months, and really show off the rule-set. I just need to decide who the cast will be based upon. In the meantime I have an Alien Verses Blake's Seven' "Zombicide" report waiting in the wings, as well as a 'Doctor Who' inspired "Age Of Sigmar" BatRep too. So many games and so little time ;-)

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  5. Great stuff as always Simon, looking forward to act three immensely.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. I'm hoping to get quite a few more BatReps done this year than last. But time is always a factor sadly.

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  6. Fun stuff; I am looking forward to Act III. :)

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    1. Thanks PulpCitizen. Still adjusting to the rules from the previous edition. But they certainly seem well-designed for super-hero gaming :-)

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  7. Lobster Johnson. Best crustacean-themed hero ever.

    Great stuff, Simon. Hopefully the mad monk gets a one way trip back to the Abyss.

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    1. Cheers Finch. It would certainly seem that Lobster is going to win the day. But "7TV2" is a fickle rule-set and the Dark Gods have yet to help Rasputin make his monkish presence felt ;-)

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  8. Very nice Simon. Lot's of action all round. Makes Act 3 even more eagerly anticipated!

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    1. Thanks Bob. "7TV2" certainly makes the action constant... for both players tbh.

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  9. More 7TV2 goodness Simon, keep it up. I love the countdown cards, they keep you on your toes!

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    1. Cheers Andy. Big fan of the Countdown cards myself :-)

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  10. Still engaged in the AHPC and you have time to do this too?! Nice batrep, Simon. From what I can gather from other 7TV2 reports, the cards do add a certain amount of uncertainty to any game, but can level the playing field, as they don't favour either side. Sounds like a solution for those players who design supposedly unbeatable forces even before they've reached the table...

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    1. Thanks Jez. I've even had time to finish off those marvellous Nagrubs too :-) I certainly don't think you can anticipate the Countdown Cards in "7TV2", and personally wouldn't want to play someone who tried. This first game was literally thrown together to see what the Stars and Co-Stars were like. I'll be giving the next game's cast (after Act Three) a bit more thought. But even then it'll probably be what will be fun to play... and the B.P.R.D. ;-)

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