28mm Battle Report: The Thing And Nightwing Verses Blockbuster

NIGHTWING AND THE THING SQUARE OFF AGAINST THE TOWERING BLOCKBUSTER.

This third simple game of “7TV” by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” is designed for us to get more familiar with some of the Event cards printed at the rear of the core rulebook. As a result I’ll only be using a couple of Heroic Co-Stars against a handful of Villainous Extras and their Leader. As I’m not using any actual Stars or Villains all the Gadget cards have been put to one side.

 

The adventure takes place upon my usual 2x2 board, with a large number of crates and barrels covering the playing surface. The objective is for The Thing and Nightwing to ‘collect’ as many clue pieces as they can by the end of the sixth turn. The clues range in value from 1 point to 5 points worth of information and are dotted about the tabletop. However the heroes won’t know the value of their clues until the end of the game when they are revealed (back at the Batcave). To win the heroes’ clues must be worth more than those being held by the villains.

THE TABLETOP - BLOCKBUSTER DOMINATES THE CENTRE OF THE WAREHOUSE.

“The story so far… Batman is apparently dead and Gotham City has gone to hell as a result. The Penguin and Two-Face are carving up the crime rackets between themselves in a large scale gang war. But a mysterious third player has entered the game, and Dick Grayson needs to find out who that somebody is. Unwillingly to yet don the cape and cowl of Batman, Nightwing locates a downtown warehouse believing it to hold enough clues to reveal the identity of this third criminal mastermind. However it’s guarded by a group of ‘Eavies lead by the superhuman Bruiser, Blockbuster. As a result Grayson teams up with native New Yorker Ben Grimm, and together they break into the warehouse…”

BATMAN AND BRICK WALL? THE THING CHARGES INTO AN 'EAVY AS IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME.

As both heroes would deploy upon a random table edge, a D6 was rolled for each co-star. The Thing started on the eastern side of the building, protected to his south by a large wall of radioactive barrels. Whilst Nightwing began the game from the southern edge, with an unobstructed route straight to the warehouse’s centre and Blockbuster (as well as an ‘Eavy and a clue). The Audience Appreciation fell in the favour of the heroes, and (as opposed to dealing out some Event Cards to each player as per the core rulebook) they were awarded the first Event Card to be revealed – Faulty Gadget; which would have no effect upon the turn as no villains were carrying any.

 

Ben Grimm spotted a useful looking clue to his right, and the ‘Eavy (number two) guarding it a moment later. Discretion never being the behemoth’s greatest strength the former test-pilot moved straight towards the crowbar carrying criminal and with a loud “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” [Rage Special Effect] knocked the man cold. Meanwhile Dick Grayson charged into the ‘Eavy (four) in the southwest corner and utilising his knowledge of Pressure Points, stunned the man.

NIGHTWING IN ACTION. A HEROIC SURGE LATER ALL THREE 'EAVIES WERE STUNNED.

Realising something was amiss ‘Eavy (one) travelled down from the north-west corner of the warehouse and ‘Eavy (five) moved west towards the figure of Nightwing. As there were some crates in between the hired muscle and the Bludhaven vigilante, the ‘Eavy had to hurdle the obstacle, and did so with ease.

 

Blockbuster, using his Leadership to activate a nearby ‘Eavy (three), rushed off to face The Thing, and spotting Ben Grimm with his back to him, charged into the founding member of the Fantastic Four. Using the charge to boost his Strength, Blockbuster negated The Thing’s rocky hide armour and using some Audience Appreciation stunned Grimm. Falling to the floor, the blue-eyed super-hero guessed Blockbuster had been taking advice from some of those damn Yancy Street Gangers. Sensing his hapless foe was at his mercy, the Bruiser started putting the boot in…

WHEN TITANS FALL. EVEN THE HUGE THING IS DWARFED BY THE GIGANTIC BLOCKBUSTER.

Concerned at his friend’s incapacitation, and noting that none of the fallen had sufficiently recovered in order to get to their feet, Nightwing gritted his teeth and ensured he passed his Shaken test. With the Audience Appreciation once again falling in the heroes favour, Dick Grayson snatched up a clue and charged into the oncoming ‘Eavy (three).

 

However despite trying his Luck, he failed to land a punch upon the hired muscle. Now was the time for a Heroic Surge and Nightwing lashed out with an ‘All or Nothing’ attack… so down went the ‘Eavy. Then leaping over the fallen body, the Strongarm charged into another fast-approaching ‘Eavy (five) and decked him as well.

 

Blockbuster, sensing that his men were dropping around him like ninepins rushed towards the Blundhaven police officer but had to stop short. Seeing the three fallen senseless ‘Eavies surrounding Nightwing, none of whom roused themselves at the end of the turn, the Bruiser’s morale broke and he fled the table top with the surviving ‘Eavy (one). The tabletop and all the clues belonged to the super-heroes.