Dice Masters Report: Spider-Man & The Human Torch Verses Captain America & The Beast

A MISUNDERSTANDING LEADS TO THE HUMAN TORCH FIGHTING CAPTAIN AMERICA

This game was played using the “Avengers Vs. X-Men” rules for “Dice Masters” by “Wizkids”. However, in order to help visualise events occurring on the play mat, a three-dimensional representation of the battle was created alongside using both the Urban Apocalypse Terrain by “Battle Systems” and some painted “Heroclix” miniatures. To keep things simple we just utilised the Basic Action Cards “Force Beam”, “Inner Rage” and “Thrown Car”, as dictated by the rule-book’s “Your First Game” recommendation, and fielded Human Torch (Playing with Fire) and Spider-Man (Webhead) against Beast (Mutate #666) and Captain America (American Hero); a somewhat bizarre scenario considering one team consists of Spidey and a founding member of the Fantastic Four, whilst the other features the (First) Avenger and an original X-Man…

“The story so far… The Phoenix Force has returned and initiated a war between the Avengers and the X-Men. In an effort to try and prevent the all-powerful entity from possessing Hope Summers, Captain America and Hank McCoy are racing across New York City in a bid to place her into protective custody. However, foolishly believing that the pair are in fact about to battle one another, hot-head Johnny Storm attacks the duo in a bid to separate them. Realising that his long-time friend is outnumbered, the local friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man swings to his pal’s side, and equally misinterprets an admittedly tense situation…”

THE PLAY MAT - A DICE MOVEMENT DIAGRAM

Drawing four dice from their bag, Team Spidey found themselves owning two melee energies, a blast energy and a wildcard energy. This meant that the Human Torch could quickly get himself involved in the fight by spending the blast and wildcard energies in order to purchase one of his ‘Playing with Fire’ dice. However, before doing that they two melee energies were re-rolled and surprising landed as a blast energy and a wildcard energy. Something which allowed Johnny Storm to purchase both of his character dice.

JOHNNY STORM ASSUMES THE WORST WHEN HE SPIES CAPTAIN AMERICA

Team Cap likewise rolled the four dice they’d pulled from their bag, and astonishing found themselves with two toughness energies and two wildcard energies; just enough to purchase one of Steve Roger’s “American Hero” dice.

Turn Two saw Team Spidey roll their remaining four dice and subsequently purchase an “Inner Rage” basic action dice, and field a sidekick dice (in this case a nearby Police officer who, sensing trouble, attempts to intercept Captain America in order to establish what is going on). The sidekick dice damages Team Cap for one of their ten health points and is placed in the used pile; or rather in narrative terms momentarily interrupts the Sentinel of Liberty long enough to delay him before resuming his patrol.

NEW YORK CITY'S FINEST ENCOUNTER A DETERMINED SENTINEL OF LIBERTY

In return Team Cap rolled enough energies to field two sidekicks of their own (a pair of passing flatfoots) and purchase one of Beast’s “Mutate #666” dice. One of the Police officers ends up questioning the Human Torch (costing Team Spidey one of their ten health points) before being removed to the used pile, whilst the other remains in play in order to block any further delays by New York City’s finest.

Turn Three began with both sides collecting all the dice they’ve rolled and bought (except Team Cap’s sidekick die which is still in play), and placing them in their bags, before drawing four more dice. Team Spidey not only roll a sidekick (Police officer), but having drawn one of their Human Torch dice, roll it so its Attack:2 Defence:2 face is showing. This dice is especially useful as it costs nothing to immediately put into play, and suddenly the helpful Police officer trying to protect Cappy’s race to find Hope Summers is facing both a fellow lawman and a rather fiery hot-headed super-hero.

CAPTAIN AMERICA MOMENTARILY ENJOYS THE SUPPORT OF THE LAW

Assailed by both the Human Torch and their flatfoot, Team Cap can only defend against one of their foes, and as the founding member of the Fantastic Four would cause the most damage if unblocked, their only defender (the well-meaning street cop) is knocked out by one of Johnny Storm’s fireballs. This leaves Team Spidey’s own sidekick (another Police officer) to reduce Team Cap’s health by another point before being removed to the used pile. The unconscious flatfoot however, is placed in Team Cap’s prep area, and thus can be added to the four dice subsequently drawn from their bag – giving the Sentinel of Liberty and Beast five dice to roll instead of the usual four…

Rolling their five energy dice, as unfortunately Team Cap didn’t draw any character or action dice, the Beast is pleased to be able to purchase the second of his “Mutate #666” dice and an accompanying “Inner Rage” basic action. But without any sidekicks in play the Avenger/X-Man line-up were looking rather vulnerable, as the Human Torch was about to attack again with his “Playing with Fire” dice just for starters.

THE HUMAN TORCH IMPULSIVELY STARTS HURLING FIREBALLS AT CAP AND THE POLICE

Turn Four saw Team Spidey able to both field Johnny Storm’s second “Playing with Fire” dice (this time showing Cost:1 Attack:3 Defence:3) and pay the energy cost required in order to immediately field the ability. In doing this, the Fantastic Four flyer also activated his character’s special ability which whenever “you field a character each turn” provides “each Human Torch already in the field” with “+1A and +1D until the end of the turn.” This ‘power-up’ therefore now made Team Spidey’s other Human Torch dice an impressive Attack:3 Defence:3. In addition, the misguided super-heroes also rolled an “Inner Rage” dice which staggeringly caused both Human Torch dice to be increased to Attack:5 Defence:5 until the end of the turn.

JOHNNY STORM DEFEATS CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE BEAST

With nothing in the way of the flame-powered super-hero’s scorching attacks, Team Cap fell before ten points of damage, and were both knocked out for the count. The Human Torch (and Spider-Man) had won, but at what cost…