Zombicide Report: Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man & Howard the Duck - "Riot!"

CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE HULK, SPIDER-MAN & HOWARD THE DUCK BATTLE RIOTERS

This game was played predominantly using the basic rules of “Zombicide” by “Guillotine Games” with a few additional house-agreed variances on account of us attempting to replicate a riot in downtown New York. In addition, as this was going to be the first in a lengthy campaign based upon "The Cosmic Cube Wars", I wanted to try out some "Marvel Worldwide" super-heroes and villains, so simply swapped the Survivors, Walkers, Runners and Fatties with some Avengers, Goons, Minions and occasional member of the Sinister Six...

“The story so far… The Cosmic Cube has once again resurfaced on Earth, and every criminal on the planet is desperately attempting to locate it in order to hold dominion over all. In New York the anarchy soon leads to street riots and marshal law. But not before some of the city's finest have become trapped in a series of rundown buildings. Already badly stretched, S.H.I.E.L.D. are unable to assist, so Captain America has quickly assembled a new team of Avengers, and flown to the disaster area in a quinjet..."

THE TABLETOP - DOWNTOWN NEW YORK

As aforementioned before we started we incorporated a few special rules of our own in order to make the game play a little differently. The biggest change was that the rioters would randomly spawn from one street entrance each turn, until the Danger Level went up to Yellow. At this point the rioters would randomly spawn from two street entrances. Once the Danger Level reached Orange Level then the rioters would appear from every street entrance, potentially soon filling Downtown New Tork with all manner of minions, looters and super-villains.

The Avengers consisted of Captain America (Survivor with the skill Born Leader), the Hulk ('Zombivor' with the skill Shove), Spider-Man (Survivor with +1 Free Movement Action) and Howard The Duck (Survivor with the skill Slippery). They all started in the centre of the map [known as the Central Zone].

NEW YORK CITY'S FINEST POSITION THEMSELVES AMONGST THE BUILDINGS AND AWAIT HELP

The object of the mission was simple. The Avengers had to reach all five of the Police Officers trapped by the rioters before the super-heroes were overwhelmed by the criminals. For every lawman a hero rescued they would be awarded five experience points. In addition, before the battle was commenced, Captain America was awarded the 'crowbar' ability so he could use his famous shield to prise open doors, the Hulk was permitted to pick up smash items and hurl them at foes in an adjacent space (like a Pistol), Spider-Man was allowed to web himself up a frying pan, and Howard the Duck was given a Fire Axe.

Deciding that they should try and rescue the Policemen closest to where the rioters were likely to come from, once they realised the Avengers were on site, Captain America gave the Hulk an order, moved South near to the Church's eastern door and waited to see if any crooks appeared. If not, then he would soon crowbar open the door near him and hopefully rescue the lawman trapped inside. Meanwhile Howard the Duck took his fire axe to the northern door of Awdry Towers, and discovered an empty room. The Hulk decided to join his little friend and found a bottle of water. Lastly, Spider-Man swung over to Cappy's side to see if the Sentinel of Liberty needed any help. A rioter appeared at the Eastern end of Main Street, presumably attracted to the noise Howard was making.

HOWARD THE DUCK AND THE HULK FORCE THEIR WAY INTO AWDRY TOWERS

Captain America gave Spider-Man an order, and them promptly forced open the Church door near him. With a curse the World War Two veteran stepped back as the enormous shape of the Abomination, flanked by two thugs, appeared before him. Neither the super-soldier nor Spider-Man were in any shape currently to match strength with the mutated Chinese scientist so quickly retreated North back up South Street. Oblivious to the danger of his team-mates, Howard the Duck chopped down an interior door within Awdry Towers and came face-to-face with the Rhino, and a couple of rioters. Somehow the little bird's fire axe didn't look quite so big anymore, so he simply grabbed a (Rifle) Scope he had found and rushed outside. The Hulk gained the ability to 'chop' his opponents down (i.e. Katana) and also went back outside to intercept the thug who had appeared at the Eastern end of Main Street.

Determined to get his hands on the Sentinel of Liberty, Chang Lam's alter-ego, smashed through the Church's exterior doorway onto South Street. Whilst the Rhino raced into the room recently vacated by the cigar-chomping duck and green giant. Foolishly, the goon at the Eastern end of Main Street decided to run up to the Hulk with his crowbar...

ENTER THE ABOMINATION AND THE RHINO

Having used his Leadership ability on Howard the Duck, Captain America ran East towards the Church's North-facing exterior door. Meanwhile the "funny animal" rolled up his sleeves, tightened his grip on his fire axe and charged into Awdry Towers and the Rhino. A couple of swings later saw both Aleksei Sytsevich and a rioter knocked out, and the little duck back outside gasping for breath. Encouraged by his feathery friend's bravery, Bruce Banner's alter-ego swung at the goon in front of him and only managed to clobber the man down on his third attempt. Realising that the Hulk might be in trouble, Spider-Man swung down beside him.

The Abomination stalked further North towards Main Street accompanied by his two lackeys. Whilst two more crow-bar welding thugs appeared from the Eastern entrance to Main Street. It was starting to become clear that the Avengers were increasingly drawing attention to themselves, and still hadn't actually rescued any of New York City's finest.

HOWARD THE DUCK OUTWITS THE RHINO, AS THE ABOMINATION STARTS TO RAMPAGE

Captain America shouted some encouragement to the Hulk and then positioned himself outside one of the two doors leading into Webb House. Having given an item to Spider-Man (i.e. Pistol), the green giant joined Howard and chopped down the goon from Awdry Towers who was threatening him. Meanwhile, Web-Head moved closer to the Abomination and utilised his new found webbing ability (Pistol) to bring one of Lam's aides to ground. Spidey then swung across to Cappy. Howard the Duck meanwhile made his way deeper into Awdry Towers and whilst searching about was surprised by a skulking thug. One swish of his Fire Axe later and the increasingly dangerous duck was alone...

THE HULK CLEARS UP OUTSIDE, WHILST HOWARD MAKES AWDRY TOWERS A SAFER PLACE

Despite losing one of his men to the sticky webbing of the accursed Wall-Crawler, the Abomination made his way to the centre of Downtown New York. To his East the two recently arrived rioters, perhaps somewhat foolishly, charged at the Hulk. Whilst another robber appeared just behind them.

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