Sunday 5 February 2017

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.

Danna Dun Da Da Dun Der... Danna Dun Da Da Dun

32 comments:

  1. Brilliant! Just brilliant! So much to love here, Simon. This looked like a hell of a lot of fun to play. I certainly recognised the names of your three named establishments. Thanks for honouring me by having Scott's Store included. I was so glad to see you using the Battle Systems Urban Apocalypse Terrain set to such good effect. Playing Zombicide on it is so easy as it is divided into very evident zones. I'm rooting for Cap, Hulk, Spidey and dammit, even Howard! More soon please! This has to be one of the best batreps you've ever posted, which is exceptionally high praise.

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    1. Thanks very much indeed Bryan. To be honest it made quite the change sticking to just one comic book universe. But obviously that will change as the cosmic cube's re-emergence spreads across the various universes :-)

      This was a hoot to play, and as you say, the Systems Urban Apocalypse Terrain adds a lot to the feel of the game. With a second mat, and a few spare buildings I hope to expand my games at some point - but I'm getting ahead of myself, and hope to get plenty of use out of this set-up first.

      Part Two is imminent, as the Abomination begins to make his presence known and the super-heroes desperately try to save the Police officers in their care.

      "one of the best batreps you've ever posted" - Gosh, high praise indeed my friend. Hopefully all the other "Zombicide" scenarios I have planned won't disappoint either :-)

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    2. Simon, if they're anything at all like this one, they won't disappoint. :-)

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    1. Cheers Martin. Hopefully I'll be able to post up ours after next weekend :-)

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  3. lol what a fun report. Looking good as always and love the names of the areas seem familiar for some reason o)

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    1. Thanks Simon. Glad you enjoyed the game and the names :-)

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  4. Great batrep Simon, interesting using the the Zombicide rules, seems to work very well

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    1. Cheers Dave. "Zombicide" are my fave rule-set tbh. Very flexible. I've even played 6mm Modern War using them :-)

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  5. Howard the duck steps up to the plate, he swings.....

    Love it!

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    1. Thanks Andy. Howard The Duck is my fave super-hero - as you may have guessed.

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  6. Nicely done.
    Funnily enough I bought a not-Robin (as in Batman &...) from Minibits at York, and some Crooked Dice police officers. I just need to remember where I've put my Catwoman and Phantom figures now. Hopefully something else to try with the Redcar club.

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    1. Cheers Roy. I was much impressed with your "Crooked Dice" project, so it'd be good to see it back off the ground. I think you were designing a gaming board too?

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    2. Yea, don't know what happened to them to be honest. I've that many half-started DIY boards I've lost track on where they all are - apart from scattered around the house, inside and out.

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    3. Well I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the minis painted.

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  7. Absolutely wonderful and I'm so pleased that Howard has made 'Awdry Towers' safe again, I shall never look at the duck pond at the end of our road in the same way again! :D

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    1. Thanks Michael. Howard hasn't completely cleared Awdry Towers out just yet though ;-)

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  8. Absolutely excellent, though the Webb house is nowhere near that big or tidy, and what was Ben Grim doing loitering with intent outside the church?. Looking forward to the next instalment.

    P.S. the new scenery looks the business.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. Glad you enjoyed both the BatRep and cameo by Ben Grimm :-)

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  9. Completely whacky, as ever :-) . Go, Howard!

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    1. Thanks Hugh. Howard has indeed taken central stage strangely...

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  10. Chaotic fun abounds, good looking setup.

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    1. Cheers Joe. The "Battle Systems" scenery is great imho.

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  11. Well that was a fun read! Crazy mayhem! Though Howard the Duck is a little scary....

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    1. Thanks Gordon. What can I say, Howard is a crazy duck :-)

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  12. After reading this, my first thought was that I need a team of duck heroes = Donald, Daffy and Howard. Hmmm, if we assume that the gadgets in 7TV2 are provided by ACME, I could use this ruleset for some Cartoon mayhem. Might have to see if I can find some suitable figures...

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    1. That'll be a very interesting project, Jez... I'll certainly follow that one with great interest :-)

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  13. Loads to love here - Howard the Duck not being an irritating Fowl. Hulk not breaking buildings, roads, everything(?). Rhino being "Rhino".

    Very creative and very fun to read through mate, well done.

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    1. Thanks very much indeed, Dai. Much appreciated :-)

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