Two more great November write-ups!

Superb solo play is still going on out there even though November is almost over!

Professor Pope joined in on the fun with his first solo play of Wrath of Ashardalon.

And Roryb has started a thread at RPGNet in which he merges the Forgotten Realms, the FU RPG, and the Mythic GME to send a group of hearty adventurers into the Haunted Halls of Eveningstar! He states that the plan is "to keep this scenario short and finish it...nothing but some kitschy retro fun is to follow." And he's been delivering! It's a terrific read!

Check them out!

Marvel Solo Heroclix Finale: Ragnarok

And the sky turned dark as the sun was eclipsed by a great shape falling through the sky!

FWOOOOOM! PWOOSSSSH!

A mountain - a snow-covered ancient mass of stone - crashed into the East River depositing the highest peak of Jotunheim, Asgard's land of giants, into the heart of the battle-heavy chaos of heroes versus villains! At the base of the mountain on opposite sides, the good and evil of Asgard prepared for a cataclysmic conflict!

GOOD ASGARDIANS
Holy Warriors

VS.

EVIL ASGARDIANS
Holy S#!t!

Joining the gods and monsters of the Norse pantheon were the surviving heroes and villains of the many battles fought fiercely in November on Midgard!

Surviving Heroes: Kinda weak...

Surviving Villains: No joke...

To the mountain, they assembled!

It's really a cold day in Hell on this map! The red lines indicate different snowy levels of elevation. The mountain peak in the center is the fourth level. (NOTE: There is NO bunny slope.)

A wave of PURE UGLY roared up the mountain as the Frost Giant led the charge with Loki cackling gleefully at the chaos he had wrought!

"For Asgard!"
"For Justice!"
"For Solo Tabletop Gaming Appreciation Month!"

Valkyrie on her winged horse Aragorn struck first, wielding the power of a sexy warrior woman's emasculating scorn!

The Warriors Three, Asgard's version of Boys II Men, took on Surtur and his Fire Demons!

Then, Odin appeared before the Frost Giant and blasted him with holy light! Huzzah!

Just as valiant was the female Hawkeye, a longtime survivor of the battles of November, who took on Sabretooth and beat him! The heroes were definitely winning!
Beers at Cap's place seemed imminent!

But when Cap and his nemesis the Red Skull finally faced off, Cap had difficulty handling Skull's poisonous gas and began choking patriotically.

And, when Valkyrie fell, Thor collided with his evil half-brother, though the god of thunder was already fatigued.

Then, everything got stupid: MODOK's Running Shot + Psychic Blast seriously damaged Odin! F-ing MODOK hurt the All-Father! The tide severely turned!

Quickly, the villains surrounded Odin knowing that his defeat meant certain victory!
(Reminder: It's Ragnarok, not a tea party.)

The heroes did all they could to get Odin to Wiccan who had the ability to heal him, but it was all in vain. The villains surrounded the remaining heroes and prevailed!

And so ends the Marvel Solo Heroclix Campaign! Ragnarok is not averted! The villains are victorious!

...and MODOK is the MVP.

So, here they are for their final glamor shot:

The Winners!

Thank you so much for indulging this solo escapade of mine and reading along. I very much appreciate the kind words!

As for the proposed DC campaign, I don't think it'll happen this month as time is a factor, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching in a few days. As is typical, I aimed a bit too high, but I'm awfully satisfied with the games I've played in the preceding Marvel campaign. (Sorry, DC!)

Thank you all for participating in Solo Tabletop Gaming Appreciation Month! Your blogs are awesome to read! I'm so glad Solo Nexus fulfilled its mission!

Marvel Solo Heroclix: Phase 2, Region 3

Phase 2, Region 3: S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Stern

S.H.I.E.L.D.
Strategic Hazard Something Something Something Directorate

VS.

HYDRA
Neo-Nazis in green jammies

Wow! This game took almost three hours to complete - the longest one thus far! To the original 19 characters in the line-ups, 8 more were added, including the surviving Police and Serpent Society, as well as the Defenders' Moondragon, lingering on her last click of life.

Like the previous X-Men vs. Brotherhood of Evil Mutants battle, this one was an absolute blast and deserves a substantial highlight reel! Here goes:

Brazenly landing on the flight deck of a SHIELD Helicarrier flying high above Manhattan, the color-coordinated terrorists of Hydra attack! SHIELD soldiers led by Nick Fury charge forward to meet the invaders head on!

Kitty Pryde - yes, from the X-Men - phases all the way into the back ranks of the villains.
(This piece is from her limited series.) Isn't she cute?

Baron Strucker and the Red Skull put their minions in front of them and push them forward into the line of fire of SHIELD's elite soldiers. The minions catch on too late that the "You first" tactic isn't in their best interest.

The opposing forces meet in the center of the flight deck. Bullets and fists and threats in the form of witty one-liners fly at the heads of every combatant! Minions fall hard.

The Red Skull boldly engages Sharon Carter, the woman he had once used in his plot to assassinate Captain America. (Of course, Cap was alive. You see, the bullet used didn't really kill him, it - oh, just forget that gimmick ever happened. Marvel already did.)

Sharon fought valiantly, knocking back the poisonous villain while, nearby, Baron Strucker was using his human shields to edge closer to Nick Fury to tickle-wickle him!

Sharon fell, as did the rest of the minions. The big guns, though, were still at full strength and didn't seem to care that I'd been at this for two hours already.

Baron Strucker KO'd Moondragon who had been perched on the edge of a control tower sniping Hydra Agents all this time! This was a significant turning point!

Eventually, Kitty phased back to support Nick Fury who was now surrounded by Strucker, Crossbones, and the Red Skull. It looked bad for Fury.

Finally, a reinforcement - the first one of the entire game! A SHIELD Agent appeared to help Nick take down Strucker and Crossbones after Kitty is KO'd.

But that nefarious Red Skull got the jump on Nick and, in two turns, KO'd Fury with a furious blast all the way back into the wall of the control tower!

So, an ordinary agent was left with the chance to become a hero!

"But, he was no Captain America."

So, after 27 characters were KO'd, only the Red Skull remains to move on to the next game...the big one.

Friday is Ragnarok, the finale of my Marvel solo Heroclix campaign!

Marvel Solo Heroclix: Phase 2, Region 2

Phase 2, Region 2: Central Park Zoo ("Centennial Park Zoo" map)

THUNDERBOLTS
The reformed villain cliche, once a great comic, now meh.

VS.

M.O.D.O.K.'S 11
Yeah, it's only 5, but MODOK's head is good for almost 6 more.

MODOK's 11 is a bit of a joke team. Unfortunately for the Thunderbolts, the previous phase's Region 2 survivors included Dr. Doom and a full-powered Dr. Octopus, along with four other characters, bringing the villains' point total to a ludicrous 1,192 versus the Thunderbolts' 585 total points.

Let's not pretend there was any suspense. The Thunderbolts lost.

Instead, let's pretend that MODOK is writing the rest of this blog entry.

I, MODOK, will attempt to make you inferiors understand my greatness, even though your heads are surely too small to sufficiently comprehend the ways of one such as MODOK!

Today, I, MODOK, traveled to the zoo to acquire fresh specimens for our experiments after yesterday's sharkanzeeephant incident back at A.I.M. headquarters did not, shall we say, perform to acceptable non-staff-eating levels. DO NOT TRY TO DECIPHER THE MASTERPLANS OF MODOK - MERELY TREMBLE HELPLESSLY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF WINGED GIRAFFODILES! BWA, HA, HA, HA, HA! OBEY!

When my minions and I, MODOK, arrived at the zoo, other supervillains joined us, clearly in an effort to LEARN FROM MODOK! And learn, they did! Yes, learn they did! LEARNING FROM MODOK IS LIKE LEARNING FROM TWENTY PROFESSORS ENHANCED BY STEROIDS, CYBERNETIC IMPLANTS, AND FOUR LOKO ENERGY DRINKS! LEARN!

For I, MODOK, was magnificent! When the Thunderdolts showed up to interfere with my work, I led the attack against them! 

Fixer, a former fellow evil scientist, used his special power to make a Laser Turret. Pathetic. I, MODOK, would have made a LASER TANK THE SIZE OF GUAM! DO NOT STEAL THE IDEAS OF MODOK OR YOU WILL DIE! THE GUAM TANK IS ON MODOK'S TO-DO LIST, A LIST YOU CANNOT HOPE TO FATHOM WITH YOUR SMALL HEAD!
 

The Thunderbutts could not take the hint to go away, not even when that hint was a DEVASTATING MENTAL BEAM projected from the large-tastic mind of me, MODOK! Dr. Doom simply watched from afar, and Dr. Octopus soon was KO'd by the combined efforts of FIVE heroes. FIVE! HA! Octopus was easy! What hope would the heroes have against TRUE scientific mega-brilliance?

NO HOPE! Soon, small heads were unconscious all over the zoo grounds, and only the great scientific minds of Scientist Supreme, Dr. Doom, and me, MODOK, remained to watch the last two Thunderklutzes Fixer and Songbird run away like scared children!

Now, I, MODOK, shall attend the evil after-party of Ragnarok! DO NOT TRY TO PREDICT HOW TERRIFYING MODOK WILL BE ON THAT DAY! Rather, practice begging MODOK for mercy. Yes, practice. Preferably in the mirror.

OBEY!

Even more great November solo reports!

What a fun month this is turning out to be! More to read:

MiekD is pulling out the classic clix and playing out his own version of my solo clix rules. He's got a blog up for the occasion HERE.

Dreamer is beginning some fascinating solo RPG theory play as he tests out the Monomyth structure as part of a session's set up. The relevant entries should be found HERE.

The always impressive Spacejacker has a "Solopalooza" planned for the month which includes Legos, gorgeous barbarians, and wrestling! Go follow his blog (the rest of us do)!

Tomorrow from me: A giant floating head.

Marvel Solo Heroclix: Phase 2, Region 1

Phase 2, Region 1: Brooklyn Bridge ("The Bridge" map)

THE AVENGERS
The first comic I ever read. Love these guys (except when Bendis writes them).

VS.

THE MASTERS OF EVIL
No politics, no psycho-babble - they're taking over the world because they feel like it

This was the first battle of Phase 2, and the first to include survivors from a previous phase. Four Young Avengers and two Heroes for Hire joined the Avengers, and two of the U-Foes joined the Masters of Evil. And speaking of joining, the Hercules piece used in this game joined me and my wife on our vacation to Greece in 2009!

Yes, in what amounted to one of the most childish things I've ever done, I secreted Hercules in my pocket, got him past my wife and customs, and then attempted to take pictures of him on vacation in Greece without my wife ever finding out until we got back home! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

For real, that's Hercules in front of the Parthenon.

Hercules looking for a Hydra.

Athens nightlife, baby!

A Santorini sunset.

Yeah. She almost divorced me.

Anyway, as for the solo battle, Hercules performed admirably until an awesome comic-book-accurate twist changed everything!

The heroes came on strong at first, barreling across the bridge to get to the worst threats on the field - Ultron and the Enchantress. Wisely, I kept those two in their Starting Area, utilizing their long range powers to manage the battle a safe distance away like proper super villains. Their lackeys, Mr. Hyde, Klaw, Grey Gargoyle, and the U-Foes X-Ray and Vapor were meant to soften up the heroes to make it easier for the Enchantress and Ultron to finish them off.

"Avengers Assemble!"
(I'm nine again when I look at this pic.)

Right from the beginning, the heroes dominated. Klaw got a hit on Black Panther and KO'd Stature, but he, Hyde, and X-Ray were out of the game pretty quickly. The villains needed help, and they got it with a Reinforcement Roll and the shocking appearance of the original Baron Zemo!

"These are EVIL purple pajamas from zee Fuhrer himself!"

The wicked Nazi, racist as ever, KO'd Power Man and Iron Fist, and then set his sights on Black Panther. Captain America slung his shield at Zemo while Iron Man and Hercules gained ground across the bridge.

Looks like the Avengers are winning, but who just rolled that Critical Hit?

Then, it happened. The Enchantress attempted a double Mind Control targeting Hercules and Iron Man, and she succeeded with a Critical Hit! Herc and Tony Stark, both duped by ladies plenty of times before, did her bidding. Herc KO'd Black Widow, and then Iron Man attacked Hercules, seriously wounding him!

Things got worse from there. The Masters got another reinforcement - Piledriver - and he crushed Iron Man. Ultron KO'd Herc, and it looked as though the Avengers would actually lose!

But luck was on the side of Good, and the Avengers got their own reinforcement - the mighty Thor! The god of thunder pummeled through Piledriver while Black Panther KO'd Zemo and led the charge at the leaders of the Masters of Evil!

This blog entry made it all the way through without a single "troubled waters" reference!

After Ultron got deactivated by the Panther, the Enchantress did exactly what she always does in the comics - she split. The Masters routed, and the Avengers saved the day!

So, from the Avengers, Captain America, Black Panther, and Thor along with previous survivors Wiccan and the female Hawkeye will move on to the final phase, Ragnarok! And it's a good thing they're going. I have a feeling the next game is going to be all about the villains...

Marvel Solo Heroclix: Phase 1, Region 4

Phase 1, Region 4: Xavier's Institute (outdoors)

X-MEN
Uncanny? Astonishing? X-treme? All of the above, baby!

VS.

BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS
Magneto = Awesome

This battle was the special Region 4 game after which survivors automatically advance to the Phase 3 final game. It's the final battle of Phase 1.

This was epic. It deserves a play-by-play:

The initial maneuvers were conservative. Sabretooth was in the best position
to take advantage of any X-Man wanting to gain ground.

With a game of range clearly about to dominate the middle of the field,
Rogue carried Wolverine over the lake to attack Sabretooth while shielded by large boulders.

Beast charged at Pyro, damaging him and preventing him from attacking Cyclops.

Sabretooth didn't wait for an invitation and charged Rogue.
On the next turn, Wolverine took a swipe. No one connected.

Pyro broke away from Beast, clearing the way for Magneto to make his first move.
It was a doozy; he KO'd Beast in a single Running Shot.

Cyclops took out Blob next. Throughout the game thus far,
he and Emma Frost had been poking away at the brute non-stop.

Mystique closed in on Cyclops and Emma, keeping stealthy as she did.

Then, catastrophe! Sabretooth gave Wolverine a solid slashing,
and Magneto flew to a rooftop to finish off the feral little Canadian!

Just when it looked bad for the X-Men, a Reinforcement Roll brought Professor X into the game!

Buoyed by Xavier's appearance, Emma engaged Mystique,
and Cyclops ran out and KO'd Pyro.

Magneto tried to blast Rogue but - CRITICAL MISS! The X-Men's greatest foe
took a click of damage, and the good muties were emboldened!

Mystique's blade did in Emma! Cyclops could only watch helplessly!

Meanwhile, Rogue got KO'd by Sabretooth and Magneto.
The X-Men were now SO losing.

After Cyclops dispatched Mystique, here's what the battlefield looked like.

Then, another Reinforcement Roll brought help to the X-Men - Psylocke!

Cyclops' Running Shot up to Magneto's rooftop perch produced a hit which Mags forced him to re-roll with the theme team prob bonus. But, it became a Critical Hit! Mags took serious damage!
An X-Men win was imminent!

Sabretooth charged up the roof and knocked back Cyclops, gravely wounding him.

Psylocke engaged Sabretooth, while Cyclops got around the building to finish off Magneto.

But it was not to be. Magneto blasted away Cyke, and Xavier was forced
to leave the safety of the starting area and confront his old friend/nemesis.

Magneto Perplexed up his range and scored a Critical Hit Pulse Wave.
One turn later, Sabretooth eviscerated Psylocke. It was over.

So, despite gaining 200 points-worth of reinforcements, the X-Men lost to the Brotherhood. To be clear, Magneto had only 2 clicks of life left in him, and Sabretooth was down four. That makes the win pretty amazing and justifies mowing someone's overgrown lawn in exchange for that super-rare Magneto piece, which is honestly how I got it.

So, the wounded baddies move on to the final game - Ragnarok - to join with Loki's Asgardians.