Bronze Age FAQ – PJ Bolin

By
Majestix

by PJ Bolin

Hello there Apex readers!  Today is going to be a bit different of an article from me.  I am going to be reviewing some Bronze Age goodies!  I want to get some clarifications for how some effects work, as well as announce a new banning (and why).  I’m even including a team build as to why we decided to ban this particular figure, as sad as it makes me.  I will be discussing Bronze Age Limited specifically, but these will likely apply to traditional Bronze as well. (Just don’t expect resource clarifications).

First, let’s get into some rule/effect clarifications for those of you who are either new to the format, or just never were certain on particular effects!

Relics

  • Relics are NOT equipment
  • Relics can be picked up by non-standard characters
  • Relics ARE special objects and count toward your 3 object limit
  • A character may be equipped AND have a Relic on them at the same time
  • Relics drop in the square of the character when the character is KO’d
  • Relic roll numbers are on the card. A POWER action must be given to attempt to pick up the Relic.  This effect is no longer once per game, unless specified as such.

Equipped During Force Construction (Possessors)

  • Some figures are allowed to equip to others at force construction. These are often referred to as Possessors (or entities).
  • Dials will “link”. Meaning that you match their click numbers.  It is important to know this, because it will NOT link your lower point starting line, with click 1 of the possessor.
  • For the War of Light Entities, Jocasta, Brainiac, and Eclipso you will select (at the beginning of your turn, and after resolutions of taking damage), 1 power that is showing on the linked dial, and 1 stat to increase. The stat you select must be higher on the dial of the possessor.  Ion is an exception to this, as he specifically allows 2 powers and 2 stats to be selected.
  • Other effects like this (Proteus) have their own rules for functionality.

ATA

  • Your team must be a theme team to use an ATA
  • The ATA you choose does NOT have to be for the theme you are playing.
  • At least one of your figures MUST have the prerequisite
  • During force construction, you MUST pay for and play the ATA on EVERY character that meets that prerequisite.
  • You can only play one ATA on your team, but you may assign it to any number of characters if you have the available points.
  • If using a team replacement mechanic, the figures coming in from the sideline will not have the ATA

Legacy Cards

  • These are treated as independent characters from their original versions
  • They do not replace the old card for legality purposes. If a figure is otherwise Bronze Age legal and receives a Legacy Card, you select which to use.
  • If, in the future, a Legacy Card is released for a banned game element, the Legacy Card will be legal (unless otherwise stated)

Retired Symbols/Elements:

Duo: Grants Duo Attack and Split.

Duo attack: POWER: 1 Target, This character makes two attacks.

Split: If this character has no action tokens “POWER: Replace this character with one or more qualifying characters listed on the cards entry. These characters are placed the same number of clicks from their starting click as this character.  The combined point value cannot exceed that of the character that activated this action.”

Merge: When this character is adjacent to other friendly characters that each represent one distinct qualifying character listed on a Duo character’s card and all of them have no action tokens, give this character a free action to replace all of them with that Duo character, the same number of clicks from its starting line as this character. The combined point value of the qualifying characters must be equal to or greater than the point value of the Duo character (unless that Duo character previously used the Split ability to be replaced by these same characters). The Duo character can’t use the Split ability this turn. Protected: Outwit

Transporter: Grants Passenger: 1 and Move and Attack

Move and attack: “ If no opposing characters are adjacent: Hypersonic Speed, modify Attack -2.”

Sharpshooter: Grants Sharpshooter ability.

Sharpshooter:  Improved Targeting Adjacent. This character may draw line of fire through opposing characters.

Windows: Windows are a subset of walls that can have a line of fire drawn through them, but can’t be moved through. Windows are indicated by dashed blue squares with a black outline. Windows are considered walls (and therefore blocking terrain) for all effects, including destroying it.
• Adjacency: Same as for walls.
• Movement: Same as for walls.
• Line of Fire: Windows do not impede line of fire in
any way.

Doors: Doors are a subset of walls that block line of fire, but can be moved through.  Doors are indicated by dashed white squares with a black outline.  Doors are considered walls (and therefore blocking terrain) for all effects, including destroying it.

  • Adjacency: Same as for walls.
    • Movement: Doors do not impede movement in any way.
    • Line of Fire: Same as for walls.

Steve Rogers w/ Drones

This is a much more specific interaction.  We have kicked around the idea of banning Steve Rogers, the new SR Captain America, or every standard sized drone.  However, we think it just makes much more sense to say it doesn’t work.  This is an interpretation of a ruling from the WIN that we are applying to Drones in order to fix an abusable mechanic before it becomes a problem.  Steve Rogers can NOT select one of the AOU Ultron Drones for “We’ll take all the help we can get, if you’re worthy.”

Our reasoning for that stems back to this:

We are using this to rule that Drones are only 30 points when paying for them on the build, but not for any other game effect.  This does have a bit of an incidental effect on a particular resource that we are trying to decide how to address, but it will likely just be a “spirit of the game” style ruling that will disallow that as well.  Do your homework and see if you can figure out the interaction!  Comment if you got it!

The Banning of Ultron-7

So, the Steve Rogers discussion leads us to here.  Ultron-7… The one drone that will be able to circumvent being added to a team replacement effect.  Using the F4 SLOP Human Torch he can gain the Fantastic Four keyword.  I have thrown together an example build of why this is a problem.  It is far from a perfect build, but you will get the point.

Build:

FF2021 Human Torch 50
Ultron-7 30
Ultron-7 30
Ultron-7 30
F4002 Invisible Woman 40
F4002 Invisible Woman 40
F4002 Invisible Woman 40
Mr. Fantastic 30
Mik 10

Sideline:

Franklin Richards 65
Human Torch (WotR Chase) 100
Legacy Lockjaw 30
Empyre PAHK Wolverine 100
Dad Thing 50
Reed Richards Alpha 60
Ghost Rider Prime 100
Nathaniel or Valeria Richards 40
Valeria Von Doom 30

So, have you ever wanted to play a 585 point team in a 300 point format? (This is slightly under that, because I didn’t maximize all the swaps.)  With the Ultron-7 counting as 125 points for game effects, that means he adds an extra 95 points to your build for EACH ONE.  The swaps look something like:

1st Swap:

2nd Swap:

3rd Swap:

 

Yeah, so ending up with almost double the build as the opponent isn’t quite something that we consider a positive play experience.  We decided that something about this effect needed to go.  The 3 elements that make it happen are Ultron-7, Human Torch, and Invisible Woman.  We always look to ban the game element that will have the least overall impact on the format, while still eliminating the problem.  Human Torch and Invisible Woman both help toward creative team building opportunities while Ultron-7 doesn’t really effect too much about the format since there are many other drones to choose from.  The only thing lost is a drone for the Inhumans keyword.  That is an acceptable sacrifice.