From Panel To Play: Black Bolt

CP34 Black Bolt

In this installment of From Panel to Play, we’re looking at the real power of public speaking as we dive into the king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt!

The leader of the reclusive and powerful Inhumans, Blackagar Boltagon’s words, carries incredible power—not just because he speaks as the king of a genetically enhanced group of superhumans. His voice is one of the most devastating forces known. With a word, he can level a mountain or destroy a city. To control this destructive power, he has undergone rigorous training to control himself. Unless he desires, Black Bolt remains utterly silent, making not a sound even while he dreams.

Black Bolt seeks to protect his fellow Inhumans. He was instrumental in their migration from Earth to a secluded region of the moon, has defended against human renegades and potential usurpers, Skrull infiltration, and led his people through one crisis after another.

Black Bolt’s miniature captures the Inhuman king in one of the rare moments when he releases his voice’s power. Braced against the unfathomable force of it, the ground beneath Black Bolt’s feet shatters—like the defenses of the unfortunate foe on the receiving end of his vocal destruction.

Black Bolt is one of the most powerful Inhumans and among the most powerful beings in existence. Naturally, that had to get reflected in his rules. But Black Bolt is all about restraint. You have to push him to see what makes him so dangerous.

For 5 Threat, you get a great combatant with good Physical and Energy Defense. His standard attack, Energy Bolt, is a Strength 5 attack with the Pierce ability, which allows you to change one of the defender’s successful defense dice into a blank. Energy Bolt is a quick and limited use of his Inhuman ability to manipulate electrons. Being struck by it is a warning. If pushed too far, he can do so, so much worse.

Looking at his Powers, the first thing that stands out is his Leadership ability, King of the Inhumans. It represents Black Bolt’s calm and systematic approach to directing his fellow Inhumans in battle, assuring they work as a cohesive team. Appropriately, this Leadership affects the Inhumans affiliation and allows one character per turn to spend 1 Power, causing an allied character within Range 3 to gain 1 Power in return.

As anyone who’s confronted Black Bolt can attest, the last thing you want to do is make him angry. The destructive power of his voice is so immense, Black Bolt only uses it as a last resort. When he decides to let loose after being Injured, he can destroy whole cities. Black Bolt is a rare character whose power increases substantially when he becomes injured. His Stamina rises from 5 to a massive 9, and he gains the Whisper attack.

With a hushed voice, Black Bolt’s Whisper strikes his targets with tremendous force. This Beam 4 energy attack hits at Strength 9, destroys any terrain of Size 2 or smaller it overlaps and leaves the target of the attack Stunned and possibly Staggered. It is a beam of destructive quasi-sonic force that flattens anything in its path. Of course, this doesn’t come cheap and requires Black Bolt to spend 6 Power to use.

Like all other Inhumans, Black Bolt has enhanced strength and durability thanks to the process of Terragenisis. In-game, the innate power Inhuman allows him to reroll one die in an attack or defense roll, perfect for those clutch moments in a game when you need it.

That’s all for our first look at how Black Bolt leaped Panel to Play. Check back for our next installment, when we examine another of your favorite characters as they jump onto the table in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Until then, this is Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off.