From Panel to Play: Captain America, First Avenger

CP143Captain America

Brush off any of that ice and snow folks, it’s time to dig up some information on this living time capsule. In today’s From Panel to Play, we will be discussing one of the most iconic superheroes of our day, a man that exemplifies the best virtues of humanity and has the willpower to see the fight for good go the length. Let’s take a look at Captain America, First Avenger!

Steve Rogers has changed a lot throughout his years. He started life as a skinny kid from New York with bravery and a moral compass that his body struggled to keep up with. These days, he still boasts the same moral compass and level of bravery, but you would struggle to find someone in better physical condition. This is the type of man you picture when you hear the word “superhero”.

Captain America started his life as a superhero as a part of the United States Military. After being lost and presumed dead near the end of World War II though, he was found still alive (although in suspended animation) decades later. Being revived in a time completely unfamiliar to him was a shock, to say the least, but he soon found a place for himself in this new day and age as a member of the burgeoning superhero movement. Acting not just as a member, but as a mentor and guide for this disparate collection of individuals, he would quickly become the shining heart of the Avengers.

Captain America, First Avenger is a new 4 Threat Leader for the Avengers affiliation. This version of the character represents an in your face, aggressive take on Steve Rogers. He has 4 Physical, 4 Energy and 3 Mystic defense and a front loaded 6 Stamina for his Healthy side and 5 Stamina for his Injured side.

One of Captain America’s most iconic attack is his Shield Bounce. This Range 3, Strength 5 attack doesn’t cost any Power to use and will gain him Power equal to the damage he deals. When he rolls a Wild and Hit during the attack, it will Bounce. This allows him to make an additional Shield Bounce attack against another character within Range 3 of the first target (which could also end up generating him some power!).

As a nod to the rough and tumble life he led as a young man, the First Avenger is sometimes known as the Brooklyn Brawler. This is also a Range 3, Strength 5 attack, but this one costs him 4 Power to use. The reason it costs him some Power is the benefits provided by its special rules. Having always been willing to stand up to a bully, even long before he had his current physical capabilities, this attack allows him to add dice to his attack roll equal to the target characters Size. This means it will almost always be at least a Strength 7 attack! It also has the Push rule when he rolls a Wild, allowing him to push size 3 or less characters Away Short. It also has the rule Frontliner, which continues the theme of him throwing himself against multiple enemies. When he rolls a Wild, Hit and Shield in the attack roll, he can make an additional Brooklyn Brawler attack against a different enemy character within Range 3.

His Leadership, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, represents his time as one of the pivotal members of the Avengers. Ready to take charge regardless of who is on the field, Captain America, First Avenger has the tactical knowledge to steer his allies where they can best impact the battle. This Leadership allows allied characters to spend 1 Power during an attack roll when they have rolled at least 1 Hit result. When doing so, they can change 1 of their attack roll results to any other result. The potential applications for this are hard to quantify as it means that for a single Power, characters are able to guarantee single result triggers in their attack rolls and have a much greater chance of reaching those multi-result trigger requirements.

His first superpower is an Active superpower representing his willingness to throw himself into the fight. For 2 Power and an Action, Captain America can Charge into battle. This superpower allows him to make a move action followed by an attack action. The ability to perform two actions for the cost of 1 is always a useful superpower.

He also has access to a reactive superpower for the cost of 2 Power known as Perfect Block. The picture of Captain America is never complete unless it includes his iconic shield and this superpower means that when he is targeted by an attack, he can add 2 dice to his defense roll against that attack. Who doesn’t like rolling 6 defense dice when being attacked?!

Last, but not least, we have a superpower that exists only on his Injured side. You won’t find it on the front of his card, but this superpower represents the never-ending willpower residing in this man. Even if he has been Dazed and flipped to his Injured side, he just keeps getting back up. I Can Do This All Day is an innate superpower that lets Captain America, First Avenger count Blanks in his defense rolls as successes against any attack. This man will never shrink before evil!

When you’re ready to lead the charge, be sure to pre-order your copy of the Earth’s Mightiest Core Set at your local game store or through the webstore today. Also, be sure to check back later for yet another installment of From Panel to Play, the series where we give you your first look at how your favorite characters transition to the tabletop in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Until next time, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!