From Panel to Play: Nightcrawler

Today’s From Panel to Play can be summarized with one word: BAMF! That’s right, it’s time to talk about the devilish trapeze artist turned mutant superhero Kurt Wagner, better known as Nightcrawler!

Abandoned by his mother, the shapeshifting mutant Mystique, and father, the demon Azazel, when he was a baby, Kurt Wagner’s life had a difficult start. His dark blue skin, prehensile tail, and glowing yellow eyes made him stand out and almost certainly assured him a life both difficult and short. However, he was saved by a Romani witch who raised him in a traveling carnival, and he went on to become a trapeze artist for the carnival with his adoptive brother and sister. Unfortunately, it did not last.

The carnival was sold to an American that forced Kurt to move to America and perform in sideshows. Kurt managed to escape and return home to Europe where he found his brother had become a murderer. Due to a confrontation and unfortunate circumstance, Nightcrawler appeared responsible for his own brother’s death. Thinking that this demonic being was also the cause of the deaths in town, they attempted to bring him to “justice”. A nearby mob of townsfolk found Kurt standing over the body. Thinking this demonic looking being was the cause of the murders, they attempted to kill him. Just before they could, however, they were stopped by the telepathic suggestion of Charles Xavier. Xavier took the opportunity to invite Kurt to join the X-Men, and Kurt agreed, joining the team as Nightcrawler.

Nightcrawler enters Marvel: Crisis Protocol as a Threat Value 4 character with 6 Stamina on his Healthy side and 5 Stamina on his Injured side with a respectable defensive stat line. His fans may be surprised to see his Medium move, but this is a little deceptive as he can BAMF! like no one else.

His first attack, Teleporting Strike, sets the stage. This Physical attack is Range 3 with Strength 5, and it grants him Power equal to the Damage dealt to the target. Its Ha-HA! rule causes the Stun special condition if he is further than Range 2 away after damage is dealt. This is a solid attack, but it’s Nightcrawler’s second attack where the show begins.

Brimstone Blitz is an odd attack at first glance. It costs 1 Power to use and is only Strength 5, but its first special rule makes things interesting. Nightcrawler gets to add dice to this attack for each time he has been Placed this Turn. Additionally, this attack may trigger Flurry of Blows which grants Nightcrawler another attack action against the same target! This attack action can then be used to make another Brimstone Blitz. Flurry of Blows does not prevent the additional attack action from benefiting from Flurry of Blows which can make for incredible moments as Nightcrawler flashes around his target in his trademark flurry of teleporting attacks. The frenzy can cause the strongest of opponents to fall in a cloud of dark blue smoke, flashing blades, and whipping tail!

These attacks ultimately tell a small part of the story that is Nightcrawler’s card. None of them enable the ability he is best known for–BAMF! It’s his superpowers that really tell his story.

Nightcrawler’s first superpower, the appropriately named, BAMF!, lets him spend 1-3 Power to Place within Range X (where X is equal to how much Power was spent on it). This short to medium range teleport is sure to help him get where he needs to be to use his attacks to turn the tide of battle. When used in place of a move action, he may be able to set up two attacks on his opponents as he BAMFs! into position and unleashes his blue smoke enshrouded fury.

Puff of Smoke dials Brimstone Blitz up and brings Nightcrawler’s offensive abilities into focus. This Reactive superpower allows Nightcrawler to place himself within Range 2 of his target after damage is dealt by an attack. At first this might not seem like much, but this superpower costs 0 Power! It is almost always available to use and has great synergy with his attacks! Note the timing of this and Teleporting Strike. He can trigger Ha-HA! before using Puff of Smoke to Stun his opponent then Placing close to start up a Brimstone Blitz. It can then be used during Brimstone Blitz to reposition and, if Flurry of Blows is triggered, increase the number of dice the next Brimstone Blitz will have!

Kurt’s teleportation abilities make him a formidable attacker, however, they also help him stay out of harm’s way. Combined with his natural agility and acrobatic skills, he is hard to catch during battle. Unglaublich Acrobatics is a Reactive superpower that allows him to add two dice to his defense rolls against Physical and Energy attacks as well as to his dodge rolls for 2 Power.

Nightcrawler’s natural color makes him blend into shadow in a way that can make him virtually undetectable. Invisible in Shadow is an Innate superpower that prevents enemies from targeting him with attacks from outside Range 3 while he is within Range 1 of a terrain feature Size 2 or larger. This limited ability to avoid attacks sets up some unique approaches to the battle as players BAMF! Nightcrawler from one terrain feature to the next.

Finally, Nightcrawler’s legendary mobility gets one last boost with his Wall Crawler Innate superpower to ensure he can traverse the battlefield quickly and efficiently.

With that, we BAMF! away! 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. Pre-order your copy of Nightcrawler at your local game store or through the webstore today.

Until next time, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off! BAMF!