[OT] Marvel Heroclix

[Neowolf]

I'm thinking about getting into the game, but I've got a few questions first.

1. Are all the minis prepainted? The figures in the starter set I was looking at were, but do any of them come unpainted? I've never done any painting before, but it's something I might be interested in getting into.

2. Are the rules difficult to learn? I've sort of glanced at the quick-start rules on the WizKids site, but just like anything else, the true complexity of the rules doesn't come out until you actually sit down to play.

3. Is there a huge monetary investment required to really be able to play? This is what has always turned me away from games like Warhammer 40K in the past.

4. Is the game itself fairly fast paced?

5. Can you buy individual figures? For instance, if I wanted to put together a full set of X-Men, could I go out and buy Wolverine, Cyclops, Archangel, Beast, and the rest of the crew?

Thanks for any info!

Edit: added another question

Edit, part II: Score! Post #100!

 

[el-remmen]

I'm thinking about getting into the game, but I've got a few questions first.

1. Are all the minis prepainted? The figures in the starter set I was looking at were, but do any of them come unpainted? I've never done any painting before, but it's something I might be interested in getting into.

Yes, they are all pre-painted, and very crappily. But you can always touch them up yourself.

2. Are the rules difficult to learn? I've sort of glanced at the quick-start rules on the WizKids site, but just like anything else, the true complexity of the rules doesn't come out until you actually sit down to play.

They are incrediblely easy to learn and play.

3. Is there a huge monetary investment required to really be able to play? This is what has always turned me away from games like Warhammer 40K in the past.

I have been happily playing and have spent only about $35 on boosters (a friend bought the starter set) - I am limiting my purchases as to not end up like a M:TG addict. But I can easily someone spending a whole lot.

4. Is the game itself fairly fast paced?

Yes, once you know the rules and as long as the players don't take too long deciding what to do - also the fairly limited amount of actions you can take each turn helps. 300 pt teams and higher tend to slow the game down a bit though.

5. Can you buy individual figures? For instance, if I wanted to put together a full set of X-Men, could I go out and buy Wolverine, Cyclops, Archangel, Beast, and the rest of the crew?

I have heard that some places do this - but as it is a collectible game it would certainly be the more expensive way to go about it - better to buy boosters and do some trading.

 

[Neowolf]

Cool, thanks for the speedy response. I've seen pictures of the minis (but have not yet seen them up close for myself), and all the minis in the pictures were painted, but figured that was just to show them off better in the photo.

 

[Bagpuss]

The rights to use Marvel characters must be costing them a lot since from what I've seen of the boosters they are nearly half as much again in cost compared to Mage Knight.

 

[Holy Bovine]

I'm thinking about getting into the game, but I've got a few questions first.

1. Are all the minis prepainted? The figures in the starter set I was looking at were, but do any of them come unpainted? I've never done any painting before, but it's something I might be interested in getting into.

Yup all of them come pre painted. Some are quite good (I have a Rookie Hercules and Veteran Spiderman that I wouldn't touch - but I also have a Rookie Captain America that desperatly needs touching up). They are quite easy to piant over if you want (I'm not sure what they are made of but the figures take water-based paints quite nicely).

2. Are the rules difficult to learn? I've sort of glanced at the quick-start rules on the WizKids site, but just like anything else, the true complexity of the rules doesn't come out until you actually sit down to play.

If you have a Starter Set you have all the rules there are - the 16 page booklet and reference card to superpowers is everything you need to learn. The rules run very smoothly and I have yet to have any real dispute over rules - they follow a logical order and are not really open to 'stretching' by "rules-lawyers" (in this case read cheaters).

3. Is there a huge monetary investment required to really be able to play? This is what has always turned me away from games like Warhammer 40K in the past.

Not at all. I have spent about $50 CAN (about $35 US) on the game so far and have about 1000 points worth of figures (slightly skewed towards heroes right now - although the rules allow for traditionally bad guys to work along side some good guys I like keeping them seperate). Considering that 300 points per side is a big game I would say Heroclix is very cheap to get into. Of course that won't stop me from get a huge collection .

4. Is the game itself fairly fast paced?

In games under 300 points it is very fast. Even with a hoard of cheap figures I found that low point games are quick and sufficently bloody . Expect to finish a 200 point game in about 80-90 minutes at first and once you are reasonably familiar with the rules that will drop to about 60 minutes.

5. Can you buy individual figures? For instance, if I wanted to put together a full set of X-Men, could I go out and buy Wolverine, Cyclops, Archangel, Beast, and the rest of the crew?

My local games shop sells quite a few single figures (I'm going there today to see what new ones they have out) but expect to pay extra for rare/in demand figures like Wolverine, Magneto, Juggernaut and any Unique figure (those are the ones with the silver ring on their bases - I have seen a Unique Vision sell for $30 US on eBay). Typically I pay between $1 CAN for really common Rookie figures that I want multiples of to $5 CAN for 'cool' guys like Experienced Magneto or Hulk. Ask your local games store if they plan on selling individual figures ornot (and maybe you'll give them a good idea )


Hope that helps.

 

[Holy Bovine]

The rights to use Marvel characters must be costing them a lot since from what I've seen of the boosters they are nearly half as much again in cost compared to Mage Knight.

Yes but the Marvel Heroes are so much cooler than Mage Knight .

Seriously I wouldn't doubt that that is why the Heroclix stuff is more expensive. Although to be honest I didn't think they were overpriced at all, I never collected Mage Knight but compared to regular miniatures - even plastic ones - Heroclix is about average. A booster pack of 4 figures is $10 CAN including tax - that's only 2.50 each - pretty reasonable to me but YMMV.

Besides now I have lots of Superhero miniatures to play Mutants and Masterminds when it comes out in October!

 

[Lord Mhoram]

The rights to use Marvel characters must be costing them a lot since from what I've seen of the boosters they are nearly half as much again in cost compared to Mage Knight.

That may be your local store doing a mark up.

The SRP of mage knight booster is either 5.99 or 6.99 (depending which expansion).

The SRP of Heroclix is 6.99.

In the shop I manage Heroclix and Mage Knight are the same price.


And I am waiting the 3-4 months for the DC set to come out. *sigh*


And according to the scuttlebut I've heard, Wizkids is in talks to do Heroclix with Image, Dark Horse and CrossGen.

 

[Corinth]

I'd like Wizkids to talk to Lucas Licensing about making a SW Clix game.

 

[Aitch Eye]

IIRC, Wizards' deal with Lucas includes miniature games, and Hasbro has that Jedi Duels game out, so the rights to a Clix-type game are probably tied-up.

 

[Pramas]

I'd like Wizkids to talk to Lucas Licensing about making a SW Clix game.

WotC has the miniatures rights as part of their deal with Lucasfilm. When I was Creative Director for minis at WotC, I tried for two years to get the green light on a Star Wars minis game. No such luck.