Now that we’re back online, it’s time for some battle reports.

THE SCENARIO: One named fig is the team leader. The rest must be generics.

MY FORCE:

Owlman [Crime Syndicate Fast Forces 002] 150
Bizarro Police [Elseworlds 021] 50
Corrupt GCPD Cop [Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls Fast Forces 006] 40 (her Boss: Owlman)
Hired Henchman [Batman 006a] 40 (his Boss: GCPD Officer)
Central City Police Captain [Flash 204] 40
GCPD Officer [Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls 013] 35 x 2
+ GCPD ATA 2 x 2
NYPD Officer [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 003a] 30 x 2
Henchman’s Goon [Batman V Superman 004] 20 x 2
= 494 points (Gotham City Underworld themed team)

This is a team of shifty mobility built to swarm and enable the tentpole alike.

FIRST FIGHT

vs. Paul’s Green Lantern Corps of Hal & Sinestro [War of Light ]@300 and Green Lantern Recruit [ ] x 4. I chose the old Negative Zone map (from  Chaos War?) to tighten lines of fire. It was worse for me, but I managed. Key Moment: Used Central Captain to lay down Smoke Cloud to get Owlman into position to get a successful triple-Enhancement shot on Halnestro. Though the broccoli-heads nailed my swarm with multiple Energy Explosions, Owlman was able to chase down the 300-point duo for the win.

SECOND FIGHT

Lenny had a World of Krypton led by Superman [Trinity War 050], Kryptonian Infiltrator [Superman 002], Kryptonian Soldier [Superman 002] and Kryptonian Rebel [Man of Steel 004]. I picked the United Nations because Owlman had a statement to make about taking the world for ransom or something. Of course Superman had a thing to say about it. But he’s not as smart as Owlman. Key Moments: Corrupt GCPD Cop was the first off the map, but she was only used to draw out Supes, who hid behind the Stealthy Infiltrator. A GCPD Officer called for backup and the swarm against the Infiltrator began. She went down, then the GCPD cops pulled the whole squad except Owlman and a respawned Corrupt Cop behind closed doors. Superman tried heat visioning Owlman, but he simply Masterminded to his underling. He was closing in on the Soldier when time ended for a 78-35 victory.

FINAL FIGHT

Sammy brought Steve Rogers [Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD ] with SHIELD Infiltrators, Elite Agents, Bodyguards, Paranormal Investigator,  and a SHIELD Cyborg. The Key Moments came when Steve got a narrow LOF over the elevated terrain I was on to Energy Explode my swarm, including my medic — but in doing so, Rogers was in the open and able to be Outwit by my Captain, then shot by Owlman. From there, attacks were focused until Rogers was gone for the decisive margin of victory.

BY PIECE:

With Sidestep, Enhancement and Underworld TA, Henchman’s Goons are still top tier for a Gotham Underworld force.

But even better are the GCPD Officers, the true key to this enterprise. With the GCPD ATA, they could free move 4 squares at Beginning of Turn. Then one could use her POWER trait “I Need Backup!” to place two other Police within 4 squares next to her and thus extend their attack reach considerably — or evac fellow cops in trouble. Also sporting Sidestep and Enhancement, they were the engine that made this team go.

NYPD Officers, by comparison, were only occasionally clutch. But as yet another source of Sidestep+Enhancement — as well as their trait allowing use of PD TA to aid fellow PD users from as far as 5 away — they were solid additions to the force.

Now with Hired Henchman, we’re getting to the specialist members of the team. Played on his “a” dial, he’s the medic who kept fellow mates on their best clicks with ease. Plus he selected one of the GCPD Officers as his Boss (guess he’s on parole, trying to go straight or something) and thus was able to wildcard her two team abilities: Police (never used) and GCPD ATA (used a lot). The latter, coupled with Underworld TA, gave him extra use as a taxi.

Aside from his conditional Leadership SP (works only on Police keyword for token drops) granting that oft-needed sixth action, the Central City Police Captain was the team’s sole source of Outwit. The GCPD Officers enabled him to get into position to use the POWER action in a couple of clutch moments.

Corrupt GCPD Cop’s inability to be scored as long as her Boss is alive makes her the best Mastermind fodder. Aside from that, her dual TAs of PD and Underworld also add to her utility. And she is SO apropos for the team’s theme.

Bizarro Police is the one nod to just plain playability I made for the force. Flight, Charge, Super Strength, and a DV SP that’s difficult to dig through makes it a great taxi, attacker and tieup for just 50 points.

 

But of course, the raison d’etre for the whole team is Owlman, who grants all members who have either Police or Gotham City keywords the Gotham City Underworld keyword as well, making this a themed team that are ALL on his payroll. >:)  Moreover, he aids his own cause by giving him a whole team he can pick with Mastermind from 4 squares away (such as the aforementioned Corrupt cop) leaving him only vulnerable to Pulse Wave, really. And he has that trait “Into the Shadows” that extends his reach and gets him out of trouble with relative ease. Plus he’s a key source of Prob Control (CSA TA). Really, his only weakness is low damage for his huge (for this team) price point. Having six allies with Enhancement top dial covers that area.

I’ve wanted to run an Owlman-led team of bad cops and crooks ever since the Fast Forces piece came out, so this was a dream come true.