Going Rogue.

That amazing upgrade to the girl with the ultimate empathy powers was drawn by jollyjack, and it leads me to a major collision of mythological loyalty.

Squirrel Girl, Longshot, or Rogue?

When it comes to the best first turn play in the history of Vs. System, that is my dilemma. I love them all with all my heart. Mulletman and Bushy Tail both feed my taste for one-drop army candy swarms, but I have always had a huge soft spot for Rogue alongside mad respect for the advice of the Pro Circuit Champions of the game.

Enter David Leader.

The man they call “Disney” is as good as it gets when it comes to real strategy theory. Our new Rogue card actually caused him to gush. Her ability to create massive resource acceleration is taking off the gloves and teasing me with my favorite white-striped Southern Sweetie as an alternative to my usual weenie-fest on Turn one. It all revolves around the new mechanic called Shift, and David Leader explains how good it can be:

Turn 1: Shift counter on Shadowcat.
Turn 2: Proteus, add Shift counter to Shadowcat.
Turn 3: Shift out Blink and any other 3 drop (2 resource points), exhaust Proteus to add a counter to the other 3-drop (hopefully Iron Man), pay 1 to bring in Shadowcat, exhaust to bring in Blink, put down your 3 drop. If it was Iron Man, stun your hunted and drop a 2-drop.

As for drafting Shift, it’s like Boost; even if I’m not playing those teams, I want some of it in my deck, because it helps solve one of draft’s biggest potential issues: failing to use all of your resource points typically results in a loss.

And I do agree that Rogue is the best Turn 1 play ever.

So there you have it. The godhand of Shift domination, a reason to draft toward it, and the thing that is driving me more mad than ever.

Squirrel Girl, Longshot, or Rogue?

Strange Methods.

I have spoken before about the Marvel Comics superhero named Rogue.  Her powers are a sort of mega-empathy: She absorbs the abilities of anyone she touches. 

I can relate.

Lately, my empathy powers are really hauling ass.  We have been working pretty obsessively for Barack Obama’s campaign, and we have found a wonderful community of like-minded Americans that are totally energized and ready to bring hope and healing back to our glorious nation.  We are all absorbing each others’ powers, and focusing our heroic efforts.

This morning I found those three Marvel Masterpieces sketches to share with you, and they seem rather fitting.  Empathy magick is a very messy business.  There are always doubts, fuzzy boundries, and a large patches of chaos.  Many times I feel like that Dr. Strange drawing.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.