WTF? Fridays...The Avengers Alliance Edition...5/31/2013

As I've mentioned before, I'm a fan of this game.

It keeps me (somewhat) connected to my friends, and lets me vent some of my frustrations by beating up on characters like Viper, Blizzard and Whiplash.

But then they have these Special Ops that run independently from the regular game.

Yeah, you can get some cool stuff and characters, but you have to jump through flaming hoops of poo to get anything.

Plus, you can only play those parts when you have enough "Iso-8"...which unless you're really lucky, you have to buy...with like real money.

Then there's the PvP...where you are "encouraged" to put your team against those of other real players.

Only you don't actually fight against other players, you fight against a player the computer picks...along with whichever characters the computer picks...after you've already decided which members of your team you're gonna use.

Now I'm getting this "Challenge Mode" thing, where I can choose the difficulty level of a given mission.

On the surface, that's okay, the more difficult the level, the more rewards you get.

But it makes little sense.

The way the game works is: each level has six missions, and you can earn up to five stars for each mission. Once that's done, the level is completed.

You earn stars not just by completing the mission five times, but by earning enough points to attain the stars, however many times you complete the mission.

Here's the kicker - because the Challenge Mode is...well...challenging, it's harder to complete. Meaning you have to use more of your gadgets to win, and therefore have to buy more gadgets to replace what you use.

And yeah, you get more XP per victory, but you earn less points by the end of the mission.

Meaning you have to play the missions more times to earn the stars.

So in the end, the choice between Normal and Challenge Mode isn't about difficulty levels, it's about deciding if you want more XP or if you want to earn all five stars faster.

I'm gonna go lie down now...

What the heck was I thinking...

So I added another to my team...

...and now I have to justify it.

First of all, he only cost me 12 Command Points to recruit. Yeah there's another Special Ops open, with Vision as the prize, but to get him I'd have first recruit Black Knight, Captain Britain and Psylocke...for 315 Command Points total. I don't have 315 Command Points...and there's no way in Hell I'll get 315 Command Points in 17 days...so screw it.

But another reason I wanted him is because he's a Tactician. Until now, Hawkeye was my only Tactician and there's many a foe that can be beaten quickly when using a Tactician.

The fact that you need to recruit Scott to completely clear all missions in Level 2 is just a benny.

I hate the costume though. When the opportunity presents itself, I'll spend the extra CP to get another costume for him. Whether the "Jim Lee X-Men" look or the "Original X-Men" look, I don't know.

Heck - I may even spring for the "X-Factor" costume...

My team so far...

Iron Man...who you start with.

Hawkeye, who's most likely second.

Black Widow...who's awesome.

Black Cat...also awesome.

Iron Fist, an unusual pick.

Hulk - 'cause...yeah.

Human Torch, who I can't find in a larger image for some reason...

Invisible Woman

Sif

She-Hulk

Phoenix, who I also can't find a larger image of...

...and Nightcrawler.

Cool game. Really.

I have officially given up...

Not on the game, per se, just this...

I'm back...

Okay, I know I've been out a while so let me spend this morning catching up with stuff...

A while ago, I talked about a Valiant Comics panel I attended at the 2012 Coast City Comic Con (which I will finish by the way) where I asked if there were any plans for a Unity-type event in the near future...

...I was told "not at the moment"...

...well either I was outright lied to, or I gave someone the idea, because "Harbinger Wars" is coming in 2013.

According to an article in CBG (two, maybe three issues left and counting?) the storyline will involve Harbinger and Bloodshot, and bring more of the previous Valiant's characters back into play. But not X-O Manowar.

So while technically a cross-over, this isn't an all-out company-wide event. I call this a draw.

Am I Ready for Some Football...?

Heck yes I am.

I was sooo glad Denver lost I can't even describe it.

The 49'ers and Falcons play first today at 3:00. The Pats play the Ravens at 6:30.




I have to work today ('natch) but I'll catch the second half. The Pats' defense has stepped up, but all this talk about Brady is nuts. Each of their three Super Bowl wins was by three points. That's a field-goal, not a touchdown. Plus, in every game, the defense made plays and took the ball away. Now, Brady's a Hall-of-Famer no question. But he's not the reason the team has three rings. The team is the reason they've got three rings. Brady would be the first person to say that too. So the announcers and commentators need to open their eyes...and history books...and stop talking up just the QB. That's all I'm saying.

Damn this game's addictive.

What I don't understand is how my best friend, who started the game after I did (and has helped me out with all the SHIELD points) is like twenty levels ahead of me...

Schmuck was always lucky...