Readers may recall a long review series in which I looked at one of my favorite characters, Black Panther, and how definitive his clix versions were in the following metrics:
- His SMARTS
- His SOVEREIGNTY
- His SPEED
- His STEALTH
- His STRENGTH
- And his SURVIVABILITY.
BLACK PANTHER (WizKids MVOP26-007) 50 points
- SMARTS: Outwit is Black Panther’s signature power, and this version gets it late in his dial. Maybe too late. B-
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership is a must, and he has it traited with an extra feature allowing him to share his Speed, AV and damage values with THE WHOLE TEAM. A+
- SPEED: A true Panther has Improved Movement:Elevated and good values or powers. This LE instead has IM:Characters and his 8 Charge is just average. B-
- STEALTH: ‘Nuff said. His Wakanda team ability covers this. A
- STRENGTH: Can he hit for 3-6 clicks on top dial? Yes, with his 3 damage Close Combat Expert on top and his Blades/Claws/Fangs later. Slips to 2 damage on one of the CCE clicks, though, so just B
- SURVIVABILITY: Damage reducers and good values are key. He totally lacks the former, depending instead on Super Senses and a pair of late STOPs with Combat Reflexes to live through attacks. C+
THE KING’S VERDICT: The “Leading By Example” trait also gives him Willpower, and when he succeeds at it -or- Leadership, he does the stat-sharing. So suddenly the whole team can be credible attackers. This makes him one of the best BP figs in the game, though the lack of IM:Elevated, starting Outwit, and any armor keep him from my definitive status. Also, the trait can be a double-edged sword, either via bad d6 rolls or him inadvertently nerfing a stronger teammate that turn.