Sorry, readers for the lack of updates last week.

I had planned to do my customary Top Ten list in the first week of the month like I do most months, this time on the new rules that kicked in July 1. But every time I sat down to write it up, I found myself either uninspired and bored with it or unable to write a decent countdown.

I don’t think I’m burning out. It’s just that unlike in last year’s rule overhaul, it was much harder to I.D. clear winners and losers, much less rank them.

So, here’s a super-condensed version for you:

WINNERS

• Sharpshooters: With the 2012 rules, they can draw line of fire past opposing characters all the time, not just when attacking. This is huge for Probability Control, Perplex and Outwit.
• Great Size: They got the ability to move right over even characters as big as themselves.
• Duos: Got the new Split ability to swap in the component characters instead of the duo figure. Certain duos could really benefit.
• Tiny Size: Finally, there’s a mechanic for the little guys in HeroClix to finally make them feel more like the characters they represent.
• Expensive Super-Strength characters and Stealth: This is because of the new Ultra Heavy Object mechanic. Ultra heavies deal +3 damage, can only be lifted by 100-plus-cost characters, can’t be thrown or TK’d and require 4 damage to wreck (making them good hiding places for Stealth).
• Earthbound/Neutralized: Wait, what? It’s true. Where before it killed off the character’s abilities, now it only changes the symbols, allowing the affected character to use abilities from an outside source.
• Multi-base figures: Before they needed openings large enough to move their entire base through. Now they only need one square like normal characters.
• Pulse Wave now ignores even hindering terrain!
• Leap/Climb: now ignores characters for movement, allowing it to circumvent some special powers and team abilities.

LOSERS

• Other duos: Some duos have no component characters to Split into (Gertrude Yorkes and Old Lace, for one), and some aren’t priced right to split (Merry and Pippin).
• Cheap Super Strength: They’re locked out from using ultra heavy objects.
• Multi-base characters: Can’t be carried or placed diagonally. (Exception: peanut bases can still end up diagonal.)
• Telekinesis: Can’t handle the new ultra heavy objects.
• Alter Egos and other figure-swap characters: now there’s a two-per-hundred-points limit on figures you can have on the “sideboard.” Could be a problem for Beast Boy or Hank Pym, who each have three or more figs they can switch to. But only rarely.

So you see, there really wasn’t a whole lot to write home about this year. S’okay. Now it’s on to the new Chaos War set releasing this Wednesday. Expect the latest Heroclixin’ pocket checklist and a Chaos War edition of Token Totin’ this week as well.