Over the recent holiday, Atomic Mass Games revealed some exciting upcoming models for Marvel Crisis Protocol that promise to alter how the game functions. The first of these is Nick Fury Jr. and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents.
Guest Article Writer: John Paul
This is the first confirmed model that comes with a minion-type accompaniment. One the Atomic Mass Games stream, these have been confirmed as “grunts” a new type of model that accompanies a “leader” type character.
There are a lot of layers to this reveal when it comes to implications for the game, and the AMG stream did share some more information in regards to how grunts will operate. Firstly, this reveal confirms the addition of an exciting new affiliation: the Strategic Homeland, Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, aka S.H.I.E.L.D. Several current models seem to be natural fits for this affiliation such as Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Captain America to name a few. And others like Ironman, Spiderman, and Wolverine spotlighted with S.H.I.E.L.D. at various points throughout the comics. Likewise, it’ll be interesting to see how AMG elects to flesh out the affiliation, if at all, with new releases.
Likewise, the new grunts bring an interesting dynamic to the game. In the AMG stream, they shared a hint of what grunts bring to the tabletop. They are always partnered with a “parent” model, and their threat is factored into that model’s rating despite grunts having their own character cards. Grunts activate with their parent model and are KO’d if their parent model is KO’d. And, a player can only have one grunt unit in play at a time. What they actually offer in terms of their abilities and influence over the game is still a mystery, but these first nuggets are very interesting. It will be curious to see how major a role grunts will come to play as the game continues its evolution. Already, some are being hinted at alongside the upcoming Elektra and Daredevil box and their accompanying grunts (The Hand, perhaps?). One final interesting point of note? The box is coming with ten–that’s right… TEN–team tactics cards! It sounds like Nick Fury and the S.H.I.E.L.D affiliation will have a diverse range of tactics at their disposal.
The last major reveal is the awesome Quinjet. Listed as a terrain piece, the Quinjet seems like it will offer a truly massive addition to the tabletop as the signature S.H.I.E.L.D. transport joins Crisis Protocol. Interesting, it too brings some new elements to the game. It is the first Size X model, which presumably–though, not undoubtedly–cannot be thrown or destroyed, even by the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. tactics card. Likewise, this may indicate that models with the flight or wallcrawler superpowers cannot climb or fly over the Quinjet due to its massive size. If this is true, that will definitely be an interesting shift in how terrain functions in MCP. Given the quality of the other MCP terrain kits, the Quinjet is sure to shine as a gorgeous centerpiece for Crisis Protocol battlefields.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of S.H.I.E.L.D. or simply a fan of Marvel Crisis Protocol, it’s hard not to get excited about the arrival of Nick Fury Jr., his agents, and the Quinjet. As the game continues to grow, it’s awesome to see the ruleset evolve and introduce new elements. These certainly promise to do just that!
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