CELEBRITY HEROCLIX: GAIL SIMONE

[Eric J. Moreels]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/MarvelHeroClix_logo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/MarvelHeroClix_logot.jpg" align=left alt="Marvel HeroClix CMG logo"></a>WizKids Games new HeroClix Collectible Miniatures Game has proven to be a sell-out success, sweeping up comic fans and gamers alike with its easy-to-learn gameplay, awesome-looking figures, and cool collectibles.

Deadpool writer Gail Simone is one person who has been swept up in HeroClix mania, and X-Fan caught up with her recently to find out what she thinks of the game.

X-FAN: So what got you interested in HeroClix?

SIMONE: Truthfully, it was just seeing the positive buzz about it at X-Fan. I don't get to comic stores much - I live too far away, and some stores are so musty they set off my allergies. :) But I liked what I'd read, and I love to play games of all types.

X-FAN: What do you think of the format, rules, and general gameplay?

SIMONE: Well, what attracted me to them is what has turned me off of many Collectible Card Games. There's little of that foolishness with record keeping, and millions of contradictory rules. Some people love that stuff, but I think many more are turned off, and just want a simple and fun playing experience. I don't really have the time or inclination to memorize a million rules. You can't really sit down and play some of these CCGs with a friend in five minutes. But you can with these figures.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/heroclix_jeangrey_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/heroclix_jeangrey_01t.jpg" align=right alt="Marvel HeroClix Jean Grey figure"></a>X-FAN: How many figures have you got, and who are your favourites (both aesthetically and strategically)?

SIMONE: Something like sixty or so for the Marvel ones. I enjoy the game enough that we (my hubby and I) just recently bought a whole bunch of Mage Knight guys. Haven't played that one yet.

I like playing the good guys. If I get stuck playing the villains, I don't enjoy it as much. I tend to like the classic characters, Daredevil, Cap, Jean Grey, those types.

X-FAN: Are you looking forward to the upcoming Sentinel figure? The Adventure Packs? The DC version? The first Marvel expansion?

Don't really care about the Sentinels, cause I like to play the variety, and one Sentinel would seem to unbalance things, I think. The Adventure packs, sure. The one thing I dislike is that the maps are really crude in comparison to the rest of the game. I think we're all waiting to see specific Marvel locations, and better art.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/AX001cov_cs2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/AX001cov_cs2t.jpg" align=right alt="Agent X #1 preview"></a>Marvel expansion, yes. DYING for a Deadpool figure, and Agent X, and Outlaw. But those last two may take a while!

And yeah, I want the DC set as well. Big DC fan.

X-FAN: Anything else you'd like to see included in the game?

SIMONE: I'd like to see classic teams/themes though. Power Man/Iron Fist, classic X-Men, that sort of thing. Of course, I wouldn't object to Killer Princess figures, either! ;)

Fans interested in discussing HeroClix with Simone can catch the writer as a regular contributor to threads in X-Fan's Rec Room (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=42) forum.

[spinarakboi]

That's cool.

Gail Simone seems like the coolest person and for that I'll be picking up Agent X ^_^ HeroClix are fun, it's just a shame I'm a loser and have no one to play it with and I'm too shy to go to like "event" things..... ah well fun game ^_^

[strangerx]

It's cool to see that even big comic book names are into this great game.

[Gail Simone]

Thanks, guys.

Sorry I don't know more about the game so I could say something interesting. :)

Gail

[Eric J. Moreels]

Well since the article was all about your thoughts on the game, I think it's plenty interesting. :yes:

Thanks again, Gail, for taking time out of your busy schedule!

[Brian Wilkinson]

We should organize an X-Fan tournament between fans, creators, and all the rest.

Of course, SUGGESTING it is much easier than actually pulling it all together.

[strangerx]

Originally posted by Brian E. Wilkinson
We should organize an X-Fan tournament between fans, creators, and all the rest.

Of course, SUGGESTING it is much easier than actually pulling it all together.

I think that sounds fantastic. But you are right, it is easier said than done. With all of us scattered all over the world it would be quite hard to get people togther outside of maybe a convention or something.

[Eric J. Moreels]

Even a convention tournament would be cost-prohibitive to many around the world. There's no way I could afford a trip to anywhere outside of Australia for such an event, unfortunately.

[Dave Harris]

Can't be too long before someone sets it up for play online, is it? Random number generator for the die-rolling, expanded chess board for the map (and maybe just a modified chess program). The super powers, damage and objects would be too hard to work in, so it would be up to the players to follow all those rules, but as long as characters' stats are displayed, that would just be like normal.

I imagine the important part would be establishing something that the players can visually share. I'll take a look at my chess program to see if I can just get the board animation, but I'm all talk. I have no idea how to do that. Anyone wiser than me who wants to take a shot?

And if it becomes an issue of what figures people can use, we could make a booster draft tournament, where everyone is assigned random figures by the program, so everyone has a fair chance. Combine it with the program from Mysterio's site that has each figure's stats and it would make for some easier recordkeeping/deckbuilding early on. I can see it now...

[Eric J. Moreels]

The thread seems to be straying a bit off-topic. Feel free to discuss online HeroClix in the Rec Room forum, but let's keep this thread focused on HC and Gail!