Overpower Idea
Bryce McKay
This afternoon when I should have been working I was putting a deck
together. Anyway I had an idea about a different sum deck rule for
tournaments. I thought that in addition to the current rule of 76 for
16 rank teams there should be another type of tournament, in which the
point total would be 24 points per stat. For example, an E/I deck would
be illegal because the sum of the character's energy stats would equal
31, or 32. I don't know if this idea has been discussed before but I
like it for three reasons:
1. You can't use a single skill team.
2. You could use characters that are currently almost unusable.
3. Everyone would see different decks (at least in the short term).
So, anyway what does everyone think. Good idea, bad idea, he's nuts.
Whatever your response just post it I'd like too see what you guys
think.
Bryce
Bachrach
I think it's a great idea. First we all got beat up by those strenght
decks, then we make them ourselves. Now that intellect is out, we should
be seeing more variety but I'm not. I have always liked the idea of multi
-abilitied decks, and this rule would be sure to implement it. There
would need to be a total deck number too, to keep people from making
galacticus/beyonder/spider man/Dr. Doom decks. Other than that, I would
support you all the way.
Ariel Elias-Bachrach
sbac...@ix.netcom.com
Inferno86
good in single skill decks unusable.
Jonathan Mark Hiebert
Bryce McKay (mcka...@novell.uidaho.edu) wrote:
: This afternoon when I should have been working I was putting a deck
: together. Anyway I had an idea about a different sum deck rule for
: tournaments. I thought that in addition to the current rule of 76 for
: 16 rank teams there should be another type of tournament, in which the
: point total would be 24 points per stat. For example, an E/I deck would
: be illegal because the sum of the character's energy stats would equal
: 31, or 32. I don't know if this idea has been discussed before but I
: like it for three reasons:
:
: 1. You can't use a single skill team.
: 2. You could use characters that are currently almost unusable.
: 3. Everyone would see different decks (at least in the short term).
:
: So, anyway what does everyone think. Good idea, bad idea, he's nuts.
: Whatever your response just post it I'd like too see what you guys
: think.
: Bryce
Hmm. That is a good idea. I'm surprised no-one's thought of that before.
I don't know about 24, maybe 28 to make four 7's of one type still
playable, but if you have an 8 then you have to have at least one 6 of
that type. This sounds like a really good idea to me. It would prevent
dominating decks like the E/I and the old strength deck from kicking
everybody else around.
--
Jonathan Hiebert <umhi...@cc.umanitoba.ca>
"I can't change the world, but I can change the world in me..." Bono
Norman Barth
I don't think there is a way to get away from the "powerful deck"
syndrome and no solution will ever solve it.
Why? Because people tend to play what they see as a strong deck and
then they stop thinking about it. Right now, so many people out there
are convinced that E/I is the only way to go, that they aren't seeing
anything else. As it stands right now, my strongest deck is NOT E/I
and if it continues to hold up to play testing, it is the deck I will
be going into regionals with.
How you can do this too:
Simple. Get your friends together once a week and play, play, play.
Only one person should have an E/I deck to play with - everyone else
should bring something - ANYTHING else. I promise you - you will find
that the other decks, when thought through carefully, can be as
strong, if not stronger.
Standard disclaimer: I am NOT sanctioned by Fleer to answer any
questions. Those that I do are only my undertanding of the game
mechanics. Fleer is the only source for accurate information and can
be reached either by emailing the netrep (Kathy Probe) at FSNe...@aol.com or by
calling the OverPower hotline at 1-800-OP-RULES
Christopher L. Tumber
Ah, but Norman, how much is the deck and how much is the player?
That is, let's assume for the sake of argument there are a dozen "top"
deck designs/concepts. At this point, just about everyone has decided the
E/I deck is the best of these best (and I tend to agree)...
However, the very nature of OverPower is that two decks of about equal
strength versus two players of about equal strength will seldom lead to a
blow-out. In fact, many games when all is said and done appear to have
been very close when in fact the winning player had it in the bag all along.
In other words, as far as deck design goes, OverPower is VERY egalitarian.
A deck which is slightly weaker than the next deck will still win it's fair
share of games against a stronger deck.
Particularly if the players are mismatched.
In other words, I don't doubt that a player of your caliber would do well
with any of the dozen (or more) possible "Tournament caliber decks" simply
based upon playing ability. The question is, would you win MORE with the E/I
deck? Given that we're not about to conduct double blind testing, you are
predisposed to a non-E/I deck and statistical validity would not be achived
for a couple hundred games I doubt will ever know for sure if it's the
deck or the player...
(Unless of course you've come up with a revolutionary design, which is
entirely possible. However, I do think that you're using one of the better
"Also ran" decks and your ability as a player makes up for any "Weakness"
next to the E/I deck. Particularly if this deck fits your style of play
better than the E/I deck so you can play it more effectively than the
E/I... I have no doubt that some decks will be better suited to some
players than the E/I and that those players will play those decks better
than they would an E/I but that does not mean the deck itself is better.
The difference between the E/I deck and whatever bunch of decks comes next
is NOT very big, and can be more than compensated for in the specific case
by player skill and simple luck. It would be extremely difficult to isolate
the variables (player skill and luck) to determine objectively optimum deck
design...)
dj...@virginia.edu
In <5hk4d5$e...@alice.walrus.com>, nbp...@walrus.com (Norman Barth) writes:
>Why? Because people tend to play what they see as a strong deck and
>then they stop thinking about it. Right now, so many people out there
>are convinced that E/I is the only way to go, that they aren't seeing
>anything else. As it stands right now, my strongest deck is NOT E/I
>and if it continues to hold up to play testing, it is the deck I will
>be going into regionals with.
once. Here is my current ranking of decks we have made. In each case
the last character is in reserve:
1. Beyonder, Jubilee, Mojo, and Rhino
2. Dark Beast, Mr. Fantastic, Red Skull, and Mr. Sinister
3. White Queen, Professor X, Magneto, and Dr. Strange (my E/I deck)
4. Onslaught, Professor X, the old Magneto, and Brainiac
Notice that my E/I I would currently rank third, and I would not take it
to a tournament unless two other family members were using the two
higher decks. My guess is that many of the best players have found
deck #2 (notice that Norman didn't say what his deck was). Gary Martin
Jr. beat me in my last tournament with deck #2 and Brendon beats me
over half the time if he plays #2 and I play #3. However Brendon and I
have found that deck #1 can beat deck #2 very consistantly. Wow! what a
surprise! Jubilee on a tournament caliber deck!
So, I think Norman is correct, and I provide you (free of charge) my own
ranking of decks. I will tell you that part of the secret is in the Event
cards. In deck #1 put in ANY MISSION healing characters with inherant abilities
(from JLA) and the NO OPDs this battle. In deck #2 put in the healing
characters with inherant abilities and the no cards with an energy icon
can be used to attack (have nearly no cards with an energy icon in your
deck. Decks #3 and #4 usually have the no strength power cards can be
played this battle event, but it only helps you beat strength decks.
All this wisdom provided for free!
David John Marotta <dj...@virginia.edu>
Jason M Sardell
dj...@virginia.edu wrote:
: 1. Beyonder, Jubilee, Mojo, and Rhino
: 2. Dark Beast, Mr. Fantastic, Red Skull, and Mr. Sinister
: 3. White Queen, Professor X, Magneto, and Dr. Strange (my E/I deck)
: 4. Onslaught, Professor X, the old Magneto, and Brainiac
: higher decks. My guess is that many of the best players have found
: deck #2 (notice that Norman didn't say what his deck was). Gary Martin
: Jr. beat me in my last tournament with deck #2 and Brendon beats me
: over half the time if he plays #2 and I play #3. However Brendon and I
The last time I played OP, I tried a variation of deck #2 with Lex Luthor
instead of Dark Beast (I like Luthor's Viking Pyre type card as well as
his 8) and I think went undefeated for 3 games vs. the E/I deck. At the
time I chalked this up to the fact that we were playing at around 12 in
the morning and had been playing a while previously. Now that I hear
other people are having success with this deck, Im going to take a closer
look at it.
Haven't tried a Beyonder deck, but I don't think that it can compete
vs. a Level 8 deck. I'll see though.
: So, I think Norman is correct, and I provide you (free of charge) my own
: ranking of decks. I will tell you that part of the secret is in the Event
: cards. In deck #1 put in ANY MISSION healing characters with inherant abilities
: (from JLA) and the NO OPDs this battle. In deck #2 put in the healing
: characters with inherant abilities and the no cards with an energy icon
: can be used to attack (have nearly no cards with an energy icon in your
: deck. Decks #3 and #4 usually have the no strength power cards can be
I agree, events are a key part of my Intellect deck. Right now I'm using
The Crossing with Avengers Attack HQ (No Energy Power cards may be played)
I like htis better than no Energy icons may be used to attack since it
also prevents my opponent from using his 8-6 E to block my attacks while
the latter doesn't. I also use Heroes Avenge Murder (KO 1 Front line
hero). I usually get rid of Luthor, but I can also use his Art of the
Deal to get rid of other characters specials if I haven't gotten it yet.
Now that I think of it, this event would devestate a Beyonder deck.
KO Beyonder and the specials become a lot less usable. KO Mojo and you
lose your Intellect. KO Jubilee and you cant keep duplicates of her Avoid
anymore. Add this to the fact that I usually draw this event in the 1st
2 hands, and the Beyonder deck can be critically hurt.
BTW - I'd just like to say that Red Skull has arguably some of the coolest
specials in the game.
Jason Sardell
(hy...@wpi.edu)
Froinlaven
>I don't think there is a way to get away from the "powerful deck"
>syndrome and no solution will ever solve it.
>
>Why? Because people tend to play what they see as a strong deck and
>then they stop thinking about it. Right now, so many people out there
>are convinced that E/I is the only way to go, that they aren't seeing
>anything else. As it stands right now, my strongest deck is NOT E/I
>and if it continues to hold up to play testing, it is the deck I will
>be going into regionals with.
>
How true. Back when I played Magic, there was a bit of a standstill when
everybody was playing a "NecroDeck" It got as bad as "Formula" decks
copied from the internet. I don't know what's happened now, as I play
OverPower now, but in Overpower I think that there are plenty of
contentors.
Obviously/ E/I decks have appeared
What I'm wondering is why did everyone drop the strength deck so quickly?
It has high powered Specials with Juggernaut(AR/AS) AND hulk(2 AS) and
Super Skrull has the HN's. Thing has his AS. Namor has the AQ. And so
forth. (Even the "old" strength deck is still quite good)
The Intellect deck I think is the by far overlooked, and I don't think
it's the players fault. The 8 intellects were too hard to get, and many
people were discouraged. (I finally got the 4 8's I need and am
experimenting with a new deck, as soon as I get Mr. Fantastic (anybody
want to trade?))
The Fighting deck I see as the weakest. The Power Grids of the EIGHT
Heroes don't match very well. Then the specials aren't too good. The best
thing I could come up with is an Fighting/Strength combo of
WW/Sabertooth/Deadpool/Wolverine. But aside from deadpool, nobody has that
"great" specials.
--
"Yako spelled backwards is okay!"
Doc Leonard S
dj...@virginia.edu wrote:
> I have played an E/I deck in 4 tournaments, come in second 3 times and first
> once. Here is my current ranking of decks we have made. In each case
> the last character is in reserve:
>
> 1. Beyonder, Jubilee, Mojo, and Rhino
I would use Blob instead of Mojo.
> 2. Dark Beast, Mr. Fantastic, Red Skull, and Mr. Sinister
> 3. White Queen, Professor X, Magneto, and Dr. Strange (my E/I deck)
> 4. Onslaught, Professor X, the old Magneto, and Brainiac
Why do you put Brainiac in reserve? I'd put Mags in reserve and place
Master of Magnatism. Brainiac has an avoid, a "tie-up" (AV), and Brain
Drain.
> Notice that my E/I I would currently rank third, and I would not take it
> to a tournament unless two other family members were using the two
> higher decks. My guess is that many of the best players have found
> deck #2 (notice that Norman didn't say what his deck was). Gary Martin
> Jr. beat me in my last tournament with deck #2 and Brendon beats me
> over half the time if he plays #2 and I play #3. However Brendon and I
> have found that deck #1 can beat deck #2 very consistantly. Wow! what a
> surprise! Jubilee on a tournament caliber deck!
Jubes rocks and always has. She just rocks even more if some one else on
her team can use her "AV's" :)
> So, I think Norman is correct, and I provide you (free of charge) my own
> ranking of decks. I will tell you that part of the secret is in the >Event cards.
> In deck #1 put in ANY MISSION healing characters with inherant >abilities
> (from JLA) and the NO OPDs this battle. In deck #2 put in the healing
> characters with inherant abilities and the no cards with an energy icon
> can be used to attack (have nearly no cards with an energy icon in your
> deck. Decks #3 and #4 usually have the no strength power cards can be
> played this battle event, but it only helps you beat strength decks.
>
> All this wisdom provided for free!
>
> David John Marotta <dj...@virginia.edu>
I played against a Beyonder deck the other day and found it to be a
great change of pace. The deck was Black Cat, Jubes, and Jean Grey in
reserve. I killed Black Cat first to bring down the fighting level and
so I didn't get stomped by Kiss of Death and Femme Fatale (Kiss of death
ended up being the downfall of The Trickster, anyway.), then Jubilee,
then Beyonder. The Beyonder ended up being the hardest to kill because
of all those blasted Jean Grey and Jubilee AV's. I was using an oddball
deck of Trickster, D.D., Spider Woman, and Bane in reserve. It certainly
is a different type of deck, but what bothers me about it is that after
you K.O. Beyonder, it's just a bunch of 16 pointers. I have a feeling my
Big Attacks Deck would really suffer at the hands of those avoids.
____
"It's like having a very small mouth."
C L o /\/ e |_ E s + e r : "Keeper of the Jimmy-Six Flame."
My OverPower page: http://saturn.uaamath.alaska.edu/~smiley/lester.html
pendragon
> The Fighting deck I see as the weakest. The Power Grids of the EIGHT
> Heroes don't match very well. Then the specials aren't too good. The best
> thing I could come up with is an Fighting/Strength combo of
> WW/Sabertooth/Deadpool/Wolverine. But aside from deadpool, nobody has that
> "great" specials.
This is my first post and I had to say something about the Fighting
deck. I am not a "tourney" player yet, but I hope to be when the CON
hits San Diego. (if anyone knows of some sanctioned tournaments here in
SD, LMK!) I have made a Fighting deck using Captain America instead of
Wonder Woman. I played it against my E/I deck (Onslaught, Prof., Old
Magneto, Brainiac - stolen from somewhere online, can't remember where)
and it won consistently. Cap's new IQ OPD is great to use. If anyone
can say something about this that would be cool.
But my idea for deck limits... maybe hold "B" tourneys where no
Character can have an ability higher than a six. That would make create
teams based on specials and compatibility. My friends and I play that
way and it's real fun. Harder to make decks though. Thanks for letting
me vent!
May the Alliance Venture Well!
Pendragon.
Tom Beliech
pendragon wrote:
I have made a Fighting deck using Captain America instead of
> Wonder Woman. I played it against my E/I deck (Onslaught, Prof., Old
> Magneto, Brainiac - stolen from somewhere online, can't remember where)
> and it won consistently. Cap's new IQ OPD is great to use. If anyone
> can say something about this that would be cool.
Well, I now have 4 pretty nice, nearly-tournament-caliber decks prepared
for battle, and my personal favorite deck is an F/I deck with Captain
America, Black Widow, Daredevil and Elektra in reserve. The first three
seem to have been MADE to go together, and Elektra balances out the
points for Cap and black Widow. I'm looking forward to testing this deck
out. I tried to make this deck tournament legal - if I wasn't, I'd ditch
Elektra in a second and put in Nick Fury!
My other decks are:
an E/F X-men-Themed deck with Nightcrawler, Jean Grey (in reserve),
Psylocke and Bishop. Jean's the weak link but there weren't any other
E/F folks that fit the theme I wanted, AND could balance out the
20-point costs of Bishop and Psylocke.
a S/I deck with Beast, Dark Beast, Hulk and Juggernaut in reserve (to
hold those 8 strength cards)
An F/S Deck with Wolverine, Sabretooth, Deadpool and Wonder Woman in
reserve. I was going to use Azrael instead of Wonder Woman, but I wanted
everyone on the team to have strength of at least 5 for a better
spectrum potential. Plus, Wonder Woman has the 5 intellect to offer a
better spectrum chance - and since I use Deadpool (He's my favorite
Marvel character, and with Distracting Chatter and Don't Lose your Head,
he now ROCKS for being only 18 points!), I had the extra point
available.
Just chiming in,
Tom Beliech
Lincoln Cajulis
Tom Beliech wrote:
just my two cents without too much study of you decks.
> Well, I now have 4 pretty nice, nearly-tournament-caliber decks prepared
> for battle, and my personal favorite deck is an F/I deck with Captain
> America, Black Widow, Daredevil and Elektra in reserve. The first three
> seem to have been MADE to go together, and Elektra balances out the
> points for Cap and black Widow. I'm looking forward to testing this deck
> out. I tried to make this deck tournament legal - if I wasn't, I'd ditch
> Elektra in a second and put in Nick Fury.
You mught as well ditch daredevil for NF. NF has killer specials
compared
to DD. Then rebalance you deck. One more thing, put BW in reserve.
> My other decks are:
>
> an E/F X-men-Themed deck with Nightcrawler, Jean Grey (in reserve),
> Psylocke and Bishop. Jean's the weak link but there weren't any other
> E/F folks that fit the theme I wanted, AND could balance out the
> 20-point costs of Bishop and Psylocke.
You may want to consider Quicksilver in this deck instead of Psylocke or
Nightcrawler. Jean in reserve is smart.
> a S/I deck with Beast, Dark Beast, Hulk and Juggernaut in reserve (to
> hold those 8 strength cards)
You may want to substitute Dark Beast for Aquaman. Also, remove Juggy
for Darkseid.
Later
Lincoln
Richard George
pendragon wrote:
>
> This is my first post and I had to say something about the Fighting
> deck. I am not a "tourney" player yet, but I hope to be when the CON
> hits San Diego. (if anyone knows of some sanctioned tournaments here in
Thought you might like to know -
90 minutes north of San Diego, All American Comics in Hemet, California,
has sanctioned tournaments about once per month. Also, he is hosting
the Regional OP championship in May, 1997.
Their web page is http://www.pe.net/~aacomics (909)925-0044
Look them up. That is where we go to play OP.
RG and AG