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“The War’s over, when we say it’s over…”: A Marvel Crisis Protocol Cable and Domino Review.
Marvel offers a parade of characters, that more often than not occupy the realm of cool. From fancy Iron Man suits to controlling all metal on earth, there are plenty of options to choose from. There’s cool and there’s time travelling post-apocalyptic psychic cyborg cool. This is the centre point of today’s review. The Marvel Crisis Protocol Expansion Pack Cable and Domino has been around for over a year now. It’s always worth looking at previous releases and how they can fit into new teams and ways of playing. We’ll be looking at a brief history and background of the characters in their history of Marvel. Before diving into their models and how they play.
A Bit Of Background
Cables background is quite convoluted when you look across the whole timeline. The son of X-Men Cyclops. Nathan Summers became infected with the fatal techno-organic virus. With no technology or capability of saving him, he was sent to the future in the hopes that they could save him. Raised by the last resistance of humanity, Cable came back to avert their own apocalyptic future. In the end, he created X-Force. Comprising of some of the most fearsome mutants; Domino, Deadpool, Wolverine and Sabretooth! Undertaking the less palatable missions that others wouldn’t. They worked together to prevent disaster through more aggressive means. The Marvel film lovers among you may remember Cable, portrayed by Thanos… uh I mean Josh Brolin in Deadpool 2 alongside Zazie Beetz as Domino.
His box mate has a simpler (if tragic) background. Neena Thurman was the product of a Top-Secret government program to create the perfect woman. Broken out by her mother, and raised by her father before becoming a mercenary. This led to her meeting Cable and joining X-force. Her own mutation, the ability to manipulate probability provides her with “luck” as a superpower. Her abilities and skills are considerable even leading the X-Force team in Cable's absence.
Modelling A Mercenary
Once again, AMG has done a fantastic job of representing these characters on the tabletop. Cable makes excellent use of his tactical shield against incoming fire and explosions. With his plasma rifle at the ready! This is great for painters looking to advance their techniques. Whether it's some blending, explosions or even a little non-metallic metal. The figure sets an imposing tone, well suited for his role as leader of X-Force both in the story and in-game. Meanwhile, Domino’s pose captures her mutant power with a dynamic scene.
Riding a piece of exploding debris with guns raised, the model can be as complicated as you’re feeling brave. The models together represent the ethos of the affiliation and their playstyle; attrition! This brings us to our next section, their roles within Marvel Crisis Protocol.
The Attrition Affiliation
Picking up this box offers you not only the characters but a new affiliation for you to try. Affiliations are based on three key factors. The affiliation leadership ability, the characters within the affiliation and the tactics cards they bring. The affiliation’s ability is rather simple, allowing for a once a character turn re-roll in an attack. This may not seem powerful but offering a chance to trigger wilds or that bit of damage helps a lot.
Alongside those already mentioned, sisters X-23 and Honey Badger and the Man of Steel (not that one) Colossus form the affiliation. The characters that make up this list are a lot of heavy hitters. Offering their own re-rolls or piercing your opponent's dice combine well with the affiliation itself. Finally supporting all this are the three X-Force-specific tactics cards. Offering some increased mobility, increased stealth or an opportunity for some extra power! Overall X-Force certainly fits the category of an attrition team. However, it can come across as feeling a little underwhelming when compared to more recent teams such as Shadowlands Criminal Syndicate.
Their affiliation re-roll is far less restrictive than Shadowlands or the Web Warriors, but it is less available. This leans into a need to select the right characters for the roster. Those that can retaliate in their own turn, particularly at range like Winter Soldier can be well suited to X-Force.
Take To The Tabletop
You’d be mistaken for thinking that Cable is an aggressive character. Sliding into cover, unleashing a salvo of plasma fire and throwing terrain at his opponents. The X-Force leader is capable of doing this. Lacking a healing factor or high physical and energy defence he’s at risk of being taken out early. The range of Cables' attack suits him to sit a bit further back. Inflicting some damage and handing out incinerates is not an uncommon strategy. This will give him a little more power to use one of his key abilities. The telekinetic shield can enhance the defence dice of him and those around him. His heavy mystic area attack is situational, your power is often better spent teleporting or slinging terrain. It’s a nice option to have.
Domino is viewed by many as an MCP character who can punch far above her weight. From the games I have played with her, I’d have to agree. Average stats and defence aside, being able to incinerate someone automatically with an attack for one power is not to be dismissed. Beyond this, is her ability. Treating skulls as criticals for 1 power a piece in either attack or defence rolls can be game-changing. When you need it to you can turn an awful result into a great one. She can be quite squishy without this power though so it’s always worth having some on standby. Domino can sit within any team, particularly those that provide additional power such as Cable or the recently arrived Hydra.
Summary
The Cable and Domino character pack for Marvel Crisis Protocol offers lots of options for players and hobbyists alike. Whether you’re starting out or looking to dive into a new affiliation this box offers a great challenge. So select your target, grab your plasma rifle and get ready to “X-Force” onto the battlefield.
