We do prep for the new episode while Bomber Blade gets finished off in Ep. 34. The Villains Guild is disappointed by his performance.
Villain: PLAGUE RAT
Environment: Rook City
===
Heroes:
Nightmist (dpt)
Chrono-Ranger (PlatinumWarlock)
Mister Fixer (grysqrl)
Absolute Zero (Powerhound_2000)
Rook City Wraith (phantaskippy)
Fixer please! Sign me up for shenanigans.
I'll take up Mr Fixer. This will be rough just being in Rook City
Edit: I got ninjaed so I'll be Absolute Zero then
Just to be clear. Mr. Fixer gets ninjaed and turned into Absolute Zero. Now there's a storyline.
I was debating on which of the two to take.
Starting Hand: Impale, Focused Apertures, Modular Realignment, Thermal Shockwave
Advanced Plague Rat in Rook City against five heroes - including his nemesis - is pretty much guaranteed to toss a lot of damage around and be a fairly quick game. The Rat will probably inflict more damage in the first round than the villains and environment did in the entire last game.
Oooh, Chrono-Ranger for me!
Opening Hand: Jim's Hat, Hunter and Hunted, Eye on the Prize, Bounty Board
I'll take Nightmist.
EDIT: Initial hand: Mistbound [4], Call Forth [2], Starshield Necklace [3], Oblivion [2]
Mr. Fixer vs. Plague Rat is one of my favorite matchups in the entire game. So many fun possibilities.
Eventually I'll sit down and do a full write-up on the time I saw Fixer walk into a Fixed Point with the Rat and come back out prepared to deal 380+ damage to all non-hero targets in a single round (plus another 40(?) or so to single targets on top of that). The old martial artist was proud, to be sure, but Anthony Drake claims to this day that it was his own finest moment.
Wraith is available right? I'm going to murder some heroes with my innate power!
PLAGUE RAT - The second hero gets the cheese - ROUND 1
Plague Rat (85) [Plaguebearer] (+2 damage dealt)
- Plague Locus (13)
Start of Turn:
(does not flip)
Play: Ravage
Plague Rat deals 4 toxic damage to Nightmist (23), Mister Fixer (24), and Rook City Wraith (23)
Plague Rat deals 5 toxic damage to Chrono-Ranger (23)
Four heroes are INFECTED
End of Turn:
Plague Rat deals 3 irreducible melee damage to Nightmist (20), Mister Fixer (21), Absolute Zero (26) and Rook City Wraith (20)
Plague Rat deals 4 irreducible melee damage to Chrono-Ranger (19)
Number of Infected Heroes: 4
========================
Effects:
- Whenever a card named Infection is destroyed Plague Rat deals each hero target 5 toxic damage
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and by infected heroes by 1 (adv Plague Rat)
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and all infected heroes by 1 (Plaguebearer)
(Start of Turn)
- If all active heroes are infected, flip Plague Rat's villain character cards (Plaguebearer)
- Infected heroes deal themselves 1 irreducible toxic damage (Infection)
(End of Turn)
- Plague Rat deals each hero target 1 irreducible melee damage (Plaguebearer)
- Plague Rat regains X HP, where X = the number of infected heroes (Plague Locus)
==========
Plague Rat (85) [Plaguebearer]
Trash:
Ravage
==========
Nightmist - 20
Chrono-ranger - 19 (infected; +2 damage dealt)
Mister Fixer - 21 (infected; +2 damage dealt)
Absolute Zero - 26 (infected; +2 damage dealt)
R.C. Wraith - 20 (infected; +2 damage dealt)
===========
(none)
Comment: Need a decision on which four heroes get infected. They get a +2 damage dealt bonus as well.
I'm pretty sure Plague Rat just dealt more damage in his first turn then the entire Bomber Blade matchup
I won't be dealing any damage this turn so I don't know if I'm best choice but I'll take it if needed since I'm at the highest health
I will *absolutely* take that +2 damage bonus. C-R will take an Infection.
I'd rather not take an Infection, if that's OK. (I want to play Mistbound rather than something to set me up for healing.)
I'm fine with taking one of infections then.
This is on the assumption I can avoid an Infection. (Even with an Infection, I’ll go ahead and use my power.)
Nightmist
HP: 20
Hand: Mistbound [4], Call Forth [2], Starshield Necklace [3], Oblivion [2]
In play:
[hr]
Play a card: Mistbound [4]. Discard Starshield Necklace [3] and Oblivion [2]. Cards from Plague Rat’s deck cannot be played.
Use a power: Investigation. Deal myself 2 infernal damage (18). Draw Mists of Time [3] and Starshield Necklace [1].
Draw a card: Amulet of the Elder Gods [3].
[hr]
HP: 18
Hand: Call Forth [2], Mists of Time [3], Starshield Necklace [1], Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
In play:
Trash: Starshield Necklace [3], Oblivion [2], Mistbound [4]
Additional effects: Cards from Plague Rat’s deck cannot be played.
Chrono-Ranger
HP: 19
Hand: Jim's Hat, Hunter and Hunted, Eye on the Prize, Bounty Board
In play:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start of Turn: Infection makes me deal myself net 3 damage [16].
Play a card: Jim's Hat.
Jim's Hat gives me another play! Eye on the Prize: I deal net 4 projectile damage to Plague Rat [81]. I draw Just Doin' My Job and play it immediately. I deal net 4 projectile damage to Plague Rat [77] and each player may discard 1 card. I may draw cards equal to the number of cards discarded. I discard Bounty Board and draw 3 Sudden Contracts and an Eye on the Prize.
Use a power: Quick Shot: I deal net 4 projectile damage to Plague Rat [73].
Draw a card: Just Doin' My Job
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP: 16
Hand: Hunter and Hunted, Just Doin' My Job, Sudden Contract (x3), Eye on the Prize
In play: Jim's Hat
Trash: Eye on the Prize, Bounty Board, Just Doin' My Job
Additional effects: Each player may discard 1 card. I may draw cards equal to the number of discards (currently 4--CR, Wraith, AZ, Fixer).
Wraith will take an infection.
Opening Hand: Impromptu Invention, Throat Jab, Trust Fund, Utility Belt.
EDIT: I'll discard trust fund for CR
I'll discard Modular Realignment for CR
I'm going to need my cards as fuel for Amulet of the Elder Gods, sorry...
Fixer will discard an Overdrive for CR.
Mr. Fixer
HP: 21
Hand: Tool Box, Overdrive, Salvage Yard
Play:
Trash: Overdrive
Effects:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start: Mr. Fixer deals himself 3 irreducible melee damage [18]
Play: Overdrive
Power: Strike - Mr. Fixer deals 3 melee damage to Plague Rat [70]
Power: Strike - Mr. Fixer deals 3 melee damage to Plague Rat [67]
Draw: Charge
End:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP: 18
Hand: Tool Box, Salvage Yard, Charge
Play:
Trash: Overdrive (2)
Effects:
ROOK CITY WRAITH
HP: 20
In Play:
Hand: Impromptu Invention, Throat Jab, Utility Belt
Trash: Trust Fund
-------------------------
Start: Deal self 3 irreducible toxic
Play: Impromptu Invention: Draw Infrared Eyepiece, search deck for Razor Ordinance and put it into play, Play Utility Belt.
Power: Razor Ordinance, Deal Plague Rat 5 Projectile Damage [62], Sleuth, reveal top card of environment deck.
Draw: Mega Computer
End:
-------------------------
HP: 17
In Play: Razor Ordinance, Utility Belt
Hand: Infrared Eyepiece, Mega Computer, Throat Jab.
Trash: Trust Fund, Impromptu Invention.
Effects:
Reveal top of the Environment, put in play or discard.
RC Wraith's Sleuth-ing reveals Scum and Villainy.
I will make an initial assumption that Wraith will have this discarded and proceed with the regular environment turn to end the round.
ENVIRONMENT - Rook City
In play: (none)
Start: (none)
Play: Scum and Villainy
End: Play top card of villain deck aborted by weather conditions.
===
Effects:
At the end of the environment turn, play the top card of the villain deck (Scum and Villainy)
At the start of the environment turn, the villain character card deals each hero target 4 melee damage. Then, destroy this card. (Scum and Villainy)
Trash: Scum and Villainy
PLAGUE RAT - One without so much rat in it - ROUND 2
Plague Rat (62) [Plaguebearer] (+2 damage dealt)
- Plague Locus (13)
Start of Turn:
(does not flip)
Play: (blocked by mist billowing among the dark streets)
End of Turn:
Plague Rat deals 3 irreducible melee damage to Nightmist (15), Mister Fixer (15), Absolute Zero (20) and Rook City Wraith (14)
Plague Rat deals 4 irreducible melee damage to Chrono-Ranger (12)
Plague Rat regains 4 HP [66]
Number of Infected Heroes: 4
========================
Effects:
- Whenever a card named Infection is destroyed Plague Rat deals each hero target 5 toxic damage
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and by infected heroes by 1 (adv Plague Rat)
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and all infected heroes by 1 (Plaguebearer)
(Start of Turn)
- If all active heroes are infected, flip Plague Rat's villain character cards (Plaguebearer)
- Infected heroes deal themselves 1 irreducible toxic damage (Infection)
(End of Turn)
- Plague Rat deals each hero target 1 irreducible melee damage (Plaguebearer)
- Plague Rat regains X HP, where X = the number of infected heroes (Plague Locus)
==========
Plague Rat (66) [Plaguebearer]
Trash:
Ravage
==========
Nightmist - 15
Chrono-ranger - 12 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
Mister Fixer - 15 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
Absolute Zero - 20 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
R.C. Wraith - 14 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
===========
Scum and Villainy
If we can get a throat jab from Wraith this round we might be able to take Plague Rat out the following round. Otherwise, we likely have an incapacitated hero or two coming up
Throat Jab incoming.
And how about that Sleuthing, that was beautiful. (yeah, discard is the way to go)
I would agree. Especially in Rook City
I should start this round at 15 health, I think you missed the damage I dealt to myself with Investigation.
Nightmist
HP: 15
Hand: Call Forth [2], Mists of Time [3], Starshield Necklace [1], Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
In play:
[hr]
Play a card: Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
Use a power: Investigation. Deal myself 2 infernal damage (13), and draw Master of Magic [3] and Heedless Lash [2].
Draw a card: Mist-Fueled Recovery [4].
[hr]
HP: 13
Hand: Call Forth [2], Mists of Time [3], Starshield Necklace [1], Master of Magic [3], Heedless Lash [2], Mist-Fueled Recovery [4]
In play: Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
Trash: Starshield Necklace [3], Oblivion [2], Mistbound [4]
Additional effects: The first time Nightmist would be dealt damage each turn, I may discard 2 cards to redirect the damage.
Chrono-Ranger
[Edited to correct hit points]
HP: 12
Hand: Hunter and Hunted, Eye on the Prize, Sudden Contract (x3), Just Doin' My Job
In play: Jim's Hat
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start of Turn: Infection makes me deal myself net 3 damage [11].
Play a card: Sudden Contract: I search my deck for By Any Means and place it next to Plague Rat. I deal net 5 projectile to Plague Rat [57]
Jim's Hat gives me another play! Eye on the Prize: I deal net 5 projectile damage to Plague Rat [52]. I draw NeuroToxin Dart Thrower and play another Sudden Contract. I pull The Ultimate Target from my deck and deal net 6 projectile damage to Plague Rat [46].
Use a power: Quick Shot: I deal net 6 projectile damage to Plague Rat [40].
Draw a card: Compounded Bow
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP: 9
Hand: Hunter and Hunted, Just Doin' My Job, Sudden Contract, NeuroToxin Dart Thrower, Compounded Bow
In play: Jim's Hat, By Any Means (Plague Rat), Ultimate Target (Plague Rat)
Trash: Eye on the Prize (x2), Bounty Board, Just Doin' My Job, Sudden Contract (x2)
Additional effects: Damage dealt to Plague Rat is at +1 (+2 for CR). The first time Plague Rat deals damage in a turn, CR may use a power.
Correct Nightmist to 15 - (now 13)
I had Chrono-Ranger starting the round at 16 and then taking 4 damage to 12. And with self-damage would now be at 9. (checked and I think that is correct since Rat got +1 nemesis damage on three attacks - Ravage and End melee damage in Round 1 and the End melee damage in Round 2.)
The Rat is currently at 44. He healed 4 HP at the end of the villain turn.
Mr. Fixer
HP: 15
Hand: Tool Box, Salvage Yard, Charge
Play:
Trash: Overdrive (2)
Effects:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start: Mr. Fixer deals himself 3 irreducible melee damage [12]
Play: Charge - deal 5 melee damage to Plague Rat [39]
Power: Strike - Mr. Fixer deals 4 melee damage to Plague Rat [35]
Draw: Grease Monkey Fist
End:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP: 12
Hand: Tool Box, Salvage Yard, Grease Monkey Fist
Play:
Trash: Overdrive (2), Charge
Effects:
Accounted for four extra HP that Plague Rat had on my turn so he is at 24 after my turn
ROOK CITY WRAITH
HP: 14
In Play: Razor Ordinance, Utility Belt
Hand: Infrared Eyepiece, Mega Computer, Throat Jab.
Trash: Trust Fund, Impromptu Invention
-------------------------
Start: Deal self 3 irreducible toxic [11]
Play: Throat Jab, deal Plague Rat 5 melee damage [19] Plague rat cannot deal damage until the start of my next turn.
Power: Razor Ordinance, Deal Plague Rat 6 Projectile Damage [13], Sleuth, reveal top card of environment deck.
Draw: TBD
End:
-------------------------
HP: 11
In Play: Razor Ordinance, Utility Belt
Hand: Infrared Eyepiece, Mega Computer, TBD.
Trash: Trust Fund, Impromptu Invention, Throat Jab
Effects:
Reveal top of the Environment, put in play or discard.
Plague Rat cannot deal damage.
Wraith, I don't think you factored in By Any Means. Your damage should leave Plague Rat at 13 by the end of your turn.
Rat is at 13 HP.
Sleuth reveals Falling Statuary. If put into play it will hit the target with the 2nd lowest HP for 3 irreducible projectile damage. Which would be Rook City Wraith.
We will presume this is discarded and proceed to the environment turn.
Yeah, I'll discard that.
ENVIRONMENT - Rook City
In play: Scum and Villany
Start: Scum and Villainy grants Plague Rat the opportunity deal each hero target 4+2 melee damage. Plague Rat passes on the opportunity due to having been punched in the throat by Rook City Wraith. Scum and Villainy is unamused and destroys itself.
Play: Scum and Villainy
End: Play top card of the villain deck.
Plague Rat plays Afflicted Frenzy (on-going)
===
Effects:
At the end of the environment turn, play the top card of the villain deck (Scum and Villainy)
At the start of the environment turn, the villain character card deals each hero target 4 melee damage. Then, destroy this card. (Scum and Villainy)
Trash: Scum and Villainy (x2), Falling Statuary
PLAGUE RAT - Has Everyone Gotten Their Shots? - ROUND 3
Plague Rat (13) [Plaguebearer] (+2 damage dealt)(Cannot deal damage)
- Plague Locus (13)
- Afflicted Frenzy (ongoing)
Start of Turn:
(does not flip)
Play: Noxious Bite - Plague Rat fails to inflict 8 toxic damage on Chrono-Ranger [no effect]
Nightmist is Infected
End of Turn:
Plague Rat fails to inflict irreducible melee damage on anyone.
Plague Rat regains 5 HP [18]
Number of Infected Heroes: 5
========================
Effects:
- Whenever a card named Infection is destroyed Plague Rat deals each hero target 5 toxic damage
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and by infected heroes by 1 (adv Plague Rat)
- Increase damage dealt by Plague Rat and all infected heroes by 1 (Plaguebearer)
- At the start of each hero turn, if the hero is Infected, they deal X melee damage to the hero target with the highest HP, where X = the number of Infected heroes (Afflicted Frenzy)
(Start of Turn)
- If all active heroes are infected, flip Plague Rat's villain character cards (Plaguebearer)
- Infected heroes deal themselves 1 irreducible toxic damage (Infection)
(End of Turn)
- Plague Rat deals each hero target 1 irreducible melee damage (Plaguebearer)
- Plague Rat regains X HP, where X = the number of infected heroes (Plague Locus)
==========
Plague Rat (18) [Plaguebearer]
Trash:
Ravage, Noxious Bite
==========
Nightmist - 13 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
Chrono-ranger - 9 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
Mister Fixer - 12 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
Absolute Zero - 14 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
R.C. Wraith - 11 (Infected; damage dealt +2)
===========
Scum and Villainy
-----
Comment: This is going to be brutal, but short. Heroes will be expected to inflict 3 damage to themselves, 7 to the hero with the highest HP, and then can pound on The Rat's remaining 18 HP with their +3 damage bonus. Shouldn't take more than half the round I expect.
Just the Afflicted Frenzy damage + power use from Chrono-Ranger will be enough to finish the Rat off.
Nightmist
HP: 13
Hand: Call Forth [2], Mists of Time [3], Starshield Necklace [1], Master of Magic [3], Heedless Lash [2], Mist-Fueled Recovery [4]
In play: Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
[hr]
Start of hero turn: Nightmist attempts to deal herself infernal damage. Discard Mists of Time [3] and Starshield Necklace [1] to redirect the damage to Plague Rat, who takes 1+2(infected)+1(By any means) infernal damage (14). Nightmist deal 5+2 melee damage to Absolute Zero (7).
Play a card: Call Forth [2]. Discard Mist-Fueled Recovery [4]. Reveal cards until I find Tome of Elder Magic [4], Tome of Elder Magic [3], Elder Ring [2], and Elder Ring [3]. Shuffle my deck.
Use a power: Decline.
Draw a card: Astral Premonition [4].
[hr]
HP: 13
Hand: Master of Magic [3], Heedless Lash [2], Tome of Elder Magic [4], Tome of Elder Magic [3], Elder Ring [2], Elder Ring [3], Astral Premonition [4]
In play: Amulet of the Elder Gods [3]
Trash: Starshield Necklace [3], Oblivion [2], Mistbound [4], Mists of Time [3], Starshield Necklace [1], Mist-Fueled Recovery [4], Call Forth [2]
Additional effects: The first time Nightmist would be dealt damage each turn, I may discard 2 cards to redirect the damage.
I am now the highest HP hero target. I will be discarding 2 cards (in order listed) to redirect the Afflicted Frenzy damage to Plague Rat on each turn.
Chrono-Ranger
[Edited to correct hit points]
HP: 9
Hand: Hunter and Hunted, Sudden Contract , Just Doin' My Job, NeuroToxin Dart Thrower, Compounded Bow
In play: Jim's Hat, By Any Means (Plague Rat), Ultimate Target (Plague Rat)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start of Turn: Infection makes me deal myself net 3 damage [6]. Afflicted Frenzy makes me deal net 7 damage to Nightmist [6/13 if redirected]
Play a card: Sudden Contract: I search my deck for Dead or Alive, which goes next to Plague Rat. I deal Plague Rat net 6 projectile damage [8].
Jim's Hat gives me another play! Compounded Bow
Use a power: Compounded Bow: I deal net 6 projectile and net 6 antiviral damage to Plague Rat [x]
Draw a card: game over!
Victory!
Woo!
As predicted, a short and intense game.
Well done, all. Short and sweet. Thanks for running it, Oaktree!
Thanks for running Oaktree. Short and painful.
Yeah, that might have been short and bitter if not for opening mistbound and a throat jab to follow.
Plague Rat is always a great fight.
I thought going in that Wraith getting a Throat Jab card was going to be key.
And that Chrono-Ranger was going to deal a lot of damage. I was half-expecting that the last turn was going to be Hunter & Hunted, followed by Sudden Contract (for something like 9 damage) and then standard power for another 9.
Nightmist getting max cards and settling in to redirect Afflicted Frenzy damage also struck me as being the optimal play.
Randomizer has tossed out an interesting mix with the Ennead, but I'll save that for an episode or two from now.
I thought about using Hunter and Hunted, but the three packets of 6 effectively did just as much damage without the risk from Hunter and Hunted. I absolutely would have used it the next round, had I still been alive, to go out in a blaze of glory.