Ultimate Defense

Ultimate Defense
Written by: F. Richard Tifft

Scenario Name: Ultimate Defense
# of Players: 2-4

During the final years of the Cold War, SHIELD helped develop the Vibranium Bomb (VB) as a form of defense against space-based weapons. The technology was shelved at the end of the Cold War, and most research concerning it was stored away, and forgotten...for the most part. Recently, during this cross-dimensional conflict known as the Infinity Challenge, several groups of Super-Villians attempted to steal the only complete version of the VB in order to hold the world hostage (see "The Return Of Captain Universe" Scenario). The Villians were stopped, but it was discovered that SHIELD still had another unassembled device complete with plans in storage at another facility. With this known several other groups of Super-Villians have desended upon the location in order to gain the technology for themselves. First reports show that the Villians may have support from a evil organization with its own desires at world domination, although if all is too be believed the Heroes are far from alone in this conflict themselves.

This Scenario is played on any indoors map. Players can use any size Forces they wish (although 300-400 Point Forces are suggested). The Players will need to make 4 Markers: 1 for the Plans, 1 for the Bomb Core, and 2 for the Triggering Devices for the VB. Setup and Play is as per the Standard Rules (pg. 5-22), with a few changes. After placing the Standard Objects, the Players will place the Plans, and VB Components on the map (these are placed on the map in they same fashion that Standard Objects are except they must be at least 5 squares away from any Characters, and at least 3 squares from each other). Players will also need to decide if they are going to include the Hydra/SHIELD support teams for each Force or not (more on this under the "Hydra/SHIELD Variation" section at the bottom).

The VB and its plans are spread throughout the complex. Aside from combating one another Players will attempt to either capture or rescue (depending on whether they are Heroes or Villians) this various Objects from within the complex. In order to do this a Character must bring one of the VB Objects back to thier Force's starting area and drop it off the side of the map. The VB Objects have several rules that cover Character interaction with them:

1) None of the VB Objects can be used as a weapon.

2) Upon picking up one of the VB Objects the Character must end thier Action the moment they lift it. Characters may opt to drop any VB Object they are carrying at the end of thier Action (placing it in an open adjacent square of thier choice). Also if they take any damage they automatically drop the Object (again placing it in any open adjacent square they choose). Characters may only carry one VB Object at a time. VB Objects can be moved using Telekinesis (or a similar Power).

3) All the VB Objects act as Hindering Terrain.

4) The Plans may be picked up, and carried, by any Character (Super Strength, Telekinesis, etc. is not needed).

5) The Triggering Devices (TD) may be picked up, and carried, by any Character. But due to thier delicate nature if the Character does not have Super Strength they may only move at half thier normal Speed rate (ie. Rookie Captain America has a Speed of 8, while carrying one of the TDs his Speed is 4). Note that any fractions should be rounded down and no Speed will drop below 1. Also if moving a TD with Telekinesis (or similar Power) the range of that ability is likewise halved (ie. a 10 range is dropped to 5). Those with Super Strength may carry one of these Objects using thier full Speed.

6) The Bomb Core (BC), can only be picked up by Characters with Super Strength, Telekinesis, or a similar Power. At the end of each Turn that a Character is carrying, in the same square with or in an adjacent square to, the BC they take a Click of damage (due to deadly radiation). Note: The Victory Points for any Character KO'd by the BC are not awarded to any Player.

7) In order to drop one of the VB Objects off the side of the map, the Character must spend a full Action doing so (they may not drop it off in the same Action that brought the Object to the edge). Once dropped off the map that Force gains 25 bonus Victory Points (see below).

8) The VB Objects can be destroyed by causing any damage to the Plans, at least 2 Clicks of damage to the TDs, and at least 3 Clicks of damage to the BC. For each VB Object destroyed by a Force they suffer a 25 point penalty to thier Victory Points (see below).

-Hydra/SHIELD Variation- If the Players wish to increase the challenge of this Scenario, they can include the presence of Hydra/AIM (for Villian Forces) and SHIELD/Mandroid (for Hero Forces) support teams. In order to do this the following rules apply:

1) Divide the Build Point total for the Player Forces by 100, in order to see how many Hydra/SHIELD (H/S) Characters can be added to the Forces (ie. 300 Point Forces allow for 3 H/S support Characters, 400 Point Forces allow for 4 H/S Characters, etc.). Note: Each Player gets this number of H/S support Characters to add to thier Force.

2) The Point Value for each H/S Character does not count toward the total Build Points for the Players Forces. These Characters are in addition to the Force each Player builds.

3) H/S Characters are placed in the same starting area as the Player's regular Force, and any Actions givin to them count against the total number of Actions a Player has for thier Turn.

4) Players should use the following rule of thumb when determining H/S Character ranks, based on Player Force size: 300 or less = Veteran, 400-500 = Experienced, 600 or more = Rookie.

5) The makeup of the H/S support teams should be as follows: 1 Character (Agent or Operative), 2 Characters (1 Agent or Operative, and 1 Medic), 3 Characters (2 Agents or Operatives, and 1 Medic), 4 Characters (3 Agents or Operatives, and 1 Medic), 5 or more Characters (2 Medics, the rest are Agents or Operatives). If Mandroids are used they count as 2 SHIELD Agents, also Players may replace SHIELD Medics with Snipers/Troopers if they wish.

*Victory Conditions* Players should use a 1 or 2 hour time limit (although this can be considered optional). The Scenario ends when only one Force still has Characters on the map, or when all 4 of the VB Objects have been destroyed, or captured/rescued. Victory Points are determined as per the Standard Rules (pg. 22-23), except Players get an additional 25 Victory Points for each VB Object the rescue/capture. Also a Player's Force will suffer a 25 Point penalty for each VB Object thier Force destroyed.

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