ENERGY:

   The Darkness  7-7-4-3 (21)   
   Grunge        6-5-4-2 (17)   
   Malebolgia    7-4-6-8 (23) ~Counts as 23-Points for Deckbuilding. May
                                  not use Intllect Power Cards for Defense.~
   Spawn         8-6-4-3 (21)
   Tiffany       6-7-4-4 (21)
   Velocity      6-5-2-3 (16)
   Witchblade    7-7-3-4 (21)

So, we have two characters who cost less than 20 points (I won't insult your intellect by telling you why this is relevant).
Even if you use Velocity, you can't build a deck. You must use both Velocity and Grunge, and then you can't even use Malebolgia.

In short, the fact that you must use two max-6 single-skilled characters to build a legal energy deck, and the fact that you then only have four choices for the other two characters makes building an solid Image Energy deck almost impossible.

FIGHTING:

   Backlash      5-6-5-6 (18) ~Counts as 18-Points for Deckbuilding.~
   The Darkness  7-7-4-3 (21)
   Grifter       4-7-4-4 (19) ~Not Spectrum or Cum KO'd w/ Teamwork cards.~
   Killrazor     3-7-5-4 (19)
   Ripclaw       4-7-5-4 (20)
   Spawn         8-6-4-3 (21)
   Stryker       4-7-6-3 (20)
   Tiffany       6-7-4-4 (21)
   Violator      4-6-7-2 (19)
   Witchblade    7-7-3-4 (21)
   Zealot        3-8-4-5 (20)

Ah! So you think that because you have a greater choice of characters, it'll be easier to build an Image Fighting deck. Wrong! In order to ballance a 21-point character, you need a 17-point character. The cheapest Fighting character is 18 points. Cross all the 21 point characters from the list and you have this:

 
   Backlash      5-6-5-6 (18) ~Counts as 18-Points for Deckbuilding.~
   Grifter       4-7-4-4 (19) ~Not Spectrum or Cum KO'd w/ Teamwork cards.~
   Killrazor     3-7-5-4 (19)
   Ripclaw       4-7-5-4 (20)
   Stryker       4-7-6-3 (20)
   Violator      4-6-7-2 (19)
   Zealot        3-8-4-5 (20)

Now do you see the number of possible Image Fighting decks? Y'see, with only one 18-point character, you can only use one 20-point character. Also, because there are only three 19-point characters, you must use Backlash. Every Image Fighting Deck will either be Backlash, Grifter, Killrazor, Violator, or Backlash with any two of the last three plus one of Ripclaw, Stryker, or Zealot.

STRENGTH:

   Fairchild     1-4-7-5 (17)
   Malebolgia    7-4-6-8 (23) ~Counts as 23-Points for Deckbuilding. May
                                  not use Intllect Power Cards for Defense.~
   Overtkill     5-5-7-1 (18) ~May follow up any teammate's Teamwork card
                                  attack w/ a Level 1 Intellect Power card.~
   Savage Dragon 2-5-8-4 (19)
   Shadowhawk    2-5-6-6 (19)
   Stryker       4-7-6-3 (20)
   Violator      4-6-7-2 (19)

Again, forget about using Malebolgia here. You really have a very small choice here. Although, of the characters you can choose, almost any combination is legal. The only deck that won't work is Dragon, Shadowhawk, Stryker, Violator.

Intellect:

   Backlash      5-6-5-6 (18) ~Counts as 18-Points for Deckbuilding.~
   Curse         3-5-4-6 (18) ~May attack Reserve w/ Strength Power cards.~
   Malebolgia    7-4-6-8 (23) ~Counts as 23-Points for Deckbuilding. May
                                  not use Intllect Power Cards for Defense.~
   Shadowhawk    2-5-6-6 (19)

Oh, this is rich! You only get four choices, three of whom are max-6, and they don't even fit together!!

I understand that Image is supposed to be mixed with the previously released Marvel and DC explansions. I also understand that most Marvel Expansions can't stand on their own either.

Image is supposed to be a stand-alone expansion though. How is it going to attract more players to the Marvel side, when newbie Image freaks find out that they can't even build legal teams with their first whole set.

While we're on the subject of newbie players, how are they supposed to know that these teams aren't legal when they aren't getting starters with rulebooks?

Created 30/5/98

Questions, Comments, Death Threats? wildchild82@hotmail.com