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Spirits of Venom – a Heroclix: Amazing Spider-Man Campaign

Recently, I reviewed the HeroClix: The Hobbit Starter Pack, and one of the features that excited me most was the campaign rules.

I heard through the grapevine that Wizkids/NECA would be releasing a campaign pack to coincide with Marvel HeroClix: Amazing Spider-Man, but evidently my sources lie (not really, there is a campaign pack scheduled to be released with this summer’s HeroClix: Fear Itself event, just not an Amazing Spider-Man one).

My disappointment with not getting a HeroClix: Amazing Spider-Man campaign pack led to a lot of thought, followed by a bit of action, and finally I made up one of my own.

So with no further ado, here are the rules to play Spirits of Venom (this is a two player campaign, played out in four scenarios based on the Spider-Man/Ghost Rider cross-over, Spirits of Venom).

Scenario #1 – STORM SHADOWS

Background (Web of Spider-Man #95): Spider-Man has just beaten Hobgoblin and is in the process of taking him to the slammer. Out of the blue, Demogoblin and Doppleganger, who have been tracking Spidey, attack them.

Meanwhile in the sewers directly below, Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze are after Hag and Troll and their Deathspawn, to put an end to their unknown plans. Venom is also following Hag and Troll.

The struggle between the heroes and villains from the sewers erupts onto the street, and both groups find themselves caught in the brawl.

The street collapses and all parties fall into the gaping abyss … to be continued …

Storm Shadows represents the events of Web of Spider-Man #95.

Objective: Storm Shadows has no specific objective other than beating your opponent before the time limit expires.

Team Size: Before the game starts, both players decide who is the Hero and who is the Villain.

Players build a team of up to 300 points.

50% of the Hero’s build must possess the Spider-Man Family keyword and the other 50% must possess the Sinister Syndicate keyword. This represents Spider-Man and the Hobgoblin (though these actual characters do not have to be used).

To represent Demogoblin and Doppleganger, 50% of the Villain’s build must possess the Sinister Syndicate keyword and the other 50% must possess the Monster keyword.

Special Rules: Reserves – Both the Hero and the Villain must build an additional 200 point force.

The Hero can build with characters possessing the Midnight Sons or Sinister Syndicate keywords (to represent Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, and Venom).

The Villain can only build a team of characters with the Monster or Mystical keywords (to represent Hag and Troll, and their Deathspawn).

At the end of each player’s turn the finishing player rolls a 2D6. On a result of 11 or 12 both players deploy their reserves team in their respective starting zones. From here, the game becomes a 500 point game.

Time Limit: 60 minutes.

Map: Any of the No Man’s Land maps (Earthquake rules printed on these maps are active for this game).

Scenario #2 – CHASING SHADOWS

Background (Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #5): Finding themselves in the dark sewers Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, and Venom pursue Hag and Troll and their Deathspawn.

What they discover are lost homeless people who Hag and Troll plan to collect and sacrifice in a demonic ritual.

The four (debatable) heroes attempt to rescue the homeless people but Venom, despite his desire to do the same, proves that he can’t play well with others, constantly wanting to turn on Spidey … to be continued …

Chasing Shadows represents the events of Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #5.

Objective: The objective of Chasing Shadows is for the Hero to rescue the homeless victims before the Villain can sacrifice them.

Team Size: Players build a team of up to 400 points.

The Hero’s build must have at least one representative with each of the following keywords: Spider-Man Family, Midnight Sons, and Sinister Syndicate, and can only use characters with these keywords.

The Villain can only build their team with characters with the Mystical and Monster keywords, and must have one character with the Sinister Syndicate keyword. The Villain must have at least five characters in their build.

Special Rules: Homeless Victims – Instead of placing objects on the battlefield, players use Bystander Tokens. They are laid out on the map as per Object rules.

At the end of each players turn (before any actions are declared), the active player can take a free action that is allocated to any Bystander Token they wish. The Bystander Token can move or attack in any means that is legal.

Homeless Victims are rescued by the Hero when one of the Hero’s characters successfully attacks and wounds a Bystander Token with a close combat attack.

Homeless Victims are sacrificed when one of the Villain’s characters successfully attacks and wounds a Bystander Token with a close combat attack.

Venom Just Can’t Play Nice – At the end of each of the Hero’s turn, roll a D6. On a result of 6 the Villain can take control of one of the Hero’s Sinister Syndicate characters for that turn (but it counts against the number of turns allowed in the turn). If the Sinister Syndicate character already has an action token on it, it receives pushing damage as applicable.

Time Limit: 60 minutes.

Map: HorrorClix: Aliens vs. Predator map (if this is unavailable, then the map needs to be very confined, enclosed, and as restricted as possible. Suggestions: Sinister Jail Cell map, Arkham Asylum mental ward map).

Scenario #3 – A HATE STORY

Background (Web of Spider-Man #96): The battle-royale continues. In the process of the battle, Johnny Blaze is captured, revealing Hag and Troll’s end-game … to be concluded …

A Hate Story represents the events depicted in Web of Spider-Man #96.

Objective: A Hate Story has no specific objective other than beating your opponent before the time limit expires.

Team Size: Players build a team of up to 400 points.

The Hero’s build must have at least one representative with each of the following keywords: Spider-Man Family, Midnight Sons, and Sinister Syndicate, and can only use characters with these keywords.

The Villain can only build their team with characters with the Mystical and Monster keywords, and must have one character with the Sinister Syndicate keyword. The Villain must have at least five characters in their build.

Special Rules: Venom Just Can’t Play Nice – At the end of each of the Hero’s turn, roll a D6. On a result of 6 the Villain can take control of one of the Hero’s Sinister Syndicate characters for that turn (but it counts against the number of turns allowed in the turn). If the Sinister Syndicate character already has an action token on it, it receives pushing damage as applicable.

Time Limit: 60 minutes.

Map: Both players roll off. Whichever wins can choose what map to battle on.

Scenario #4 – LAST RITES

Background (Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #6): With Johnny Blaze being held captive, it becomes apparent to Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and Venom what Hag and Troll have planned: The human sacrifices are to reanimate their previously deceased leader, Deathwatch.

Spidey, Ghost Rider, and Venom fight against the clock to not only save Johnny Blaze, but to disrupt the arcane ritual and prevent Deathwatch’s return to this realm of existence.

Last Rites represents the events depicted in Spirits of Vengeance #6.

Objective: For the Hero, the objective Last Rites is to disrupt the sacrifice and prevent Deathwatch from walking the earth again.

For the Villain, do not let the heroes stop the sacrifices.

Team Size: Players build a team of up to 500 points.

The Hero’s build must have at least one representative with each of the following keywords: Spider-Man Family, Midnight Sons, and Sinister Syndicate, and can only use characters with these keywords.

The Villain can only build their team with characters with the Mystical and Monster keywords, and must have one character with the Sinister Syndicate keyword. The Villain must have at least five characters in their build.

Special Rules: The Deathwatch Ritual – In addition to the Hero’s 500 point team, build a 250 point team using characters with only the Midnight Sons keyword. Ideally, this team will consist of four characters. These are the Sacrificial Lambs.

In addition to the Villain’s 500 point team, choose one character up to 250 points that has BOTH the Monster AND Mystical keywords. This is Deathwatch.

Before the game starts, place Deathwatch in one of the four centre squares of the map. The four Sacrificial Lambs are placed four squares from Deathwatch surrounding him.

None of these HeroClix pieces can be moved by any means. None of these pieces can be attacked.

To activate Deathwatch, the Villain needs to sacrifice the four Sacrificial Lambs. This is done by making base-to-base contact with the Sacrificial Lambs. At the start of each turn, if one of the Villain’s characters is in base-to-base contact with a Sacrificial Lamb deal that Sacrificial Lamb one unavoidable click of damage.

If all Sacrificial Lambs are KO’d before the time run out, the Villain can start to use Deathwatch as part of their force.

Venom Just Can’t Play Nice – At the end of each of the Hero’s turn, roll a D6. On a result of 6, the Villain can take control of one of the Hero’s Sinister Syndicate characters for that turn (but it counts against the number of turns allowed in the turn). If the Sinister Syndicate character already has an action token on it, it receives pushing damage as applicable.

Time Limit: 60 minutes.

Map: Both players roll off. Whichever wins can choose what map to battle on.

Now, as with all my HeroClix: Hunger Games scenario, these are just guidelines.

If you’re not a Marvel fan, this campaign could easily be made into DC by substituting keywords. Instead of Spider-Man Family, Midnight Sons, and Sinister Syndicate, you could trade them out for Batman Family, Shadowpact, and Arkham Asylum respectively.

More an IndyClix player? How about a universe spanning campaign subbing in keywords like Fellowship, B.P.R.D., and Locust Horde?

Either way, the thing is to have fun. That’s the foundation that HeroClix was built on and hopefully that’s what you get out of my Spirits of Venom campaign.

So have fun and keep on Clixin’ …