Virus--A Marvel Universe campaign

Background: The following is a campaign involving the Fantastic Four and their allies as they race to find the elements needed to prepare a vaccine. This vaccine is needed to save the life of --- Franklin Richards!


Despite Reed’s constant precautions against such things, a strange alien virus somehow made its way into the Baxter Building. Poor Franklin has caught the virus and is now deathly ill.


Reed analyzes the virus and comes up with the formula for a cure. Unfortunately, the elements needed to make the cure are all very rare. To obtain them, the Fantastic Four will have to travel around the Earth, as well as to other worlds and dimensions.


One player in this campaign will use the FF and their allies. The other player will use various villains. Heretofore, the players will be referred to as the Hero and the Villain.


MAPS: Each scenario requires a specific map. If a certain map isn’t available, the players should be able to decide on a good alternative. Resolve any disputes with dice rolls.


GENERICS: This campaign uses the mix-and-match theory of HC campaign design. Generics are borrowed from the DC and Indy universes for use as various aliens in this campaign. Players may need to own or borrow Saurian Troopers, Parademons and Skrulls. Also, multiple copies of Fury and Man-Bat from the DC Universe may be used in one scenario to represent a species of monsters.


FEAT CARDS: Feat cards may be used freely by both players with the exception of the “In Contact with Oracle” card and the "Lazarus Pit" card. Neither player may use these cards.


THE HERO: The Hero chooses one version each of Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman/Girl, the Human Torch and the Thing. He need not choose them all from the same set, nor do they all need to be at the same experience level. But the Hero must use the same version of each individual FF member throughout the campaign. For instance, if he picks the Experienced Fantastic Forces Mr. Fantastic, then that’s the only version of Reed he can use throughout the campaign.


I know the Fantastic Forces FF are the Ultimates version, but they represent the regular Marvel Universe FF very well and may be used without a guilty conscience.


The Hero may also use any other character with either Fantastic Four or Inhumans as a key world.


For each scenario, he forms a team out of this pool and any available “guest star.” (see below) He must use at least two original FF members in each scenario. Other than this and the Feat Card restriction listed above, he may form whatever team seems best out of his available pool.


GUEST STARS: Each scenario includes one or more guest stars listed in the scenario description. The Hero has the option of using these guest stars, but is not required to do so.


Also, at the beginning of each scenario, roll 1 12-sided die, then consult the following chart:


1. Sub-Mariner
2. Wolverine
3. Submariner
4. Ghost Rider
5. Captain America
6. Iron Man
7. Power Man and/or Iron Fist
8. Hellcat OR Tigra
9. Hulk
10. Quasar
11. Moondragon
12. Quicksilver


The Hero may use any one version of one of the characters rolled. For instance, if he rolls a 2 at the beginning of the first scenario, then he may included either Hawkeye or Captain America on his team. He is not required to use the chosen guest star if he doesn’t want to.


Players should feel free to modify this chart to reflect their own preferences and collection.


THE VILLAIN: The villain is given a different pool of required and optional characters from which to form his team for each scenario.


TEAM SIZE: All scenarios use 500 point teams.


THE VACCINE: Each time Reed fails to get an element for the vaccine, he is forced to try to synthesize an artificial replacement. Each time he does this, it increases the chances of the vaccine not working. This will be explained more fully later.


SCENARIO ORDER: The scenarios are numbered for convenience, but the Hero may choose to play through them in any order he wants.


SCENARIO #1: THE NEGATIVE ZONE


The first element Reed needs is super-ionized Carbonite, which can only be found in the Negative Zone. Entering the Zone, the FF soon track down a source of the element aboard Annihilus’ space station. Annihilus and Blaastar have teamed up and are planning to make Carbonite bombs to further their plans of conquest, forcing the FF to do battle for possession of this volatile element.


MAP: Use the JLA Watchtower map from the DC map set. Here it represents Annihilus’ headquarters.


BCF: The Low Gravity BCF card is in effect.


The Hero uses his regular pool. Remember to roll on the guest star chart for an available guest star. Also, the FF met up with rebel soldiers from a planet conquered by Blaastar. These soldiers offer to team up with the heroes for the assault on the space station. The Hero may include any number of Saurian Troopers on his team.


The Villain must use any one version of Annihilus and any one version of Blaastar. He also uses any number of Parademon Scouts and Warriors, as well as any number of White Martians, to represent their Negative Zone minons.


Also, the villain had the option of using the Mad Thinker and/or the Awesome Android. The Thinker has come to the Negative Zone to explore and look for new ways to finally defeat his accursed foes. He (and/or his Android slave) have been captured by Annihilus for meddling in affairs that don’t concern him. But when the FF attacks, the villains become reluctant allies.


SET-UP: The Hero is the first player. Set up normally.


THE BATTLE: The scenario lasts 10 rounds. Calculate victory points normally. If the Hero wins, Reed gets the Carbonite. If the Villain wins, he fails and the chances of saving Franklin drop.


SCENARIO #2: RUMBLE DOWN SOUTH


The second element is the rare herb called the Black Lotus, found only in a certain location in the Amazonian jungle. The FF race down there to get a sample, but stumble across trouble. Diablo and Mole Man are teaming up, using this remote jungle location to plot their next nefarious move. The FF again finds itself in a fight over the element they need.


MAP: Use the Japanese Garden map that came with the Indy Starter set. This represents ancient Inca ruins in the jungle.


BCF: No BCF is in effect for this scenario.


THE HERO: Once again, the Hero should roll on the guest star chart for the available guest star. Also, the FF may run into Henry and Janet Pym, who are in the jungle doing research on South American ants. The Hero may use Ant Man OR Giant Man. If he uses Hank Pym, he may also use any one version of Wasp.


THE VILLAIN: The Villain must use any one version of Diablo and any one version of Mole Man. He may use Dragon Man, over whom Diablo has regained control. He may use as many Moloids as he wishes. He may also use any number of Fury and Man Bat (borrowed from the DC Universe) and any number of Rock Trolls. He may also use one Ultimate Abomination and/or Hecate and/or Arcane. These are subterranean monsters tamed by Mole Man and modified by Diablo’s alchemy.


SET-UP: Roll for first player and set up normally.


THE BATTLE: The scenario lasts 10 rounds. Once again, calculate victory points normally. If the FF wins, they get the Black Lotus. If the Villain wins, then poor Franklin is in deeper trouble than we thought.


SCENARIO #3: SKRULL SMACKDOWN


The next element (a liquid form of radiation known as Illuminant) exists only on a planet inside the Skrull Empire. Since life is never easy for our team of Imaginauts, they run into Super Skrull, who is using the planet as a military training ground.


MAP: The first player will pick the map. Use the Danger Room map that came with the Marvel map set, but consider it to be an outside map OR the Swamp map from the Hellboy starter set.


BCF: To represent the strange environmental conditions of this planet, each player MUST play a BCF card. The cards should be revealed simultaneously after set up. Neither player may use “Disbanded” or “Ordinary Day.” All other BCF cards are available to use. These BCFs may not be cancelled.


THE HERO: Once again, remember to roll on the guest star chart for an available guest. Also, the Hero may include either Mar-vell or Warbird on his team (brought along because they know the territory.)


THE VILLAIN: The Villain must use Super Skrull. He may use any number of Skrull generics.


In addition, the Skrulls are using their shape-changing abilities plus technology to make Skrulls who duplicate Earth Super Heroes exactly—including their powers. The Villain may use any character with the X-Men keyword. These are actually Skrulls, preparing to replace these Earth heroes as a precursor for their next invasion attempt of Earth.


SET UP: Roll for first player and set up normally.


THE BATTLE: The scenario lasts 10 rounds. Once again, calculate victory points normally. The Hero gets the Illuminant if he wins. Otherwise, the increasingly sickly Franklin better start making out his will.


SCENARIO #4: THE GLORY OF PUPPET MASTER


The last element Reed needs is the same radioactive clay that Puppet Master uses to make his mind controlling puppets. The clay is only found in a remote East European location.


When the FF arrives, they find Puppet Master already there. Once again, to the surprise of absolutely no one, the FF must fight for what they need.


MAP: Use the Park map that came with the Marvel Premiere set OR the convention-exclusive Castle Ruins map. The first player chooses which.


BCF: There are no BCF cards in effect during this scenario.


THE HERO: Once again, remember to roll on the guest star chart. Also, the Hero may use any one version of the Scarlet Witch and/or any one version of Quicksilver. If the Hero uses the Scarlet Witch, he may also use the Vision.


THE VILLAIN: The Villain must use any one version of the Puppet Master. This character has been busy, using his special puppets to gain control of a variety of Marvel Universe villains. The rest of his team consists of any villainous characters from the Marvel universe who:


have no team ability:
have the Serpent Society Team Ability
have the Sinister Syndicate Team Ability


SET UP: The Villain is first player. Otherwise, set up normally.


THE BATTLE: The scenario lasts 12 rounds this time. Calculate victory points normally. Once again, if the FF win, Reed gets the element he needs. Otherwise, he doesn’t.


“WILL…..WILL FRANKLIN BE OKAY?”:


If the Hero wins all four scenarios, then Reed makes the vaccine and Franklin is saved. The Hero wins the campaign.


If the Villain wins all four scenarios, then Reed cannot make the vaccine. Keep reading for the results of this horrific situation.


If there is a split in victories, then roll one die and subtract one for each scenario the Hero lost. If the modified result is 3 or higher, then Reed successfully synthesizes replacement elements and Franklin is saved. Otherwise, keep reading.


“WE’VE NO CHOICE, SUE. WE MUST GO TO…. VICTOR VON DOOM!”


Unable to make the vaccine himself, Reed learns at the last moment that Dr. Doom has the elements he needs. With no time left to fight more battles, Reed must approach Doom openly and beg him for a favor.


Doom laughs and, knowing that this will give him something to hold over the Accursed Richards in future encounters, gives Reed what he needs. Franklin is saved, but the Villain wins the campaign.