What happens when the Uncanny X-Men, Marvel Knights and Teen Titans meet for the first time? 

Notes to start the game:

1. ❖ We totaled above 600 points so there was a possibility of two megalomaniac tokens.
   
   

2. ❖ This was the most interesting dungeon layout in the history of infinity quest.  There were many options and cool paths...too bad I left my camera at home.
   
   

3. ❖ There was lots of talk about having a “friendly game” as we setup.  Apparently the Teen Titan’s reputation preceded them.  No commitments were made, however.
   

And so it began...

1. ❖ The entrance tiles were pretty crowded with villain tokens.  Everyone entered and exposed two sets of villains, all 45 points or less.  The Titans opened a crystal with their second member and revealed a Gem Guardian (OOPS!).  They wisely decided to take some friendly advice and forego that result for a more manageable one (no thanks to the Watcher, who seemed disappointed in the decision).  Everyone started working on what was in front of them.
   
   

2. ❖ Now The Knights brought the phasing cloak and the X-Men brought the slow poke Nightcrawler.  Apparently, the Titans felt compelled to get their own speedster and invested in Quicksilver.  As a result, the beginning of the game started out as a mad dash for crystals.  Lots of villains were revealed as the scouts made their way to the center of the map.  That is until...
   
   

3. ❖ The watcher decides to influence events yet again and urges the titans to open a crystal that the X-Men clearly have their sights on.  Some veiled threats were made, but to no avail.  Lo and behold, the Titans luck is still in force as the second Guardian is revealed, with no reroll in sight.  Oh, and two other tokens make the middle of the map nice and cozy with about 6 villains and a gem guardian.
   
   

4. ❖ About the same time as all of this, a megalomaniac token is revealed in a secluded room (3 for ~125), which results in Superwoman, Brainiac and Sinestro making an appearance.  The only question at this point is who will break ranks first?
   
   

5. ❖ Well the X-Men can smell a gem within their grasp, and with the guardian two feet in front of them it’s put up or shut up time.  With the clarity of the mind gem, Rogue outwits the guardian’s defenses and destroys his left leg with a dumpster.  STorm then follows with a lightning bolt to the helmet.  It took a few turns and a little help from the Titans (Thanks again), but the guardian goes down. nightcrawler retrieves the Soul gem and hands it to STorm because it compliments her eyes.
   
   

6. ❖ Meanwhile, the Titans are opening crystals and trying to clear their starting tile.  I say “Trying” because someone put Ghost and Cheetah in their path (both with 17 defenses).  The lack of training the teens have received made it difficult to hit their targets.  Still, they were dodging any counter attacks so it wasn’t all bad.
   
   

7. ❖ The Marvel Knights, however, were slowly dealing damage, but taking some lumps in return.  Still, the megalomaniacs in their vicinity seemed content to have a tea party in the room next to heroes.  Even when the Punisher ran past at one point, they seemed not to notice.  Feeling brave by that reaction (and the fact that Sinestro got bored and left without incident), the Knights soon turned their attention to the likes of Superwoman and Brainiac.
   
   

8. ❖ With the Gem theirs, the X-Men realize they have some catching up to do in the points department.  STill in their starting tile, they move onward and reveal the other megalomaniac token (3 for 115), which resulted in Ra’s Al-Ghul, persuader and some other DC guy who’s name I didn’t notice.  Add another villain token and the villain that resulted in the crystal Nightcrawler opened after all of this, and it’s a very crowded room.  Still, Rogue charges in and storm provides cover fire to the chant of “that’s all points” from far off.
   
   

9. ❖ It takes a little while, but the kNights take care of their megalomaniacs and the X-Men do the same.  Eventually, the Titans follow suit and clear out their starting tile.
   
   

10. ❖ At this point, the Knights had maxed out, happy to take their success and go home.  the Titans were close, but there were few villains to harrass.  The X-Men still needed some points but they also had two gems to get out which would put them over the top.  There was a minor incident of poaching and some talk of the Titans testing the X-men’s meddle (mostly coming from the watcher’s direction), but calmer heads prevailed.  We shake hands and part ways without an incident.
    

Lessons learned:

1. ❖ There are many paths to success.  The Titans’ investment in Quicksilver (A.K.A Kid Flash), seemed to pay off as they garnered most of their points from crystals.  Meanwhile, the Marvel Knights dissected the villains put in their path and were rewarded for it.  How the X-Men survived is still a mystery.
   
   

2. ❖ The Gem Guardians are not a reward unto themselves.  Even though they give a lot of VP, the fact that they take three turns to take down (if you are lucky) and only give you 3 Exp makes it an interesting choice.  Luckily there were enough points to go around....
   
   

3. ❖ And finally, the true lesson is that the X-Men are just cuddly bears interested in peace and harmony for mutants and humans alike.  Long live Xavier’s Dream.