On a tropical island in the Pacific, a group of super-powered individuals found themselves drawn together by a mysterious woman named Claire Donovan. Lady Mastermind, Hobgoblin, DualCore, and Containment, each with their own unique abilities and troubled pasts, arrived at the island’s impressive scientific facilities, greeted by a skeleton crew of staff wearing yellow hazmat suits bearing the logo of AIM - Advanced Idea Mechanics.

Their mission, as outlined by Donovan, was to act as a secret Thunderbolts team, operating in the shadows as super-powered vigilantes were currently outlawed. Their first task: infiltrate an auction in Madripoor held by the enigmatic figure known as “The Broker” and obtain cloning equipment previously owned by the villainous Jackal.

As the team split up, with Hobgoblin and Lady Mastermind arriving in Madripoor openly while Containment and DualCore were inserted covertly, another figure entered the scene. Batroc the Leaper, a mercenary of great skill and a unique sense of honor, found himself recruited by a mysterious contact claiming to represent AIM. Offered a leadership role over a newly formed powered team already in the field, Batroc accepted, enticed by the promise of steady work - a rarity in his line of business.

In Madripoor, threads of fate began to intertwine as Rintrah, a minotaur-like sorcerer and protégé of the Sorcerer Supreme, followed mystical visions to the city. Seeking individuals who would be key to a coming battle that threatened the very fabric of reality, Rintrah’s path crossed with the Thunderbolts at a seedy pub called The Fox and Hounds.

Tensions ran high as the group, now including Rintrah, tried to extract information about the Broker’s auction from a reluctant gunrunner named Niles Nielsen. With a mix of illusion, telepathy, and cold hard cash, they learned that the Dragon’s Den, an underground fighting pit, served as a front for the Broker’s business dealings.

Arriving at the Dragon’s Den, Batroc’s reputation preceded him, gaining the group entry into the VIP section. There, amidst the well-dressed elites, they encountered Taskmaster, a rival of Batroc’s with the uncanny ability to perfectly mimic any fighting style he observed. A challenge was issued, and the stage was set for a clash of titans in the arena below.

As Batroc prepared, Rintrah used his mystical abilities to provide a glimpse of the future, revealing a path to victory. DualCore, meanwhile, used his technological prowess to hack into the arena’s systems, manipulating the betting and video feeds to their advantage.

In the arena, Batroc and Taskmaster engaged in a brutal dance, trading blows and taunts. Enhanced by Lady Mastermind’s illusions and Rintrah’s visions, Batroc gained the upper hand, defeating his foe in a display of raw skill and power that left the crowd stunned.

With the arena in chaos, the group used the distraction to further their plans, securing an invitation to the Broker’s auction and maintaining their backdoor access to the arena’s systems. As they regrouped to plan their next move, one thing was clear: in the shadows of Madripoor, a new force had arisen, one that would stop at nothing to complete their mission and unravel the mysteries that bound them together.

• The group discusses creating resources in the previous session. Some characters created items like a bug out bed, bedding, and a worm for a surveillance system. One character made another character dislike them more.
• Four characters (Hobgoblin, Lady Mastermind, Containment, and DualCore) were approached by a mysterious woman named Claire Donovan and offered money and resources to accomplish their goals.
• The characters arrived one by one to a tropical island with impressive scientific facilities and mostly empty dormitories. There seems to be a skeleton crew staff.
• The scientists on the island don’t seem to be mentally blocked like Ms. Donovan and her senior staff. They appear to be using AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) tech and wearing yellow hazmat suits, but not the full beekeeper outfits.
• The group’s mission, as outlined by their employer, is to act as a secret Thunderbolts team, since super-powered vigilantes are currently outlawed in New York.
• Their first task is to infiltrate an auction in Madripoor held by “The Broker” and obtain cloning equipment previously owned by the villain The Jackal, a cloning expert.
• The group split up, with Hobgoblin and Lady Mastermind arriving in Madripoor openly by jet, while Containment and DualCore were dropped off stealthily by a stealth aircraft.
• The scene shifts to introduce Batroc the Leaper, a mercenary laying low between jobs in Madripoor. He receives a message on a dark web app from someone with the handle AgentValbery.
• AgentValbery claims to represent AIM, which Batroc thought was defunct. They offer him a job leading and managing a newly formed powered team that is already in the field in Madripoor.
• Batroc accepts the job offer, which comes with a sizable payment and the potential for steady long-term work, something rare for mercenaries in Madripoor.
• Batroc the Leaper arrives at the hotel suite to meet with Lady Mastermind, Hobgoblin, and Donovan. He is wearing his full costume including hood, goggles, and mask.
• Hobgoblin and Batroc know each other by reputation, as they have both headed up criminal organizations in the past.
• Donovan deflects questions about the origins of their resources and technology, hinting they may be using leftover AIM or SHIELD tech without directly confirming anything.
• Containment and DualCore are dropped off by VTOL craft on a beach outside the main city, about 50 miles away. Containment sinks into the sand upon landing due to his heavy mechanical form.
• The two discuss whether to set up a headquarters outside the city or make their way in incognito. They decide to hike closer to the city outskirts for now.
• Containment suggests DualCore could hack into local networks for intel gathering. They discuss using Containment’s psychic communication ability to stay in contact with the other team members.
• Containment’s telepathy at D8 rank is estimated to have a range of about city-wide, but establishing the psychic link at that distance may be difficult. During travel the link was likely lost.
• DualCore has to go through authentication steps to allow Containment mental access. The psychic link uses an augmented reality interface that each user can customize the appearance of.
• Containment and DualCore make contact with the hotel team, deciding to travel closer while staying out of sight in the jungle and wilderness areas of the island for now.
• Rintrah’s character motivation is revealed to be proving his sorcerer’s might. He was using magic to cheat at poker before joining the mission.
• Rintrah, a minotaur-like being, has been training for millennia to prove his worthiness to be the next Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. His ambition is small, but his power is great.
• Rintrah practices a form of magic called “Weaver magic”. He has been in his sanctum, tracing threads of fate to find a worthy challenge that will show his readiness.
• Following the threads, Rintrah has foreseen a coming battle that will decide the fate of reality. The threads have led him to the city of Madripoor to find certain individuals who will be key to this battle.
• Rintrah’s divinations gave him descriptions of who to look for in Madripoor: “A man with two minds. A mad goblin. A shadow that dwells in the minds of the viewer. A living fire.”
• Rintrah is an 8-foot tall green minotaur. He is wearing a tweed jacket with leather elbow patches and glasses to try to blend in. He carries a small book with him, a tourist guide of Madripoor.
• Lady Mastermind and Hobgoblin discuss Rintrah’s appearance. Hobgoblin suggests Rintrah needs a makeover and new outfit.
• Hobgoblin wants to acquire weapons he can sneak in to wherever they are going, like exploding cufflinks or an acid-spraying flower lapel pin. His background is a fashion designer who perfected the Green Goblin formula.
• The group doesn’t know exactly where the auction for the dangerous tech is happening yet. They know it involves someone called The Broker.
• Batroc and Lady Mastermind plan to use their criminal contacts and reputations to try to find out more info on where the auction is located and get an invite.
• One plan discussed is to sneak Containment into the auction disguised as an AIM battle droid, have him get stored in the vault with the tech, then burn his way out with it.
• Lady Mastermind, whose criminal empire was previously destroyed by the Green Goblin, visits some of her old underworld contacts in Madripoor to shake the trees for information.
• She tracks down a gunrunner contact named Niles Nielsen who Norman Osborn had previously blown up a warehouse of. Niles isn’t thrilled to see her due to the association with Osborn.
• The group, including Rintrah, Hobgoblin, Lady Mastermind, and Batroc, meet with Niles at The Fox and Hounds pub in Madripoor to discuss getting information about an auction.
• Rintrah, a minotaur-like magician from another dimension, introduces himself and says he traced magical threads that led him to the group, believing the fate of reality is in peril.
• Lady Mastermind uses her illusion powers to try to make Niles feel more sympathetic towards Hobgoblin by altering Niles’ perception and giving him false memories of profitable past dealings with Hobgoblin.
• Niles demands money for the information, not wanting any favors or long-term relationships. Hobgoblin reluctantly agrees to pay him $10,000.
• Niles tells them to check out the Dragon’s Den underground fighting pits, as the fights there distract from other business the Broker conducts.
• Rintrah sincerely offers his magical assistance to the group, claiming he is there to help prevent the reality-threatening situation. Lady Mastermind reads his surface thoughts and believes he is being truthful.
• The group plans to attend the underground fights to try to make contacts and find out more information about the auction’s whereabouts.
• Rintrah asks for more details about their situation, but Batroc is hesitant to share information with someone they just met. Lady Mastermind vouches for Rintrah based on his fashion sense.
• Lady Mastermind says they shouldn’t give everybody all the information just because they look good, as that’s not how the world works.
• Alex joins the conversation. Lady Mastermind says sharing some information is prudent.
• They are going to a fight and eventually an auction run by an individual or entity known as the Broker. More information could help Alex assist them.
• Containment uses a psychic connection to share senses (sound and vision) with the remote team members DualCore and Containment to introduce them to the new person. The GM awards a bonus plot point for this.
• There are some technical difficulties with the remote players due to power and internet issues. Solar power and Tesla batteries are jokingly suggested as solutions.
• Lady Mastermind uses illusion magic to create a “Psychic Privacy Shroud” so they can talk privately, making it appear they are having casual chit-chat.
• The group discusses the mission, clarifying the Broker doesn’t run the fights but attends them to talk business as they are loud and distracting. People who go to his auctions also attend the fights.
• They discuss Lady Mastermind’s revealing comic book costumes. The GM notes the image he generated for her is more modest.
• The group asks the newcomer Rintrah about his background. He is a protégé of Dr. Strange. Hobgoblin is casually familiar with Dr. Strange as a weird magician occasionally associated with the Avengers.
• They debate whether to trust Rintrah. They agree to accept his help cautiously without fully trusting him.
• Rintrah explains and demonstrates his magical abilities, including illusions, divination through the Weave, and sorcery that can block bullets by channeling power to affect physics.
• They discuss plans to sneak into the auction, such as Rintrah using illusions to disguise as Lady Mastermind, or sneaking Containment in inside a crate.
• The group wants to locate the Broker at the fights so Rintrah can divine his future location. Selling something could get them an invitation to the auction.
• Containment’s nature and pronouns are questioned, asking what it means to be human.
• The group discusses letting the new character (presumably DualCore) join them, but not fully trusting him. They may use him as a patsy later.
• Luke (the GM) helps set up separate telepathic chat rooms so the players can communicate secretly from Chris’s character. This will be taxing on Lady Mastermind’s telepathic abilities and may cause complications later, represented by a D8 “Divided Mind” complication.
• The group learned from an NPC named Niles that the Broker they are seeking favors an underground fighting ring called the Dragon’s Den to do deals. They think they can find a link to the Broker or his associates there.
• They debate who should go to the fighting ring. Containment is reluctant at first, but the others convince him it would be a good way to showcase his abilities so they can potentially auction off his services later.
• In addition to Containment, the group decides Lady Mastermind, Batroc, and Rintrah (possibly in disguise) will go to the Dragon’s Den. DualCore will stay behind and work on fake documentation.
• Their goal is to get noticed at the fighting ring so they can get an introduction to the auction the Broker is involved with.
• Batroc is familiar with the Dragon’s Den, as it is a prestigious fighting arena in Madripoor that many top martial artists have competed at. He plans to get them entry by name-dropping himself.
• The group arrives in the slums where the Dragon’s Den is located. Batroc knocks on the door and announces himself and his entourage, hoping to gain entry to witness the fights.
• Batroc arrives at the Dragon’s Den in Madripoor, expecting to be greeted as fighting royalty. He interacts with a French Canadian superfan doorman who is excited to see him.
• Batroc makes a solo entrance, rolling dice to determine how well received he is. He gets a good roll, including an opportunity which he spends a plot point on to create a D8 asset called “Superfan on the security team”.
• The doorman tells Batroc that Taskmaster is there working tonight. Batroc and Taskmaster have a rivalry as fellow master martial artists, though Taskmaster has “cheating” copycat powers while Batroc has a code of honor.
• Batroc indicates his interest in fighting Taskmaster, so the doorman sends him to the VIP section, saying they’ll find him when the fight is set up.
• The group heads into the main area of the Dragon’s Den - a humble fighting arena surrounded by crowds. The VIP section is accessed via a back stairwell.
• The VIP room overlooks the arena with one-way mirrored windows. It has multiple camera angle displays of the fights and around a dozen well-dressed high society types.
• Batroc is recognized by some in the VIP room. Lady Mastermind hangs on his arm dressed up and acting ostentatious to be seen. Hobgoblin is in costume and recognized as well, to his chagrin.
• Containment’s large robotic suit alarms the wealthy VIP tourists. It is described as being around 7.5 feet tall and very wide, like “Refrigerator Perry”.
• They watch some fights below featuring clashing styles like a Shaolin monk vs a Thai kickboxer.
• Taskmaster makes a dramatic entrance to the VIP room in a skull mask and cape. He and Batroc trade barbs, with Batroc goading him into agreeing to fight in 15 minutes.
• Batroc plays to the excited VIP crowd, leaving his colleagues in their care to watch the fight. Lady Mastermind gives him a kiss for luck.
• A Dragon’s Den representative comes to escort Batroc to the locker room to prepare, as his fight with Taskmaster has been added to the card.
• They discuss trying to get Containment showcased in a fight as well, as the Dragon’s Den sometimes has powered bouts, after Batroc meets with the broker.
• The group discusses the upcoming fight between Batroc and Taskmaster. Everyone knows the fight is rigged, like pro wrestling, and they are just rehearsing their choreography.
• In the VIP room, there is a computerized terminal where you can place bets on the fights using Madripoor pesos.
• DualCore checks the WiFi signal and sees there is a network for the VIPs to connect to. Lady Mastermind asks DualCore over their psychic channel if he can get close to the Russian oligarch’s phone to take a shell company or two.
• They discuss betting on Batroc. Rintrah suggests using magic to enhance Batroc’s performance.
• The group discusses what they know about Taskmaster’s power - he can perfectly reproduce any move he observes that he is physically capable of doing. He seems to remember moves forever.
• Taskmaster walks by the locker room carrying his standard armament - a shield with his stylized T and a broadsword. He asks Batroc if they are using weapons. Batroc says he is the only weapon he needs.
• DualCore is going to pull up videos of Taskmaster’s recent fights to analyze his moves and give Batroc predictive information.
• DualCore hacks into the arena’s betting system and computer network. He gains complete control and could drain their accounts if he wanted. He places some bets for himself on fights that already happened.
• DualCore finds records indicating the VIP booths have a more substantial piggyback security system that gets activated for special purposes, like an auction scheduled for tomorrow night.
• Rintrah uses Weaver magic to try to look into the future and give Batroc an idea of what moves Taskmaster will use. In a vision, Rintrah sees a path where Batroc can maintain an advantage if he has certain information.
• As Batroc prepares to enter the arena, Rintrah speaks in his mind, telling him to open his mind to the images he is presenting that will give him a path to victory.
• The group discusses ordering dinner since it is 6 o’clock and an appropriate time to do so.
• There is talk about a vision of evening things out if Taskmaster is going to cheat in the upcoming fight against Batroc.
• Someone mentions that the only vision Taskmaster will see is “Minotaur Crotch” in 360 degrees.
• The group banters about bluffing and being confident in card games.
• There is discussion about the weather and flooding while someone was driving. The roads were passable but it was a bit dicey in spots between Santa Rosa and Vacaville.
• Someone is considering moving closer to work to reduce their commute to under 30 minutes each way, even if they only have to go into the office 2 days a week as mandated by the state.
• The group gossips about a couple, Kyle and Stephanie, who moved to LA because Kyle’s mother was taking their daughter out of school without permission. The grandmother ended up moving to LA as well.
• Restaurant recommendations are given, including Pondicherry Cafe for Indian food and Chaat Cafe which has good ratings and is nearby.
• There is talk about dog-sitting arrangements over Christmas and making space in the garage for a dog kennel.
• The group jokes about needing to sneak into VIP rooms to steal something as part of a heist plan.
• Singapore is mentioned as having a fast and efficient public transit system that could be a model for others.
• A baby can be heard making noises, on the cusp of crawling and trying to chase the dog. There is discussion about teaching babies to be gentle when petting dogs.
• It is very windy where some of them are, which will make the drive home more difficult. Video was taken of a flooded street that some cars couldn’t pass through.
• An amusing story is shared about how a heavy metal drummer who owned 9 shares of Tesla stock got Elon Musk’s bonus pay package reduced by $56 billion after bringing it before a judge.
• As the appointed fight time arrives, Batroc the Leaper enters the arena from one side while Taskmaster enters from the other.
• Batroc hypes up the crowd by doing some parkour flips as he enters. News footage is shown on screen of Batroc and Taskmaster’s previous fights against Captain America.
• DualCore, who has hacked the arena’s computer system, wants to embarrass Taskmaster by showing his “worst hits” on the screen, though Hobgoblin thinks revealing their hack the day before a planned heist might be unwise.
• DualCore makes a roll to assault Taskmaster with the embarrassing footage to inflict mental stress, getting a 13 with a d12 effect. The computer system becomes aware that it is being manipulated.
• In the ring, Taskmaster and Batroc face off. The players discuss who should act first.
• Lady Mastermind wants to act before Batroc to shapeshift and make Batroc’s arms look shorter than they are to throw off Taskmaster’s copying ability. This would be a buddy action with Batroc.
• Lady Mastermind uses her multi-power ability to combine multiple powers (telepathy d8, psychmaster d10) at reduced die sizes. She spends a plot point to create a stunt, using an illusion to slightly alter the perceived length of Batroc’s arms to confuse Taskmaster. Her total roll is 17 with a d10 effect, but with two 1s, allowing Taskmaster an opportunity.
• Taskmaster rolls to resist, invoking his Amnesiac distinction (d4) and enhanced senses. He upgrades 2d10 to a d12 using a SFX. He gets 13 with a d8 effect. He can tell something is off with his perception but can’t figure out exactly what.
• Lady Mastermind spends a plot point to make her Psychic Fakeout asset last the entire scene at d10. She passes her turn to Batroc.
• Batroc taunts Taskmaster, saying it’s taken him too long to learn savate and demonstrates a simple beginner’s kick. He rolls his Undisputed Master of Savate distinction at d4 to earn a plot point, along with his Solo d10 and Psyche d8.
• Batroc rolls a 12 with a d8 effect. He gets one opportunity which he spends to step up his next push/stunt die by +1, banking it for a future roll.
• Taskmaster uses his I’m a Professional distinction and Psych Expert to defend. He takes d8 emotional stress from Batroc’s taunts.
• Batroc passes to Containment, who observes skeptically. Containment passes to DualCore.
• DualCore attempts to crash all the computer terminals to prevent anyone from realizing something is wrong with the specific one he’s using. This is an asset creation roll. The Doom Pool is set at 2d8+1d10.
• DualCore uses his Afflict special effect, adding a d6 and stepping up a die, to neutralize a technology complication on a target. He spends a plot point to add a third die, getting a total of 22 with a d12 effect.
• DualCore rolls an opportunity and decides to create a resource - a System Backdoor starting at d8 since he’s using a Master ability. With his 22 total, the GM allows him to step up the resource twice to a d12. DualCore chooses to step it up to a d10 resource instead of taking a plot point reward.
• DualCore’s actions cause all the arena screens to go to static, though the fighters are still squaring off.
• Lady Mastermind wants to try to secure an invite to come back tomorrow by chatting up the security team, using her Solo, Criminal Mastermind, Crime Expert abilities and a Batroc superfan asset. However, the GM explains she can’t quite do that in the current fast-paced scene.
• Taskmaster taunts Batroc, doing a Savate kickboxing move then throwing his shield at Batroc’s face. He invokes his “I Am A Professional” complication as he’s a bit distracted, and uses his Solo, Enhanced Reflexes, Weapon, and Combat Master dice plus a Focus special effect to upgrade two d8s. He gets an 18 total with a d10 effect.
• Batroc defends, using his own abilities and a Push the Limits special effect to get 3d10 and a d8. He describes somersaulting over the incoming shield and stomping it into the ground. The GM allows invoking Taskmaster’s limit of losing his shield, adding a d6 to the doom pool.
• Batroc rolls a 15 total, not enough to beat Taskmaster’s 18. Both take d10 physical stress. Batroc describes the shield bouncing off him and staggering Taskmaster instead of being stomped.
• The crowd goes wild as both fighters are now injured and slumped over. Rintrah decides to just observe rather than intervene.
• Security guards with weapons enter the viewing box, grumbling and trying to see what’s going on with the shut down screens. They seem unsure what exactly they’re looking for.
• In the next round, Taskmaster spends a plot point to go first despite he and Batroc having the same enhanced reflexes. He catches his rebounded shield, charges forward, and unleashes a flurry of kicks and shield attacks in a mix of styles to try to overwhelm Batroc. He invokes his “I’m a Professional” complication again and uses his combat-related traits.
• Captain America throws his shield sloppily at Batroc, intentionally missing so it bounces around the cage and comes at Batroc from behind.
• Cap uses a push to step up and double his Photographic Reflexes, turning a D8 into 2D10. He then focuses to turn two D10s into a D12.
• Cap’s total is a 17 with a D12 effect die. Since Batroc is already dazed, getting hit with a D12 would knock him out of the fight.
• Batroc assembles his dice pool, including his D10 Solo, D8 Master of Savate, D8 Leaping, D8 Enhanced Reflexes, D10 Acrobatics Master, and a D10 asset from a vision of the future.
• Batroc focuses to turn two D8s into a D10. He also uses his Never Surrender SFX.
• Batroc takes emotional stress (D8) and physical stress (D10) from Cap to add to his pool. He uses his distinction as a D4 to gain a plot point.
• Batroc’s final pool is 5D10, 1D8, 1D4. He describes acrobatically dodging Cap’s attacks, lining himself up so the ricocheting shield passes under him as he does the splits, then counter-attacking to hit Cap with his own shield.
• Batroc rolls, getting several 1s which gives the GM 3 plot points and turns 3 dice into D12s. His total is 18 on a D8.
• This pushes Cap’s physical stress up to D12. Batroc describes a final leaping attack, using acrobatics and the bright lights to land behind Cap and deliver a powerful kick to his spine.
• Batroc assembles a big pool including his Solo D10, Enhanced Reflexes D8, Acrobatics D10, Leaping D8, and a D8 for using the bright lights. He focuses to turn two D8s into a D10.
• Batroc adds Cap’s D12 physical stress and D8 emotional stress to his pool. He spends a plot point to add a third die to his total.
• The final attack is a 26 on a D12, described as a perfectly executed diving kick that floors Taskmaster. Batroc helps him up afterwards, with Taskmaster vowing to learn from this for next time.
• As people try to collect their bets, confusion mounts as there are no records. Batroc confronts DualCore, hoping he didn’t lose him money.
• The group discusses using the disturbance as a chance to investigate and gain more intel. The GM offers a choice:
  • Batroc can return to fight the champion, getting them inside but with their backdoor access stepped down, or
  • They can try to leverage what they learned to get an invitation, keeping their backdoor access.
• The group decides to go for the invitation, keeping the backdoor even if it’s reduced from a D10 to a D8 asset.
• Batroc is pulled aside by a woman named Sorako who organizes fights for the Dragon’s Den. She wants Batroc to fight their current champion, Marvel, since Taskmaster was originally scheduled to. Batroc agrees on the condition that his friends get VIP seats to witness his victory.
• The group is ushered out of the fighting arena. It’s now 7:30 PM.
• In a transition scene, the group discusses prep before the following night’s events. They have some funds from previous heists to work with.
• One player wants to use a plot point and their Criminal Expert specialty to establish a D6 resource - either a safe house or hired goons that can provide a distraction. They settle on “criminal goons” that can be called on.
• The group speculates the cloning tech will be stored somewhere in the city of Madripoor, likely a truckload of equipment from a lab, so it can be quickly picked up after the auction.
• They discuss scouting potential storage locations ahead of time. A cargo helicopter may be needed to extract the tech.
• The GM clarifies that minor/major event resources are rewards that last the rest of the current story event, which spans multiple acts/adventures.
• Taskmaster is suggested as a potential major event resource to unlock. His observational abilities make him formidable.
• One player spends a plot point to establish knowledge of the location’s emergency response protocols as a resource, using their Psych Mastery specialty.
• The group discusses casing a target and learning their security measures. This will give them a D6 asset representing knowledge of the target’s response protocols.
• Lady Mastermind has 10 XP and is considering spending it to either upgrade her telepathy, create a major event resource, or gain a healing power to help the team recover from injuries.
• The session ends around 8:30pm since some players have a 2 hour drive home. The GM says they’ll make a character sheet to help explain the various traits, power sets, specialties, etc.
• In the final scene, Batroc won a fight, establishing himself as the leader, though some characters question if they really want him leading. If he had lost, it would have damaged his reputation.
• The players felt the fight was appropriately stressful and “comic book-y”. They were surprised by how many dice you can bring to bear by creating assets and complications on targets.
• The group worked well as a team this session, setting up actions to help each other, which felt like an improvement over the previous prison break scene where they got in each other’s way acting individually.
• Picking out the dice pool is still the hardest part of the system, but that will likely improve with practice. The rules provide some guidance on which traits to use for which actions.
• The players discuss the uses of Stamina (for healing in transition scenes), Durability (for soaking hits on defense), and Reflexes (for turn order).
• The session ends with some joking references to Spider-Man and clones before the group says their goodbyes for the night.