Atomic Mass Games’ first entry into the tabletop skirmish arena Marvel Crisis Protocol stands apart from its peers at first blush. Not only is it based on Disney’s third most popular intellectual property, but MCP manages to be simple to play without speaking down to its players.
Marvel Crisis Protocol epitomizes the tabletop skirmish game by giving players a short but engaging experience with just enough tools to create memorable moments and flex their strategic muscles. There aren’t a variety of play styles that segment the community between casual, narrative, and competitive players. Each game of MCP is played with the same ruleset.
This accomplishment is especially important given the legacy of tabletop wargaming’s biggest model company. Games Workshop notoriously operates as a model making company first and a games company second. It’s taken AMG less than 3 years to create a tabletop strategy game that rivals the industry’s 800lb gorilla, but the question still remains whether their rise in popularity will last. For now, Marvel Crisis Protocol has become my favorite tabletop skirmish game and a mainstay at tabletop gaming conventions the world over.
The catch is that I love MCP for a lot of the same reasons I disliked it at first blush. I’m a vocal proponent of low-component games or games that use components that gamers have access to already. Marvel utilizes proprietary 8-sided dice and measurement tools while also requiring at least 10 terrain pieces of various shapes and sizes. A lot of my concerns were quickly remedied by the existence of the original core set that provides all of the tools and terrain necessary to play. Is it a shame that folks need to buy a large box product to enjoy the game? Partially, but the core box is set up as a significant loss leader for AMG; it offers a lot of product at a discount to get folks into the game and make up the difference in return patronage.
Now that a second core set is rapidly approaching (scheduled for an October release), Marvel Crisis Protocol doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. One of the most frequent compliments I’ve heard thus far is that the newer range of models from AMG represent a clear leap forward in model design, quality, and assembly. As a newer player, I was initially taken aback given just how great the original core box is, but I understand now that the difference is more in design philosophy rather than overall fidelity.
The original core box is great for anyone who enjoys models that can take a beating and keep on kicking. More reliable than dynamic, the original Marvel Crisis Protocol models rely on heroic albeit static poses; Captain America is leading the charge but most are standing flat footed with hands on their proverbial hips. This means that even the most novice tabletop gamer can have fun without worrying about breaking their new toys.
More modern miniatures show Marvel’s finest superheroes flying or jumping off of debris or enemy. The few over designed ones, like Carnage or Malekith, can be tricky to build and even more finicky to play. That shouldn’t be anything new to fans of Warhammer, but it showcases how too much of a good thing can be bad.
Thankfully, AMG’s signature skirmish game captures its players attention during each step of tabletop gaming journey. From assembly to playing with painted models on the table, Marvel shines as a beacon of hope for the future of non-Games Workshop properties.
Similar to games like Magic the Gathering and Warcry, it can often be just as fun to talk about and build squads as it is to play MCP. The out of game experience benefits greatly from the fashion in which factions are developed. Specific characters have leadership abilities that can be accessed by gathering a squad consisting of at least half that faction’s members. Instead of selecting an army in Warhammer, Marvel’s team building system allows each model to be a potential member of any squad. Each model is packaged with at least one other model, so each purchase offers the opportunity for further team building exploration.
Not everything is rainbows and sunshine in Marvel land, but Atomic Mass Games has proven their ability to create stellar miniatures and games to go along with them. With their fourth anniversary on the horizon, I look forward to seeing what Marvel Crisis Protocol has to offer in the future.
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