Palatinus' OverPower Forum

The legend of an OP GOD...

The Beginning...

When I was younger my two best friends were artists and really enjoyed comics. One fateful day we were walking through our local mall and came upon a card vendor, so naturally we looked over the onslaught of cards. Magic was at a high point, dominating the shelves. However, at the back on the counter their was a new game called overpower, naturally we were curious. $8.50 each later (big time when your younger) we were the owners of a brand new starter deck, I went for the sabertooth deck. My friends went for the jean grey deck and jubilee deck, I remember fearing that jean grey 9, pure game changer, oh how things have changed. We played incorrect overpower for about half a year and then met a player in stouffville Ontario named John goubet, things changed quickly. John introduced us to the official rules and over a few quick months, we learned to play the game properly.

Leaving the dark ages...

Pre-IQ the game was different, big hits were everything. Strength characters dominated the field juggernaut, hulk. It was hard to contend with. I won't lie, I joined them. Winning my first tournament in stouffville, which also introduced me to the op rating system. Our tournament rep was John, tournament was run great and I was hooked on the competition. Obviously my ranking was heading in the right direction, little did I know the game was about to change forever.

IQ - the great equalizer...

When this set released, the game levelled out. We had to find a place that sold cards and that is when OP Toronto was born. Like most great trysts we stumbled upon a little shop known as 'Risen from the ashes'. This would eventually become the training ground for some if not THE greatest players to ever play the game. From IQ to Xman release this was the most competitive place to hone your game, weekly tournaments were often a rankings killer due the the high level of the competition. Creating players like myself (Marcel), Duncan (nationals champion), Sean B, Jackie, Victor (introduced us to the legion), Carlos (the owner of the store), Charlie and later on the next gen, Dan Mcglynn and Garion. Not to mention countless others. We travelled to two nationals as a Canadian contingent...
Nationals.

The beginning of a Legend...

Two mini vans and 12 people or so, created one of my greatest memories as a young man. We headed to the second official nationals, of course the infamous Cherie Briggs winning the first one. The nationals was what some would consider a meat grinder. If you had not qualified to the main tournament via regionals or rankings you were allowed to participate in the day one tournament to do so. Let just say that, to advance to the nationals you HAD to have a record of 6-0 to qualify for the following day. As the day started I was nervous, looking around at the almost 200 participants. I was done with the strength phase of the game and decided I would enter with my best team at the time. Nightcrawler, the Hand, Starjammers and Azrael in reserve. Domination occurred, tearing through the field and going 6-0. As I finished my last game, they asked me to wait off to the side as we were to get instructions for the following day. This moment brought upon another moment of fate, I sat beside another young man who went 6-0 as well, we started chatting, his name Phil Keffer. Instant friendship occurred and has held to this day, we became inseparable at tournaments and often found in corners discussing strategy. The second day of nationals arrived, a statement was made at the beginning of the day, that you would have to go 6-0 or 5-1 to advance. Here we go again, six matches later I was 6-0 and awaiting the playoffs, the deck was pulling huge hands and dominating. This was best shown in my quarter finals game in which I finished the game in two hands, beating John Marrotta (his personal view of the game is still posted online if you search hard enough). This game really Intimidated the remaining players as I was finished my game before some people were done their first hand. This set up a semi final game against the former champ Cherie. This game was tough, Cherie is a very methodical player. It came down to one hand, I played my power leech, she scarlet witch negated it, then proceeded to ask me if she was allowed to avoid it instead, I accidentally said yes allowing her to regain her negate. I had the jammers draw 3 in hand. It was my mistake to allow this moment to occur, I learned never to do that again. The game ended several hands later with Cherie as the victor. I continued to play and place third in the tournament, beating keith bursack and getting a prize of every set up until then (up to monumental). Great tournament, I really enjoyed the hotel adventures and late night games. A big thank you goes out to mike sutton, dare I say the grand Pooba of Canadian overpower and former person in charge of the OP rankings, for always setting up our excursions and convincing my mom to let me go. Mike has been a great friend for many years and we have had many travelling adventures, I look forward to a few more.

Target on my back...

I returned home to my local comic shop a quasi-hero, two or three tournaments later I had finally achieved number 1 ranking in the world. Only on top for several weeks, remember the meat grinder that Toronto tournaments are, I had a solid target on my back every game I played. People were mimicing my fighting deck, so I moved on. The game changed quickly after the nationals, broken decks became rampant and the game settled in nicely to its awkward phase. Four freedoms or the mauraders/x baby combo became your choices. I started the four freedoms movement in my area, only to slowly assimilate to the ways of the vertigo. Competition was harsh for the next year and I never saw my number one rank again. Toronto overpower had perfected the heroes 4 hire rendition of the vertigo deck, just in time for the final nationals to ever be held (so far). 

The Final chance at a championship...

We went almost 15 people deep to the nationals, all our best were there and we were ready. The nationals lined up slightly differently as I did not have to qualify, due to my ranking, this was not as great as I thought. By playing in the first day before, it allowed me to work my deck and find a groove, I was also able to alter my deck slightly between days. This nationals I had to just choose my deck and work it on the actual day. It didn't work, I had over thought the vertigo complex and had somehow (I still wonder what I was thinking) gone with captain marvel/mauraders/babies/spider woman (anyheroes) Please don't ask me. My brain was deep in the game and the deck was not up to par. I still wiggled it to a top 16 finish, but was not on the same wavelength as some decks present. Duncan yuen went on to win the tournament, with the heroes 4 hire rendition. And rightly so Duncan was and became a great op player, you can still see his likeness on team overpower home base. I will make a special note here, as I saw what I thought was one of the best decks ever built. Phil keffer came to the nationals with what should have been the winning deck, mauraders/babies/thor flash reserve. This deck had so many levels to it, I didn't comprehend it all for months to come. A bet seven trick, less then ten power cards in his deck(anti babies), flash to discard vertigo. It was amazing, however, overpower is a fickle game and even great decks can turn cold. On a side note I thought it was hilarious that Phil changed into a suit thinking he was going to win the tournament and wanted to look good for his photo, instead he had a hot walk back to the hotel. Sorry phil the world had to know. This was a fun tournament, but I was not leaving on the same high as the first nationals, even though a fellow Canadian won. I left the game for a bit after this as life caught up with me, but it wouldn't be for long. 

The final glory days of OP...

As support for the game dies, so did it seem that the hordes of players did as well. The comic shop still did tournaments, but with no new sets, decks became repetitive and the game started to get a little stale. I faded away from the game as university and life took me away from Toronto, but always creeped the Internet to see where the game was. Thank the OP Gods, that a man named Jack decided to play this game. Between Sean and jack this game has truly survived and made a resurgence. They coaxed me out of the wood work, printed a new set and have been the spirit of the game for many years. For this along with other players, I say thank you.

Omnipresent...

I have traveled many place for overpower: New York, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Virginia, Boston and countless others. Through these trips I made great friends and would love to reconnect as this game continues. Shout outs to : Frank Yue and Trisha Yue (and the swaggle of kids, great summer). Chris vezina and the Cincinnati crew, I remember Miles Head to have been one of the better players. The Bertrand's out of Niagara, great family and awesome ambassadors for OP. Larry and Jason vanetten, great chaps and good players (Jason our Boston road trip, will stay with me forever). I am surprised to see that Gary Martin jr, has not resurfaced, he was a driving member of the old community. Norm, Steve d, and Keith bursack. Thanks for pushing the game to where it got to. The Keffers, thanks for all being a great bunch of guys. Of course I met hundreds of people through this game, a lot of them not remembered, but never forgotten. I look forward to meeting new players and getting to know and play a new generation of overpower. So when I am sitting across from the table, don't be intimidated say hi, but realize I will attempt to destroy you in the game. This GOD has no mercy. 

Until our next Venture...

great story marcel!

welcome aboard!

Quote from: breadmaster on July 16, 2013, 05:53:56 PM
great story marcel!

welcome aboard!

Here! Here! It's really great that you made your way to this small forum. I am simply in awe that so many of the founding and/or shaping people of this game have come to this forum to share insights and show support. Thank you for this post!

what those two guys said

what did those 3 guys say?

The Captain Mar-Vell deck you played at Nats almost had the right idea, you just needed Metallo in reserve instead of Spider-Woman (and I prefer Scarlet Witch with the Mar-Vell/Marauders/Metallo lineup, but it's not like X-Babies are a bad choice either).

Aside from the tricky stuff you can do with Universal Alignment, using Rick Jones/I'll Be Back in the Vertigo era was ridiculous and gave you the edge over other Citadel decks since you had the extra layer of venture winning tricks. In retrospect, I'm fairly certain that this was the secret best deck of the shift era (it absolutely massacred any Four Freedoms build as well). Kind of funny to think about considering how much of the metagame boiled down to Marauders/Babies/H4H at that point.

Looks like someone joined the 21st century and learned how to use a message board!

We actually had 16 people in two mini vans.  My dad rented 2 full sized vans from Hertz (8 seats), but apparently they lied through their teeth and never had full sized vans available.  So we ended up with a couple windstars.  One person in each van had to sit on a cooler jammed between the first bench and the sliding door.  Going through customs these days with that getup would be interesting.  Haha!


I don't think you'll be destroying anyone with that beyonder pile you brought to the last meetup.  If there's a reason for the new players to be intimidated, I'm not seeing it.   

I anxiously await your mystery single 8 deck.

beyonder pile?

Beyonder pile...  Lol

You mean the most innovative beyonder deck (probably ever made)

Mr fantastic/beyonder/x babies. Shadow king in reserve..  Event : race against crime. Battle site : stark enterprises.

Just to roughly touch upon the theory, is the idea that beyonder decks have not fully abused their god like power.  What I have created is the idea of the switch event instead of the kill event.  So simple, yet so effective.  Why kill your opponents hero?  I would rather trap them, same discards and then you get access to attack their reserve.  Plus with the hawkeye OPD, I can reverse the event damage and win the round at the same time.  Plus shadow king (reset mission) OPD played well is a game changer.  More on that another time.  I had a secret weapon card in stark, that I feel is the most game changing card in a beyonder deck.  I will let you all figure it out, breadmaster don't give it away.  Here's a hint : beyonder will play the card.

Until next time... I suggest to continue this thread under deck building if we continue the beyonder deck chat. 

Ps. It's true we did sit on a cooler going to those nationals, oh memories. Lol

And in final reference, hot rod the new single 8 deck can't wait for you too. 

Beware : it will be in buffalo.

Quote from: OP GOD on July 19, 2013, 12:41:35 PM
Beyonder pile...  Lol

You mean the most innovative beyonder deck (probably ever made)

Mr fantastic/beyonder/x babies. Shadow king in reserve..  Event : race against crime. Battle site : stark enterprises.

Just to roughly touch upon the theory, is the idea that beyonder decks have not fully abused their god like power.  What I have created is the idea of the switch event instead of the kill event.  So simple, yet so effective.  Why kill your opponents hero?  I would rather trap them, same discards and then you get access to attack their reserve.  Plus with the hawkeye OPD, I can reverse the event damage and win the round at the same time.  Plus shadow king (reset mission) OPD played well is a game changer.  More on that another time.  I had a secret weapon card in stark, that I feel is the most game changing card in a beyonder deck.  I will let you all figure it out, breadmaster don't give it away.  Here's a hint : beyonder will play the card.

Until next time... I suggest to continue this thread under deck building if we continue the beyonder deck chat. 

Ps. It's true we did sit on a cooler going to those nationals, oh memories. Lol

And in final reference, hot rod the new single 8 deck can't wait for you too. 

Beware : it will be in buffalo.

I've seen that specially selected card for Beyonder and it. is. a. DOOSIE.!

For those that cared.  If any, the card that makes stark the number 1 beyonder site.  Cap America's special. Inspiration (what beyonder fore thought in power surge lol).  Look the card up and let it all start to make sense.  If people wish I will post the entire site list.  I really tried to keep it slim, but powerful..

Buffalo is soon.... Will you be there to play a GOD?

OP GOD

I was thinking more about cap's inspiration

'All Captain America Special cards are doubled when determining Venture total this battle. (CQ)'

we had this discussion before with DS codes.  by rule, you replace the name on the special from the site with the name of the character playing it.  so, ''All Beyonder Special cards...'

beyonder has no special cards, just the ability to play teammates'.  not sure if a consensus was ever reached on the DS, but this would have to be the same, no?

I guess any special attacks from the site through beyonder would be 'beyonder' specials, so they WOULD in fact get the bonus

Quote from: Meta #98 "All (Character) Special cards" refers only to Specials which belong to that Character. Any Hero/Character Specials and Specials played via Activators are not counted as belonging to the Character.

I believe that would also bleed into specials played through Beyonder territory.

sounds like it's back to the drawing board Mr. OP god

Quote from: Jack on July 21, 2013, 10:20:41 PM

Quote from: Meta #98 "All (Character) Special cards" refers only to Specials which belong to that Character. Any Hero/Character Specials and Specials played via Activators are not counted as belonging to the Character.

I believe that would also bleed into specials played through Beyonder territory.

Well, when Beyonder plays a DS, can he search and retrieve Special cards for teammates? That should answer the question. It seems like there should/would have been an official ruling done on that move at some point in the past...

Also, this isn't the Special I envisioned was the secret weapon. I was thinking of this one from Hawkeye:

Quote* QUIVER OF ARROWS (HH) <IQ> {U}
        Hawkeye may have an unlimited number of Special cards Placed on him
            until Hawkeye is KO'd. Specials may not be duplicates

As a non-OPD, you could obviously have both in the deck, but I'd honestly never considered the CapA card. My opinion of the Beyonder/DS/CQ issue is pretty torn, but what I do know, is that the HH on Beyonder is, perhaps, the hardest fight I've gone up against with Beyonder, maybe ever. It's such a pitfall when it's done right (limiting duplicates and just piling up that card advantage for subsequent battles!)