How To Play the Marvel Multiverse RPG: Combat (Chapter 4 of the MMRPG Core Rulebook)

How to Play the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Combat. This video covers Chapter 4 of the MMRPG Core Rulebook (which includes the basics of combat, conditions and team maneuvers). As usual, I spotlight any relevant errata, developer insights and include my own tips.
This video would be an ideal one to share with someone before they sit down to play for the first time, or for someone who is on the fence about playing and would like to get a sense for the rules before they commit to a game or purchase the Core Rulebook.
0:00 Intro
0:34 Sequence of Play
1:41 Initiative
3:08 Taking a Turn
4:16 Standard Actions
7:54 Movement Actions
9:30 Reactions
14:20 Damage and Weapons
17:38 Conditions
19:20 Team Maneuvers
Here is the link to Part 1 of this series: • How To Play the Marvel...
Here is the link to the latest official errata, which includes the changes to Skulk discussed: cdn.marvel.com/u/prod/marvel/...
Here's the latest official FAQ: cdn.marvel.com/u/prod/marvel/...

[@billymickelbillysuniquedes4490]

I love this stuff! It’s great, especially for newcomers or people who may struggle with rules and general questions about game play.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Thanks, Billy - appreciate you saying so!

[@DarkAutumnScribe]

Just got the game. I appreciate you doing these videos… these have helped a lot!

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you saying so.

[@josephmoon6261]

Another great video, Fuzzy.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Thanks so much!!

[@ChristopherPolack]

Thanks for the synopsys of the rules.😊

[@AngelicBeatdown]

Narrators having trouble with Teleporters...flashbang out! Can't teleport anywhere you can't see! Although they probably can still teleport to a previous location, I mean I would rule it that way as a blind teleport based off of memory. Also, good refresher on the rules for me! Someone webbed up can Help on themselves, then Escape as a Reaction, then Move to get the hell out of the way!

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

I'll be honest, putting these videos together is a good refresher on the rules for me, too! There's always at least one "Oh, yeah - forgot about that" moment :-).

[@bluefalcon2099]

Not including Team Maneuvers in my FreeRPGDay game. Got it.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

I’d like to actually get a video out to support people who may be running games for FreeRPG day or during Con season. Maybe by end of month? Any thoughts or specific requests?

[@bluefalcon2099]

@@FuzzyOnTheDetails Let’s see. There is a free preview of the X-Men expansion going out that day. If you mean as far as rules go, maybe a TLDR/Lightning version of your rules videos?

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

@@bluefalcon2099I could give that a shot. Maybe try and keep it to 61.6 seconds :-).

[@MrRadicalsheep]

Just played the game over the weekend and our Narrator linked these videos for learning purposes very well done and TY for doing them! Quick question when in combat. I was playing dagger and had the power return fire. For the sequence of events does the foe get to do thier attack first and it gets resolved before I'm able to to do my reaction return fire?

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it. The Return Fire power is worded differently than some other powers, as the trigger is an enemy "declares an attack". Versus, say, Quick Phase (which says "the character is attacked"), or Slow-Motion Dodge ("An enemy makes an attack against the character's Agility Defense"). Here's my take: The fact that it says "declares an attack" implies a step before the actual attack. So, RAW, I think you'd get to use your reaction as the enemy is getting ready to attack, but before they roll dice. Meaning you have a chance of taking them out before they even get that attack off (or stunning them with Return Fire's critical effect). Now, given that the combat chapter doesn't have "declare your attack" as a format step, I wouldn't begrudge any narrator ruling differently. I do wish the language for reactions was a little more standardized. One other tricky thing about Return Fire... the name implies it can only be used against incoming ranged attacks, but the trigger does not specify that. Dagger can use this RAW against close attacks as well.

[@armphidiic2609]

Any comment on combat balance across Ranks? The game seems to encourage having chatacters of different Ranks in play but it also seems like there's little a Rank 2 character could do against Rank 4.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

I'll be tackling this in an upcoming video - hopefully before end of month. But at a high level, I look to the way the movies handle battles across ranks and take some inspiration from that. The Battle of NY has Avengers from every Rank between 2 and 6, and they've all got individual targets and objectives that made for an incredibly dynamic battle where everyone made some pretty diverse contributions. The bad guys had a wide variety of ranks, too. Loki at a 5, the Chitauri maybe at 1, and the Leviathans maybe somewhere in between on the higher side.

[@khizzkazul7450]

Damage reduction seems like a nearly broken mechanic. Having a big damage reduction makes you almost unbeatable. Has anyone ever tested the option of making damage multipliers stacking when (and only when) the target has damage reduction? I mean, if the Hulk has a damage multiplier of 4 and he is using a sword with a damage multiplier of 2, his total multiplier would be 4 (6). If he would hit against a target with damage reduction of 1, he would still have damage multiplier of 4 (reduction would remove one multiplier given by the sword). Without a sword, his multiplier would drop to 3 against the same target. If the Hulk would attack against a target with damage reduction of 3, his multiplier would be 3, if he was using a sword, and 1, if he was without a sword. I don't know how this would affect the balance of the game, but it would a) make damage reduction a little bit less overpowered, and b) justify the use of a weapon also in the hands of a strong character.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Hi there and thanks for the comment! There are actually a ton of ways to overcome Health Damage Reduction. The "Exploit" Power is only Rank 2, and completely ignores any and all levels of Health Damage Reduction. There are lots of ways to attack an enemy's Focus, and bring them down that way (big bruisers tend to have lower Focus scores than Health, so knocking them all the way down to "Shattered" could be a sound tactic). And the "Power Control" Power Set has lots of ways to either "Swipe", "Steal" or "Shut Down" a specific Power. I think the rules reflect the comics REALLY well - if you try to just go head-to-head with the Juggernaut, you're gonna have a bad time, even if you bring a weapon to the fight, or collapse a building on him.

[@nightxsabbath]

If an attack uses Ego or Logic, does that mean it goes against their respective defenses unless started otherwise?

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

That's correct!

[@nightxsabbath]

@@FuzzyOnTheDetails Good to know. 👍 This wasn't exactly clearly stated and one of my characters' frequent attacks is Hellfire Chains.

[@jeremiahperry4607]

How do you find the discord for Marvel RPG? Looking for a way to find a game.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Here you go! discord.com/invite/hMTWS9epGt There's a "looking-for-game" channel that is pretty active - there are one-shots posted nearly daily thanks to one particularly dedicated Narrator, and occasional ongoing campaign openings as well.

[@bruceross4303]

Do you think these rules would work well for a skirmish miniatures game?

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

Interesting question! I'll preface my answer by saying I don't play a lot of skirmish games. I was big into the D&D Chainmail game when it came out in back in the 3rd edition era, but when that flamed out after just a few years I never got into any others. I've played a little Battletech with friends, but never got my own minis for it or anything. Pros: I think if you were okay with a fairly rules light skirmish game, the rules would work just fine. Actually, certain leader-type characters with the Tactics Powers Set might actually shine in a skirmish-type game. I think you could use the new Henchmen rules as well. Something like Zemo, a Hydra officer, and some Hydra agents (or henchmen) vs. Nick Fury, Maria Hill and some Shield agents could be a lot of fun, especially using some terrain. Cons: I'm not sure this would translate well for all character types. MMRPG battles, especially at higher Rank, can be sprawling affairs that could quickly expand beyond the borders of any game map (especially when characters can fly, teleport or have super-speed). If you happen to try something like this out, I'd love to hear how it goes!

[@bruceross4303]

@@FuzzyOnTheDetails thank you for your comments. I believe any minis game has that issue with the big higher rank characters. You can only fit what you can fit on a game map/mat. I tried looking at Champions for my skirmish gaming and it's just too crunchy AND there are so many Marvel and DC character write ups that need updating. It's a daunting task that I just don't have time for. It seems to be high regarded for my needs (skirmish miniature game), but I think it's just too much to tackle.

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

@@bruceross4303 The more I think about it, the more I think you probably could adapt it fairly well to a skirmish style of miniature play. I think the rules lend themselves very well to very quick decision making. Sometimes playing a crunchier RPG you feel like you're sitting there for 10 minutes waiting for someone to decide what to do. I haven't had that problem with MMRPG, and I think you could actually move through a skirmish relatively quickly just using the regular rules. Now you've got me thinking I need to try that out 🙂

[@bruceross4303]

@@FuzzyOnTheDetails yea, while Champions looks all nice and shinny, I think it's just too much for what I need. I can't stop looking at Marvel Multiverse, warts and all

[@gennaryze]

spanish please

[@FuzzyOnTheDetails]

I'm so sorry, I wish I could, but I unfortunately do not speak Spanish :-(.

[@josephbearpaw]

Doing the good work in the Multiverse 🎩🫴💞