“This project is so much more than a couple of newsletter articles. We’ve created a website, WorcesterElection.com, where you can find all the data used in this article, plus information about each candidate’s history and policy positions.
I’m genuinely excited to share something that feels like a big win for Worcester residents, especially those residents who care about civic engagement: the recent launching of worcesterelection.com.
This is a site I have wished existed for literally years. It looks like a clean, accessible, and easy-to-navigate hub designed to help Worcester voters get the information they need about upcoming elections. The site boasts details about each candidate’s stances, citing their own answers to a variety of questions and polls. It brings a veritable shoryuken of financial data, including the who’s, where’s and why’s of their election coffers.
Elections can feel overwhelming, especially at the local level where the information isn’t always front and center. But these local races affect our daily lives more directly than the high-profile national ones. A resource like worcesterelection.com makes it so much easier to stay informed and involved, lowering the barrier to participation.
The Casual Nerdery Angle
At Casual Nerdery, we love nerding out about the things that connect communities. Elections are one of those things, and the power to have impact should not just be left to those with the nerdy wherewithal to dive deep into poorly formatted facebook posts and ranting racist reddit threads. Having a single, streamlined portal for Worcester voters is not just practical; it’s empowering. It transforms civic participation from an exhausting grind-style scavenger hunt into something approachable, engaging, and even exciting. Having agency is exciting!
Looking Ahead
I’ll be watching closely as the site evolves – I have already bookmarked it and added it to my auto-open tabs, and I hope it becomes THE go-to resource for all Worcester voters in 2025 and beyond. If you’re local, check it out! If not, maybe it’ll inspire you to advocate for something similar in your own community.
Democracy runs best when the information is clear and accessible. WorcesterElection.com is a step toward making that a reality right here in Worcester.
“This new ability will be available in the store and from the Bajoran faction. This ability can be applied to G3 and G4 Faction Surveyors and requires a new currency, Orb Splinters. When the Automated Defenses ability is active, the survey will have drastically increased combat power while on a mining node.”
Star Trek Fleet Command: Patch notes (11 Oct 2022)
Ship Better Have My Money
As a game, Star Trek Fleet Command has a lot going for it. There is a lot to do in the game, regardless of what kind of gamer you are: casual to hardcore or somewhere in between. One thing all players of the game run into is the sad fact that your survey ships are wet paper bags full of treasure for your enemies. What if you could turn those wet paper bags into something a little more … formidable?
Automated Defenses. The answer is Automated Defenses.
Your survey ships bring in your resources, your gold-plated latinum, everything a thriving and operational space station needs. If they are easy pickings for the enemy, they are going to not only bring in less resources, they are going to cost you money instead! Where’s the profit in that? Here’s how you can defend your investments and keep your station busy with important things like holodeck trips to Risa, or poker night.
Upgrade your Ops to level 35.
You will need to get your Operations upgrade to 35 in order to access the quests “Doctor, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” and “One Man’s Villain” from the Holodeck
Complete Step 5 of either of the above mentioned quest chains to unlock the Bajoran Faction, where you can purchase Orb Splinters and the Auto Defense refit for your Faction mining ships – the Antares, the K’Vort and the Valkis. Refit the Automated Defenses shard to the ship of your choice!
To use, activate from the ship’s console command. It will cost you Orb Splinters per activation. Each activation lasts an hour (or until the ship is destroyed).
Activating the Automated Defenses (which are ironically, not automated) stops your ship’s officers abilities completely, but gives your ship a 5000% damage boost, 3 extra attacks per round, and stops the attacking ship from taking any actions for 8 rounds of combat.
There you go! Give your G3 and G4 miners a fighting chance and maximize their survival. At last you can mine without fear!
Ongoing: Your cards with no abilities have +2 Power.
Patriot Card Text
Be The Hero
Welcome to the exciting world of Marvel Snap! If you’re just starting out and looking to build a powerful yet flexible deck, look no further than the Series 3 card, Patriot. In this edition of Casual Tips for Casual Nerds, we’ll dig into the mechanics of the card, discuss the characters it buffs, explore its synergies with other cards, and even touch upon the comic book origins of the character, and if we’ll see him in the MCU!
Who is Patriot?
Patriot, also known as Eli Bradley, is a character with a rich history in Marvel Comics. He first appeared in “Young Avengers #1” in 2005, assuming the mantle of Patriot after his grandfather, Isaiah Bradley, the first African-American Captain America. Eli’s unwavering sense of justice, bravery, and tactical skills make him a valuable asset to the Young Avengers team, which includes characters such as Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, Stature and Iron Lad.
As for the MCU, while Patriot has yet to be introduced on the big screen, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a remarkable track record of adapting beloved comic book characters. Given the rising popularity of the Young Avengers, and the introduction of many as side characters in other MCU projects, there’s a strong possibility we’ll witness Patriot’s movie debut in the near future. We have actually already seen Eli in the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier, played by Elijah Richardson. It would undoubtedly be an exciting moment for both casual fans and long-time comic book enthusiasts to see him on the big screen in a Young Avengers movie!
Card Mechanics
Patriot is a game-changing card with a unique mechanic that can abruptly turn the tide of the match. This card possesses the incredible ability to buff other cards in your deck, enhancing their power and effectiveness. When Patriot is in play, all cards with no abilities receive a significant power boost, making them stronger and pumping more points into the lanes you are choosing to contest. This means that by focusing on Patriot, you can maximize the potential of your entire deck and dominate your opponents.
Who Gets Buffed?
This buff hits many cards you already have easy access to, if you’ve unlocked Patriot. Cards like Misty Knight, Shocker and Cyclops are staples in a Patriot deck. You can round out the power curve with heavy hitters like Hulk or Abomination and sneak in a zero-cost surprise with Wasp.
Summoned cards created by other cards catch the buff as well, so you can see some big ramped up benefit from including cards like Squirrels (from Squirrel Girl or the location Central Park), Rocks (from Debrii or various locations), Broodlings (from Brood), Sinister Clones (from Mister Sinister), Doombots (from Dr. Doom) and Ultron Drones!
The Synergy is Real
To amplify Patriot’s power and create an unstoppable deck, it’s important to consider the cards that synergize well with it. One such card is Onslaught, who doubles the effect of any other ongoing abilities at the location. By combining these two cards, you can create a deck that excels in getting big power into locations your opponent may have ignored due to the weaker nature of the cards getting the buffs.
Additionally, cards like Mystique (if played right after Patriot) and Blue Marvel can also greatly support Patriot’s buffs. By strategically building a deck centered around these characters, you’ll create a synergistic powerhouse capable of taking on even the toughest opponents.
In the realm of classic RPGs, few titles hold as much significance and nostalgic charm as Dragon Warrior. Released in North America in 1989 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, this seminal game revolutionized the genre, leaving an indelible mark on the world of video games. Join us as we embark on a journey to uncover the story, gameplay, and enduring importance of Dragon Warrior in the annals of RPG history.
The Story of Legends
Dragon Warrior invites players into the rich tapestry of a medieval fantasy world. As the valiant descendant of Erdrick, a legendary hero, players assume the role of a brave adventurer tasked with defeating the nefarious Dragonlord. In this epic quest to save the realm of Alefgard, players explore treacherous dungeons, ancient castles, and interact with a myriad of colorful characters.
The game’s captivating narrative unfolds gradually, blending elements of heroism, mystery, and self-discovery. It showcases the evolution of the protagonist from a humble warrior to a revered champion, all while navigating a complex web of relationships and political intrigue. Dragon Warrior’s immersive storytelling captivated players and set a benchmark for future RPGs to follow.
Gameplay That Stands the Test of Time
At its core, Dragon Warrior employs a turn-based battle system that is both accessible and strategic. Players engage in encounters with a wide array of monsters, utilizing a mix of physical attacks, magic spells, and tactical decision-making. The carefully balanced difficulty curve keeps players on their toes, rewarding strategic planning and character progression. In spite of being simple, even for its time, the game helped launch the genre in North America.
Exploration is a key element in Dragon Warrior, as players traverse an expansive and visually diverse world. From bustling towns to perilous dungeons, each location is filled with hidden secrets, valuable treasures, and engaging quests. The seamless blend of exploration and combat, and character development ensures a gameplay experience that was accessible to a wide base of gamers.
The NES Era and RPG Renaissance
Dragon Warrior’s release on the NES was nothing short of a watershed moment for the RPG genre. Its arrival marked the beginning of a new era, introducing console players to the immersive worlds and intricate storytelling previously experienced only on computer platforms. It brought a fresh and innovative experience to living rooms worldwide, captivating audiences with its depth and charm.
Moreover, Dragon Warrior played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of RPGs for years to come. It established many of the genre’s defining characteristics, such as turn-based combat, character progression, and expansive open-world exploration. The success of Dragon Warrior laid the foundation for subsequent RPG franchises, forging a path that would be followed by beloved titles like Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, and countless others.
The Enduring Legacy and Sequels
Dragon Warrior’s impact extended far beyond its initial release. It spawned a series of sequels that further expanded the game’s rich mythology and gameplay mechanics. Dragon Warrior II, III, and IV pushed the boundaries of the NES hardware, introducing new features, larger worlds, and intricate narratives. Each installment built upon the solid foundation of the original, garnering critical acclaim and amassing a devoted fanbase.
Beyond the NES, Dragon Warrior’s legacy lives on through its modern adaptations and re-releases. It has been remastered for various platforms, ensuring that new generations of players can experience the magic of this iconic RPG. The series has continued to flourish with subsequent entries across multiple gaming platforms, reinforcing Dragon Warrior’s status as a timeless classic.
The Continuing Influence of the DragonLord
Dragon Warrior’s influence on the RPG genre and the NES cannot be overstated. Its engaging story, strategic gameplay, and enduring legacy continue to captivate gamers to this day. Whether you’re a seasoned RPG enthusiast or a curious newcomer, embarking on the legendary quest of Dragon Warrior is an unforgettable experience that showcases the genre’s rich history and lays the groundwork for countless adventures to come.
I am going to fanboy out for a little bit in this post. I don’t know why, but I have been spending a lot of time thinking about my favorite games as a kid, and Crystalis was hands-down my most played NES game.
I have always felt like this was a pretty underrated game. Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy were the big dogs in this genre, but Crystalis more than holds it’s own against either. Sure, both Zelda and Final Fantasy each have led to long running series. Sure, The world didn’t end in 1997 like the game predicted. The world of Crystalis deserved a sequel! Draygon did nothing wrong! Wait, what?
Nevermind.
Context
The 8-bit era of video games is often viewed with nostalgia by gamers of a certain age (and by certain age, I mean us elder millenials and young Gen-Xers). And for good reason. It was an era when video games were in their infancy, and developers were still learning what was possible with the hardware available to them. It felt like the sky was the limit! RPGs (role-playing games) were arguably one of the most popular genres of the Early Days, and one game in particular that often gets overlooked is Crystalis.
Released in 1990 for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Crystalis was developed by SNK and published by Nintendo. It combined elements of action-adventure games like The Legend of Zelda with traditional RPG mechanics like leveling up and a spell system. The result was a game that was both familiar and unique, and in spite of pretty favorable reviews, was written off by many as a lesser quality game than the Zelda games or games in the Dragon Quest or Ultima series. This is a garbage take. Crystalis is beautiful in both visuals and sound. Seriously, the soundtrack is … *chef’s kiss* so good.
Our Destiny is in Your Hands
One of the best things about Crystalis is its plot. Set in a post-apocalyptic world of 2097, where humanity had been pushed to the brink of extinction and literally back to the dark ages, the game sees the player take on the role of a young magician tasked with saving the world from the evil Draygonian Empire and the powerful sorcerer Draygon. The unnamed hero (you!) only survived because they were cryogenically put to sleep, to only be awoken to prevent another Great War. Along the way, you meet a variety of helpful Sages, explore different towns and dungeons, and uncover the secrets of the world’s past.
The game’s plot is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep players interested. The story is linear, and there are several instances where you will be unable to move forward because you have missed something and will need to backtrack to learn more about the swords (more on these bad boys later!) or the world. The post-apocalyptic landscape is covered in mutated creatures to fight due to the THERMONUCLEAR WAR of 1997!
The Grind
In terms of gameplay mechanics, Crystalis is absolutely a joy to play. The controls and combat are responsive, which was not always the case in the Early Days of Vidya Games. The game features a unique system of elemental swords, which you must collect and use to progress through the game. Each sword has its own unique abilities and can be leveled up by collecting certain items and defeating certain enemies. This gives the game a sense of progression and makes the player feel more powerful as they progress through the game.
The Sword of Wind is the first sword you receive, in the very first village you enter: Leaf. Once powered up you can break down rock obstacles (Ball of Wind) and hit multiple enemies at once (Tornado Bracelet).
The Sword of Fire is necessary for defeating many ice-based enemies and is found in the village of Oak. You can break down ice walls with it (Ball of Fire) and cause damaging explosions around your character (Flame Bracelet).
The Sword of Water is useful against fire-based enemies and is found in the Waterfall Cavern. You can freeze narrow waterways to make bridges (Ball of Water) and cause a blizzard to damage enemies around you (Blizzard Bracelet).
The Sword of Thunder is found in the Cave of Styx and shoots a small cone of lightning in front of you. (3 bolts) Upgraded with the Ball of Thunder, you can shoot a wider cone (7 bolts) and once you find the Storm Bracelet, you can cause major damage to all enemies on-screen.
Of course, this list is not complete without mentioning the Ultimate Weapon: CRYSTALIS. Forged by Mesia using all of the other Elemental Swords, Crystalis attacks with the power of all four elements. There are no additional power-ups.
The combat in Crystalis is well-executed, fast-paced and fun, with plenty of variety in terms of enemy types and attacks. The game also features a magic system, which allows players to use spells to heal themselves or damage enemies. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the combat, as players must balance their use of magic with their physical attacks. There are also a wide array of magical power-ups and story-specific items to use and discover – statues that calm the tides, flutes that awaken allies and keys of all sorts – even a gas mask that is required to survive some poisonous terrain!
As referenced above, Crystalis utilizes a grind style of leveling up. Periodically you will find yourself unable to compete in a given area, and need to retreat back one zone to kill enemies there and level up. The same is true for the four main bosses of the game – The Draygonian Four.
Crystalis on the GBC
In 2000, Crystalis was re-released for the Game Boy Color, with some updated graphics and a few other changes. While the changes were minor, they did serve to enhance the game’s already impressive visuals, making it even more appealing to players. They also mixed up the order of the final battles, which I did not love but is not a deal-breaker by any means. They updated some of the dialogue with the townsfolk, but not in a way that changes the game in a meaningful way.
The one gripe I have – and others seem to as well – is that the screen size is smaller, making the world feel a little more cramped to traverse. Again, not a deal-breaker, but certainly a complication and limitation of the hardware.
This Will Be a Legend Forever Remembered …
Crystalis is an absolutely an underrated gem of the NES era of RPGs. It has an engaging plot, fun gameplay, and decent replayability to make it a must-play for fans of the RPG genre. It’s not as well-known as other games from the era, such as Final Fantasy, Zelda or Dragon Quest, but it is every bit as enjoyable and deserving of attention. If you’re a casual video game fan looking for a great RPG to sink your teeth into, give Crystalis a spin. You won’t be disappointed.
(all screenshots taken from a gameplay walkthrough by NintendoComplete. Full video: here)
The Vision, to Ultron, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
I know. I know I used this quote for the last WandaVision post and how dare I be so derivative of myself. Well, the quote fits far better for this post than the last and while I can’t undo what has been done, I can redo it again now in a more appropriate context.
I know I can undo it. Edits exist. I won’t undo it because then it ruins this whole first section. The timeline must be preserved!
The End is the Beginning
It has been confirmed that there will be only this one season of WandaVision, since the events from the series will more likely than not lead directly into Doctor Strange‘s sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Knowing this, we can expect tomorrow’s series finale to tie up a whole bunch of loose ends from the show while also leaving plenty of ends still loose to be addressed in DSITMOM. That is a horrid acronym and I promise I won’t ever use it again.
It should go without saying, but here I go saying it, there will be significant spoilers ahead, from episodes one through eight, but no spoilers or leaks from the finale, as I have tried my hardest to avoid not only leaks, but reading other fans speculation.
“WandaVision 2: Doctor Strange 2: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was just too much for the title card
Billy and Tommy
We know now some of the truth about Wanda and the Hex. We know that the twins and Vision are not like the other residents of Westview since they are able to act on their own free will and Wanda has minimal control of their actions, if she has any at all. Agatha has declared that Wanda is “supposed to be a myth, a being capable of spontaneous creation”. In her grief and pain she was able to create the sitcom-inspired reality inside the Hex and recreate a new Vision, the original of whom was lying dead and in several pieces in a lab. Oh, and mind control everyone in the entire town into playing the parts she needed them to play.
Except Agatha, newVision, Billy, Tommy, Monica, and Fietro. Oh, and now Dr. Lewis since newVision freed her mind back in episode seven. It is unclear at this point if the twins or Fietro can exist outside of the Hex, but we have already seen evidence that newVision likely cannot.
Speculation: Therefore, I don’t believe Wanda’s twins will survive the series. I think this is one loose end that is going to be tied off at series end. I don’t know what their ultimate fate will be, but I imagine they will simply cease to exist once The Hex is taken down. However, I think this will be untied later on in the MCU and the twins will be introduced in their reincarnated forms down the road, perhaps in Multiverse of Madness, but likely later, perhaps in a Young Avengers project, or in some of the other announced projects that could lead to a Young Avengers cast.
Original Vision or White Vision?
I am very interested in seeing how this plays out. We saw at the end of the last episode that Hayward, director of S.W.O.R.D. had successfully rebuilt and repowered the original Vision, and turned him into White Vision. In the comics, White Vision was introduced to split up the couple, and I think the end result is going to be similar here, although for very different reasons.
Old Vision and White Vision did not exist at the same time in the comics. White Vision was a deconstructed, rebuilt and memory-wiped version of OG Vision, and had no knowledge whatsoever of his relationship with Wanda and also, no real emotional depth. Think Data sans Emotion chip.
But now, we have oldNewVision (this is getting complicated) and New White Vision existing at the same time, and in the same place. According to physics, two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Science! So it stands to reason that when the dust settles, only one Vision will reign supreme. There can be only one and I am running out of clichés to throw at this!
It is being set up that White Vision has been created as a weapon of S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient Weapons Observation and Response Division) to be used to take down Wanda and the Hex, leading to a confrontation between Wanda and OGViz against White Vision (and maybe Agatha?)
Speculation: White Vision wins. We saw that Original Vision (The OV?) cannot survive outside the Hex since he is not, strictly speaking, real. However, I don’t think White Vision will be the antagonist for long. There will be some grain of JARVIS leftover, some remnant of the original consciousness left that will allow White Vision to not be controlled by S.W.O.R.D. and he will become Vision again. Though he will be Vision again, he won’t have had the same relationship with Wanda, so even though Vision may have been returned to life through a roundabout process, she will still have lost him.
Everything Else
The fate of the twins and the Visions have been the most interesting for me to think about since it rests upon what we know currently of reality in the MCU. Our understanding of that reality (Wanda’s powers, whatever is going to happen in Multiverse) is likely going to change, and I am sure that is starting here with WandaVision. There are a number of factors that could completely negate my thinking above. I will elucidate below about just how wrong I could be.
Dr. Strange shows up. I am not sure if this has been confirmed in any way, but it makes too much sense for it not to happen. Especially when you consider that WandaVision is directly leading into Dr. Strange 2. I am hoping it’s not just as some deus ex machina hand-waving. I could see him being in some post-credits scene, sitting in the Sanctum Sanctorum when he feels a great disturbance in the Force … err, a breach in the fabric of reality and space-time. And then bam, create portal to Westview, witness carnage through portal, Strange walks through, portal closes, end scene.
We won’t see much of Monica Rambeau this episode. She’ll be rescued from where ever Fietro keeps snoopers, and she and Wanda will exchange nods of acknowledgement as she walks/flies/rockets away to go off and explore her new found powers and eventually join up with Danvers in Captain Marvel 2.
I have no real sense of what will happen regarding Fake Pietro. He may just blink out of existence when the Hex collapses. He could somehow have been pulled there through the Multiverse due to Wanda’s amazingly powerful warping of reality. I really don’t have a strong feeling, except that I think it will be important and is not just a fan-service easter egg.
We will see the introduction of the Next Big Bad Boss of the MCU to replace Thanos. If not them, then the Penultimate Baddie. Could be Mephisto (what was up with the book in Agatha’s basement). Could be Dr. Doom, which would be absolutely shocking but we know Fantastic Four is coming and how could the MCU not use Doom? I read elsewhere that White Vision could be Ultron 2.0 and that Ultron will return as a villain in the next MCU phase, but I doubt that very strongly.
The finale episode of WandaVision drops tomorrow. What do you think will happen? Let me know how wrong you think I am on Twitter or Facebook or below or wherever fine nerd products are sold.
The Envoy is an advanced ECS freighter with significant improvements over its older cousin, the J-Class. With more cargo holds and better internal systems, the Envoy is equipped for deep space expeditions.
Star Trek Fleet Command ship description
Casual Tips is meant to be a regularly occurring feature of Casual Nerdery. This morning I noticed I had posted my previous tip a week ago. A week seems like a good interval. Tuesdays seem like a good day to do this. Casual Tip Tuesday.
Making it so.
Regular: reg·u·lar
adj. 1. arranged in or constituting a constant or definite pattern, especially with the same space between individual instances.
2. recurring at uniform intervals.
This regular feature is going to bounce around quite a bit. Today we will be doing a casual tip for a casual mobile game, Star Trek: Fleet Command.
The game is pretty enjoyable if you’re a Star Trek fan, or if you enjoy base building and resource gathering style games. While it’s free to play, they make their money off of microtransactions which give you loads of resources and in-game currency.
At a certain point in the game you will find yourself starved for specific types of resources, or your ability to collect – refine, in-game – certain types of resources will be time-gated. You can only perform the action once per day, or once every 10 hours, for example.
There is a way, however, to convert your Grade 2 materials into Grade 3 materials and you can do it through your building, maxing out, and then scrapping, one of your early Survey ships, the Envoy.
Say Hello, Envoy. “Hello, Envoy”
In order to fully upgrade your Envoy, it is going to cost you approximately the following (not taking into account any research that helps reduce costs):
1.6 million Tritanium
123,000 Dilithium
3,000 Grade 2 Survey Parts
1,000 Grade 2 Common Gas
5,300 Grade 2 Common Crystal
1,000 Grade 2 Uncommon Crystal
This will tier your Envoy up to Tier 7, which is the max. You will also need to level your ship up to level 35 in order to get the most bang for your proverbial buckage. This is an easy enough task. You can either: spend your Ship XP resource to level it up (if you run out, you can buy some using the in-game currency latinum.) OR, send your Envoy to level 20 or 21 hostile system to mine. Your ship will be attacked repeatedly, and you will end up spending some resources on repairs, but the amount is negligible considering you will be able to save your XP and save your latinum for other projects.
Once your Envoy is level 35, scrap that puppy and collect your sweet sweet (approximate) rewards:
416,000 Tritanium
31,000 Dilithium
118 Grade 3 Common Crystal
64 Grade 3 Common Gas
33 Grade 3 Uncommon Crystal
18 Grade 3 Uncommon Gas
1 Grade 3 Rare Crystal
1 Grade 3 Rare Gas
74 Grade 3 Survey Parts
7,800 Ship XP
There must be a Rule of Acquisition that covers this. I don’t have the lobes for business, but this is one transaction even I can see the profit in.
The Vision, to Ultron, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
I had planned to write a break down of episode 8’s flashback sequences, especially now that we are getting a better idea of what Agatha is up to, and instead I ended up watching Age of Ultron. Twice.
Perhaps not the best use of my time, but I am glad I did. Not only was this the movie that introduced Wanda to the MCU (and Pietro, but that’s not this post) but this was also the movie that introduced Vision, and introduced them to each other.
At this point in the Infinity Saga arc, we have not been fully introduced to the Infinity Stones, although we will had seen four by this point:
The Space Stone, contained within the Tesseract (Captain America: The First Avenger)
The Mind Stone, contained in Loki’s scepter (The Avengers)
The Reality Stone, the liquid Aether (Thor: The Dark World)
The Power Stone (The Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 1)
We know that the Mind Stone was used during Baron Strucker’s experiments on the Maximoff twins using Loki’s scepter, but we didn’t know what that looked like until this week’s episode of WandaVision. We also saw Ultron remove the Mind Stone from the scepter and place into what was to be his new body, which becomes Vision.
It makes sense Ultron would decide to use the stone, since part of the mapping for Ultron came from Banner and Stark’s experimentation with the scepter while trying to create Ultron.
It is in this same scene that we first experience Wanda’s connection to what will become Vision, through the Mind Stone.
“I can read him. He is … dreaming.”
Wanda comments that she can read him, as in read his mind or sense his thoughts. When she first meets Ultron, it is made clear that she cannot read Ultron. Something about the Mind Stone being implanted in Vision makes it possible. It’s also how she is able to see Ultron’s ultimate goal, and what triggers the twins to defect and turn against him.
The story of Wanda and Vision is beautiful and tragic – they are each likely the only other person who could truly understand the other. The Mind Stone had a part to play, but the love they held for each other was beyond that. The stone made the connection, and they chose to find comfort in each other there, instead of opposition.
This post may feel like a cop out, but like I said above, I just watched Age of Ultron.
“Target the Mercy down. Kill the Mercy. Can we — hey. Kill the –. Come on, just –. Kill the f*%&king Mercy.
GG my team sucks.”
-You, probably, at some point. Or your teammates.
New Feature: Casual Tips
Hey there, you ol’ casual. Starting this week we’re introducing a new feature to the site called … you guessed it, Casual Tips. We’re not going to get super in depth and these will be relatively short. They are not meant to be strategy guides, or walkthroughs. They are just tips. Simple tips from one casual to another.
My goal is not going to be to help you play better. Rather, my goal will be to help you appear to be a little less bad. In the process, you may get better. Hell, you probably can’t get much worse. I’m talking to you, me.
Our first installment is going to use Overwatch specific examples, but the logic can be applied to any sort of game where there is a hero/champion/character who is healing the other team.
Bullying
I want to be super super SUPER clear about something. I am not talking about verbally or in-game chat bullying. This is not about the player behind the character, but action you are taking directly against the character itself.
When I say “bully the healer” what I am telling you to do is deny their healers a moment of peace. You get right up in their face and you do not let up. You’re like a dog chasing a car, and you finally get that tire. You don’t let go. Even if you should. Sometimes bullying isn’t working and you should fall back and regroup with your team. I am not telling you to do that, or how to decide if you should. This probably isn’t going to make you a better player. Again, I’m not the coaching type. Clearly.
A good team will be protecting their healer and will peel for them. I am laboring under the impression that you are facing opponents that are just as big of a garbage bag as you. If you had to look up what it means to peel, I am talking about you, you garbage bag..
Peeling is when your front-linemobile DPS (or even a tank) falls back – peels off – in order to assist a back-line healer or slower support DPS character.
I am assuming, of course, that their healer(s) are actually healing and not trying to do damage instead. If they are pretending to be DPS, their team will probably just let them die anyway.
I would.
Now, in Overwatch there are some heroes that are good for bullying and other heroes that either aren’t that great, or are much better suited to be doing literally anything else.
Good Bullies
Quick and mobile heroes like Tracer or Genji are excellent for bullying healers. You can do a lot of damage very quickly, and you’re hard to keep track of. Don’t stop moving and don’t stop shooting. Even if you can’t take them down, your primary goal is to keep them off-balance. They can’t keep their team’s health up if they’re too busy running to protect their own.
Heroes with significant knockback or displacement abilities like Doomfist, Roadhog, or Wrecking Ball can be effective bullies as well. Don’t be afraid to get in there, boop their healers out of position and then get back to your team. Be careful with a hero like Roadhog though. Even though his hook is on a relatively short cooldown, if it misses you won’t be able to do much and you’ll be a sitting pig for the enemy team.
Dive heroes like D.Va or Winston make excellent hit-and-run style bullies. They are able to move in very quickly, be disruptive through either damage or distraction, and then move back out again to rejoin in the team. They can do this repeatedly and relatively safely.
Even if you can’t get up in their face, if you focus them from a distance with a long range hero like Widowmaker, Hanzo, Soldier: 76, or McCree, you can cause the healers to have a Bad Time, and need to retreat to a health pack or lose their focus on healing their teammates.
Bad Bullies
So, I’m not here to tell you how to play the game, and really you can bully with whoever you want. I would avoid using slower moving heroes, like Zarya, or Bastion. They’re too easily spotted, and their strengths lie elsewhere on the map. Similarly a hero like Reaper, who may seem like they would be a good bully, and indeed they can certainly be a huge issue to deal with, but they are able to deal significant damage to tanks and help bust down shields, so their strength is elsewhere as well.
Generally if I’m on a support role healing, or as a back-line DPS, bullying isn’t always a great plan. Of course Zenyatta or can dish out some annoying damage from a distance while still keeping his healing orb on a teammate, but the rest of the healers aren’t as fortunate. Don’t say Moira. If Moira is forced to use her glowing healing ball, you’re in bad shape.
Remember, I’m not a professional Overwatch player. I’m barely a player these days. I haven’t completed my placement matches since Season 5 and I spend most of my time playing Mystery Heroes or Total Mayhem arcade modes. I’m a casual like you, but this is a tip I picked up somewhere, and it’s helped me out a few times.
“Wanda, Wanda. You didn’t think you were the only magical girl in town, did you?”
Agnes (Agatha Harkness), WandaVision S1E7 “Breaking the Fourth Wall”
*** spoilers below ***
Well well well. Popular (and likely too obvious) fan theory confirmed. Wanda’s kooky neighbor Agnes is actually Agatha Harkness! A whole lot of other stuff went down as well, of course, but we’re going to focus primarily on what other things the introduction of Agatha could introduce into the MCU. There’s a lot of possibilities, so we’re going to just start anywhere, and worm our way around.
We’re just creating superheroes all day up in Westview.
The Fantastic Four
So we already know that Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four will be coming to the MCU in a movie that will be helmed by Spiderman: Homecoming and Spiderman: Far From Home director Jon Watts. The question that has been up in the air has been where will the make the connection. It’s doubtful that they would just release the movie with no lead up or previous link to the MCU, and the introduction of Agatha has given them one possibility.
Our dear friend Agnes, unphased by children possessing abilities some would consider to be … unnatural, was formerly (or will be – timelines be damned!) the nanny to Franklin Richards, son of Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Invisible Woman (Sue Richards). Now, Franklin is an exceptionally powerful mutant possessing all manner of powers, so I am sure he is someone Kevin Feige wants to keep in his back pocket for the future of the MCU.
Agatha’s connection to the Richards family provides a seamless way for the Fantastic Four to be introduced into the MCU. What Agatha’s intentions are, we have no idea. Episode 7 ends with Agatha putting some sort of hex on Wanda – I am hoping it is to allow her to explain her motives to Wanda without having to fight. I imagine a touch of exposition to start off Episode 8.
Mephisto
There’s a bit more of a straight line path with the introduction of Mephisto. There are already a lot of connections to make within the existing MCU. In the comics Mephisto has fought Thor, Spiderman and Dr. Strange, as well being a primary foe of Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider hasn’t been introduced in the MCU proper, but did enjoy a significant arc in Season 4 of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series.
Specific to WandaVision, however, are Wanda’s twins – Billy and Tommy. We go into what their deal was and how they were connected to Mephisto in the comics in this earlier blog post. You can read all about it there!
The Defenders
This one may feel like a bit of a stretch, but with Marvel Studios recently reacquiring the rights to The Punisher and Jessica Jones, completing its Defenders stable, the connection from Wanda to The Defenders is a little more clear. The key connection is Agatha Harkness’ son, Nicholas Scratch. Nicholas Scratch is a longtime adversary of the Fantastic Four, but also of Patsy Walker (aka Hellcat) and BFF of Jessica Jones. Agatha -> Scratch -> Patsy -> Jones -> Defenders. Check my math, but I think I aced it.
Additionally, consider that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil is potentially linked to Spiderman 3, Ritter (Jessica Jones) and Bernthal (The Punisher) have confirmed that they are down to clown again, and they are actively searching to recast Luke Cage and Danny Rand. They are definitely gearing up to bring The Defenders back into the MCU fold, and this may just be one way they do it.
Was Nicholas Scratch even in WandaVision? Remember Agnes’ bunny, Señor Scratchy? Maybe.
The X-Men
We saw that Agatha was involved in bringing Pietro back, and it wasn’t the MCU Quicksilver, but rather the Quicksilver from the X-Men Fox Universe (is there a name for this distinction? The XFU? XFMCU?). Could this mean that Agatha is either from another part of the multiverse, or has been to other parts of the multiverse to alter this reality with the XMFSMCU Quicksilver? I honestly don’t think they will use this as a direct reference or setup for the X-Men, but as I mentioned previously, I don’t think it’s a throw away reference that they “recast Pietro“.
He couldn’t even bring a casserole or a bottle of wine? What a deadbeat. Hahaha, deadbeat. Oh man.
Any or all of the above is at least possible, if not totally probable. Least probable is the X-Men, most probable would be Mephisto edging out the Fantastic Four. The Defenders connection is somewhere in the middle. Let me know what you think. There’s only two episodes left, so we don’t have to wait long to see just how wrong I was (I don’t think I’m 100% wrong).
