Interesting discussions would surely have been had by the release of this aforementioned recently announced one-shot, but not all talk revolved around the actual content. Along with the release in March for the prequel comic issue, preorders are now open for the aforementioned game. Some are excited to see more Marvel action unfold in the RPG, while the announcement finds a few others expressing their vexation regarding the standing of the game at present.
What is this new adventure all about? One-shots are, after all, tabletop RPGs designed to contain a full story in one single session. So imagine it being a mini-campaign that crams in some punishing fun in one sitting for players to step into the Marvel realm—perhaps some wild time travel antics! The prequel comic would be a nice extra incentive for lore buffs who want to sink their teeth a little into the story before playing the game.
However, amid the hype for new content, the player base is still wrangling through the issues that plague the game. The responses to the announcement tweet are totally diverse; some players are happy for the news, while others respond with almost desperate cries for some fixes.
Nearly universal is the misery about the stack system. If you’re not in the know, “stacking” is the term for playing in a group (like your entire five-person squad of friends) versus just playing with one friend or alone. @Er_ck00, one of these players, feels outraged that the upper ranks (Diamond and GM) are now restricted to smaller stacks, so he is “unlikely to play with friends anymore.” “Damn so we gotta suffer cus other people suck,” they wrote, embodying the frustration of other players who feel punished for wanting to team up.
The other side to this coin was expressed by @Graffitigamingg, who worries that big stacks destroy the experience for solos. “Stacks erase accountability from each others performance.” Coordinated teams will basically bulldoze through their matches, leaving the randoms sitting ducks. The classic team-play-versus-solo-queue drama, and Marvel Rivals sits right in the middle of it.
Another bunch: players wanting their personal favorites to be added. @waterfindsaway has been requesting that Cyclops be playable for 34 days straight, and @cdub200071 has been asking for Emma and Luna. Typical gamer priorities-fix the game, but also give us more heroes to play.
Then, of course, you have Jeff. Several replies ask why “Jeff has the soul,” which, honestly, no context is given, but it must be an inside joke or meme widely shared throughout the community. Love weirdness of Marvel Rivals community.
Where does that leave us? The new TTRPG adventure looks to be a nice treat for any Marvel fan who adores tabletop games; however, the real focus of Marvel Rivals players is on the balance, matchmaking, and the ever-pressing question of whether they will ever get to play as Cyclops. Such a messy community is filled with passion, and thus fun.
For whatever reason you go: RPG, competitive grind, or the chaotic ever-expanding world of Marvel, March is going to be an interesting month for Marvel Rivals, for sure! If only the stacking issue were fixed by then.
