Interview with the Champ!

Today we have an interview with the current Heroclix World Champion, Alex Avila! I was excited to hear the World Champ said yes to the interview but I soon realized that this "celebrity" is just another cool, laid back guy who loves to play the same game we do! Let's get started:

Jordan Beers: How did you get your start in Heroclix?
Alex Avila: I got my start in Heroclix from my brother.  It's funny, I actually played the Mechwarrior Clix game before he picked up any Heroclix, but I didn't really have anyone to play with.  My brother got me hooked around the time Arkham Asylum came out.  My first really good team was 209pt Magog, Ghost Widow and 37pt Question.  300 pts, and a lot of fun.  My brother doesn't play anymore, he got back into Magic, but he taught me a lot of strategy and kept me in Clix when I was broke.

JB: I really like that Magog and he is one of my favorite pieces. Are those old pieces some of your favorites since you started out with them or do you have a different favorite piece?

AA: My favorites range from old to new.  Gamora is my number one attacker.  Supernova Thanos will always be a great piece for me because of comic accuracy and the way his dial has weathered the ages.  83 pt Captain America is the best representation of the character I've seen.  Lamp Post Bats is my favorite Batman because I think he is the most cost accurate.  And of course I love the experienced Star Spangled Kid and the Vet Stargirl.  I could take up your whole article listing Clix.

JB: Ha ha, I could do the same thing! Lot's of favorites and all for different reasons. So, why did you decide to join up in the competitive circuit of Worlds?

AA: I play at a local venue every Thursday out in Gainesville called Comics and Gaming.  It is a great group of guys, and I learned countless tricks playing against them.  Almost every other night of the week, there is a tourney somewhere within driving distance for me.  The options are wonderful, but not everyone is going to tourneys for competition.  The great thing about Nationals, Worlds, Clixathon, and the other big tournaments is the opportunity to lay down the gauntlet; no pun intended.  I love teaching new players and learning with my venue mates, but sometimes I want to play to win.  

JB: Seems very reasonable and a good lesson as well. Playing to win isn't everything, have fun with it too! What made you decide to go with your Avengers Team?
AA: My main sentiment for choosing MAAP (My Alternate Avengers Prime) was the all female motif.  The synergy the team provides is something my brother taught me.  He would play Jakeem Thunder on his JSA teams a lot.  19s all around and prob control means a frustrating game for any opponent. A big part of competitive play for me is the psychological game.  I figured Wasp would be the last person on my team that an opponent would want to get rid of.  The idea of a main attacker being the least likely target really appealed to me.  Once the team was made, my pro team spent entire nights trying to figure out its weaknesses.  It was only beaten twice in playtesting.  And so the team was born.

JB: I enjoyed the all female motif and it truly is a very synergistic team. I can see Wasp as a last priority but the Mystics TA would seem to dictate that Wasp should be the primary target to at least get points. Was this not the case in your games? Also, inquiring minds want to know, what were the teams that beat you in play testing? If I had to venture a guess it would involve Pulse Wave to help with Mystics and negate Morgan's pesky Astral Form Fade as well as some perplex and probability control to help dish damage.
AA: It was the case in a couple of the games.  But for most opponents, I think taking out SW was worth the Mystics in their mind.  In my first game against Rob, he ignored my Wasp as much as he could.  In the second game against him, he one shotted Wasp instead of the Witch, making the game much more difficult for me. Funny enough, the two teams that beat me were out of left field.  The first was 172 Magog, Astral Strange with one gem Gauntlet, Astral Strange, and Xavin.  The other was Movie Avengers Destroyer with the Full Gauntlet.  Both games involved some close rolls, but I was beaten fair and square.  Since world's the team has been beaten by a Supergirl/Beast Boy team and Larfleeze w/Full Gauntlet.

JB: Those are Left Field! I would've used Magog if I had went but that's because I love the character so much! Speaking of characters we love, why did you pick Stargirl for your Championship Creation?
AA: Stargirl is my favorite superhero.  She is topped in favorite comic book characters only by Thanos and the Joker.  My brother got me to read his entire run of JSA, and I was hooked.  I started to talk to him about Stargirl, and he hands me both volumes of stars and stripe to read.  I was hooked on Stargirl.  She evolved in front of my eyes from a bratty teen into a hero.  Her story is a strong inspiration to me, and Geoff Johns is a wonderful author.

JB: Moving on into the championship round now, what were your feelings about playing against the former World Champ?
AA: I had played Massu once before in a 2011 Nationals grinder.  He is an expert strategist and a stand up guy to boot.  Half of me was afraid, but the other half was having too good of a time to care. 

JB: How do you feel the match went down now that it's over?
AA: The game was a dance of positioning.  It was a carefully played and well thought out battle except for my oversights.

JB: In the video it looks as if you didn't declare Running Shot with the Gauntlet (even though you used it) to finish off the game. Was that just some weird thing where we couldn't hear it or did you forget/was it nerves? If you did forget, then why did George or a Judge not stop it? Not accusing you of cheating by the way it is just out of curiosity.
AA: It was a mistake on my part.  Massu didn't want to call it, or didn't notice, and Wizkids practices passive judging.  Call it what you will, but I had just played 9 games against fierce opponents.  Players are human at every level of play.

JB: Very true - we all make mistakes and it's understandable! Thanks for being so honest with the answer. So then, will you try to defend your title next year?

AA: I'm planning to be there next year, and I'm excited to see what will be viable by then.  The game changes every year, and I don't think 2013 will be the exception to that.  Who knows, maybe I'll rep all ladies next year too.

JB: That would be excellent! Maybe you'll include Stargirl? By the way, what plans do you have for your Stargirl?

AA: Unfortunately I cannot speak on the click I am making at all.  Just know that I am putting a lot of thought and love into the process.

JB: I figured that'd be the case. Well thank you very much Alex for doing this interview with me. I'm sure the readers will enjoy hearing what you have to say about your trip to stardom!

In case you didn't see it, here is the 2012 Heroclix World Championship Finals!