You've hit on something. The scoring in AV IS too balanced....despite the fact that some say you can play a "bonus rape" strategy (that I find absurd). AV would benefit from some risk/reward action and some hurry-ups and rule based scoring tweaks. I am holding out for a rules polish but the game is mostly done and just fine as is.

That said, I think the game is mis-understood and far better than its rep. I love it, and the challenge it presents. It's better than Transformers, which is also better than its rep and can be a stone cold blast to play in its own right.

Hulk and Megatron MBs are crazy "balls a poppin'" fun. Oh what a Lyman ruleset coulda done for either

TF is nothing like Lotr. Nada.

From some of the things you've posted about games and what you like, I think you'd like TF or TFLE. I was sold as soon as I played it at the PHoF. They had Tron LE and BIB and IM and practically everything else at the time and I kept going back to the TF. It captivated me. Of course I'd read NOTHING of the broken promises, fake voices, disappointments etc. it was just me and the game and I knew I wanted one after a handful of plays. It wasn't until later I learned of all the grief...and luckily I didn't care, because I rocked TFLE for a year in my house and had a blast. Eventually I realized the rules flaw...and it sucked...but Stern fixed it. So new buyers get the right game from the get-go rules wise.

I bought AVLE nib (actually a surprise gift from my wife) so I lived through all the drama with that one...both in terms of the games issues (and goodness) and the Pinside drama. Owning the game through all the turmoil it became maddening to consistently read all the negative comments and vitriol. I've said it a lot: one cannot play my game and say the game sucks.

Bigerle and Jackofdiamonds picked up my JM the other day and both were blown away by my AVLE. They LIKED it. Said they'd never played one as nice and never realized how good the game could feel and play and how fun it was. Mine can't be the only one out there that delivers the goods...but it sure seems so sometimes. To me, that is the hobby's loss. So I say this: if you love the Avengers theme, and you're a good shot maker, and you're tired of standard layouts, and you appreciate a well integrated sound, music and light package and you DONT MiND tinkering with your game until it's practically perfect....than take a chance on AVLE. You'll love it!

BTW, it's often said AVLE is just an MB rehash. That's a bad thing?