SHIELD meets the Scoobies (Buffy).

[The Romulan Republic]

Time for another crossover.

I was thinking recently about similarities between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Agents of SHIELD and some of their characters (unsurprising given that a number of people working on AoS worked on the Buffy franchise), and came up with this:

Scenario One: Agent Coulson's team (pre-Winter Soldier season one) vs. the core Scoobie gang (post-season seven).

Coulson is sent by Nick Fury to detain Angel, both because he's an unregistered metahuman and because Wolfram and Hart has Hydra ties (that one's not really a stretch- I figure even Hydra needs lawyers sometimes-although given W and H's multi-dimensional scope, if it existed in the Marvel Universe it might turn out to be the real power behind Hydra and Hive). They have traced a phone call he made to an appartment in LA, which SHIELD has under surveillance. They are also aware of the basics of Angel's vampiric nature (since this scenario is basically merging the two realities, I figure SHIELD would have access to Initiative and/or WWII era army records on Angel). They also have access to all their usual assets for this time period.

Can they capture him?

If yes, Buffy and the core Scoobie gang will attempt to break him out (assume Buffy and Angel are in one of their friendly phases right now). Buffy's team consists of herself, Giles, Willow, Xander, Spike, and Dawn.

Scenario Two:

One on one duels. I'm trying to make the matches fairly even, with characters going up against their closest counterpart on the other side.

May vs. Buffy. Unarmed combat. Alternate scenario- May has the berserker staff and Buffy has the Slayer Scythe.

Skye vs. Willow (trying to hack each others' computer ). Alternatively, how would season three Daisy handle a duel with Willow?

Coulson vs. Giles. Giles doesn't normally carry guns, but he has on occasion in the past, so he gets a semi-automatic handgun to compensate for the fact that Coulson's going to be packing heat.

Ward vs. Spike. Ward gets a gun, but it probably won't help much against a vampire.

Fitz vs. Xander. Unarmed combat.

Simmons vs. Dawn. Unarmed combat.

Edit: It occurs to me that this probably ought to be in Fantasy. AoS is more sci-fi, but Buffy is definitely more fantasy. Apologies if this needs to be moved.

[biostem]

LOL! I read the title and thought you meant the Scoobie Doo gang.

[The Romulan Republic]

I did specify Buffy in the title.

Yes, you're not the first one to make that mix-up.

[Crown]

I don't watch AoS (duh) but is Willow placed under some kind of annoying moral constraint? Because, as I don't watch AoS, who in their line up has got the midichlorian count to stand up to Darth Rosenberg?

[The Romulan Republic]

Skye/Daisy as of mid-season two, possibly (though I think it comes down to who hits first in that scenario unless somebody's holding back, as both of them can do damage that probably outstrips the others' demonstrated ability to block said damage).

She basically has the ability to control vibrations, as I understand it. From small-scale, precision work, like tapping a glass to create sound or starting a guy's heart to large-scale (triggering an avalanche (all examples I recall from season two). In combat it usually takes the form of telekinetic blasts, I believe.

In larger MCU terms she's basically the ultimate "glass canon". She has no great superhuman durability or healing power (though she's a competent computer hacker, combatant, and SHIELD field agent by human standards), but can throw telekinetic punches possibly in the top tier. I honestly think she could take Thor at range, but Hawkeye could probably take her if he got into hand to hand.

[U.P. Cinnabar]

LOL! I read the title and thought you meant the Scoobie Doo gang.

"And, I would have succeeded, if it weren't for you meddling SHIELD agents!"

[The Romulan Republic]

LOL! I read the title and thought you meant the Scoobie Doo gang.

"And, I would have succeeded, if it weren't for you meddling SHIELD agents!"

Said every Hydra character ever.

[Crown]

Just gonna point out for those that forgot; Darth Rosenberg is Slayer level physical strength/endurance and can stop a grenade exploding in her face for reference among other things (flaying).

Two videos for refresher for those that forgot;



and

[The Romulan Republic]

Videos aren't visible. Is that just me, or a problem with the links?

Edit: Either way, for the scenario I laid out in the OP, its not Darth Rosenberg, although I think its safe to assume post-season seven Willow could do any of that stuff if she were sufficient motivated (and you really, really don't want to give her that motivation).

[Crazedwraith]

I see them. Darth Rosenburg is not post Season 7 Willow though. If only because S7 Willow has restraint and similar to Skye/Daisy is a glass canon, she's knocked out a lot.

You've not said it but is the first scenario actually AoS Team vs S5 Angel? When's he with W&F? Or after the Fall or when? Your scenario and line up don't make sense for that time frame to me.

But Season 1 Team has Ward and May as their top fighters and a propensity to use Night-Night Guns/Icers. And they have the element of surprise. But I'd wager writers would Slayers and Vamps rather resistant to Icers and there's no way May and Ward can take Buffy/Spike/Angel at once. They'be be outclassed qualitatively and quantitatively.

[Crown]

I see them. Darth Rosenburg is not post Season 7 Willow though. If only because S7 Willow has restraint and similar to Skye/Daisy is a glass canon, she's knocked out a lot.

That's why I asked if we're gonna put her under some silly moral constraint (ala the Superman dilemma every time there's a versus match up) or do we allow her to let rip?

To wit; Is she pussyfied or is she "a truck-driving magic mama" where her opponents have "maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds" them all "into Jawa-burgers", and not one of them "has the midiclorians to stop her."



Original quote: "You saw her -- she's a truck-driving magic mama! And we've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into Jawa-burgers, and not one of you bunch has the midiclorians to stop her."

[Solauren]

SHIELD picks up Angel, talk to him, find out his situation, and wonder how to deal with them.

Because it's SHIELD, I'm assuming they have magical contacts. Possibly ones that can make his ensoulment permanent regardless of him getting a happy. And that's assuming they can't turn him into a Dhampir like Blade. (Possibly workable as Angel would be a magical/demon class of demon vs the purely biological variant Blade appears to be of)

Buffy and co going against SHIELD. hmmmm... Iffy. Colson's group is on a VTOL capable jet most of the time. I'm pretty sure Buffy and co would have problems going after them. (Willow's only used teleportation once, and she wasn't sure on it's effects besides Glory wasn't there anymore) Then there is the fact they all have souls. (It's arguable about Grant Ward having a soul, but still, let's give him this one-time benefit of the doubt).

It's also entirely possible, knowing Fury, that taking Angel was a way to get Buffy's attention to recruit her and her friends into SHIELD (thereby replacing the Watcher's Council).

I also doubt Buffy and co would be able to get Angel out of SHIELD custody. If they can make facilities capable of holding the Abomination and the Hulk/Loki/Thor, they can contain/keep the Scoobies out.

..

Now, one on one....
Xander will get his ass handed to him by Ward or May, and probably Colson. He could handle the techies no problem.
Giles is about the same as Xander for this.

Willow could get interesting if she goes 'dark' for a bit. However, since this is post Season 7 'White Goddess' Willow, I doubt that.
I think a hacking fight between her and Daisy would be cool to watch. I'd hate to be the poor server they were fighting in/over.
She'll get put down by any of the SHIELD agents. Willow was never a hand to hand fighter accept for her brief stint as a Leather-Goddess-Sith

Buffy is going to beat everyone in hand to hand combat. May might be more skilled but a small margin, and Ward arguable more ruthless, but Buffy is monstrously stronger then them. She'd be a good match for Captain America.

Dawn might be able to handle Simmons or Fitz, but I'm not sure on Daisy.

I think it would get down to Buffy vs Ward/May.

[The Romulan Republic]

Anyway, my take on the scenarios in the OP is this:

Scenario One:

Capturing Angel is certainly possible. Just stake (no pun intended) out his place until he shows up, kick down the door, toss in some flash bangs if available (and they really should be), then use one of those SHIELD stun guns (unless Angel's immune- it might take multiple hits with vampire physiology, I don't know). Worst case scenario, May, Ward, and Coulson jump him together. I don't think he's good enough to take all of them in hand to hand, especially if they put a few bullets in him first to weaken him.

The Scoobies' rescue mission...

Well, its going to be down to Willow to locate the SHIELD people. Between Scoobie contacts (particularly ex-Initiative folks), hacking, and magic (including tracking spells), I figure she could.

Unless Willow can teleport them all inside the plane in flight (doubtful, as far as I know), they'll have to catch them on the ground somewhere. Hopefully not when they're inside a SHIELD airbase.

Willow can probably do enough damage to the plain with long range spells to keep it on the ground and allow boarding (I seem to recall their being a sort of EMP type spell in season four, used to disable Spike's tracker- if that could be scaled up enough...)

Buffy can take any one of their opponents in hand to hand. Put her against May or Ward if possible.

Spike can probably at least delay the other until Buffy finishes with the first one.

Fitz, Skye, and Simmons don't count for much in a fight at this point. At worst, they'd be mooks with guns, and the Buffyverse has an effective anti-bullet shield spell (seen in season four's "Primeval" to block the machine gun Adam had built into his arm). Now, that spell was cast by conjoined Buffy, but since the magical power and knowledge of the conjoined form were supposed to come from Willow and Giles, its likely one or both of them know this spell.

That leaves Coulson, who's good enough in a fight that he could cause some serious problems if Buffy and Spike are busy with May and Ward and Willow is tied down providing cover against gunfire. But still, that's potentially asking him to take Giles, Xander, and Dawn at once, and while none of them are nearly as good as him, I think, its three against one. Maybe if he simply shoots them all before they can shoot or disarm him...

I think it could go either way, but I don't think either side is likely to emerge unscathed.

For the one on one duels:

Well, I can't say for sure, of course, but realistically, my guesses are:

Buffy vs. May (unarmed). Buffy. I think May might be more skilled and more experienced, but Buffy is much stronger and faster. Buffy.

Buffy vs. May (staff vs. Scythe). Still Buffy, I think. The staff might even it out in terms of strength somewhat, but I also wonder if Buffy could simply chop it in two with the Scythe. Then again, maybe not. Wasn't it Asgardian tech.? This could be a close one. But if I had to predict it: Buffy.

Skye vs. Willow (computers). I think Skye's probably a better hacker, but I don't know how to quantify it. Willow would probably be able to find a way to cheat with magic though. Willow.

Daisy vs. Willow. Comes down to who hits hard first. Either can kill or disable the other. But I think Willow's more ruthless, even when not evil, and has a wider range in terms of what she can do. Willow.

Spike vs. Ward. I think Ward's a better fighter, but Spike is stronger and more durable. I might give it to Spike unless Ward is smart and nasty enough to use the gun to disable him (say, by putting a bullet in his spine) and then find something to set him on fire or decapitate him with. Which he probably is, once he realizes he's fighting a vampire. Ward by a hair.

Coulson vs. Giles. Coulson's better, and probably more accustomed to gun play. I love Giles, but Coulson.

Xander vs. Fitz. SHIELD or not, I don't think first season Fitz is enough of a fighter, from what I recall, to take late-series Xander, although it could go either way. Xander.

Simmons vs. Dawn. Well, Simmons has SHIELD training too, but Dawn at this point has more actual combat experience, I suspect, and is just nastier (remember her threat to set Spike on fire while he slept?). She'll fight dirty. Dawn.

So the final score, tentatively, is SHIELD: 2. Scoobies: 6.

[The Romulan Republic]

I see them. Darth Rosenburg is not post Season 7 Willow though. If only because S7 Willow has restraint and similar to Skye/Daisy is a glass canon, she's knocked out a lot.

You've not said it but is the first scenario actually AoS Team vs S5 Angel? When's he with W&F? Or after the Fall or when? Your scenario and line up don't make sense for that time frame to me.

No, not vs. Team Angel (though that might be worth its own thread some day- Weasley can play hard ball like no one on the Scoobie gang unless they've gone evil).

My premise is that they're tracking down Angel after the fact for stuff he did while working for W and H. The setting is AoS season one time frame. So... 2013-2014, and post Wolfram and Hart for Angel.

But Season 1 Team has Ward and May as their top fighters and a propensity to use Night-Night Guns/Icers. And they have the element of surprise. But I'd wager writers would Slayers and Vamps rather resistant to Icers and there's no way May and Ward can take Buffy/Spike/Angel at once. They'be be outclassed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Like I said, May or Ward might be able to take Spike (or Angel) if they knew what they were up against, but I don't think either could take Buffy at her peak hand to hand. And if Spike can just stay alive (for a relative value of "alive") until Buffy finishes with one, they can tag team the other.

Don't count Coulson out in combat, though. In season one, Coulson claimed that he could take Ward (when he snuck onto the plane to rescue Skye), and he doesn't seem like the kind of man who would idly boast about his abilities in a crisis. He's also handled himself fairly well in hand to hand on the (somewhat rare) occasions its happened.

[PREDATOR490]

I have a very low opinion of Agents of Shield for it's dwindling relevance and competence in the Marvel Universe but even I can see them walking all over the Scooby Gang. Shield is effectively a global organisation with skilled / trained personnel and in Season 1 they are at the height of their power. They have a bunch of bases all over the world and a substantial world presence.

Scenario 1: Angel is going to be bagged and tagged easily. Angel has rarely made effort to 'lay 'low' and usually attracts attention to himself. Shield should be able to find him easily enough and putting him down even easier. It is highly unlikely that Angel is immune to the stun guns.
Once he is pacified, throw him in that Vibranium cell and game over.

Buffy and Co. will not be able to do anything to help Angel. If they try it ends up with them getting killed and / or locked up. The Scooby Gang are idiots who happen to exist in a universe which grants them enemies that are even worse. Putting them up against Shield without a severe handicap is asking for a slaughter.

Scenario 2: If it devolves to a one vs. one duel battle with a 'Fair fight' then Coulson and his team has seriously failed at their job. The real issue is that Shield agents are supposed to be trained to deal with someone like Buffy and Willow. If they have even a little bit of sense then a Shield agent is not going to get into a melee fight with Buffy because they are going to lose and dropping Willow with a sniper would be hilariously easy.

[Parallax]

SHIELD, at least Coulson's version and not Fury's, reminds me of that paramilitary team that created Adam. You know, the lot commanded by Captain Cardboard the terminally boring. And I seem to recall the Scoobies, once motivated, beating them rather handily.

Dark Willow was insanely powerful. While her reformed self was less brutal by a loooong shot, she was still not someone to mess with. I haven't seen anything SHIELD could do that could stop a prepared Willow. And, if it's a rescuse mission, she'd be prepared.
Both Spike and Angel repeatedly demonstrated massive damage soak abilities, especially in the later seasons of their respective shows. I do recall a scene where some scorpion monster impaled Angel and ... he didn't really seem to care all that much. Being shot just seemed to annoy him.
While it's obvious that a surprise bag and tag mission against Angel would be a success, afterall they momentarily stun him and then one of those flying cells swoops down, I don't see anyone in SHIELD taking Angel or Spike in one on one combat. I seriously doubt Ward, May and Coulson together could take either down without the element of surprise.

One clarification I do want is that what about the rest of Team Angel? We can assume Wesley is dead but what about Gunn and, most importantly, Illyria? Demon Fred was scary powerful and was physically far greater than any Slayer. Is she along for the ride? Do we can the After The Fall comics or just what we saw in the last episode? Does Angel have his dragon?

[PREDATOR490]

SHIELD, at least Coulson's version and not Fury's, reminds me of that paramilitary team that created Adam. You know, the lot commanded by Captain Cardboard the terminally boring. And I seem to recall the Scoobies, once motivated, beating them rather handily.

The Initiative were terminally stupid and inexperienced largely due to the universe premise. Buffy wont have the deck so heavily stacked in her favor vs. Shield without deliberate handicaps. Coulson's team is supposed to be capable of handling individuals like Buffy and if they cant, they call in the Shield artillery which can range from armed strike teams to flying aircraft carriers.

Removing the contention over Angel, it is likely Buffy and Co. would end up being recruited into Shield / Avengers or Coulson's team. Otherwise, if Angel is nabbed, Buffy is poorly equipped to take on a global enforcement agency designed to deal with enhanced individuals. All Coulson has to do is grab Angel, dump him in that cell and fly away. By the time Buffy hears about the situation Angel could be on the other side of the world with no resources to compete with Shield.

[LadyTevar]

1. Angel by himself would go down fast. He'd be bagged and tagged with very little problem. He's a good fighter, he's got all the vampire powers... but face it, he's over-confident in his abilities, misses the bloody obvious, and falls for traps. We've seen that happen to him on the show over and over.

3. Buffy and the Scoobies find out.... HOW? This is SHIELD. A bag & tag means they cover their tracks and leave no (mundane) traces. Willow's magic could help here, but SHIELD would have already placed tracers on all "known associates" and would be ready if any of them tried to make a move.
But as soon as Buffy leaves Hellmouth to find Angel, SHIELD will have eyes on her... and on anyone with her. Coulson would have plans made up to take them all out if they became 'a problem'. Stun Guns at range would be a good start, and narrow it down to probably just Buffy, Spike, and Dawn. Willow is still a glass cannon, and the stun guns aren't bullets. I predict she'd go down just like Xander and Giles. So, now you have three Enhanced against May, Ward, and Sky/Daisy. Coulson would pull his usual duty of standing back, watching the fight, and then jumping in at just the right moment to put the target down. Sky has been trained by May and Ward, and can hold her own for a while against Dawn. I foresee Coulson needing to help her first.
Ward and May take on Buffy and Spike. Now, Buffy and Spike are both Enhanced beings, with generations of fighting expertise. However, both of them are more used to fighting one-on-one, not working as a team. Ward and May also have years of experience in hand-to-hand, but know how to fight as a team, even when taking on separate opponents. Ward and Mays can keep Buffy and Spike off-balance by switching opponents, by forcing them to interfere with the other's attacks, by setting Coulson and FitzSimmons up with open shots, etc. Teamwork will take the round, and SHIELD's got the better team.

[U.P. Cinnabar]

LOL! I read the title and thought you meant the Scoobie Doo gang.

"And, I would have succeeded, if it weren't for you meddling SHIELD agents!"

Said every Hydra character ever.

But, not Norman Osborne.

[Joun_Lord]

SHIELD, at least Coulson's version and not Fury's, reminds me of that paramilitary team that created Adam. You know, the lot commanded by Captain Cardboard the terminally boring. And I seem to recall the Scoobies, once motivated, beating them rather handily.

Didn't the Scooby gang not really beat the Initiative but instead Adam did? If I recall correctly Adam killed the head scientist, got all the demons and vampires to work for him and be captured, then released them in the base. The gang did defeat Adam but only through some deus ex machina fusion thing.

[The Romulan Republic]

SHIELD, at least Coulson's version and not Fury's, reminds me of that paramilitary team that created Adam. You know, the lot commanded by Captain Cardboard the terminally boring. And I seem to recall the Scoobies, once motivated, beating them rather handily.

Dark Willow was insanely powerful. While her reformed self was less brutal by a loooong shot, she was still not someone to mess with. I haven't seen anything SHIELD could do that could stop a prepared Willow. And, if it's a rescuse mission, she'd be prepared.
Both Spike and Angel repeatedly demonstrated massive damage soak abilities, especially in the later seasons of their respective shows. I do recall a scene where some scorpion monster impaled Angel and ... he didn't really seem to care all that much. Being shot just seemed to annoy him.
While it's obvious that a surprise bag and tag mission against Angel would be a success, afterall they momentarily stun him and then one of those flying cells swoops down, I don't see anyone in SHIELD taking Angel or Spike in one on one combat. I seriously doubt Ward, May and Coulson together could take either down without the element of surprise.

One clarification I do want is that what about the rest of Team Angel? We can assume Wesley is dead but what about Gunn and, most importantly, Illyria? Demon Fred was scary powerful and was physically far greater than any Slayer. Is she along for the ride? Do we can the After The Fall comics or just what we saw in the last episode? Does Angel have his dragon?

I think you might be underrating the SHIELD agents' chances against Angel/Spike. I mean, we've seen ordinary humans take vampires in hand to hand. Now granted, Angel and Spike are not ordinary vampires, but I don't think it would be completely one-sided, especially if the agents knew what they were up agains.

Don't recall the scorpion monster thing. What episode was that?

Willow is, and in Buffy crossovers always will be, the heavy hitter, yeah.

As to the rest of team Angel, I left them out because I wanted the scenario to be a fairly evenly matched Scoobies vs. SHIELD fight. Angel was just their to give them a pretext to fight, basically, because his history makes him someone SHIELD might be particularly likely to go after and capture.

However, as per the comics, I think we can assume that Illyria and Gunn are alive (unless their are recent developments of which I am unaware). Ditto Connor. It is possible that, if the situation escalates into full-scale war, Buffy could go to them for backup.

Poor Wes, as far as I know, is still an undead employee of Wolfram and Hart.

[The Romulan Republic]

1. Angel by himself would go down fast. He'd be bagged and tagged with very little problem. He's a good fighter, he's got all the vampire powers... but face it, he's over-confident in his abilities, misses the bloody obvious, and falls for traps. We've seen that happen to him on the show over and over.

Agreed.

3. Buffy and the Scoobies find out.... HOW? This is SHIELD. A bag & tag means they cover their tracks and leave no (mundane) traces. Willow's magic could help here, but SHIELD would have already placed tracers on all "known associates" and would be ready if any of them tried to make a move.
But as soon as Buffy leaves Hellmouth to find Angel, SHIELD will have eyes on her... and on anyone with her.

Willow's a capable hacker, and has a variety of tracking/locator spells at her disposal. The Scoobies also have contacts in the military from season four onwards (mainly Riley), and its possible Giles would have some government contacts from the old Watcher's Council (they were supposed to be masters at using bureaucracy to fuck people over, and Giles claimed in season five that they could have him deported pretty much immediately if they wanted to).

And that's not even getting into summoning spirits/oracles/demons for information.

Coulson would have plans made up to take them all out if they became 'a problem'. Stun Guns at range would be a good start, and narrow it down to probably just Buffy, Spike, and Dawn. Willow is still a glass cannon, and the stun guns aren't bullets. I predict she'd go down just like Xander and Giles. So, now you have three Enhanced against May, Ward, and Sky/Daisy. Coulson would pull his usual duty of standing back, watching the fight, and then jumping in at just the right moment to put the target down. Sky has been trained by May and Ward, and can hold her own for a while against Dawn. I foresee Coulson needing to help her first.
Ward and May take on Buffy and Spike. Now, Buffy and Spike are both Enhanced beings, with generations of fighting expertise. However, both of them are more used to fighting one-on-one, not working as a team. Ward and May also have years of experience in hand-to-hand, but know how to fight as a team, even when taking on separate opponents. Ward and Mays can keep Buffy and Spike off-balance by switching opponents, by forcing them to interfere with the other's attacks, by setting Coulson and FitzSimmons up with open shots, etc. Teamwork will take the round, and SHIELD's got the better team.

That doesn't seem too off, though if Willow wasn't caught unprepared, I suspect she could block the stun blasts.

[Enigma]

What if the Avengers got involved? lol

[LadyTevar]

What if the Avengers got involved? lol

Please. The Scoobies would be toast.

First, going Pre-Civil War, you have Tony and Rhodey (suits), Wilson (flightsuit, guns, bombs, Redwing), Vision (density shifting and lasers from the Gem), Wanda (magic/telekinetics/whatever), Clint (assassin, archer), Widow (assassin), and finally Steve (Supersoldier, leadership). Cap makes the plan in the field, the others make it happen.

What do the Scoobies have? Giles (Scholarly Mentor, human, poor fighting skills), Xander (some fighting skills, computer geek, base human), Willow (witch, hacker, otherwise base human), Dawn (psychotic bitch fighter), Spike (vampire, soldier, punk), and Buffy (enhanced human slayer). You also have among the Scoobies a lack of true leadership in the field, a lot of high drama that splits the party, and very little experience fighting outside their 'niche' of vamps and demons.

Now... with the Avengers all over the TV, Willow could get contingences going. Giles could do research. Xander and Willow could hit the 'net and dig up shit. BUT......... how long do you REALLY think Buffy and Spike would wait for them to get that all done before going out and trying it "their way"? (and we all know how little that works against the Big Bads with Buffy and Spike).

[Enigma]

What if the Avengers got involved? lol

Please. The Scoobies would be toast.

First, going Pre-Civil War, you have Tony and Rhodey (suits), Wilson (flightsuit, guns, bombs, Redwing), Vision (density shifting and lasers from the Gem), Wanda (magic/telekinetics/whatever), Clint (assassin, archer), Widow (assassin), and finally Steve (Supersoldier, leadership). Cap makes the plan in the field, the others make it happen.

What do the Scoobies have? Giles (Scholarly Mentor, human, poor fighting skills), Xander (some fighting skills, computer geek, base human), Willow (witch, hacker, otherwise base human), Dawn (psychotic bitch fighter), Spike (vampire, soldier, punk), and Buffy (enhanced human slayer). You also have among the Scoobies a lack of true leadership in the field, a lot of high drama that splits the party, and very little experience fighting outside their 'niche' of vamps and demons.

Now... with the Avengers all over the TV, Willow could get contingences going. Giles could do research. Xander and Willow could hit the 'net and dig up shit. BUT......... how long do you REALLY think Buffy and Spike would wait for them to get that all done before going out and trying it "their way"? (and we all know how little that works against the Big Bads with Buffy and Spike).

Surprise them in the middle of the fight with both Hulk and Thor. The Scoobies would be reduced to Scoobie Snacks.