If I use the termi-nation AZ base power and deal myself 1 point of damage ... it becomes 5?
nod
Scary, isn't it? 
Let me relate a hypothetical example.
Setup: Termi-Nation Absolute Zero has Isothermic a Transducer, Null-Point Calibration Unit, Focused Apertures, and Coolant Blast in play. Last turn, he used Violent Shivers in preparation for a big damage turn. Assume he has at least 20 hp remaining so that he doesn't fry himself this turn.
Play: AZ plays Frost Bound Drain, dealing Unfortunate Villain Target 6 cold damage (3 base + 1 FA + 2 VS), then takes 7 fire damage (3 base + 2 VS + 2 VS). Isothermic Transducer activates, sending 10 cold damage at UVT (7 + 1 FA + 2 VS). Alternatively, he could target himself with the cold damage and regain 12 hp (7 + 1 + 2 + 2), but I'll assume for the purposes of this scenario that AZ is trying to drop the UVT as quickly as possible.
Power: AZ activates Coolant Blast, dealing UVT another 10 cold damage (7 fire damage taken + 1 FA + 2 VS).
Draw: as per usual
Final Tally: Absolute Zero has taken 7 fire damage, and the Unfortunate Villain Target has taken 26 cold damage.
Abbreviations used:
AZ = Absolute Zero
FA = Focused Apertures
UVT = Unfortunate Villain Target (choose your favorite punching bag)
VS = Violent Shivers
Thank you for including a brief summary of your acronyms!
And your math checks out. It’s a high risk, ASTRONOMICAL reward power.
Yeah, especially if there's a lot of damaging stuff in the environment or villain deck.
The Matriarch, for instance, would tear him to shreds.
It's an alternate I wouldn't really considering playing without some support from Argent Adept, Skyscraper's equipment search link, or something similar. It's even easier to get stuck with nothing to do with this version of AZ, though his regular 1-point damage board damage ongoing would turn into a 3 point board damage ongoing.
Visionary might also be an option. AZ is already very powerful with Twist the Ether, and cutting out the Transducer would help speed up his curve a bit and increase his self-healing dramatically, as long as he had Thermal Shockwave (IIRC, the one that does 1 cold to 3 targets and then fire damage to AZ equal to his cold damage so far this turn) in play.
You could honestly say that about any AbZero iteration. They are all extreamly reliant on his equipment getting into/and staying in play.
I shun that way of thinking! Shun!
Yes, we know your issues with things that are worn…
I don't know, I've had some successful games with him on the app where I didn't get any of his equipment out except Focused Apertures. Cold Snap, Impale, Fueled Freeze and Subzero Atmosphere have won whole games for me while his Modules stayed in hand.
Elemental Wraith!! With that promo I often go for Atmosphere and the ongoing damage cards.
My friend had a very decent game with AZ in a full Termi Nation team without getting the components. Double impale and cold snap at +2 dmg strike quite hard, recurring stealth bot were necessary to cover his ass though. I was happy to provide.
Twist the Ether on the new AZ is insane.
In-Sane.
(really)