Enjoy!
Final Standings after round 6 (Points/OMW%): 1. Charles Schroder 18/58.33 (Amish)
2. Mark Abernathey 15/61.11 (Amish)
3. Michael Strauss 12/69.44
4. John Fanjoy 12/65.00 (Amish)
5. Patrick Hanberry 12/63.33 (Amish)
6. George Estill 12/51.11 (Amish)
7. James Mattaboni 12/44.44 (Amish)
8. Jack Rose 9/53.89
9. Brian Kephart 9/52.78
10.Robert Bertch 9/50.00
11.Tim Sullivan 9/46.67
12.Jared Whitley 9/45.56
13.Chris Baca 6/54.67
14.Jason Jeung 6/54.17
15.Maureen Brooks 6/52.78
16.Robert O'Neill 3/66.67
17.Steven Wilson 3/50.00
18.Justin Mattaboni 3/46.67 (son of Amish)
19.Riggs Marietta 3/45.83
20.Matthew Hannum 0/75.00
21.Terrace Bryant 0/66.67 So the Amish take 6 of the top 7 spots in our backyard! Before the cut to top 4, Mark (Lord_Raven)dropped, allowing Patrick Hanberry (DaemonKain) in as he was not going to be able to make WF due the upcoming birth of baby Raven--congrats and great move! My tiebreakers during my past 2 sealed events have kept me out of the top 4 but I solved that problem by pulling what may be the best power combo (Fire Giant Forgepriest and Vlaakith the Lich Queen) and by winning all my games so that tiebreakers never came into play. The Final Four:
Charles (CSchroder) vs. Patrick (DaemonKain)
Michael (Syb) vs. John (Fry) John and I won and then John dropped. Now I need to figure out what to do with a plane ticket for Baltimore to D.C.?! Report to Follow once I recover from 7 games and nearly 12 hours of event "participation." My pulls: Booster 1: Fire Giant Forgepriest Phoera Kobold Monk Living Flaming Sphere Large Water Elemental Hero of Valhalla Blood of Vol Cultist Free League Ranger Booster 2: Vlaakith the Lich Queen Greenspawn Sneak Karsite Fighter Shadowdancer Elf Warmage Soldier of Bytopia Blood of Vol Cultist Free League Ranger It was an easy choice to select the Fire Giant Forgepriest and Vlaakith as the core of my warband so my only real choices were what support pieces and what map to use.Greenspawn Sneak was my tile grabber and instead of going for activations of small pieces, I decided to use the Living Flaming Sphere because of its fire immunity, trample and ooze traits.I figured that it would come in handy as a blocker, target for Vlaakith’s fireball and great for eliminating my opponents’ support pieces.To round out my warband, I took the Kobold Monk, giving me a whole 5 activations, but two sealed titans.I chose Keep of the Fallen Kings 1 as my map as I wanted good LOS for my Vlaakith’s spell and a central victory area away from the exit so that my FGFP could engage there without any worries that I could route off the board without a chance to rally. Game 1 In game 1, I faced Terry Bryant.His warband consisted of Storm, Doomguard, Free League Ranger, Dragonmark Heir of Deneith, Medium Copper Dragon and Orc Wizard.He won map so we played on Dungeon of Blood.I won side and had him place first with the hope that I might get off a fireball in his start area, but he won first round initiative.We both advanced toward the center of the Dungeon.I was able to get off a fireball on several of his figures before he could use his DHoD’s protection spell, including his Storm, who took 10 after she saved.His FLR was able to shoot my Greenspawn Sneak so he went up 6-0 as neither of us was able to get victory area points in round 1.We both got victory points in round 2 but Terry was able to eliminate my Living Flaming Sphere, putting him up 42-10.However, his now fireproofed Storm was at 20 hit points after suffering a charge from my FGFP and after saving against Vlaakith’s disintegrate spell.I won initiative in round 3 and then proceeded to kill Storm with my FGFP and cleave into his DHoD.With his second attack, the Fire Giant killed the DHoD and the game quickly went downhill for Terry.I also routed his Medium Copper Dragon in round 3 so with mutual victory area points, I took a commanding lead of 143-52.He won init in round 4 but to no avail as he killed no more pieces and I eliminated his Orc Wizard, Free League Ranger, and Doomguard all in round 4, pushing over 200.The FGFP’s cleave was big in this game and with a rather easy victory, I started 1-0. Game 2 I faced Robert O’Neill in my second game.His warband was also led by Storm but he had the Elf Dragonkith, Gnome Trickster, Soulknife Infiltrator, Blood of Vol Cultist, Karsite Fighter, and two Fiendish Snakes.He won map initiative so again I played on my opponent’s map—this time it was the Tomb of Queen Peregrine.I won side init and had Robert set-up first but he won first round initiative and had the Trickster cast the invisibility sphere before I could cast my fireball.Because of scout, I was able to get victory area points in round 1 while Robert was not.We both advanced and while he again won initiative in round 2, he wasn’t able to kill anything while I killed a Fiendish Snake and the Blood of Vol Cultist, putting me up 43-0.He again won initiative in round 3 but I continued the killing spree by killing Storm using the Vlaakith disintegrate-FGFP combination.I was also able to kill the Soulknife Infiltrator and his second Fiendish Snake putting me up 139-0.I continued to earn victory area points and in round 4 I killed his Karsite Fighter and in round 5 I killed his Elf Dragonkith, giving me the win and a 2-0 record. Game 3 My Amish brother Mark (Lord_Raven) and I met up in game 3.He probably had the second best warband at the tournament with a Marilith, Maug, Bluespawn Stormlizard, Doomguard, Hero of Valhalla, Fiendish Snake and Kobold Monk.For the first time in the tournament I won map init and got to use my Keep of Fallen Kings.He won side and IIRC, asked me to set-up first.I won round 1 initiative and started by moving Vlaakith so that she could fireball his Fiendish Snake, Bluespawn Stormlizard and Kobold Monk.The Kobold Monk died but more importantly I was able to put 10 damage on the Stormlizard.Mark and I both advanced toward the center victory area but Mark was unable to get a figure into his victory area so I was up 15-0.I then won init in round 2 and immediately took the opportunity to disintegrate his Stormlizard.The Bluespawn failed and was eliminated, giving me a 64-6 lead as Mark was able to dispatch my Greenspawn Sneak but I was able to still get victory area points with my Living Flaming Sphere while Mark still could not get victory points.In round 3, the big guys exchanged blows in the center of the map.Not sure if it would have changed the battle in Mark’s favor, but his Marilith’s initial attacks were just outside of Doomguard’s CE.At the critical point of the battle, his Maug and Marilith were facing off against my Vlaakith and FGFP.My FGFP was down to 60 hit points.His Maug was down to 5 hit point.I had moved my unharmed Vlaakith through my FGFP to base both the Maug and Marilith and to provide cover for my FGFP.I figured that my attack would eliminate the Maug and it would be my two titans against Marilith.Vlaakith rolled a 1 and Mark won the initiative in round 4 so I could see the pain coming.Mark decided against having the Maug attack the FGFP since he didn’t think he could hit his AC27 with cover.Both attacks successfully hit Vlaakith, but with DR, I was down to 65 hit points which was critical since Marilith could not eliminate Vlaakith.So Mark had to decide if he was going to try to roll 6 12’s or higher to kill my FGFP or to move and risk the aoo to base the FGFP and make his 6 attacks without worrying about cover.Mark decided to take the aoo.Vlaakith smacked Marilith for 10 magic and Marilith failed the paralysis roll and that was game.My Living Flaming Sphere trampled the Maug for the needed 5 damage and with 80 damage from the FGFP and 20 more from Vlaakith when he activated, I eliminated both the Maug and Marilith in round 4 to go up 188-16 and Mark conceded. The score doesn’t reflect how close I was to losing this game.If Mark makes the paralysis roll and takes out my FGFP, I don’t like my chances of Vlaakith taking down Marilith all alone.3-0 Game 4 Michael Strauss (Syb) traveled down from Pittsburgh to face off against me in this game!His warband had two hitters in the Centaur War Hulk and the Maug and were supported by the Red Hand War Sorcerer, Dragonmark Heir of Deneith, Free League Ranger and Greenspawn Sneak.I won map and side so we played on Keep of Fallen Kings and Michael set-up to ensure I could not fireball him.I won first round init and had Michael go first.His Greenspawn Sneak attacked mine from range but missed.My Sneak returned fire and hit and his Sneak failed the MC roll.My Living Flaming Sphere trampled the Sneak before it had a chance to rally.This event was key as I was then able to get victory area points the entire game unchallenged while Michael got 0 victory points.In round 2, I advance my LFS up to trample his Centaur.I really wanted to trample his RHWS but was short 1 square so had to settle for this trample and then basing the RHWS.His Centaur hit me on the aoo and then eliminated my LFS, but not before take 20 fire damage.We’re tied 26-26 at the end of round 2 and then I go up 36-26 in round 3 as I tried to get into good position for my disintegrate spell.I want to target his Centaur War Hulk but his Maug keeps getting in my way.I don’t recall if it’s in round 3 or round 4, but I finally get a free shot at the Centaur War Hulk and I take it.He makes the save so only take 30 damage but then fails the MC.I use the opening to get my FGFP into the mix with his DHoD, FLR and RHWS.IIRC, in round 4 I do kill his DHoD and cleave into his RHWS but his commander makes his MC.His Maug is now beating on my Fire Giant and his Centaur War Hulk rallies.In round 5, I kill his RHWS and his War Hulk kills my Kobold Monk.I’m up 124-31 but he’s beating on my FGFP.In round 6, I engage his War Hulk with Vlaakith and paralyze him but his Maug hits my FGFP twice, bringing him to 20 hit points—1 Maug hit away from death!Michael wins round 7 init and I cringe but his Maug follows up 2 round 6 hits with 2 round 7 misses and the FGFP survives and eliminates the Maug.I’m up 175 to 31 and Michael concedes.I don’t recall if his Centaur War Hulk was paralyzed at the time but he was at something like 15 hit points.4-0 Game 5 The last 2 undefeated face off in this game as I take on my friend and Amish brother Patrick Hanberry (DaemonKain).I’m impressed that Patrick has been able to go undefeated with the following warband:Bluespawn Stormlizard, Arcadian Hippogriff, Dragonmark Heir of Deneith, Demonic Gnoll Priestess, Harmonium Guard, Doomguard and Greenspawn Sneak.For the third straight game I get my map.Patrick wins side so I set-up first.Patrick wins the battle of Sneaks so he goes up 16-0 as I am unable to get another figure to my victory area.In round 2, my Living Flame Sphere does its job again and takes out his Sneak and gets me victory area points and a tied 16-16 score.I don’t recall if its round 2 or 3, but his fire immune Stormlizard gets a 30 point charge on my Fire Giant Forgepriest.He brings up his DHoD to bodyguard the Stormlizard but makes the mistake of placing it adjacent to the FGFP instead of behind the Stormlizard.His intention was to sidestep around the FGFP but the FGFP took two swings, eliminating the DHoD and cleaved into the Stormlizard.In the meantime, his Arcadian Hippo is beating on my Living Flaming Sphere and eliminates it in round 3, bring the score to 60-52 in my favor.I win the next 3 inits and it’s a blood fest as his Arcadian Hippogriff and Stormlizard go down under the hammer of the FGFP and disintegrate from Vlaakith in round 4.The Harmonium Guard goes down in round 5 and the Doomguard and Demonic Gnoll Priestess go down in round 6.5-0 Game 6 At this point, I know that I have qualified so I consider dropping as I don’t want to be the reason my Amish brother John Fanjoy (Fry) doesn’t qualify.At 4-1, it is likely that John would qualify anyhow as a loss to me would not hurt his tiebreakers.Since it is my nature to play and things looked good for John, we played.John had a nice warband of Kolyarut, Elf Warmage, Shadowdancer, Large Water Elemental, Phoera, Fiendish Snake and Free League Ranger.I again win map so we play on Keep of the Fallen Kings.John uses his Shadowdancer to eliminate my Sneak so he goes up 16-0 in round 1 as we begin to advance down the center corridor.I again make use of the Living Flaming Sphere to trample the Shadowdancer and to get victory area points.I am able to move up my FGFP to swing and eliminate his Phoera.I don’t recall but I may have fireballed his Fiendish Snake to either kill or rout the Snake and to damage his Shadowdancer.In any case, I eliminated the Snake to go up 34-26.I win init for round 3 and IIRC, I allow him to go first.I believe his Shadowdancer takes an aoo from the LFS and amazingly I hit.He’s already down 20 damage so he has to use his defensive roll to avoid the MC.His Shadowdancer has moved into his victory area so I am able to move Vlaakith up and to orb her for 15, causing a MC which she fails.An aoo from the FGFP gives me another 28 points and I go up 62-31 as he takes out my Kobold Monk.For whatever reason I lose focus and forget that his Kolyarut has Hold Monster and I poorly place my FGFP.The FGFP has already been enervated so John moves up his Kolyarut and casts Hold Monster which the FGFP promptly fails.His Warmage moves up and shocks me for 40 so I’m at 110 hit points before the critical round 4 init.I believe John uses his FLR’s Initiative Surge but in any case he wins init and crushes the FGFP.The Large Water Elemental auto hits for 80 due to Fire Slayer.The FGFP fails MC for the first time in the tournament but it’s moot as his Warmage kills him with another 30 damage from a Shocking Grasp.I’m suddenly shocked back into focus and know that I need to start killing everything I can in order to recover.I don’t recall exactly when but around the 3rd or 4th round, I cause his Large Water Elemental to make a MC using my Living Flaming Sphere to attempt to trample the wounded Large Water Elemental.The LWE hits the LFS on the aoo but takes 10 fire damage in return, causing a MC which it fails.Vlaakith disintegrates the Warmage, which fails the save and dies.I’m only down 125-114 at the end of round 4 and with John’s Large Water Elemental routing.I win round 5 init and base his Free League Ranger with Vlaakith in an attempt to prevent his Large Water Elemental the opportunity to rally.I believe that John risks the aoo from Vlaakith, get paralyzed and fails his MC but stays put and hence can’t rally the LWE which runs off in round 5.John’s Kolyarut takes out my Living Flaming Sphere in the same round but he gets victory area points while I do not, giving him a 161-150 lead.I don’t recall who won round 6 init, but I was able to kill his Free League Ranger and he only got victory points so I was up 175-171.His Kolyarut bases and attacks Vlaakith in his victory area.I win round 7 initiative and while I was not aware of the exact score, I knew that I could not allow him to continue to earn victory points while I did not.I had killed all his pieces but his Kolyarut and would not be able to take it out before time ran out or one of us hit 200 points so I too the aoo and moved to my victory area.John “knows” he has a 30 point victory area advantage but recognizes that that isn’t enough to overcome the difference in figures I’ve killed vis a vis what he has killed so he concedes.Calculating after the fact, I had a 185 to 181 lead at the end of round 7 and would have had 4 more points when we both hit 200 points in round 9.Vlaakith was at something like 55 hit points so there was no way for him to win, especially since he would have had to leave his victory area to attack Vlaakith.So I end Swiss 6-0 and qualify for the Limited Championship! For the Finals, Michael, John, Patrick and I each get 2 new boosters for a booster draft.Before I go farther in my report, I’d like to thank Jamie “Ack” Boyle, our judge, for running a tight ship and threatening to throw anyone who got out of line through the second floor window J.Jamie had each of us in turn open 1 booster, pull out the cards so that all four of us had 30 seconds to review them and then we each had 10 seconds to select a figure.My superb luck continued as I grabbed the Marilith that was in my first booster.My second booster had Storm so I formed the following Chaos warband:Marilith, Storm, Doomguard, Earth Element Gargoyle and Skeletal Reaper.I took the laceName>TeleportlaceName> laceType>TemplelaceType> as my map and my intention was to cast fly on Marilith but in the heat of battle, I forgot. I was matched against Patrick for the second time but again my Amish brother was at a disadvantage as his warband was Elf Warmage, Valenar Nomad Charger, Harmonium Guard, Medium Copper Dragon, Shadowdancer, Hammerer and Hero of Valhalla.I won map so it just compounded his problem.This was a quick game due to the mismatch.Patrick took a 10-0 lead in round 1 as he was able to get victory points while I was not.In the second round I took the lead for good as I killed his Hero of Valhalla and got victory points while Patrick did not.Patrick was able to get all his hitters around Marilith and to force a MC in round 3, but I made the roll and then unleashed Marilith, taking down his Shadowdancer and Valenar Nomad Charger to give me a 95 to 10 lead.In haste, Patrick had made the mistake of not placing his Shadowdancer next to a wall so wasn’t able to escape.In round 4, I kill his Elf Warmage, giving me a 137 to 10 lead and Patrick concedes as he has no hitters left and I’ve healed Marilith back up to 70 hit points. John defeats Michael and then decides to drop so he can begin the long trip back to Virginia.No one is interested in the plane ticket and because Jamie is dividing the case evenly among the top 4 . . ..So I win only my second sealed event ever and my first Qualifier! |