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Vendelphian
Warrior
212 Posts
    
Flint, Mi
 | | 06/17/2007 9:00 AM |
| Being my first qualifier and all I thought I would write a report on how my day went yesterday at the Ypsilanti qualifier.
So here I was 6 am in the morning deciding what I wanted to run at my very first qualifier ever, a whole 6 hours before the qualifier officially started. I had a few things in mind. First was a Blood Golem of Hextor-Dual Maug band. I finally decided that it was too "fun" and not exactly tournament quality. (on top of that I couldnt find my Goblin Skirmishers) My next thought was then an invisi-charger band. I had never once ran it and thought that it would be too risky. So I then settled on Solaradian. I had ran it twice(though both time were loses) and I thought that it still had real potential. So now I have my band but I have no idea what to run it on. My first thought is that my forte is immunity. I figure dragon shrine could really help me out and give me that extra protection against Storms and Ultraforges that could keep me out of elemental damage. I then realized that it would be a field day for shadowdancers(that I didnt play once all day) Of course I also thought of Thieves Quarters for it is great for solar. I however have very very little experience playing this map. I really couldnt make up my mind so I decided I would choose when I got there.
Im now on my way to the tournament with my good friend Eric Scharrer following behind me. After about an hour drive we arive a little after 11:00. We get there and see some of the few familiar faces like Jeff, John, and Daniel. I however was surprised at how many people were already there that I had never seen before. People from different parts of the state, to completely different states, to even a different country! At this point I just figured this would be a fun day and am hoping for maybe 3-3. In all honesty I had never thought of actually qualifiying and besides I had a Fray concert that I was invited to at 7:00 pm and knew that If i did make it I wouldnt be able to play for I would have to leave. But here I was with my final band and Jeff Alcorn came up and said I had to finally put my map down. So with the paper in hand I thought a while and decided that Field of Ruin is a rather large map that no one really sees anymore. I thought this could work to my advantage since I had played on it alot recently. So at the last second I decided on Field of Ruin.
My final warband looked like this
Solar
Shield Guardian
Dragonmark
Mialee
Timber Wolf x2
Man at Arms
-Field of Ruin
So I wait anxiously for my first opponent and it ends up being Matt with a Storm, VC, Triple Cormyrean. My first thought was what and to who am I going to immune myself to? As the game began I won map yet he had drow outpost and it was a map I didnt have access to and thought could help me out. So I said he could have his map. He won side initiative and we setup. First round we get set up close to the bridge, matt in position with his cormyreans to start doing major damage, I immuning solar to fire and shield guardian to electricity. Second round I move my solar up past the bridge and in to a small alcolve to wait. With Shield Guardian on the bridge and victory area and Dragonmark in the back I was ready for next round. He won and decided to fly his VC all the way into the back and base a man at arms in hopes to clear out my fodder. He then activated I believe a bat. On my turn I flew back with solar and let off a slaying arrow. I hit his 18 ac and he attempted to save but rolled a 7. My eyes lit up as he was out a VC and the real action hadnt even begun. I now was feeling good. I then activated my man at arms in hopes to see what he would do next. He let off two lightning bolts in which I think I failed one on the Solar saved on the body guard. Well to make a long story short. My slaying arrow didnt help for even after basing all three cormyreans and missing some important roles, he was able to put enough damage on my Solar to kill him. I was now 0-1 and thought that I will only place if I win my next 5 matches. I quickly said to myself, impossible.
My second match was against a man named Rueban who was running an interesting Lyrandar, Tordek Champ, VC build. It had alot of potential with an extremely buffed tordek who now hit as a hard as solar with all of Lyrandar's spells. He won map (Keep of Fallen Kings) and side. I set up across from him and we roll for initiative. He wins and Moves mialee up and casts cats grace on Tordek. I then move my Mialee up and kill his mialee with a magic missle. It was perfect 8 spaces away solar has a perfect shot at his Virtuous Charger. Could my luck be this good? I move up and let off the slaying arrow. I get through and he rolls a 1. I couldnt believe it, two matches, two slaying arrows, two virtuous charges I didnt have to deal with. From then on out it was down hill for Rueban after I roll a crit with Solar on Tordek. Im now 1-1
My third match was against a very nice lady named Stacey. She was running a Quad helmed horror band. I won map and decided on my map. I surprised how well she did in keeping out of LoS from my slaying arrow, but with four HH it wouldnt last forever. I moved up with Solar and let off my SA. I roll a 2 and miss. My heart dropped now knowing that I had to hack through 4 helmed horrors. Next round I move solar up into the center victory area with Dragonmark right in front and SG right behind. After some horrible rolls on Staceys part I had too much damage output for her to bare. Though tied in tile points I was able to pull it off but not without the death of my DMHoD. 2-1
Now I feel better that im now above 500. I however was still a little down knowing my friend Eric had now gone 3-0 with his Ultraforge band. I congragulated him though and wished him the best of luck for one of us needed to qualify.
My fourth match was against Brad who was running an Ulmo Swarm band. I was sweating now with 27 ac it was looking bad for not only my SG and MY DMHoD, but my solar was going to maybe hit one or twice out of three attacks. I again won map and side. (this pretty much determined the game) I let him setup first. After checking every possible inch of the map for no LoS he sets up. The first two rounds are used to set up. I fly my Solar into the center victory area. (I am now up on tile points for he couldnt make it first round) He ablolutely bombards my solar with every SW he could pull out of his pocket. In the third or fourth round Brad decided to take a risk and move ulmo up for a stunning attack while in flank. He succeeds on his attack roll (obviously) and I now have to save. I do and Brad looks somewhat disappointed. He then hits with a SW. Its now my turn and I have three open swings on Ulmo so I decide to take them. I need a 9,14,19. My first roll is a 10. Thats 1/3 of ulmo. Next I roll a 16. Im extremely happy. Thats 2/3 of ulmo. My last roll I look up kiss my lucky yellow dice and let it go. It rolls and 19 comes face up. Brad looks in shock as his 77 pt tiny titan is crushed. I couldnt of been so happy. From here on out it is getting through incorpreal but in the end I pull it out in tile points by finishing off his Cleric of Order and Human Commoner. 3-1
Im extremely happy now. Im starting to think I could do this. I have started to get a feel for my band and Im only two matches away from qualifying. I find out that im paired up against Dave. I had heard alot about this guy here on maxminis and knew he was a very good player. Running a Helmed Horror band I knew I had an advantage, One because I had already played one today and second they would be hitting for 5 against solar and five agaisnt SG. As we started I won map. Again I get Field of Ruin and I win letting Dave set up first. He like Brad checks every spot for LoS. We both set up and begin. The first few rounds We get ourselves into positon, Him taking out my timber wolf. He then decides to charge my solar most likely for the fact that he wasnt about to be slain by an arrow. He gets through and that five on Solar and Five on SG. Another HH come in and bases me. I open up attacks with solar and my rolls go ok. I decide I need to get tile points so I decide to run up with DMHoD into middle VC where his Greenspawn and Mindflayer are standing. My biggest mistake however was the fact that instead of just getting into the VC I stand right out from it attempt to hit the Greenspawn. I miss. He then moves his other HH up and bases me. I move my man at arms up so I could get flanking with a sidestep from Dragonmark. He wins Init. and cones dragonmark and MaA who both fail. (Dragonmark will now be stunned the rest of the game) I get some hits off again with solar and SG. He then realizes its a lost cause to fight Solar and takes AoO from both HH's to finish off the rest of my warband. This ends up costing for I follow behind and finish off those helmed horrors. In the end it ended up that I was flanked be Mindflayer and HH. he attempts a rend on solar but misses once. I then finish off Mindflayer and win in pts. Tough match but Im now 4-1.
Inside im extremely excited and now know I have a good chance of qualifying. There is a great chance I'll be matched up against a black dragon band for there were two in the same position as me. This made me happy knowing this band was practically designed to counter Blacks. I in fact am paired up against blacks. Its Tony's Dual Black Dragon, Thrall, Ryld band. I somehow win Init. and I again play on my map. We set up and get started. First round Tony is already almost half way across the board. I however move my solar within range so that next round I can have a clear shot on Thrall. I win Init. and I move up. I let off my Slaying Arrow and succeed. He rolls a 1. I couldnt of been more happy. I knew I pretty much had it for the Blacks had an extremely hard time getting through my AC and their lines were useless against my completely Acid free band. I end up killing the next dragon and routing the last. Im now 5-1. I couldnt believe it. In fact I've just now realized that I actually qualified.
I ended up first in swiss so I again was paired up against Tony. At this point it was already 7:00 and my concert had started. I was almost ready to concede but thought that I would play it out to see how it would go. The Karma from feeling bad that I'm missing the concert kind of snuck in on me. Though I did win map again and play almost happened exactly like last time (though he was smart enough to keep Thrall back) my rolls were absolutely hideous and everyone there how was watching the final matches can justify it. He charged my solar and then used haste. He then moved up in flank with a dragon. That also hit. I then attempted to use my last attack to hit thrall. I missed. I decided to then use my middle attack. I missed. I finally I hit him with my first. Solar then Attempted to hit. He misses. Finally his second attack get through. 2 out of 5 on 14 AC. Awesome. His next dragon flys in and get flank as well and he hits and gets through. My Dragonmark then gets adjacent to SG. The next round he wins and gets a large amount a damage out on my solar/SG. Now that Cursed spirity was in the way, I decide to hit him so that my SG can finish off Thrall. I miss the CS and say forget it and hit thrall. I fortunately save but not after taking tons of un needed damage. My last roll miss. SG hits with zero of his attacks. The dragons hit on my solar. I then move wolf up and hit the black dragon, Miss. I then sidestep my Dragonmark for two flanking hits. Miss Miss. Ryld then comes up and hits Solar. My SG is now dead and Solar is at 10 health. Next round he wins and kills solar. The I fight out another round (criting a dragon with Mialee ya that right) but in the end I conceded. 5-2
I couldnt have been much happier with the way things turned out and actually after a very very fast trip and having to take a detour I made it to my concert 5 minutes before the Fray began. I thank everyone for a great day and good luck at Gen Con.
Josh LaBar | |
VENDELPHIAN CHAMPION OF ELDEVERE
As the once great Zanin Arthasad would say...
ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! Lets charge the gates!!!! | |
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Dagaron
Sneak
144 Posts
Indiana, USA
| | 06/17/2007 9:15 AM |
| Hey congrats Joshua. We had a pretty rough matchup there in the finals and the dice were definitely not going your way. I had a lot of fun though and can't wait to play against you again at Gen Con.
Glad you got to the concert in time.
Tony | |
Champion of Dagaronzie, Green Dragon
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10301 Posts
United States
| | 06/17/2007 11:34 AM |
| Excellent report Josh, and congrats for doing so remarkably well in your first qualifier. (I took 5th in my first one, and 11th in my second one.) You definitely had the advantage in our matchup, but you also outplayed me.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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