Well,
I haven't been up for writing reports in the last few months, probably because I have played so horribly that I didn't feel as though I had anything of value to report. I think a tournament report can provide some insight into what people are playing, what decks fair well in tourney play, and what types of local tech are going on in other areas that could be valuable elsewhere.
Now that I real rejuvinated about SWCCG, and the current environment, I am putting more time into deckbuilding and playtesting, and therefore feel I have at least some insight to provide, should anyone care to hear.
When last I wrote, (about 2 months after the endor release) I was playing Thunder & Lightning and Hunt Down. For those of you who don't remember T&L (which I am sure none of you do) it was a Revo type deck with Nabrun, and 2-0 sites based on Chewy and General Solo to cancel destiny. My Hunt Down was basically what Clint and Steve pretended to invent, even though I stole the idea from Origins, so god know how long it was going around.
Anyway, I decided to go back to that era, and play what was successful for me then. I have been losing horribly lately, and needed to get back on track. I decided to play the yavin start with 5 revos, and anti-bounty hunter ship tech. ****THIS DECK HAS NOW BEEN OFFICIALLY NAMED THE BATMOBILE" --- Remember you heard it hear first!!!! (TJ TALKING TRASH IN ROUND 4 SAID, "HEY BATMAN, DON'T BRING YOUR UTILITY BELT OVER HERE, I KICK ITS ASS) -- this comment was in response to me grappling hooking 4 different interrupts against an opponent who was also using TJ's dark deck!!!!!!!
On the dark side I am still playing Hunt Down because it continues to be strong. (Lately I have been going 3-3 or 4-2, because my light deck can't win more than one game)
Here is a list of the competition today rated over 1850 -- TJ Holman (2068), Steve Brentson (2100+???), Chris Prescak (1916), Joe Young (1905), Andy Talaga (1905), Chris Gogolen (1834), and Scott Lingrell (1819). I am rated a measly 1837, and almost all of the remaining players are scattered in the 1700's.
Game 1 --- My DS vs. The Only Guy I Didn't Know's LS Force Choke Y4
Well this started out pretty well for me, because my deck starts Crush the Rebellion, and I drew the Death Star to start. He wasn't playing revo's, but I went to get evader on his turn anyway just in case. I use evader to keep vader in play anyway so he can't get out of commissioned (TECH NOTE #1). I didn't draw vader so i had to draw cards this turn to try and find him, and I did. I knew he was there because I used crush to get I Have You Now, and counted the vaders in the deck. (TECH NOTE #2) He wasn't finding any 2-0 sites to help, and he could cancel visage until late game, and I think we all now how this one is going to end.....
Win by 24 --- 2(+22)
Game 2 --- My LS vs. Pete Flamini's ISB deck
I like Pete alot, he is one of the most laid back guys in the game, and a great strong safety to boot, so I was kind upset that this game went the way it did. I knew that against ISB, if I pull an opening hand with revolution and grappling hook, that this one was over. My opening draw had revo, hook, and 2 sites. So the BATMOBILE WAS OFF!!!! Pete's draw had no sites, and his next 10 draws of 2 force didn't yield any help. He was getting 2 force because I revo'ed my own thrown room, just so i could drain for 2 a turn. He finally played a 2-2 site, and a 2-2 planet, but that just made it worse as I had alot of force and everything I needed, and he wasn't activating enough.
Win by 35 --- 4(+57)
Game 3 --- My LS vs. Livio D'alessio's EJP Objective deck
Dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna, BATMAN!!!! BATMAN!!!! Livio had won his first game against Joe Young with this deck, so I was a little concerned. I knew I couldn't completely stiffle his force activation, because of the JP sites. He wasn't playing No Bargain, so that hurt, and he wasn't playing many sites either. (TECH NOTE #3 -- never underestimate the power of force, without it, no strategy can be successful) I revo'ed the dungeon quickly, and played some 2-0 sites, including Obi-s Hut, despite my bad feeling about this, but I knew I was going to need force so I took a chance. Because of the overwhelming force acitivation, and a very lucky opening hand (Obi and Tawws Khaa) I took out Jabba and his buddies early, and his deck has a hard time once those guys are gone. Scum and Villany is only good if you can control the chamber, which he was never able to do. Once again BATMAN strikes again, as I grappling hook all his 5 destiny interrupts.
Win by 15 --- 6(+72)
Game 4 --- My DS vs. Livio D'alessio's QMC deck
I like the deck Livio plays, because it pulls out 2-1 sites for force, but only draining for 1 on cloud city, sucks. We both had to lose to visage early, and I made my first blunder of the day, by throwing away 1-1 exterior cloud city site that drains for 2. I could have set up people at CC with Walkers, instead I kept the jundland wastes, and put vader there instead to flip second turn. My draining is going well, plus visage, so things are well in hand. He plays some people to CC, and instead of picking up vader, i decide to go down with JODO and Tarkin and Cabbel. (TECH NOTE #4 - never waste tarkin, pick up vader and play him and tarkin together --duh!!!!). I clean up CC, but JODO is left alone. I tried to pysche him out and make him think about hidden weapons, but he didn't fall for it and beat up JODO. Eventually i put blizzard 2 at jundland wastes, pick up vader, and drain at his bespin planet with capitals. Vader has to go to med chamber to beat on mamow nadon. Hunt Down should beat this deck 10 out of 10 times so ....
Win by 21 --- 8(+93)
Game 5 --- My LS vs. Chris Prescak's (Really TJ's) Tatooine S&V Occupation deck.
Well at this point Chris and I are the only 4-0's left I think (TJ lost to Stevie B first round, and I have no idea who beat Steve). TJ is right behind us playing, and Chris keeps yelling out, "He grappling hooked my Twi-lek... He Grappling hooked my None Shall Pass...Blah blah blah...." It was during this game that TJ made his batman comment, and Stevie B and I order some Chinese food as he watched us play after beating the snot out of someone in like 5 minutes. Well Chris is a good player, and I know he loves to track destinies, and is counting on scum and villany to beat me. So I figure the best way to stop him is with Rebel Barrier, this way he can't start a battle and retrieve force. Once again I am activating more force than him, I even revo's his Tatooine planet early, because every force would count, he was playing no bargain so i couldn't revo his sites, and was playing none shall pass, so i didn't think i could get in. Eventually, i altered my own revo, so I could drain for 2. He kept playing bounty hunter ships, and I kept x-wing cannoning them away, before they could do any good. (TECH NOTE #5 & #6 - from TJ Holman - Dark Manuevers and Overload to protect BH ships from X-wing Cannons!!!!) Chris used Dark manuevers to keep BFIS1 alive for a while, but eventually I got him. I finally got in the chamber and got rid of the usual suspects. I critical point in the game came when Mara went to a 2-0 site with saber to drain for 3. I was playing 4 spies and 2 double agents. (TECH NOTE #7-Mara Jade sucks!!!!! Double agent is too strong, you have to play spies to beat Hunt Down, why not add a six destiny) I played a spy to her site, but forgot I need > 2 to get rid of her. I drew a 2. (TECH NOTE #8-Always have a way to look through your deck, in every deck you play, it is invaluable). So Mara stays and drains, but I draw Jeron Webb and another Double Agent. At this point I have made chris lose enough force that he can't drain anymore so I don't need to play jeron. After writing this report, I am not sure how I won, but I did...
Win by 8 --- 10(+101)
Game 6 --- My DS vs. TJ Holman's TECH DECK
By this point I had already heard about TJ's deck, and still didn't know exactly what I could do to beat it. At the local scene no one cares about scouting, and everyone talks in between games. I have learned in the past, that when you are in doubt as to what to do, stick to the strategy of your deck and adapt on the fly. Don't make any major changes in strategy up front. (I would have made this TECH NOTE #9 - but in this case it was bad advice). I am playing Hunt Down, so I decide, lets get out some places to drain, (because I knew he was force choking) and look for vader. The first few turns I play my usual assortment of characters and vehicles. Blizzard 2 with cabbel. Vader alone. Tempest Scout 1 with Arnet. All fall victim to TJ's characters. We are both losing to visage the entire game, and he is using less cards me to do it, so things are going his way. He sets up a drain of 2 mid-game that I can't stop, and he is retrieving force from DTF, while I am losing it. I finally establilsh some dominance at Kashyyyk and Hoth: Def Per. He plays TK422, that I can't get rid of (Trample was my only spy control) and the drain race is even at 2. Plus we are both losing to visage. With about 10 cards in my pile left, I realize I can't win. So I draw up gracefully.
Lose by ??? --- 10(+<100)
So TJ wins it, and somehow I end up third. Ray gave a box of premiere to first, and ECC set randomly to Bob Caton. I was very happy that my light side deck went 3-0, and I played TJ for fun after the tourney, and was somewhat winning before he had to leave (I say somewhat because with TJ, you never win until you win.) I think I have a new light deck that should do well. I have about 5 dark decks that usually never lose so I am happy all around right now.
Thanks for listening and remember the BATMOBILE WILL STRIKE AGAIN!!!!! Same Bat time, same bat channel.....
John Lolli Back