Worlds 2008 - Tournament Report
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:21 pm
OK, my report starts actually at tuesday. I packed my car in advance, bringing the decks, prizes and other sponsored stuff. Making a quick stop at my parents to print out all the rules stuff I then relax... noticing I cant fall asleep. So I slept for like 3 hours, wondering what can go wrong. Organising a big think like this can be bad for the nerves, especially the night before.
Wednesday: "Why so serious?"
So hjust high on Red BUll I actually drive north first, towards Schiphol Airport to pick up Mikko. He will be driving with me to the South. In the parking garage its chaos due to the crown of people going on vacation. I managed at parking spot after 20 minutes and walked quickly to the gate where Mikko already was waiting. We took a quick stop at my work for free tea and then set off to the south. We found the Hostel pretty quick and then went to the store to talk a bit with the owners, look at the venue. After some lunch/dinner at Mc Donalds we then decide (or actually we decided before) to go and see the new Batman Movie which premiers the same day in Belgium. After driving for 30 minutes on a failing navigation system (the huge trees and houses sometimes interfering with the sattelite signal) we just park the car somewhere and decide to walk. WIth our luck the cinema is actually close by. We get the tickets and go back to the venue to rest a little bit (and play Prof Layton on the DS).
In the evening we kinda skip dinner and just go for the movie, which was AWESOME. Mikko kept quoting Heath Ledger the entire tournament, wether he was drunk or not
Tuesday: After a good night rest (kinda) we got up, had breakfast and met the first MECCG player at the Hostel (more would follow) which was Thomas Schrei from Austria. He went to look at the city a little bit while we prepared for day one. Arriving a bit early at the store we find it closed, but see Joe and Kris (and Kris his car after failed parking. Luckily for him no visible damage). We then walk to get a beer and relax a little. After a nice hour and the other guys look at 16 year old girls singing we go back and get day 1 rolling.
Other people slowly come inside the venue during the day, but we start slow with a 4 person sealed deck and a 4 person 1-deck hero (that one started a little bit later cause Heiner was late).
My sealed deck was actually quite good, considering of 2 greaters, some nice factions and a few ahunts. I could actually play dragons hoard on Exarcae at Home, since I got her at home, her ahunt AND her lair. I opt not though and make a fairly decent deck.
The games I cant rememebr that much, knowing I tie against Thomas and win the others 4-2 if I recall correct. Thomas did better though and he won first place.
THe 1-deck was won by Heiner with a deck I heard he didnt chance in years and won every tournament with it that he plays.
In the evening I try the ARDA, a sort of draft idea with 5 players that JOe cooked up. It plays quite nicely. I get a nice company rolling but lose Saruman to do wolling 3 on a CC of 3. That cdosted me some time and I end up last. Mikko won the tournament after scoring Fate of the Ithil-Stone and staying in front of Joe by 2 points. I had a nice moment though where Arwen went to Goblin Gate and Mikko played Great Goblin. Thinking she is weak he plays the hazard that reduces his prowess and body with 1 to have +1 to the body check should he win. Arwen, the tough chick that she is rolls 10... exactly a win. Bodycheck on the Goblin: a 7. Exactly a kill. He didnt expect THAT to happen.
In the dream card tournament Michel won fairly easy with an Elrond Elflord with Glorfindel and Aragorn.
Afterwards we play some 6-player diplomacy where I again fail. Joe and Kris and Dominic won IIRC.
Friday, day 2
I leave Mikko behind as he does some sight-seeing. We decide on the spot not to hold the qualifier, since with all preregistered people we have exactly 32 persons, which suffices for 5 rounds. Most people go for minion sealed, but I loan a deck from Leon and play in the virtual tournament. Its a mithril deck with some extra stuff upstairs if Mirthil goes too slow.
Game 1 vs Mark and his FW burning.
This game was all about the rolls. I went down to Under-Grottos but lost one guy at Goblin Gate due to a CVCC. That set the tone. We both got quite some body checks, but Marks suddenly started to work. He killed Glorfindel, Radagast and Thranduil in CVCC and Aragorn bit the dust vs an orc hazard. A Clear 6-0 loss.
Game 2 vs a french guy who played something I fotgot. I actally got Mithil running and that netted me a nice 6-0 win.
Game 3 was vs Birk, he had a tower raided deck. I managed to heedles shim to he wouldnt score from raider that much but his nice greaters sealed him the win.
Joe won the prize for 1th place after he creamed Mark with Itangast and Dragons Breath. Nicolai won for nicest deck which used covert guys to Raid with the corsairs while Khamul CVCCS people away.
In the evening we went for dinner at a nice restaurant where I ate 1.6 kilos of mussels. It was fun with all those nationalities and I had a nice talk with Birk Pfeiffer and his girlfriend/wife (didnt find out what she exactly was). Kris took some people to a jeneverbar while I walked the rest back to the store.
Night of firday-saturday: MIkko crawls in at 5 in the morning, completely hammered.
Saturday: day 3
The real deal begins, 5 grueling rounds of 2-deck general opponent. We get exactly 32 people and I collect the informations, and we're off.
Game 1: My Wolfiehog vs Martin Karlssons underground hog.
I didnt get the hog turn 1 but scored some wolves. MArtin plays his turn but somehow discovers that he has it during his movement phase and didn tplay it. I get the hog turn 2 and keep him easily at bay with some undead. I double allies, a lot of wolves and stinker to make it 6-0.
4 people 6-0 at that point.
Game 2: My (or actually Marks) AkhoraKILL vs Birks Choice of Luthien deck.
I get the shuffle going and he gets into the freedomains of Anorien, Belfalas and Lebennin. 2bnd turn Akharahil comes down and chases after Arwen and Aragorn (after a nice move by Birk, he let me play the good site, picked the wrong one first). Aragorn gets maladied but only discarded so I dont get the kill points while Arwen gets wounded in CVCC. I just do the thing and harass him while getting my points and after time is called I win 5-1.
So far one at 12, a few at 11 and 10. THe first nutcracker was Mark vs Heiner.
Game 3: MY wolfiehog vs Marc Roca's wolfiehog.
Yay, wolve svs wolves. He gets the hog out first and both palantirs, so I have a problem from the bat. Luckily I could get Stinker, the King and the Axe. TYhings still seem a bit dim until I manage to play balanc eof things and roving Eye on UMagaur. He missed the cc of 8 and so we tied 26-26, but he revealed the King, the Axe and Doeth for a 4-2 win for him.
So 13. Still top position.
Game 4: My wolviehog vs Hercalio Sanchez wolfiehog.
Yay, again hog vs hog and wolves vs wolves. BUt this one was kinda good for me... I had literally all the luck one can get.
I got the Hog first
He tried for Stinker.... I Heedless and get it on my turn.
He Tried for the Palantir... River and I get on my turn.
I also get the Warg King out and manage to kill of some of his puppies. He got the Ancient Black Axe out though after some nice rolls from a Troll-Purse Attack but I called nonetheless and played balance of things on his turn. He failed the CC so I won 5-1
18 points before last round. I wouldnt actually make finals now, would I?
Game 5 vs Mikko Vithemaki's Ettenmoors FW radagast.
I had a good turn with 1th turn Akhorahil to Ettenmoors, forcing the troll chief to discard by use of malady and killing some dwarves. He runs around a little and gets the girdle thing going. He gets a little in advance adn calls, but I malady some more. He had too much allies so we tie.
21 points. I then watch how Mark is doing, since he is the only one able to keep me out, but he 4-2's and misses the spot. SO I am actually in
Final four:
1. Heiver Vierhues
2. Alfons van Impelen and MIkko Vithemaki
4. me
I opt not to play drinking game but go for a good sleep, knowing I will need it. I didnt bring any extra decks to surprise the opponent though, not thinking I would actually make it. That would hinder me.
Again MIkko comes back at 4, but this time he stayed sober. Mark got hammered though and thought it was fun to bang on our door at 5 am.
Day 4: finals.
Some people go for mixed sealed, some guys play the team tourney and the four of us proceed to finals.
Game 1 vs Alfons van Impelen.
He played hobbits in dragonland, but adjusted the deck a little so he could go coastal too. I played quite well in the beginning, just lucking out where he had a river to stop Akhorahil before the hobbits went to the sea. I got hammared though where I Voices his Troll Pure away, only to get a 2nd when I get Aiglos. I then just forgot to VOice it all game and deserve the 6-0 that was handed to me.
The other game was much closer as Heiner squeezed out a 4-2 win vs Mikko.
Game 2 vs Mikko Vithemaki.
He had also teched but I had the god hand and got both Great Bats and Aiglos turn 1. That gave me a decent base and I got more lucky that he got 2 Short Rest going, since I didnt have the wraith out just yet. BUt in my turn played the Wraith, did the shuffle for a bazillion cards and proceed to lay waste on his company. ONe Elf-Lord got trough though to wound the RW but he missed the BC. I then Maladied Strider away for a 6-point swing. A second malady on Cirdan and a CVCC did no permanent damage. He then proceeded to Great Road the rest of the game, while I got Ice orcs. IN the end he was 1 point ahead but he had a nasty cc so he mocved 2 companies together. In that move he loast a noble hound to a cave drake, which tied us again.
In the other game Alfons overcame Heiner by a 4-2 win.
Game 3 vs Heiner Vierhues.
Heiner played Red Hills, adn was just as me fairly chatty since the odds of him winning was low while I couldnt win anymore. Especially since I got out the hog. Things went ok for me, I blocked him every turn, except for 1 map and one tempest by recycling heedless and undead detainers. THe turnabout came though where he played his trump card: Prone to Violence. Knowing he would probablly do damage I try to exhaust as soon as possible, but I draw a bit bad so I stay with 1 card left in the deck. He gets in the site, where I have one hope... Radbug was the weakest, so my Umagaur with 3 allies should battle him. Of course Umagaur lost, but the following body check (where like 10 people were watching and it took forever to lift that cup) he rolled 10. So I lose 7 points and he scored 3 kill points. The damage was done and I lose this 6-0, so Heiner became againstall odds World CHampion, since MIkko had the luck of Pilfering some of Alfons Hobbits for a 5-1 win.
Aftermath:
I went with Kris for some dinner and went for the Hostel with Bruno, Wolfgang and Dominic in the car. WIth alittle detour but Iron Maiden on to ease the pain we get there. I try to get a good sleep. A huge thunderstorm woke me up though, with a bazillion flashes a minute. I fall alseep again till the moment MIkko crawls back in, again drunk. On monday we pack up and leave. After dropping MIkkko of at the airport and having a burger for lunch, I manage to get home, tired but satisfied with the tournaments....
"Well, I'm back" he said.
Wednesday: "Why so serious?"
So hjust high on Red BUll I actually drive north first, towards Schiphol Airport to pick up Mikko. He will be driving with me to the South. In the parking garage its chaos due to the crown of people going on vacation. I managed at parking spot after 20 minutes and walked quickly to the gate where Mikko already was waiting. We took a quick stop at my work for free tea and then set off to the south. We found the Hostel pretty quick and then went to the store to talk a bit with the owners, look at the venue. After some lunch/dinner at Mc Donalds we then decide (or actually we decided before) to go and see the new Batman Movie which premiers the same day in Belgium. After driving for 30 minutes on a failing navigation system (the huge trees and houses sometimes interfering with the sattelite signal) we just park the car somewhere and decide to walk. WIth our luck the cinema is actually close by. We get the tickets and go back to the venue to rest a little bit (and play Prof Layton on the DS).
In the evening we kinda skip dinner and just go for the movie, which was AWESOME. Mikko kept quoting Heath Ledger the entire tournament, wether he was drunk or not
Tuesday: After a good night rest (kinda) we got up, had breakfast and met the first MECCG player at the Hostel (more would follow) which was Thomas Schrei from Austria. He went to look at the city a little bit while we prepared for day one. Arriving a bit early at the store we find it closed, but see Joe and Kris (and Kris his car after failed parking. Luckily for him no visible damage). We then walk to get a beer and relax a little. After a nice hour and the other guys look at 16 year old girls singing we go back and get day 1 rolling.
Other people slowly come inside the venue during the day, but we start slow with a 4 person sealed deck and a 4 person 1-deck hero (that one started a little bit later cause Heiner was late).
My sealed deck was actually quite good, considering of 2 greaters, some nice factions and a few ahunts. I could actually play dragons hoard on Exarcae at Home, since I got her at home, her ahunt AND her lair. I opt not though and make a fairly decent deck.
The games I cant rememebr that much, knowing I tie against Thomas and win the others 4-2 if I recall correct. Thomas did better though and he won first place.
THe 1-deck was won by Heiner with a deck I heard he didnt chance in years and won every tournament with it that he plays.
In the evening I try the ARDA, a sort of draft idea with 5 players that JOe cooked up. It plays quite nicely. I get a nice company rolling but lose Saruman to do wolling 3 on a CC of 3. That cdosted me some time and I end up last. Mikko won the tournament after scoring Fate of the Ithil-Stone and staying in front of Joe by 2 points. I had a nice moment though where Arwen went to Goblin Gate and Mikko played Great Goblin. Thinking she is weak he plays the hazard that reduces his prowess and body with 1 to have +1 to the body check should he win. Arwen, the tough chick that she is rolls 10... exactly a win. Bodycheck on the Goblin: a 7. Exactly a kill. He didnt expect THAT to happen.
In the dream card tournament Michel won fairly easy with an Elrond Elflord with Glorfindel and Aragorn.
Afterwards we play some 6-player diplomacy where I again fail. Joe and Kris and Dominic won IIRC.
Friday, day 2
I leave Mikko behind as he does some sight-seeing. We decide on the spot not to hold the qualifier, since with all preregistered people we have exactly 32 persons, which suffices for 5 rounds. Most people go for minion sealed, but I loan a deck from Leon and play in the virtual tournament. Its a mithril deck with some extra stuff upstairs if Mirthil goes too slow.
Game 1 vs Mark and his FW burning.
This game was all about the rolls. I went down to Under-Grottos but lost one guy at Goblin Gate due to a CVCC. That set the tone. We both got quite some body checks, but Marks suddenly started to work. He killed Glorfindel, Radagast and Thranduil in CVCC and Aragorn bit the dust vs an orc hazard. A Clear 6-0 loss.
Game 2 vs a french guy who played something I fotgot. I actally got Mithil running and that netted me a nice 6-0 win.
Game 3 was vs Birk, he had a tower raided deck. I managed to heedles shim to he wouldnt score from raider that much but his nice greaters sealed him the win.
Joe won the prize for 1th place after he creamed Mark with Itangast and Dragons Breath. Nicolai won for nicest deck which used covert guys to Raid with the corsairs while Khamul CVCCS people away.
In the evening we went for dinner at a nice restaurant where I ate 1.6 kilos of mussels. It was fun with all those nationalities and I had a nice talk with Birk Pfeiffer and his girlfriend/wife (didnt find out what she exactly was). Kris took some people to a jeneverbar while I walked the rest back to the store.
Night of firday-saturday: MIkko crawls in at 5 in the morning, completely hammered.
Saturday: day 3
The real deal begins, 5 grueling rounds of 2-deck general opponent. We get exactly 32 people and I collect the informations, and we're off.
Game 1: My Wolfiehog vs Martin Karlssons underground hog.
I didnt get the hog turn 1 but scored some wolves. MArtin plays his turn but somehow discovers that he has it during his movement phase and didn tplay it. I get the hog turn 2 and keep him easily at bay with some undead. I double allies, a lot of wolves and stinker to make it 6-0.
4 people 6-0 at that point.
Game 2: My (or actually Marks) AkhoraKILL vs Birks Choice of Luthien deck.
I get the shuffle going and he gets into the freedomains of Anorien, Belfalas and Lebennin. 2bnd turn Akharahil comes down and chases after Arwen and Aragorn (after a nice move by Birk, he let me play the good site, picked the wrong one first). Aragorn gets maladied but only discarded so I dont get the kill points while Arwen gets wounded in CVCC. I just do the thing and harass him while getting my points and after time is called I win 5-1.
So far one at 12, a few at 11 and 10. THe first nutcracker was Mark vs Heiner.
Game 3: MY wolfiehog vs Marc Roca's wolfiehog.
Yay, wolve svs wolves. He gets the hog out first and both palantirs, so I have a problem from the bat. Luckily I could get Stinker, the King and the Axe. TYhings still seem a bit dim until I manage to play balanc eof things and roving Eye on UMagaur. He missed the cc of 8 and so we tied 26-26, but he revealed the King, the Axe and Doeth for a 4-2 win for him.
So 13. Still top position.
Game 4: My wolviehog vs Hercalio Sanchez wolfiehog.
Yay, again hog vs hog and wolves vs wolves. BUt this one was kinda good for me... I had literally all the luck one can get.
I got the Hog first
He tried for Stinker.... I Heedless and get it on my turn.
He Tried for the Palantir... River and I get on my turn.
I also get the Warg King out and manage to kill of some of his puppies. He got the Ancient Black Axe out though after some nice rolls from a Troll-Purse Attack but I called nonetheless and played balance of things on his turn. He failed the CC so I won 5-1
18 points before last round. I wouldnt actually make finals now, would I?
Game 5 vs Mikko Vithemaki's Ettenmoors FW radagast.
I had a good turn with 1th turn Akhorahil to Ettenmoors, forcing the troll chief to discard by use of malady and killing some dwarves. He runs around a little and gets the girdle thing going. He gets a little in advance adn calls, but I malady some more. He had too much allies so we tie.
21 points. I then watch how Mark is doing, since he is the only one able to keep me out, but he 4-2's and misses the spot. SO I am actually in
Final four:
1. Heiver Vierhues
2. Alfons van Impelen and MIkko Vithemaki
4. me
I opt not to play drinking game but go for a good sleep, knowing I will need it. I didnt bring any extra decks to surprise the opponent though, not thinking I would actually make it. That would hinder me.
Again MIkko comes back at 4, but this time he stayed sober. Mark got hammered though and thought it was fun to bang on our door at 5 am.
Day 4: finals.
Some people go for mixed sealed, some guys play the team tourney and the four of us proceed to finals.
Game 1 vs Alfons van Impelen.
He played hobbits in dragonland, but adjusted the deck a little so he could go coastal too. I played quite well in the beginning, just lucking out where he had a river to stop Akhorahil before the hobbits went to the sea. I got hammared though where I Voices his Troll Pure away, only to get a 2nd when I get Aiglos. I then just forgot to VOice it all game and deserve the 6-0 that was handed to me.
The other game was much closer as Heiner squeezed out a 4-2 win vs Mikko.
Game 2 vs Mikko Vithemaki.
He had also teched but I had the god hand and got both Great Bats and Aiglos turn 1. That gave me a decent base and I got more lucky that he got 2 Short Rest going, since I didnt have the wraith out just yet. BUt in my turn played the Wraith, did the shuffle for a bazillion cards and proceed to lay waste on his company. ONe Elf-Lord got trough though to wound the RW but he missed the BC. I then Maladied Strider away for a 6-point swing. A second malady on Cirdan and a CVCC did no permanent damage. He then proceeded to Great Road the rest of the game, while I got Ice orcs. IN the end he was 1 point ahead but he had a nasty cc so he mocved 2 companies together. In that move he loast a noble hound to a cave drake, which tied us again.
In the other game Alfons overcame Heiner by a 4-2 win.
Game 3 vs Heiner Vierhues.
Heiner played Red Hills, adn was just as me fairly chatty since the odds of him winning was low while I couldnt win anymore. Especially since I got out the hog. Things went ok for me, I blocked him every turn, except for 1 map and one tempest by recycling heedless and undead detainers. THe turnabout came though where he played his trump card: Prone to Violence. Knowing he would probablly do damage I try to exhaust as soon as possible, but I draw a bit bad so I stay with 1 card left in the deck. He gets in the site, where I have one hope... Radbug was the weakest, so my Umagaur with 3 allies should battle him. Of course Umagaur lost, but the following body check (where like 10 people were watching and it took forever to lift that cup) he rolled 10. So I lose 7 points and he scored 3 kill points. The damage was done and I lose this 6-0, so Heiner became againstall odds World CHampion, since MIkko had the luck of Pilfering some of Alfons Hobbits for a 5-1 win.
Aftermath:
I went with Kris for some dinner and went for the Hostel with Bruno, Wolfgang and Dominic in the car. WIth alittle detour but Iron Maiden on to ease the pain we get there. I try to get a good sleep. A huge thunderstorm woke me up though, with a bazillion flashes a minute. I fall alseep again till the moment MIkko crawls back in, again drunk. On monday we pack up and leave. After dropping MIkkko of at the airport and having a burger for lunch, I manage to get home, tired but satisfied with the tournaments....
"Well, I'm back" he said.