April's Flashpoint Finchley was well-attended as it was a Return to the Netherworld pre-release booster draft. There were 23 players and one of them, Tony, had come all the way from the Isle of Wight - we normally only get to see him at Gencon UK. Richard Waring was down from Derby too - here to add to his Melissa Benson collection. Each player was given a standard starter. They kept the comoon and very commons and put the 8 uncommons and 2 rares aside to make the first drafting pack. We got everyone sat round a big horseshoe of tables. For each pack, the drill was to keep a card, pass the rest to the left, then repeat until the pack was exhausted. The direction of passing changed after each pack. The packs were: Standard - 10 cards Netherworld - 12 cards Flashpoint - 8 cards Throne Wars - 10 cards Return to the Netherworld: Back through the Portals - 10 cards Drafting the new cards didn't take too long. As they came at the end, players would tend to draft the faction(s) that they were focussing on. At the end of this process, each player now had 100 cards to build their decks from. The presence of a Netherworld pack too meant that there were quite a few Monarch cards floating around - I got 4 Pagodas myself. Players ------- Andrew Davidson Andrew Trickett Andy Holt Beth Mullis Callum Finlayson Colin Burton Daniel VandenBurg Dave Martin Felicity Challis Ivan Hartley John Davis Jon Challis Jon Pickles Mark Wheelhouse Nithiyan Thiruudaian Richard Waring Rob Lee Ron Wheelhouse Stephen Biggs Steve Bailey Tom Kassel Tony Adams Yuit Sum Vong We now played 3-player games - it's best not to have 4 in sealed deck as you get too many stalemates. There were two initial rounds and, after each game, a Return to the Netherworld booster was table drafted - the booster was opened and, starting with the winner, each player took a card in rotation until they were all gone. This allowed the players to see more of the new cards in the dead time between rounds. As usual, each round lasted until their was one game left and then that game was given 10 minutes before time was called. Round 1 Richard Waring beat Stephen Biggs Tom Kassel beat Jon P, Rob Tony Adams beat Andrew T, Felicity Daniel VandenBurg beat John, Jon C. Andrew Davidson beat Andy, Colin Yuit Sum Vong beat Beth, Ivan Nithyan Thiruudaian beat Callum, Ron Dave Martin beat Mark, Steve Bailey (timeout) Round 2 Richard Waring beat Mark, Felicity Jon Pickles beat Callum, Dave Tom Kassel beat Colin, John Steve Bailey beat Ron, Tony Daniel VandenBurg beat Andy, Ivan Andrew Davidson beat Beth, Stephen Biggs Andrew Trickett beat Yuit Jon Challis beat Rob, Nithyan (timeout) After the first two rounds, I studied the results. The 11 players who hadn't won a game were eliminated and were set up in consolation games - the winner of each game won a Return to the Netherworld booster. This left us with 12 survivors and so we then played 4 semi-final games with the winner of each advancing to the final. This format was a little bit hard on the players who had won two games rather than one but, as I had won both games myself, I was safe from criticism. And we could stand 4 players in the final as their deck ought to be stronger than most and there would be less time pressure. Running out of cards might be an issue though. Consolation Felicity Challis beat Callum, Ivan Ron Wheelhouse beat Andy, Stephen Biggs Mark Wheelhouse beat Colin John Davis beat Beth, Rob Semi-final Jon Pickles beat Andrew D, Andrew T Tom Kassel beat Dave, Jon C. Tony Adams beat Daniel, Yuit Steve Bailey beat Nithyan, Richard We now had our four finalists. Tom Kassel was a grizzled veteran of many tournaments and won the Flashpoint pre-release which started our tournaments in London. He's been under the spell of Vampire lately but, winning three straight games, was still full of vitae. Tony Adams had been rarely seen before and was suspected of being a Magic player. An unknown quantity. Steve Bailey is a top gun in Doomtown and has lately been trying to drive us mad by running Mythos events. He's still comparatively new to the Secret War but is now starting to make his mark. Jonathan Pickles is a veteran like Tom but is more of an occasional, fun player. He likes to build off-the-wall decks and they tend to be surprisingly effective. His winning Kings and Things deck was typical, being both wacky and brutal. So, we had a good mix of players - old, new, borrowed and blue - exactly what you'd hope for in an event of this kind. Myself, I sat at the end of the final table and transcribed eveything as it happened. E&OE... FINAL - BLOW BY BLOW The order of play was Steve, Jon, Tony, Tom SB1: play FSS, PubOrd Officer JP1: play FSS, DNA Mage TA1: play FSS TK1: play FSS, Palace Guards, Redeemed Gunman SB2: play FSS JP2: play FSS and Darkness Priestess - both in col 2! TA2: play FSS TK2: play Art of War, Test Subjects SB3: play Family Estate (lets Tom keep Art of War) JP3: play Eunuch Underling TA3: play Wandering Monk who attacks Family Estate doing 3 TK3: play FSS SB4: plays Tooth of the Snake who attacks Tony's FSS (Cave Network) Tom's Guards join because of Art of War prediction, doing 5 damage total JP4: play Test Subjects who attack Cave Network with Eunuch and Priestess Tony heals Cave Network with Stone Garden (1,2). Tom intercepts Test Subjects with his own Test Subjects. Tony intercepts Eunuch with Wandering Monk. The Darkness Priestess whips out a Grenade Launcher and burns the Cave Network for power. TA4: heal Wandering Monk play FSS (1,2) TK4: play FSS (2,1) SB5: reveal Family Home to generate 4 power plays PubOrd Squad in col 1 to attack Jon's (1,1) with the Tooth Tom predicts success and it is burnt for power. JP5: plays FSS (1,2), Sinister Priest and Spirit Frenzy TA5: Wandering Monk attacks Tom's FSS (2,1). Tom grumbles but still takes 3 damage on a Sacred Ground. plays Green Monk TK5: plays Darkness Priestess in col 2 SB6: generates 3 for 9 plays Swordsman in col 1 plays Shadowy Mentor on Green Monk who goes to col 1 plays Brain Eater who attacks Tom's Sacred Ground with Green Monk, Tooth and PubOrd Squad. Jon intercepts PubOrd Squad with DNA Mage and uses Spirit Frenzy with Sinister Priest and Darkness Priestess to kill it Tom plays Tortured Memories which Steve cancels with Confucian Stability Steve burns the site for victory. JP6: generates 2 for 4 plays Alchemist's Lair plays Napalm Sunrise on Steve's army in col 2! The Swordsman runs away. The Tooth is killed by Spirit Frenzy and the Family Estate smokes. Brain Eater takes 2. TA6: generates 2 for 2 plays Ancient Grove (2,1) TK6: play Ice Healer and Ice Shield on Priestess SB7: plays FSS (2,1) and heals Brain Eater JP7: plays Butterfly Knight in col 2 TA7: plays Righteous Protector in col 2 TK7: play FSS (2,1) and The Pledged in front of it SB8: plays Liquidators in col 2 JP8: plays FSS (2,2) TA8: generates 3 for 3 plays PubOrd Oficer and FSS (2,2) in col 2 TK8: play Stunt Man in col 2 SB9: plays Midnight Whisperer and Darkness Warrior in col 2 JP9: plays Ice Pagoda (3,1) TA9: generates 4 for 4 plays One Hundred Names and DNA Mage in col 2 TK9: play Deathtrap on FSS (2,1) and Really Big Gun on Stunt Man SB10: generates 4 for 5 because of Family Home plays Fire Warriors and Average Joe in col 2 JP10: generates 5 for 7 plays Napalm Sunrise on Tony's col 1 2 damage on Stone Garden and Petroglyphs. while the Wandering Monk runs away plays White Disciple Butterfly Knight attacks Stone Garden Tony intercepts with DNA Mage then 100 Names White Disciple shoots Righteous Protector and the Sinister Priest Spirit Frenzies to finish it off. This occasions some discussion about redirection signposts. Butterfly Knight gets a Thunder Lance and ambushes DNA Mage. A Shattering Fire does 2 to 100 Names and then the Knight finishes it and burns the Stone Garden for victory. The victorious Butterfly Knight turns to attack the damaged Petroglyphs but Tom imprisons it. TA10: generates 3 for 3 plays Wandering Teacher in col 1 TK10: generates 3 for 3 play Eunuch Underling and a Security on Tony's Petroglyphs! SB11: generates 3 for 3 plays Low Rent Cyborg in col 2 JP11: generates 5 for 5 plays Super Soldier in col 3 (where the Ice Pagoda can heal him) the White Disciple wants some of this healing action and moves to col 3 too. TA11: plays Violet Senshi Chamber (1,2) TK11: play FSS (2,2) SB12: generates 4 for 4 plays Abominable Lab (2,2) and Everyday Hero in col 2 JP12: generates 5 for 5 plays Pub Ord Officer in col 2 TA12: plays Swordsman in col 2 TK12: generates 4 for 4 plays Everyday Hero in col 2 SB13: generates 5 for 5 plays Conversion Drone in col 2 JP13: generates 5 for 9 plays Butterfly Knight in col 2 As his turns ends, Tony smokes the Conversion Drone with Natural Order TA13: generates 4 for 6 plays FSS (3,1) TK13: generates 4 for 6 plays Fire Warrior and Purist Sorceror in col 1 SB14: generates 5 for 5 plays Alpha Beast and Shadowy Horror JP14: play Ice Shards in col 2 TA14: generates 5 for 9 plays Plasma Trooper in col 2 Steve has 13 characters so the Plasma Trooper attacks Steve's FSS (2,1) and burns it for power TK14: play Fire and Darkness Pavilion and Vassals in col 3 Purist Sorceror takes control of the Plasma Trooper Tony uses Violet Senshi Chamber to give the Plasma Trooper the ability of the DNA Mage SB15: generates 4 for 4 plays FSS (2,2) JP15: generates 5 for 11 Ice Shards attack Plasma Trooper who respond by declaring Total War. Tom takes control of PubOrd Squad. Tony imprisons his Plasma Trooper - the attack hits thin air and fails. TA15: plays FSS (3,3) plays 100 Names in col 2 Plasma Trooper attacks Steve Bailey's FSS (1,1) Steve intercepts with a big chain but plays Iron & Silk on the first interceptor to stop the attack TK15: passes (low on cards now?) SB16: plays Golden Candle Society, Arcanorat, PubOrd Squad JP16: plays Queen of the Darkness Pagoda in col 2! White Disciple smokes the Brain Eater with a frenzied Priest. plays Swords of the Dragon King on the Ice Shards TA16: plays a second Art of War. It's not unique now! plays Brain Sucker and Instrument of the Hand TK16: plays Family Estate and Darkness Warriors SB17: plays Yakuza Enforcer and Shaolin Monk JP17: plays Darkness Priestess and a Fire Sled for her Queen. TA17: plays Golden Candle Society Tom kills Steve's Whisperer with Purist Sorceror TK17: - SB18: generates 5 for 5 (everyone else has a power surplus) plays Ice Tiger and Gonzo Journalist JP18: generates 5 for 14 The Queen attacks Petroglyphs Tom intercepts with a weenie The Queens whips out the expected Thunder Lance which Tony cancels with Confucian Stability. The Queen's brains are being sucked so Tom's weenie is smoked not toasted. Steve intercepts the Queen with Gonzo Journalist - now 3 damage Tony intercepts her with Instrument and 100 Names who kill the Queen. plays Lusignan's Automaton. Jon's hand size is now 17! but he has only 10 cards left in his deck. TA18: generates 6 for 17 100 Names heals plays The Dis-Timed TK18: - SB19: plays Shadowy Horror JP19: generates 5 for 10 then draws all 10 cards from his deck. This is now possible because of the Z-Man rule-change about when you lose after drawing your last card. I dislike changes but would have to say that this was a good one. It made for an exciting, shit-or-bust climax to the game. plays Napalm Sunrise on Tom's col 1 all Tom's characters there run away. Blessed Orchard and Petroglyphs take 2 each plays a Brain Eater and gives it a Shotgun plays an Arcanotechnician Tony Rig Dis Ice Shards ability to Wandering Teacher Jon Brain Fires this to his Brain Eater Tony plays Superior Technology Tony plays Wind on the Mountain for 6 Jon's Arcanotechician gets back the Brain Fire Tony cancels this with Natural Order Jon can't Brain Fire this with his other Brain Fire because the event doesn't target (we realise) all characters attack Tom's Blessed Orchard for the win Tony turns the Butterfly Knight with Total War Steve intercepts: Ave Joe vs Darkness Priestess, PubOrd Squad vs Pub Ord Squad, Swordsman vs Sinister Priest, Everyday Hero vs White Disciple Tony plays Superior Technology again (now +2) Tony intercepts: Wandering Monk vs Super Soldier Brain Sucker vs Lusignan's Automaton Wandering Teacher vs Butterfly Knight 3 weenies vs Ice Shards Jon Nerves Gases the Wandering Monk but Tom Brain Fires this to the Brain Eater. Jon Brain Fires this back to the Wandering Monk but Tom cancels this with Petroglyphs. Brain Eater dies. Jon makes the Butterfly Knight an Expendable Unit for the Wandering Monk's damage. The remaining attackers are now: Ice Shards at 2 fighting Super Soldier PubOrd Squad Tom intercepts: Pledged + Everyday hero vs Ice Shards Bloody Horde + Darkness Warrior vs Super Soldier The PubOrd Squad gets through, doing 3 damage to Blessed Orchard Jon plays a Butterfly Knight who attacks Blessed Orchard. Steve intercepts and kills it with the Green Monk. As Jon's turn ends and he is decked, Tony plays Healing Earth on the Wandering Teacher. TA19: generates 6 for 12 (it's now 20:30) plays Arcanorat and Yellow Monk uses Violet Senshi Chamber to give Wandering Teacher ambush. use Rig Dis to give Arcanorat's ability to the Plasma Trooper attack Tom's Blessed Orchard for the win with everyone Steve intercepts: Yakuza Enforcer + Alpha Beast vs Arcanorat Ice Tiger + Shaolin Monk vs Dis-timed 2 Shadowy Horrors vs Yellow Monk Tom plays Killdeer on Wandering Teacher - canceled by Tony's Confucian. Steve sacrifices Darkness Warrior for power and Nerves Gases the Wandering Teacher Tony plays Sucker Rounds on the Arcanorat for +19 fighting! Yellow Monk sends a point of damage to Redeemed Gunman Tom plays Back for Seconds on his Purist Sorceror but Tony imprisons him in response before he can take out the Plasma Trooper and fail the attack. The Arcanorat and the Plasma Trooper who would be a rat are both still huge and attacking - game over. FINAL Tony Adams beat Jonathan Pickles, Steve Bailey, Tom Kassel Congratulations to Tony on his win. He picked a good moment to use his Wind on the Mountain, used the events well to frustrate Jonathan Pickles' powerful winning attack and then executed his own winning bid well too. Tom did well by winning his first three games, but never really got into this one. Steve Bailey was looking strong in the early stages but then seemed too timid with his powerful attackers and never caused Tom to lose his Art of War. Jonathan, by contrast, made all the running and I was rooting for him as I transcribed the game. Still, Tony deserved to win for having made such a long journey and went away with his trophy of a pre-release box of Return to the Netherworld: Back through the Portals. Thanks to Z-Man for providing generous and timely support and to all the players who showed up. Andrew --------------------------------------- Tony's winning deck (52 cards) A suitable name for this would be SWORD & SHIELD. The Guiding Hand form an impenetrable defense while the Architects provide the killing thrust for the win. ARCHITECTS (15) Alpha Beast Arcanorats Brain Sucker Desdemona Deathangel DNA Mage Dr Curtis Boatman Expendable Unit Foul Hatchling Imprisoned Plasma Trooper PubOrd Squad PubOrd Officer Sucker Rounds Superior Technology Total War GUIDING HAND (19) Confucian Stability Fist of Shadow x 2 Golden Candle Society Green Monk Instrument of the Hand Kung Fu Student Natural Order One Hundred Names x 2 Righteous Protector x 2 Rigorous Discipline Swordsman Violet Senshi Chamber Wandering Monk Wandering Teacher Wind on the Mountain Yellow Monk FENG SHUI (11) Blessed Orchard Cave Network Family Home Festival Circle House of Mirrors Inner Sanctum x 2 Jagged Cliffs Petroglyphs Stone Garden x 2 NEUTRAL (3) Art of War Explosives The Dis-timed CHI (4) Ancient Grove Dawn of the Righteous Healing Earth Twin Thunder Kick
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Last modified: Sept 16, 2003.
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