Doubleheader #1 - August 27, 2016

The last time the 12 of us would be nice to each other
for the rest of the night.

Kamino Platform

For the first time in a year, we were back on the Kamino Platform for a Duel.  Kamino, the site of the famous battle between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode II, is easily the most diverse board in Epic Duels.  It's strange starting points, raised terrain, and open bridge shots creates a unique environment to navigate during a Duel.

And as with all Doubleheaders, the Yoda Soda was cold, the Tie-Fighter Ties were warm, and the Wookie Cookies were store bought impostors.  Ryan drew seat number and after picking Kamino the characters were picked and we were off and running.

There were a few rounds of picking up cards before Ian/Vader and Curtis/Emperor started picking on Rob's Obi-Wan Kenobi with their long distance attacks.  Dalton's Zam Wessel was also joining in on the fun.  Fearing an early exit, Rob took the bold strategy of attacking Zam with his card that could move everyone on the board up to three spaces.  Most of the Duelers at the table took this as a good time for a snack break, but Grant/Dooku, who Ryan/Han and Rob/Obi had been trying to woo for a flip to the light side, made the subtle request to be moved into attack position against Vader!

Hello Darth Vader, my name is Count
Dooku.  You chopped my head off.
Prepare to die.

This would prove to be the biggest move of the game.  After Obi had moved everybody the light side had advanced into attack positions and the Emperor/Curtis was dragged away from his hiding spot behind Slave One.  Grant made good on his request to be by Vader, promptly attacking him once and then Force Pushing him into the middle of the pack of Jedi!  It didn't take long for poor Ian to be the first visitor to the Loser's Lounge, as Han/Ryan shot him dead in 12th.  Two weeks ago he won his first ever 12-Way Duel, and then he was at the bottom.  That's Epic Duels in a nutshell.

Curtis wasn't long for the game either, as Nathan/Boba landed a couple of attacks before Rocket Retreating to the light side alliance.  Obi-Wan put the finishing blow on Emperor for an 11th place finish.  Although Nathan had assumed he could be friends in his new landing spots, the Jedi weren't having it and Stephen/Anakin chopped him down in 10th.  Boba Fett's long streak of poor showings continues.  Since Ryan won with him at the 2014 Championship, Boba hasn't placed higher than sixth.

Dalton was navigating the other Fett, Jango, but couldn't find a peaceful spot on his home court board.  He was grounded in 9th when Ryan's Princess Leia blasted him.  My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I know Han was low carded and injured (did Curtis play "You Will Die" on him before expiring?).  Ryan tried to sweet talk his solid standing in the alliance, but Stevie's Mace Windu could smell his weakness and decided to clear the board of everyone's favorite smuggler.  That meant eighth place for Ryan/Han.

Ducky will not fight Mace.

With seven to go, Heidi's Darth Maul was the only non-member of the current alliance left.  Padme, a Yoda clone trooper, and an Obi-Wan trooper had formed a wall to keep her at bay. but Rob brain farted and approved Joel's Yoda to pull his solider back.  That left an easy path for Heidi to advance and take down Rob's Obi-Wan in seventh.  Low-carded after her big move on Obi, Heidi couldn't take the subsequent attacks and Yoda's clone trooper eliminated her in sixth.  It was a very good rookie debut for Heidi!

With five to go Grant, who had Count Dooku and his two Super Battle Droids camped out behind Slave One, used his Jedi mind persuasion skills on the other Duelers left to team up against Stevie's Mace Windu.  That's when Donald's Luke, who had discarded a card to draw a card more times than I've ever seen in a single game, played "I Will Not Fight You" on Stevie.  Stevie wasn't impressed, but he was also somewhat insulated from the other aggressors.  As folks tried to move in on Mace, Stephen's Anakin decided to make a big move.  He had both of his "Anger" attack cards but not their paired cards, the "Calms."  Tired of waiting for them, he used both on Donald's Luke!  That eliminated Donald in fifth place but also left him without cards.

Around this time Stevie/Mace, Joel/Yoda, and Stephen/Anakin got wise that maybe Grant and his fully healthy Count Dooku was going to win the game.  They started turning on Dooku and chipping away at his damage indicator card.  But Grant got the drop on Stevie, and Mace finished in fourth place.  That left three to go, but instead of continuing their two on one attack against Dooku, Grant again used his powers of influence to get them to start fighting against themselves!  Observers couldn't believe the power Grant was wielding!  Joel's Yoda was the next victim.  A big congrats goes out to Joel, he had a great first official Duel!

Only two were left, and it looked like Stephen's Anakin was going to be victorious, but Grant's deft play and a couple of mistakes and unlucky card draws by Stephen meant...you guessed it, victory for Grant!  He snatched a win out of a Rancor's jaws of defeat.  Stephen was devastated, but he would have another shot at redemption in game two.  #foreshadowing

Grant won his fifth career Duel, moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time list and just one behind Rob's six.  He's also the leading active Dueler in career win percentage!  I apologize for not having a picture of the victory, Grant deserved it.  I was busy getting game #2 ready and restocking the Yoda Soda and Wookie Cookies.  mmm...Yoda Soda...

Final order of finish:

12. Vader/Ian
11.  Emperor/Curtis
10.  Boba/Nathan
9.  Jango/Dalton
8.  Han/Ryan
7.  Obi-Wan/Rob
6.  Maul/Heidi
5.  Luke/Donald
4.  Mace/Stevie
3.  Yoda/Joel
2.  Anakin/Stephen
1.  Dooku/Grant