For the first time since May the 4th, we were back in the North Village Community Center to play a 12-way Duel! Back to the nice round table and comfy seats. The rumor on the street is that the name of that space is going to be officially changed to "The Epic Duels Room" in the campus directory. I may or may not have started that rumor. But if we spread it far and wide, it could come true!
The twleve combatants gathered by 8PM, including JD's brother-in-law Brandon, who was covering for a late cancel. He drove an hour and a half just to play with us! If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times: YOU CAN'T TEACH HEART!
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| Ducky faces the music |
Ian, still damaged and now needing a distraction, took his revenge on Donald/Anakin. As the light and dark were doing damage to each other, Ducky was trying to stay under the radar in the back row of the platform. Ian wasn't having it! He started the attack that eventually led to Stephen's Greedo eliminating Donald in last place. Donald chose to stick around the rest of the night, over FOUR hours, to see Ian die! Would he get his wish? #foreshadowing
It's hard to describe in the recap, but the first two hours of the game saw no deaths but a ton of action. Once Anakin was eliminated, more heads started to roll. Joel/Jango, who had been loyal to the dark side from the start, got back-stabbed by JD's Imperial Guard, and then Jonathan/Maul finished him off in eleventh. Can you say "blindside?" Meanwhile, Brandon's Yoda was catching some heat and Curtis' Mace was getting long distance damage from Vader and the Emperor. So Brandon made a move by Force Pushing Ryan's Luke Skywalker. Leia was already off the board, meaning Luke potentially had two Justice cards in his hand. Despite his pleas for newfound loyalty, the Dark Side closed in and Boba shot him down in tenth.
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| Curtis getting nowhere fast |
The dark side alliance started to disintegrate after that. Stephen/Boba Rocket Retreated by shooting Vader, and then Jonathan/Maul moved in on Vader too and Liz, playing her first official Duel and doing pretty good too, wouldn't advance past eighth. Jonathan was low carded after that, and Rob/Han suggested eliminating him. Ian/Obi, who was back on speaking terms with Han, followed suit and Maul got mauled in seventh place. With six to go all eyes turned on Brandon, whose Yoda had been hiding out at the far end of the board. The long-drive Dueler ran out of gas when Ian chopped down his next victim.
That left five to go: Rob/Han, Ian/Obi, Stephen/Boba, JD/Emperor, and Dalton/Dooku. Dalton/Dooku looked like the next victim, as he was full health and a big threat. But Dalton wasn't going down without a fight. He rushed Boba Fett and Stephen couldn't survive. Boba Fett hadn't finished above sixth place since the Fett won the 2014 Championship, so that was yet another good showing for Stephen. He has really elevated his game. Dalton did finally peter out in fourth, which is a career best finish for Dalton. If Dalton can fit in two more Duels before December, he'll be a professionally ranked Dueler in time time for the 2016 Championship!
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| JD and all the feels |
But Rob had other plans.
He first reached out to JD, suggesting they team together to attack the damaged but still dangerous Obi-Wan Kenobi. But JD wouldn't do it! He moved in on Han...but didn't attack! That's when Rob broke out his twin hammers of Truth and Logic and laid his case before Ian. The reality of the situation was clear, Rob only needed Ian to accept it. Ian's best chance to beat the full-health Emperor was to align with Han freakin' Solo...the same cat who tried to shoot him with a Bowcaster at the start of the game! And to prove his loyalty to Ian, he shot the Emperor. Ian, who had previously told JD they were solid to the end...recanted! JD instantly began progressing through the five stages of grief as Han and Obi-Wan put the hurt on him. The Emperor, who has never won before, was thaaaaaaat close to pulling it off. But alas, he finished third. If you see JD, give him a hug.
With two to go it was Han vs. Obi-Wan - the same pairing from the first attack of the game. It was poetic, really. But Han was bleeding from the Emperor's death throws. On top of that, Ian had played the card that forced all players to dump their hands and draw three when it was down to the final three. Han had been loaded with defense before but now he kept drawing Wookie cards. Rob tried to run around Jango's ship but Obi tracked him down like the dog he was and pulled out the victory! And just like that Ian secured his second career win and second victory in his last four games. Furthermore, Obi-Wan now ties Jango for second place on the character rankings with four trophies.
Your final results:
12. Donald/Anakin
11. Joel/Jango
10. Ryan/Luke
9. Curtis/Mace
8. Liz/Vader
7. Jonathan/Maul
6. Brandon/Yoda
5. Stephen/Boba
4. Dalton/Dooku
3. JD/Emperor
2. Rob/Han
1. Ian/Obi-Wan
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*Brannon
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