Preview: A New Hope - January 13, 2018

Well folks, our first Duel of 2018, "A New Hope," just so happens to also be the 50th Duel in league history.  Can you believe it?  F I F T Y   D U E L S !!!!  And we promised a big surprise for this milestone event.  I was going to try and keep it under wraps, but it's just too awesome not to share now. 

Take a look at this bad boy:

Our main man Ryan, the architect of our Lego version of the Emperor's Throne Room, has gone and done something CRAZY IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.  He created a three-dimensional board of the Kamino Platform, including working landing nights.  Just when I think we've maxed out the dork factor of this league, WE KICK IT UP ANOTHER NOTCH!!!

We're playing on this board for the Duel, and we're all going to give Ryan a high-five for his awesome work.  I can't wait for you all to see it in person!  Now...on to the preview!

HISTORY:

2017 - Nathan won with Mace Windu

2016 - JD won with Anakin Skywalker

2015 - Rob won with Mace Windu

MEET THE DUELERS:

As is our tradition, the preview post for A New Hope always focuses on our Duelers new year's resolutions!  Here we go!

Ben H. - his resolution is...reach professional status!  A New Hope will be his fifth Duel, which means he only needs one more game to jump to the professional rankings.

Curtis - his resolution is...get a second trophy!  He hated giving up Darth Vader at the 2017 Championship but he was giddy as a school boy when he won Rey at the Last Jedi Standing.

Ian - his resolution is...plan on-call duty better!  Ian missed a lot of Duels in the fall because he was working to keep residents safe.  Or he has grown too scared to play.  Who can say which is true?

Jacob - his resolution is...to crack the top five!  After a last and eleventh place finish in his first two Duels, Jacob finished a career-best sixth place at the Last Jedi Standing.  Can he rise higher in 2018?

JD - his resolution is...get his GECK!  What's that?  You don't know what a GECK is?  That's when you can claim a victory on each board of the game - Geonosis, Emperor's Throne Room, Carbon Chamber, and Kamino.  He's one board short!

Jonathan - his resolution is...get his first win!  Jonathan did something in 2017 that might have been harder than winning a 12-Way Duel...he beat 31 other Duelers in the Singles Tourney!  But the graduating senior only has one semester left to get that elusive victory.

Kat - her resolution is...revenge!  The word on the street is she's still sore about the 2017 Championship.  Unfortunately for her, Austin won't be playing at A New Hope.  Will she take her fury out on someone else???

Luke R - his resolution is...anything but last!  Luke had the unfortunate distinction to be the first Dueler to ever finish last with Mace Windu in our league.  So he's looking for a rebound performance in 2018.

Rob - his resolution is...first place Dueler!  Ever since Kaleb debuted in the professional rankings Rob has been relegated to second place.  Can he overcome the strong lead Kaleb maintains?

Ryan - his resolution is...end the streak!  Despite being a top-three ranked Dueler, Ryan hasn't brought home a victory since the 2015 Doubleheader.  Hopefully his game board making skills will translate well on the field of battle.

Stephen - his resolution is...one more win!  When Stephen plays he tends to finish near the top or near the bottom, there are very few in-betweens.  He's desperate for one more victory before his undergraduate career comes to a close.

Toby - his resolution is...a top six finish!  Poor Toby - he's been cursed with bad luck alliance defections each time he's played.  He's certainly due for some better luck.  He'll spend 2018 trying to reverse his fortunes.

PEZ VADER PREDICTS THE WINNER:

"There will be a substantial reward for the one who wins A New Hope.
You are free to use any candy necessary, but I want them whole.
No disintegrating wrappers!"

Listen, Pez Vader predicted the right winner for the Last Jedi Standing, making it his second correct guess on the season.  I'm starting to think he knows what he's talking about!  He likes Yoda for this Duel, and he's giving away a Millenium Falcon full of his Pez buddies to whoever wins the first match of 2018!  Whoa!!!

Pez Vader's Prediction Record:  2-5

Friends, the evidence is quite clear.  The first match of 2018 - A NEW HOPE - is going to be EPIC!!!  Come on out to the North Village Community Center at 8PM on Saturday and see for yourself.  But you might have to squint, because we're going to dim the lights to make Kamino look that much cooler.  Pew pew!!!