Preview: The 2018 Championship - December 1, 2018

Dear friends, it is happening.  Across the galaxy forces are gathering.  Starships are setting their coordinates for the North Village Community Center.  Combatants are preparing for the final, EPIC, battle of the year.

Oh yes friends, it is nearly upon us.  THE 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP 12-WAY EPIC DUEL.

If you are new to this league you deserve a brief explanation about how the Championship works.  Normally the first twelve volunteers for a Duel get a spot guaranteed at the table, but the Championship is different.  For the Championship the top 12 ranked Duelers in the league get first opportunity to play.  And their spot around the table is determined by their ranking.  It is the toughest Duel of the year and not for the faint of heart.  For the first time in league history, the top 12 ranked Duelers for the Championship are all in for the December battle.  They are the best of the best, and one of them will walk out of the Community Center with a big ol' honkin' Darth Vader trophy for their effort.

HISTORY:

2017 - Austin won with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Carbon Freezing Chamber
2016 - Curtis won with Mace Windu on the Kamino Platform
2015 - Nathan won with Count Dooku in the Carbon Freezing Chamber
2014 - Ryan won with Boba Fett on the Kamino Platform

MEET THE DUELERS:

This preview post will maintain the Championship tradition of assigning a Duel Character most like their real life counter part!

Chair #12 - Luke R. - Luke hasn't finished below seventh place in 2018 and had a career best second place finish at January's A New Hope Duel.  He's the newest professional at the table, and because he also shares a name with this character, Luke's perfect avatar is... LUKE SKYWALKER.

Chair #11 - Curtis - Curtis took half a year off in 2018 and the league was fearful they had lost him forever.  Turns out he was just secretly growing a clone army of mini-Odle Duelers for the next Singles Tournament.  He has four top five finishes in 2018, he's cantankerous, and he has the beard to match his perfect character...COUNT DOOKU.

Chair #10 - JD - Nobody had a better fall semester than JD.  Four of his five Duels were top four finishes, including victories at CL Training and Fight Night.  It was a good rebound for JD after a disappointing start to 2018.  He's an incredibly consistent Dueler with strength and wisdom to match.  That makes his perfect character...MACE WINDU.

Chair #9 - Ben H. - Poor Ben nearly suffered a crisis of confidence after his wife won her first Duel in just her fourth game played.  But after an incredible eight top-five finishes in 2018 he finally brought home his first trophy at last month's Thanksdueling! battle.  He's a confident scoundrel, not particularly trusting, and has a magnet in his hand when it comes to picking his perfect character...HAN SOLO.

Chair #8 - Chris K. - A founding member of the league, Dueling with us ever since 2014, Chris only got into four games this year.  He's turned into a bit of a hermit, but look out when he plays.  Three of his four games featured top five finishes, including a second place at Twin Sun Slam #2.  He's a warrior poet, an elder statesman, making his perfect character...YODA.

Chair #7 - Alex C. - We don't have an official award for this, but Alex could easily be described as the rookie of the year in 2018.  He turned professional this calendar year and notched four top-three finishes, including victories at Twin Sun Slam #1 and Doubleheader #1.  It's almost like he plays better when there are clone Duels on the same night!  His moral flexibility on the board makes him the perfect...BOBA FETT.

Chair #6 - Joel - By sheer force of will Joel has established himself as an elite Dueler in the league.  He has five top-three finishes in 2018, including victories at the Birthday Surprise and Doubleheader #1.  He's young, confident, talented, but sometimes forgets he needs the high ground to succeed.  That makes him the perfect...ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

Chair #5 - Kaleb - He's a literal Hall of Famer who returned to the league in 2018 when we thought he might be gone, and he's maintained his dominance.  He had five top-five finishes this year and has still never finished last place in a Duel, which is insanely talented.  His ability to outlast his opponents makes him the perfect...DARTH VADER.

Chair #4 - Rob - The originator of the 12-Way Duel had a real up and down 2018, almost like he was wearing a malfunctioning jet pack.  He logged seven top-five finishes, including victories at The Imperial March and May the 4th, but also placed dead last in three Duels.  2018 also marked the debut of his daughter Riley in the league, making his paternal pride the perfect...JANGO FETT.

Chair #3 - Ryan - He ended an epic winless streak in the league when he won the Valentine's Duel back in February.  It was his first victory since the 2014 Championship.  He didn't play as often as usual in 2018 but he still tagged on two third place finishes this fall.  Nobody is better at the evil machinations of the game than Ryan, making him the perfect...EMPEROR PALPATINE.

Chair #2 - Ian - Everyone thinks of Ian as the enforcer on the board, making sure play is timely and words are honored.  His strong play makes him perfect for the role, with six top-five finishes in 2018 including a victory at Duel of the Fates.  I don't think there's anyone who enjoys making a kill more than Ian, making him a good...DARTH MAUL.

Chair #1 - Grant - ...and you're number one ranked, number one seated Dueler is Grant!  Nobody had a better 2018 than Grant.  He had six (!) top four finishes this year, including wins at Let the Wookie Win and Twin Sun Slam #2.  His lowest placing this year was at last month's Thanksdueling!, where he "only" finished ninth.  He is a quiet grinder, a logical thinker, and has a knack for making the right call at the right time.  The number one ranked Dueler deserves the best character...OBI-WAN KENOBI!

Wow - that's quite a list!  One of these fine folks will become the fifth ever Championship winner, which one will it be?!?

TREY REY PREDICTS THE WINNER:

Let's move on to our favorite three-headed prognosticator, Trey Rey.  Trey Rey, who you got winning the Championship???

Big Rey:  SILENCE YOU FOOL!
Lil' Rey:  we're under attack!!!
Lego Rey:  oUR PoOr PicKs haVe uS In daNGeR!

I'm so sorry!  Who on earth would want to attack the three of...

Big Rey:  TOO LATE - THE NEW ORDER XMAS AT-AT FOUND US!  RUN!!!

Good Lord!!!  That's terrifying!  It's so much bigger than the three of you!  But wait, before you retreat, I really need your pick...

Lil' Rey:  you fool, we don't have time for this!  fine, we like anakin to win it all...

Thanks Trey Rey!  Good luck escaping that monstrosity, let's take a closer look at this XMAS AT-AT!

What a horrifying, but majestic creation.  What kind of Dueling lunatic would actually put one of those up in their front lawn!?!  Wait a second, is there something...or SOMEONE...riding that thing...?

Kylo Ren:  You're so lonely... So afraid to Duel... At night, desperate to sleep...
You imagine a victory... I see it... I see the character you pick... Han Solo...
You feel like he's the father Trey Rey never had. He would have disappointed her.

Get out of my head!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...!

(Trey Rey is 0-5 in predictions this year)

Well fellow Duelers...the biggest Duel of the year is this Saturday night at 7PM - come on out to the North Village Community Center to see history made and a new champion crowned!

Thanksdueling! - November 10, 2018

Geonosis Arena

The first surprise of the night came when Ryan brought all three of his 3D boards for us to play on!  And it just so happened that all three would be eligible for use since the Carbon Freezing Chamber was played last time.

He also brought brownies, which would prove to be a vital lifeline of energy for those of us who died early and had to endure watching the longest Duel in league history.  This is nothing any of the Thanksdueling! Duelers should be proud of. 

(And before we move on, Ryan showed me a sneak preview of the new board he's working on - a facsimile of Carbon but on a whole new world - and level - of insanity.  I can't wait to see the finished product...)

Ian forgot to say "cheese."

For the second game in a row Rob drew the #1 chair and the Trey Rey pick for the win, this time being Jango Fett.  Kaleb was pumped to have Han Solo for his second consecutive Duel as well.  That's sarcasm if you can't tell.

Geonosis was the board we selected so we brought out the Hoth 3D version.  It's amazing how much the color of the figurines pop against the stark snowy background.  Bryant, a rookie Dueler sitting by his wife in his first ever game, won the honor of rolling first and before we knew it, we were off and running.

Grant's Emperor and Ian's Vader made some initial movements to try and secure their borders, but it had a couple of unintended consequences.  Grant moved an Imperial Guard in front of Ben H./Luke Skywalker, preventing them from being able to flip.  They also didn't give a clear lane for Chris W.'s Darth Maul to retreat backwards.  That slight misplay turned the tide as Chris, in an unusual move based on his previous playing style, made the bold decision to flip to the light side.  Bryant and his Count Dooku followed suit and the remaining dark side of the board was in deep doodoo.

Curtis making a promise to Ryan and then immediately breaking it.

The only glimmer of hope for the bad guys on the board was that the light side alliance were doing a weird square dance with their characters instead of immediately advancing.  The delay in support left Bryant exposed, and his Count Dooku got chewed up by Rob's Zam Wessell and ultimately died when Ian Threw Debris.  It was a rough first Duel for Bryant, but Dooku's starting spot on Geonosis is notorious for poor finishes.  Let's hope Bryant comes out again and gets a better character/spot combo!

After Dooku died the light side finally started whittling down the over-matched dark side.  After Rob's Zam was killed his Jango Fett was sitting exposed and open deep in his own territory.  He made an unexpected move by Rocket Retreating directly next to Ben's Luke behind the snow drift.  Ben wasn't too crazy about it and Joel brought his Mace Windu around to begin the attack.  Kaleb's Chewbacca laid the final hit and Rob died in 11th.  His night wasn't nearly done, though...

"Oh the Dueling outside is frightful..."

Ian's Vader was the next target.  Curtis' Yoda Force Pushed him into a kill box and Ian couldn't survive so it was tenth place for them.  From there the alliance converged on Grant's Emperor Palpatine.  He actually hung in there for a bit, but Chris used a volley from Darth Maul to give Grant his worst finish in over two years.  What was especially frustrating for Grant was his best cards were buried  in his deck. 

It looked like Charlie's Boba Fett was next to die, but Curtis suggested Ryan's Obi-Wan instead.  Some of the alliance agreed and started laying some hits.  Ryan was stacked on defense and successfully held off the first wave.  That's when he got Curtis to agree to call of the dogs in exchange for not playing his Force Balance card.  As soon as Ryan's turn ended Curtis reneged  on the deal.  It was stunning and made many folks feel dirty.  Like that dirty feeling that doesn't go away no matter how many times you take a shower.  But Curtis didn't care!  He finally got his Birthday Massacre revenge on Ryan as Obi-Wan died in eighth.

With seven to go Charlie, sporting funny Storm Trooper pajamas, had nowhere left to run.  He tried to rally the board against Katie's Anakin, but he was unsuccessful in getting others to join.  Joel's Clone Trooper capped the final laser round in the bounty hunter's head.  Charlie, a rookie to our league but a veteran of the Martin underground scene, handled himself quite well in his debut.

This game was so long Kaleb, Chris, Joel, Curtis, and Ben all shaved
and grew their full beards back before it was done.

That left six Duelers...and it was midnight.  I wish I was kidding.  A painfully deliberate and overly consultative style of play made Thanksdueling! a death march.  It was decided that Curtis's Yoda was too powerful and thus he was surrounded by a kill box.  But after a round of attacks, Curtis somehow convinced the board he was no longer a threat.  Kudos to Curtis because his argument made zero sense but the others bought it.  Ben threw out Katie's name and everyone got excited to focus their attention on Anakin.  She was able to use a Calm after Ben's I Will Not Fight You and escape to the other end of the board but it only delayed the inevitable.  Katie was done in sixth after Kaleb Bowcasted her.

And then there were five!  Curtis, still running his influential mouth, moved the target to Chris' Darth Maul.  The rest of the board went along with it and poor Chris, the first defector, ran out of gas in fifth.  It was a nice bounce-back performance for Chris, though, and he's only one Duel away from gaining professional status.

"Ring around the rosey, pocket full of Latent Force Ability ..."

The jig was finally up for Curtis.  Ben/Luke, Kaleb/Han, and Joel/Mace were no longer interested in his little green Jedi.  It took a couple of rounds to beat him down, but fourth place was as far as he'd go.  It was a nice comeback performance by Curtis, who was M.I.A. in the league for a few months.

With three to go Kaleb could see victory but had a hard time playing Joel and Ben against each other.  He successfully landed another Bowcaster, this time against Mace Windu, but both Mace and Leia returned fire.  Kaleb made a last plea to Joel to spare his life, but Joel ultimately couldn't count on Han to stay with him so he gutted him in third.  It was great to see Kaleb make a deep run again, especially with a weak character like Han Solo.

And then there were two!  Ben had the health advantage as his Luke Skywalker was still going strong, but Joel wouldn't kill Leia, leaving Luke's Justice cards a pedestrian 5 point attack.  They began to chase each other around the snow bank.  Would Joel land a double Whirlwind?  Would Leia rain down shots???

In the end Mace's previous damage proved to be too fatal.  Joel hung in there but he couldn't withstand the combined attacks of the Skywalker children.  Congrats to Ben on his first ever 12-Way Duel win!!!  His household now displays two trophies as he finally has one to pair with Courtney's.  And let's not ignore another outstanding finish by Joel, who has been second or above in three of his last four Duels.  The final order of finish:

12.  Bryant/Count Dooku

11.  Rob/Jango Fett

10.  Ian/Darth Vader

9.  Grant/Emperor Palpatine

8.  Ryan/Obi-Wan Kenobi

7.  Charlie/Boba Fett

6.  Katie/Anakin Skywalker

5.  Chris W./Darth Maul

4.  Curtis/Yoda

3.  Kaleb/Han Solo

2.  Joel/Mace Windu

1.  Ben H./Luke Skywalker

And that brings us to our last Duel of 2018...THE CHAMPIONSHIP!  The top twelve ranked Duelers will get first invite to play.  The match is set for December 1st.  More details to come!

Preview: Thanksdueling! - November 10, 2018

My faith is refreshed!

Just as I thought interest in the league was waning, lo and behold, we got a huge response for the Thanksdueling sign-up.  We had twelve brave souls step forward on the first day and now I even have an alternate list.

Order has been restored to the galaxy.  Of course, that order will go right out the window once we start playing on Saturday night, but you get the picture!

This is the fifth annual Thanksdueling! Duel in league history.  I like Thanksdueling! simply because I always include an exclamation point even though it's not the end of a sentence.  Sadly, English majors reading this blog suffer silently...  Let's take a look at past Thanksdueling! Duels!

HISTORY:

2017 - Rob won with Boba Fett on the Kamino Platform
2016 - JD won with Yoda in the Emperor's Throne Room
2015 - Nathan won with Darth Vader in the Geonosis Arena
2014 - Alex R. won with Boba Fett in the Geonosis Arena

MEET THE DUELERS:

Our tradition for Thanksdueling! previews is to list what each Dueler is thankful for - here we go!

Ben H. - he's close to the Championship bubble, as the top 12 ranked Duelers get to play in the December match and he's in 11th.  Barring a disaster at Thansdueling! he should be in.  Ben is thankful for...prior success.

Bryant - rookie Dueler alert!  Bryant, newly wed to rising amateur Dueler Katie, makes his Dueling debut at Thanksdueling!  Couples counseling might be in his future.  Bryant is thankful for...being roped into the world of Dueling.  At least he better be...

Charlie - another rookie Dueler alert!  After playing the side game at CL Training and some other outer rim games, he finally gets to make his debut.  Hopefully it will be epic!  Charlie is thankful for...his seat at the table.

Chris W. - a consistent presence this fall, Chris took a break during Fight Night but is back in action for Thanksdueling!  In fact, this will be his fifth Duel, leaving him one Duel short of professional status.  Chris is thankful for...future aspirations!

Curtis - wait a second.  Let me rub my eyes, because I think they are deceiving me.  Is that Curtis!?!  Our old friend who hasn't played since last May at Let the Wookie Win???  The prodigal son has returned!  Quick, give him my finest Jedi robe.  Curtis is thankful for...Return of the Jedi.  Get it!?!

Grant - Benjamin Franklin said there are only three things certain in life:  death, taxes, and Grant finishing well at Epic Duels.  The top ranked Dueler hasn't finished below eighth place since August of 2016!  Bow to the master!  Grant is thankful for...Han Solo.  Seriously, he loves playing with Han.

Ian - he hasn't been playing quite as consistently this fall, but when Ian is at the table, he makes it count.  He's finished in the top five over his last four Duels.  He's the second ranked Dueler and he has visions of that number one chair.  Ian is thankful for...bags of rice.  It's an inside joke.

Joel - at Fight Night Joel had one of the most impressive ninth place finishes we've ever seen.  That's a legit compliment considering he looked like the person targeted to die first.  He's had a strong fall semester of Dueling and has moved into a tie for sixth place in the rankings.  Joel is thankful for...Riley not playing at Thanksdueling!

Kaleb - he's hoping to break out of a mini slump at Thanksdueling!  Kaleb only has two top six finishes in his last six Duels.  Despite that minor setback he's still the fifth ranked Dueler in the league.  Kaleb is thankful for...that phone call from Jeff Probst.  It should be coming any day now!

Katie - if you were to accidentally cut Katie's arm you would see visible proof she has ice running through her veins!  In just her second Duel, Katie made a name for herself at Fight Night with an impressive fourth place finish with Luke.  And now she's offering up her husband for sacrifice!  Katie is thankful for...marital bliss!  Congrats to she and Bryant - here's to many couples Duels in the future.

Rob - just as he was starting to fuss about a recent bad streak, Rob has sneakily reeled off three top finishes in his past four Duels.  The godfather might be back.  He started the year with four trophies in his possession and could be down to two if he doesn't defend his Fight Night title.  Rob is thankful for...Duelers signing up to play!  Seriously, you all had me worried!

Ryan - he hasn't played since the Doubleheader in August...where he finished third in both games.  Coincidentally, he's the third ranked Dueler in the league.  There are rumors in the dark corners of the league that's he's working on new 3D board.  Perhaps it will be available by the Championship?  Ryan is thankful for...compressed styrofoam.

TREY REY PREDICTS THE WINNER:

Trey Rey:  WITH OUR COMBINED MIGHT, WE PREDICT
JANGO FETT
WILL WIN THANKSDUELING!

There you have it.  Trey Rey predicts Jango is taking home the title.  Of course, they're 0-4 in predictions this year so you should bet on anyone else but Jango.

Good luck to the Duelers, and feel free to come on out Saturday night and watch the carnage!