Preview: May the 4th Be With You - May 4, 2023

 

We've come to the end of the road.  It's time to take this season, LOCK IT UP, and throw away the key.  And by LOCK IT UP, I mean lock it up in the Narkina 5 Imperial Prison!!!

What better way to end a school year of Dueling than debuting a new board?!?  This board will introduce a couple of new features for the league.  First, it has "half raised terrain."  There are four tables on the board Duelers can stand on, but still be adjacent to characters on the floor for attacks and defense.  And shooters can blast across them to whoever is on the other side or even on the table.

You might be asking, why would I want to stand on a table during a Duel?  Well that's because, once per round, the Narkina Prison Warden will shout "ON PROGRAM!" and Duelers will have just three seconds to place their hands on their head.  If even one Dueler doesn't comply...any character not standing on a table receives a point of damage!  If that happens two rounds in a row it's two points, and three rounds in a row it goes up to three!!!  Who will be the first Dueler to defy the Prison Warden???

Ok...that should be enough excitement for a year-end Duel...BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!!!

We just couldn't help ourselves.  We have TWO NEW CHARACTERS playing in this one too!  The Armorer (w/Paz Vizsla) and Captain Phasma (w/First Order Stormtroopers) enter the fray, and who knows what tricks they have up their armored sleeves!?!

New board!  New Characters!!  Ok, I think I need to sit and calm myself down...

HISTORY OF MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU:

2022 - Rob won with Kylo Ren on the Conveyex Train

2021 - Kaleb won with Jango Fett in the Trash Compactor

2020 - Ryan won with Han Solo on the Kamino Platform

2019 - Riley won with Emperor Palpatine in the Emperor's Throne Room
2018 - Rob won with Mace Windu in the Emperor's Throne Room
2017 - JD won with Yoda in the Emperor's Throne Room
2016 - Chris K . won with Jango Fett in the Emperor's Throne Room
2015 - Rob won with Jango Fett in the Carbon Freezing Chamber

MEET THE DUELERS:

The bittersweet thing about the May the 4th Duel is we know it will be the last time our graduating and/or departing Duelers will join us at the round table.  156 different individuals have played at least one Duel with us.  And though it's always exciting to see that number grow, it's important to take a moment and pour out some blue milk for those about to leave for a galaxy far, far away...

Curtis - A strong 2021 for Curtis was followed by a winless 2022.  He'd love to bring home the Obi-Wan trophy in 2023.

Duncan - Oh man...it seems just like yesterday Duncan was schooling us in the online Duels during the COVID year.  And now he's graduating!!!  Could he win #4 in his last shot??

Elliot - Elliot is tied for most career Duels played without a win!  How is that possible?  He's so good!  He needs to secure May the 4th to avoid the record.

Evan - The 2022 Champion will finally receive his permanent Championship plaque at May the 4th.  He wouldn't mind the Golden Obi too.

Ian - Ian played with Lando for a record fourth time at last month's Duel of the Fates, and he nearly won it while ultimately finishing in third place.

JD M. - Remember when Chewbacca was crying in his prison on Cloud City?  That was the sound Duelers made when they heard JD was leaving us because he landed a job in North Carolina.  RAWRRRrrroooo...

Julia - Congrats once again to Julia, who joined the professional ranks last month at Duel of the Fates and avoided the last place curse many endure in their sixth Duel.

Kat - You know a Dueler is excited to play when they accidentally hit "reply all" during a break from teaching the CL Class.  YOU CAN'T TEACH HEART.

Michael - Give Michael a light saber!  Since winning with Grievous at A New Hope in January, he has three bad finishes with shooters.

Miguel - I don't think there will be a dry eye in the Imperial Prison when Miguel takes the table for the last time.  The Maryland kid is a legend and the Golden Jar Jar's favorite Dueler.

Riley B. - In three 2023 Duels, Riley has finished in the top half twice.  He has a nice little streak going and would love to reach the winner's podium.

Rob - The collective groan in the Central Office could be heard across campus when Rob showed up to work last month with his sixth trophy.  Can he defend the Golden Obi to stay at half a dozen?

PLUSH POE PREDICTS THE WINNER:

Poe, just as we lost all hope in you, you predicted the winner in March and your pick for April finished in second.  Do you...actually know what you're doing?  This is the last time we'll ever see your beanie-baby face.  Who you got???

OH SNAP!  Poe picked the Armorer, in her rookie Duel!  THIS IS THE WAY.

Just a couple of other things before we sign off.  First - before the Duel starts we're electing a new member to the Duels Hall of Fame.  It's well deserved!  Second, I could use a volunteer to act as the Prison Warden - let me know if you're interested!!!

We'll be playing in the North Village Fine Arts Studio, as soon as we can after the Golden Bears are over.  May the 4th Be With Us!!!