Doubleheader #1 - September 1, 2024

Ewok Village

The 2024 Doubleheader Duels took place on a Sunday this year, something a bit out of the ordinary, but with a home football game and Labor Day weekend conspiring together, it just kind of made sense!  We had three new Duelers and handful of veterans to make for a good mix.  Ewok Village was the board, and folks were in awe of the design and esthetic.  

To the trees!

As is normal on the Ewok board, the big bridge became the tension point.  Cate, playing with Bo-Katan in her first-ever Duel, was eager to start blasting!  Joined by Michael's Leia and Wicket, they held the front of the bridge while Alex G.'s Boba Fett made way for Ian's Mother Koril and Kelnacca (possessed!), one of the new characters made their way for reinforcements.  But the dark side was shocked my lil' Wicket, who used a Surprise Attack to lay major damage.  Ian kept at it, but after attacking Leia twice, got shocked by 8 points of defensive damage from the two ...I Know cards!  Cate, playing with bloodlust, shot Ian off the board in last place!

Michael's commitment to the front line defense was noble, but the light side had a lot of sabers stuck on the back row.  By the time they had moved forward Leia was hurting.  Alex used a shot from Boba Fett to send Michael to the bacta tank in eleventh.  Two top ranked Duelers were gone just like that!

Michael and Cate strategizing.

Alex/Boba, who came into the game fresh off his CL Training debut victory, learned it's hard to win two games in a row the hard way.  He became the new target, despite Julia/Krennic's continued invitations for Cate to flip sides.  Curtis' Yoda Clone Troopers got the drop on him, eliminating their identical brother in tenth.

The view from above.

Julia tried to keep her side rallied, and managed to off Rob's Padme while she was at it.  She also wrecked everyone with Peace and Security, but when Jordann/Indara and Justin/Rey rolled in, there wasn't much left in her tank.  Justin dropped the hammer with The Last Jedi and a four point attack.  Julia outlasted her husband but not a ninth place finish.

Poker-faced James, also playing his first Duel, was dug in as Count Dooku at the base of the tree.  He was quickly surrounded by Rob/Anakin, Curtis/Yoda, Justin/Rey, and Jordann/Indara.  No matter how strong a Sith Dooku is, nobody can outlast that kind of a threat.  Jordann, piloting Indara's debut Duel, used a Mission Leader attack to park James in seventh.

Maybe we should play this board every month?

Mark, playing with Jango, was stuck in the back corner all game and didn't have a lot of options.  When Rob/Anakin and Sam/Beckett rolled in, his Jango managed to Rocket Retreat to the opposite corner.  His new spot on the board didn't last, though, and Cate pulled off a nifty Ariel Assault to end a fellow Mandalorian in seventh place.

Hand it to Cate, she wanted to get her money's worth in her first Duel!  It pained her not to drop at least one attack on each of her turns.  She didn't realize that the remaining sabers weren't too keen on leaving shooters on the board.  She was quickly surrounded but it would be fellow shooter Sam/Beckett who used Double Blasters on her in sixth place.  It was a great first Duel, Cate!

Rob/Anakin had tried to stick with Sam, but he was perceived as too passive, so when Jorann/Indara put the target on him, Rob followed suit by Wrathing Val.  Sam pulled off a slick Grappling Line/It's Been A Ride, Babe combo, though, jacking up Indara, Yoda, and Rey.  But Ani hit Beckett with Anger and Sam was gone in fifth.

That left the final four, and Curtis' Yoda was in the best shape card and health wise.  That led to Rob putting the target on him and Jordann/Indara and Justin/Rey agreeing.  Curtis went to the hidey-hole spot on the board and dug in like a tic on a bantha.  But even the little green Jedi Master couldn't hold out forever.  Just once again used The Last Jedi and Curtis exited late to his small group in fourth.

.5 selfies are not skibidi cringe

Jordann's Indara was hurt but couldn't heal because Torbin was still alive and kicking, so she and Ani/Rob formed an alliance against Justin's Rey.  Rob went in for a big attack, but Justin used The Force Awakens to heal Rey eight points.  He then used a Backflip to off Jordann!  Rob misremembered the direct damage of that card, and was in big trouble as Rey and Finn started lighting him up.  He managed to finally Wrath Finn but it was too little, too late.  Justin/Rey eliminated Rob in second.  Justin was his second-ever career Duel!!!  How about these new Duelers this year!??!?  The win also marked Rey's third career victory.

The final order of finish:

12.  Ian/Mother Koril

11.  Michael/Princess Leia

10.  Alex G./Boba Fett

9.  Julia/Orson Krennic

8.  James/Count Dooku

7.  Mark/Jango Fett

6.  Cate/Bo-Katan Kryze

5.  Sam/Tobias Beckett

4.  Curtis/Yoda

3.  Jordann/Indara

2.  Rob/Anakin Skywalker

1.  Justin/Rey

Congrats again, Justin!!!  You played great.  But this is just the first recap on the day...

Valentine's Duel - February 6, 2022

 

Eravana Cargo Hold

Love was in the air!  No, wait.  That wasn't love.  That was the dank odor of two RATHTARS anxious to burst through their cages and start eating Duelers.  But they do it together, like the ultimate power couple in love!  Good lord, what a terrible start to this recap...

Q: What's better than a dozen roses?
A:  A dozen Duelers.

This was a significant Duel for several reasons.  First, Evan was finally turning professional.  Congrats Evan!!!  His professional debut was delayed when he insisted on picking the Rancor back at Thanksdueling!.  This Valentine's Duel also marked Rico's first Duel.  Welcome aboard, Rico!  Hopefully we didn't scar you too badly.  

After a brief review of the rules of the board, particularly how the Rathtars and doors worked, we were ready to begin.  Rico won the roll-off, and without even hesitating, he moved his Zam and Jango into the center squares to start opening doors!  Check out this rookie, raining terror in the form of invulnerable space monsters!  We love that moxie, Rico

RC is on the loose!

It looked like the game would start off with six dark vs. six light, but Rob's Rey subtly let the dark side know he was really working for them.  That didn't stop Duncan's Anakin double-Wrathing both of Curtis' Knights of Ren out of the middle squares, giving the light side some door control too.  Curtis was none too pleased to be out of minor characters so early in the game.

Rob finally showed his true colors when he used a Jedi Mind Control to force Cara to attack her own Mandalorian.  Kevin was dumbstruck and the tide began to turn.  JD's Qui-Gon decided partnering with Rob's Rey might be a better long term strategy, and he among others began to attack Duncan's Anakin.  Rico was a big contributor on that front too, with his Zam continuously pot-shotting him.

Uh, why again did we let the Rathtar out?

With the RC Rathtar on the loose, and the dark side pressing, the light side were taking their lumps.  Duncan/Anakin, Kevin/The Mandalorian, and Elliot/Yoda were all hurting.  In a particularly bitter turn, Elliot decided he wanted to avoid last place, and turned on his teammate Kevin!  Ouch.  That's two last places in a row for both Kevin in the league and The Mandalorian in the Eravana Cargo Hold.

Duncan knew he was going down next, but he had a special, maniacal twinkle in his eye.  He decided to let out the CJ Rathtar, just for giggles.  And he was nice enough to stay around a long time after Ian's Vader Wrathed him in eleventh place, rolling for the Rathtar, spreading around the 2 points of damage wherever he could.

Jar Jar tries to warn Moff Gideon of the approaching Rathtar.

Now that there were two Rathtars on the board, all heck was breaking loose.  Elliot's Yoda, who took a number of distance shots from different dark side members, suddenly found himself in the path of the RC Rathtar.  For the first time (we think?) in Eravana history...a major character was killed by a Rathtar!  The Rathtar also took out JD's Jar Jar on the same roll.  LET THE BIG DOGS EAT!

After the Rathtar burped Gungan, there were nine Duelers left on the board.  Karson's Lando was basically the last light side character left, but he was proving difficult to catch.  Rob's Finn finally trapped him in one of the Rathtar cages, but JD's Qui-Gon Jinn became the target first.  JD's game was on tilt all night, so in some ways, his ninth place ouster wasn't too bad.

Karson tries to tip the alliance.

Karson, stuck in his cage and slowly surrounded by the dark side, made many valid points about the impending breakdown of the alliance, but the dark side was satisfied in taking down Lando first.  Karson peaced-out in eighth.

With seven to go, Miguel's Maul was fully loaded and ready to rock.  He did a good job all night hitting and moving, and he set his sites on Ian's fully healthy Vader.  Miguel, sitting by Rob/Rey, asked for his help taking down Vader.  Rob was shocked because that move wasn't on his radar, but he stepped out in faith and landed the first two attacks.  Ian tried to turn Miguel against Rey in response, but Miguel stuck to his initial proposal and unleashed a volley of attacks.

Ian examining his options.

Ian survived the attack, but was put in near critical condition when Evan's Dark Trooper also landed a hit.  Rob agreed to let Vader run away...straight towards Rico/Jango, who had already given Rob the covert head nod that he would land the final strike.  Rico...are you sure this was your first Duel???  Jango used the Rocket Retreat to eliminate Ian in seventh, and then moved into position to use a Missile Launch against Miguel's Maul!  Miguel used Blinding Surge, meaning he took the 7 points of damage, but also dealt 3 back to Rico.

Fett on Fett violence.

With only six Duelers left, the tide turned against the rookie Rico.  He and Carona's Boba had tussled before that, so Corona was more than happy to help eliminate his fellow namesake.  Rico couldn't defend all the angles, and it would be Rob's Rey who landed the kill shot.  Give it up for Rico, a top six finish in his first-ever Duel, and he caused most of the chaos in the front half of the game.  We've got ourselves a hot prospect!

That left five Duelers:  Rob/Rey, Carona/Boba, Miguel/Maul, Evan/Gideon, and Curtis/Kylo.  Rob had tried all game to let Curtis know he thought a Rey/Kylo final two would be all kinds of Epic, but Curtis put Rob's name out there, claiming Rey would be nearly impossible to kill at the end of the game.  Likewise, Rob pointed out that Kylo had been drawing and discarding for hours, meaning his hand was fully loaded with all of Kylo's scariest cards.  The other three rocked themselves gently as mom and dad were fighting.  Ultimately, rather than Carona, Evan, and Miguel sticking together, cracks formed.  Evan agreed to join Curtis in taking down Boba Fett.  Evan used Astute Panic to vanquish Carona in fifth.  That was a nice rebound game for Carona, though, who had a couple of rough finishes of late.

Under the pressure.

Rob and Curtis began chirping at each other again, but Miguel and Evan eventually sided with Rob, and the three of them focused their efforts against Kylo.  Curtis was none too pleased, fought as hard as he could, but he did go down in fourth with an undefended I Won't Let Them Win from Finn.  

In securing Evan and Miguel's help against Curtis, Rob basically conceded those two would work against him and put him in a likely third place.  And that's how things started, as they tried to chip away at him.  But Maul took some damage, and Rey played Rise of Skywalker, which healed her all the way back to the first row of her damage indicator.  Rob/Rey also started manipulating the doors to make things harder.  The cat and mouse game continued, but at some point, Miguel sensed Evan was holding back or about to pounce on Maul instead, so in a shocking turn of events, he rolled in on Gideon!  Evan was stunned.  He managed a Dark Saber attack, but on his second action, Miguel defended with Blinding Surge, and Gideon was out in third!!!  Congrats to Evan, who debuts seventh in the professional standings after this Duel.

Baltimore represent!

Rob couldn't believe the turn events, as all of a sudden his Rey went from imminent demise to a fair shot at winning.  Miguel was cagey, staying out of reach and healing Maul, all while Rob desperately tried to redraw Back Flip to get to him.  Rob eventually manipulated the doors in a way that trapped Maul and sent the Rathtars towards him.  This took quite a bit of time to play out, but in the end, Rey caught up to him and delivered The Last Jedi to win the game!!!  Rey becomes the first new character to win more than once, and Rob now has 20 wins in league history.  That's gross.

Also...a huge congrats to Miguel!  He played like an absolute mob boss with Maul, and this second place finish was a career best for him.  Well done, your training video is obviously paying off.

Let's get that final order of finish again:

12.  Kevin/The Mandalorian

11.  Duncan/Anakin Skywalker

10.  Elliot/Yoda

9.  JD/Qui-Gon Jinn

8.  Karosn/Lando Calrissian

7.  Ian/Darth Vader

6.  Rico/Jango Fett

5.  Corona/Boba Fett

4.  Curtis/Kylo Ren

3.  Evan/Moff Gideon

2.  Miguel/Darth Maul

1.  Rob/Rey

Thanks everyone for a great Valentine's Duel!  Due to Spring Break, it will be a few weeks before we play again, but we're looking at March 19th as our IMPERIAL MARCH DUEL!  Once we get closer to March Madness we'll solidify that.  We can tell you the board, though...The Naboo Reactor Pit!  This is probably our most unique board, and it is a TON of fun to play.

Until then...stay away from Rathtars.

Fight Night - October 23, 2021

 

Emperor's Throne Room (via Mustafar)

Though the campus was quiet due to Fall Break, there were still the deafening sounds of light sabers clashing and blasters blasting in the North Village Classroom on Saturday night!  PEW PEW PEW!!!  Fight Night featured the debut of two new Duelers as well as a couple of historic firsts in the league.  Onto the recap!

Thank the maker - finally, a round table!

Fight Night technically took place in the Emperor's Throne Room, but we used the 3-D Mustafar edition (we miss you Ryan!).  Out of the gate the light and dark sides of the board tried to tempt the other into a flip, and though each side maintained the status quo through the first two rounds, it would be Kat's Rey who made the first shocking turn as she took a shot on Rob's Yoda on her way to defecting.

Not long after that Evan deployed his Dark Trooper next to Corona's Anakin Skywalker and Kidnapped him deep inside a dark side kill box.  Brutal!  Corona tried to hold out, but it would be a Force Lightning from Grant H.'s Supreme Leader Snoke that would sadly end Corona's night in last place.  He had to lug the Golden Jar Jar all the way back to East Village.

The light side was in chaos by that point.  Rob's Yoda tried to hold the line, but newbie Kevin, playing with Mace Windu, started shooting the little green Jedi!  The ultimate betrayal would come from Rob's daughter, Riley, who joined in on the mutiny with her Han Solo.  Rylie's Jango Fett landed the kill shot, and Rob was out early.

Miguel heralds Duncan's doom

With ten Duelers to go Peach's Jyn Erso was the next target for the mega-alliance.  She fought valiantly in her first Duel, but with no partners left and all of her good defense stuck at the bottom of her draw pile, she couldn't hold out long.  It would be Riley's Chewbacca, using a Wookie Toss, that would send her to the rails in tenth.

It was at this point of the game Miguel, playing with Darth Maul and bound and determined to get his first career top-six finish, called open season on Duncan's Count Dooku.  Duncan got cranky while Miguel was incredulous.  Duncan tried to talk his way out of it but others in the alliance jumped in too, and it would be Grant's Guard that delivered the death blow.  The defending Fight Night champion was out too soon!

The Force trying to exert his will.

It was about this point in the game where Miguel let it be known he was good with Evan's Moff Gideon and Grant's Supreme Leader Snoke.  The other five Duelers did not like the sound of that three-person alliance, forcing all three to back track from the declaration and start attacking each other.  Evan's Gideon, a key contributor to the early alliance, all of a sudden found himself with no partners.  Curtis' Kylo Ren moved in for the kill, using his Laser Cross-Guard.  Poor Evan was stuck in eighth.

Gideon inflicted major damage on Grant's Snoke before bowing out of the game, so he was ripe for the offing when Miguel excitedly rolled in to eliminate him in seventh place.  I don't recall a time seeing somebody so excited to finish in the top six of a Duel before, but it marked a personal best for Miguel, and he was overjoyed!  Unfortunately for him, he was low carded and low health.  Curtis' Kylo was in the neighborhood, and he reluctantly capped him in sixth.  Miguel was still happy.

Liquid-hot MAGMA

That made it five to go, and that's when Kat went into boss-mode.  As soon as Curtis' turn ended, she put the target on him.  Rey and Kylo drama!!!  So on brand.  Kevin/Mace, Rylie/Jango, and Riley/Han had no issue with that.  Kylo dropped some hits here and there, but he eventually fell to a lowly Mace Clone Trooper attack.  Still, that fifth place finish for Curtis marked a career-best finish for Kylo!  Curtis is playing so well right now an off-night still lands him in the top five!

And then there were four!  We had Kevin the rookie...and three women who said, out loud, it would be pretty cool to have the first-ever all-female top three!  And that's what they set out to do!  Though Kevin had a lot of cards in his hand, it turned out they weren't the right combination to last long.  He did manage to inflict damage on Han before Rylie's Zam ended his first Duel in fourth place.  Congrats Kevin, that's a heck of a debut!  You would never have known it was his first game with us.

History!

So, for the first time in league history, we had women in the top three spots!  Riley and Rylie were both banged up, and so was Kat, but she used her Rise of Skywalker heal card.  It was a good thing, too, because Riley's Chewbacca hit her with the second Bowcaster on the night!  Even though Riley and Rylie were both shooters, they ended up working against each other in hopes of gaining favor with Kat's Rey.  Riley's Han would fall first, after Rey hit her with a four point attack.  And after a brief chase around the board, Rylie's Jango was out in second...Kat won her first career Duel!!!  Congrats Kat!!!  And this also marked Rey's first win in the league!  That means the combined Palpatine win record is...

What a great night of Dueling!  And guess what?  It took just over three hours to play, start to finish!  AS IT SHOULD BE!  *hint hint*

Let's see that final order of finish:

12.  Corona/Anakin

11.  Rob/Yoda

10.  Peach/Jyn

9.  Duncan/Dooku

8.  Evan/Moff Gideon

7.  Grant/Snoke

6.  MIGUEL/DARTH MAUL

5.  Curtis/Kylo

4.  Kevin/Mace

3.  Riley/Han

2.  Rylie/Jango

1.  Kat/Rey

Thanks everyone for a historic night!  Next month is November, and that means... THANKSDUELING!  Right now we're looking at Saturday, November 6th, but we'll wait and see what the game time is for Baylor football at TCU before confirming.  This will also be the last chance to qualify for the 2021 Championship Duel in December!  Any Dueler who won in 2021 gets an automatic bid, and we'll fill the last chairs based on professional rankings.  Until then...may the force be with you.  Always.