Tourney Report: Dragon*Con '99
L. Scott Johnson
Two V:TES tournaments were held at Dragon*Con this past
weekend. On Friday, I held a Bring-Your-Own Sabbat sealed
deck tournament (8 packs of Sabbat boosters per player),
with 23 participants. 9am Saturday morning (which came real
early for those of us who were around when the sealed deck
game ended at 1:30am) marked the start of the V:TES
constructed tournament, which 19 players attended. (This
level of attendance made V:TES the second biggest draw at
the gaming area in Dragon*Con - just as it was last year,
according to gaming director John Bunnell - and is just
slightly above average for southeastern USA tourneys, I
think.)
Particpants came from Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, and Louisiana.
SEALED DECK TOURNEY: For a sealed deck game, the decks
flowed remarkably well. Only one game out of ten was called
for time. After the two preliminary rounds, five players
were selected for the finals: Jeff Stephens (9VP), R. David
Zopf (5VP), Norman Brown (4.5VP), Chris Boget aka Sorrow
(4VP), and Rob Grau (4VP). (David had been unavoidably
detained prior to the start of the tourney, so had had only
ten minutes in which to open his packs and construct his
deck, yet still made it to the finals.)
Rob Grau won the evening with 4VPs, with Jeff Stephens
taking the remaining VP for a second-place finish.
CONSTRUCTED DECK TOURNEY: One game in each of the first two
rounds had to be called for time - one with two players
standing and the other with four. Plenty of Anarch Revolts
around to keep the games short. Making the final cut were:
Rob Grau (11VPs), David Davila (8VPs), Ben Peal (5VPs),
Chris O'Brian (4.5VPs), and Chris Boget aka Sorrow (4VPs).
The finals went down to the wire, with Ben and Sorrow each
getting 2 VPs and David getting the remaining one. With the
higher standing going into the finals, first place went to
Ben.
--
I had a great time running those two tournaments, and I hope
to see many of you there again next year.
--
THE DECKS:
Rob Grau (sealed deck):
2 Shane Grimald
Cameron
Ignacio
Vasantasena
Dani
Tommy
Josef
Beast, Leatherface of Detroit
Calebos
Marlene, the Infernalist
Vanessa
Political Hunting Ground
Steam Tunnels
2 Ascendance
The Barrens
Dominate
Information Highway
2 Short Term Investment
Computer Hacking
Forced Awakening
Fake Out
Trap
2 Laptop Computer
Sport Bike
.44 Magnum
Gas Powered Chainsaw
Consanguineous Boon
Crusade: Detroit
Excommunication
Sabbat Priest
Transfer of Power
Bribes
Surprise Influence
2 Carrion Crows
Cat's Guidance
Guard Dogs
2 Song of Serenity
Raptor
2 Obedience
3 Redirection
Slaughtering the Herd
3 Threats (one lost as Ante in the second round)
Cloak the Gathering
2 Forgotten Labyrinth
2 Swallowed by the Night
3 Pushing the Limit
2 Sacrament of Carnage
Undead Strength
Ben Peal (constructed deck):
Zoe
Didi Meyers
2 Isabel de Leon
2 Justine, Elder of Dallas
2 Gloria Giovanni
Kurt Strauss
Ingrid Russo
2 Marlene, the Infernalist
9 Anarch Revolt
Antediluvian Awakening
2 The Barrens
3 Blood Doll
2 Dreams of the Sphinx
2 Elysium: the Arboretum
2 Fragment of the Book of Nod
2 KRCG News Radio
2 London Evening Star, Tabloid Newspaper
2 The Rumor Mill, Tabloid Newspaper
2 Sudden Reversal
5 Wake with Evening's Freshness
4 Spirit's Touch
4 Enhanced Senses
6 Telepathic Counter
12 Bonding
9 Deflection
3 Govern the Unaligned
13 Obedience
--
L. Scott Johnson (sjoh...@math.sc.edu) | Beware of the man
http://www.math.sc.edu/~sjohnson | who won't be bothered
Graphics Specialist and V:TES Rulemonger | with details.
L. Scott Johnson
Oops: I left off a line:
5 Eagle's Sight
Richard Zopf
L. Scott Johnson wrote in message <7lvedu$f...@redwood.cs.sc.edu>...
>Particpants came from Georgia, South Carolina, North
>Carolina, and Louisiana.
>
and Massachusetts...
>SEALED DECK TOURNEY: For a sealed deck game, the decks
>flowed remarkably well. Only one game out of ten was called
>for time. After the two preliminary rounds, five players
>were selected for the finals: Jeff Stephens (9VP), R. David
>Zopf (5VP), Norman Brown (4.5VP), Chris Boget aka Sorrow
>(4VP), and Rob Grau (4VP). (David had been unavoidably
>detained prior to the start of the tourney, so had had only
>ten minutes in which to open his packs and construct his
>deck, yet still made it to the finals.)
>
Grrr. I got locked out of my hotel room (where my and Ben Peal's Sabbat
packs were) for two hours. Thanks to all who held off starting the
tournament for us :-) Still, it was a fun drill in deck construction.
>Rob Grau won the evening with 4VPs, with Jeff Stephens
>taking the remaining VP for a second-place finish.
>
>CONSTRUCTED DECK TOURNEY: One game in each of the first two
>rounds had to be called for time - one with two players
>standing and the other with four. Plenty of Anarch Revolts
>around to keep the games short. Making the final cut were:
>Rob Grau (11VPs), David Davila (8VPs), Ben Peal (5VPs),
>Chris O'Brian (4.5VPs), and Chris Boget aka Sorrow (4VPs).
I think its worth mentioning here that Mr. Grau was playing some freakish
Giovanni/Ravnos Goodnight Sweet Pince/Reanimator deck!!! I'd appreciate it
if he would post the concept, and possibly the deck, so we can all figue out
who let these Independents into the finals. Rob claimed at the tourney to
be the beneficiary of the many Anarch Revolts that hit the table across all
rounds of play, but that alone won't get you into a final with 11VP. Rob???
Congrats to Ben Peal. You should have seen him in the finals!!! <grin>
Like I said, Ben, don't play that deck again, or your heart is likely to
explode!!! This was also my first time playing Sorrow in casual
environment. Definitely one of the sharpest players I've come across.
Regards,
R. David Zopf
Atom Weaver (& V:EKN Prince of Charlotte, NC)
James Coupe
<guenh...@mindspring.com> writes
>I think its worth mentioning here that Mr. Grau was playing some freakish
>Giovanni/Ravnos Goodnight Sweet Pince/Reanimator deck!!!
Sounds not unlike one of Mr. Legbiter's concoctions. Essentially, have
a crypt full of princes. GSWP them out for the pool, then Possess them
back in. Because you have so many votes, voting can form a good portion
of the rest of your deck.
--
James Coupe (Prince of Mercia, England)
Vampire: Elder Kindred Network
http://madnessnetwork.hexagon.net http://www.obeah.demon.co.uk
Sorrow
> be the beneficiary of the many Anarch Revolts that hit the table across
all
> rounds of play, but that alone won't get you into a final with 11VP.
Rob???
Stealth and massive pool gain. There were alot of decks that I did not
expect
to see at the tournament. I just don't think they could have kept up.
> Congrats to Ben Peal. You should have seen him in the finals!!! <grin>
Both he and I were about the same - my hands were shaking as bad as his. :)
It was definately the most intense game I had ever played.
> This was also my first time playing Sorrow in casual environment.
Definitely
> one of the sharpest players I've come across.
Thanks! I'm glad there's at least one person who doesn't think I suck. :p
I
really enjoyed myself. The calibre of skill that showed up was very high.
I
was glad I had the opportunity to play against everyone I had. It just
bites
that we all can't get together on a more regular occasion.
Sorrow
---
I don't want to be alone | I hurt, therefore I am
anymore |--------------------------------
I don't want to be anyone | "What are you looking at...?
anymore | you never seen anyone try to
I don't need a reason to kill myself | commit suicide before?" - Anon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe C.
"Sorrow" <cbo...@apdi.net> wrote:
[Snip]
>There were alot of decks that I did not expect
>to see at the tournament.
Correct: I didn't think anyone would be prepared for my deadly
Rock/Paper/Scissors deck ;-)
Joe Churchill
http://tzimisce.home.mindspring.com/
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
The Quivering Messiah
Richard Zopf (guenh...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: I think its worth mentioning here that Mr. Grau was playing some freakish
: Giovanni/Ravnos Goodnight Sweet Pince/Reanimator deck!!! I'd appreciate it
: if he would post the concept, and possibly the deck, so we can all figue out
: who let these Independents into the finals. Rob claimed at the tourney to
: be the beneficiary of the many Anarch Revolts that hit the table across all
: rounds of play, but that alone won't get you into a final with 11VP. Rob???
A Ravnos/Giovanni deck had no business making it to the finals, let alone
score 11 VPs...which is only testament to Rob's game play. He recognized
that there were a few Anarch Revolt-based decks and managed his pool and
his style of play accordingly. Also, his deck had a pretty serious
knock-out punch...Hold back, play conservatively, let the Anarch Revolts
take their toll, then drop the hammer.
Unfortunately for him, his deck stalled severely in the finals. If he
had gotten at least one Prince out, he would have fared a lot better.
: Congrats to Ben Peal. You should have seen him in the finals!!! <grin>
: Like I said, Ben, don't play that deck again, or your heart is likely to
: explode!!!
Aiieeeee...there's nothing like dropping 4 Anarch Revolts in the end
game...pleaseletmeoffthisrideiwanttogetoffnow...
: This was also my first time playing Sorrow in casual environment.
: Definitely one of the sharpest players I've come across.
While I was content to let him take out Rob and Dave in the final
round and deal with him one on one for the win, I wasn't at all
expecting such a drawn-out and thrilling end game...I figured he'd
either quickly succumb to the Anarch Revolts or he'd overwhelm me
with voting attempts to the point where I'd be hand jammed to death.
He managed to get enough pool gain out to keep things even, and
kept constant pressure on my minions (and my deck). Fortunately,
my deck held up under fire. The Fragment of the Book of Nod and
The Barrens went a long way towards getting me the cards I needed.
That was definitely the most exciting game I've ever played. Well
played, Chris.
- Ben Peal
fu...@mindstorm.com
Sorrow
> : Definitely one of the sharpest players I've come across.
> While I was content to let him take out Rob and Dave in the final
> round and deal with him one on one for the win,
I should have left Dave alive to take care of you. At least he would
have ran out your intercept.
> I wasn't at all expecting such a drawn-out and thrilling end game...
:)
> I figured he'd either quickly succumb to the Anarch Revolts or
At least I was drawing my Voter Caps that game. <g>
> he'd overwhelm me with voting attempts to the point where I'd be
> hand jammed to death.
With all the intercept you had, I don't think you had much to worry
about
> He managed to get enough pool gain out to keep things even, and
> kept constant pressure on my minions (and my deck). Fortunately,
> my deck held up under fire. The Fragment of the Book of Nod and
> The Barrens went a long way towards getting me the cards I needed.
I so should have paid for a new vamp as soon as I ousted Dave. This
was my downfall, I think. I probably could have taken at least the
Fragment. I would have also had another vamp to use to draw out
your resources.
> That was definitely the most exciting game I've ever played.
Indeed.
> Well played, Chris.
I want a rematch! ;)
Richard Zopf
Sorrow wrote in message ...
> It just
>bites
>that we all can't get together on a more regular occasion.
>
Yeah. Hey Davila, how's that real time online effort of yours coming
along??