Bloody but Unbroken

So, in the end I went with playing the Bloody Countess at Barnstaple's tournament on Sunday. Made Top 4 (read: fourth :P) out of eleven participants.

Dwarves were no obstacle. They fell before my blade and my indomitable Dev speak. Took a while to hack through Priam's funky rank structure; at one point I had him reduced to sheltering behind a solitary Wall and failed to stun him forward with a deluge of attacks...

Trevaine Cartwright was a mild annoyance. When it comes down to it, just ignoring the Jiyacin Frets and running the peasant lord himself through as soon as he shows his hidden face is a solid tactic. Having cousin Lestan, shifter Caleb, keepers of d'Ilchant and Ghed Nuri around to throw off all those potential backstabs helps as well.

By the time I came to facing Trevaine's better - Black Tom - my devotion to Dev-speak was starting to falter, and I was punished with a draw for my lack of persistence. The minor complication of a slew of astral and ethereal rogues led to poor Elsabet fearing for her life every time she took a swing - even with the aid of Acolyte Dorra. I lost track of how many high level miscreants I dispatched to the afterlife over the course of the game, but there were always more hard on their heels. Called for time, we played on after to see what would have happened, and found that victory would have been mine after due time. Oh well, c'est la guerre. Unprecedented use from Shadow of Murder was nice, though.

Finally, I was facing off against Dyer himself and his Magson deck. Elsabet likes not being shot in the face, and even less having her second rank shot out from under her. Losing initiative even with bonuses several times, and drawing in a Title Contestation (after having won one the action before, no less!) contributed also. Still, I continued my tradition of at least taking a game from Chris even if I lose - the only person in the tournament to do so. Stunned Magson to the front first turn, only to have all the Militia-summoned Spencers inflict two wounds on Elsabet before turn's end...

The deck I used follows. It ain't the best (much 2x of cards...), but it's fun. Elsabet dashes to the front and delivers long overdue death to those who would dare face her.

Characters:
The Bloody Countess
Caleb the Shifter
Acolyte Dorra x3
Bascia Tremayne x2
Deverenian Courtier x3
Cardinal Bromin x3
D'Ilchant Keeper x3
Ghed Nuri x3
Lestan Drac x3
Xaros the Mist x3

Actions:
Ar'tek's Rampage
Bear's Soul x3
Bloodthirsty x2
Bull Rush x3
Contest Thy Title x2
Gahid's Stand
No Prisoners! x2

Items:
Battle Rhino x2
Black Sun Helm x2
Gloves of Mercy x2
Noble Steed x2
Shadow of Murder
Token of Favor x2

Epic Level

It's been a while.

Still, Epic has now truly arrived, and random 'pack wars' using the Battle Packs have turned out to be really fun. Sure, a few of the warlords are a little stronger in this format than others (Go go Cairbre Netheryn!), but not overwhelmingly so.

This coming Sunday shall be the first constructed Epic tournament that I'll be taking part in, down Barnstaple way. The current thoughts shredding their way through my brain are 'which warlord to use?'.

Sure, FreeKs are powerful right now, but everyone will be playing them. I've never been one to follow the crowd, and this is one area where I'll be standing my ground. Same reason why I won't be trying Tavis.

An old stand-by that I always used (besides re-iterating Lord Netheryn, which ain't possible anymore) was to go with the latest Elf warlord to be released. Faction loyalty, and all that. But that would mean giving in to Etra Bloodvine, who isn't nearly as interesting as her mafioso Spycraft namesakes. It has to be something fun.

The Bloody Countess is one warlord whose deck I've been enjoying immensely. It would also provide an opportunity to speak unto my opponents and Dev-style throughout the tournament, which would be great.

Then again, I was fortunate enough to pull a foil Black Tom from a booster, and the temptation to play the assassin just to have the card sitting on the table before me is strong. I have no idea what I'd do with him at the moment, but such details can always be hammered out later. Probably something revolving around Ssithiss, given how reliable ol' SS-SAURTH!!! has now left the building. For that reason, I may just go with Allisara and centre the entire deck around the lizard king.

There's always the possibility of going back to the NoThRoG, just to prove to everyone that they're not as bad as all that. Choosing between Brikta and Syvonne will be a matter of whether I feel like smashing or burning stuff closer ot the time.

One certainty: not dwarves. Not while I live.

Well, there's always Friday card evening to try out some ideas, see what Dyer is plannin' on playin' and then meta against it. If in doubt...

***

What do I stick all this excess XP, koku and Ghost Rock to? I don't want to have the package weighing too much when tI send it off to the US.

***

SS-SAURTH!!! is gone from Epic. But he shall not be forgotten. I shall back a deck in him. I have enough copies, but they're from vastly differing printings of the dude, leaving me at a loss. Guess I'll have to persuade people to hand over their Campaign printings to me, but how?

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Yarr!

Cyberpunk will be interesting tonight...