March Madness

8-8-8-8-7-7

March 19:  We knew we were in trouble when the initial rolls to choose sides came up with 4 eights in a row followed by 2 sevens.  In the end, Ric was the Rebel Leader, Darth Horak led the Empire, and Kent the Hutt led the green team.

Mssr. La Ban broke up the string of Hutt victories by taking home the trophy.

More Hutt Victories

March 26:  In an effort to gain a coveted trifecta, Ric picked the Hutt faction, leaving me the Empire, and Kent the Rebels.  Kent's initial attacks claimed the Ison Corridor and grievously injured the Stormtroopers.  The Hutts made their usual slight gains for cards, but captured no further resource planets.  The Empire struck back with a full assault into the Wild Space, but stubborn Hutt defenses surprised everyone and denied the Empire control of a sector to balance the Rebel one.  Continued counter-attacks against the Rebels in the Mid and Outer Rim evened the score with them but left everyone bloodied.

The Rebels took their handful of reinforcements plus their sector bonus and began their next offensive.  By good luck they were able to take out the Death Star where it guarded egress into the Wild Space.  That was followed by a march on Elom and the neutralization of its starbase.  The Hutts quickly capitalized on the Rebel-Empire mutual weaknesses for a record-tying 2nd turn victory. 

Since game #1 finished so early, we immediately started #2.  Ric moved to head up the Imperial forces and a chance at a trifecta.  I switched to the Hutts and Kent remained Rebel leader.

Although the initial setup was very different, the result was yet another Hutt victory.  By turn 3 a faction card straight led to a 9-system lead.  More faction card bonuses and a capital ship/bomber fleet led to final victory the next turn.
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Hutt Victories #2 & #3

March 5

Ric, aka Peetza da Hutt, takes home the coveted Funky Chicken Trophy. 

March 12

Kent the Hutt makes it a rare Hutt trifecta.  There was foul play on the part of the Empire, but that is to be expected of Sith Lord Karl.  With the Dark Side looking unstoppable, Rebel Leader Ric managed to destroy the Death Star, invade the Wild Space, and march up to the doorstep of the Emperor's starbase only to be twarted by those damn 8-sided dice.  Kent took advantage of the momentary weakness to swoop across the Mid Rim for a victory. 

The Trophy Comes Home

In a game marked by Rudy's BBQ to excess, it seemed that everyone's offensive dice were hot and their defensive dice were not.  Sith Lord Kent made a valiant effort to subdue the Rebel faction, but the wily General LaBan pushed the Force Meter far to the Light Side. 

Horak the Hutt was able to slowly build his fleet and add systems.  When the Death Star abandoned Elom to vaporize a Rebel concentration, the green hoard locked down the the Wild Space.  Meanwhile the Rebels discovered the Emperor's starbase on Mimban and that pulled Storm Troopers and Rebels away from the weakly garrisoned Hutt resource planets in the Mid Rim.  Armed with extra legions per turn, a capital ship/bomber combined fleet, and a timely faction card straight, the Hutts ran up 10 resource planets.  Victory Hutts.