A Rare Two-game Evening

Game #1

In a very odd initial setup, Sith Lord LaBan controlled the Outer Rim and very nearly owned the Wild Space.  The Death Star effectively neutralized the Ison Corridor.

The Rebels led by General Horak countered by starting off with the capture of the El'Rood Sector, taking out many outlying Imperial garrisons, and leaving it to the Hutts to deal with the Outer Rim by taking Ord Mantel.

Kent the Hutt came hard up against one of the worst runs of dice rolls we have ever seen.  The assault on Ord Mantel failed completely, efforts to take Hapes from the Rebels were repulsed, leaving Balmorra dangerously weak.  In desperation, the Hutts attacked Da Soocha V and Kashyyyk and eked out two faction cards. 

The Empire came out with 4 reinforcements and 5 legions for the Outer Rim sector bonus.  The first starbase was constructed on Tatooine and then the storm troopers ran amok, seriously damaging the Rebel forces, but neglecting to attack the El'Rood Sector.

Armed with a handful of reinforcements plus the large garrison on Duro, the Rebels attacked into the Outer Rim.  A timely "Use the Force" faction card gave them +1 to all dice while attacking Tatooine.  Although a close battle, the Rebels prevailed, and to their surprise, the Emperor was discovered.  Game ova.  Victory Rebels. 

Game #2

Since the first game ended in record time, we elected to keep the same sides and restart a second match.

Kent the Hutt began with a strong position after the initial setup.  The Rebels and the Storm Troopers knocked each other around to no avail.

[I've slept since then... need input for others here.]

Eventually, the Hutts prevailed.  Victory Kent.

Another Circumsolar Orbit for Peetza da Hutt

In a magnanimous gesture of friendship and goodwill, Darth Horak and General Wood allowed Ric the Hutt to win tonight.

Hell no!

Let's back up the ol' time machine.  First off, my plan to use the birthday sushi-fest to lure both of my opponents into a protein-comma somnambulent state failed.  Even after wine, beer, and a couple Tanqueray-and-tonics, tons o' sushi, and the combined efforts of carrot cake and double chocolate moose cake, they were both still on their feet. 

This can't be good, I thought to myself. 

The setup went in the usual crazy way.  Seems like we never do things the same way twice.  The Hutts had 6 resource planets yet my Empire was completely connected.  The Death Star held sway over the Wild Space. 

The Rebels came blazing out of the gates and inflicted significant damage on the Empire with amazingly good dice rolls, the last they'd see tonight.  The Hutts made a modest advance.  The storm troopers, well, they gave as good as they got. The first starbase goes on Sluis Van. 

Turn 2, the dastardly Rebels took out the Death Star.  Damn, I hate it when that happens.  The Hutts muddled on with their 3 little troops and played a Spies card:  Randomly remove a faction card from each opponent.  There went my straight and the 7 legions of clones that would've come with it.  With the initial concentration of troops on Bespin, they are able to overrun the Ison Corridor.  That said, I was able do some damage to the Rebels and still snag a Hutt for 3 faction cards.  The Emperor's starbase comes out and I place it on Gamorr. 

Turn 3, the Rebels hunker down, push the force meter over a couple notches, and get their 3 cards.  The Hutts turn in a faction card straight and use those forces to garner more resource planets.  My storm troopers and a bomber make a go at a big run, but the Hutts blow away the bomber with a Mine Fields card.  None-the-less, the Rebels are hurting and the force meter moves to the dark side. 

Turn 4, the Rebels take a shot at Sluis Van and take it out.  The Hutts grow strong with the reinforcements from the Ison Corridor.  The Empire strikes back with a capital ship and significant in-coming reinforcements.  The Wild Space is mine. 

Turn 5, the Rebels make a run at the starbase on Gamorr, but heavy resistance en route causes the assault to fail on Rodia.  The Hutts gain 9 resource planets.  The Empire responds with an overwhelming show of force, but the Money is Power faction card, thwarts the assault.  No matter, the Ison Corridor is neutralized and Bespin recaptured. 

Turn 6, the Rebels make a pitiful attack on Gamorr, but fail hopelessly.  The Hutts sweep up resource planets that the Rebels can not protect.  The final assault from Ord Mantell claws through the light resistance from storm troopers and captures Tatooine from the Rebels.

Victory, Hutts. 

The Lunar Eclipse is Coming

Even with the threat of an impending total lunar eclipse, the Hutts were able to triumph over the forces of light and dark.  Fortunately for me, I was playing the Hutts. 

After last week's victory with the Storm Troopers, Kent sought to move his potential for a trifecta forward with a Rebel victory.  Indeed, he came out of the gates with embarrassingly good luck and quickly damaged the Imperial forces.  The Hutts started with 6 resource planets and limped along, collecting faction cards but little else.  The Emperor carefully deployed his starbases, but his luck with the dice was less than stellar.  Little did we know that the Imperial starbase came out on the second turn. 

Early on, the Rebels destroyed the Death Star.  Unbeknownst to us, Ric had already used both his "Build a New Death Star" faction cards.  As the Rebels ground down the Empire, the Hutts made good on capturing the Ison Corridor, a rare treat for the slimy green hoard.  That plus a couple faction card straights led to a situation where they held 9 systems and 8 of them were resource planets. 

The Empire and the Rebellion fought on for 9 turns, when the Rebels mounted a ferocious assault.  They bounced off the starbase at Balmorra and then turned on the lightly garrisoned starbase at Hapes.  Unluckily, Balmorra was the Emperor's starbase.  So close, General Wood. 

The Hutts had broken a faction card straight to defend Sullust from a Rebel attack, but the remaining cards were enough to sweep up ten resource planets. 

Trifecta Averted, but at what cost?

Ric was off to a reasonable start as Rebel Leader, on his way to the much sought after trifecta.  But the initial cost was high.  The Hutts had managed 6 resource planets in the initial setup, but were not able to hold on to 7 when the Empire struck back at the end of turn 1. 

In turn 2 Ric swiped 2 faction cards from Kent, but still the Storm Troopers pushed the Force Meter far to the dark side.  The Hutts clambered into the bonus points and began assembling their fleet. 

Eventually, the Death Star nuked Sluis Van and then the Imperial forces were able to lock down the Wild Space with a starbase on Elom.  Twice the Hutts climbed up to 8 resource planets, only to be repulsed.  In a rare turn of events, the green hoard captured and held the Outer Rim while the Storm Troops were distracted by the rebellious forces.  Gradually the Rebels took more and more casualties.  Faction card straights didn't turn up as often as they did for the Hutts (twice) and the Sith Lord (three times). 

Despite a strong Hutt fleet, their final assault faltered at Derilyn and again at Nar Shaddar.  The Rebels made a valiant last ditch counter-attack, but it was not enough.  A final Imperial faction card straight, extra troops added to the first invasion, and Wild Space bonuses were enough to give them the victory, Kent's first in about 6 weeks.