Stalemate

Horak the Hutt took the field against Rebel Leader Wood and Darth LaBan.  The Hutts made steady progress and slowly constructed a fleet.  Armed with a bomber and a capital ship, the green slime made repeated assaults that captured up to 9 resource planets, but never grabbed the gold ring at 10.  Kessel was the resource planet that swung back and forth, always hanging in the balance.  Some great defensive cards were played that thwarted the repeated Hutt straights and flushes.

The Empire destroyed a resource planet held by a large Rebel garrison.  The Rebels quickly responded by destroying the Death Star and continued pushing the Force Meter far to the Light side.

With the Empire seriously weakened and the Hutts about to win, Darth LaBan opened a pathway to the Imperial starbase.  Wood captured the proffered starbase only to discover it did not conceal the Emperor.  

After the Rebels fought off yet another Hutt assault and the Empire was unable to make much ground against the Rebels, a draw was offered.  

Oh well, maybe next week...

August in the Galaxy

August in the Galaxy

Let's see if my mind can recall all the craziness of this past month. 

This Week (9/8/16)

Sith Lord Wood, Rebel Leader LaBan, and Horak the Hutt marked off in a Pizza 9-filled extravaganza.  After a fairly typical setup (despite the others generously granting a fifth Hutt resource planet), the Rebels came out with only a minor initial assault.  The Hutts followed up and were severely punished in their attempts to take Sullust.  The Empire then struck hard and deep.

In the turns that followed, the Hutts kept garnering cards, while the other two parried each attempt to gain a sector.  A Hutt capital ship permitted some dangerous excursions.  Rebel fighters did their work and Imperial fleets attacked at will.

Eventually, the Wild Space fell to the Empire with the Death Star on Sluis Van and a concentration of troops on Excarga protected by a layer of Hutts in the Mid Rim.  Little did the Sith Lord expect an assault by a Hutt straight (on turn 3) producing a 10 legion invasion force plus a capital ship.  Elom quickly fell and with it the Wild Space bonus was lost.

Despite well-fought counter-attacks, the Empire was seriously hampered.  The Rebels took advantage to clear lanes of Storm Troopers in the Mid Rim.  The result was an opportunity for the Hutts to run up to 8 resource planets, dangerously close to victory.

The Empire struggled to regain supremacy and the Rebels responded in kind.  The Hutts were set back significantly.  Alas, Rebel reinforcements moved to the Core Worlds to prepare for an attack on the Imperial Starbases there.  This left a gap in the Mid Rim that the Hutts quickly exploited for victory.

Last Week (9/1/16)

It's difficult to remember the exact chain of events.  The Imperial Starbase came out on turn 1 and was cleverly placed on Nar Shaddar, protected by layers of Hutts, but not too obviously "protected."

Somewhere early on the Empire under General Karl dramatically injured Kent the Hutt's forces and locked them out of several resource planets.  Then fortune favored the Empire thrice more:  in four turns the Death Star was able to destroy Elom, Bespin, and Duro.  With most other resource planets secure beneath Starbases, the Hutts could only turn on the Empire in a desperate bid to throw off the oppressive yolk.

Meanwhile, the Rebels slowly and steadily chipped away at the Imperial holdings, running the Force Meter far to the Light Side.  Convinced that the Emperor was hidden deep within the Wild Space, Rebel assaults in turn leveled Sullust, Sluis Van, Omwat, Arbel, and finally Excharga.  The Emperor was in none of them.

With the Empire seriously weakened, the Hutts vented their ire on the Sith and destroyed the last Imperial Starbase and with it, the Emperor.  Though the Hutts were far short of 10 resource planets, the Emperor was dead, so victory went, in a bizarre twist, to the Rebels.  A Hutt trifecta was averted, sort of.

The Week Before (8/25/16)

Peetza da Hutt aka Ric played Kent and Karl like fools for an easy green victory.

And Before That (8/18/16)

After a restart on Star Wars Risk, Horak the Hutt took home the win.

Still Earlier in the Month (8/11/16)

Star Wars Risk resumed in force.  Sith Lord Kent took up the reins of Imperial power only for everyone to forget about Starbases until turn 3.  Abort...

The Game Marches On

March 3rd

General Wood, Peetza da Hutt, and Darth Horak joined in the never-ending struggle for galactic supremacy once again.  The Empire rather rapidly captured the Wild Space and, soon after, a the El'Rood Sector.  While the Rebel's were able to eventually neutralize the El'Rood Sector, the Wild Space reinforcements kept the Rebels on the defensive.  Ric's Gamorran mercenaries were never able to make serious inroads. As exhaustion overtook all forces on turn 7, the Death Star made a display of power by destroying the mostly harmless Coruscant.  An armistice was signed on Stardate 0.87.3.3.2016.  

March 10th

General LaBan, Empiror Wood, and Horak the Hutt continued the weekly battle for mastery of the known universe.  The Rebels and Stormtroopers both started cautiously, playing mainly for cards.  The Hutts began with 5 resource planets and eventually mustered 6 after taking Duro on the 3rd attempt.  (I blame that on too many beer-soaked brats consumed before the battle.)

Eventually, the Sith overran the El'Rood Sector and, combined with an early faction card straight, they went on to gain the Wild Space.  Starbases defended most egress to their territories except where the the Death Star protected Excarga.  The Rebels held on, developed their fleet, and amassed a considerable force.  Their garrison at Hoth held fast.  The Death Star stuck with swift finality and destroyed Kessel.  

The Stormtroopers, safe behind their Starbases, were surprised by the successful invasion of El'Rood when the Rebels took Dagobah and then Bffassh.  Then, to everyone's amazement, the Hutts struck out from Duro with a large force (read:  faction card straight) and two capital ships.  Faction card bonuses allowed them to overrun the Imperial garrison on Sullust (4 legions), but the attack stalled with heavy casualties taken on Sluis Van (1 defending legion).  The Hutts persevered and took Omwat, denying the Empire any sector bonuses.  

The Imperial forces responded by again using the Death Star, destroying Balmorra.  In the next turn they destroyed Bespin.  Despite these heavy losses, the Hutt High Command still provided "yuuuge" banana splits to power the conflict into its final stages.

The Hutt capital ships and their elite fighters were still intact on Omwat.  But before they could neutralize Elom and march into the Mid Rim, General LaBan assembled a strike force outside Bothawui.  Reinforced by a capital ship, a bomber, and two fighter squadrons, the battle group captured Gamorr and then pushed into Excarga.  When the system's Starbase fell and the Emperor was discovered in his cowardly lair, it was game ova.  Victory (and the trophy) to General Ric.  

Some Catching Up

January 16 -- Game of Thrones Risk

With Gareth in Santa Fe and Archie about to head back to school, it was time for a F2F game night.  Everyone but Peter was able to convene in Albuquerque for dinner and an epic round of GoT Risk. 

The rules are similar, the board done in dark pastel shades, but with 5 players, it had quite a different dynamic.  The ability to combine attacking forces from multiple adjacent regions made for some massive battles.  The ability to move from any east/west coast port to any other east/west coast port made for massive and surprising invasions. 

The Valar Morghalis card turned up after my play and Gareth ran the board.  According to our interpretation at the time, we thought this meant that Gareth won.  See Feb. 20 for a different story. 

All hail, King Gareth who sits on the Iron Throne.

February 18 -- The Grizzled  

Off to a new year, we thought to try a new game, The Grizzled.  It's a cooperative game, so either everyone wins or everyone loses.  We played the easy level (without traps) to learn the rules.  In the end we were all able to demobilize.  Victory, everyone.  And the Special Favorite pizza from Village Pizza was a huge success. 

February 20 -- Revenge of Game of Thrones Risk

We had another opportunity to pull the group together.  This time Peter and Gareth were far afield.  Kent took Gareth's chair and we marched on.  Rosemary pot roast and a Greek salad fueled the conflict. 

This time the luck went out of my sails straight away and it was a struggle to stay on the board.  A last minute run at the northern territories gave me a lot of territory, but only briefly.  Valar Morghalis did not appear and the combined forces of Kent and Ty were able to push me back to a pitiful remnant.  Archie had a good night and when VM turned up, he sat upon the Iron Throne.  All hail, King Archie!

February 25 -- We now return you to our regularly scheduled Star Wars Risk 

After The Grizzled, we finally have gotten brave enough to go back to SWR.  Kent the Hutt, Darth LaBan, and General Karl sought to conquer the galaxy.  Kent's aunt's sloppy joes, aka Sloppy Kents, were the kickoff event. 

Initially, Kent had the luck of the setup and scored 5 resource planets, but that's where it ended.  A ferocious onslaught from the Rebels destroyed his large garrison on Bespin and the Rebel success continued with huge gains against the Empire. 

But down does not mean out; both factions fought back and regained strength.  The Hutts clawed their way to 7 resource planets and started turning in faction-card straights in rapid succession.  The Stormtroopers were never able to critically damage the widespread Rebels.  The Hutts never completely failed.  The Rebels never were able to pick off a single starbase.  The Ison Corridor was taken from the Hutts, held for 3 turns, lost to a desperate Imperial attack, and won back again by the Rebels. 

After seven turns, matters were fairly stable.  The Death Star had destroyed the Hutt garrison that had held Elom since the beginning.  Sluis Van and Gamorr were heavily protected Imperial starbases. Bespin was a resource planet too far.  But all starbases were on the board and the Emperor could well be "vulnerable."  Yet the Imperial forces were by no means a triffling pest, but a real menace.  The Rebels were somewhat weakened and a serious threat to the Stormtroopers if that distraction didn't give the Hutts their chance to snatch victory.  

In the end, the lateness of the hour made the decision for us:  a draw.  Victory, everyone.

Resumption of Hostilities

After a respite of several weeks, we return to our regularly scheduled galactic conflict.  The impetus for this was the arrival of the Vermonters, including my nephew David.  Rather than rolling for who got first and second choice of faction, we let the dice decide.  They awarded me the Hutts and David got the Empire.  That left Kent with the Rebels.

The setup was unremarkable except for the six systems left to the green worm.  That said, the Hutts quickly lost one and thereafter struggled to get even close to a bonus card.  It was well into turn four that they clawed their way up to seven resource systems. 

Meanwhile, the Storm Troopers and Rebels exchanged blows repeatedly.  Early in the second turn, the Rebels were able to destroy the Death Star.  Sectors were captured but never held.  Starbases accumulated but the Emperor was nowhere to be found.

A slight advantage in the Force Meter let David get ahead with faction cards, which led to more vessels, which led to more systems.  Rebel Leader Wood struggled to hold the line, but for every push of the Force to the light side, the Empire was able to push back to the dark side.  It began to look like the game would soon go to the Imperial forces.

But as luck would have it, the Hutts picked up a faction card straight for 7 legions of reinforcements just in time to take a run at a series of 3 resource planets.  It was turn 5 and the Hutts already had 7 resource systems and a capital ship (1d8) to help lessen the Starbase defensive rolls (2d8).  After a desperate and costly battle onYlesia, the remaining Gamorran mercenaries were forced to fight on against a reinforced Kessel.  Eventually, a few survivors were able to push on and attack Ord Mantell.  With the help of all things that the Hutts hold holy, they were able take the 10th system and a victory. 

Trifecta Averta (again)

After two crushing victories in a row, the Empire stood to win its first Trifecta, an Imperial win by each of Kent, Ric and Karl.  Alas, Kent the Rebel king-maker attacked Darth Horak's storm troopers to the benefit of the Peetza da Hutt.  Ric was able to easily take 10 resource planets, since the Rebels were intent on denying the Empire a clean victory. 

On Turn 2 the Rebels were able to use a fortuitous faction card to destroy the Death Star.  That led to a complete flip of the Wild Space, which the Rebels were able to use to good effect.  It took several turns for a new Death Star to be built and then it was able to convert Omwatt to a smattering of asteroids. 

With the Wild Space neutralized and the Force Meter well into the Dark Side, it was only a matter of time before the Rebels were crushed.  But the ever-resourceful Rebels threw in with the Hutts and refused to attack them.  (Perhaps a non-aggression treaty?  We'll never know.) 

In the end, Hutt cards won the day and Ric will be carrying the Funky Chicken Trophy to Utah to share with friends.  For my part, Kent now has a Death Mark upon his head. 

Trifecta Averted... Well, not really

It was an ugly match... with an ugly ending.  There were two conflicting goals:  Ric the Rebel needed an orange victory to gain his Trifecta Badge while Sith  Kent and Karl the Hutt sought to deny him this at all costs. 

The initial deployment had the Hutts at 3 resource systems, but firmly entrenched in the Wild Space and El'Rood Sectors.  The Death Star held sway over the Ison Corridor.  On turn 1 the Rebels had terrible rolls.  The Hutts fared slightly better, gaining ground in the El'Rood Sector.  But the Empire struck back with great good fortune, significantly hamstringing the Rebels. 

By turn 2, the Rebels were suffering from continued poor dice rolls.  The Hutts managed to capture the Ison Corridor and the Empire continued to grind down the Rebellion. 

On turn 3 the Rebels neutralized the Hutt sector, only to lose the Wild Space.  This sector bonus would greatly assist Horak the Hutt for several turns.  Meanwhile, the Empire continued to salt the Mid Rim with starbases. 

The Death Star marched forth and destroyed Dathomir with its large Rebel garrison.  Neither Hutt nor Storm Trooper elected to disrupt the tenuous balance between Dagobah and Hoth--each side gained benefit.  The Hutts managed to get sector bonuses from El'Rood and the Wild Space for one turn. 

Rebel assaults against the starbases in the Mid Rim failed miserably.  The Hutts could not gain traction beyond 6 resource planets.  In the end, the Empire slowly strangled the Rebels, ending Ric's dreams of a trifecta. 

In two weeks:  Darth Horak will attempt a first-ever Imperial trifecta, 3 Imperial victories in a row. 

Boom-boom La Ban Rides Again

Two games to summarize today in order to bring the blog up to date.  Alas, both were La Ban victories, taking him two-thirds of the way to a Trifecta.  The next game will be a desperate one for all sides. 

Game the First

Rebel Leader Horak took on Darth Kent and Peetza da Hutt.  Bickering between the Storm Troopers and Rebels left an opening big enough to drive Jabba through, and that's just what Ric did. 

Victory:  Hutts.  

Game the Second

Horak the Hutt thought to have an easy time taking the Funky Chicken Trophy away from Sith Lord Ric.  Even with the tacit help of General Wood's Rebel forces, the Dark Side consistently held strong on defense and attacked even stronger on offense.  Hutt fleets were demolished after failed assaults (twice) on Ylesia.  The Wild Space was captured by the Empire and cordoned off by starbases and an asteroid field on Sullust.  Only a counter-balancing stream of reinforcements from the Ison Corridor kept the Hutts in the game at all. The Rebels kindly looked the other way rather than counter-attack into the Hutt sector. 

Despite General Wood's surprising attack through the asteroids, which successfully denied the Empire it's sector bonus, the dice and cards continued to fail Wood and Horak.  Eventually the Outer Rim fell to the Dark Side and then the Rebels were carved up for serving.  However, that was not before a desperate attack on a Mid Rim starbase, hoping to get lucky and snare the Emperor.  Of course, with the Force being so strong in Ric tonight, there was little danger of that.  The Emperor was safe and the Storm Troopers soon finished off the last of the Rebels.

Victory:  Empire. 

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

Rebel Leader Kent and Ric, the Pizza Delivery Hutt, went up against a seemingly unstoppable Darth Horak in this week's battle for galactic supremacy.  By ignoring the opportunities of attacking large numbers of weakly held systems, the Sith Lord was able to control the Wild Space in the first turn and protect its hyperlinks.  The Death Star plus a starbase made attacks on the sector futile.

Even better, the Death Star was able to destroy Gamorr and turn it's attentions to the protection of Sluis Van.  With two extra legions coming in regularly and the Hutts prevented from occupying 3 of 13 resource planets, the Empire slowly but steadily ground down the opposition.  Starbases accumulated in the Wild Space with little chance of their capture.  At one key juncture, the Empire used a "Snarf one Rebel card" faction card and managed to eliminate a "Snarf two cards from any opponent."  Both Hutt and Rebel were ready to sue for peace. 

But when the Death Star left its protective station to take out Balmorra, the wiley Rebels were able to launch a sneak attack from Bfassch.  Reinforced with a bomber, they attacked the starbase at Sluis Van, capturing it quickly and then moved on to Omwat.  As luck would have it, that system fell revealing the Emperor's redoubt.

Victory Rebels.

Hutt Night

It being the Kent's birthday, he had the rare prerogative to choose his faction, which was the Empire.  With Sith Lord Wood bringing his justifiably famous "Sloppy Kents" for dinner, the battle for Galactic Domination was certainly well fed.  Birthday cake was a combination of birthday cupcakes and birthday chocolate chip cookies.  Altogether, it was washed down with Caol Ila. 

Horak the Hutt and Rebel Leader LaBan set out with the express goal of denying victory to the Empire.  The twosome did quite well in holding the Sith at bay, but the Rebels couldn't gain traction against the starbases and the Empire built up a significantly fortified zone in the Mid Rim. 

Later in the game, with an Imperial faction card straight, things started to go sour for the Hutts and Rebels.  Fortunately, the Rebels were able to reply with one of their own.  However, the sneaky Hutts built up their fleet, captured the Ison Corridor for a sector bonus, and used their own straight to overwhelm ten resource planets. 

Victory Hutts.

Blog Catch-up Post

June 25

For the 5th game in a row, General Horak led the Rebel Forces against Sith Wood and his Storm Troopers.  Peetza da Hutt did indeed provide pizza. 

Unlike last week's disaster, this time the Rebels were fortunate in getting a faction card that revealed the Emperor's whereabouts on Elom.  Knowing that the Storm Troopers would heavily reinforce that starbase as soon as they were able, the Rebels launched a desperate assault that swung through Sluis Van and Omwatt.  The battle at Elom was hard fought, but the last Rebel unit was able to overcome the last Imperial legion.

Victory Rebels

July 2

General Ric took up the Rebel forces and Kent the Hutt led the green team.  Sith Lord Karl positioned himself for a possible trifecta with the Hutts next week.  But it was not to be...

Although initial attacks against the Rebels set them back seriously, they were able to control the Ison Corridor for two turns early in the game.  As they counter-attacked, the Hutts slowly gathered cards.  Eventually, a Rebel faction card straight allowed them to partially recover, but they failed to set back the Hutts sufficiently.  (General LaBan would say that the powerful Storm Troops were remiss in attacking the Rebels so furiously, when the Hutts needed further attention.)  At any rate, Kent the Hutt used his faction card straight to break through weakened Imperial systems and take ten systems.
 Victory Hutts

The Hutts Strike Back

As luck would have it, things fell out such that I was playing the Rebel faction, Kent took the Imperial pieces, and Ric held the reins of the Hutt hoard.  My efforts to secure a third straight Rebel victory failed.  Sith Lord Wood came down hard on the Rebels and denied them any headway. 

After several failed attempts to gain traction, the Rebels hunkered down for the long game... waiting for cards, looking for a chance to take out the Death Star, hoping for a faction card straight.  Even with the Empire on the rampage, they took one turn too many attacking the Rebels.  With lightning-like swiftness, Ric the Hutt snapped up 10 resource planets. 

Game ova!

Double Rebel Whammy

Game #1

Rebel Leader Karl went up against Sith Lord LaBan and Hutt Spice Merchant Extraordinaire Kent Wood in a pizza-fueled battle for control of the galaxy.  In an unusual initial setup, the Rebels were very strong in the Mid Rim. 

After their first turn, they managed to capture the Wild Space, only to follow up with capturing the Ison Corridor and, surprisingly, the Mid Rim as well.  Of course, the Mid Rim was immediately invaded and neutralized. 

But the cards were all in the Rebels hand.  The Emperor's starbase was discovered and destroyed at the beginning of turn 3 for a short game. 

Game #2

After such a quick game there was time to spare, so we set up with the same factions for a rematch.  The Emperor came out on the first turn and his starbase went under the Death Star at Hoth.  The Rebels had drawn a "Move the Force Meter one space to the light side and look under any starbase" faction card as well as "Set all dice on their maximum value."  Playing the first card revealed the Emperor's hiding place and neutralized the initial +1 Imperial Death Star advantage.  The second card destroyed the protective Death Star and the remaining troops were quickly overcome by eager Rebels forces.  This represents the shortest possible SWR game (1-1/3 turns or 4 plays).

Ric La Ban, King Maker Extraordinaire

April 30

Wood the Hutt came out against Horak the Hutt and Darth Ric.  The Empire grabbed the Wild Space and began to put the hurt on both opponents.  Then the Sith Lord played the dastardly "Name an Imperial planet.  All troops must flee..." against a mighty garrison at Gamorr.  While it was easy for them to flee to Elom, it opened the way for the Hutts to capture Gamorr and Rodia.  With the addition of a faction card straight, the ten required systems were quickly taken for the victory.

Side note:  On April 24, McGoey retired from Boeing.  :-)

May 7

Tonight Horak drew Hutts and LaBan took the Rebels, thus sticking Wood with the unenviable position of playing the Empire.  The initial set up left the Hutts in control of 6 resource systems.  By turn 2 they had one capital ship and captured a 7th resource planet.  Meanwhile, Ric had pushed the force meter completely to the light side.  The E-vile Empire was hurtin' for certain. 

On turn 3 the Rebels attacked Imperial and Hutt forces thoughout the Mid Rim from his stronghold in Kessel.  This drove the Hutts down to 5 systems, but it was too costly.  The capital ship plus troops already on Rodia sweep up the Rebel bomber and garrison on Gamorr followed by the destruction of the weaker force on Nar Shaddar.  At the same time, a Hutt straight gave them a huge force on Ylesia, which overwhelmed in turn Kessel, Ord Mandel, Yavin 4, and finally Balmorra for the win.  Victory Hutts.   

Hutt Quinfecta

Inconceivable!

Yes, Kent the Hutt was able to put another one away for the Green Team.  At first Sith Lord Ric was able to keep both my Rebels and the Hutts at bay.  But when he blasted through the garrison on Gamorr, it opened the door for the green hoard to pour through.  First they took Elom, then the marched through and took Sluis Van and Sullust.  In the end, the Rebels were too weak to stop their march towards victory.  April 16th will be a date remembered in infamy. 

Note to self:  When you've got the Hutts down, kick 'em again!

Defensive Dice and Offensive Cards

Darth Horak took up arms against General Wood and both of them swore on a stack of Alderaanian constitutions that Ric the Hutt would not win a hexafecta.  Straight away the Rebel attacks began, but good defensive dice rolls limited the damage.  The Hutts cautiously advanced and in their turn the Empire made small dents in both parties.  Efforts against the Hutts left the Rebels strong in the number of systems they controlled.

But the cards were always in the Empire's favor.  A bomber was helpful early on, causing the Hutts to use a shipyard attack to destroy it.  Eventually the Imperial fleet would grow to a two bomber squadron.  By turn three the Death Star was able to destroy Bespin with a large Hutt garrison.  By turn four the Empire controlled the Wild Space.  That left only 11 systems for the Hutts to prey on. 

Good use of cards pushed the Force Meter to the full Dark Side and this prevented the Rebels from making a one-in-a-million shot at the Death Star, which protected the Emperor on Endor.  One faction card straight led to significant Rebel losses in the Core Worlds and this was followed up with a capital ship flush that punished them in the Mid Rim.

The Rebel forces conceded on Turn 8.  The Hutt string of victories was at last halted. 

Hutt Quadfecta

In a surprising turn of events, the Hutts pulled off their fourth victory in a row, a quadfecta.  With Rebel Leader Wood and Sith Lord Ric both swearing that the Hutts would be halted in their tracks, it was a foregone conclusion that the Hutts were doomed. 

Sooo...

Horak the Hutt implemented Cunning Plan #17 -- start with only 3 resource planets... but garrison them with 7 legions each.  The other 4 systems were merely bait for Rebels and Stormtroopers looking for an easy faction card from capturing a single Hutt system. 

The game, as is always the case, had its share of crazy statistical anomalies.  This time it was a strong bias towards the defender.  Imperial systems stood strong against the Rebel assaults.  Rebels defeated overwhelming numbers of attacking Stormtroopers.   Hutts successfully warded off both factions. 

Only the Empire seemed to have any initial success, capturing the Ison Corridor, garrisoning one side with a heavily reinforced starbase  and the Death Star at the other.  Rebel counter-attacks managed to break the sector but at great cost. 

Soon the galaxy was littered with systems having singleton garrisons, except for the 3 original Hutt concentrations.  Rebel schemes to cause mass casualties fell victim to a rules technicality, but the Hutts returned with the same assault.  However, in the aftermath, the starbase involved fled to a distant and safe system.  Meanwhile, the Rebels pushed the Force Meter towards the light side. 

However, the original 3 Hutt systems stood firm for four turns until they broke away on a run for 10 systems based on the resource planets of the Mid Rim.  As noted, the defense dice were preternaturally strong and the green hoard was stopped by a single Rebel force on Kessel, surviving attacks from both direction.  Both Rebel and Empire counter-attacked, but the 5 faction cards from the previous turn gave the Hutts a reinforced fleet and a straight worth 7 legions.  Again, it came down to a battle for Kessel, but this time the Hutts overcame the Rebel resistance for the win. 

Rules note:  In an experiment, we chose to give each side a single faction card at the beginning of the game from the top of their deck.  It seemed to have little effect on the game, although this meant that the Rebels and Hutts had a chance for a turn 2 faction card straight. 

Hutt Trifecta

Darth Ric faced off against Rebel Leader Karlos while Kent the Hutt lapped up the victory.  With the Wild Space neutralized as a sector of interest by the Death Star on Omwatt, the Rebels set up on Bakura opposite the large Imperial garrison on Bespin.  The addition of the 5 legions of turn 1 reinforcements ensured a high body count.  The Hutts were not disappointed -- something like 28 troops destroyed.  After a few more ill-fated 3:1 attacks, a desperate 2:1 took out enough Stormtroopers to hold their reinforcements down to 4. 

Turn 2 witnessed two Hutt faction cards being swiped by the wily Karlos.  Sith Lord Ric built up his

Turn 3 saw the establishment of Rebel control of the Ison Corridor and the El'Rood Sector.  The Empire's faction-card straight was not enough to neutralize the Rebel threat and the Hutts used their faction cards to build up a significant fleet.  With it they were able to sweep across the Mid Rim and then strike out from Rodia through Falleen into the Core Worlds before doubling back through the rice resource planets of the El'Rood Sector. 

Victory Hutts.  Stay tuned next week for a possible Hutt "quad-fecta".

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.
\

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.