Last Thursday's galactic brouhaha went down as another Wood victory, this time as the Hutts. With one Rebel victory and this Hutt victory, he only needs a third consecutive victory as the Empire to gain the much coveted "Trifecta" title. There's only two little problems with that plan: (1) Ric and (2) Karl.
The real winner of last week's match was "card lust," that insatiable desire to get that one extra faction card by knocking off a single garrison somewhere. When it goes horribly wrong, as it did for both Rebels and Storm Troopers, the result is a long list of weak systems barely defended waiting to be picked off by anyone with any troops at all.
Rebel Leader Horak quickly went down in flames with a long series of bad dice rolls against Hutt targets. Soon after, Sith Lord Laban did the same. Within 4 turns, the Hutts had amassed a critical number of resource planets, which in turn gives them a large number of faction cards. This in turn leads to more resource planets and then more cards. It's a positive feedback loop and it always ends poorly for two out of three players.
At least with a quick, decisive loss, I was in bed early after a long week at Sandia. On top of that, Wood gets stuck bringing dinner for the next battle.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A Hutt too Far
The usual Thursday evening shenanigans led to pizza overdose and a fair bit of statistically implausible dice rolling. Darth Laban, Horak the Hutt, and Rebel Leader Wood duked it out for galactic supremacy. Amazingly, the galaxy survived.
With the Death Star thwarting any chance of anyone taking the Wild Space, the night's setup was far from usual. With that constraint in mind, the Rebels turned instead to the Ison Corridor. After clearing out the few Storm Troopers, they heavily garrisoned both inbound hyperspace links. The Hutts were left to cautiously creep forward. Unfortunately, the Empire's first attacks meant to regain lost ground against the dastardly Rebels failed disastrously.
In subsequent rounds, the Rebels spread like a plague, but concerted attacks by Hutts and Storm Troopers kept them in check. One of the key features of this campaign was the back-and-forth balance of the Force Meter. Often victory is determined by which side can move the Force Meter farthest. This time, for every move to the dark side, the Rebels were able to match with an equal move to the light side. With the Force in balance, neither side accumulated significant bonus cards.
The Hutts slowly acquired a fleet of ships and when they obtained a faction card straight, they launched a devastating sweep through the Core Worlds and Outer Rim. A turn later, the Hutts, of all people, actually controlled the Outer Rim (and 9 resource planets).
The Rebels and the Empire responded and knocked the Hutts back. But another Hutt faction card straight turned them loose once again. At the doorstep of victory again with 8 resource planets, Elom held fast, so the Hutts turned on Rodia. It was a fateful mistake -- they should have taken unfortified Sluis Van first. Although Rodia fell, it's Star Base fled to Sluis Van and after a brutal battle managed to survive.
The dilapidated Rebel forces gathered once more and made a forlorn hope assault on Sullust, just to take out a Star Base and move the Force Meter one notch to the light side. As it were, Sullust was protecting the Emperor. With his capture, the Rebels gained control of the galaxy ... at least for a single week.
With the Death Star thwarting any chance of anyone taking the Wild Space, the night's setup was far from usual. With that constraint in mind, the Rebels turned instead to the Ison Corridor. After clearing out the few Storm Troopers, they heavily garrisoned both inbound hyperspace links. The Hutts were left to cautiously creep forward. Unfortunately, the Empire's first attacks meant to regain lost ground against the dastardly Rebels failed disastrously.
In subsequent rounds, the Rebels spread like a plague, but concerted attacks by Hutts and Storm Troopers kept them in check. One of the key features of this campaign was the back-and-forth balance of the Force Meter. Often victory is determined by which side can move the Force Meter farthest. This time, for every move to the dark side, the Rebels were able to match with an equal move to the light side. With the Force in balance, neither side accumulated significant bonus cards.
The Hutts slowly acquired a fleet of ships and when they obtained a faction card straight, they launched a devastating sweep through the Core Worlds and Outer Rim. A turn later, the Hutts, of all people, actually controlled the Outer Rim (and 9 resource planets).
The Rebels and the Empire responded and knocked the Hutts back. But another Hutt faction card straight turned them loose once again. At the doorstep of victory again with 8 resource planets, Elom held fast, so the Hutts turned on Rodia. It was a fateful mistake -- they should have taken unfortified Sluis Van first. Although Rodia fell, it's Star Base fled to Sluis Van and after a brutal battle managed to survive.
The dilapidated Rebel forces gathered once more and made a forlorn hope assault on Sullust, just to take out a Star Base and move the Force Meter one notch to the light side. As it were, Sullust was protecting the Emperor. With his capture, the Rebels gained control of the galaxy ... at least for a single week.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Another Hutt Victory
Seems like the Hutts can do no wrong, although this time it was far from a sure thing. Horak the Hutt made good starting dice rolls and so had five resource planets to begin with and control of Gamorr. Rebel Leader Kent began with a solid position and excellent dice rolls in his initial attacks. Darth Laban came back with good play in general and things see-sawed back and forth for a few turns.
There were some notable disasters: the Rebels were twice unable to crack the pitiful defenses at Duro, Sulust held out against overwhelming odds, and the Death Star destroyed a large Hutt garrison at Omwat.
That should have spelled the end of the Hutts, but they clung on with 4 resource planets, using faction cards to build a substantial fleet. The other opponents meanwhile pushed the Force Meter into the neutral middle, denying both the benefit of extra cards.
When the Hutts finally collected seven cards, they had a straight worth seven legions, a faction card bonus that turned out to be worth six legions, and a card to subtract one from the Rebel's highest die. With that huge influx of troops they were able to capture all of the Mid Rim resource planets and then sweep from Sluis Van through Duro all the way to Tatooine. Victory Hutts.
There were some notable disasters: the Rebels were twice unable to crack the pitiful defenses at Duro, Sulust held out against overwhelming odds, and the Death Star destroyed a large Hutt garrison at Omwat.
That should have spelled the end of the Hutts, but they clung on with 4 resource planets, using faction cards to build a substantial fleet. The other opponents meanwhile pushed the Force Meter into the neutral middle, denying both the benefit of extra cards.
When the Hutts finally collected seven cards, they had a straight worth seven legions, a faction card bonus that turned out to be worth six legions, and a card to subtract one from the Rebel's highest die. With that huge influx of troops they were able to capture all of the Mid Rim resource planets and then sweep from Sluis Van through Duro all the way to Tatooine. Victory Hutts.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Hutts Win Again
In a desperate attempt to get caught up, I'll have to fabricate the results for the entire month of July. Fortunately, it's rather easy due to a two-week hiatus--one missed game on 7/12 and one week of travel that cancelled the 7/19 game.
Back on 6/28 Kent took home the crown, although I have little recollection of how he did it.
Then on 7/5 Ric regained galactic leadership as the Hutt, which he held onto throughout the hiatus. This gave him a nearly unprecedented three-week run at ruling the galaxy by default.
Last week on 7/26, Sith Horak took the field with Rebel Leader Laban wearing the orange. The game had many notable swings, including the early destruction of the Death Star, it's immediate replacement via faction card, and a huge Imperial buildup in the Wild Space being trapped by the "This system may not be attacked until your opponent captures a system from another player." A poor Death Star roll saved the huge Hutt garrison on Balmorra. Instead the Empire had to take out the secondary target, Duro, with it's garrison of only two Rebels.
In the end the Hutts were able to take their force on Balmorra and make a winning run at systems in the Mid Rim. Victory went to Kent the Hutt after a see-saw six turns.
Back on 6/28 Kent took home the crown, although I have little recollection of how he did it.
Then on 7/5 Ric regained galactic leadership as the Hutt, which he held onto throughout the hiatus. This gave him a nearly unprecedented three-week run at ruling the galaxy by default.
Last week on 7/26, Sith Horak took the field with Rebel Leader Laban wearing the orange. The game had many notable swings, including the early destruction of the Death Star, it's immediate replacement via faction card, and a huge Imperial buildup in the Wild Space being trapped by the "This system may not be attacked until your opponent captures a system from another player." A poor Death Star roll saved the huge Hutt garrison on Balmorra. Instead the Empire had to take out the secondary target, Duro, with it's garrison of only two Rebels.
In the end the Hutts were able to take their force on Balmorra and make a winning run at systems in the Mid Rim. Victory went to Kent the Hutt after a see-saw six turns.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Fail Again, Fail Better
This week's festivities started off with some serious dice rolling, including the Rebels gaining territory. But furious counter-attacks (and obliteration by the Death Star), kept those gains from being realized.
Darth Wood, Sith Lord of the Dark Dice, did a righteous job of clobbering Rebel Leader Horak. But Peetza da Hutt aka the Boom-Boom LaBan took advantage of the Rebel weaknesses, sweeping to victory.
Victory Hutts.
Darth Wood, Sith Lord of the Dark Dice, did a righteous job of clobbering Rebel Leader Horak. But Peetza da Hutt aka the Boom-Boom LaBan took advantage of the Rebel weaknesses, sweeping to victory.
Victory Hutts.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Victory is Mine at Last!
...but then there's that embarrassing photograph. Note to self: degauss Ric's hard drive and steal the SD card.
Thankfully, after the Hutts (Kent) and the e-vile Emperor (Ric) whomped on the Rebels (yours truly), I was up against the ropes with 10 troops and 6 systems. Luckily for the freedom of the galaxy, the Death Star had gone on walk-about, destroying systems willy-nilly. Well, actually, it was just Sluis Van and Duro.
And with their demise, the only soft target was Bespin. With some lucky cards and some lucky dice rolls, the star base fell, only to reveal that the Sith Lord was there all along. Amazingly, this star base had been the first one out.
Victory Rebels.
Thankfully, after the Hutts (Kent) and the e-vile Emperor (Ric) whomped on the Rebels (yours truly), I was up against the ropes with 10 troops and 6 systems. Luckily for the freedom of the galaxy, the Death Star had gone on walk-about, destroying systems willy-nilly. Well, actually, it was just Sluis Van and Duro.
And with their demise, the only soft target was Bespin. With some lucky cards and some lucky dice rolls, the star base fell, only to reveal that the Sith Lord was there all along. Amazingly, this star base had been the first one out.
Victory Rebels.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Catching up
May 17
Ric beats the tar out of Kent and I. Don't remember much except that he was then in a position to try for a trifecta -- three wins in a row, each with a different force.
May 24
Whew, close run thing. I play Kent off of Ric and take home a victory, breaking Ric's winning streak. Trifecta avoided. A second game is begun but not completed.
June 5
In a rare non-Thursday bout, we first view the transit of Venus. I suppose we'll still be playing SWR in 108 years when it comes 'round again.
We pick up where we left off two weeks previously (see image), fortified by Olive Garden take-out. In short order, I antagonize Kent resulting in troops being flung across the room. He responds by blasting my forces. Result: Ric wins.
Without any serious celestial events this coming week, we expect a normal game. No telling what the menu might be.
Ric beats the tar out of Kent and I. Don't remember much except that he was then in a position to try for a trifecta -- three wins in a row, each with a different force.
May 24
Whew, close run thing. I play Kent off of Ric and take home a victory, breaking Ric's winning streak. Trifecta avoided. A second game is begun but not completed.
June 5
In a rare non-Thursday bout, we first view the transit of Venus. I suppose we'll still be playing SWR in 108 years when it comes 'round again.
We pick up where we left off two weeks previously (see image), fortified by Olive Garden take-out. In short order, I antagonize Kent resulting in troops being flung across the room. He responds by blasting my forces. Result: Ric wins.
Without any serious celestial events this coming week, we expect a normal game. No telling what the menu might be.
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