Tournament Breakdown

Round 1:
Opponent: Eric - E-Sleazy
Eric Played: Justice League of America
JL Superman
OotS Batman
Starro Green Lantern
Zatanna
75th Green Arrow
50pt Batman - Alpha
Prof Haley Pog
Black Lantern, Stormbreaker, Generator

I Played: LoSH
Map: Krakoa - I Chose

Illuminati vs Illuminati round 1. What a way to start a Chase. Knowing that one of us was going to have to go up the looser's bracket played a big role in selecting our teams. Eric chose the team he didn't want to have to play in later rounds when he had to get a win. I chose my #6 team for two reasons. One, I knew Eric's starting rotation and the Stealth would cause issues with all of his teams. Two, if I lost with my #6 team, it was out of the way and I still had my better teams to get me into the Top 4.

The Stealth and map choice worked. The way I staged round 1, Eric had no place to hide and no targets to attack. Young Superman came in first and took out Hal and his TK. Eric took an all out run on Supergirl and missed the attack thanks to some theme team probs from the pogs. Supergirl retaliated aginst Supes and he missed his Impervious role. From that point is was academic. Full 600pts and the win to me, Eric got the Alfred pog.


Round 2:
Opponent: Dave - JeanClaudeVanDave
Dave Played: Sinister Syndicate
WoS Venom
Sandman
SI Doc Oc
WOS Doc Oc
Green Goblin + TBolts
Mysterio
Swarm Pog
Duane Freeman Pog
FFG, Shield Disruptor, Heavy

I Played: Justice League
Map: Graveyard - I Chose

Went with the Justice League because in playtesting it did the best against the unpredictable teams and figures Team Pasky likes to run. Especially Conner, who was the perfect and dedicated Mystics attacker.

Dave made a strong tactical decision in selecting his worse team. History has shown when we both play similar teams with top level mechanics, I win more than he does. So choose a completely non-Roland team with funky traits and white abilities that are known to frustrate the crap out of me. If it frustrates me enough, he gets the victory. If he lost, it was out of his rotation and he can play his stronger teams to make a push for the Top 4.

However, in this case the Justice League was ready for it. The team went off perfectly and was just too much for the Syndicate. A clean sweep 600 to 0, including Supes getting a one-shot KO on Mysterio!


Round 3:
Opponent: Dustin - bluesummers
Dustin Played: Avengers
War Machine
Thorbuster
Captain America
Spider-Woman
Hawkeye + TBolts
Iron Fist
Scarlet Witch
Reporter Pog
Tombstone, Vine, Hydrant

I Played: X-Men
Map: Airbase - Dustin Chose

Decided to go with X-men to try and get a win with my #3 team. If I win, I'm in the Top 4 and still have my top two teams to play. If I loose, I use Titans in round 4 to get into the Top 4, and don't feel at a disadvantage having Prime & Justice Society left to play.

Dustin Tbolted to Ultimates to give Spider-Woman the ability to Outwit Crawler. Him not choosing Mystics just gave Phoenix more targets to go after. Realizing he was at a disadvantage with no TK or HSS, Dustin staged out farther than normal on turn 1. I had a run on Cap with Phoenix from my starting area and could still make it back to the elevated terrain. Took the run and hit Cap needing an 8. Then surrounded Phoenix on the roof with the rest of my figures.

After clearing, Dustin moved both Spider-Woman and Iron Fist onto the roof, but was only able to base Crawler and Congorilla. When Congorilla went down, Beast took his place in the figure barrier around Phoenix. They spent the next several rounds trying to take on Crawler & Beast, while Phoenix was moving out taking shots at his big guys, and then moving back to safety.

By the time they took down Crawler; War Machine, Cap, Hawkeye and the pog were all KOed. Both my pogs, the object, and Cuckoo were also KOed. The last few rounds were moving the figures away from Thorbuster to the other side of the map, taking pot shots along the way. Time ran out before Dustin could get another KO.


Round 4:
Opponent: Justin - SHIELD001
Justin Played: Fantastic Four
Johnny Storm LE
Starter Mr. Fantastic
Starter Invisible Woman
Starter Thing
Bagman
SI Spider-Man
She-Thing
Alicia Masters Pog
Forbush Man Pog
Computer, Meteorite, Bookcase

I Played: Justice Society
Map: Crash Site - Justin Chose

Justin staged up about 8 ranks with Sue, Johnny, and Thing; the rest of the team behind that front line. Turn 1 I had a TK run with Flash and went after Johnny to knock him down 2 clicks. He ended behind Batman & Black Canary who had moved up to set up the front lines. BA moved onto the Kinetic Accelerator behind blocking terrain to stage for his run.

Turn 2 was the turning point of the game. Justin could have taken a run on BA with Thing, but it would have required him to push most of his team. Instead he cleared. Seeing the run, I decided not to give him the chance again. I pushed BA to go out and clock Sue with the Comm Dish. It put her on here last click. I didn't move out to Outwit her Invuln. I just needed her off TK, and wanted to save my Outwit for Thing later in the game. I also picked up Justin's Meteorite with BA on the way back. He had not picked it up with Thing yet.

After that Justin went after Batman on my front line and eventually KOed him. Alan and BA tag teamed Thing with Psychic Blast and the Meteorite after Batman got KOed. Flash finished off Sue. The game was well in hand late until Black Canary crit hit She-Thing and knocked her back into BA. She got one good shot off before she was KOed. However Justin couldn't get another run on BA after that before time ran out.


Semi-Finals:
Opponent: Dustin - bluesummers
Dustin Played: Justice League
Chase KC Superman
OotS Batman
Zatanna
JL Green Arrow
75th Green Arrow
Black Canary
Joe Chill Pog
Space Phantom Pog
Kinetic Accelerator, Meteorite, Light

I Played: Sinestro Corps
Map: Graveyard - Dustin Chose

I knew Dustin had a Chase Supes left in his rotation, so I had to play Prime to counter it. A $100 Chase Superman vs a $50 SR Superman.

Turn 1 Dustin moved Supes behind the wall on his side of the crypt onto the Kinetic Accelerator with most of the team. However, Batman and Green Arrow moved out farther. Bats moved 8 ranked up into hindering terrain next to the center path with Green Arrow behind him.

At this point I had a tactical decision to make. Stage my team around the Orange Square behind my wall of the crypt, keeping Prime completely out of the range of Supes, and slowplay the setup and get the yo-yo going. Or take a run on Batman.

If I took the run on Batman, Prime could only make it right behind the wall, not behind my front ranks. But he would be holding the Desk for defense, and the Outwit would be off the board. There was a possibility Supes could reach him, but it required him pushing several figures, including Supes off of 18 Imp, and no prob to back up the attacks. More importantly it required a highly improbably series of rolls to make it work.

After deliberation I decided to make the run and not slowplay the staging of my team. I can't really tell you why since it is the complete non-Roland thing to do. But it was the decision I made.

Prime made the roll on Bats and waited for Dustin's turn. Dustin decided to chance the run with Supes.
Needing a 4 or better on the Kinetic Accelerator roll to be able to base Prime.....50% chance.....rolled a 4
Needing a 7 or better to him Prime with no PC.....58% chance.....rolled a 7
Needing a 3 or better on the Meteorite roll to knock me past my middle clicks of Invincible.....67% chance.....rolled a 4

The second Flurry attack KOed Prime. I picked up my figures from the map two rounds later.

Sometimes you get beat runner, runner when a guy calls your all-in.