From Tim Maruyama, This past weekend, 52 samurai competed for their Clans' honor and the chance to represent the northwest at Gen Con. I was one of seven Canadians who came across the border to compete. The Clan breakdown was: 1 Ninja 1 Toturi's Army (!) 2 Scorpion 3 Unicorn 3 Lion 3 Naga 3 Dragon 4 Monk 5 Crab 6 Shadowlands Horde 6 Yoritomo's Alliance (4 Fox, 2 Mantis) 7 Crane 8 Phoenix I decided to play my Lion Tactician deck. In playtesting it scared the bejeebers out of the local Shadowlands player, and held its own against Fox, Phoenix and Crane. Round 1 - Dan Carew (Otaku Palaces, Hantei Sensei) I got a Morishigi and a Merchant Caravan first turn, then put the Ancestral Armor on him and let him loose. He tried to defend with Tashima (and later Yokatsu), but it was too much force too fast. The Sword on Gohei and my Hantei-ing away his Tests of Courage after getting the favor sealed his fate. [1-0] Round 2 - Jeremy Roll (Toturi's Army, Kisada Sensei) I hate TA decks. My deck never gets enough force out quickly enough to slow them down before they wipe me out. It doesn't help when my Plague shows up first turn, either. We traded provinces for a while, but a battle was tied thanks to a Stand Against the Waves and he finished me off with Takuan exp after he Toturi is Drugged my lone defender. [1-1] Round 3 - Ryan Westburg (Shadowlands Horde, Nio Sensei) I got the proverbial "God draw" here. Well, not quite. I Inherited Ken'O and had two Tactical Maneuvers in my hand. Unfortunately, his Kolat Duplicate showed up next turn before I could take a province. The next three turns gave me nothing but gold (literally), while he chewed up my provinces with Moto Tsume and Oni no Ogon/Kamu. [1-2] Round 4 - Phil Lewis (Towers of the Yogo, Uji Sensei) I usually have a bit of trouble against this type of deck, since I don't play with many followers. We both got off to an okay start and were pretty even in personalities until he got Hoyjin and Kachiko exp 3 out. I'm thinking that was it for me but my Kolat Duplicate apepared and I tried to take out Kachiko. He shuffled her back into his deck, forgetting that Hoyjin could have blown up the event. I later got the Sword on Ken'O and he did more personality bowing than the rest of the Scorpions combined. [2-2] Round 5 - David Williamson (Ruined Fortress of the Scorpion, Taka Sensei) Yikes. I was afraid of this type of deck. Fortunately, he didn't get any early dishonor (and he ditched his Goshiu on his first turn). I lost some honor due to Marries a Barbarian/Shame, and more later to a Farther You Fall and a Breach, but by then it was too late. He lost two provinces to Return of Fu Leng and Evil Feeds, and my Tacticians did the rest. [3-2] Round 6 - Sean Whittaker (Esteemed House of the Crane, Toshimoko Senesi) I killed a province with a first turn Evil Feeds, then built up force and methodically took out provinces. He responded by duelling me into the ground, but soon I had him down to one province and 39 honor. He offered to bribe me, but a top 16 finish was in sight and so I refused. There was only one thing that could save him. He flipped his remining province and got his Emperor's Peace. Damn! He bowed his stronghold to go to 41 honor. I knew that there was only one card in my deck that would win it for me. I flipped the first card in my provinces and there it was - Return of Fu Leng. He Avoided it. Great match. I ended up with a record of 3-3. Not great considering how well my deck tested out, but I got the shirt for being the top Lion player, so I didn't go home empty handed. The final 16, in order, were: 1. Jeff Hicks, Monk 2. Frederict Wan, Yoritomo's Alliance (Fox) 3. Jason Cadd, Yoritomo's Alliance (Fox) 4. Pierre Florendo, Phoenix 5. Ian Ryan, Phoenix 6. Caleb Brown, Phoenix 7. Lemar Johnson, Naga 8. Tiernan Pearson, Crane 9. Sean Whittaker, Crane 10. Jon Moysich, Shadowlands Horde 11. Chris Porowski, Crab 12. Anthony Lundblad, Phoenix 13. Chris Bergstrom, Dragon 14. Andrew Lamb, Dragon 15. Chris Allen, Monk 16. Jeremy Roll, Crab Some experiences and quotes: - The "Box of Greed". For $5, you could draw ten cards from a box full of rares (including a Wedge, a Shrine, an Imperial Evil Portents, HoR cards, and many many promos). I pulled a Path of Wisdom, but Andy wouldn't let me toss it, get another draw, and put the Path back in my hand. Fellow Vancouverite Aampi, a career Shadowlands player, pulled the Portents - how fitting! - The Banzais. Incredible. The fact that we annoyed many Magic players made it even better. - Hantei Senseis everywhere. It looked like about half the decks packed it. "What other game fulfils all your fashion needs?" - Ed Bolme "Crane: the other white meat." - some Unicorn players before the tournament "Phoenix: the other other white meat." - the response "We (the Naga) challenge the ugliest of all you humans - not only because you have no fashion sense, but also because you have no face!" - Lemar Johnson, challenging the Ninja "Oh, s***." - various players throught the weekend. This one was popular, for some reason... "SQUEAK!!!" - half the players when Mindy led the banzais Hmm? What? Oh, yes! I almost forgot to tell you who won! ;-) The final was between Chris Bergstrom, playing Iron Mountain, and Chris Porowski, playing Citadel of the Hiruma. Both were using Hantei Sensei. Here's how the final went: Turn 1 - Bergstrom got Creating the Monkey Clan and gold, while Porowski got a First Scroll is Opened and an Inheritance (which was Avoided, preventing a first turn Oni no Okura). Turn 2 - Bergstrom got Yuyake, Oni no Pekkle, Age of Man (flipping an Evil Portents), and Troll Raiders. Porowski got Akuma and more gold. Turn 3 - Daini and Gennai came out for the Dragon. Porowski put the Journal on Akuma after Oathing it, but an Imperial Edicts dashed any hope for an attack. Turn 4 - Bergstrom got Uso and brought out a Sanctified Temple, reaching 21 honor. Another Imperial Edict held off Akuma for another turn, but Porowski got out the experienced Crab Oni. Turn 5 - Uso came out, and the Dragon reached 25 honor. Porowski attacked and a lone Daini defended. The Crab played Sneak/Storms, and Daini bowed to play Entrapping Terrain, which was Superior Tactics-ed. The Crab took the province and brought out Oni no Okura and Kitao. Turn 6 - Bergstrom got Shinseken and the Ki-Rin, bringing the Dragon's honor to 28. Porowski, unable to attack, got There Is No Hope and gold. Turn 7 - Sorrow's Path appeared in a Dragon province, along with Yuyake and another Pekkle. Bergstrom went up to 39 honor by playing Remember What You Have Seen. The Ki-Rin got Kolat Duplicated, and the Crab launched an attack after an Evil Portents to take one province. Turn 8 - Bergstrom bowed Pekkles and brought out Gennai, bringing his Honor to 44. The experienced Oni got the Crab Sword and attacked the Sorrows Path, while everyone else attacked the other. The Dragons all defended against the Oni. Porowski Sneak/Wedged the Oni, and Bergstrom played Block Supply Lines, clinching the game. The top 8, in order, were: 1. Chris Bergstrom, Dragon 2. Chris Porowski, Crab 3. Jon Moysich, Shadowlands Horde 4. Tiernan Pearson, Crane 5.(Tie) Pierre Florendo, Phoenix Jeff Hicks, Monk 7.(Tie) Frederict Wan, Yoritomo's Alliance (Fox) Andrew Lamb, Dragon As the prizes were handed out, Andy mentioned that these were the highest finishes by the Dragon and Crab in any Kotei thus far! Like I said before, there was a sword tournament for those who didn't make it into the top 16. 31 people played in that one, but I'll leave the reporting to someone else as I was more than a little fried at the time. Josh Powell, playing Ninja, won it, allowing him to be one of the few Ninja Assembly members. I had an incredible time, despite my mediocre finish. Congratulations to everyone who won, placed, or just plain showed up. Last, and _definitely_ not least, special thanks go to Andy, Mindy, Dan, Ed, and the rest of the Wizards staff for a most enjoyable and memorable weekend. They love their jobs, and it shows. Trust me. BANZAI!!! Kitsu Shigeru Lion Clan Roving Reporter