Subject: Bath Type2 Tournament Report Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 15:23:25 +0100 From: ben.morris@futurenet.co.uk (Ben Morris) To: Bath tournament July 98 Well I arrived back in Bath, for my year out from Pompey (Yes, they let me out occasionally), to be informed that there is a type II tournament. Since I figure I can guess what people will play (i.e. no new strange exodus decks) I decide to go with Iron Mike TV (a big black thing with 4 channels!) my suicide black variant. There's a fair turnout on the day and we play 5 rounds Swiss victory. I adopt the 'fight' strategy for the day and get down to it. Round 1 : Paul Dale 1102261 Paul's someone I recognise from Bath and is playing a red/blue counter burn deck. Not a great match up for me, depending on speed. Game1: I draw a swamp, ritual and some men and decide to go with it hoping to draw a second swamp soon. Sadly it doesn't happen, but I ritual out some men and they go to work. Paul earthquakes the Carnophages but can't deal with a lone Foul Imp. Instead he makes a Golem and begins to race me to the finish. However a propaganda and some counterspelled Hidden Horrors make sure the Golem wins. Game2: A swamp, ritual and a hidden horror draw looks good and carried well into the game. Try as he might, Paul simply can't kill the 4/4 horror in time. Game3: Again a swamp and a horror in hand. I top deck a ritual on my first turn and the beatdown commences. Paul needs to find two items of burn to upset the horror, but it was never to be. Round 2 : Richard Young 272572 Richard was playing Sligh with some utility blokes and splash green for tranquility. Game 1: I make some men and begin the attack. He makes a miner and a scroll and mounts a counterattack. I hurriedly make a bad moon and continue the assault. In an effort to control my men he shocks a Dauthi slayer and scrolls a Foul Imp forgetting about the moon. Sadly a fatal error as I hit home for the game next turn. Game 2 : First turn I ritual out 2 Carnophage and a Sarcomancy. He makes some land while my boys work him over. He makes a miner while I waste his painland. He can't cope with the creature rush and eventually he falls under the creature horde. Round 3 : Martin Hayden 263630 Martin was playing blue splash green. A good match up if I get the draws. Game 1: Some early men start the assault on Martins life total. He manages to make a Firewalker before he goes under. Game 2: First turn Carnophage, second turn Spinal Graft manages to halve Martins life before an Erratic Portal takes care of it. I make a Slayer who manages to leave Martin on a generous 4 life before he makes an Elephant Grass. I have a Spite in hand but can't play it for fear of Counterspells. I have no desire to commit suicide just yet! Martin relaxes behind Ertai , a Firewalker and some more portals. As the cumulative upkeep of the Elephant Grass will run out eventually he has to deal with my slayer. I know he's tempted to use the Portals before the end of my go because that's what I would do. As I predict he gives in to temptation and taps out to return the Slayer to my hand. I reward him with some Spite while poor Ertai watches helplessly. Round 4 : Phil Norris 270279 I'm not 100% sure what Phil was playing as he didn't last long enough to show me! Sorry Phil! Game 1: For the first time today I see a hatred in my hand plus a couple of men and a ritual. Perfect. I win the toss and go first turn Carnophage. Phil lays a forest and passes. I go in with the Zombie and make an Erg Raider. I know I can kill Phil next turn provided he doesn't do anything nasty. Fortunately Phil obliges and makes a Wall of Blossoms. I go third turn attack, Phil blocks the Carnophage with the wall and the Raiders rush past for 18. Game 2: Phil takes a Paris mulligan then makes a painland. I waste it. He lays a Gem Mine and I make some men while he stalls at one land. I have hatred and can cast it, but fear Firestorm so play it safe. With only one land at his disposal Phil is no match for my men. Round 5 : Dave Peak 1102269 According to my guesswork I need at least a draw to win the tournament but even a loss may be enough as I'm clear of the chasing pack at the moment. Dave is playing white weenie which can be a problem, it all depends who fights fastest. Game 1: I summon many men and under a Bad moon he can't easily kill them. Eventually weight of numbers overcomes him. Game 2: I fear light of day and rely on 4 Glooms to help me out. I draw and see no gloom, but I do have a Dauthi horror a hatred and a ritual. This could be a stunning finish. He makes a knight and I lay my horror. He beats me a bit and makes another knight. It's my turn and I can cast the Hatred but I don't have enough life to do it and still live. I make a Moon instead and go in for 3. He hits me again and makes yet another knight. I see more land in my turn and it looks like this is going downhill rapidly. I debate for a while as to whether I should end it now or wait for something amazing to turn up to win. A quick look at his many prot black lackeys makes up my mind. I wuss out and my horror goes in for 17 for the draw. Game 3: Again I see no Gloom but I go with a horde of weenies. As I deploy them reinforcements arrive and my army manages to beat Dave down in three attempts. At the end of the day I go 10:1:1 not a bad days play. Ben Morris. Cheers to: Tom Barrett for the tournament organisation and judging Jim and Andy for judging The good players for playing booster draft instead of type 2 ;) Everyone who played in type II. Boos to: Me for not being able to think of an original deck! Contact Tom Barrett on tbarrett@futurenet.com for future Bath tournament info.