War of the Horticulturalists ...
This year was very interesting indeed. A new champion was
crowned in Jack Coomes and a new star was born in Dale Long.
It was a year for great Kingmaker play. Jack's mastery
of the board play and his over whelming diplomatic skills propelled
him to his first championship. Dale Long provided us with the
following commentary on the final game.
The
opening draw was fair to good for most players, with Mike getting
the best of it with Constable of the Tower.
The opening events favor Dale as King Henry is called to Ravenser,
and Scrope gobbles him up. Scrope retreats to Nasham castle due
to an early catastrophe but is still sieged by Jack with Percy
and friends. The siege is bloody and both Percy and Scrope die
in combat, but Jack still takes the idiot King. Various battles
occur in the south, and Jack kills Henry rather than lose him
in an upcoming battle. Edward of March dies from the plague.
Nick gets hit hard early and with only one Noble and the Lieutenant
of Ireland begins collecting Crown cards.
Mid game: Justin attacks Jack just outside of Newcastle at
3-1. He wins the battle, but loses the wat and Fitzalen, his
key noble. Jack counterattacks with other nobles but Justin plays
the Marshall and some mercs, tipping the odds to 3-2 in his favor!
But the gods smile on Jack and bad weather delays the attack.
On Justin's turn he hits Jack's force again at 2-1, but again
bad weather delays the attack.
Mike pounds anyone who gets near the Tower, and with one of
the last heirs sitting in Dover Castle, Dale gets back in the
game. He plays Constable of Dover Castle, and with a free move
enters by ship to seize Edmund of Rutland. Two turns later, however,
Nick pulls a Royal Death card and rolls Edmund, who dies!! That's
the way the game goes.
Bill, with the now sole king, calls Parliament and though
controlling the house of Commons is very equitable to all factions
and everybody gets something. One thing about this particular
game is there were three successful assassinations of Royal Heirs..a
few turn later Bill's sole king dies as well.
Justin
with an heir pounces on Dale's main force (no heir) and defeats
it. Dale uses a King's pardon to spare his main noble. On Dale's
turn he sends Greystoke to assassinate Justin's main noble and
winds up killing his Royal Heir! At this point we are down to
one royal heir and Beaufort. The Royal Heir is assassinated and
Beaufort (controlled by Jack) is crowned sole king - winning
the game for Jack. In a surprise move, Nick reveals all his cards
for 98 points and Second Place!!!
Finish order of final:
Jack Coomes 126
Nick Benedict 65
Bill Powers 48
Michael Confoy 33
Dale Long 4
Justin Thompson -24
It was great fun and one for the books. All enjoyed some great
games! Dale Long played every round, scoring the most points
and winning the plaque awarded for Overall Tournament Points!
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