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Fantasy Flight's War of the Ring
is an impressive looking game that drew more than an occasional
glance from passers by. The event did well for a first time trial
with no publisher presence at WBC. |
Doug Mercer (left) and Scott Moll
get in some practise in Open Gaming before the tournament. One
wonders if plastic components such as these will become les of
a rarity at WBC's of the future. |
More Plastic Pieces ...
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring
to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. So it was that
Mordor had the last word in the successful and well enjoyed War
of the Ring tournament in 2006. Champion Phil Rennert also achieved
notoriety as the best shadow player of the tournament, with four
of his five wins achieved by shadow military victories.
Bidding was used to determine sides, with one player bidding
the length of the corruption track for the right to be the shadow
player, and the other player having the option to accept or increase
the bid. Bids ranged from 11 to 13, showing that there is no
consensus as to which side is favored. Both finalists were strong
shadow players (though both had won as the Free peoples against
tough opponents) and it was probably the winner of the bid that
determined the victor.
21 hobbits played in a three-round Swiss preliminary, where
23 games were played, ten in Round one, seven in Round 2, and
because of the possibility of up to two 2-1 players advancing
we got six games to go during Round 3. Two undefeated players
and two of the six 2-1 players advanced to the semis where David
Pack took on Phil Rennart and Chris Trimmer paired with me.
Chris played a great game as the fellowship, hanging in there
turn after turn while my shadow military victory came close to
winning for three consecutive turns. Finally, there were no more
orcs left to throw in the fire and the ring was dunked easily
with the 13 bid not being challenged in the hunt while the eye
was focused on military victory.
David Pack proved to be very aggressive and competent with
the Free Peoples military, scoring a military victory and coming
very close (having two shadow strongholds but not holding them)
in his semi-final. In the 26 games played, there were two free
people's military victories, which I think shows the strength
of the field as they should be about that rare.
Many thanks to all the players in the tournament who both
took it seriously, yet played with a sportsmanlike sense of passion
for the game's topic. Cackling and maniacal laughing was occasionally
heard amongst shadow army players, and well received by free
peoples opponents who maybe got a better sense of the drama involved
in the game's story.
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