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Robert Kilroy is the 2002 Blackbeard champion, outscoring
Linda Pattison, George Talbot and Mike Wojke in a game that saw
four Pirates forced into early retirement by Crew Unrest. Since
no one had any Net Worth at the time, the retirees were tied
for the lead.
The finalists advanced from a three-hour first round of six
three-player games, where any pirate death meant continuing the
game as two player. We used the maniacal but effective format
of having the six winners duel down to four for the final. Appropriately,
the two substitute GMs and authors of this story were the people
"cut".
Whereas most first-round games saw players accumulate thousands
of Net Worth on their way to diabolical renown, the final became
a more realistic simulation of the pirate's life, where long
periods of inactivity were interrupted by unsuccesssful and often
deadly attempts to eke out a living. For instance, Wojke, the
two-time champ who had never lost in this event, successfully
attacked two Merchant ships, but neither had any money, only
dangerous Notoriety for his Cruelty. Since each player had active
KCs, there were no hiding places.
Newcomer Talbot lost both his pirates to early retirement,
but the game continued with him taking KC actions, which may
or may not have been the right way to proceed. The fact that
no one had any Net Worth confused the matter. After discovering
the pseudo-mistake, all four players agreed the best way to conclude
would be to give everyone a third pirate.
As the hour grew late, Talbot's thoughts turned to his pending
drive back to Philly, and the potential ignominy of making a
ninety minute trip, advancing to the championship game, only
to have all three pirates retire penniless, drunken bums with
no real story to tell. If his desperation move worked, he would
catapult into the lead, and if it didn't, well, he could go home.
He
raided Havana, twice, but the second time, he didn' come back.
Kilroy advanced in the first round past perennial heavyweights
DeWayne Curry and Michael Coombs. Coombs had plenty of loot from
a successful raid, but lost an appendage in the process. Kilroy
knew the port where Coombs would go to see the "sawbones"
and sell his booty, and he followed him, getting drunk and stabbing
the other pirate before he could recover. In the head-to-head
against Curry, Kilroy became the hunter, focusing on the KC and
eventually cornering his opponent.
Talbot needed to get past 2000 champ Matthew Bacho, who had
stashed 3,000 Net Worth in his Safe Haven. At the time limit,
Talbot asked himself,"How can I kill this guy in five minutes?"
He caught Bacho's pirate in port and in a long duel that saw
both pirates exhaust their Cunning, Talbot advanced in true back-stabbing
fashion.
Thanks to all who helped make Blackbeard a success,
especially Asst. GMs Jeff and Linda Pattison, who we nominated
for the Sportsmanship award. Don't be surprised to see them running
next year's tournament. You know Philly will be there.
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