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I didn't had time before to write my report of Lure X. So here it is finally, after more than 2 months !
Arrival
Like last year I joined Dominique Bergeret in Paris, who was this time followed by Anthony Truchet. Dominique succeeded to convince Anthony to come to Lure, just as with me last year. It would be great if he convinces each year a new player to attend Lure !!!
Then we took the train towards North of France, and Hervé Duval took us with his car there at the station. We made a small stop to take Stéphane Hemberg in Belgium and arrived at 14:30 in Castle Stahleck. I had good feelings when seeing again the impressive castle, the beautiful village and the wonderful surroundings.
Hervé and Stéphane immediately joined a tournament a bit late. When saying hello to all players, I talked with a French I didn't knew, Jérôme Charles. When we told each other we made an around 1000 KMs trip, we discovered we're living only 50 KMs far !!! It was thus a great surprise !
Friday afternoon
I played an Arda Game with Dominique (who prepared it well), Anthony, Jérôme and Adrian Téroux. This game was very pleasant to play, but quite deadly because of all hazard long and permanent events. We had lot of fun and as far as I remember it was well-balanced. So this Arda Game was again a wonderful experience of MECCG.
Friday evening
I played Dreamcards general opponent and played with March of the Ents deck (see http://www.councilofelrond.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1430). My goals were to play : - Hew the Stone (easy level) - Entwives (medium level) - Wandlimb (hard level)
First round My first game was very enjoyable against Wanja Hargens, who played with the worst challenge deck for me, Galadriel's one ! I changed thus starting company. My hazards worked well, and he had a bad draw for resources. My ressources worked wonderfully, as I played some Ent allies and Ents of Fangorn. Additionally, I succeeded playing Hew the Stone at Isengard during my forelast turn. He was astonished when last turn I moved to Hermit's Hill and changed Brown Lands to a Shadow-land ; I was thus very happy to play Entwives ! It would have been perfect if I had drawn Wandlimb ... I won this game 31-15 MPs, which gave me a very short 6-0 win.
Second round My second game was against Eric Dane, who played the worst alignment against my deck, Radagast ! I awaited thus to battle for common ressources, above all Ent allies. My deck worked well, as I played again Hew the Stone ; but this time I didn't draw Entwives. On the other side, my hazards worked very well, because Radagast was killed by an enraged Old Man Willow, which was naturally an huge blow for him. Additionally, I played His Own Master and Thrice-told Tales on his only sage, Striukir, which was furthermore wounded when searching for new tales ; he couldn't thus play anymore allies. I won this game 23-9 MPs, which gave me a second 6-0 win.
Third round My last game was against Michel Schelfhout who played a hero Gandalf in Rohan-Anorien. My hazards weren't very efficient, as I didn't draw Tauremorlanome which would have let play Huorn. I could only play Ent(s) in Search of Entwives and once Old Man Willow in Druadan Forest. I succeeded though by discarding his Noble Steed with Too Much to Ask. My ressources worked well again, and game was very tight because score was 24-24 MPs before last turn. His last turn was perfect by exhausting his hand during site phase !!! Gandalf played A Chance Meeting on Aragorn with Return of the King, and he played Palantir of Minas Tirith with Align Palantir. His other company played 2 Noble Steed. Unfortunately I can't remember the 8th card. With such an incredible last turn (12 MPs), I had to score at least 1 MP to ensure a 4-2 defeat. I had Entwives in hand but not Master of Wood, Water or Hill. So I went to dismantle Isengard and played Glamdring and Hew the Stone (for the 3rd time in 3 games !). I lost this game 30-36 MPs, which gave me a 4-2 defeat.
I ended thus tournament with 14 TPs and I unexpectedly won it because in fact Michel had 9 TPs before our game, and he ended with 13 TPs. I was naturally very happy with this wonderful result ! I won a prize and choose The Lord of the Rings Confrontation boardgame.
Saturday afternoon
I attended Hamburger Scenario and played Alliance of Free Peoples deck (see http://www.councilofelrond.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=1424). My goal was to fulfill once the scenario. With Dominique we made some lobbying and convinced most french-speaking players to attend this tournament.
First round First game against Anthony Truchet who played the Shire scenario. My hazards worked well and Robin Smallburrow was followed by a Cave Worm with Foes Shall Fall ! He played Earth of Galadriel's Orchard during his forelast turn and wasn't thus able to fulfill the scenario. During my first turn, Beorn was killed due to Tiding of Bold Spies en route towards the Lonely Mountain, where I played Necklace of Girion. Gandalf entered game second round and immediately sideboarded Necklace of Silver and Pearls, which few turns after I played at Framsburg, where Fram Framson entered game following round. Next and forelast turn, I went to Thranduil's Halls and was able to play Alliance of Free Peoples. During my last turn I discarded Necklace of Silver and Pearls on Fram Framson and then Necklace of Girion to play the Valiant Sword. I fulfilled thus the scenario (helped by a bit of luck with drawing cards) and won 25-14 MPs. I was the only one this round to fulfill the scenario.
Second round Second game was against Jérôme Charles who played Heirs of Yavanna scenario. Beorn was bounced during character draft. His deck worked well, and he missed only 1 Wose faction to fulfill the scenario (I only wounded Ghan-buri-ghan without killing him). Moreover, Jérôme played Beorn 2nd or 3rd turn and it was too late for me to sideboard Necklace of Silver and Pearls. I didn't played Alliance of Free Peoples either because I hadn't drawn Iron-hill Dwarves. I was thus very far from fulfilling the scenario, but nonetheless won due to MPs 21-16.
Third round Third game was against Stéphane Hemberg, who was the only one the previous round to fulfill the scenario ; he played Rebuild the Towns. My hazards hindered him a little, because he played with many dwarves which were too numerous and strong to annoy them. One turn was missing for him to fulfill scenario, because he didn't draw the third Rebuild the Town at Himring (although his company was almost entirely decimated en route by an Ice-drake). My deck worked well, as I played Alliance of Free Peoples ; but I hadn't drawed Valiant Sword so I didn't fulfilled the scenario. Game was very tight and I won due to MPs 30-26.
Fourth round Fourth game was against Thomas Schrei, who was (with Hervé Duval) the only one the previous round to fulfill the scenario, Return of the King. My deck worked well, although I didn't drawed Alliance of Free Peoples. I wasn't able too to form the required company, because his strategy was based on Call of Home. Additionally, Bard couldn't leave Lake-town (due to roaming bears) and stayed most of the game there, but played nonetheless Roac the Raven and a Noble Hound. His deck worked very well (he had played mid-game Return of the King and Choice of Luthien) and my hazards weren't playable. But during second half of game, Alatar and Imrahil's company, carrying Sapling of the White Tree found in Gobel Mirlond, were attacked on sea by a Marsh-drake, which was defeated but killed Alatar with its blood ! Without enough free general influence, Aragorn returned home the following turn with his ally. So I was lucky to win due to MPs about 25-15.
The only ones who fulfilled scenario last round were Roberto Döhring and Dominique Bergeret. So nobody fulfilled scenario twice, and I thus won the tournament. I was naturally very happy to win again the tournament. I won a puzzle as prize. This tournament showed a wide variety of scenarios, 8 different among 10 players. It was very enjoyful to play against 4 different scenarios (and none same as mine), because last year all my games were against the same scenario !
Saturday evening
I attended Dreamcards Challenge Deck and chose the Necromancer's deck. Playing as the Necromancer is very fun thematically. The mission to rebuild Mordor is wonderful. The mission to seek knowledge about the Lady of Lorien is great. The spreading of Orcs is awesome. It was thus very interesting to play this deck, although hard in a competitive point of view. The deck has no ally at all (even in sideboard !), and only one faction (there's a second one in sideboard, but playable at he same site ...).
First round First game was against Mario Nau-theissen, who played the Theoden deck. My hazards worked well because I could play any Orcs (with Not without a Plan) at his main strategic site, Dunharrow. His company was thus forced to leave the site to avoid the Orc army. I was very happy to fully rebuild Mordor (Foundations Remain, Dark Spires Rising). The game was balanced and ended with 14-14 MPs, giving a 3-3 tie.
Second round Second game was against Jérôme Charles, who played the Galadriel deck. He played during the first turn Leaflock, who stopped part of the Orc tide. His detainment creatures were efficient. Again, I was very happy to fully rebuild Mordor. The game was balanced and he doubled his faction and ally MPs, and I doubled miscellanous MPs. The game ended with 19-19 MPs, giving again a 3-3 tie.
Third round Third game didn't occur ; I was then disappointed to play only 2 rounds.
The whole tournament was very weird, because lots of results were ties. The third place was shared by 3 players with 6 TPs (2 ties each). Nicolai made a very cunning decision to officialy make third Jérôme, who attended Lure and this tournament for the first time.
Sunday
I attended Hero 1-deck and played with Reborn of Eriador deck (see http://www.councilofelrond.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=1425). My goal was to play once the One Ring.
First round We were an odd number of players and I was randomly chosen for the bye. It was the first time ever I had a bye, and it was weird not playing and waiting for others for the next round. Fortunately it wasn't long because a round last after 50 minutes. With the 6 TPs of the bye, I was sure to play second round against a strong player.
Second round My first game was against Patrick Laxander. He made several companies and killed some spiders which gave him some kill MPs, but slowed him enough to hinder him calling council too soon for me. He had indeed 19 MPs after 3 rounds. I played Gandalf which moved to Blue Mountains Dwarf-hold, but he was first screwed by a River and then wounded by an Assassin. Unfortunately I couldn't play Gloin because Patrick already played him as starting character (if only I had Balin instead ...). The Hobbits' company only played Gollum, and a Magic Ring of Stealth. I was very happy to play successfully Riddling Talk, by guessing Rangers of Ithilien while one of his companies was at Henneth Annun ! During the last turn they failed to influence the Blue Mountains Dwarves. Patrick doubled faction MPs, and I doubled ally MPs. He was unlucky during the Council of Elrond because Theoden failed his cc while bearing Orcrist. It costed him the 5-1 win and I finally lost 14-18 MPs, giving me a 4-2 defeat.
Third round My second game was against Christoph Schürmann. My hazards didn't hinder him very well. During the first turns I played a Gold Ring and tested it, but I was unlucky because it was a fake with a roll of 7 ! Gandalf entered game in Grey Havens and moved to Bree. An assassin awaited him but Gandalf beated it this time. He influenced Rangers of the North the following turn. During forelast turn I had not enough canceller, so Hobbit's company was wiped out by Chill Douser with one dead and two wounded. Last turn Beretar appeared with Gandalf and they moved to Moria, being the only healthy company. During travel they faced Giant Spiders, empowered by my own Full of Froth and Rage ; Beretar was first wounded without tapping. I had only 10 MPs without item MPs (with too many character MPs) against 23 MPs, so I decided not to tap Gandalf. And this time I was lucky because he made strike ineffectual and was thus able to play a Gold Ring while orcs quarrelled. So I ended with 12 MPs and just saved a very short 5-1 defeat.
I had lot of fun playing this tournament but was disappointed not to play 3 times, and I didn't play One Ring too. Afterwards I realized my deck wasn't suitable enough for a one-deck format.
Departure
We made the reverse trip and kept almost 1h30 safe for Dominique, Anthony and me to take the last train for Paris. Unfortunately, like most of us, we were delayed by roadblock ! We encountered Heiner Viefhues when leaving Bacharach who told us road was closed due to a storm. We went back and tried to cross the wooden hill at next village, but situation was identical. All roads across hills were in fact closed, so we drove towards Koblenz and we lost lot of time. When we finally rejoined highway, we actived GPS which indicated estimated arrival was exactely time of departure of our train ! So return trip was worrying, and Hervé was very resistant driving during 5 hours without any rest, by night, rain and heavy wind. Finally we arrived at the station just one minute before departure of the train and we run as quick as we could. Just before the train inspector whistled for departure of the train I talked to him to delay one minute, because Dominique and Anthony were behind me. So we catched the train only 5 seconds before departure, after a 5-hours trip !!!
As conclusion, this event was great like last year. Many thanks again to Wolfgang and co. for organizing this wonderful event. Special thanks to Nicolai and Eric for the huge work done last year with Dreamcards. See you next year at Lure XI ! | ||
