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Chris Greenfield falls to Chris Yaure's
FP in the quarterfinals. |
GM Wojtaszczyk oversees the Yaure
family championship. |
Middle Earth... a tale of corruption
and family struggles!
Using the second edition rules again provided an excellent
tournament with many nail biter endings. 14 people appeared
for the Saturday afternoon Mulligan round with another dozen
playing in the evening Round 1 heat. Out of those, 13 different
winners got to advance to the Sunday morning Round 2 single elimination.
In the Mulligan round Joe Yaure's FP got a surprise early Ents
card to take down James DuBose's Saruman on Turn 2. That weakened
the Shadow middle and opened up an opportunity for a FPMV in
capturing Moria and Dol Guldur. Jeff Pattison and Jim Fardette
had an epic 19-turn game. It swung back and forth with Jeff's
shadow capturing and then losing Helms Deep and the Witch King
dying in Turn 13. Jeff's FP military defenses gave Frodo the
time to slowly weave through Sauron's nazgul nets to dunk the
ring. Christopher Yaure had a quick start out of the gates
with a Turn 1 capture of Dan Hoffman's Helms Deep. The early
Rohan push to war however gave Dan muster opportunities to assault
Isengard with a Legolas + Gimli lead army to kill off Saruman
and capture Isengard. Those two FP VPs had Dan push for a FPMV,
sieging Moria, but continued failed attack dice thwarted his
plans and Christopher managed to get 10 VPs secured. Chris
Trimmer and Kevin Wojtaszczyk got to relive finals of old with
an early random matchup in the mulligan. They both knocked
off some rust during a close struggle. Kevin's first threat into
Minas Tirth was defended by Chris separating companions to defend
which forced a full DEW assault supported by the S&E elephants.
Chris got the FSP into Mordor by the end of Turn 7 but only
got one turn there which was not enough to race the whole track
before Kevin locked up 10 VPs. Samantha Berk concentrated on
corruption in her game vs Tom Vickery. That proved fatal for
the FP as a fully corrupted Frodo donned the One Ring to rule
the world! Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, Martin Sample's
Frodo successfully navigated through Middle Earth to dunk the
ring in Turn 9 vs Stan Myszak. The final mulligan game ran the
full five hours and uncounted number of turns. Almost all event
cards were drawn and most of the FP military was mustered and/or
dead. In the end Lucas Rhodes shadow outlasted Todd Treadway's
free peoples.
The first game done in Round 1 was Kevin Lewis's shadow corrupting
Alexander Lange's racing FSP in 90 minutes and seven turns.
Chris Greenfield's FP were a close second vs Martin Sample,
as their game also ended in seven turns but with Frodo dunking
the ring. On the other end of the spectrum, John Pack's shadow
faced strong resistance from Jeff Pattison's free peoples. The
DEW line was captured over the fifth and sixth turns and Dol
Amroth and Minas Tirth over Turns 7 and 8. However the final
point could not fall with much action around Helms Deep and the
FSP had to run through Mordor for a successful dunk against low
odds of success, barely surviving the run with ten corruption.
Henry Rice had similar Mordor success vs Tom Vickery's shadow.
Tom cycled through every character card and had three SP special
tiles in the bag vs the FP's one, but the right draw occurred
to squeak out a 11-corruption ring dunk for Henry's Frodo via
a final die elven ring assisted move! That trend continued for
Ted Lange's FP vs Chris Trimmer's SP. Ted's Frodo also barely
survived with 11 corruption to dunk the ring! The last match
of the round restored Sauron's military might as Daniel Hoffman
managed to capture ten VPs over Lucas Rhodes via all four FP
cities and three strongholds (Erebor, Helms Deep and Dol Amorth).
On Sunday morning we had 11 of 13 winners choose to continue
their battle for Middle Earth. Chris Greenfield's shadow squared
off vs Jeff Pattison's free peoples in a military slugfest.
Jeff's FP armies were a killing machine to Chris's shadow forces.
A Minas Tirth siege turned into a FP rout that resulted in the
Witch King and two Nazguls dying on Turn 5. That was followed
by the Ents killing Saruman on Turn 9. The shadow only managed
five VP militarily, but lucky for Jeff corruption was in vogue
this year. Frodo could not resist the temptations of the One
Ring that salvaged the SP win. A similar story developed in
Samantha Berk's shadow vs Kevin Lewis's free people's game.
Samantha's military got stymied by A Power Too Great while troops
were already sieging multiple Elven strongholds and no Army cards
in her hand to discard the event. This gave Kevin's Frodo the
time needed to dunk the ring for victory. Ted Lange's shadow
forces would have none of those previous issues in his game vs
Martin Sample. The black armies flooded across Middle Earth
and secured 10 VPs just as the FSP entered Mordor. The corruption
trend returned in Joe Yaure's shadow game vs Dan Hoffman's free
peoples. Joe's shadow armies could only manage capturing Minas
Tirth but his Nazgul were in hot pursuit of the FSP all game.
In the end they pushed Frodo's soul to corruption. The last
game of the round pitted Christopher Yaure's free people vs Henry
Rice's shadow. Henry's military forces couldn't get much traction
in this one vs a stout FP defense that enabled Frodo to save
his soul and dunk the ring.
The quarterfinals round had three games with Kevin Wojtaszczyk's
free people squared off against Kevin's Lewis's shadow. The
FP sacrificed Gandalf the Grey in Turn 1 but then didn't see
a Will of the West rolled till Turn 7! Hampered with just four
action dice, the FSP had to move during 3 and 4 eye hunts, which
resulted in a number of corruption tiles and subsequent card
plays to push Frodo to 6 corruption by the time they were past
Lorien. On the battlefield, Gondor was quickly at War by Turn
2 via a muster die and then Wisdom of Elrond event. With Gondor
mustering, the shadow forces moved to put a stop to that. In
a precursor of Gondor's future intentions, the 10-unit strong
Sauron forces engaging Osgilith found the fortifications deserted
when they arrived. The two regulars had scouted off to North
Ithilien and then walked into the open Minas Morgul to grab 2VPs.
At the time it was of no concern as the main shadow focus was
on razing Minas Tirith after which those couple regulars could
be dispatched with ease. The dice quickly upended those plans.
It started with a zero result Dreadful Spells and a failed first
assault minimized by Daylight. Meanwhile the FSP declared in
Minas Tirith to begin their recovery and then separated out Strider
and Merry to help defend the stronghold. A final die assault
in Turn 7 then proved crushing for the shadow forces. They took
four casualties to only one for the free peoples. To start
the next turn Strider charged out of Minas Tirth, killing off
the remaining few shadow forces along with the Witch King and
Nazguls. This caused the shadow to shift gears, getting the
S&E into the war at the DEW line and toward Peligar while
the free people positioned a force of units in Osgilith and a
couple left to hold Minas Tirith. Wormtongue kept Rohan out
of the war as Isengard mustered for the kill. In Turn 9 the
FP rolled 4C's and 1P that gave the shadow an opportunity to
assault into DEW without fear of musters popping in. Minas
Morgul was still held and a handful of regulars were all that
were left inside Mordor. So Strider's army ran straight into
Mordor to siege Barad Dur using an elven ring with the final
FP die. The FP had troubles with hitting while the shadow slowly
bled their units. On the desperate third round of battle, the
FP reduced to two regulars+Strider+Merry vs two orcs who were
still left defending. The Orcs managed just one hit, then the
FP's dice changed, getting one six on the combat dice and then
another six on the leader reroll to capture Barad Dur and barely
squeak out a FPMV. Ironically, Christopher Yaure's free people's
found themselves in a similar situation vs Chris Greenfield.
Gondor managed to muster a large army and sat in Osgilith as
the shadow forces cleared from Mordor to engage them. Instead
of fighting and then retreating back toward Minas Tirith, the
Gondor army retreated toward Minas Morgul and walked into it
uncontested. The shadow did not have the action dice needed
to muster any defense that allowed the free peoples armies to
pass through Mordor to Barad Dur for the win. The last game
of the round had an epic ending. Ted Lange's free people moved
swiftly to Mordor vs Joe Yaure's shadow. The FSP acquired some
moderate corruption and sacrificed many of the companions. In
Mordor Joe's corruption strategy added more and pushed the FSP
close to the brink while Ted's Frodo attempted to dunk the ring.
In the end it was not meant to be as the last tile drawn was
Shelob's Lair and the Mighty Shelob used the One Ring to rule
the world and give Joe the SP corruption victory.
Based on the bracket of 11, the two-year's past champion Christopher
Yaure got the second bye in the semifinals which left Kevin Wojtaszczyk
shadow pitted against Joe Yaure's free people. Kevin managed
to get Saruman in play with the last die of Turn 1 but Joe got
Gandalf the Grey sacrificed in the hunt in Turn 2 and had a Will
to get him straight back on the board and rolling five action
dice. Kevin positioned his Sauron's forces for the kill with
all of Isengard and S&E elephants mustered to the board.
Meanwhile Joe kept his focus on moving the FSP and managed
to get Aragorn crowned for a sixth action die to bolster Minas
Tirith while Dain's Ironfoot Guard made Erebor foreboding. Breaking
of the Fellowship proved unsuccessful but Worn with Sorrow and
Toil managed a few FP event discards while Joe sacrificed companions
to keep the FSP corruption at 2. The FSP declared in Mordor
at the start of Turn 7 while the shadow armies were five attacks
away from 10 VPs. Sensing the power of the One Ring being near
distracted Sauron from his military goals with 2E, 2P, 2M, A
and C rolled. Only two attack dice. The Mouth of Sauron squeezed
a muster die into a third and an attack event a P into a fourth,
but Joe had wisely hoarded all the elven rings to himself all
game, leaving the shadow a die short for a SPMV. Turn 8 resulted
in Frodo safely dunking the ring to save Middle Earth from Sauron
and the first ever War of the Ring Family Final was set
to begin!
Below is a detailed historical account of the 2014 Epic Final
Family Battle of Middle Yaure Earth!
Christopher took the FP and his son took the SP with 0 Dwarven
rings bid.
Turn 1
FP: 2P, A/M, M
SP: Allocate 1E, roll 3E, A/M, M, C
The FP got a bad start out of the gate. It got worse after
Gandalf the Grey cycled cards with a FSP move event that was
a successful hunt and draw of a 1 tile with Strider falling as
the random casualty! The SP dice weren't too much better, but
Saruman was able to appear for an 8th shadow die.
Turn 2
FP: W, 3C
SP: Allocate 1E, roll 1E, 2A, M/A, M, 2P
The FP got the dice they wanted this turn and moved safely
the first two times. The third move was a successful hunt with
an Eye(2) tile drawn. Gandalf the Grey was sacrificed and the
FSP decided to take the Old Forest Road route in lieu of an additional
hunt drawn being revealed through Moria. The shadow began combining
the Mordor forces and moving toward the DEW and Minas Tirith.
Turn 3
FP: W, P, M, C
SP: Allocate 2E, roll 1E, 2M, P, A, C
Gandalf the White was mustered for a fifth FP action die and
Foul Thing from the Deep resulted in a 3 tile that randomly took
Pippen out of the FSP and rose Frodo to 2 corruption. The shadow
military began positioning near DEW and Minis Tirith and Saruman
began to muster in with The Voice.
Turn 4
FP: W, 4C
SP: Allocate 2E, roll 1E, 3A, M/A, P
Another all FSP type action dice roll for the FP but three
eyes end up in defense. Albeit those eyes proved no use with
the FSP safely moving twice and on the third move a successful
hunt drew a 1 tile that was negated by the Horn of Gondor.
FSP corruption dropped to 1 as Boromir went a different way to
separate over to Minas Tirith with the last FP die. Worn with
Sorrow and Toil was played and Dale was captured to get the SP
their first VP. Also Mithril Coat & String was played.
Turn 5
FP: 3C, P, A/M
SP: Allocate 2E, roll 2E, 3M/A, A
The first FSP move resulted in a successful hunt and 2 hunt
tile that killed off Gimli. In the second FSP move a 2R was
drawn and taken to push the FSP to 3 corruption. The shadow
mustered in the Witch King and began assaulting Woodland Realm.
It was a long drawn out battle with 1 SP hit and 0 FP hits in
each of the first two rounds! The continual reduction to continue
still weakened the shadow forces and the third assault finally
captured Woodland Realm to get the SP to 3VPs.
Turn 6
FP: W, 2C, M, P
SP: Allocate 2E, roll 1E, 3C, 2A/M, A
The first FSP was a successful hunt with 0R drawn that revealed
the FSP in Dagolad. The subsequent Candle of Corpes play whiffed.
The FSP then hid and moved another time with another successful
hunt resulting in an Eye(1) that took Merry out of the FSP with
a random casualty. The first elven ring was then used to hide
the FSP. The shadow positioned S&E forces and played Corsairs
of Umbar.
Turn 7
*FP Declared in Mordor with 3 corruption and Legolas the only
companion as guide
FP: 2C, 2M, P
SP: Allocate 1E, rolled 3M/A, 1M, 2A, 1P, 1C
First die used in Mordor results in a 3 tile that kills off
Legolas and pushes the FSP to 4 corruption but also moves them
to STEP 1 on the track. Gollum assumes the role as guide. The
second die used in Mordor resulted in a 1R which Gollum ignored
the reveal and corruption moved to 5 but put the FSP to STEP
2 on the track. The shadow mustered in the Mouth of Sauron and
began assaults into Erebor. The first assault with a deadly strife
combat card whiffed while heavy damage is done to the SP army.
A second assault with another deadly strife had more success
and Erebor fell to give the shadow 5VPs.
Turn 8
FP: 2P, 2M, C
SP: Allocate 1E, rolled 4C, 2A, M, P, A/M
FP passed and the shadow played a Lidless Eye to move a C,
A and M to Eyes. FSP attempted to move in Mordor but the 3 stop
tile was drawn so that left the FSP on STEP 2 and Gollum used
his guide ability to reveal for only two corruption, moving it
to 7. Breaking of the Fellowship was played to increase the
FSP corruption to 8 and the FP used their second elven ring to
hide. A New Power Rising was played and Dol Amorth fell to get
the shadow to 7VPs.
Turn 9
FP: W, C, M, 2 A/M
SP: Allocate 1E, rolled 2E, 3M/A, 2C, A, M
In the first die used in Mordor the -1 special tile was drawn
to move the FSP corruption down to 7 and put the FSP on STEP
3. The shadow used an elven ring to draw a character card.
Dale was recaptured by the Iron Hills regular to knock the SP
down to 6 VP but then Peligar was taken to put them back to 7VP.
The next die used in Mordor resulted in an Eye(4!) drawn. That
pushed the FSP up to 11 corruption but also to STEP 4, one away
from dunking the ring. Subsequently noticed, Mithril Coat and
String still was sitting unused or discarded from WWST. Orc
Patrol was played but the draw was an Eye for no effect. Pippen
lead a Help Unlooked For assault on the army besieging Minas
Tirith which forced them to break off their siege, retreating
toward Rohan.
Turn 10
FP: 2W, C, 2A/M
SP: Allocate 1E, rolled E, 3C, 3P, M, A/M
Both players started fishing for character events and any
extra die used to muster troops. Helms Deep was sieged and
the retreated Minas Tirith force encamped outside of Edoras.
The FSP hid as their action in Mordor and Shelob's Lair was
added to the hunt pool. Athelas was played for zero effect,
leaving the FSP still at 11 corruption.
Turn 11
FP: 3C, 2P
SP: Allocate 1E, rolled E, 4A, 2M/A, C, P
On the first FP action die Christopher could wait no longer
and had to risk the last steps up Mount Doom. So Frodo, remembering
his gift from Bilbo, threw off his cloak to reveal a glistening
coat of Mithril and drew String as he courageously marched up
the steps to the Crack of Doom. Joe shook up the hunt tiles
as the fate of Middle Yaure Earth hung in the balance as one
last SP corruption ending unfolded. The epic first ever Family
Final came down to a climatic hunt tile draw to determine the
victor! The result... 0 special tile! Frodo kept his determination
over the lava and successfully dunked the ring to give Christopher
his second War of the Ring championship!
I thank everyone who participated in another exciting tournament
and a special thanks to those who brought along a copy of the
game. With the 2-player format, we are always in need of copies
and it is much appreciated. The second edition rules again proved
to be a fair balance of results. Most games completed in 3-4
hours, with only a couple running longer and one adjudication
needed. The final tally revealed the FP had won 13 (3 FPMV,
10 Ring Dunks) to the SP's 10 (4 SPMV, 6 Corruption). SP corruption
strategy focus was evident in many of the matches. As for the
Dwarven rings, 16 of the games had 0 bid, three had the FP receive
one, three had the SP receive one and one had the FP receive
two. Ironically, the side receiving the Dwarven rings went 6-1,
so almost everyone who gave their opponent a Dwarven ring to
pick the side they wanted failed to win. Congrats again to everyone
on a great tournament and I hope to see everyone back for 2015's
battle for Middle Earth! For those interested, make sure you
check out BoardGameGeek early in 2015 to see if there will be
an International War of the Ring Online tournament. Also for
more War of the Ring news and strategy articles check out the
Ares games website. (http://www.aresgames.eu/category/articles+war-of-the-ring-games/page/6
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