Amber Van Breemen (Marquetry) Tournament Report - 2E Standard 2011-04-03 - 01:00 PM For Cardassia! Introduction I couldn't decide until Saturday night what I would play... had narrowed down my options to Romulan FSE, Dominion Defiant, or a Tain solver. Thinking about what I like to play (solvers) made the choice easier, as I don't always have the patience for a long set-up time. Dilemmas were easier since 1) I don't play Tragic Turn much; 2) figured I could put it with the skill stoppers I like; and 3) It might get banned from our series soon. Round 1 Michael Van Breemen FW (0)View opponent's ReportView original Report I was somewhat concerned going in, as I knew his deck would be fast & he was packing Tragic Turns. Thankfully, I drew an Escape in my opening hand so was able to get over & attempt Eliminate Harvesters by Turn 3 without worrying too much about death. Enough dilemmas were consumed for me to complete EH the next turn, then work on Abduction Plot. That mission & Intercept Renegade were completed in good order, as my dilemmas (and Unexpected Difficulties) were able to hold Michael off (thank you, Triage). FW, 100-35 My deck was moving as fast as I wanted it to be but unfortunately, so was hers. Her Tragic Turn pile was more of the raw stoppers with some choice kills along the way whereas mine wasn't killing anyone. For every Final Adventure, she had an Escape to prevent the Tragic Turn kill and for almost every A Royal Hunt stop, she had Dukat to prevent the stop for the mission solve. Between that and some timely Unexpected Difficulties for some one stoppers, I didn't have a chance. Even afterwards when I used an extra turn, I still wouldn't have solved my space mission. Thankfully, she won the entire tournament and I love her so I'm okay with the loss :) Round 2 Everett O'Shogay Jr. FW (0) I actually was able to play Tain in this game! I was able to get started again in good order, out attempting on Turn 3. A few well-placed deaths (Don't Let It End This Way :) ) gave me an extra turn or two to get the Cardies flying smoothly, and some Non-Aligned fuel for Dukat, Prefect of Bajor in hand. FW, 100-30 Round 3 Mark Bloom FW (0)View opponent's ReportView original Report This game was helped along by some luck getting through dilemmas. When a Secret Identity took out Dukat, I brought in Elim Garak & started making sure I had diverse skills in hand. At my first space mission, Personal Duty didn't stop anyone as Parn was my only Leader/Officer at the attempt. At the final space mission, Garak & Goran were key to getting through a Gomtuu Shockwave - discarded a Diplomacy from hand to go with the one in play with Garak's ability, and having 2x Goran gave me 34 Integrity. I was able to hold off the Borg invasion, and keep the quadrant safe for Cardassia. FW, 100-30 Keys for the day... Unexpected Difficulties getting ideal dilemma set ups; the awesome power of Dukat & Garak; Goran having 6 Integrity; Ocett getting a Non-Aligned personnel or an UE back from the discard pile. Amber was playing Cardassians with a ton of cheaters. I had what looked to be a great hand. A couple card advantage drones, the Annexation Drone, At What Cost, and a ship. I managed to get out on turn 2 and attempt, but had to call Security with the Queen to have mission skills. I ended up having to run back to the Delta on turn 3 though, as I lost 2 drones to Tragic and a kill dilemma. Amber came out swinging on turn 3 and was able to one-shot my dilemma combo, although I made her swap out one cheater for another. I ended up spending way too many resources looking for the Regeneration Alcoves that served me so well in the first 2 games that I didn't put the 2nd ship that I had in hand out. I don't think I could have competed with her speed, but I do think that if I played smarter, I might have gotten a 2nd mission done.