So I'm finally getting around to my GenCon report. After the intense months of planning, preparing, and practicing, followed by 3 straight days of play, I've pushed the game from my mind. My friends and I actually haven't played since. We will, of course, get back into it, but we still need to recharge.
For those that don't know me, I'm Mike, and I live in Cincinnati. I'm relatively new to the game, I started playing in March of this year, having read the books a couple of years ago (actually I listened to them, and I highly recommend them on audiobook, Roy Dotrice does an amazong job narrating). After getting my friend Sandy (the 4th place Melee runner-up) as hooked as I was, we began playing a lot. We then met Todd (anavasoothed) and Dave (Sir Not Appearing on these Forums), and the Cincinnati Meta was formed. We played a ton, both in person and on OCTGN.
I also met Josh Staton on the boards, and he showed me how to really build a deck (something that I was quite lacking), and he and Kyle Vance exposed me to some really powerful decks and some great play. Learning to go heads up against Josh was a real boon to my play, and I'm really grateful for all that he showed me (while quite often kicking my ass), and it was cool to come to GenCon knowing that I already had friends there that I just hadn't met yet in person.
GenCon 2010 was an amazing experience. My friends and I had a really great time, and it was truly something to not only play some of the best AGOT players in the US, but to also find out that they're a really great group of people. Coming into it, I'd expected a bunch of insecure social misfits (you know, people like me), but it turns out that everyone was super friendly and a lot of fun to play/hang out with. I made some really great friends, which I think is probably the best part of the whole experience. It was the first AGOT tourney any of us had ever participated in (and it was probably my first actual gaming even of any sort), so we definitely learned a lot, and we had a great time doing it!
I think the biggest lesson I learned was not to over compensate for Valar. As a Stark player, I am keenly aware that "all men must die", and I had learned to come to expect, and plan for, it. What I had not learned, though, was to anticipate those times when I wouldn't see it, as well as to not over prepare for it, two things that cost me greatly in the two main events. More on that as it comes up.
I participated in the Melee, Joust, and the 2v2, and, despite spending weeks building decks tailored to all three, I ended up playing the same deck in all three (with a few cards swapped out on a case by case basis): my Stark Siege deck. It plays best in a joust, but I found I couldn't build a melee deck as consistent as that deck, so I just went with it.
I was very confident that my deck was solid (though of course I learned some things along the way that would lead me to change it, in retrospect), but the big agonizing question on my mind was which Eddard to use. I stuck with Core Eddard for a long time, but several weeks before I decided to go with Hand of the King "I don't think so" Eddard. Then, literally two days before GenCon, I revisited the decision, and after thinking it over and over, I decided to return to Core Eddard. It was a ballsy move, because the other one is so crazy good, but I felt that Core Eddard was a better compliment for the rest of my deck, and it ended up paying off. Besides, I wanted to give the deck my own flavor.
Anyway, down to the actual report: My apologies if I get any names wrong or if I screwed up any of the melee participants or decks or anything. I have a pretty good memory, but it has been like 6 weeks. Let me know if I do get something wrong and I'll update the post.
Day 1: The Melee
Round 1: Melee Champion Brett Zeiler (Greyjoy), Daryl Loyd (Stark Siege Direwolf), Ben Terpstra (Baratheon Winter NW)
I was pretty nervous for this first game. It was, after all, the first time that my mettle would be tested in an actual tourney (much less the world freaking championship). Unfortunately, it was also where I'd make my first big mistake. In the melees that I'd play with my meta, I'd always favored the Master of Laws, despite being a Stark Siege deck. I was always out-drawn (meaning they drew more cards), and I never had any problem with military challenges, so I wanted to draw a bunch of cards to prepare for the Valars. Unfortunately, I forgot that in giving up Lord Commander, I was giving Daryl a chance to re-direct and win military challenges, which he did, several times, against me. I would aim some military challenge that I could easily win at Brett or Ben, and Daryl would re-direct and claim the two power. I kept forgetting this, and until it was too late. I took third, and I believe Brett took first.
Round 2: Joust Champion Alec Irwin (Martell), Josh Staton (Baratheon Nobel Rush), 2010 World Champion Eric Butzlaff (Martell)
By now I'd learned my lesson and started grabbing Lord Commander when possible and appropriate. It worked well, and with the Martell players really putting the hurt to one another, and with enough military and power to keep Josh from putting too much hurt to me, I found myself in a solid position. At some point in the game, Eric offered to let a military challenge go unopposed, giving me the win and him second. It looked good on paper, so I went for it, coming in with only no responses Brienne. He then, though, tries to play Blood on the Sand. Of course, he couldn't, because of Brienne, and he then tried to block the attack. By trying to play Blood on the Sand, he was giving up that opportunity to block, and we later learned that had we gotten a ruling from Nate that I would have won the game, but I hesitated and didn't request the ruling, so continued playing, me losing the challenge.
Later in the game, Josh made a big power play, and offered to let me power up to second if I didn't get in his way. With his final strike, he came at me with a military challenge he thought he could win, forgetting that I had Lord Commander, thus giving me the win on the game. When I pointed this out to him, he asked if I'd let it through to get enough power for second, on the condition that he send another attack at me that would fail, still giving me the win (I forget how, with renown or something). I knew it was a risk, being so recently burned by a deal that I'd made, but Josh was my friend so I decided to go for it. He was true to his word, taking second and giving me first.
I learned a really big lesson that game. Always ask for a ruling. I thought in my head "If he's trying to play burning on the sand, he gave up his opportunity to block". However, I didn't want to be "that guy", so I said nothing, and I was very nearly "that guy that lost". Lesson learned.
Eric also signed a copy of The Blackfish, which was cool.
Round 3: Alec Irwin, Ben Terpstra, John Kraus (Stark)
This was the game that I learned how very potent Winter Baratheon Night's Watch was. Ben came in with an initial Baratheon rush, but got ganged up on, as usual, by the rest of us not wanting to see the game end in 2 turns. I think at some point I managed to claw way up to 8 power or so, but by that point Ben had managed to get The Wall and Stannis down, and he was pretty much unstoppable. On my final turn, he let me come in for first, giving him second. This was an act of charity, as he almost assuredly could have won on his turn.
Round 4: Katie Altieri (Stark Tully), Targ Burn (sorry, I don't remember the name)
Of everything, Targ burn gives me the absolute hardest time. I can beat it, but only if I play and draw well, and even then, it's iffy. That's just the burden of Stark, I think. Anyway, this game was pretty rough. between the burn and the power of the Tullies,I couldn't keep anything down, and while I still got off quite a few military challenges, Katie got a massive Riverrun power claim off that won her the game, giving me second.
Melee Result: 3rd, 1st, 1st, 2nd - 9th place
Day 2: The Joust
Round 1: Jason Kenny (Martell/Baratheon Treaty)
When I saw a treaty go down, I thought 'free win!" I grab power like nobody's business, and I don't lose many challenges. I should have had that in the bag, right? Wrong. He brought the viper out on turn 1, promptly making it invulnerable with body guards and body guards, along with Stannis or some other Baratheon Noble, and proceeded to gobble up power like crazy. I got to 7 power before he won. This was the second time that my fear of Valar cost me greatly. On my first turn, I laid down a sizeable army, and had enough left over (with narrow seas) to play The Blackfish. I held it back, though, wanting to be able to rebuild after the Valar. Of course, he wouldn't be playing a Valar, he's going to be playing 2 powers of blood (and, it turns out, a Red Wedding, which really hurt), so I shouldn't have held back like that. With The Blackfish, I had a very good chance of claiming those three extra power (due to his renown, added strength, and the extra cards that I would have drawn), or at least forced him to make a block that he didn't want to. Alas, he sat in my hand, preparing for a reset that never happened, until it was too late.
0-1
Round 2: Casey (Lannister Kneel Wildling)
By far my most crushing defeat. I just had nothing this whole game, despite drawing well. At every turn I was knelt, then executed. Truly a potent deck, and Casey really knew how to play it. There's not much more to say.
0-2
Round 3: Ben Terpstra (Stark City of Shadows)
Ben got really unlucky and drew super land heavy, and couldn't really find purchase. I won this won, though he held me off for quite a long time, despite how few characters he drew.
1-2
Round 4: Mike (Targ)
I very nearly lost this one. I was outgunned on just about all three challenges for most of the game. It was a very long game. I wasn't getting dominated, though, and I managed to collect some power, and fortunately my opponent played an ill-timed Valar, which gave me the window I needed. Had that not happened, I think I would have eventually succumbed.
2-2
Round 5: Lukas Litzsinger (Barathen Noble Rush)
This was an awesome game, very close the entire time. My deck normally shuts Baratheon Noble Rush down, being high strength and high kill. We both had some really huge armies, mine just barely outpowering Lukas's, thanks to Arya sitting in the shadows, keeping the Knight of Flowers at bay. Finally Lukas threw down the Valar (I think, because we both ended up with very few characters), and a Hunting Spear very nearly finished me off. My savior? Core Eddard. Despite the fact that the Hunting Spear kept me from winning many challenges, Eddard's deadly let me slowly kill off all of his royalty, his renown forced Lukas to block it (we both sat at like 8-12 power that whole game), and stalwart kept him in the game. Good thing for that last minute change-up.
3-2
Round 6: Steve (Stark Wildling)
This was literally the "deadliest" game I've ever played. I started out getting absolutely rocked by some really early Wildilng Hordes, not to mention Craster dominating intrigue. Fortunately, I got out a Shaggy Dog and a Northern Cavalry Flank, the double deadly holding the hordes at bay. At some point, I pulled out a Core Eddard, putting my deadly count at three and his at two, which let me start doing some damage (yay Core Eddard). Things took a turn for the better when I threw down a WIldfire Assault that claimed both hordes. I also still had 2-3 deadly characters out, which kept me in it, but I was still up against the ropes. Eventually the round's time ran out. He was at like 16 and I was at 10 or so, and we had one final round to finish for the modified win. He would have had it, but on my final turn he forgot about Core Robb's ability and let the attack through, which cost him the Blackfish with about 7 power on him, giving me the modified win.
These last two games were my favorite games of the weekend, because both games were very close the entire time, involved both me and my opponent bringing our A games, and both opponents were great guys that were a lot fun to play with. Intense games, but very laid back, too. Of course, this was pretty much the norm, as everyone was really friendly and most games were light-hearted and interesting, but these two really stood out.
Joust Result: 3.5-2 - 13th place
Day 3: The 2v2
I thought this would be my weakest event. I had very little practice, my deck doesn't really do much to support other decks, and Sandy, my 2v2 partner, has a habit of completely rebuilding his deck literally minutes before every event (of which he stayed true to form on this event). Still, we ended up doing surprisingly well.
Round 1: Ken (Stark Direwolf), Ken (Stark Tully)
The Kens were a father-son duo. They were incredibly new to the game, around a month, I think, and while their decks were well constructed, and they played well, Sandy and I had much more experience and preparation to draw on. They just couldn't keep anything down, though the game went for a long time. We ended up having to make a super fast push for like 16 power in one turn at the end, because time was about to run out. We pulled it off, though they never yielded, and were good sports about it.
Round 2: Casey (Greyjoy Mill) and Mallesh (Greyjoy Mill)
This was scary. After finishing our game, we asked Todd and Dave, whom we had pinned all 2v2 hopes to, how they faired. They said they got milled by round 4. Imagine our delight when we learned that this dual mill goodness would be aimed at us the next round. It's not something we'd ever considered. Fortunately, though luck and determination, we pulled it off, but it was still a rather intimidating experience. They didn't pull the right cards early on, so they never got the mill off, and we managed to cobble together 30 power before them.
Round 3: Joe Becker (Greyjoy Mill) and Louie (Greyjoy)
Sandy and I played really well in our first games. We got lucky in both games, but we still played very solidly. That all changed in this match when we absolutely fell apart. Both of us made some pretty huge mistakes, and we got thoroughly thrashed. To top it off, apparently these guys met just before their first game, so they had no planned coordination in their decks. That didn't stop them, though, from being 2v2 champs.
2v2 Result: 2nd place (we got plaques, which is way cool)
Overall result: 8th place (far better than I thought I'd do)
All in all, GenCon was amazing, and while I'm not quite ready to open up my box of cards just yet, I am very much looking forward to hitting up some regionals next year and competing at GenCon 2011. It was really great to meet everyone, and if we aren't already Facebook friends, look me up (Mike Pateras).
Lastly, if you want to know more about the Cincinnati Meta's adventures at GenCon outside of the AGOT events, you can find my 42 part GenCon update series
