Clontroper5 vs JJs Juggernaut: Armada World Cup Semi-Finals Preview

**Update, watch it stream live, with commentary on Friday 6:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM CST (Friday 2:00 AM GMT)**
 

We have our final matchup for the Semi-Finals previewed here.  It's Clontroper5 vs JJs Juggernaut - the two remaining heavyweights are looking to make a name for themselves in the buildup to the finals.  Let's take a look at their path to get here, and their matchup.

JJs painting skills.

Clontroper5

clontroper5 - 387/400
Gladiator I-Class Star Destroyer (98pts)
 - Engine Techs (8pts)
 - Expanded Launchers (13pts)
 - Intel Officer (7pts)
 - Ordnance Experts (4pts)
 - •Demolisher (10pts)
Raider I-Class Corvette (68pts)
 - Expanded Launchers (13pts)
 - Intel Officer (7pts)
 - Ordnance Experts (4pts)
Raider I-Class Corvette (68pts)
 - Expanded Launchers (13pts)
 - Intel Officer (7pts)
 - Ordnance Experts (4pts)
Raider I-Class Corvette (80pts)
 - Assault Proton Torpedoes (5pts)
 - •Admiral Montferrat (5pts)
 - •Admiral Screed (26pts)
Raider I-Class Corvette (57pts)
 - Assault Proton Torpedoes (5pts)
 - Ordnance Experts (4pts)
 - •Instigator (4pts)
+ Squadrons (16pts) +
TIE Fighter Squadron (8pts)
TIE Fighter Squadron (8pts)

Clontroper5 has been a regular participant in Armada Vassal Tournaments since the very first, where he put up a respectable 2-1 record on his way to a 10th place finish.  He ran the Wave 1 Sendoff Tournament, and participated in the recent Holiday tournament, though not matching his original success.  In addition to his participation in the tournament scene, he has been a prolific poster on the FFG forums, particularly recently in exposing his strategy with Raiders.

In this tournament, Clontroper5 has been lights out, having won each of his games by dominating margins.  He started by winning his first three POD games by a total tournament score of 29, and an MOV of 1013, within the first few days of the tournament.  Playing not only the first game of the tournament and tabling Truthiness, a fellow Semi-Finalist, he immediately turned around and tabled his next opponent, Captain ICT, who had been watching the game.  He then won his third game a few days later, cementing his POD round victory.

He continued after over two weeks of downtime in his elimination game against Miedomeda in a Fleet Ambush, racking up a table against his opponent and only losing two TIE Fighters and his Demolisher to post-capital ship destruction bombing runs.

His Quarter-Final game against Ardaedhel also went strongly in his favor, though it was the closest of his games thus far.  A Hyperspace Assault and Yavaris were able to do some considerable damage against his swarm, but he utilized his activation advantage to good effect, finishing off his opponent's ships in the fifth turn.

His list is one of the most unique in the competition, with Demolisher anchoring a list filled with 2 Expanded Launcher Raiders and 2 APT Raiders, with only two TIE Fighters for support.  Admiral Screed supports the Ordinance Experts on each ship, allowing rerolls to fish for doubles while still being able to add damage to any blanks rolled, giving his ships a dominating close quarters offense.

One of the big points of his list are the extreme bid, clocking in at 387 to all but ensure First Player.  It gives up Deployment Advantage to most lists, only taking 6 total deployments.  Meanwhile, it dominates the Activation Advantage in this tournament with 5 ships, giving him first and last activation in each of his games so far.  It's "Motti Scale" clocks in at 5.

JJs Juggernaut

JJs Juggernaut

List: [ REBEL FLEET] (389 points)

Assault Frigate Mark II B (119)
 - General Dodonna
 - Raymus Antilles
 - Expanded Hangar Bay
 - Electronic Countermeasures
 - Gallant Haven

CR90 Corellian Corvette A (51)
 - Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (53) 

CR90 Corellian Corvette A
 - Turbolaser Reroute Circuits
 - Jaina's Light 

MC30c Scout Frigate (97)
 - Lando Calrissian
 - Ordnance Experts
 - Assault Proton Torpedoes
 - Turbolaser Reroute Circuits
 - Admonition

Squadrons (69)
-Jan Ors Moldy Crow (19)

-X-wing Squadron (13)

-X-wing Squadron (13)

-X-wing Squadron (13)

-A-wing Squadron (11)

JJs Juggernaut has been, well, a juggernaut in the games he has played on Vassal.   His forums signature should tell you everything you need to know about his success at Armada:

JJs Juggernaut's Forum Signature

He hasn't placed less than 3rd in any previous tournament, and this one has been no different.  He's also a frequent poster in the Armada forums, posting not only pictures of his painted miniatures, but also thoughts on the MC30c.

And when I say this tournament has been no different, I mean that he has dominated from the very start.  He collected the 3rd most points of anyone during the POD rounds, with 28 total Tournament Points, and the 3rd highest MOV with 1005.  Only Clontroper5 (2nd) and Reith28 (eliminated) collected more during the POD round.

His first round game against Zanos was also a one sided affair.  Zanos was forced to concede early on Turn 5 after his VSDs were outmaneuvered by the more agile CR90s and MC30c.  Between the long range firepower and superior squadron play, he advanced to the next round.

The Quarter-Finals also ended in his favor, winning a Precision Strike game against Quadro28.  Slightly closer than the score looked, due to multiple objective tokens seized by JJs, he still managed a table for the victory. against a Rebel Bomber heavy list.

Another low bid, JJs only took 389 points for a play for initiative.  He went for a minimal Deployment Advantage of 6, leaving a remainder of a single odd numbered squadron.  His Activation Advantage are also relatively high for this tournament, taking 4 activations.  His "Motti Scale" comes in at 5.

The Matchup:

Clontroper5 gets to continue to play with his game plan, and JJs' game plan of always going first is disrupted.  Furthermore, Clontroper has the advantage in activations, even going first, and very little deployment advantage in JJ's favor.

While JJs does have a Bomber force, and Clon has none, this hasn't actually been an issue for Clon's list thus far.

In terms of ship vs ship though, Clon has all the close range advantage, and the ability to close quickly and make use of this advantage.  JJs though has long range superiority if he can take advantage of it.  Both sides have a lot of highly maneuverable and fast ships.

Objectives may wind up being key, depending on how each side decides to deal with the close quarters mismatch - and which ones JJs brings could be the big advantage in this competition.

Biggs' Pre-Match Bet:

I got burnt the last time I bet against JJs, but this is not last time.  Clontroper5 has nearly every advantage in this matchup, from Initiative, to Activations, to the fact that JJs list is also designed to be First Player, and may not even be ready for a Second Player setup.

I can see this game hinging on whichever side loses the first ship, and frankly I think that is more likely to be JJs rather than Clontroper.  If JJs can successfully play keep-away he can win, but I'm not sure how viable that will actually be.

My bet is for Clontroper5 to win this one and advance on to the fianls.