VWC Elimination Round - jp82729 vs Chavoguerrero

jp82729 - 390 Bid

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Hondo Ohnaka  ( 2  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 27 total ship cost

VWC Elimination Round - LTD vs Tokra

HERE WE GO BOYS.

LTD - 399 Bid

"Ackbar Rogues Five"

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Admiral Ackbar (38)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
• Jaina's Light (2)
= 91 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 51 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 51 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 51 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Toryn Farr (7)
• Bright Hope (2)
= 27 Points

Squadrons:
• 8 x YT-2400 (128)
= 128 Points

LTD shows up as our only player from down under with a monster of an Ackbar list.  Also our 2nd best POD player, he loses out to MandoMoose by a mere 10 MOV.

Ackbar rides in on a CR90A with Jaina's Light and Turbolaser Reroute Circuits.  From there, three more CR90s support the firepower, and 128 points of YT-2400s round out the list, with a GR-75 with Toryn Farr and Bright Hope supports.  This is a surprising amount of firepower, but on incredibly flimsy frames, relying on speed and a thousand cuts to bring down large ships.

5 activations, 9 deployments, and a 399 bid.

Tokra - 370 Bid

"Moralo Test #3"

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 25 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Victory I-Class Star Destroyer (73 points)
-  Admiral Sloane  ( 24  points)
-  Harrow  ( 3  points)
-  Admiral Ozzel (off)  ( 2  points)
-  Fighter Coordination Team  ( 3  points)
-  Boosted Comms  ( 4  points)
= 109 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Vector  ( 2  points)
-  Hondo Ohnaka  ( 2  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 29 total ship cost

Quasar Fire I-class Cruiser-Carrier (54 points)
-  Squall  ( 3  points)
-  Skilled First Officer  ( 1  points)
-  Flight Controllers  ( 6  points)
-  Boosted Comms  ( 4  points)
-  Expanded Hangar Bay  ( 5  points)
= 73 total ship cost

1 Darth Vader ( 21 points)
1 Major Rhymer ( 16 points)
5 Lambda-class Shuttles ( 75 points)
1 Moralo Eval ( 22 points)

= 134 total squadron cost "

Tokra brings what he believes is the biggest gimmick to come out lately, and that is the fact that there is no cap on Moralo's activations, making every single Lambda into "effectively Moralo".  That is a surprising amount of squadron shenanigans, as Moralo gets a (small) move and attack.  Combined with the station and 5 Lambdas that is a LOT of movement.  Combined with Squall, Fighter Coordination Team, Ozzel (officer) and Harrow, that's a lot of squadron movement shenanigans.

A LOT.

Is it enough though?  For combat ships he has brought a VSD sporting Sloane (who doesn't work with Moralo) but does work with the Lambdas and Vader.  The VSD has no combat upgrades, or defensive upgrades, being entirely devoted to pushing squadrons.  The Quasar also is a ship and upgraded to only support squadrons.  The Goantis are supporting, having Comms Nets and Hondo on one of them.

And what a bid he has, guaranteeing himself Second Player against any list on the field.

4 activations, 8 deployments, 370 bid.

Biggs' Analysis

This really comes down to "are the YT-2400s tanky enough to deal with multiple Moralo activations?"  The answer is... maybe?  There's a TON of damage on the table for LTD, and his guys being generic are about the best case scenario for him against Tokra's build.

I'm actually leaning towards LTD here.  Tokra's build isn't unbeatable, as we've already seen, but it is cancer and I personally don't want to see it do well, if only so I don't see 5 different threads with variations of "Moralo is OP" in the forums and like 6 variations of this at Worlds.

Ginkapo's Analysis

LTD vs Tokra is going to be brutal. LTD is 20 hull from tabled, Tokra only 14. They both have means of springing damage from downtown at a moments notice. 

For me its Tokra who has the most interesting question, given time LTD will destroy him, but does Tokra Moralo the squads or Moralo the cr90s first? He cant afford to ignore either, but neither can he deal with both. 

For me if LTD gets his timing right and fleet synchronized he should win. However, this is Tokra and any error will be mercilessly punished. I don't believe the objective really matters particularly.

LTD's Analysis

#$*&!

VWC Elimination Round - RealVeers vs Admiral Theia

RealVeers - 399 Bid

"Gink made me do this"

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
= 30 Points

Onager Testbed (96)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)
• Veteran Gunners (5)
• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)
= 116 Points

VWC Elimination Round - Commander Dave vs Brobafett

CommanderDave - 392 Bid

Gladiator II-Class Star Destroyer (62 points)
-  Demolisher  ( 10  points)
-  Agent Kallus  ( 3  points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points)
-  External Racks  ( 3  points)
= 90 total ship cost

WVC Elimination Round - Truthiness vs Green Knight

Truthiness - 400 Bid 

"Liberty or Death"

MC80 Star Cruiser (96 + 56: 152)
 + Kyrsta Agate (20)
 + Expert Shield Tech (5)
 + Caitken and Shollan (6)
 + Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
 + Engine Techs (8)
 + Mon Karren (8)

Elimination Matchup Preview - Zamalekite vs PartyPotato

**Watch this game LIVE at 6am CST / Noon GMT on Saturday 26th!**

Zamalekite

[ flagship ] CR90 Corvette B (39 points)
-  General Dodonna  ( 20  points)
-  Tantive IV  ( 3  points)
-  Leia Organa  ( 3  points)
= 65 total ship cost

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
-  Yavaris  ( 5  points)
-  Flight Commander  ( 3  points)
= 65 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Ahsoka Tano  ( 2  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 22 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Quantum Storm  ( 1  points)
-  Toryn Farr  ( 7  points)
-  Bomber Command Center  ( 8  points)
= 34 total ship cost

Modified Pelta-class Command Ship (60 points)
-  Adar Tallon  ( 10  points)
-  Fighter Coordination Team  ( 3  points)
-  Boosted Comms  ( 4  points)
-  All Fighters, Follow Me!  ( 5  points)
= 82 total ship cost

2 VCX-100 Freighters ( 30 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
1 Luke Skywalker ( 20 points)
1 Gold Squadron ( 12 points)
1 Scurrg H-6 Bomber ( 16 points)
1 Dagger Squadron ( 15 points)
1 Corran Horn ( 22 points)
= 131 total squadron cost

Total Points = 399

Dodonna Aces with a 3+2, the natural successor of the 2+3.  Zamalekite and his annoying to type name bring 5 small base ships and 8 squadrons for 5 activations and 9 deployments.  Zamalekite's list has everything you'd expect from a Rebel Aces based list:

• Toryn Farr and Bomber Command Center (on the same high value target!)
• Yavaris (with a Flight Commander)
• Adar Tallon (on a Pelta with Boosted Comms, Fighter Coordination Team, and AFFM!)

Let's talk about the Pelta for a second - it's built to push squadrons, and with Adar Tallon, Fighter Coordination Team, and All Fighters Follow Me! it can push them a lot farther and faster than you'd expect, potentially jumping Corran Horn more than 2 range rulers worth of movement for example.

Speaking of squadrons, you've got a decent spread of Rebel aces, backed up by VCX's to keep the main ships out of the fight.  Luke, Gold, and the generic Scurrg are all good anti-shipping fighters, while Corran gives you the ability to snipe a particularly troublesome enemy.  Dagger can do double duty, but needs the Pelta to help it push into position.

The CR90B seems like just an overcosted, under-squadroned transport here.  With Tantive IV, Ashoka Tano (on a different ship) and Leia, it is there for slicer insurance, and to toss a token to be corrected into the right one with Ashoka.

With a 399 point bid, it's not intending to win first player, and is probably very comfortable with its second player objective choices.

PartyPotato 

Victory I-Class Star Destroyer (73 points)

-  Captain Brunson  ( 5  points)

-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)

-  Expanded Hangar Bay  ( 5  points)

-  Quad Battery Turrets  ( 5  points)

-  External Racks  ( 3  points)

= 95 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Victory II-Class Star Destroyer (85 points)

-  Moff Jerjerrod  ( 23  points)

-  Warlord  ( 8  points)

-  Minister Tua  ( 2  points)

-  Gunnery Team  ( 7  points)

-  Disposable Capacitors  ( 3  points)

-  Electronic Countermeasures  ( 7  points)

-  H9 Turbolasers  ( 8  points)

-  SW-7 Ion Batteries  ( 5  points)

= 148 total ship cost

1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)

1 ""Mauler"" Mithel ( 15 points)

4 TIE Fighter Squadrons ( 32 points)

1 ""Howlrunner"" ( 16 points)

1 JumpMaster 5000 ( 12 points)

1 Captain Jonus ( 16 points)

2 TIE Bomber Squadrons ( 18 points)

1 Saber Squadron ( 12 points)

= 134 total squadron cost

Total Points: 377

When you think "Imperial 2 ship" do you think "Double Victories?"  Party Potato does.  There's a lot to unpack here, because the list is NOT standard by any stretch of the imagination.

2 ships.  12 squadrons.  8 deployments and 2 activations.  Clearly looking for first player with what might be the biggest bid of the tournament at 377 points.

The Victories are built for defense and combat, as they'd have to be to stand up to a fight.  The flagship is a VSD-II with Moff Jerjerrod onboard giving both better movement than most would expect out of a VSD.  Minister Tua / Electronic Countermeasures gives access to the Brace that is so necessary to VSD survival.  For offense, you've got Disposable Capacitors, for long range.  SW-7 Ions to even out the Blue dice, H-9 / Warlord Combo for guaranteed flak and Red Double Damage spin-ups, and Gunnery Team to ensure that it can reach out and touch whatever it needs to.

The other VSD is a I-Class built with Captain Brunson for survivability.  Quad Battery Turrets give it a little more oomph at Medium / Long range, but External Racks and Ordnance Experts are what make it prickly if you get too close.  It also has Expanded Hangers, bringing the list to 7 native squadron activations.

Interestingly, that means the list has just a bit more than half the activations for the squadrons it has, and no Rogues to make up the difference.  Clearly, it is expecting casualties in it's fighter cover, as well it should as it packs in 4 generic TIE Fighters.  It has a lot of anti-squadron firepower in its fighter compliment - "Howlrunner", "Mauler" Mithel, Valen Rudor, a Jumpmaster, and Saber Squadron do most of the damage, while Jonus and two TIE Bombers add much needed anti-ship damage.

Biggs' Prediction

Potato's list is so out of left field that it's hard to say.... what to think about this.  He is a true wild card in the tournament, scoring 21 points in the POD round and missing out on winning the POD by just a single point (and losing a game to POD winner Roquax in a 39 point squeaker).

Zamalekite had by far the most evenly matched POD to take first place in.  Tokra being bounced from the tournament was one of the more surprising POD results.  Even so, Zamalekite didn't manage to win all his games either, losing a close game to the eventual runner-up Dark Raver.

This fight is going to come down to two things:  Objective Selection and Squadron Battle.  Zamalekite obviously has quality Yellow / Blue objectives with a low bid and VCX's, so expect whatever his Red objective is to get serious scrutiny.

The Squadron Battle is going to be... something.  Potato has squadrons to burn, but Zamalekite has tricks to extend his squadron's range, protecting his more important pieces from an Alpha strike.  I'd say if you've got the time to get up early (in the States) and watch this game it'd be the one I'd want to see.

I'm going to take Zamalekite as the winner of this game, but only just.  Expect a game of multiple pieces being traded a turn, with the winner in doubt until Turn 5 or 6.  We might even see the game decided on a Turn 6 die roll, and that is some of the most fun and intense Armada you can play.

Special Guest - Geek19

So a kite gets mad at a potato, and this is the result.  Potato is flying 2 crocodiles, and Kite is flying a Pelta, proving to everyone involved that these ships exist on top tables.  Going to our usual metrics, OFFENSE appears to go to Potato, just based on weight of fire.  If he can bring those Vics to bear…. Hoo boy, watch out for that chomp.  With a LOT of (potentially) disposable squadrons, he can keep throwing them at his problems, watching Kite’s squadrons melt as more and more piddly attacks keep hitting him.

But for DEFENSE, however, Kite has All Fighters Follow Me!, the greatest threat and range extender you can find.  They say the best defense is a good offense, but I say the BEST Defense was the 1985 Chicago Bears.  But Kite’s is pretty good, too, as he can KITE his way all around the battlefield with some massively high hull squadrons to chew through.  If those Vics get on target, chomp.  But that’s a heck of an IF, with all the hull on those squadrons he’s defending with.


So, as always, INTANGIBLES! And while I want to give it to Kite for running Leia on a Tantive IV which is both thematic and passes the most important Leia test, I have to believe that a man running TWO victories has some wily tricks up his sleeve. 

Zamalekite wins, but Party Potato gets the Golden Snitch.

Elimination Matchup Preview - Commander Dave vs NebulonB

**Watch this game on Vassal at around 1:30pm EST on Sunday 27th!**

Commander Dave 

Gladiator II-Class Star Destroyer (62 points)
-  Demolisher  ( 10  points)
-  Agent Kallus  ( 3  points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points)
-  Flechette Torpedoes  ( 3  points)
= 90 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Hondo Ohnaka  ( 2  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 27 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Interdictor-class Suppression Refit (90 points)
-  Admiral Screed  ( 26  points)
-  Interdictor  ( 3  points)
-  Captain Brunson  ( 5  points)
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points)
-  Disposable Capacitors  ( 3  points)
-  Heavy Ion Emplacements  ( 9  points)
-  Targeting Scrambler  ( 5  points)
-  Grav Shift Reroute  ( 2  points)
= 151 total ship cost

1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 Maarek Steele ( 21 points)
1 Ciena Ree ( 17 points)
1 Morna Kee ( 27 points)
1 Boba Fett ( 26 points)
1 Firespray-31 ( 18 points)
= 129 total squadron cost

Total Points: 397

Elimination Matchup Preview - MandalorianMoose vs Mhd

MandalorianMoose - Dictor/Quasar 

[flagship] Interdictor Suppression Refit (90)
 - Grand Admiral Thrawn (32)
 - Interdictor (3)
 - Grav Shift Reroute (2)
 - Targeting Scrambler (5)
 - Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
 - Disposable Capacitors (3)
 - Captain Brunson (5)
 - Fighter Coordination Team (3)
= 152 total points

Quasar Fire I-class Cruiser-Carrier (54)
 - Squall (3)
 - Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
 - Boosted Comms (4)
 - Governor Pryce (7)
 - Flight Controllers (6)
= 79 total points

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23)
 - Comms Net (2)
= 25 total points

Squadrons (134):
1x Mauler Mithel Tie Fighter Squadron (15)
1x Valen Rudor TIE Fighter Squadron (13)
1x Morna Kee VT-49 Decimator (27)
1x Maarek Stele TIE Defender Squadron (21)
1x Colonel Jendon Lambda-class Shuttle (20)
1x Major Rhymer Tie Bomber Squadron (16)
1x Gamma Squadron TIE Bomber Squadron (10)
1x JumpMaster 5000 (12)

Total Points = 390

Elimination Matchup Preview - CyborgNinja vs Clontroper5

CyborgNinja

Assault Frigate Mark II B [92pts]:
- Boosted Comms
- Flight Controllers,
- •Adar Tallon

CR90 Corvette A [73pts]:
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits,
- •General Dodonna,
- •Jaina's Light

CR90 Corvette B [48pts]:
- Heavy Ion Emplacements

GR-75 Medium Transports [33pts]:
- Bomber Command Center,
- Boosted Comms,
- •Leia Organa

GR-75 Medium Transports [27pts]:
- Comms Net,
- •Toryn Farr

+ Squadrons +
HWK-290 [19pts]: •Jan Ors (Moldy Crow)
Scurrg H-6 Bomber [53pts]: 2x Scurrg H-6 Bomber, •Nym (Havoc)
X-Wing [39pts]: 3x X-Wing Squadron
Y-Wing [16pts]: •""Dutch"" Vander
Total Squadrons:  127 points

Total Points: [400pts]

Elimination Round- Captain Weather vs Karneck

Only two more previews left.  Truthiness was supposed to write this one but he's been slacking, so this is Biggs writing on his behalf.

Elimination Round - Tokra vs themightyhedgehog

We are still waiting for the final game of POD#7, which should take place tonight.  Here's the last of the previews before that game takes place - Tokra vs themightyhedgehog!

Elimination Round- Aresius vs BMcDonald7

Today's highlighted match up is the Winner of Pod #5, Aresius, against the Runner-up of Pod #4, BMcDonald7.

Elimination Round - Dupy vs GhostofNobodyInParticular

Oooo!  POD#3 just finished!  Let's look at Dupy and how he matches up with GhostofNobodyInParticular.

Elimination Round - Roquax vs Darth Veggie

And here we have the next matchup - the winner of POD#4, Roquax vs the runner up of POD#5, Darth Veggie.  On one hand, we have a Dodonna Rebel Aces list, and on the other we have a Rieekan swarm of Hammerheads with Admonition as the anvil.

Elimination Round Preview- Brobafett vs Rasproteus

Next up in our World Cup Elimination Rounds previews, we have the winner of Pod #1, Brobafett, against the runner-up of Pod #8, Rasproteus.

Elimination Round Preview - Green Knight vs Rikash

We're going to look at the Elimination Round games taking place soon.  First up, it's the Winner of POD#8 vs the Runner Up of POD#1: