DDM Constructed Qualifier Cincinati Ohio 06/02/2007

Here's a tournament report from a DDM Constructed Qualifier in Cincinnati Ohio on 06/02/2007. The original link can be found here:

http://www.hordelings.com/forums/postView.php?viewPage=1&post_id=79850


So my day started early again as I got up and drove from Southern KY up to Cincinnati for the Qualifier. Not nearly as early as when I got up for Bloomington though so that was a plus. On my way there I took one wrong turn and went East when I should have went West. Hard to drive and look at MapQuest directions when you're getting off the rampway and it's splitting right in front of you. So, once again something simple like that actually appears to have played a part in how I placed.

I got to the store about 10:45 or so. I talked with JQ and a few others for a few minutes then went to register. Aesoph came in and while in line I stopped to talk to a local and Aesoph registered while I was talking. I fully expected him to beat me by registration time in some twisted irony. But I hung out for awhile and batted back and forth which one to run, Ultroforge or SWarm. I really wasn't comfortable with Ultroforge due to having some maps that were tough for it to play on. Where to as with SWarm I know how to run it on the maps that are bad for Ultroforge. So rather than give myself a hard time due to a map for a matchup. I went with SWarm again. I realize it's becoming a bit of a crutch though and I think after today it's time to retire it. Also it's my last big tourny before Night Below comes out so next big tourny I go to I"ll have some new toys to play with.

Pairings are put up and since he registered right in front of me, I got paired up with Aesoph who was running Storm, Shadowdancer x 4, Graycloak with Timber Wolf, Bat tied to Storm, and Wild Elf Warsinger on Dragonshrine. He got map and I got side and set up on the Fire side. We moved up and I tried to keep as many SWs around the Archon as I could. Second round he got off a few jump charges onto a SW or 2 and I got some damage on one of the Dancers. He used the bat to heal it. Next round we ended up trading Storm for the Sword Archon. That wouldn't have been that bad had I then been able to do some damgae to the Dancers to force some Morale Checks. But some low rolls later and some good incorp rolls from Aesoph got him over 200 for the win. 0-1

Looking around after round 1, I saw at least 4 Vlaakith bands. And I saw most of them join me in the loser's bracket. I really hoped for one of them and I got my wish when I got paired up with Dan. Dan was running Vlaakith, Thrall, Vampire Dire Wolf, Cursed Spirit x 2, Timber Wolf, and Orc Warrior I think. I got map so we played on Ratfang. The match went pretty much as expected. Dan got me down to I think 2 Watchers and the Archon who was only down 5 hps from a Cursed Spirit swing. I was able to kill Vlaakith and the Vampire Dire Wolf and then get the Spirits and other things to go over 200 I think. I don't think I killed the Thrall but I might have and that could have been what put me over 200. It was a long day and I don't really remember the specifics of what happened in our match. 1-1

Third round I knew there was 1 band I didn't want to face due to me having a hard time with it. And guess what, I got it. I played Chris who was running Cadaver Collector, Ultroloth, Timber Wolf, Large Deurgar, Archeron Goblin, and Graypeak Goblin Archer. I got map again so we played on Ratfang. I knew it would be tough so I dogpiled the Cadaver Collector. I used the Archon to use Melee Reach 2 and do a hit and run attack on the Cadaver Collector (hit and then move away, next turn move back in and hit after the CC had activated, then repeat). Chris used the Ultroloth to shoot scorching rays at the Watchers trying to take them down. The CC struggled with Incorp and that's what I needed to keep him occupied while the Archon did his drive by attacks. As it turns out I don't think I touched him except for with maybe 1 attack by a Watcher. Other than that 1 attack, the CC was taken down completely by the Archon. After that I took out the rest of his fodder while the Ultroloth tried to man it out himself. But I got on a victory area to go over 200 for the game. 2-1

Round 4 I got a rematch from Bloomington as I got paired with Sam. Sam was running his same band from Bloomington, Tiefling Captain, LBD x 2, Umber Hulk, Cursed Spirit, Thrall, Orc Warrior and Hyena on Mushroom Cavern. Sam got map so it wouldnt' be a rematch on Ratfang like last time. We spent the first few rounds positioning. Second round he got off 1 BW that hit the Archon and 3 SWs. I think 1 was hit by it and took full damge from it. After that I got a few attacks in on that Dragon. Round 3 I got off a few attacks on him to put him at 40 and MC. He rolled a 2 and flew off the board. I put the other watchers on his other dragon after that. He got me down to 3 Watchers and the Archon. I ended up getting the other LBD and most of his fodder. He based the Archon and got him to 40 hps. Last round he had a chance to kill him if both of his attacks hit with the Thrall. The 2nd one missed and I was able to avoid the Umber Hulk critting me in order to stay up on points and take the game. 3-1

Next round I played Bryan K. Bryan was running the Storm, Elf Dragonkith, Shadowdancer, CWW band that ended up winning it all. He got map so we played on Magma Keep. First round we spent moving up and I tried to spread out my watchers and hide them as best I could. Once it came time to engage I think I was too cautious of the Dragonkith and tried to get the felldrake so I could engage him. I spent too many attacks trying to do that when I should have just dogpiled and SWarmed the Dragonkith. But me being cautious allowed him to get 2 Watchers and weaken several others before we fully engaged. He went after the Archon with the Dragonkith and got me down to 10 hps before he died. The Dancer then jumped in and finished him off. From there it was a matter of me getting caught up on points and I just couldn't do it with the Watchers I had left. 3-2

Last round I knew I had to win in order to have a shot. I got paired with a guy who's name escapes me at the moment. He was the other guy from Detroit I believe and was running Storm, CWW x3, VC, Bat, Mailee, and Xeph on Drow Outpost. He won map and I won side and set up in the cave side. This was a very close matchup. I tried to hide my Watchers and things first round. Second round I came out and tried ot just base the CWW and the VC. I moved the Archon up to base the VC and a CWW. From there it was a matter of me being able to hit him on AOOs as he moved away to cast a spell and him not being able to hit Incorp. He got me down to the Archon at 5 hps and to 2 SWs who were full. By the end of the game he had Storm and I was running from her with the Archon and keeping her occupied with the 2 remaining SWs. Very very very close game that I can easily see having gone a different way with just a few different rolls. 4-2 final record

So we looked and there were going to be 3 4-2s to get in after JQ dropped. I knew I was close to being 4th but I wasn't sure how close. Standings got called and I was in 5th. They posted the standings and when we looked Dan who was in 4th had the same tiebreakers as I did, and it came down to them beating me there due to me taking the wrong turn off the exit. Oh well. That's how she goes sometimes I guess. I'm still already qualified though so I guess it could have been worse. However coming in 5th TWICE due to having the exact same tiebreakers as the 4th place guy does tend to sting a bit. Congrats to everyone who qualified and a big thanks to Yottaquest for running a good tournament as always.