TNC Lanni Kraken - 2nd Place Philippine Regionals 2016 1.0

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Team No Chill's take on Lanni Kraken for Philippine Regionals 2016

Special thanks to my boys:

Eli, the Regionals champion and person whom I playtested with the most. A natural gamer, playtesting is always optimal with him, regardless of deck choice and matchup. We dick around most of the time, but we always get things done.

Kenny, Top 4 competitor, resident deck whizz and technical advisor. Kenny knows almost every single card interaction there is. He can read the meta like a book, and can push the envelope beyond belief. He builds jank sometimes, sure, but he also knows how to shark out God tier tech.

Tournament Report

Round 1 - BYE from Store Championships

Round 2 - WIN vs Adrian, Baratheon Fealty - He went off with a good 5 card flop, and I had a very intrigue heavy start. Tyrion Lannister and Cersei Lannister are who I have to start with, the only Military Icon I have is Burned Men. I Milk of the Poppy his Melisandre on plot 1 and attempt a plot 2 Naval Superiority expecting the Confiscation. I was dead wrong, he flopped Calm Over Westeros. From there, he played a fragile game, not really marshalling anyone of threat. He was building his dominance engine for sure, with The Iron Throne, Chamber of the Painted Table and Gendry all out. But I kept coming in for 2 claim Intrigues until I finally dropped Tywin Lannister, hit a The First Snow of Winter and proceeded to get 15 power.

Round 3 - WIN vs Hesed, Tyrell Crossing - Entering this matchup, I was honestly afraid. I heard from the previous round that Hesed had defeated his opponent in only 2 plots. I was lucky enough to have a strong start being able to marshall Theon Greyjoy, Tywin Lannister and Ser Jaime Lannister on the first turn with The First Snow of Winter. He took a gamble by flopping Trading with the Pentoshi - as a gambit, aiming to race me, he marshalls Randyll Tarly, The Knight of Flowers and Margaery Tyrell. But alas, we enter challenges and I had the fateful Put to the Sword taking down Standy Randy. The rounds that followed had me kill Loras with a Tears of Lys, intrigue out further threats and draw into more gas via The Dragon's Tail he played and close the game out by plot 4.

Round 4 - Intentional Draw with Mark, Night's Watch banner of the Sun

Round 5 - Intentional Draw with Erwin, Martell Fealty

SWISS RANKING: 2nd overall

Top Cut

Top 8 - WIN vs Mark, Night's Watch banner of the Sun - I played this one safe, knowing the attachment removal present in his deck and his potential for power rush. My aim was not to kill characters, but to penetrate with the right challenges to make the long game unfavorable for the defensive deck. Lucky enough to find Cersei Lannister early on, and marshall Tywin Lannister as well. I never played The First Snow of Winter because all he marshalled were bigger characters like Ranging Party and Benjen Stark. I stabilized with my economy by plot 2 where Tywin swung for a lone Military challenge at 9 STR - he answers with The Watcher on the Walls to which I have The Hand's Judgment for! That was fortunate. From there, I hit his Building Orders with a Naval Superiority gimping him even further from both cards and economy. It was a slow roll with him barely seeing any intrigue icons and my stacking up of power on my renown characters. We close the game out at plot 5.

Top 4 - WIN vs Kenny, Lannister banner of the Dragon - This felt like home, my team mate Kenny knew my deck inside and out. It was really just a simulation now, a test of optimal gameplay and choices - not barring variance. He was the one who urged me to put Naval Superiority in my deck because of how potent it is in tandem with Tywin Lannister's economy and the Iron Mines' affordable cost. That being said, it was his downfall. He opened up with a 2 gold Calling the Banners in fear of the Naval. It didn't come. Plot 2 he flipped Counting Coppers again in fear of the Naval, which didn't come. I slowly built up my board, had a significant amount of kill cards in hand, just taking the shots I needed to gain power. The game ended on plot 4 where I marshall Ser Gregor Clegane for the final power with his renown. Kenny had been playing his deck half-cocked because of his fear of Naval - his whole plot deck was susceptible.

Finals - LOSS vs Eli, Greyjoy Fealty - This was as epic as it gets, an anime ending if there ever was one IRL. I started strong with Tywin Lannister, Iron Islands Fishmonger and The Roseroad. He flops Balon Greyjoy, Wildling Scout and The Roseroad. I attempt to build my board first, marshalling plenty of quality military icons like Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Jaime Lannister. He on the other hand takes his time, as I almost kill Balon on plot one, he had the fateful save Risen from the Sea. By plot 2, I manage to hit his Asha Greyjoy with Marched to the Wall - but he proceeds unabashed following up with the rest of the royal family. I proceed to dominate the Military and Intrigue fronts, but apparently I had a gaping whole in my Power game. The power count was so tight, both at 13 by the end of plot 4 - with clutch Milk of the Poppy's being marshalled by Eli on my Tywin 2 turns in a row. I knew exactly what was in his plot deck and figured there was nothing left for me to play to be able to go first for the final 2 power. He flops Rise of the Kraken - I have nothing on his 8 initiative. He goes first. I look at my board of predominantly Military and Intrigue icon'd characters. A couple with renown. He knows how this goes. With no second thoughts, he jumps into a power challenge, all in. 2 claim. Good game.

We shake hands and he proceeds to get his pictures taken.

The trophy goes home with Team No Chill.

All those nights of playtesting, mulling over deck choices, playing with jank and optimizing each other's game.

I'm so happy and proud of what we've accomplished - all three of us being in the Top 4 and Finals.