3. Jay Coad (Scorpion) Ninja

I get more Scorpions than him!, including. Maru’s and Tsimaru. Again, the game goes to time. At which point I have him on -15 honour. He concedes. 

                                                                                                                           Win 2 - 1 Loss

4. Bryn Jones (Dragon) Monk Honour

This was a close game, but he got the better start. I fail to get any significant dishonour happening. He races faster than I can make him loose honour. Time is called with him on 37. I concede. 

                                                                                                                           Win 2 - 2 Loss

5. Julian Dumbar (Unicorn)

I get a slow gold start but make up for it with Satsu, Maru and Kaukatsu. From there I move fast. Satsu kills one with a duel, I force him to bow his own pep with a misdirect and then I start taking provinces. I kill all but 1 of his peps, which is under Control. Kill two more provinces. He buys Tuimaru at -8 honour. Time goes. He concedes. 

                                                                                                                           Win 3 - 2 Loss

6. John Pope (Crane) Dueling honour runner

John is a good local (Qld) player, unusually finishing in the finals. He gets an awesome start. We both slowly build. I control key peps. He duels me, but looses more than he wins. I hired killer his honour engine peps and start taking provinces. John’s game is basically shut down, so he concedes. This was the only game that did not go to time, because he conceded BEFORE time was called. 

                                                                                                                           Win 4 - 2 Loss

I finish top of clan at 9th and miss out on the finals.

I decide against playing control in the championships as I expect many will go to time again and they already announced they are going to be really strict with time calls. Another late night and lack of sleep sees my eyes "explode" Bloodshot has a new meaning with half the white on

one eye totally blood red.

Saturday Championships Qualifiers

I am now playing my honour monk deck.

1. Ben Johnson (Scorpion - House of false hope)

Although I get a slow gold start, I still gets lots of peps. I cross to 47 with 2 provinces in hand. He attack both, I defend one and wipe that army. 

                                                                                                                           Win 1 - 0 Loss

2. Daniel Chlebowczyk (Crab - The 7th Tower)

Daniel is one of my local Melbourne players. I get Tsimaru on turn 3 and a ring in play. I concentrate on building up defences before I honour run. By turn 6 or 7 I am on 25 honour with one province. I have 2 castle walls, a fist full of go home actions, a strike chain etc. He attacks and we begin a big battle. I expect to get enough honour from the battle to win. Time is then called. Daniel insists he can win as do I. we are told we have 10 seconds to decide. Rather have us both get a double loss I do the honourable (if somewhat dumb thing), I concede. 

                                                                                                                           Win 1 - 1 Loss

3 Murray Whiteford (Phoenix - Kyden Asako) Honour Runner

Murray is a veteran player. We were both Monk way back when they existed and we split allegiance when clan Monk was disbanded. Murray’s deck gets a better start and he begins to honour run. He has 2 Asako Juro’s and Isawa Mizuhiko with Seeking the Way. These are the only peps he has for the whole game. He attacks with Mizuhiko, who goes navel (whose idea was it for a 3 gold navel shujenga?) to send himself home and get 6 honour with the spell and reactions. I stall him with an Unfortunate incident, but it only buys me 1 turn.. I have nothing in hand to kill him. I attempt to reinforce the gates, but it doesn’t stop the effect (I was told late it should

have). I have Muketsu about to come out, but he crosses. 

                                                                                                                           Win 1 - 2 Loss

I hold little hope from here, luck doesn’t like me, but I believe in fighting to the end.

4. Rob Blacklock (Scorpion - House of False Hope)

Rob gets gold screwed and by turn 3 he only has 2 holdings. I easily out race him, hitting 44 with 2

provinces. 

                                                                                                                           Win 2 - 2 Loss

5. Mike Cravey (Scorpion - DVD dishonour)

Mike’s deck is heavy with dishonour, so I concentrate on getting set up to run and survive rather than trying to run early. By turn 6 I am on 7 honour. He has pinned one of my Magistrate Stations Bayushi Hisoka, but I have 2 as well as Berri’s. He has Paneki, Saya’s and Kakatsu. Despite what he does, he can not keep me dishonoured long enough to do anything to me. I continue to build peps and can now generate 5 honour per turn, with multiple way to dispose of "In Time of War". At 29 honour he sees he can’t stop me, so he concedes.

                                                                                                                           Win 3 - 2 Loss

6. Brad Hackworthy (Scorpion - Kyuden Wasuremono) Chi death deck

Brad is another of my local Melbourne players. He gets gold screwed, whereas I get a good start. I get Tsimaru (a big help) and 2 Masujiro’s. I cross to 45 honour and win easily. 

                                                                                                                          Win 4 - 2 Loss

Again with the 4 wins and 2 looses for the last 3 major events. I have a chance at the final 8 as about four 4-2 will get in, depends on count back. I end up finishing top Dragon, but have poor resistance and finish low in the 4-2, missing out on the top 8 and finishing 16th. By this time, my eyes are literally internally bleeding, I have the flu and a constant headache. I think perhaps, I

wasn’t always thinking straight. 

In case anyone didn’t notice, I played 6 Scorpions over 2 days, four in the Samurai Championships, with a100% win rate. (There were 10 Scorpions in the Samurai Championships).

1st went to Richard Chan (from our playgroup) with Mantis

2nd went to Carl Harris (from our playgroup) with Unicorn

The following Tuesday at our local store gaming night, I played against Carl’s Samurai championship deck twice (with Honour monk), winning both times. I played Brad’s Scorpion deck (chi death) and Steve Merlo’s Scorpion deck (ninja) a couple of times each with the same deck, again going undefeated. Why can’t I get these results when they count?

Joe

DYNASTY DECK (43)

Events/Regions (4):

1x A New Wall

1x Darling of the Season

1x Wisdom Gained

1x Wisdom of the Keepers

Holdings (17):

1x Castle Moat

3x Castle Walls

1x City Gate

1x Corrupt Officials

3x Gold Mine

3x Harmonious Temple

2x Magistrate Station

1x Private Trader

1x Shrine of the Sun

1x Temple of the Seekers

Personalities (22):

1x Bayushi Tsimaru - exp

3x Hoshi Noritada

1x M’mee - exp 2

3x Kitsuki Berii

1x Kitsuki Taiko - exp

1x Muketsu - exp

1x Samarhad

2x Togashi Binya

2x Togashi Kanaye

3x Togashi Masujiro

3x Togashi Miyoko

1x Togashi Tsuri xp

FATE DECK (42)

Actions (20):

1x Block Supply Lines

2x Flash of Steel

1x Hired Killer

3x Outer Walls

3x Refugees

3x Reinforce the Gates

2x Solving the Riddle

2x Three-Stone River

2x Unfortunate Incident

2x Usuypation

Followers (5):

3x Respected Mentor

2x Wandering Sohei

Item (1):

Nyoko’s Daisho

Kihos (11):

2x Brand of Fire and Thunder

1x The Elements' Path

1x Strike of the Dragon

2x Strike the Summit

1x Strike the Center

1x Strike the Base

3x Wrist Lock

Rings (5):

1x Ring of the Void

1x Ring of Air

1x Ring of Water

1x Ring of Earth