BattleCON G19 - KingdomAces (Joal) vs. Zorblag (Tatsumi)

[Zorblag]

It's another game of BattleCON! This game sees the second matcup between Monster Hunter, Joal and the Water Mystric, Tatsumi (and her cute cuddly water panda familar, Juto.) Does Joal really think that Panda is a Monster? Or maybe he thinks it's Tatsumi. We'll find out if he's loaded for bear in this match!

He was last match! But bearly! Oh, the puns!

If you're interested in learning about or playing a game yourself at some point I'll point you to the BattleCON discussion thread in the Arcade. For now, thanks to KingdomAces for stepping up to be the next scummer to whale on a Troll in the pbf fighting series!

We'll be playing with Dodge and the Force Gauge.

@KingdomAces, you know the drill. Yada yada yada!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Starting ante goes to Joal on 1 and Tatsumi on 2.

Original Roll String: 1d2

1 2-Sided Dice: (1) = 1

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Opening Discards and Finisher

Discard 1: Force Special Grasp
Discard 2: Fearless Dodge
Finisher: Guardian Xandjinn

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

Not planning on getting to this any time soon. The only things I know for sure is that Strike is going to continue to stay in the stockpile and that Force Special is going to be relegated to Discard 1. Literally everything else is up in the air, and I don't want to screw this up again. I don't like that I couldn't get the hit-confirm into Runeblade with Annihilator. Neutralizer seems guaranteed to get me stunned though, so I still DK.

He's the leader of the bunch, you know him well.

[Zorblag]

No hurries. We'll get to it when you've thought it through!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

Spoiler: Pregame

Discard 1: Force Special Grasp
Discard 2: Relentless Hand Cannon
Finisher: Annihilator
Stockpile: Strike, Shot, Runeblade, Binding Knife
Hand: Knuckle, Drive, Burst, Dodge, Ironstar

...after looking at my last setup, I realize I barely changed anything. Just having Knuckle and Dodge in my starting hand should be good enough, but I still get the feeling I messed up somewhere. Strike and Grasp are outclassed, and Runeblade isn't actually helpful until I take damage. Somehow Shot seemed pretty useless last game, but putting it in the Stockpile still feels weird, especially with Hand Cannon in discard. (Noting that in any other matchup, Shot and Hand Cannon would probably be switched, but here being able to move you seems more important.)

[KingdomAces]

Spoiler: Beat 1

Slayer's Dodge

I kind of want to Relentless Ironstar, expecting Siren Drive (expecting Slayer's Knuckle, which is so obvious that we probably both know I'm not going to use it), but not only does that not get me a base, it looks extremely stupid if you do literally anything else. I'm kind of hoping you either move or burn Empathic here, but I don't think I can be too disappointed with any outcome of this, even if it leaves me at positioning disadvantage. I'll probably be taking Knife, assuming I don't take any damage. Runeblade otherwise. I'll confirm this when I move though.

Spoiler: Ante

Pass (then pass, if necessary)

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat One Attack Pair

Empathic Drive!

Pass on ante.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 1 Attack Pair - Clash 1

Empathic

Drive

Shot!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

50/50's, Drive beats Burst, Knuckle beats Strike.

Spoiler: Beat 1 - Clash 1

60% on Drive being the correct choice, but I don't want to be down 13/20 after the first turn again. I'll take the three if I need to.
Slayer's

Dodge

Knuckle

[KingdomAces]

When was the last time I called something a 50/50 that was actually a 50/50? I'll advance and take Runeblade.

[KingdomAces]

oooJ

T

oo

Joal 17/3
Slayer's Knuckle
Force Special Grasp
Annihilator
Stockpile: Strike, Shot, Binding Knife
Hand: Drive, Burst, Dodge, Ironstar, Runeblade, Hand Cannon

Tatsumi - 18/3
Empathic Shot
Force Special Grasp
Guardian Xandjinn
4 Familiar Counters

[KingdomAces]

I just realized we have the exact same discard 2, that doesn't happen too often.

Spoiler: Beat 2

Dual Wield Ironstar

[Zorblag]

It was even rarer before the force special action, though it's pretty uncommon now as well (except probably on the first two beats.)

Spoiler: Beat 2 Attack Pair

Riptide Strike!

Spoiler: Reaction Ante

Pass if you pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

Yeah, forgot to ante again. I think I won't.

[KingdomAces]

oooJToo

Joal 15/4
Dual Weild Ironstar, Runeblade
Slayer's Knuckle
Annihilator
Stockpile: Strike, Shot, Binding Knife
Hand: Drive, Burst, Dodge, Hand Cannon, Grasp

Tatsumi - 18/4
Riptide Strike
Empathic Shot
Guardian Xandjinn
0 Familiar Counters

[KingdomAces]

Spoiler: Beat 3

Cutthroat Hand Cannon

Spoiler: Ante

Pass if pass

[KingdomAces]

^Is assuming I'm right about how Dual Wield interacts with the 3 limit on your UA. I might want to change Beat 3 if you still have a counter left.

Either way I'm using Runeblade for the health.

[Zorblag]

That looks right to me. The first hit soaked 3 and ate 3 counters. The next hit soaked 3 and ate the one remaining counter.

Spoiler: Beat 3 Attack Pair

Siren Drive!

Pass to open.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

You move first. I think this will be the first time I ever hit you with Siren's stun effect.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

Does it really count though since you would have stunned me anyway?

Advance 1.

I think I know what I want to do next Beat, but I kind of want to put it off for now so I don't talk myself out of a better move again.

(Two minutes later, I've already forgotten what I had in mind here. Edited out a move name in case that was it.)

[Zorblag]

Well, and it turns out you would have missed this turn anyhow. But, yeah, I'm counting it because it's on hit, not on damage so it's the stun that actually kicks in. Hurrah for stun that does me really no good!

oooooJT

Joal 13/5
Cutthroat Hand Cannon
Dual Weild Ironstar, Runeblade
Annihilator
Stockpile: Strike, Shot, Binding Knife
Hand: Drive, Burst, Dodge, Grasp, Knuckle

Tatsumi - 18/5
Siren Drive
Riptide Strike
Guardian Xandjinn
0 Familiar Counters

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 4 Attack Pair

Fearless Whirlpool

Spoiler: Opening Ante

Pass

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

And no hurry at all on your move. Also, I'm going to go back and edit my last attack pair so that it shows the correct beat number.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[KingdomAces]

Spoiler: Beat 4

For some reason I get the feeling that this isn't going to end well.
Slayer's Drive