BattleCON G16 - KingdomAces (Lixis) vs. Zorblag (Cherri)

[Zorblag]

She's Baaack! It's another game of BattleCON! Returning to the arena is everyone's favorite Biomancer, Lixis! This time she's here to beat up on the Dreamwalker Cherri. Cherri will never see it coming! Er, and now I feel bad for even making that joke about a blind character.

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.

Ante the first beat will go to Lixis on 1 and Cherri on 2.

Original Roll String: 1d2 (STATIC)

1 2-Sided Dice: (1) = 1

@KingdomAces, go ahead and submit your discard 1, discard 2 and finisher. Remember that Discard 2 is the one you'll get back first.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Opening Discards and Finisher

Discard 1: Force Special Dodge
Discard 2: Catatonic Burst
Finisher: The Watchers

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I think you matchup well here, yeah. Lixis is actually a pain for brawler types to fight against as trading is worse than normal. We'll see how this goes!

Spoiler: Beat 1 Attack Pair

Mirage Shot!

Your Ante.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I'll ante the Insight Token.

And yeah, I'm not sure what happened this time with the roll. I thought that I deleted the part that I normally do from the previous roll, but clearly something went wrong. In any case, I decided that it didn't matter enough to go and fix.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 1 Attack Pair Clash 1

Mirage

Shot

Strike!
Which is a really terrible choice as most of your plays beat it.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

After activating (as I wasn't stunned due to strike) I move to range 3, so the position would be ooLooCo.

I will discard grasp as my second base.

Spoiler: Beat 2 Attack Pair

Dreamscape Shot!

Spoiler: Reaction Ante

Insight Token

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I'll follow suit. Priority +2 and then, similarly, pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 2 Attack Pair Clash 1

Dreamscape

Shot

Drive!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yup, that's right. That's twice in a row I've guessed wrong how you'd do the next clash, this one I could avoid one or the other, but not both. Well, I'll keep at it.

I'll advance 2. I'll discard shot and burst.

LooCooo

Lixis - 18/2
Pruning Burst
Venomous Lance

Cherri - 11/2
Dreamscape Drive, Shot, Burst
Mirage Strike, Grasp
-Insight token available

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

You know what, let's just advance 1 instead.

LoooCoo

Lixis - 18/2
Pruning Burst
Venomous Lance

Cherri - 11/2
Dreamscape Drive, Shot, Burst
Mirage Strike, Grasp
-Insight token available

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 3 Attack Pair

Blind Dodge

Spoiler: Opening Ante

None

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

*shrugs* Some matchups are better than others. Clive and Ottavia felt misbalanced the other way, so I don't mind playing through this one. Blind is much tougher with the force gauge, but so be it, I didn't need it this time.

I'll retreat 2 start of beat.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I think the big thing with both Cherri and Seth though is that Lixis really punishes trades. Eligor would probably be tough to play against her as well as he really needs those trades. Demitras probably would have swung the other way as he's all about hitting lightly and avoiding getting hit. It might be interesting to see her against Rexan who also punishes players for hitting him. It's not as much, but it's something.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 4 Attack Pair

Catatonic Grasp!

No ante.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yeah, it had to be Vine to give you more options to hit me. I just had to have it not be shot as your first choice. I could have clashed with the insight token, but I figured you were probably expecting it and would hopefully waste that first attack on something that wouldn't hit me (though I had insurance against lance built in with the grasp.)

You get to move wherever you want to (which I'm fine with.)

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yeah, those discarded bases. Clearly it's what Lixis does, but I repeatedly find myself needing to play multiple beats just to work around it.

In any case, no hurry. Find the position you like and kill me from there.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 5 Attack Pair

Dreamscape Stare!

Ante my insight token.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 5 Attack Pair Clash 1

Dreamscape

Stare

Drive!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yup, shot or lance. I picked wrong again. Nice work! Frustrating for me, but so be it. I'll just go ahead and move to the spot 3, use drive to advance 1 and hit you.

I'll then discard shot when you hit me.

oooCLoo

Lixis - 15/5
Venomous Shot
Vine Dodge

Cherri - 7/5
Dreamscape Drive, Shot
Catatonic Grasp
-Insight token available
-Priority -2 next beat.

Look right?

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 6 Attack Pair

Force Special Dodge!

No ante.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Right, so sorry for the delay here. I've been frantically grading to meet the deadline for my summer classes; they're done now and I'll get to where I'm dashing to sometime during the day tomorrow.

Thanks for the patience!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

OK, so I'll retreat 2 start of beat and will flip my finisher to Soul Gaze. We should both miss and the game state should look like:

oCooLoo

Lixis - 15/6
Naturalizing Strike
Venomous Shot

Cherri - 7/7
Force Special Dodge
Dreamscape Drive, Shot
-Insight token available
Finisher: Soul Gaze

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 7 Attack Pair

Blind Burst

Spoiler: Reaction Ante

Pass if you Pass

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Congratulations again. And with Pruning even.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I'll discard strike and grasp. I will not pulse.

CoLoooo

Lixis - 15/7
Pruning Drive
Naturalizing Strike

Cherri - 2/9
Blind Burst, Strike, Grasp
Force Special Dodge
-Insight token available
Finisher: Soul Gaze

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 8 Attack Pair

Catatonic Drive

Spoiler: reaction ante

Power +1

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Ante Soak 1

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Ah, yes, that's true. Mostly I'm just tipping my hand there then.

Ante Insight Token.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I have some doubt that you're going to be in that much trouble.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Ah, I see. We'll just randomize it then. Doesn't matter too much as you've got plenty of options that hit me with Vine.

We'll go alphabetically.

Original Roll String: 1d5

1 5-Sided Dice: (3) = 3

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Looks like you choose the Vine Dodge. Sneaky of you!

Spoiler: Beat 8 Attack Pair Clash 1

Catatonic

Drive

Stare!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

And I need to head out, but here's the next move if we need it:

Spoiler: Beat 8 Attack Pair Clash 2 if needed

Catatonic

Drive

Stare

Shot!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

The rumors of my demise might be slightly exaggerated here. With my anted soak 1 I get up to 2 which means you only hit me for one. That takes me to 1 life unless I missed a power ante somewhere in the past couple beats? I then have the stun guard to hit back for 4 damage, taking you to 9 life after the life loss. There's no movement, but I do need to discard (I'll discard drive.)

I think?

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 9 Attack Pair

Dreamscape Dodge!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Pass on ante.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Hmm, I played that wrong (I forgot that after I dodge behind you changes.)

In any case, I'll advance 3. We both miss. I suppose that I will pulse at the end to get the position I want (retreating 1 more.)

ooLooCo

Lixis - 9/7
Naturalizing Grasp
Vine Lance

Cherri - 1/2
Dreamscape Dodge
Catatonic Shot, Drive
-Insight token available
Finisher: Soul Gaze

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

And I'm going to sleep on this one. I might or might not get to it before I head out for a family camping trip. If not then I won't be back until Saturday (sorry.)

Regarding our next game, I'm certainly up for playing again! Joal and Adjenna both look cool so I'd be happy to play against them. I'll probably roll between Demitras, Tatsumi and Joto, and maybe Shektur as I haven't played as or against her yet.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Hmm, I can't move into the spaces, but I bet you could pull me. I could look that up. Your pull is optional though so I don't know if you wanted to?

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I can't find anything with a quick search, but I'm pretty sure you could have pulled me. I think the safest bet here is to play it like you chose not to unless you were really planning to do so as part of your strategy for that move (which would be odd as it doesn't seem to help you at all.)

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

And you know what, since I'm here, let's just play this. You'll kill me soon enough I expect and overthinking this move doesn't actually help me.

Spoiler: Beat 10 Attack Pair

Mirage Burst!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Ante Priority +2.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yeah, but it's up to 2, so you could do 0.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

That is, it's not 1 or 2, like drive or burst.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Well, I could ante my insight token, but I won't.

And good, Pruning was what I would have done there and you did either burst or dodge (because you almost have to.)

You get to retreat first, I go second. We'll both miss and then I'll move to range 3.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

oLooCoo

Lixis - 9/6
Pruning Burst
Naturalizing Grasp

Cherri - 1/2
Mirage Burst
Dreamscape Dodge
-Insight token available
Finisher: Soul Gaze

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 11 Attack Pair

Force Special Grasp!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Reaction Ante

Pass

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yeah, that might be the first time I've won one of these guessing contests this game. Well, these past two beats.

Now I don't feel as bad about how you're going to kill me in the next couple beats.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

oLooCoo

Lixis - 3/8
Venomous Drive
Pruning Burst

Cherri - 1/3
Grasp
Mirage Burst
-Insight token available

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

To be honest I was expecting rooted there.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 12 Attack Pair

Dreamscape Dodge!

Spoiler: Opening Ante

Insight Token

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

You're right that I just have 3, but you gained 2 as you're below 7 life, so I think 8 is right for you.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Hmm, Pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

OK, my insight token does not work here as it doesn't cause clashes for Finishers. On the plus side for me, dodge actually saves me (though I hadn't thought of it saving me from the finisher.) I guess I'll retreat 2 and put us at range 5 and then I won't use my after activating to move behind you.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I was playing it to counter your Naturalizing Lance which I couldn't clash otherwise (and had no other way to retreat from.)

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

That's the one place that it doesn't. But I'm really going to miss not having it here, so there's that going for you.

oLooooC

Lixis - 3/8
Strike
Venomous Drive

Cherri - 1/5
Dreamscape Dodge
Grasp
-Insight token not available

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 13 Attack Pair

Crimson Drive!

Spoiler: Reaction Ante

Pass if you Pass

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Hmm, Priority I guess. Naturalizing is a pain.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Pass.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 13 Attack Pair Clash 1

Crimson

Drive

Shot!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Sure, if you haven't looked at my move yet.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I have looked at what you played and it was a pretty surprising choice.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Burst was what I was expecting, so go for it.

I am going to need to go after this beat no matter how it goes down though.

Which might be good for both of us in terms of taking a breather.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

LoooooC

Lixis - 2/8
Pruning Burst
Strike

Cherri - 1/5
Crimson Shot
Dreamscape Dodge
-Insight token not available

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

And I'm off for the night.

An exciting finish! I don't actually see a good path to victory for myself here, but I've got two beats to think of something.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 14 Attack Pair

Blind Burst!

Spoiler: Ante

Pass

Yeah, looking back, I should have done Stare as my first clash last beat, so moving too quickly isn't helping either of our games. Having said that, I agree that not anteing the power and probably not using Rooted were mistakes. Still, you've had me on the ropes most of the game and I think you'll still win this. I wouldn't feel bad about the game at all were I you.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Er, actually, before I go for the weekend, now that I look at it, I think we forgot to have you pay for your finisher in force. I'll have to get back to you Saturday evening or Sunday.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Spoiler: Beat 15 Attack Pair

Mirage Stare!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I'll go ahead and ante +2 Priority and +1 Power. It shouldn't matter, but it'd be silly not to.

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

Yeah, I think that you're right that there's nothing I could do against that move. Well played and congratulations!

Force Gauge does make Naturalizing a stronger base against Cherri just because I can no longer rely on that clash from Mirage Stare. Pruning was an issue before, but that was just one style. You've said that you think this matchup strongly favors Lixis, but I think that this is more like a Seth type matchup; my play relies on getting some guesses right and I got a lot of them wrong early in the game.

I should have used Stare as my second clash a couple beats ago; that might have forced a tie here, but you really should win this game given that you should have anted that power earlier, so I don't feel the least bit bad about fighting back to get a loss like this. Well played!

Thanks for the patience with my schedule for this one! I try not to have big gaps, but the end of the term and my first vacation in years both happened to come at that final stretch.

For my next game I'm going to play Demitras (1) , Shektur (2) or Tatsumi & Juto (3).

Original Roll String: 1d3

1 3-Sided Dice: (2) = 2

-Zorblag R`Lyeh

[Zorblag]

I probably should have used it a number of times, yeah. That first beat I don't even remember what I was thinking other than that you were expecting Stare so it probably wasn't the right move. I'd have to look back and right now I want to look forward to ...

Demitras and Adjenna!

-Zorblag R`Lyeh