Death Star II Pre-release Report from Denver, Colorado

by Tim McKnight
Bravo 2

As I sat down to enter names into the tournament program, I realized how many people were actually present for the pre-release - most of them centered around the table with the two rare sheets on display. The fixed sheets were kept hidden: we didn't want the players to know how good the decks really were. Ten o'clock rolled around and we got the players seated. The decks and packs get torn open and there was a look of astonishment across the room. The Light Side players carefully examined their new cards, when they came across two old ones: General Han and Chewie of Kashyyyk. The look on their faces was one of pure amazement. Little did they know that their Dark Side counterparts had Tempest 1 and Tempest Scout 3. That was when the players realized the potential of these decks. "I had no idea the decks were going to be this good," commented Josiah Halasz.

"I had no ideas the decks were
going to be this good."

John Arendt, Scott Gaeta and I got the tournament underway. After about 30 minutes the results started trickling in. We all soon realized that the Dark Side was dominating the first game. I'd never entered so many game scores at one time. 92 players are certainly a huge crowd.

The same trend continued throughout the day, and the Dark Side won a large percentage of the games. Chris Mead came up to me in the third game and said, "These cards will definitely introduce new strategies, I'm sick of Ralltiir Ops and Throne Room Mains." A great many of the players had the same sentiments. They were all ready for more variety in their Constructed tournament games. After the third game, the sheets were still up for grabs with so many undefeated players. Game 4 was critical. Tony Depa had a rough game against Mark Ponting. Brian Hunter, in a struggle for high differential, played Chris Dixon. In the end, Mr. #1 himself, Brian Hunter, was the top Dark Side player, though Brian Kowalski was behind by a mere 5 differential. Mark Dixon, beating his brother Mike, was the top Light Side player, ahead of Tony Depa by only 6 differential. The final duel was set.

We broke to award prizes, and everyone showed off the Lukes and Emperors they had pulled. People were trading like mad for these new cards. Bryce Stevenson remarked: "They have great graphics and will be game impacting, who wouldn't want them?" We handed out prizes, the most important being the uncut fixed sheets. Reflections, Death Star II, and Enhanced cards were among the other eighty prizes given out to the participants. Each time we announced a winner, the other players groaned in defeat. We moved on to the final confrontation.

Brian started by going to space at Kessel, with Mark going to ground on Endor. The game was very even until Brian drew up a few Tempest Scouts, Tempest 1, and the game-breaking card: AT-ST Dual Cannon. At that point, Brian shot every rebel he could. Needing 6 ability to draw battle destiny at Kessel also hurt Mark's ability to spread his forces out. Brian eventually wore him down and claimed his prize: the two Death Star II rare sheets. Then, I saw the best display of sportsmanship I have ever seen in a tournament. Brian gave his Light Side rare sheet to Mark in exchange for the Third Anthology Mark won for getting second place.

Congratulations to Brian Hunter on his victory. Thanks to Scott Gaeta and Collectormania for hosting the event, and to all of the players (some from Nebraska, Wyoming and Kansas) for coming out to the tournament. Thanks also to everyone who helped John, Scott and I during the tournament - Josiah Halasz, Thaddeus Chennoweth, and the player that helped fix the monitor prongs. I had a lot of fun, and I hope to see more pre-releases in the future for Star Wars CCG.