GenCon 1999: War in the Heavens

By Jeff Williamson

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Posted 9-10 August 1999 in rec.games.trading-cards.misc

I have seen the following things, and bring them to you now.

(Author's note: I intended originally to only report on the Final 16 and their clans, but somewhere along the line, I started channeling the spirit of Zen Faulkes!, our man Down Under, and I decided to turn it into a more comprehensive finals report.)

The War in the Heavens brought forth a handful of clans to its Final 16:

1. Conrad Jackson: Corrupt Toturi
2. Seth Mason: Honorable Toturi
3. Stefan Zarzynski: Enlightenment Water Monk
4. Jimmy Beck: Bloodspeaker Phoenix
5. Bret Swanson: Military Water Monk
6. Paul Higgins: Honorable Phoenix
7. Ian McGuigan: Honorable Toturi
8. Richard Riley: Honorable Unicorn
9. Antoine Blanchard: Honorable (Shrine) Phoenix
10. Michael Jahnke: Partially corrupt Toturi
11. Terry Madden: Dishonor Crane
12. Nathan Roberts: Toturi (honorable?)
13. Karl Prahl: Lion (honorable?)
14. Vaughn Derderian: Ninja (heh)
15. Noel Meyer: Honorable Lion
16. Neil Canvel: Crane (not sure what type)

Five Toturi, three Phoenix, two Monk, two Crane, two Lion, a Unicorn, and a servant of the vile Shadow.

Six clans or factions had failed to confront Onnotangu in order to strike the telling blow.

For the Scorpion, the tricks Bayushi Hisa had stolen from the Shadow failed to win him the day.

For the Dragon, Mirumoto Taki did not reach the final battle with the golden katana given him by the Scorpion.

For the Mantis, Tsuruchi's arrow did not fly true.

For the Naga, Balash did not attain the side of the two-legs.

For the Crab, Hida Unari succumbed to wounds suffered in the assault on Volturnum. He did not die, but was laid low.

For the Shadowlands, Jama Suru had not corrupted any of the remaining representatives.

As each of these stories was announced, Ree destroyed the representative card and presented it to the high-ranking player for the clan.

The only game I saw any of for Round 1 was the Noel-Seth game. Noel had Matsu Agetoki with the Lion Sword, Lion Armor, and Kitsuki Kaagi's Journal. Seth prayed hard for his Kolat Duplicate to turn up, but got nothing but Personalities for his troubles. He did manage to duel away one Agetoki with Seppun Nakao.

After Round 1 of the finals, the remaining players were:

Conrad Jackson vs. Antoine Blanchard
Stefan Zarzynski vs. Paul Higgins
Jimmy Beck vs. Bret Swanson
Michael Jahnke vs. Noel Meyer

The Unicorn, Crane and Ninja had been eliminated. Moto Amadare charged Onnotangu, and the force of the Moon flung him away. The Shadow had failed to corrupt any of the remaining players, and thus none was revealed as a Ninja Mimic. And for the Crane, Toshimoko, who had used a secret passage in the Imperial passage shown him years before, did not arrive on time. The top two Crane players announced, as the representatives of the Doji and the Daidoji, that the Crane civil war was not over -- but there would be no more Crane blood shed by Crane. Instead, the conflict will be resolved by the courtiers, where the Crane belong.

In his duel vs. the Phoenix, Stefan (the Monk) had played the Ring of Earth early by foiling an assault, and using a Banish All Shadows, dug out a Walking the Way, attaching that and the Gunsen of Water to Asako Hosigeru. Hosigeru challenged Naka Kuro to a test of Iaijutsu Art. Shioda bowed to use Double Chi on Hosigeru, who focused The 12th Black Scroll. Ring of Fire, Ring of Void. Walk for Ring of Air. Enlightenment win in three easy steps.

I saw the end of the Michael-Noel match; it had drawn out, but she was clearly outforced -- among other things, Akuma had hit the table.

After Round 2, the following players were left:

Antoine Blanchard vs. Bret Swanson
Stefan Zarzynski vs. Michael Jahnke

Lion had been eliminated, as had the bloodspeaker Phoenix. According to Ree, Jimmy Beck had said, "Sure, the Phoenix have pulled themselves back up again... but can't I mess with them first?" So Ree had his position covered. Sadly (for Jimmy), Doji Adoka will not be joining the Phoenix, despite his best efforts.

For the Lion, Matsu Turi leapt at Onnotangu with the sword of his father, and was defenestrated for his troubles.

Nearly everyone wanted to watch the enlightenment Monk game -- vs. a Corrupt Toturi deck (partially Corrupt; I saw no corrupt gold, but he did use Akuma in several games).

Michael took an early province with Hasame and followers. Stefan put out a complement of Shiodas and a Yoshun, and had a Peasant Revolt hit the turn after Michael paid for two 3F Saigoreis. With only 7 Force usable, Michael attacked (7F can take a Monk province...). Stefan defended with "Speed Bump" Yoshun, and in the play of the game, got the Ring of Earth. On his turn, Stefan played Rise from the Ashes to prevent being steamrolled, then on turn 4, in an uncanny reprise from Round 2, used multiple fate control tricks (Banish, Kaede Sensei, etc.), and set up his fate hand again... he Iaijutsu Arted a Hasame with Yoshun (the only unbowed monk), bowed Yoshun to Double Chi himself, and focused the 12th Black Scroll. Ring of Fire. Ring of Air. Ring of the Void. Fourth turn enlightenment.

Bret defeated Antoine in a prolonged, back-and-forth game which I could not get close to. I hope someone else will report on the games I did not and could not see.

The Phoenix had been eliminated, as had Toturi. Tables were rearranged, and the finals were about to begin. Ree announced the remaining fates: Isawa Hochiu stepped forward with his father's sword (a common theme) and told Onnotangu that he had learned the lessons of the Dark Isawa, and he would not make his father's mistakes -- the Phoenix would not be corrupted again. Onnotangu laughed: "I am not a thing of the Shadowlands, a creature of the taint that you can wash away. You do not choose whether or not to worship me. I AM A GOD!" And Hochiu was flung away with a gesture of contempt.

Onnotangu rose to claim Toturi, to drive the Shadow into him and claim him forever. But one man stood between his Lord and the Moon, and Hasame took the blow, perishing instantly while saving the Emperor's soul. Toku carried the body of his comrade away.

And then, a light cleaved the Darkness...

In the final, Bret Swanson (military Monk) faced Stefan Zarzynski (speed enlightenment Monk). Ree told the assembled throng that who would face Onnotangu was no longer in question -- this would decide the Tao the monks would follow: the Path of Wisdom, or the Path of Warriors.

Here, I report as much as I saw of the final game...

Bret cut to high focus, and played Merchant Caravan, Kirazo, and Shioda.

Stefan turned over two Shioda and Blessings of Isawa. Bret played Deeds, Not Words, preventing Stefan from playing Shioda without losing honor. Stefan did not clear his provinces, but bowed his Strongold for the Ring of Earth.

Bret played another Merchant Caravan and Hoshi Maseru. Stefan played his two Shioda, plus another monk (Maseru?), still not drawing any gold.

Bret attached followers and attacked. Stefan did not defend, and played a Flooded Pass. Bret used Chasing Osano-Wo, largely to trigger the Blessings of Isawa, but failed to take the province. Out came the Ring of Earth.

Stefan turned up Refuge of the Three Sisters, Yoshun and Maseru. He attached the Gunsen of Water, lobbied for the Favor, and attacked, managing to kill a province. He then brought out Yoshun.

Bret attached more followers, then attacked two provinces (one the Refuge). Stefan attempted to save a province with the Favor, but A Test of Courage stopped that. He was reduced to two provinces.

On Stefan's turn, he Dharma'd his own Iris Festival and bought Heichi Chokei.

Turn 5: Bret attacks and kills one more province, playing his own Ring of the Void. Stefan plays Rise from the Ashes on Chokei and stalls for a turn. He has not seen a single gold-producing holding all game. An Iaijutsu Art with Double Chi nets him the Rings of Fire and Void, but no Air. He has four rings in play.

Turn 6: Bret builds and seizes the Favor, Stefan fails to see gold.

Turn 7: Bret attacks. Stefan defends with Chokei and Yoshun. He uses Toturi is Drugged to send home one unit. Bret IF's Chokei away. Stefan uses Refugees to send another attacker home. Bret Refugees Yoshun away. No defenders remain. That's game.

Takao stepped forward and challenged Onnotangu, who laughed: "You are mortal. What can you do to stop me?" Then, the power of the Moon drove Takao into the back wall. Takao stepped forward again, and laid hands upon Onnotangu's apparition. "You do not truly understand what it means to be mortal." With that, Takao flooded Onnotangu with the power of Void. At the battle with the Moon Incarnate, the God arched in pain, as Hitomi raised her sword and cleaved his head from his shoulders.

The Moon shattered, and the Darkness over Otosan Uchi was lifted.

* * *

Phew.

Post-tournament coolness: the top player from each clan received a jacket with their clan mon on the back. Since Bret was taking home the Armor of the Moon, he gifted his jacket to Stefan. Neil and Terry (the Cranes) decided that they would share the jacket to represent the end to the Crane bloodshed -- Luke said, "Great, let's just cut that jacket in half for you..."

Antoine Blanchard, who had attended GenCon from France, became the highest-placing Phoenix player *ever* at GenCon, and did it without corruption in his deck.

As has been mentioned, the "lower" 16s brackets were matched against each other for the storming of the Walls of Otosan Uchi. In the first bracket were such luminaries as Joel Mazorra (#17) and Chris Bergstrom. With about ninety players total on Sunday, pretty much anyone had a chance at some storyline victory. Other than the Ruins of the West Wall, I do not know how those battles turned out. I needed to leave (and get stuck for two hours in traffic in the midst of road construction...).

My friend Jacob Lesgold, who had come to GenCon largely to play against a wide field of opponents, was the top-rated Naga for the convention, having been the ONLY Naga to win even one game in the storming of the Walls. He had qualified as the top Naga player on Saturday, since no Naga reached the final 16 on that day. Naga's showing could have been better overall, but it was worth it to get to "BANZAI!" Jake. Congratulations, Ashtalet!

* * *

Ree also announced the storyline effects of the L5R LARP. There were many, which will be reflected in the card game in months to come.

1. There is a new magistrate in Ryoko Owari. Although the Unicorn govern the City of Lies, the Voice of the Emperor is now Bayushi Yojiro.
2. The Dragon have taken in a ronin named Tsuri (?), who will become a retainer to the Mirumoto.
3. The Fox Clan has officially broken with Yoritomo. Because of their proximity to Crane lands, they will add their strength to the Cranes'.
4. Doji Kuwanan, long rumored to "think like a Lion," proved the rumor once again by *ordering* Asahina Tomo not to retire.
5. Isawa Hochiu is now the new Master of Fire.
6. Hiruma Zunguri is the daimyo of the Hiruma, and will receive an experienced version. "He says Master of the Gate, but he Mastered the whole frickin' castle!" -- Ree
7. The Hiruma will increase their ranks by another -- please welcome Hiruma Rik'tik'tichek. Riki had been told by his Crab brethren that the Emperor was a very important pink-skin, and in a show of respect, exposed his belly to Toturi.
8. Toku has made peace with Yoritomo Tsuyu ("...but don't look for these guys to, like, have a cup of coffee together or anything...").
9. An important position has been created, and someone will rise to the occasion to fill it: that of the Monkey Clan Historian. ("Oh yeah, he'd better get to catching up; he's got, what, a month or so to write about?")

***

I did not fare very well myself, but that's a story for another time. This report is already quite long, and I hope I will be corrected if I erred significantly. I also hope it proves interesting to others.

The Winning Deck

Stronghold: The House of Tao

Fate deck (40 cards)

Actions
3 A Test of Courage
2 Charge
3 Deeds, Not Words
3 Destiny Has No Secrets
3 One Koku
3 Rallying Cry
2 Refugees
Ancestors
1 Shiryo no Tetsuya
Followers
3 Elite Pikemen
3 Shireikan
3 Ashigaru
Items
1 Armor of Earth
1 Gunsen of Water
Kiho
1 Banish All Shadows
3 Chasing Osano-Wo
1 The Wind’s Truth
Rings
1 Ring of Earth
1 Ring of the Void
1 Ring of Water
Sensei
1 Kaede Sensei

Dynasty Deck (40 cards)

Events
1 Blessings of Isawa
1 Corruption of the Harmonies
1 Imperial Gift
1 Inheritance
1 Kolat Duplicate
1 Occult Murders
Holdings
3 Large Farm
3 Merchant Caravan
3 Prayer Shrine
3 Small Farm
Personalities
1 Hasame
1 Hoshi Maseru (Experienced)
3 Hoshi Maseru
3 Ikudain
3 Kirazo
3 Komaro
3 Shioda
3 Yoshun
Regions
1 Golden Sun Plain
1 Palaces of Otosan-Uchi

Runner-up report

[Note: This post was taken from "Ikoma" Andy Cowell's website, but I can't remember if it was still The Shadowlands Refuge of the Lion Clan or whether it had already become Deathseeker.com. I have corrected Stefan's grammatical and spelling errors, but the words are otherwise his. -ZF]

Subject: Tournment report and deck list from 2nd place in gencon, Stefan "Stehn" Zarzynski
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 22:19:25 (EDT)
From: "Stefan J. Zarzynski" <stefanz@email.com>

Hi guys,

As you may already know, I took second place in Gencon. But I've been pretty down on myself for not winning. You have no idea what it's like to get so far and then lose. There's a lot of things that went wrong. For one, I get no holdings. And I didn't pull the Entrapping when I needed to. But I don't want to seem like a complainer so I'll just leave it at that. I was so close but I didn't manage to get 4 rings. Just one away... so there's always next year and I'm gonna go at it in full force so that we will finally get enlightenment.

So here it goes. It was a good tournment, I'm not gonna write about how I qualified other than I went 6-1 on Thursday. So then I made it for the final tournment on Sunday. I live basically right in Milwaukee so it wasn't a long car ride. A lot of my friends were there and I had a pretty good time. So, going into the final day I thought well... maybe go for a Wall tournament and just try your best. It turned out a little better then I expected.

Round 1, vs Shadowlands Horde.
This game was interesting and kinda ironic because here's a Shadowlands player and he's a really nice guy. He did quite well in the tournment too. But anyway I hosed him with my terrains because he wasn't drawing his Sup Tacts, and luckily I pull Earth out quite fast. Peasent Revolt hits late game too, making a big difference. He foils my first attempt to get fire with a Kharmic Strike, but I eventually get it. I slowly and carefully played my Rings and finally got all five out. He was a good player.
1-0

Round 2, vs Phoenix alliance with crab.
I was pretty confident for this one because I generally do well against Phoenix Honor runners. He was a French guy and he was part of the "French Team" that almost all had the same deck. Basically a few Rises hold him off until I can make a three ring jump. And then Ninube Ogoku with the Hammer of Earth puts him in in a bad position. He dosen't defend and I manage to get out Earth with Armor of Osano-Wo. Good game.
2-0

Round 3, vs Speed Phoenix Honor
Once again I play against a deck that I normally do well against, but he had a really nice start and got Naka Kuro out fast. He runs his way up in honor while I manage to get air out, followed by Fire and Void next turn with two consecutive Rises. Then Ninube Ogoku gets the Hammer of Earth after he ditches Favor for card twice in a turn. I attack, he defends and Ogoku goes with... and I play Ring of Earth. Very close one. He ends at 37.
3-0

Round 4, vs Honorable Toturi Attack
This guy had yet to lose a game and I was pretty afraid for this one. I get early Ring of Earth with Flooded Pass. And once the Rises set in, Air comes soon after. With an innate Banish on Maseru, my hand gets rather large, and I manage to play Fire fast. Toturi is Drugged gets me Ring of Void.
4-0

So I'm on to the final 16, and from what I'm starting to hear, tall tales about my deck were starting to spring up. "Did you hear some kid is getting enlightenment by third turn?" "He's 8 feet tall if he was a foot! With arms like tree trunks and burning red eyes!"

Well, I'm just kidding... but none of my games were really blow-outs. They were all like 6-7 turns.. with the occasional 5 in there. Here it goes...

Final 16, vs Ninja
I buy lots of gold and get Ring of Fire because he plays Agasha Gennai and can't Way of Shadow the duel. Air comes because of some Banishes and Walks and then out comes Void with Toturi is Drugged. I do something I kinda regret and wouldn't let him go back a phase to use his Rise from the Ashes, and that's basically game because I get Earth out with Armor of Osano-Wo.

Final 8, vs Phoenix honor attack
A Flooded Pass gets me Ring of Earth early in the game, and with one Rise from the Ashes buys me enough time to get the people I need for a three Ring jump. Basically I had a Chokei with the Gunsen of Water, and he Arts Naka Kuro and I gain Double Chi and focus The 12th Black Scroll. Increase the focus by two with Maseru (Experienced) and I win the duel... playing Ring of Air, Fire, and Void.

Final 4, vs Toturi attack
I hated having to go up against a friend of mine, and there was quite the crowd of people watching this game. Basically I play Ring of Earth very early with Flooded Pass or maybe an Entrapping. And I get Inheritance, 4 gold from Prayer Shrine for Walking the Way, Walk for a Walk. Walk again for an Art. Art, Double Chi, focus12th Black Scroll. Win the duel, Ring of Fire, Ring of Air, Ring of Void. Luckily, Mike took third place so two people from Wisconsin in the top three. That was my best game. Turn 4.

Final game, vs Water monk attack
My memory is hazy about this game because I was so sad after. But basically... I don't get any gold producing holdings. I still manage to get four Rings out. I couldn't hold off his attacks cause no Entrapping. So many things went wrong in that game for me. I'll just give it my best for next year. I just couldn't play the stupid Ring of Air... it's so upsetting.

My congrats to our first place finisher. He was a great guy and was nice enough to give me the Monk jacket. I hope that if Ree is reading this that in the story no monks will harm each other. That it was a war of ideals.. and maybe, just maybe, the monks will decided that both paths to victory are correct. As long as it is all done in Shinsei's name. Realizing that is enlightenment right there. So our first place finisher, if you read this I'd like you to show your response to that and maybe our clan will
prosper after all. But congrats. Enjoy your armor.

As for me, I'll be ok... it's enough to be happy with. Losing to another monk was perfect way to go. No monk blood will be shed, I'm happy. I got a box of Anvil out of it, a shirt, a jacket, a hat, a "first runner up" War in the Heavens honor counter. I feel good about it. I would like to start doing the tournment thing around the country. I think I'm ready for it. But anyway, I've talked long enough. If anyone has any responses or sugestions feel free to email me. Here's my deck list. Thanks to this Ninube Ogoku will most likely be experienced and join Monk for 2 less.

The second place deck: Monk En-"lightning"-ment

Stronghold: The House of Tao

Fate deck (40 cards)

Actions
2 Block Supply Lines
3 Entrapping Terrain
3 Flooded Pass
3 Iaijutsu Art
2 Toturi is Drugged
Items
1 The 12th Black Scroll
3 Armor of Osano-Wo
1 Gunsen of Water
2 Hammer of Earth
Kiho
3 Banish all Shadows
2 Dharma Technique
3 Double Chi
Rings
1 Ring of Air
1 Ring of Earth
1 Ring of Fire
1 Ring of Void
1 Ring of Water (lead)
Sensei
1 Kaede Sensei
Spells
3 Rise from the Ashes
3 Walking the Way

Dynasty deck (40 cards)

Events
1 Blessings of Isawa
1 Chrysanthemum Festival
1 Emperor's Peace
1 Imperial Gift
1 Inheritance
1 Iris Festival
1 Peasant Revolt
Holdings
1 Grove of the 5 Masters
3 Jade Works
1 Ki-Rin's Shrine
3 Prayer Shrines
3 Merchant Caravans
1 Prophet's Tower
Personalities
3 Asako Hosigeru
3 Heichi Chokei
3 Hoshi Maseru
1 Hoshi Maseru (Experienced)
1 Ikudaiu
2 Ninube Ogoku
3 Shioda
3 Yoshun
Regions
2 Refuge of the Three Sisters

It isn't a deck any idiot can pick up and master. You need to think about what your opponent is doing, and take the neccesary cards to stop them. Versus honor decks... If you can do Earth early, do it, if not wait and put a Hammer of Earth on Ogoku and put him in a position in which if they defend, they're screwed, and if they don't, they're screwed. Versus military, get Earth early with the terrains and then Rise until you get a three Ring jump. If you know your opponent is playing with Another Times or Kharmics, use your card advantage and do three Arts in one turn. If done right, the deck works. I went 13-2 with it and it's my favorite deck. You should shoot for turn 6 for winning with it. That's about it.

Don't give up brothers. It works. Our time in the spotlight is here. We will see what happens in other big tournments. Good luck and see you all on IRC.

- Stefan "Stehn" Zarzynski
"The only Monk with long hair"
stehn on irc
Experience The Laughing Monk!!!
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