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Booster Draft was Saturday, and the draft was largely uneventful except that the player next to me, Spencer, got a Roman tin just like I did and so drafted some gray away from me. I still kept my Musicians intact with a lot of white support (keeping Musician's Chamber out) and my Gray defense with a spattering here and there of gold worked out. My star besides Chenaniah ended up being Kings Shamhuth, plus Joshua's Spear and Lahmi's Spear and Ahimelech.

Game 1: Me (5), Chris E (4), Travis (4), Spencer (4)
I think maybe one RA was successfully blocked all game. Spencer was just bleeding souls while everyone else had theirs hidden away in sites that usually only Travis could get into. In the last battle, I attacked Travis with Chenaniah and Jeiel, just as I had been all game, and I was blocked by an orange EC and Two Possessed by Demons... but I was protected. He didn't know when Chenaniah did, and he said I should be "more forthcoming" with my plays, making me feel like cheated him out of the win. He did later apologize and say that he needed to read cards more. I think I mainly won because I went first and the player before me, Spencer, didn't have much of a defense.

Game 2: Me (5), Justin (4), Bill (4), Jacob (3)
Bill drew all his LSs and gave them up before the end of the game, leaving him not having to play defense. Jacob Worship of Milcom'd his Pharisees, but they only entered battle when my Pharisees banded to them. Despite everyone's best efforts, my Covenant Keepers beat Justin's Nergal for my fifth soul.

Game 3: Me (5), Tyler (4), Brad (3), Matt (2)
There was not a single successful block all game, so once again it all came down to soul draw. The final block was with the 10/10 Beast from the Sea, but my Wall of Fire rendered him useless!

Game 4: Bryon (5), Me (4), Kurt (4), Russell (4)
I barely drew any souls all game, so I didn't get to defend much. Kurt had a couple, and my musicians and Shamhuth bands (yay Patriarch Travels x 2!) got past his Babylonian tricks. Russell got his fourth soul by playing Steadfastness of Peter and Bravery of David on his Caleb against Bryon's drafted Emperor Claudius. Kryon attacked Kurt with Reuben for his fifth soul, and Ashpenaz blocked and played Isaac Deceived. Abraham's Servant to Ur negated that and brought the offense to 14, which was too big to block by 1 point with Kurt's very crimson hand. If Kurt used anyone else to block, he'd've blocked successfully and I'd've won. I still got 1/3 point though, and was in the lead at this point with 9 1/3, ahead of Bryon by 1 LS point.

Game 5: Tim (5), Me (4), Kirk (4), Gretel (3)
This was a pretty fun game, but I didn't write notes about it because I was frustrated by the way points worked out at all the other tables - despite being in first before the round, my shared second place finish put me behind two people at over 12 points and Bryon at 10 1/3. I didn't even place! So imagine my surprise when during the awards ceremony, Chris announced that third place had 9.83 points and beat fourth place by 1 LS... what? I went up and got my third place medal and Redemption cash and shook John and Rob's hands... but then there was some hubbub around the scoring table/announcing area. Apparently there was some confusion over the game Bryon was in; many people in that game left before the ceremony, and from what I could tell there was disagreement whether one of Bryon's opponents redeemed 4 souls (making Bryon share the 1 second place point) or 3 (giving Bryon the full point to get ahead of me). Roy called Justin, the player in question, to ask him what his score was, and he said the player got 4 souls, which kept me just ahead of Bryon. Afterwards, Bryon had no hard feelings at all although he was still confident Justin only had 3.

All in all, I was surprised to come out with a medal of any sort but was mainly happy to reconnect with people I haven't seen in a while, especially John M's MA group, and to discuss the new cards and come up with interesting ways to use them. I think I might be returning to the game, as I had such a great time overall when I wasn't getting lost (I really should get a GPS). Thanks to John M for hosting such a fun and well-run tournament, and to all the other judges and leaders who made it run smoothly, even when Sanhedrin didn't work like I thought it would (and they were right about that, I don't know why I thought I could play it on a non-Pharisee and band in Pharisees).

I also got to show off Malta! after Booster Draft was over with Brad & Gretel Coverdale and Marti, and it seemed like all involved had a great time. I'm excited to announce that Chris Bany's Covenant Games will be carrying the game once it's released next month, so I implore you all to get 4 copies of Malta! (I'm sure you have three friends who want it) and get a Book of the Covenant.

Game 4: Bryon (5), Me (4), Kurt (4), Russell (4)
I barely drew any souls all game, so I didn't get to defend much. Kurt had a couple, and my musicians and Shamhuth bands (yay Patriarch Travels x 2!) got past his Babylonian tricks. Russell got his fourth soul by playing Steadfastness of Peter and Bravery of David on his Caleb against Bryon's drafted Emperor Claudius. Kryon attacked Kurt with Reuben for his fifth soul, and Ashpenaz blocked and played Isaac Deceived. Abraham's Servant to Ur negated that and brought the offense to 14, which was too big to block by 1 point with Kurt's very crimson hand. If Kurt used anyone else to block, he'd've blocked successfully and I'd've won. I still got 1/3 point though, and was in the lead at this point with 9 1/3, ahead of Bryon by 1 LS point.

That was a fun game. If only my defense had set up like it had the last two games, I'd have had no problems. Oh, also, that was Centurion at Calvary (with Caleb's Sword) who played my lovely Unlimited pack enhancements on my 4th soul.

Game 8: Andrew Webster, 5-2
His old-school FBN deck couldn't stand up to the first strike emperors and the constant discarding. A weird battle: RA with Simeon to Jacob to CotH, block Namaan. I play Chains against Captain of the Host, then Lurking to bring in The Entrapping Pharisees. He plays Godspeed for 5/0, and I play Heavy Taxes for the numbers to win the battle! We had a good time, because we got to have battles.

it's Wester...

that's why I love FBTN. you actually get intense battles. none of this "The battle is over and you can't do anything about it." or "you can't block." FBTN FTW.

stupid Rome.