Hi,
Well, you my not know, but I've been on a streak of bad luck getting 9th nearly everywhere. I placed 9th at the last Realm Champs, and then 9th at both the NorCal RQs I have attended this season. In striving for another 9th place, I ended up surprising myself and placing 1st (well joint first, we spilt instead of playing).
I was playing Pagatha based loosely (if card for card (with one exception counts as loosely :)) on Damien Dufresne's Pagatha that went 8-1 at Continentals. There were 22 players at the event.
Note that Brian, Eric, and Jax were late to the event, even though Eric had posted that they were going to be on time.
Round 1 vs Richard (Kil'Zin)
Game 1 wasn't pretty at all. Bloodsoul followed by Double Gora set the pace, and I lost in really fast time, not seeing an Engulfing Blaze.
Game 2 was much the same, although I did manage a bit of healing with Cannibalize and almost stabalized, but he just did too much damage.
0-1
At this point, I was really regretting not playing my super healing version with Blood Knight and more Greatstaff.
Round 2 vs Herman (Emmi)
Game 1, he started with two Steelsmiths and Whispering, and I thought I was in great shape with an Engulfing blaze, but he pummeled it. He Pummeled something else key and won easily.
Game 2, I sided in the Bringers and used to great effect on turn 8. He had a large board prescence and then none.
Game 3, I don't remember how I won, but it was a long drawn out match.
1-1
Phew - After losing the first game so quick, I thought I was off to a quick 0-2 start.
Round 3 vs David G (Kil'zin)
Game 1, I got him with barely and cards, and not much board, and then locked with VFW.
Game 2, it was a long drawn out affair. I kept healing with Cannibalize and Greatstaff, and he was dealing 1 damage each turn after I got the Felshroud out. But he eventually pushed through for the win.
Game 3, David was having trouble with the draw, and had to keep using Falling to Corruption to stay with some cards to play. I was countering things with Banish etc. and when I got VFW, it was all over.
2-1
Woo-Hoo. Looks like I can go 1-1 in the final two rounds to make 9th again :)
Round 4 vs Eric (Kil'zin)
Not another one. WTF?
Game 1, he put pressure with early Dragonlings and weapons, and I had trouble dealing with the equipment. He kept on doing two damage to me and I didn't have answers.
Game 2, At one point, with the Felshrouh in play and sitting at 25 damage, I let an attack from Retainers Blade through, putting me at 27 damage. This was in case he had anything in hand to deal damage to me. I healed back to 24, and had him at 21, and I recorded that I won, but I didn't keep good notes.
Game 3, he was damaging me, but I was starting to stabalize with all my equipment, and clearing his hand and board etc. He had me at about 19 damage when time was called, and he had 8. I was digging for answers with Backlash, and quests etc. He got me to 21 damage, but then I healed 3 with the Greatstaff, and then another 12 with Cannibalize on my last turn. He was now at 12 to my 6, and could only do 2 more damage.
3-1
Wow - Looks like I'm going to make top 8 after all, although 9th is still a possibility if I lose my next round.
Round 5 vs Brian (Mythen)
Game 1, I answered most of his threats (eyed an Adam, Hesrianed an exhausted Zempre etc.), but he got a couple of Moonfires on my Hero. I managed to lock him with VFW for a while, but then Sabotaged with Seer's Signet, and he kept on dealing 1 or 2 damage every now and then. I kept him with few or no cards in hand, and was building my board, and eventually healed and he conceded.
Game 2 was much the same. The Moonfires were an issue. BTW: MVP against Moonfire in both these games was Devthir. Really good. My damage totals in this game are ridiculous:
1 4 5 7 9 11 13 14 16 8 9 10 12 9 10 12 14 16 13 15 17 19 16 17 18 19 20 14 11 13
Time was called and Brian couldn't push trough the damage. I had the Gstaff/Felshroud combo out and with Abyss Walker's Boots, was removing his abilities and playing them (Natural Order, FOTS etc.).
4-1
Finally, a top 8 finish. I ended up 4th in the standings. And lo and behold had to play Brian again in the Qtrs.
Qtr Final vs Brian (Mythen)
Game 1 was much like the our previous match. He gets out Moonfires, and I counter pretty much everything else. I can'te remember how it ended, but it might have been VFW.
Game 2, it really looked like he was going to win. He managed to pull off a Utopia when I had a massive board and he had me on 26 damage. But I healed with Cannibalize for 4 and Gstaff for 3, and played VFW to seal the deal.
Semis vs Gary (Marlow Christophers)
Game 1, I had all the right cards after an early Auchindon ST, and he never knew what hit him. I countered pretty much everything he played, and it was all over pretty quick. I never really got to see how his deck worked as my Seer's Signet made short work on his Clinging Curse etc.
Game 2 was much closer. He got Hogger, and Rain of Shadows, Promises of Darkness etc. and at one point had about 7 cards when I had 3!!! After Playing the Felshroud, I Eyed his hand and saw 3 (!!) Banish to the Nethers. I removed 1, but he used the other two on Felshroud and Backlash. I was relieved a couple of turns later when I got my own Banish to Banish his Banish, and then used his RFG Banish on my next turn (got it :)). Eventaully, I pushed through the damage and got VFW to seal the deal.
Finals vs Jaron (Obliveron)
Jaron asked if I wanted to roll for it. We'd had a long day and both got our 10 points, so we split the packs evenly and rolled for the Equalize. He rolled higher, and will be shown as the winner in the standings with me as second.
Sorry I didn't take better notes. I should remember to at least write down the key points, or way the games ended. Maybe next time.
BTW: Although I love the Felshroud/Greatstaff combo to death, the real MVP card for me in the tournament was Backlash. What a freakin amazing card.
Cheers.
Come play at C & Js in Newark, CA