Originally published at: http://gomorragazette.com/2015/08/20/how-morgan-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-hexes/
By Richard Carter
So, after an embarrassing 2-3 showing at GenCon a few weeks ago (and one of those wins was a bye), I decided to try my hand at one of these here Sheriff events. Luckily, my old Sacramento stomping grounds was hosting one courtesy of my friend David Orange (but held at a new shop – Randy’s House of Games).
I had spent much of the prior weeks brainstorming a variety of possible decks, and most of them were … not good. I had reasonable expectation that in the wake of GenCon, and the electronic dissemination of the top decks, that there would be a fair mix of Fourth Ring copycats as well as aggressive shooters trying to be the next big counter to those Fourth Ring decks.
Lacking actual local opponents to test against, I outsourced to Origins Winner and deck tech partner, Laura Scott, who applied some degree of sanity to many of my pipe dream decks. She even suffered through a night at her local shop playing a deck that, in retrospect, was flawed in execution.
Ultimately, I decided to again fall back on my Morgan Hex Control deck. After all, It won a Berkeley, California Deputy event. Laura had used it successfully in an Origins side tournament. Oh, it did also get me through the GenCon grinders. Why I abandoned it on the big day for a New and Better Idea? I am not that smart.
Contrary to plan, the Sacramento event only attracted 14 able bodied shooters in contention for the title. David Orange was the only one that I knew from back in my old Classic Doomtown days. All the rest were fresh faces, Reloaded Faces. Actually, check that – our compadre Zac Seldon (Gencon 2012 Harrowed champion) woke up, decided he wanted to learn Doomtown: Reloaded, and rolled in with a bunch of cards, ready to play. So I spent the better part of the pre-tournament time getting Zac up to speed on the New Town, New Rules so to speak.
<a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Zac-learns-w-JohnN-n-Rich.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1757" src='/uploads/default/468/5e5d376d12be65b2.jpg' alt="Zac learns w: JohnN n Rich" width="300" height="225" /></a><a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/RichC-teaches-ZacS.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1756" src='/uploads/default/469/a3b7b9f339a3889f.jpg' alt="RichC teaches ZacS" width="300" height="225" /></a>
<em>Round One</em>: I opened against John “Wesley” Nida running Law Dogs. I used Paralysis Marks to keep the Dogs from getting too … uppity, stretching the game out a bit. Philip Swinford then bcame a Morgan Puppet, and promptly died in a shootout. Yes, that was a dirty play. Lucky for me, none of my dudes were wanted when Judge Harry Somerset hit the table (original version). After a turn of maneuvering, I pulled the strings of the Judge and swing his influence to the side of Morgan Cattle.
<em>Round Two</em>: I faced Jessie Crawford, running the Fourth Ring. This was a total chess match, beginning to end. We both had Paralysis Marks and Phantasms, and we jockeyed to create an advantageous shootout. Early on, there was some Travis action, but the hucksters on both sides of the table exercised more caution. Ultimately we ran to time, and Jessie had labored under a lack of dudes and income (she showed me a a hand brimming with shootout anger) – and at time I had the mobility and influence for the win.
<a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Round2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1759" src='/uploads/default/470/ad0c38795fcdf654.jpg' alt="Round2" width="300" height="225" /></a>
<em>Round Three</em>: Ben Moyer with yet another Fourth Ring. The entire course of this game I played without Paralysis Marks. I had them, and they looked quite lovely in my lowball and shootout hands, but no huckster got his hot hands on them. Phantasm did show up, and Ben had not seen the very clutch “I Phantasm your unbooted dude from town square into my home” play. Ben got an early Whateley Estate, and I hungrily eyed those 2 Control Points. Towards the end. I almost made a push that would have ceded control of two of his deeds in order to grab the Estate. Thankfully. I talked myself out of it. Next turn, Travis took down the Flying Propescuses (with two Shadow Walks), and the Blood Curses finished the job.
<a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/RichC-v-BenM-Round-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1760" src='/uploads/default/471/fe8d1bfeea859325.jpg' alt="RichC v BenM Round 3" width="300" height="225" /></a>
<em>Round Four</em>: Jon Del Arroz with Law Dogs: The Arsenal. Jon also collaborated with my friend Laura Scott, and all she would say was that “Jon has a better shot at winning than he thinks”. At 3-0, it appeared that she was right. Jon and I are buddies, and I knew that he wanted to earn some respect for Miracles. I did not give him the chance – I am a bad friend. Turn two, Travis visited town square and went in against a booted Wendy (I had a Takin’ ya with me). Wendy found every support card in the deck, only pulling a pair (which was not good for Jake Smiley who tried to join in on the fun). Irving Patterson and Steven Wiles worked to stymie the production of Jon’s Blake Ranch, and then dropped Sister Mary Gideon from the field. Without any influence on the table, I dropped a General Store to end Jon’s suffering.
After Tournament – Jon’s friend Dominic Dee wanted to play against me (I think Jon had been talking me up) – and my deck decided to show off. Dominic was playing Desolation Row starting out with Sloane herself (aided and abetted by Allie and Makaio Kaleo). I dropped a Steven Wiles, opposed the job, lost by one rank, discarded Steven … Takin’ Ya With Me. Travis is ready for more. He hits a straight flush… Travis and another Takin’ Ya With Me. He wins the job at the cost of two dudes. Turn two he kidnaps Steele, and I play three CP deeds, put a Blood Curse on Wilber, and that is the game.
Good times and mad loot (we added a Deputy kit to the Sheriff prizes), and David Orange had a number of singles that he had signed by artists at GenCon.
From time to time my work allows me to return to Sacramento, and when I do I like to hit a little place called the Flaming Grill Café. Super tiny, but great burgers, and exotic meats, I had talked it up, and nine of us made the trek. Faced with indecision, Jon Del Arroz went halfsies with me so that I could enjoy a Gator burger and a Kangaroo Burger, with chorizo fries on the side. Amazing. Then the bay area folks needed to ride off west into the sunset.
<a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FG-party-JDA-SS-JohnV.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1765" src='/uploads/default/473/eac69ddcfd513dec.jpg' alt="FG party-JDA-SS-JohnV" width="300" height="225" /></a> <a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FG-party-RichC-JohnV.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1763" src='/uploads/default/474/d447df9ccc9182bb.jpg' alt="FG party - RichC-JohnV" width="300" height="225" /></a> <a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FG-party-DD-ZS-RC.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1764" src='/uploads/default/475/4d00438d88532b64.jpg' alt="FG party -DD-ZS-RC" width="300" height="225" /></a>
<a href="http://gomorragazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FG-Burger.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1762" src='/uploads/default/476/e708af3cfb1cf6b3.jpg' alt="FG Burger" width="300" height="248" /></a>
Not calling it quits though, David Orange, Zac Seldon, and myself went down the street to Great Escape Games and played a little Classic Doomtown. I opted to play in the grinder at GenCon, so it had been awhile for me. Zac finally realized that he left his decks at the original shop (remember we had dinner in between Randy’s and GEG). One head to head game with David showed that my poorly conceived ChupaThingy deck can totally work, killing four or five of his dudes without a shootout. With Zac back, decks safely in hand, we did a pair of three-player games. First with my Flock: Children of Armageddon victorious (thanks in no small part to the Graveyard services), and finishing up with my Sioux Dealer’s choice breaking the shootout rules. Good times.
Sheriff of Sacramento 8-15-2015
Sacramento, CA. Sheriff event winner
Morgan Cattle Co. (Base Set)
Dude (15)
1x Angela Payne (Election Day Slaughter)
1x Avie Cline (Base Set)
1x Clint Ramsey (Base Set)
2x Eve Henry (Base Set)
1x Irving Patterson* (Base Set)
1x Jon Longstride (Base Set)
1x Lane Healey (Base Set)
2x Max Baine (Base Set)
1x Steele Archer* (Base Set)
2x Steven Wiles (Base Set)
1x Travis Moone* (Base Set)
1x Wilber Crowley* (New Town, New Rules)
Deed (11)
1x Baird’s Build and Loan (Double Dealin’)
1x Carter’s Bounties (Base Set)
2x Circle M Ranch (Base Set)
2x General Store (Base Set)
1x Pat’s Perch (Base Set)
1x Railroad Station (Base Set)
1x St. Anthony’s Chapel (Faith and Fear)
1x Surveyor’s Office (Double Dealin’)
1x Telegraph Office (Base Set)
Spell (16)
4x Blood Curse (Base Set)
4x Paralysis Mark (New Town, New Rules)
3x Phantasm (Faith and Fear)
2x Puppet (Election Day Slaughter)
3x Shadow Walk (Base Set)
Action (10)
2x Flight of the Lepus (Frontier Justice)
2x Rumors (Base Set)
4x Takin’ Ya With Me (Base Set)
2x This’ll Hurt in the Mornin’ (Faith and Fear)