New venue ahoy! This week it was off to Firestorm Games in Swindon, somewhere I’d not been able to get to until now due to various clashes when it came to their first few events. Plenty of familiar faces in the room though, including several from the local Stroud group, and multiple Vagabonds too. 17 players in total.

After last weekend’s near-miss (4-0, 2nd place), it was time to really push the bid experiment. I was now in possession of a Naboo N-1 Starfighter, and of course, you’ve got to play with the shiny new toys when they’re released. So stepping into the ‘pocket ace’ role in the list, we have Ric Olié. I’d been looking at a couple of Padme lists until now, but I can’t quite get the pieces to fit how I want yet, so instead we’re going to go with Bravo Flight’s head honcho. With just an R2 Astromech, Ric clocks in at a measly 46 points, two less than Plo Koon who I’d used a week ago in this slot. I managed a couple of practice games midweek and was reasonably happy with how it was looking and so decided to run with it for the event.

All of which meant that this week we’re going with:

Anakin Skywalker, Delta 7-B, R2 Astromech (88)

Ric Olié, R2 Astromech (46)

Gold Squadron Trooper x2 (50)

This comes in at a total of 184 points, giving me a 16 point bid. I think I’m really encroaching on the limits of how far I can take this now. Bizarrely, there were also two other lists at the event with the exact same points total – Guy’s Kylo/Quickdraw and Steve’s Anakin/Obi-Wan. I have four ships for the same cost though, so that means I win, right? Anyone…?

First up was Brychan, running a four-ship Scum list – Talonbane, Guri, Laetin, and Seevor. Guri was obviously going to be a pain, but getting to her early was impossible with the Starviper running from Anakin, but able to keep distance enough that there were more tempting targets closer nearby. Seevor went down very quickly, Anakin bumping into the back of Talonbane, but gifted a range 1 shot on the Mining Guild TIE in the process and Anakin duly obliged with a one-shot kill. Talonbane was next to go, as the Torrents started losing health, and Guri just wouldn’t die. Anakin gave up and turned in on Laetin to finish him off instead, and then Ric played the hero, catching Guri at range 1 and just squeaking through the last damage needed with a few minutes to spare. 200-25.

Next up was Rhys, who was flying Vader, Ryad and Echo, all naked. I can’t actually recall ever playing against Echo, so I was a little (over) cautious with my approach. As a result, it took a while for Anakin to get into the fight proper, although when he did he went right for his future self. With Vader out of the way, he turned his attention to Ryad as Ric finished off Echo (who had some terrible green dice). Defenders take aaaaaaages to kill, but they can’t run from Anakin. This one also finished 200-25.

So at the halfway point, I was 2-0 for just the loss of two Torrents. That certainly wasn’t going to do my MOV any harm.

Round three gave me a matchup with Dan, and his Resistance list of Poe, Rey and Finn. Massively thematic right there! And also mind-bogglingly tricksy. To be honest, I am struggling to get my head around all the shenanigans the Resistance can do now since the release of the Transport/Pod – if you get to play me, just make up what you can do and I’ll probably believe you… Anyway, Finn is really good, and using Threepio to co-ordinate to Rey from halfway across the board seems incredibly strong. So I knew Finn had to die first and then I’d just figure the rest out later. Finn is also very tanky, but once Anakin got behind him it was game over. Rey and Poe had lost their shields by this point, and then I got very, very lucky with Ric. Rey was carrying a Fuel Leak after an Anakin shot, and after a Tallon Roll gave the N-1 an unmodified shot into the side of Rey, I rolled hit, crit, crit out of hand. Rey dodged two (the shot was obstructed) but the crit went through – Hull Breach. Which meant the extra damage from the Fuel Leak was face up. Into Direct Hit! Which meant another face-up! Rey ended up taking four damage when only a single dice result had hit. Madness. That was pretty much curtains for the Falcon, though Dan had mopped up the Torrents by this point. It just remained for Anakin to apply the coup de grâce to Poe to give a 200-50 result in my favour.

Last game of the day, and now it’s time for the inevitable showdown with someone I know very well – time for some Vagabond-on-Vagabond with Steve and his double Jedi. We’re the only 3-0 players at this stage and we have identical bids. Naturally, I lose the roll off and immediately proclaim Steve the winner. Because I almost always lose Jedi-offs when I’m moving first. Steve doesn’t make the best start as I have to point out the Obi-Wan trying to do a Supernatural boost is actually Anakin. Who doesn’t have Supernatural. As a result of the mixup, I’m able to get a cheeky early shot on Kenobi and plink away a couple of shields. I soon get him down to half, but push too hard with Ric and Steve obliterates the N-1 in a single round of fire. Now I’m really up against it. Obi-Wan regens back above half and despite me setting up some decent firing lanes I can’t force enough through. Had a couple of really bad range 1 rolls at crucial moments, but it happens. I finally get Obi-Wan back to half and all R2 charges expired, but despite my best efforts to block him he manages to squirm free again. Our Anakins trade a few shields with each other but all get regenned. Time is running out and Ric is the only points I’ve given up, Obi-Wan is at half. It’s mega close. On the last round, Steve’s Anakin attempts to half-point a Torrent who’s already taken 1 damage. I’ve used the barrel roll into evade to keep out of range 1, but Steve rolls 2 hits and a crit. I need to roll at least one evade and then not take a direct hit. I roll 2! So it all comes down to the crit…. and it’s a fuel leak! The Torrent stays a single hull point above half which apparently means I win by a measly 2 points, 48-46. Jesus…

That was quite some finish, and my brain is absolutely fried as a result. Thankfully that was the last game of the day because I had nothing left in me for a game 5! Massive kudos to Steve for such a great game, he pushed me to the absolute limit that’s for sure. I would have had no qualms about losing to him. And I don’t think he even cheated this time… 😉

So, 4-0 for the second weekend in a row, and on this occasion it’s enough to give me 1st overall. I’m still a little undecided as to who is better in that second ace slot. My gut feeling is that Plo probably just edges it, if only for having the Force available and the double reposition ability. Ric is very good though, and great fun to fly (when you don’t park him in front of a rock, and then in front of two Jedi the following round!). So I think I need a little more game time with both to make a final decision. But that will have to wait for another day (as yet, to be decided).

Big thanks to Lee for running a great event, it all seemed to go pretty smoothly with no delays or the like. Which was especially welcome once enough players showed to make it four rounds instead of three. Could’ve been a late finish otherwise! And once again, thanks to all my opponents on the day for some fun games.

Until next time!