Dungeons and Dragons Encounters

2013-11-06

MtA Episode 44: That’s a Spicy Gorgon!

I listened to this during a deployment.

One of my favorite Magic podcasts goes big this week with Beatnik Card Reading Poetry Night, which may be the funniest thing I have ever heard.

Very good episode.

Icosahedrophilia Podcast, Episode 171: From Beyond, Part 5

I listened to this while doing an install.

I am way behind on this right now so I am kind of hurrying to catch up. This was the end of a five episode arc that included a great battle with a medusa. DM Chris created a fun timer that the players had some random imput on which made this even more interesting. Also, the players basically have a boon/curse mechanic on them that goes over during every rest, kind of like the D&D Cards that came out that could do good or bad things to players depending on their prestige.

In any event, a very fun episode from one of the best gaming tables currently sharing.

2013-11-05

Double Strike before School

A big crew came by for Magic this morning before South Lake Middle School late start. We had Alexander, Matt, Jack, Dylan, Evan, Andrew, Derek, and Liam--just about as many as our table can hold

The boys come by and start games kind of in the order that they show up--we had some great match up this week.

It was Liam's first time at Tuesday Morning with Magic

so he played the Sliver deck which is just a fun way to learn Magic--lots of ramp, different effects, and smashing in the face for 30!

The boys get fairly intense while playing.

and today they were really into it--four matches going at the same time is loud & awesome.

The boys play for an hour and the time goes by very very quickly.

The boys want to spend time trading cards, but we only have one hour before school starts which is just about time for three matches--generally time runs out during a final Two Headed Giant match.

Matt has a Whip of Erbos that he wants to trade

Andrew is playing a very good GWAR Deck--Greeen, White, Agro Red named after the worlds greatest space band

Which matches up nicely with Jack GW deck

1. Blocking with Double Strike
Jack attacked with a 5/5, Andrew blocked with a 3/3 doublstriker. Jack argued that it was a block, but that his creature did not die. Andrew asserted that Jack's creature takes 3 first strike damage & then 3 more damage during normal damage and would die having taken 6. Jack's position was that first strike was only when attacking and not when defending.

Rule 510.5 does not seem to make a distinction between Attackers and Blocker and 702.4b seems to include blockers ["If at least one attacking or blocking creature'].

I think that Jack is wrong and that a double striking blocker does assign damage two times

2. .More Blocking with Double Strike
After issue one was resolved with no one very happy, we moved to an issue that actually lead to a lot more player frustration--I need to get better and making quick well informed decisions, a skill for Level 1 Judges, perhaps because my converstaional style generally just leads to both players feeling gibbed.

Here is what happened...Andrew had Gruul War Chant out

And swung with

who was Monstrous & had been equipped with Battle Mastery

So basically Andrew came over the top with a 20/20 Double Striker that could only be blocked by two creatures.

Jack blocks with Deadly Recluse

that has a Boon Satyr bestowed on it--arguing that it is two creatures

I agreed that the bestowed creature should count as a creature for the Gruul War Chant and he could block. Andrew was also OK with this ruling.

So, Jack takes 16 First Strike Damage from the Cake--the trample goes over the block. Andrew agrees.

Jack then argues that he does not take the additional 20 from the Double Strike. I am not sure exactly what his argument was--he was fairly upset & convinced that he was right--basically, he argued that the second twenty was not applied--I think because the Cake had already killed the blocker? which me be the case--but I am not sure.

The Glossary has:

Double StrikeA keyword ability that lets a creature deal its combat damage twice. See rule 702.4, “Double Strike.”

so I think Andrew's CAKE would get to assign 20 during first strike & 20 during normal.

We agreed to disagree so that we could move to the Two Headed Giant & then time was up and the kids had to fly to school after another fun morning of Magic!

2013-11-04

Ender's Game Extra Life Fund Raiser

As part of Extra Life, I tried to run a game of Numenera at the opening of Ender's Game.

Due to life, it did not really go as planned, but we did get in some great Magic.

Brian bought fifteen packs and we ran a three round draft with six people.

Jack ended up coming in First Place! He beat me in the finals with his Mono Red Deck.

My path to the finals went through Chase, who had not played paper magic in a long time & did not draft that well.

And Scott, who had a strong deck that did not finish well against -- he beat me like 28-4 and I won 5-3 and 6-2. In both of my wins he had me on the brink and just did not close.