Over the Oceania Continental Championship weekend, also the Oceania Grand Prix finals were held, where the 5 top performing players on the Grand Prix circuit this year met and played a final round to determine our circuit winner. This is a report from the winner RichE:
The GP circuit was first thought about before OCC Sydney 2024. After seeing Ke Carlton in the “Clash of the Titans”, I thought wouldn’t it be great to have an invitational event. I was staying in an Airbnb with other organisers/travellers and ran the idea past them. It got late in the year but Rathpex was determined to get something going. It morphed into a GP idea and the circuit was born. As Melbourne was holding a tournament in March anyway, we converted that tournament into GP Melbourne to give the other Princes time. Perth followed in April, Sydney in May and Brisbane June. We finished in September in Auckland.
We started in Melbourne where I made the final and received a crucial 0.5 VP in the final. This would be the tie breaker with TJ as we both finished on 41 points equal 2nd place.
Going into the final Steve Harris was consistent in the GP circuit finishing with 36. Fourth was Rathpex on 40 points. Then TJ 41, RichE 41 and Ke 62.
The GP circuit was first thought about before OCC Sydney 2024. After seeing Ke Carlton in the “Clash of the Titans”, I thought wouldn’t it be great to have an invitational event. I was staying in an Airbnb with other organisers/travellers and ran the idea past them. It got late in the year but Rathpex was determined to get something going. It morphed into a GP idea and the circuit was born. As Melbourne was holding a tournament in March anyway, we converted that tournament into GP Melbourne to give the other Princes time. Perth followed in April, Sydney in May and Brisbane June. We finished in September in Auckland.
Steve sat first. He was playing weenie Dementation stealth-bleed.
Next to sit was Rathpex he seated second with what appeared to be a weenie-Dominate bleed with Stanislava.
Next was TJ. He sat down with a Path of Caine combat deck. He sat as Steve’s prey.
On seeing TJ’s deck I (Banu Haqim Kasim combat) was not keen to be next to TJ. So I thought I would have better luck being Rathpex’s prey and preying on Steve’s weenie SB.
Ke sat last. He thought it through and figured that between Dom bleed and Kasim Combat was the best spot, away from TJ. Ke had a Guruhi MMA plus hand size combat deck.
In turn one, Rathpex was number one. He brought out a one cap.
Ke went to two transfers.
My starting crypt was 9, 7, 5 and 2. I went to three transfers on Farah Sarroub Prince of Detroit. I was thinking, I don't need to get out a vampire straight away. I have combat, so I’ll prepare.
Steve brought out Midget and had an extra transfer.
TJ transferred four.
Turn 2, Rathpex bled, transferred out New Blood, and Samson. Do I contest New Blood later in the game?
Ke transferred 4.
I brought out Farah. Steve bled with Midget, and transferred Uncle George into play.
TJ was under pressure, and brought out Anousha, The Manic.
Turn three, Rathpex bled, transferred onto Stanislava, seems to be Dom.
Ke influences out Iniko the Black Lion with permanent +1 stealth.
I stand, 4 transfers to Kasim.
Steve bleeds with Uncle George, blocked. Anousha torpors Uncle George, but George plays coma. Both go down. Adelaide is transferred into play.
TJ transfers.
Rathpex discusses a deal and Anousha is rescued by New Blood.
Ke plays Founders of the Ebony Kingdom to move 4 blood on a younger Laibon in the uncontrolled region.
I transfer 4 to Kasim (now on 8).
Steve's rescues Uncle George with Adelaide. Three vampires, looking threatening …
TJ brings out his second seven cap, which is Kalyani , Agent of Doom.
Turn five, Rathpex has now got eight on Stanislava.
Ke transfers 1 for Nagila Were, Guruhi.
I transfer out Kasim.
Steve's got Midget, Uncle George, Adelaide, Bleeds, transfers.
TJ rushes backwards, bins Uncle George.
Turn six. Rathpex brings Stanislava into play and rescues Uncle George.
Ke Founders again, brings Nana into play. So he's looking pretty strong.
I sit for now.
Steve bleeds with the Colonel.
Andy rushes backwards.
Turn seven. Rathpex’s Stanislava bins Iniko the Black Lion. New Blood munches. New Blood has Banu Haqim support to live. Stanislava gets aggravated hands for a turn.
I rush Adelaide going forward.
Steve, with Midget, Uncle George, and Colonel bleed. TJ defends.
Turn eight. Rathpex rushes with Stanislava binning Nagila. Stanislava plays Imperial Decree. I’m stoked as I have seen limited rush to date. I’m in shock. It's obviously a rush deck and I thought it was a bleed deck.
Ke makes a deal with me that he won't rush me with his first two rushes. And then he rescues Nagila.
I rush Uncle George taking him down.
Steve bleeds TJ and he defends.
TJ rushes Stanislava and Stanislava goes down taking Anousha with her.
Turn Nine. Guruhi rescues Anousha.
Banu rescues Stanislava.
Steve bleeds.
Anousha rushes Stanislava, Stanislava goes down again.
Turn Ten. Rathpex is desperate to cycle, tries to convince Banu that rushing him with the 1 cap famous vampire is worth it to cycle a card. Rathpex rushes, Banu move to long, wave. Rathpex doesn’t get want he needs and is despondent. Ke tries to cheer up Rathpex.
Ke defends.
Banu leave Stanislava in torpor.
Steve bleeds into TJ.
TJ ousts Rathpex.
Turn 11. Ke defends.
Banu bled Steve to 7 pool. Influences out Warmaksan and New Blood.
Steve tries to lunge on TJ (again).
Turn 12. Ke breaks deal with Banu and rushes New Blood, justifying that New Blood is not Banu. New Blood goes to torpor.
I was holding Haqim’s Law Retribution for a turn or two. Now I play it, lunging on Steve who had tapped out. Banu with the oust.
There was 12-15 minutes left. There was further torporing but no game changes. I managed to stay in the game and win on count back against TJ.
We tied in preliminary rounds and in the final. Tough on TJ. Amazed and shocked.
I would like to thank Plenty of Games for hosting, all the finalists, organisers, judges and everyone who attended our first GP circuit.
Here is my deck: “W Kasim Combat 2.3 241025” by Richard Aumann
Crypt (12 cards)
1x Anarch Convert 1 -none- Caitiff:ANY
1x New Blood 2 san Blood Brother:ANY
1x Bijou 3 cel tha Assamite:6
1x Farah Sarroub 7 aus obf CEL THA Assamite:6
1x Nayarana 4 cel THA Assamite:6
3x Kasim Bayar 9 aus pot CEL OBF THA Assamite:6
1x Kassandra Tassaki 6 obf CEL THA Assamite:6
1x Khadija Al-Kindi 6 CEL OBF THA Assamite:6
1x Oluwafunmilayo 8 AUS CEL OBF THA Assamite:6
1x Warmaksan 5 cel obf THA Assamite:6
Library: 90 cards
Master (23 cards)
3x Archon Investigation
9x Ashur Tablets
3x Priority Contract
6x Villein
2x Haqim's Law: Retribution
Action (8 cards)
8x Hunter's Mark
Political Action (2 cards)
2x Anathema
Equipment (1 cards)
1x Bowl of Convergence
Action Modifier/Combat (4 cards)
4x Swallowed by the Night
Combat (45 cards)
2x Flash
6x Infernal Pursuit
4x Psyche!
4x Pursuit
5x Quickness
5x Rego Motum
2x Side Strike
14x Hunger of Marduk
3x Blur
Reaction (7 cards)
7x Second Tradition: Domain
Thanks for this report, and thanks to all the lovely organisers, sponsors and players!
