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Kirby's Adventure
Johnny Kettler (Patriarch)

Creative Gift Baskets, Etc
Planto, TX
May 31, 2003
20 Participants

Hello people who also have no lives! Patriarch's here to once again prosper in the confines of Aphetto

You, the reader:...-_-"" shuddap

*sigh* fine. Well, this tournament was the store's so-called, "End of Month" tourny, where we got to compete for the following prizes:

1st: Rocket's Mewtwo winner promo
2nd-10th: Dark Venusaur winner promo
highest 10- ranker: Trophy
highest 11-14 and 15+ rankers: $25 gift certificate
Everyone: tasty hot dogs and chips! ^_^

Well, as usual, I do my thing before the tournament begins...talk with friends, trade with people, laugh at my own oddities, etc. o_O
I manage to get some new trades in. I get closer to completing a 1st edition base set foils set by obtaining a clefairy, a couple oracles, Skyridge Crobat, Aqua Scizor, and oWnAgE Politoed. Also, I loan my bounce energy to Paul, who, in return, gives me a collateral booster pack of Skyridge. If he does not return the bounce, I get the pack! Well, anyways, the tournament begins, and I fight the Legions of players with a tweaked version of my Super Battlezone deck. Kirby's Adventure, only for those who can stomach much! :D

Kirby's Adventure

Pokemon (20):

3 Abra (Base/Legendary Collection)
3 Kadabra (Legendary Collection, 1 Skyridge)
3 Alakazam (Expedition)
1 Onix (Base/Legendary Collection)
1 Onix (Southern Islands)
1 Onix (Aquapolis)
1 Steelix (Neo Genesis)
1 Steelix (Aquapolis)
1 Steelix (Skyridge)
4 Cleffa
1 Tyrogue

Trainers (25):

4 Double Gust
3 Professor Elm
3 Copycat
3 Pokemon Trader
3 Oracle
3 Bill
2 Focus Band
2 Gold Berry
1 Pokemon Fan Club
1 Town Volunteers

Energy (15):

3 Rainbow
4 Metal
8 Psychic

Clay (The winner of the Plano Super Battlezone) suggested that I try playing a 3-3-3 line of Ala, and I'm open to new ideas, so what the hey?
Also, weak cards from SBZ (Cyclone energy specifically) were nixed for much better, newly-found cards like a 4th Metal, and Pokemon Fan Club. But the most surprising twist was Oracle. To go with my "try anything once" approach to the Pokemon Trading Card Game, I decided to play Oracle at this event.

Round 1: Vs. Hunter (Marowak/Steelix)

A weird idea, but overall swell. During this very game, I show off Oracle's main strategy: with only a single Onix in play, I declare an oracle, put 2 metal energy on top, and bill. next turn, I already have him quite powered-up, and evolve to Aquapolis Steelix for major eating...yummy ^_^.
But, he eventually manages to kill it off, and I find myself in an odd, but easy-to-solve situation. I then go into motion with my solid Skyridge Steelix, swinging away for 40 time and tiem again. His pokes not taking it well, the game ends in my favor (1-0).

Round 2: vs. Robert (Jumpluff)

Ah yes, the man who time and time again struck me down through luck... burning hoppip in the Aquapolis Super Battlezone T8...FTKO'ing me in round 1 of Skyridge Super Battlezone...time for payback ^_-

*Ahem* anyways, throughout most of the game, he is virtually powerless against me, to be blunt. I never even need to get out Alakazam, as Steelix's Resitance to grass, along with 3 metal energy, prevent any and all damage dealt to me, save the Neo Discovery Scyther. He does manage to draw prizes against vulnerable Onixes and Babies, and nearly knocks out Steelix too with the Grass Cube, but by leaving him in the fields of battle, GB'ing him twice, I am eventually rewarded, as he screws up and double gusts. But the game was very long: fluff, focus band, baby power, and others prevented me from gaining an easy victory. But luckily, I draw my last prize, with only 30 seconds left on the timer! O_O (2-0)

Round 3: Vs. Christy (Donphan)

A semi-decent game, but she doesn't get a solid draw card for at least 3 turns. Through the use of Syncroblast, I strike down a Hitmonlee. But, Pichu is forever rearing his ugly head in many games, so I quickly go ito the defensive position. Pichu, Elekid, and Tyrogue are all useless.
Later on, she uses Elm's Training method to get back a...Hitmonlee? We have a long debate over whether or not she gets it, but in the end, the judges rule that it is not an evolution, so she grabs a Muk instead. However, the funny thing is...her topdeck 3 turns later is...Hitmonlee! (!_!)
But, my team of pokes prevail, until Ala is beaten down. Luckily, I was building an Aquapolis Steelix on my bench, so he managed to take a firm grasp upon our little game. Iron Smash is my dawn to victory (3-0).

Round 4: Vs. Tracy (Ninetails/Steelix)

We simply decide to call it a draw, so each of us is guaranteed to be in the Top Four. Should we have played at all, we would have cause even more complications to the judges, but then again...I'll explain that (3-0-1)

Complications: This is indeed quite the ordeal...about three or four people are tied for a 3-1 record, yet there are only two spots open! So the Professor (Sam) and MP (Richard) have to compare the OP win percentages. It is eventually decided that Christy has the highest OP win% among the 3-1's. With that decided, we must wait on the results of a Paul vs. Dalton game. Paul emerges the victor, so certain people's OP win% go up, and others, down. After eating my fourth hot dog o_O, they eat, errrr...decide, that Robert Brown has the highest, and the Top Four are ultimately decided.

Semi-Finals: Vs. Robert B. (Entei/Cargo)

VERY quick in comparison to the Tracy/Christy game. I FTKO him with Tyrogue, and go on to the finals (4-0-1).

Intermission: I watch the long game of the 15+ and 10- champions for the day. Eventually, Steelix pulls through 2 Donphans, and the finals begin.

Finals: Vs. Tracy (Ninetails/Steelix)

A good game indeed. We each make decisive early game moves: I power up Alakazam for apparent knock-outs of Ninetails and Steelix, and she builds them up as well, not entirely expecting the Syncroblast...or so I thought. I play my Oracle, getting two Double Gusts, and supposed control over the game. Then, she plays Oracle's worst opponent: Desert Shaman! So my setup fails me. She begins to control the game as well, slaughtering several of my pokes. I do manage to take a risky move with Aquapolis Steelix that...fails =/ In a funny, yet odd turn of events, she killed it off with a simple Vulpix! I find myself cornered, and the game ends (4-1-1)

Deck comments: Well, while I have gotten closer to making this deck a great new idea, it is, by no means, perfect. 15 Energy is a foolish idea in this kind of deck, so I plan to play 17-18 in my next incarnation. Oracle shows its greatest pros and cons: With Bill, you have just made a better Computer Search, and without it, your opponent has a whole turn to counter anything you plan. Skyridge Steelix sat in my hand most games, so it is ultimately a useless card in all but the most
splash-iest decks around ^_~

Aftermath: So, while I didn't win, I did get a $25 gift certificate: A grand deal! With it, I get 6 Skyridge packs, and pull decent stuff. I do more trades at the end of the event, and enjoy 6 minutes in the Plano Square Mall's Massage chair :D
When I get back home, I watch some Monty Python's, "And Now For Something Completely Different" with my sis and mom. When sorting through my cards, I notice a peculiar little thing...a Skyridge Pack! Seems Paul forgot to hand back that Bounce Energy, so it is all mine ^_^
And what a deal! I end up pulling a holographic Politoed! Does this mean something for my possible Nindofied format Politoed? Only time will well...^^

And now, a message from Kirby:
<(''<): I 0\/\//\/z j00 b0i!
Patriarch: Now Kirby...you know how I feel about leet!
(-_-): ...
Patriarch: I thought so =P

If you are interested in AIM'ing or E-mailing me, I am at:

thegreatcell IM
thegreatcell@aol.com

Right back at ya,
~Johnny/Patriarch

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