In what will surely be known as a battle for the ages, Mike “London Gentleman” Oldaker and Peter “By Odin’s Beard” Sundholm entered the arena. Mike is a member of the Hong Kong Cavaliers, the West Virginia–based team famous for such decks as Evil Medical School and New School. Peter Sundholm is no stranger to upper level success in Vs. System, having won $10K Seattle.
Peter started off the most epic of epic battles with a turn 1 G’Nort which so frightened Oldaker that he couldn’t muster a 1-drop of his own. He was able to recover from his brief stumble with Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern, who decided that he needed some Helping Hands. Peter countered with The Shark and a man so fast his name barely says it all, Roy Harper ◊ Speedy. Kyle Rayner bashed into G’Nort. Unable to muster enough strength to launch a counteroffensive, Peter passed.
Turn 3 brought a new wave of troops to the fray. Peter went first, recruiting an Olapet, which in turn brought an Arisia into battle. Olapet is no fool, though, and put on some Light Armor before joining the fray. Matt followed with one of his force’s commanders, Major Disaster. His Hard-Traveling Heroes decided to join forces, and brought along a G’Nort. After carefully studying Peter’s board, Matt asked, “Would you call a judge if I Flame Trapped next turn?”
“If you manage to find a Flame Trap in that deck after a deck check, I don’t think I could do anything about it,” Sundholm replied. A judge walking by apparently agreed and he just smiled, looked at the table and said, “I’d allow it.”
Peter had Speedy assassinate Matt’s G’Nort, peppering him with boxing-glove-laden arrows. He then sent his armored Olapet into Major Disaster, provoking many jokes from both sides. Peter’s Shark then ripped into Matt’s Kyle Rayner, who got help from some Shock Troops. This turn was fairly disastrous for Matt. Peter ended the turn with a full board, while Matt was left with only a Major Disaster. Peter also led on the endurance sheets with the score at 48–37.
On turn 4, Matt played a Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern to grab a Light Armor of his own, and recruited a brand, spanking new Hector Hammond. After his recruit, he paused for a second before he decided to inform Peter that he was “going to hold off on the Flame Trap.” As relieved as Peter was that the Flame Trap was postponed, he was a little disheartened by the fact that his only recruit was to replay his Roy Harper ◊ Speedy.
Then the smashing began. Kyle Rayner got the first attack and decided to continue his beef with G’Nort. G’Nort went through a Trial by Sword, though, emerging stronger than ever. Kyle was prepared, though, and Light Armored up to make sure that G’Nort got his due. Major Disaster then went after Arisia. Arisia got backed up by the Shock Troops, but No Man Escapes the Manhunters made sure that she still stunned. Hector Hammond then bashed into The Shark. Unfortunately for Matt, despite stunning all of the characters he attacked, all of his characters were stunned as well. This allowed Peter the opportunity to attack back with Speedy and Olapet. Before recovery, Matt decided to Chopping Block off Arisia. Matt then recovered his Hector Hammond, and Peter KO’d his G’Nort, opting to keep The Shark. Peter’s lead in the endurance race widened and he ended the turn up 40–25.
Turn 5 found our combatants gearing up for the late game. Peter recruited a Guy Gardner, Strong Arm of the Corps, while Matt settled on Katma Tui. Peter’s Olapet then started the smashing by taking it to Matt’s Hector Hammond. In the end, the super-futuristic mind was no match for the floating 8-ball. Before it stunned, though, it lent its will to Katma Tui, who added a bit more onto Matt’s endurance total. Guy then decided that he’d had enough of her shenanigans, and quickly silenced her. That cleared the way for The Shark and Speedy to head straight to Matt’s face. The turn ended with Peter still ahead 38–15.
Turn 6 saw the first Dr. Light, Master of Holograms of the match, and he entered play on Matt’s side. He quickly snatched up a Hector Hammond. He then rounded out his forces with G’Nort. Peter continued his utter domination of G’Nort by targeting him with Speedy. He was unfortunately only able to muster a Salaak for his recruit. Matt sent Hector Hammond into Peter’s Olapet. Peter’s other characters lent some Helping Hands. In the end though, No Man Escapes the Manhunters, and Olapet is no exception. This left the board clear for Katma Tui to head into The Shark. Guy Gardner got his revenge, though, as he got to soar over to Matt’s Dr. Light and put him in the hospital. Peter lost his Shark, and Matt lost his Hector Hammond. Things looked quite dire now for Matt, as he was knocking on death’s door with the endurance totals 30–2.
Peter got to lead off on turn 7, which probably signaled the end for Matt. Peter virtually “went off” during his recruit. He brought Hector Hammond, The Shark, Speedy, Arisia, and a Kyle Rayner for a Light Armor onto his side. Not a bad recruit step. Matt used Book of Oa to put a Black Hand into his KO’d pile so that he could use Dr. Light to put it into play. He then used Emerald Dawn, sacrificing his own Dr. Light to get Krona, the top of the curve. At the beginning of combat, Krona shipped Black Hand to the hidden area, ensuring at least some endurance gain for Matt this turn.
Then the fireworks came fast and hard. Peter’s Salaak, Kyle Rayner, and Guy Gardner ran headlong into Krona. Luckily for Krona, he had two sets of Helping Hands to prevent him from being stunned. Though slightly dismayed, Peter tried his best not to let his misattack faze him too much. He then sent The Shark and Hector Hammond at Katma Tui. Ms. Tui did her thing, with Black Hand’s help, and helped Matt inch back into this game. Matt’s Krona went for some payback and took out his frustrations on Speedy. After all was said and done, Matt kept all of his characters, while Peter was forced to KO his Speedy and Hector Hammond. Even better for Matt, once his Black Hand triggered, he ended the turn only a little behind in the endurance race at 11–8.
Turn 8, the endgame. This is where the line was drawn, not only because the players’ endurance totals were so low, but also because they’d taken a full year to play out their match. But it was worth it. Matt led off with a Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern for a Helping Hands (you know, just in case). He also recruited the F-Sharp Bell of the Obsidian Deeps, Rot Lop Fan. Mr. Fan is not one to choose sides, though, as he soon joined the fray for Peter as well. Matt’s Krona shipped Peter’s Olapet to the hidden area, removing the Light Armor. Kyle Rayner then bashed into The Shark and powered-up. This was immediately followed by Katma Tui attacking Arisia and powering-up. All Matt had to do was announce Krona into Guy Gardner, and Peter conceded.
Matt Oldaker wins.