Olivier is another German in a long line of German players today that have been showing that they can help Europe take America’s crown when it comes to Vs. System supremacy. Unfortunately for him, he’s facing Alex Shvartsman who’s been a one-person rain on the Germans’ parade by beating three Germans in a row the last three rounds. He’s also one of the ten or so people who actually designed this game. When one day Upper Deck decided they wanted a new game, they looked to Your Move Games to test the engine and the mechanics and, well, they hated it. The YMG crew proceeded to test the heck out of it in ten straight days and the end product is the game you’re enjoying today. Alex also runs his own store, Kings Games, where he regularly runs PCQ’s and gets even more exposure to the Vs. System. Suffice to say, the man knows how to play. Both of these guys are 5-2 and jockeying for a good position to start Day 2 with.
Alex won the die roll and, like almost everyone else today, chose the even initiative.
The first play of the match was a Wild Ride by Alex, getting Iron Fist, Danny Rand as opposed to the more commonly fetched 2-drop Blade, Eric Brooks. Olivier answered with another uncommon play in Shang-Chi. An Elektra, Elektra Natchios for Alex continued the hidden theme while Olivier played the more conventional Stick. Stick and Shang-Chi ran through the open battlefield and hit Alex unhindered with a little help from Crime and Punishment. Elektra tried to show Shang-Chi the error of his ways by Crushing Blowing him, but No Fear let Shang-Chi stun her as well, resulting in even more carnage. To finish this extremely bloody turn, Iron Fist charged into Stick with his own No Fear support, leaving Alex at 30 endurance to Olivier’s 35.
On turn 4, both players had Moon Knight although Alex’s was a little more impressive due to his initiative. Olivier put Stick in front of his to offer a little protection, but Elektra put an end to that, stunning Stick and leaving the two Moon Knights to duke it out. Neither of them really won but Alex gained some bonus endurance loss and got to Quick Kill Olivier’s Moon Knight without any opposition. All Olivier could do after that was pass with an empty board.
The fifth turn was quickly shaping up to be the final turn of the match as the endurance totals were low and both players were playing a lot of plot twists to force damage through. Olivier played Wild Ride and settled on Daredevil as his choice for the last battle. Alex had a Wild Ride of his own but fetched Elektra, Agent of the Hand instead. A Midnight Sons helped him in playing the high-powered lady and both players braced for their combat phases.
It was Olivier’s turn to start the battle and he chose Daredevil as his first combatant. He went up against Moon Knight, used a Head Shot, then played Bring the Pain and a power-up to top things off, causing a massive 18 points of endurance loss and putting Alex at 0 endurance. Stick further lowered Alex’s endurance total by marching past the hidden Elektra to reduce Alex to –10 endurance with a Crime and Punishment and a power-up of his own. Alex, despite being at -10 to 12, was unfazed and sent Elektra to assassinate Stick. He slammed down two copies of Crime and Punishment and a Crushing Blow for an even more impressive 24 endurance loss, beating Olivier by just 2 endurance. There’s really no stopping the German slayer.
Alex 1 – Olivier 0