K2 CHALLENGE Overpower Tournament - March 14 and 15 - State College, PA

[Onslaught]

Yea I figured Vegas is more centralized, way cheaper than flying to LA or Disneyland area in my neck of the woods, better bang for the buck on hotels, and easier to justify as a vacation that happens to include Overpower instead of going somewhere just to play. Even if you're not into gambling, there's always something to do there...

[BlueFire]

We held the event the weekend we did because it was spring break.  Other weekends were way more $.  The hotel we had the event rents rooms for over 400 a night on football weekends.

Many props go out to my cousin DiceK for pinning down the awesome venue!

That all being said, the price was as follows:

If we booked 10 or more rooms under the group rate the price for the playing space would be $100 each of the two days.
If we failed in booking the 10 rooms, the price for the playing area would be $250 each of the two days.
Both were plus tax of course.
The overpower hotel room rate for the weekend was 75 + 7 for parking + tax each night. 
A great rate honestly.

We did manage to book the required rooms, being as it only took 5 rooms at two nights a piece. That being said, we were sweating this the entire time.  You never know who will bail.
I believe we ended up booking  7 rooms for 2 nights and 1 room for one night.  The 20 dollar entry fee covered the playing room and the pizza the last night with about 35 bucks to spare.
Other than that, everything else was on us.  We did sell a few hundred dollars worth of packs and cards, which helped a little, but in the end we knew we would each be dropping a few hundred.  I think it was money well spend.  Maybe the entry fee will be a little more next year, or the prizes a little less, or both.  It is really all about the people, and in the end I believe the people all had a great time. 

Doubling attendance would certainly help 

Images can be seen here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/407206729410210/

[Nate Grey]

Congrats to Dan and I'm happy to read that it was a great experience for all. 

Here's hoping for a Vegas tournament. 

[mr brown]

i was at the k2 and played, had a great time. i urge everyone to come on out and play at upcoming events. i will be at Peace bridge and the next Toronto. you pick up a lot of cool ideas and ways to use cards in play. i traded a bunch and learned a few things. i recommend both beginner and veteran player come out to play.

[drdeath25]

Hell yea, lets plan a Vegas meetup. Its about time the west coast got to represent against some of the east/north players.

[OP GOD]

So my humble OP Minions ....

As Per my Prediction!   

* A CANADIAN won the K2 CHALLENGE ... (In Case {anyone} was keeping track) .. You could say that Canadians took 1.2.3 (but I don't want to start a RIOT here) *

Day 1

PRE-DRIVE -

4 PROS in a car talking OP, for 5 hours.  Burger Kings, Big Dreams.  Border Crossing Flawless.  Car Rides like these are what make Overpower Trips Memories, to many great moments to capture in words.  New York Fix your Roads, welcome to sweet Pennsylvania. 

ARRIVAL -

Check-in was a breeze.  Immediately greeted by Phil Miller with a Huge Smile.  Awesome to reconnect after decades, was a warm way to be welcomed before I even entered the Tournament room.  The 4 of us dropped our stuff in the room and wanted to talk and play some OP, to the tournament room we went. 

FRIDAY PRE-TOURNAMENT BOOSTER DRAFT -

When I walked into the K2 Summit Room, Goosebumps crept upon me.  This room had the smell and Instant Feel of an Epic Tournament Room.  Right away my eye shot straight to the eyes of my friend and forever OP nemesis, Phil Keffer.  The Spread of OP Cards and the Presentation was remnant of Original REGIONAL/NATIONAL level events of LORE... The first Tournament was booster draft.  Incredibly fun would love to try this format again... What would I do differently... (SO much lol)...  Located Shadowhawk Back Snap 1 of 2 cards I needed to complete my personal set of Image Overpower.  Chatted the night away Creating new memories and talking about old ones... Great late night walk with the Tech Wizard Jack... Indian Pizza, the Fuel to your late day THUNDER!  (Jack finished the tournament on a 5-0 RUN) ...

SATURDAY THE MAIN EVENT -

My deck of THOR / THE INHUMANS / X-BABIES / OLD DR STRANGE (R)  - was well crafted and ready to destroy all placed in front of it.  You could feel the happiness and excitement in the room, the Opening Ceremonies were well spoken and had some amazing surprises.  John and Phil's generosity and happiness, oozed onto even the hardest of all competitors and smiles swept across the faces of EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the room.  The Tournament was about to begin an EPIC 8 Round journey, every game counting as much as your last.  On a Personal note - I Prefer the standard 4/5 rounds of swiss then playoffs format.  It creates a unique one game to win it all attitude.  However, when in ROME.  So the Tournament pairings are set, here we go.  A Final twist... My Frienemis Phil K, presents a knock out PRIZE of a Pack of Classic.  Simple Rules - KNOCK OUT THE PERSON WHO HAS IT.  He throws it at me, Putting an even larger (if thats possible) bullseye on me.  What he doesn't know, I don't plan on giving it up.

MATCH 1 (Fletcher Challenge 1)

My First Play of the Tournament is Viking Pyre.  Several hard fought rounds later Victory is mine.

MATCH 2 (Computer Generated BYE)

Even the computer knew that I was heating up and would have won this round.  I was Guest Referee.

MATCH 3 (Freinemis Phil Keffer)

Three Hands.  Epic Draws = Epic Win.  Watch the tape for Details.

MATCH 4 (Fletcher Challenge 2)

MARROW sweet old friend.  I did not play an attack under 4 four 5 rounds.  Close Game, could have went either way a few times.  However every GREAT deck finds a way to win.  Power Pack.

MATCH 5 (DaVid McVillian)

Battle of the Undefeated.  In the Great words of the HIGHLANDER " There can be only ONE! "  There was, I entered the dinner break undefeated.

Dinner Break - Blackened Chicken Caesar (Can't wait to get another one of these next year)

MATCH 6 (Sean NO SPECIALS)

2 rounds of retreating in FEAR.   An unusual Bluff, that changed the tide of the game.  Then THOR said Enough.

After 6 Rounds I am nearing the TOP of the K2 Summit and on the other side of the Mountain I look over and who do I see sprinting up the back side?

MATCH 7 (DAN)

Discards, the deck was running cold, hard and fast.  Resiliency, a true heroic battle.  Not even THOR's Hammer could change the Game.  Proved to be a truly tragic loss, as it was later determined to be for the Championship on Tie-breakers.

MATCH 8 (The Orange King)

The King Pushed with all his might and had the Deck on the run, however, the royal family and DOW had a little something else planned.  The King was humbled to a GOD.  Great finish.

AFTER MATH

Finished 2nd in the K2 Challenge, 2nd in the Peace Bridge.  This trend has to stop!

AWESOME PRIZE SUPPORT.

Bartered my way into substituting the DOW I was supposed to win for a Multi 5 (the other card I needed for my image set - SET COMPLETE)

Another amazing night of Indian Pizza and Memories.  To say that I await another chance at the trophy next year would be a crazy understatement.  I HAVE ALREADY BOOKED IT OFF LIFE.  I will be focused and I will be on the Summit again.  This time I will be the First and ONLY ONE ON TOP!

Tournament of the Highest Caliber, run by men of the Highest Caliber.  A Yearly event not to be missed.

POST DRIVE -

Great reflection on the tournament, stop at the local store for american goodies.  Border crossing quote of the century.  Border Guard in response to sean explaining that we just played in a collectible card game tournament for Marvel characters.  Border Guard "You mean like some sort of JAKKED up Pokemon". 


I will be at the Peace Bridge tournament for all who dare challenge me.  REMEMBER.

To play me is an HONOUR. 

OP GOD

Marcel

(Thanks Jess for all the Pictures, truly captured the essence of the tournament and people)

[Tussin]

if there is an event out west like vegas i would like to know far far in advance so i could attend

i doubt i would make anything out east unless it coincided with my already being in that area

what do you recommend for people that haven't really played much competitive overpower that want to get to learn all the rules and play down to a T so they won't be holding up a real tournament by being a noob.

[rucker73]

I would recomend playing competitive overpower and looking up the rule when there is something in question or asking about a ruling on these boards.

There are many quality players who come here that are usually willing to play OP Online.

Or you could even  check the where are you from board to see if there are any players living in your region.  Where are you from?

[BigBadHarve]

if there is an event out west like vegas i would like to know far far in advance so i could attend

i doubt i would make anything out east unless it coincided with my already being in that area

what do you recommend for people that haven't really played much competitive overpower that want to get to learn all the rules and play down to a T so they won't be holding up a real tournament by being a noob.

Our next 'Eastern Conference' tournaments will be the Peace Bridge on May 16th/17th, and Toronto October 17th/18th.  Though we also do casual events peppered throughout. If your travels bring you do Toronto, let us know and we can attempt to schedule a meetup to coincide with your travels.

As for being tournament ready - the only thing that will get you there is playing as much as humanly possible. Find people online for OPO if you can't find them in person.

[Hot Rod]

Though I wasn't in stout enough condition to make a summit bid, I am still pleased to see Dan running a weaker version of his deck.




Most pleased.

[Jack]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNIVjFfN488
Ed vs Phil Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO-P9YE8GSc
Dave McMillan vs Jack Truong

[Jack]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwiKrydGLTc
Carl Caroffino vs Jaime Scholtens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z2FQHTgw3E
David McMillan vs Larry Van Etten

[breadmaster]

was that a proxy I spotted in larry's deck?  tsk tsk

[DiceK]

was that a proxy I spotted in larry's deck?  tsk tsk

Of what card?

[Onslaught]

Appreciate the video uploads as always!