casktapper, Author at The Tactical Squad

Road to Worlds #2 – Packing

November 1, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

I’m sitting here at my computer on the Sunday night before worlds going over my checklist as I try to make sure everything is packed for the trip. After a disappointing finish in last Sunday’s tournament, I am bringing Kith with me. No more uncertainty on that score. Of course, now I’m debating last minute substitutions for that deck.

I’ve finalized my Netrunner decks and I’m just deciding on the last few tweaks to Armada fleet. I still need to put together a deck for the Sunday wrap-up event for Conquest, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that Decree of Ruin might see an early release and I can play Starblaze. So that means the Conquest binder has to go in the luggage as well.

I’ve got a couple prizes tucked away for any podcast listeners that track me down at the event. I have my alt art cards ready for potential trades or to get signed. I’m making sure all the relevant electronics have their batteries topped up and ensuring that I have all the necessary cables in my bags. I have my passport put aside as well as some US cash from my last trip to the states.

I hope I’m ready.

Travis is flying out to the FFG World Championships in Minnesota next week to play in the Star Wars: Armada, Warhammer 40,000: Conquest and Android: Netunner events. Conquest is his primary focus and he is going to share some of his thoughts leading up to and during the event here on The Tactical Squad blog.

Road to Worlds #1 – Indecision

October 24, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

I still can’t decide which deck I want to bring to Worlds. I’ve brought Kith to most high profile events I’ve played – including a top 8 finish at Canadian Nationals – so I know that she performs well for me. I’ve won a tournament with my Coteaz deck, but it’s always a bumpier trip through any event. There is a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me to move on from Kith. Not because it will increase my chances for a high finish. It just feels like it’s time. That seems like a ridiculous reason in the face of a world championship event, but I can’t shake it. I tell myself that I’ll have a better shot at winning for top faction finish with Coteaz, even if I take a hit on my already slim odds at cracking the top 16. That feels like a weak rationalization.

So, on the eve of the last tournament before the big event, I make a last minute adjustment to my Astra Militarum deck, telling myself that my result tomorrow will determine who goes in my luggage for the trip to Minnesota. I’m hoping that at least it will be like flipping a coin and, finding myself unhappy with the outcome, I realize what I truly wanted to do all along. But I’m worried that it’s more likely that I just keep muttering to myself for the next week like I have for the past month, paralyzed by indecision and annoying everyone around me.

Who knows, maybe I’ll luck into some big wins on Day 1 of Armada and all this agonizing will be for nothing.

Canadian Nationals 2015 – Round 2

October 22, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

The Tactical Squad is happy to release our second round coverage from thethe 2015 Canadian Nationals for Warhammer 40,000: Conquest that took place on September 4, 2015 at Fan Expo in Toronto. This time Jon joins Travis to provide commentary on the match between John playing Eldorath Starbane and Jon himself playing Aun’shi. We are still working on additional episodes, so please let us know if there are any ways we can make them better.

Canadian Nationals 2015 #1 – Round 1

October 19, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

After some production delays, The Tactical Squad is pleased to finally present video coverage of the 2015 Canadian Nationals for Warhammer 40,000: Conquest that took place on September 4, 2015 at Fan Expo in Toronto. Liz and Travis provide the commentary of the first round match-up between Michel playing Eldorath Starbane and Norm playing Zarathur, High Sorcerer. Over the coming weeks we will be releasing further videos from all rounds and the top 8. Please let us know what you think. We are still learning, on both the production and the commentary side, so any suggestions on how we can do it better are welcome.

2015 Canadian National Championship 9/4/2015

September 21, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

Two weeks ago the 2015 Canadian National Championship for Warhammer 40:000: Conquest took place in Toronto at Fan Expo Canada. We had 21 players sign-up for a full day of Conquest. Two players had byes from regionals events so they went straight through to round 2. There were plenty of temptations on the convention floor, but our entrants were there to conquer the Traxis Sector.

Interview with Brad Andres

August 16, 2015August 26, 2015 casktapper Leave a comment

The Tactical Squad, much like our Space Marine brethren, are not fond of losing, but sometimes we’re definitely pulling some Lamenter’s luck with the technical mishaps we deal with as a podcast. We were hoping to bring you an hour-long interview with conquest designer Brad Andres that was recorded over a month ago, but the machine spirit was weak and the interview was mangled like some horrible Tzeentchian fiend, twisted beyond all recognition into a hideous chimera of Brad, Liz, Jon and Alex’s voices.

Emperor willing, we will prevail by releasing the contents of the interview as a full length-article on our website. Apologies to Brad, as he shared some great stories about his experiences in designing and developer the game as well as his history with Warhammer 40,000 universe. Let’s get right into it. Read More

Toronto Meta: 401 Games Tournament 7/19/2015

July 25, 2015November 10, 2015 casktapper 2 Comments

This is the first article in what we hope will be a series about the local Warhammer 40,000: Conquest meta in Toronto, Canada.

This past weekend saw the first tournament of the Summer Kit season at 401 Games, a gaming store in downtown Toronto with a huge upstairs play space. We had a strong turn-out of 17 players, which was great. But it was also the hottest day of the year and the place was packed with players for a half dozen other events. The humidity was brutal and things got a bit “fragrant” by the end of the fifth round of swiss, but we persevered.
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