Built on Hope

Zion's Finest Episode 053 (FIXED!) Still No Dew On the Fleece

(Sorry about the hiccup earlier, everyone, apparently Podbean has a mind of its own.)

STRATEGY AND ANALYSIS!

In this episode, Matt Richards and I discuss the Rebel Care Package (Gideon and C-3PO), the effect that the RCP has on the meta, and if we think FFG is ever going to do something about Gideon bringing the sweet sweet focus to Scum. Alas, it looks like we remain unready for redemption--at least for the foreseeable future.

We also discuss the strategy of focus, how you should think about where your focus goes, and ways to work around the focus.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STORES TO SEE ABOUT THEIR STORE CHAMPS:

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/op/store-championships/imperial-assault/

Join us on the Slack Channel so you can get involved in our "No Top-16" Vassal Tournament! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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Zion's Finest Episode 051 - The Once and Future King

WORLDS REPORT!

Isaac Borno, from the United Kingdom, was kind enough to offer a battle report from his recent Worlds showing. Isaac has placed well at large tournaments in Europe (winning a regional and placing top 8 at Nationals and another regional) and is part of the Han Ranger wave that seemed to take the UK (and US) by storm. I fully anticipate him to dominate Euros in a few weeks and to take Worlds by storm next year.

Isaac was running Han Rangers with THREE rSmugglers. I know. It's a bit insane. Listen to him tell the tale of his first Worlds showing!

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY! I am going to start regularizing, regimenting, and adjusting how we do the podcast in order to reflect and satisfy the capricious whims of those who deign to inform me of their opinions. Please join their ranks:

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Zion's Finest Episode 050 - FIFTY!

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers! 

I absolutely cannot believe it. We made it to fifty episodes. FIFTY. EPISODES. That is just insane. 

In this episode, JK and I talk about what we love about IA, what our strengths and weaknesses are and where we'd like to improve, and where we think IA is going to be in two years. We run the gambit, but I think that everyone will enjoy our running.

Thank you all so much for your support. It means the world to me and there is no way the podcast would have made it this far without the amazing community response. I FREAKING LOVE YOU ALL.

HERE'S TO FIFTY (MILLION) MORE!

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Zion's Finest Episode 049 - Our Leader Is Here. And He Is Mad.

WORLDS REPORT!

In this episode, Joey Galeziewski drops us a line from PHX, the hottest state capitol in the ENTIRE United States. Unsurprisingly, the heat has made him a little mad ... MAD WITH LOVE FOR IMPERIAL ASSAULT! Because Joey is a dedicated Empire player, he took the Worlds most feared leaders to Worlds, and acquitted himself admirably.

Joey took Vader, Palp, x2 eRiots, and an Officer to Worlds. He went 5-2, barely missing the cut. He goes into some serious depth on how to maximize the strength of a list without ANY meaningful ranged shots (except against Greedo that is).

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Zion's Finest Episode 048 - Learning Wisdom From His Foes

WORLDS REPORT!

Ben Varnum, who previously appeared on Zion's Finest in order to provide an AMAZING comparison of IA to Chess, is back to provide a Worlds report! Ben, who was running Han Rangers with some spy flavor, made top 32 in his first Worlds showing and THIRD organized play tournament.

Ben talks about his Worlds experience and how he approached solving the particular problems that were posed by running into an endless series of non-Vader lists. He then talks about what he wants to work on while we wait for Tyrants of Lothal. Ben talks a lot about how he approaches matches in terms of trying to force sub-optimal decisions on his opponents; it is awesome to consider and really helped sharpen my thoughts on trying to get opponents to squander resources in order to obtain material advtange.

For reasons passing my comprehension, there is a little bit of feedback on Ben's audio at points, but I was able to work it down so that you can continue to bask in the glory of his intelligence without too much distraction.

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Zion's Finest Episode 047 - An American In Paris

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

WORLDS REPORT!

The whimsical piece you hear as the episode begins comes from Gershwin, who wrote An American In Paris as an expression of thanks to his Parisian hosts in the 1920s. Paris in the time between the world wars was awash with expatriates, including Earnest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and William Yeats. Gershwin was also there for a short time, and An American In Paris does an incredible job of capturing the visceral nature of a foreigner's stay in Paris. 

Well, I got someone even better than those chumps to come on the podcast! That's right! Greg Monson is better than them all!

In this episode, Greg gives a report of his incredible showing at Worlds. Greg is officially the best Han Ranger player in the world, and his talent was very much on display at the IA World Championship. Listen in as he describes his harrowing 6-1 journey through swiss and progression through the cut wherein he played an epic final against Daniel Taylor.

Join us on the Slack Channel so we can talk more about Paris! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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Zion's Finest Episode 046 - He Made His Own Luck!!!

WORLDS REPORT!

In this episode, Jonathan Gervais describes what has to be a world record: the newest player to make top 32 (no. 17!!!!) in the history of the WORLDS!

Jonathan started playing IA last December and, spoiler alert, he's freaking amazing. He was running Brett Kelly's Han Rangers, and he describes his matchups vs. some of the biggest and brightest names in the IA community.

Join us on the Slack Channel so you can find Vassal games and get good like Jonathan! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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Zion's Finest Episode 045 - Derrida Would (Not) Be Proud (Because Pride Is A Social Construct Meant To Reinforce Pre-Existing Power Relations)

WORLDS REPORT!

Guys, not anybody can pilot Ahsoka to the Top 16 at Worlds. Fortunately, Ryan Stripling (Ryan Jamal) is nobody, so he was able to do it with ease! 

Ryan Jamal had the second most creative list in the Top 16 (you know who was first), but he was subjected to the reign of Brett (who lies) and was cut short of his epic world championship! He was a great sport about it, however, and you will be impressed with his recounting of his incredible performance.

Ryan's list was anchored in Han, Ahsoka, and Drokkatta, each of whom got some serious work done. Ryan was 5-2 in Swiss and was able to pull of some pretty impressive victories in a very competitive field. Listen to him recount his epic conquests, you will not be disappointed!

Join us on the Slack Channel so you may join Ryan and I in defending the Rebel Alliance from the aspersions of the scummy mercenaries and totalitarian imperials! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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Zion's Finest Episode 044 - Brett Done (Almost) Did It

WORLDS REPORT!

Gosh dang if Brett ain't one of the players I love most in this world. His poise, his confidence, it's almost enough to get me to believe that he could take Han Rangers to Worlds and win it all. Of course, then he decides to break my heart and run some dumb amazing IG Pirates list.

Oh well, there's always next year. But regardless! Brett acquitted himself admirably at World's, going 6-1 in Swiss (only loss was to DT) and making it all the way to the semi-finals.

We have a lot of fun going through his matches then discussing what force users need to come into the swing of things.

Join us on the Slack Channel so you can see how much we all love Brett! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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Read Brett's awesome blog: http://rollfordamage.net/

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Zion's Finest Episode 043 - Let's Just Call It The Daniel Taylor Championship

First off, go listen to part two of our Worlds commentary with Fully Armed and Operational:

https://fao.podbean.com/e/episode-09-and-so-it-continues/

It is predictably stupendous, because the Fully Armed and Operational guys are LITERALLY the best.

Then, listen to this WORLDS REPORT!

Let's start this Worlds reporting off with a bang. That's right. I got the one and only Mr. Daniel Taylor to recount his cruise to the top of the heap for a THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. I know. It's insane. Yet here we are.

In this episode, Daniel (who was running IG, eQuay, Greedo, eJawa, R2, RCPlus, Temp, and Devious) reports on his swiss and cut games. Turns out, Daniel is freaking amazing. I ask him some playstyle questions as we proceed so that I can get a better idea of when to play On the Lam, when to apply pressure vs. conceding space, etc. It's pretty dang awesome.

Join us on the Slack Channel so we can all talk about how much we love each other! Send an email to zionsfinestia@gmail.com!

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