I originally thought it was just a small LAN affair (didn't know it was together with this big event), but was taken by surprise when I arrived at the venue:
It was a big, big event, with spectator seats for the main event (DOTA 2), with a large 60 PC (my estimate) LAN set up for games, with other arcade games like Street Fighter, some cube game where you must tap the buttons to the music, and many more on display around the area.
The main event was the Asian Cybergames for DOTA2, and had the different international teams play live on stage! Was pretty cool... if only it was something like LoL or Starcraft which I understood. Was pretty awesome hearing the crowd reactions and commentators' hype when big things happened.
ANYWAY. Back to the main point of this post.
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| My event pass! Allowed me access to the gaming area heh. |
I've never spent a single cent on Hearthstone, and so my decks weren't the best I wanted them to be, but I made do with what I had and submitted three decks for the competition.
-Blue portion I'm explaining my card choices, so if you can skip it if you don't want to read it-
I only used one Defias as while it's a gimmicky opening play, it loses its value as the game drags on. I included Fan of Knives and Abomination to deal with any warlock rush deck (on hindsight, a mistake) or pally heavy minions deck. Assassinate was for big minion removal (BGH may be better, but I don't have it).
Paladin - A mid game control deck - I would have removed Ysera for Ragnaros (if I had it), and Worgen Inf for Sylvannas (if I had it). On hindsight, 2 Sword of Justice may have been better.
Otherwise, it aims to control the board with Equality Consecrate, Hammer of Wrath, and the Divine Shields. Also has a tricky Blood Knight added in to capitalize on a pally mirror match (I did have an 11/11 one game)
Warlock - An aggro rush deck. I use this for ladder too, as I like short games when playing ranked. Double power Overwhelming has won me many games. Shadowflame was included as an insurance against any other minion heavy strategy. This deck basically loses if I"m not in a winning position by Turn 8.
-end of explanation-
I had to choose two decks for the group stage (4 groups, 5 in each group, Top 2 of each group go to Winner's Bracket, bottom 2 go to lower bracket, last guy eliminated), so I decided on the pally and Warlock deck, as they were pretty contrasting playstyles - one was a control, mid game deck, while the other was a rush aggro deck - good balance.
Group Stage
Group stage matches were Best of 3, round robin style. I approached the event with an open mind - I knew my deck was probably one of the most budget decks (only two Legendaries, and one is not even a good one (Ysera)). I was there just to have fun, and see how far I could go.
I received news that my very first game would be streamed live - with a live camera on my face and stuff. Wow. Ok. Can. I kinda like the camera anyway and just pretended I was streaming myself. (I'll post a link of the VOD (video) when it gets uploaded)
Nerves and all faded away as I won my first game, and then my first series (2-0). And after a few hours, I was pleasantly surprised with my luck as I topped my group with 4 match wins, undefeated albeit for one game. I would move on to the winner's bracket!
Brackets here: http://challonge.com/hatsg2013_groupa
Several of my games were definitely won due to luck. Just got some good topdecks, and I won. Got some nice compliments about my 'deck being strong'... which was quite flattering considering they were all budget decks.
Playoffs Stage
My match was casted again - and in this first series I had tremendous luck. I think describing it won't do it justice, I will wait for the stream to be uploaded and you can watch the amazing state of events for my 2nd and 3rd win and my reactions. I won 3-1.
I lost to Kero (the same guy I lost to at the Bugis+ event!) and his strong shaman spellcaster + warrior OTK decks (managed to beat his shaman deck tho), and dropped to the lower bracket.
After which, I had a comfortable 3-0 win against DJLOLX (I watched his game right before, and knew of his tricks. He had this tricky combo where he plays a Starving Buzzard and a Snake trap in combo. If you hit it, he basically draws 3 cards. I Backstabbed it LOL. no snakes)
And.... came the semifinals. I had to win to guarantee myself a cash prize, and if I lost I wouldn't win any cash. My opponent was the same guy I knocked out 3-1 at the start of the playoffs... and unfortunately luck wasn't on my side this time as I lost 0-3.
Brackets are here: http://challonge.com/hatsg2013
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Was a fun event overall! There was a lot going on other than Hearthstone, though I was lazy to take part in the festivities. When you enter the place, you get this Quest card which basically requires you to go around the whole D'Marquee area trying out the different games, and report to the 'quest-masters' to get chops.
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| Questmasters in maid costumes. I thought it was really cute how they had an exclamation mark above their heads, like those NPCS in RPGs :D |
Wish I had won some prize money! But oh well, it was a great run considering I didn't buy any packets. Can't wait to watch the recorded videos! Should be good.
My first meal in Japan. We arrived pretty late at our hotel, and we were really hungry so we just went downstairs to a nearby 7-11 and bought something. This wasn't cheap - 500 yen is like 6$. It was really salty, didn't really enjoy it.[/caption]
I don't know what possessed me to buy cup (or bowl) noodles for breakfast, but I did. It was way too much to finish, and way too salty. bleah.[/caption]
My sushi set and first proper meal in Japan. It was at the Onsen place in Odaiba. Was decent, though priced at around 1000 yen with no side dishes or anything.[/caption]
A ramen place near our hotel. I didn't really enjoy this because the restaurant was filled with smokers. Yes, smoking is allowed in restaurants in Japan. This was about 800 yen I think. Shrimp dumplings with charsiew and ramen[/caption]
Our meal at Disneyland for 600 yen. Was the most filling and cheapest thing available. Quite pathetic. Taste was ok. I enjoyed the meals at Anaheim's Disneyland better.[/caption]
Pretty good Tonkatsu Curry rice from Coco Curry House. 900 yen[/caption]
Another sad meal at Disneyland. Well, this was Disneysea. Naan with chicken curry lol. The naan was abit too thick, the curry was good though. 700 yen I think. Can't really remember.[/caption]
Next series of photos were from this random sushi place we chanced upon - we were walking around in Shibuya and just decided to enter this shop as Sushi was 105yen apiece. Turned out to be a pretty cool place, with automated ordering (You enter your order in the computer screen in front of you, then after a few minutes it zips out on a conveyor belt and stops in front of you)[/caption]
Tempura with sesame seed. Really good.[/caption]
Prawn with mayo[/caption]
Spicy Salmon[/caption]
One of the best chawanmushi I've had (200 yen). It had shredded prawn, shrimps, oyster. So much liao![/caption]
Takopachi octopus balls[/caption]
A random ramen place in Ameyoko Street in Harajuku. Tempura was super deep fried bleah too much batter. Udon was alright. Total cost about 800-900 yen.[/caption]
a really filling meal in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. Think was about 900-1000 yen. Ramen with gyoza and rice balls. Couldn't finish my noodles, was way too much. I liked this place as it was a really small restaurant with counter seats and you can look into the kitchen and see them cook. Oh, like many other places, you place your order via a vending machine outside, and you enter with a small chit of paper.[/caption]
Ichiran Ramen from Ueno Station (near the toilet in the shopping mall). Easily the best ramen I had the whole trip!
Waffles from a maid 'cafe' in Akihabara. It was more of a pub/bar than a cafe, and the maids were not pretty or cute. Boo. But there was no entry fee (the first cafe we went to had a 1000 yen entry fee) The waffles sucked. Soft and chewy and very eggy.[/caption]
Lemon lime Shoju (ordered by mistake, I didn't know it was an alcoholic drink), mushrooms, some eel, from a robatayaki place in Shimbashi called Musashi.
Pity this photo was blurred, it was my favourite dish at the robatayaki place. beans rolled with salmon. Really juicy and yummy thing.[/caption]
Crepe from Harajuku on the last day to satisfy the gf's craving. Was so cold and we were eating ice cream ><[/caption]
Sushi set for about 1000 yen in Hamamatsucho. Comes with chawanmushi and miso soup! Good stuff.[/caption]
Special Tonkatsu rice from Narita Airport, for about 1600 yen. Was really good though. I think the special just meant an additional egg and abit more sauce and pork cutlet. They also had free flow salad (that green shredded thing you see in the front). Very very filling. Good stuff![/caption]
Buffet breakfast at Kikusui Hotel! It was our final night hotel near Narita, as our flight was in the morning. Good food! Had 2-3 helpings.[/caption]
Our meal on the flight back. Yummeh~[/caption]