Welcome everyone to round 3 of the Spring of 2025 tournament of Galactic Escalation! Some very close games last round and some very interesting escalations happening!

Here are the squads for round 3:

Outer Rim Division

NoffyD
Mando
gandalfthegreatestwizard
DarthMaim
UrbanShmi
Randy


Core Worlds Division

urbanjedi
Lightsaber
Hi-Fives
spryguy1981
thereisnotry
DarkDracul

Game length is 75 minutes and gambit is worth 10pts per 200pt matchup rules. There will be a little over 1 week starting Tuesday Arpil 8, 2025 to get your matchups in. Please complete your games by midnight on Wednesday April 16, 2025. If anyone needs extra time, we can extend the time needed, just let us know. Now here are the people and squads that will be competing in round 3:

urbanshmi:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261031/maul-in-the-family-200

--Maul in the Family 200--
45 Darth Maul, Death Watch Overlord
40 Savage Opress
31 Mother Talzin
46 Nightsister Hunter x2
19 Talia, Nightsister Hunter
11 Death Watch Saboteur
5 Killik Drone
3 Ugnaught Demolitionist

(200pts. 9 activations)

Map: Theed Palace

gandalfthegreatestwizard:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261009/the-crescent-of-his-cruel-ships

--The crescent of his cruel ships--
62 Darth Revan, Sith Lord
48 Darth Malak, Sith Lord
27 Darth Bandon
18 Dark Force Nexus
14 Exar Kun, Dark Force Spirit
12 Sith Holocron
6 Sith Ordnance Specialist
4 Sith Recruit
3 Ugnaught Demolitionist
6 XT-6 Droid x2

(200pts. 11 activations)

Map: Desert Palace

DarthMaim:

--This is the Way! 200--
67 The Mandalorian (Din Djarin) and the Child
32 Talon Karrde, Information Broker
31 Morrigan Corde
28 Mira of Nar Shaddaa
11 Givin Black Sun Slicer
8 Wicket
8 Prowler 1000 Seeker Droid x2
9 Rodian Brute x3
6 Ugnaught Demolitionist x2
(200pts. 13 activations)

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261046/this-is-the-way--200

Map of choice = Anchorhead #88

Mando:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/260912/galactic-escalation-round-3--ghost-crew-

--Galactic Escalation Round 3 (Ghost Crew)--
45 Kanan Jarrus
43 Ahsoka Tano, Champion of the Rebellion
22 Ezra Bridger, Padawan
25 Sabine Wren
18 Force Nexus
16 Senator Bail Organa
12 See-Threepio (C-3PO)
9 R2-D2 with Extended Sensor
5 Noti Nomad
3 Ugnaught Demolitionist

(200pts. 10 activations)

map: korriban

urbanjedi:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/260977/revan-escalation-200

--revan escalation 200--
100 Revan, Returned
56 Revanchist Jedi Master x2
28 Luke Skywalker of Ahch-To
15 Sith Holocron

(199pts. 5 activations)

map korriban

Hi-Fives:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/260760/or-let-the-wookies-win-200

--OR-Let the Wookies Win 200--
36 Chief Tarfful
33 Ralrracheen
23 Wookiee Battlemaster
21 Chewbacca of Hoth
19 Wookiee Clan Leader
26 Wookiee Freedom Fighter x2
12 Saun Dann
30 Wookiee Scoundrel x3

(200pts. 11 activations)

Map: Throne Room

thereisnotry:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/260807/ge-maul-200

--GE Maul 200--
58 Darth Maul, Apprentice of Hatred
42 General Grievous, Hero of Hypori
35 Asajj Ventress, Nightsister
16 BX Commando Droid Spotter
15 BX Commando Droid Sniper
14 San Hill, Chairman
10 R3 Astromech Droid
6 Geonosian Trooper
4 Battle Droid

(200pts. 9 activations)

Map: Anchorhead

NoffyD:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261005/might-also-be-good

--Might also be good--
28 Tsavong Lah, Warrior Elite
25 Denua Ku, Jedi Hunter
22 Khalee Lah, Warrior Progeny
19 Eighth Cortex Shaper
18 Yuuzhan Vong Consul
18 Eminence Harrar
17 Mezhan Kwaad
15 Yammosk War Coordinator
13 Yun-Ne'Shel Priest
11 Advance Agent, Officer
9 Dooje Brolo
3 Ugnaught Demolitionist

(198pts. 12 activations)

Map: Dark Academy

--Reinforcements/Reserves pool:
17 Domain Lah Subaltern
17 Yuuzhan Vong Executor

spryguy1981:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261257/total-eclipse-of-the-stars-200

--Total Eclipse of the Stars 200--
48 Vader's Apprentice, Unleashed
34 Kyle Katarn, Rebel Hero
27 Luke Skywalker, Rebel Commando
19 Princess Leia, Rebel Commando
18 Jan Ors
18 Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
12 See-Threepio (C-3P0)
11 Captain Juno Eclipse
10 Dr Evazan
3 Ugnaught Demolitionist

(200pts. 10 activations)
Map: Desert Palace

Lightsaber:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/257617/galactic-escalation--quadrovirate-and-a-half

--Galactic Escalation: Quadrovirate And A Half--
38 Darth Sion, Lord of Pain
44 Darth Traya, Lord of Betrayal
38 The Huntress
27 Darth Bandon
18 Dark Force Nexus
12 Sith Holocron
14 Exar Kun, Dark Force Spirit
5 Killik Drone
4 Sith Recruit

(200pts. 9 activations)

DarkDracul:

--200pt Escalation Darkdraul 2025--
44 Luke Skywalker, Hero of Endor
37 Han Solo, Honorable Scoundrel
36 Yoda of Dagobah
19 Princess Leia, Rebel Commando
18 Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
17 General Jan Dodonna
16 General Crix Madine
12 See-Threepio (C-3PO)
(199pts. 8 activations)
http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261265/200pt-escalation-darkdraul-2025
Map: Korriban #49

Randy:

http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261233/200-nightsisters

--200 Nightsisters--
33 Asajj Ventress, Nightsister
31 Nightsister Shaman
31 Mother Talzin
24 Great Mothers
24 Old Daka
23 Merrin, Nightsister of Dathomir
19 Talia, Nightsister Hunter
15 Nightsister Sith Witch

(200pts. 8 activations)

Dark Academy

oops, i sent the wrong squad link. here's the right one: http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/261005/might-also-be-good

thereisnotry defeats urbanjedi, 249-51 (3-0)

I won the map roll so we played on Anchorhead; Jason set up on the left.

Round 1: Jason won init. The Holocron attached to Revan. Everybody charged toward the center. San pushed Grievous forward, which enabled me to get into gambit. 10-0 for me.

Round 2: Jason won init. Revan used Sith Sorcery: Grievous, Asajj, and my Battle Droid fell asleep, but Maul stayed up. My BX combo hit Revan, but his Shien was successful so my Sniper took 10dmg instead. A crusader hit Grievous for 20dmg. San pushed Maul forward so he could put 40dmg onto the crusader after armor and LS Defense. Gambit for both. 20-10 for me.

Round 3: Jason won init. Revan used Sith Sorcery: Grievous and Asajj fell asleep. Revan then put 20dmg more onto Grievous (80hp). My BX droids hit the 50hp crusader for 50dmg, but he made his LS Defense save. Maul attacked Revan 4x, but missed two of his attacks and Revan bubbled the last one, so he only took 20dmg (Revan down to 140hp). A crusader used Grip to send Grievous back to the start. My BD stepped away from the door, allowing it to close. Gambit for both. 41-30 for Jason.

Round 4: Jason won init. Revan used Sith Sorcery, but only Maul was in range because the other doors were now closed, and Maul made his save with a fprr. Revan hit Maul 3x (110hp). San pushed Grievous up to the door, then GG spent a fp to move 8 with a Spinning Blade attack...he carved a bunch of damage into all of Jason's pieces: Crusader down to 40, Luke down to 30, Crusader down to 10, Revan down to 110. A crusader and Luke both tore into Grievous, but his parry saves were solid and he only took 60dmg (down to 60hp). Luke gave up an aoo to Grievous, who killed him...that gave 6 more fp to Revan (Luke didn't have enough fp for Force Projection). Asajj put 30dmg onto a crusader (both of them are now down to 10hp). That guy swung back at her, bringing her to 70hp with some failed parries. My BX droids again tried to finish off that crusader, but he kept making his life-saving LS Defense saves! Maul blitzed on Revan, dropping him to 30hp. Gambit for both. 68-51 for me.

Round 5: I won init this time! [What??? I didn't think that was possible anymore!!] Grievous was still at half hp, so he did one more Spinning Blade attack, which allowed Revan (using Force Attuned Reflexes) to hit him for 40dmg with AoOs (failed parry saves), but Grievous killed both crusaders and then killed Revan. Gambit for me. 249-51 for me.


There was a bit of a pattern for a while, with Jason winning init and Revan using Sith Sorcery. That usually resulted in my people not doing anything. Grievous didn't do anything at all (other than parry and take damage and fall asleep) until Round 4. But in the end, I was able to get some attacks in there and enough of them stuck. Grievous was my MVP this game, even though he spent half of it sleeping. As always, Jason was an enjoyable opponent. Thanks, and may the Force be with you!

Fives and myself will be re-enacting the battle of Kashyyk at 9pm tomorrow NZST // 4am Thursday CST. As SWM is clearly more important than sleep, I fully expect an audience of at least 10 for this ultimate showdown.

noffyd defeats urbanshmi (3-0) on Theed Palace 220-45

shmi won map roll and I set up on the left. her hunters and talia set up in the security desk area and the others below the currency exchange. I set up denua and the lah's in front of the faculty office and all the rest in and around the power regulation station.

Round one i win init and shmi blows some doors and i position half in half out of the speeder bay with tsavong just outside gambit (tracking). talia and her hunter pal invis inside the gambit room, with maul, savage, a hunter, and talzin all in the room above. shmi gets gambit (10-0)

round two starts with laura winning init and potioning with talia and the hunter. i move around some scrubs, and she is forced to come out of the potion. the saboteur hits tsavong for 30 which was crabbed to 20. denua spins and tracks tsavong up to maul (but really up to talia), then she moves into gambit. tsavong goes and doubles onto the hunter who dies, then rolling cleave/cleaves onto talia, killing her too. maul runs up and talzin runs up so maul can assault onto tsavong. he misses the first, but hits the rest to deal 30 onto tsavong. then it's just more positioning. (52-20)

round three and i win init. denua tracks herself towards maul, and then crits and hits on the double to do 90 (70 after teras kasi). maul spins and assaults on denua to put her down to 20, then talzin canons him to kill denua (i forget to retalitory attack with the lahs), and then he does 20 to tsavong after crab armour. then, tsavong goes and kills maul and cleaves twice for 80 on savage. then, khalee goes and kills maul and rolling cleaves for 20 on talzin. he then goes with the hunter and misses twice on tsavong and same with the killik. dooje moves to distract talzin, and i blow up a door. the consul kills the saboteur and other stuff happends (189-45)

round four i win init, and tsavong kills talzin and a killik (cleave). his hunter shoots at tsavong and i fail both evade and make both crab saves. khalee does 50 on the hunter, and then emenince harrar finishes the hunter off to win me the game (220-45)

Laura played really well but didn't manage to take the win. thanks for the game :)

Hi Fives wins against Lightsaber (200-43) (3-0)

Round 1: I win map, and Lightsaber sets up on the right of my map. I battle ready some Wookies into gambit and open the central door. He wins init, and after a scrub goes, I send in a Wookie Freedom Fighter, and take a distance shot, dealing a total of 90 to Sion (who had been summoned near gambit by the nexus). He sends up some scrubs, and I take more shots at Sion. He goes to make his revive save, and it is the literal worst case scenario: he rolls a 1, meaning that he can't reroll with the recruit, and so he just dies. LS sends up Traya using the Nexus, and so I start sending some laser fire down her way.

Round 2: I win init, and I use a Scoundrel and blast the remaining 30hp off of Traya. Huntress runs up and kills a WFF and Bandon sucks the other WFF for 20. Chewie puts 40 on Bandon, and Exar comes up to play. Ralracheen runs up and misses some shots on Huntress, and the wounded WFF deals 30 to Huntress.

Round 3: I win init, and I take out Huntress with Ral. The killik runs away, but my heroic WFF chases him down and shoots him too. We end the game there, as Lightsaber had no more pieces to deal damage with, and I would win on gambit after another round, so he forfeit to save us some time. (I'm fairly certain I automatically won because he had no more damage dealers, but we didn't feel like looking up the actual rules so we just assumed)

Unfortunately this was a bit of a bloodbath. I missed a total of like 4 attacks, and Lightsaber made almost no saves and missed most attacks. The matchup was definitely in my favour, but the dice were so insanely good for me that it was absolutely unfair. It was a good time, and we had fun, but I hope the rest of our games are a little more interesting. Thanks for the game, and good luck with the rest of the tournament!

due to internet connection issues on my end, Randy and I are going to be continuing our game at 10:30pm central tonight.

In official tournaments, when a player wants to forfeit after the first half of the game, they are supposed to call over the judge and get the judge's approval. This allows the judge to check for slow play or collusion. After checking the game state and time remaining, a Judge could ask the players to continue playing. This doesn't come up often, and it does not apply to these Escalation matches.

You don’t automatically win just because your opponent has no damage dealers left. The game continues until the final round is complete. If time runs out and all you have left is an R3 Astromech in gambit—but you're ahead in Victory Points—you still win. I've seen plenty of games where a player won with only Lobot sitting in gambit.

While the 'auto-win' idea was proposed as an official change, it was ultimately rejected. Auto-wins are reserved for specific scenarios or homebrew rules. Our game has always been based on Victory Points.

If it's a game as you described, then both players agreed to end the round, and one player won on gambit.

Randy over Mando 232 - 198

Sorry for the late post. The last 48 hours have been a kind of blur. We met up in the morning, but Mando had connection issues and we were only able to get halfway through round 2. I saved the game and we met up about 14 hours later. We set the timer at 1 hour and finished it out.

We were on Korriban, I set up on the lower right. He came in the front door. Early on Ezra was able to use his Focused Attack to drop some damage on Talia. She was able to avoid the Jolt saves and run to cover. I moved up slowly along the lower corridor, while the Rebels created a permitter outside the door. Asajj took some shots from a mobile attacking Kanan and used the good old "Duck and Cover" into the small hall. The Shaman was able to heal her some. Ezra hit the Sith Witch but she made the save and was able to hide next to a door. R2 locked the door long enough for Mando to out-activate me. I move the Great Mothers into gambit and positioned Asajj. At the end of the round his uggie blew open the door and Ahsoka came running. 80 damage on the Great Mothers....

The Ghost Crew won Initiative and Ahsoka jumped over the Great Mothers and Killed Old Daka. She turned into a zombie. Then Ahsoka used Rolling Cleve to kill the Great Mothers. They also zombied. One Zombie ran passed the Ug taking 10 damage to base Kanan and then turned the Uggie into a Zombie. Asajj smacked Kanan for 40 and got pushed away. Bail ran around the zombies and based Asajj. Then Bail pulled Kanan next to Asajj. Kanan used his Blaster Barrage to kill the zombies and attack Asajj. Because he was Adjacent Lightsaber kicked in and made them melee attacks, (as per the BC decision last year) so Asajj got to parry and took nothing. The Sith Witch zapped Kanan and Bail. Mama T walked right down the mail aisle and hit them with more lightning. Then came a 50 damage hit from the canon shot. Merrin was able to Teleport across the main aisle, find cover and get a no cover Twin on R2.

3-PO and the Nexus were at the top of the outside hall. Sabine was at the bottom. Ezra was back pretty far. Ahsoka was on my side of the center line. The Shaman and Merrin were hiding with the cover square. Talzin was along the bottom of the Main Corridor. Asajj was out in the open just inside the door. Talia and the Sith Witch were at 40 health. If I am remembering correctly, the Sith Witch caught a Sabine grenade and popped like a balloon. I was able to run Asajj through the crumbled wall and thwack on Ahsoka. 1 LSD stopped some but she still took 40. Ahsoka used Lightsaber Assault to smack Asajj around. It would have been lethal if I had not pulled off an Essence of Life. A canon from Talzin left Ahsoka hurting. Talia attacked and got her to spend the last Force Point in her pool.

In the next round Ahsoka won the coin flip and got to go first. This time she wasn't playing and opened up a can of Brutal Strike. Rolling Cleve into Talia and then moved between my squad and Sabine. With a combination of Talzin and Merrin I was able to to take down Sabine. This left Mama Tal, the Shaman, and Merrin against Ahsoka, Ezra, Threepio and the Nexus.

Ahsoka once again won the rock, paper, scissors and got to go first. Unfortunately the high rolls of init lead to low attack rolls. Merrin lived. Totem Magic and a zap from Mother finished Ahsoka and 3-P0. Ezra shot Merrin, but the Nexus used the last of its Force and died. 6 rounds of gambit put him at 198, two points shy of covering Talzin and the Shaman.

It was an absolute blood bath. My saves were good, Mando's initiative was pretty spot on, but his late game attack rolls turned bad.

I wish good hunting to the Ghost Crew.

Long live Mother Talzin!

Nightsisters Rule!

Secure transmission sent to Mando.................Let the good times roll for round 4.........................