Chaos Wins!

My most recent playgroup really enjoys playing Commander so I've been putting my constructed focus into that lately. I purchased the pre-constructed decks and have tinkered with them a bit. But rather and just build from those, I really wanted to try something with a bit more style. It doesn't hurt to have a closet full of old cards to keep costs down. I read over some of the forums on various blogs and liked the idea of a Wort, Boggart Auntie deck with an army of goblins. I was a fan of Goblin Bidding and Gob-Vantage back in the day. A Commander goblin deck re-hashes those themes and allows for some powerful vintage cards to boot. A weekend poring over old cards and some singles orders yielded a pretty solid deck that is a lot of fun to play.

Here is the current version:

General (1)

Wort, Boggart Auntie

Creatures (35)

Skirk Prospector
Goblin Welder
Goblin Chirurgeon
Skirk Drill Sergeant
Goblin Tinkerer
Goblin Piledriver
Mogg War Marshal
Goblin Recruiter
Stingscourger
Sparksmith
Weirding Shaman
Frogtosser Banneret
Mogg Maniac
Goblin Warchief
Mad Auntie
Goblin Ruinblaster
Goblin Sharpshooter
Goblin King
Gempalm Incinerator
Sensation Gorger
Taurean Mauler
Goblin Matron
Goblin Chieftain
Tuktuk Scrapper
Goblin Wizard
Moggcatcher
Goblin Ringleader
Squeaking Pie Grubfellows
Lightning Crafter
Skirk Fire Marshal
Siege-Gang Commander
Goblin Assassin
Earwig Squad
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Goblin Marshal

It took me a while to cull my goblin collection to get to the right creatures for this deck, especially in a multi-player environment. Staples like Goblin Lackey or Mogg Fanatic were initially in earlier versions of the deck, but eventually replaced my Mogg's with a bit more staying power or utility. All of the gobbos in this deck either focus on card advantage or making other goblins more mana efficient or more powerful.

I chose a variety of utility spells to help achieve constant hand or board re-fills. This deck has 4 cheap tutors for anything needed, and a number of other means to grab goblins with the Recruiter, Moggcatcher and Matron. Cards like Wheel of Fortune allow for gratuitous card recovery after any kind of wipe. Ditto Living Death and Patriarch's Bidding.

Spot removal is generally inefficient in Commander but this deck allows for some exceptions to that. Terminate is so incredibly efficient I think it's worth playing. It sends most generals away for at least a turn or two and is particularly special when used on something exceptionally expensive. Tarfire and Nameless Inversion are nothing exciting, but become quite playable in a deck where they can be recruited, grabbed with a ringleader and recurred with Wort.

Naturally you'll see plenty of Commander staples in this deck as well. Tormod's Crypt, Maze of Ith and Sol Ring are all just as home here as any other Commander deck.

Because we're playing a relatively inflexible color combination I chose to use cards like Disk and Oblivion Stone for enchantment removal that otherwise couldn't be dealt with. Chaosphere is a nice answer to flying armies of which this deck has otherwise little defense against.

There are also a number of soft combos in this deck. Recurring Goblin Marshal's can be amusing with Wort, especially when a Coat of Arms or Shared Animosity is on the table. Skullclamp is a potent card drawing engine all by itself, especially when a number of tokens and generators are in play. Goblin Sharpshooter equipped with Basilisk Collar is Wrath of God for everyone else and the Kiki-Jiki, Lightning Crafter, Sacrifice combination can end the game instantly if you are allowed to go infinite with 3 points of damage per ping.

Whether I can over-run opponents with a swarm of goblins or combo out a well-timed bidding or Lightning Crafter, this deck has a lot of ways to win and do it explosively.

Reecius and crew pulled off an amazing event up in Northern California. The Bay Area Open fielded 75 40k players over 7 rounds of Swiss and produced some incredible highly competitive no holds barred 40k gaming.

Blogs around the internets are taking in the batreps. Table top war has a nice account here along with some pictures from the event. Galaxy in flames has their account here. The Ninja Hut batreps can be found here. Michael Oade discusses his 5th place finish with Blood Angels here. Eldritchstromer's report on his Dark Eldar is here.

Top 4 finisher lists are below. I'll post a full rundown of the standings later:

First Place

James Curry - Imperial Guard

HQ

Company Command Squad (Plasma x 4), OoF, Chimera HHF

Troops

Veteran Squad x10 (Plasma x 3), A.Cannon, Chimera, HHF
Veteran Squad x10 (Plasma x 3), A.Cannon, Chimera, HHF
Veteran Squad x10 (Melta x 3), 1x Shotgun, Demolitions, Chimera, HHF
Veteran Squad x10 (Melta x 3), 1 x Shotgun , Chimera, HHF
Veteran Squad x10 (Melta x 3), 1 x Shotgun , Chimera, HHF

Elites

Ratlings x 5

Fast Attack

Vendetta: H.Bolters
Vendetta: H.Bolters

Heavy

Manticore
Manticore
Hydra x 2

Second Place

Nathan Whitacre - Orks

HQ

Ghazghkull Thraka
Big Mek w Kustom Forcefield

Troops

19 Slugga Boyz: Nob, Klaw, B.Pole
20 Slugga Boyz: Nob, Klaw, B.Pole
Grots x 12: Runtherd
Nobs x 8: 8xCybork and Eavy Armor, 2 Klaws, 2xBig Choppas, Painboy, WAAGH!! Banner, B.Pole x 3

Heavy Support

Battle Wagon: Red Paint, A.Plates, 2xB.Shoota, Boarding Plank
Battle Wagon: Red Paint, A.Plates, 2xB.Shoota, Boarding Plank
Battle Wagon: Red Paint, A.Plates, 2xB.Shoota

Fast Attack

Deff Kopta: Buzz Saw
Deff Kopta: Buzz Saw

Elite

Lootas x 13
Lootas x 5
Lootas x 5

Third Place

Alan Hernandez - Grey Knights

HQ

Draigo
Librarian: Warding Stave, Hammerhand, Might, Quicksilver, Sanctuary, Shrouding

Troops

Paladins x 10: Sword x 3 (1 M.C.), Hammer x 2, Halbred x 4 (1 M.C.), Bro Banner, M.C. Psychannon x 3, P.Cannon x 1,
Strike Squad x 10: Psycannon x2, M.C. Sword

Fast Attack

Interceptors x 10: M.C.Daemonhammer x 1, Psycannon x2

Heavy Support

Psyfilemen Dread

Fourth Place

Christian Alessi - Grey Knights

HQ

Xenos Inquisitor: Rad Grenades, Psykotroke, Hammer Hand
Coteaz

Elites

Techmarine: Rad Grenades, Psykotroke, 3 x Servo Skull
Venerable Dread: Psyfilemen

Troops

Warrior x 3, Psyker x 5: M.Gun x 3, Chimera, Searchlight
Warrior x 3, Psyker x 5: M.Gun x 3, Chimera, Searchlight
Warrior x 3: M.Gun x 3, Chimera, Searchlight
Death Cults x 6, Crusader x 3, Crusader x 3: Chimera, Searchlight
Death Cults x 6, Crusader x 3, Crusader x 3: Chimera, Searchlight

Heavy

Psyfilemen Dread
Psyfilemen Dread
Psyfilemen Dread

Place    Name                Points    Record          Army

1        Curry, James        7         7-0-0           Imperial Guard
2        Whitacre, Nathan    6         6-1-0           Orks
3        Hernandez, Allan    6         5-0-2           Grey Knights
4        Alessi, Christian   5.5       5-1-1           Grey Knights
5        Oade, Michael       5.5       4-1-2           Blood Angels
6        Bass, Michael       5         5-2-0           Dark Eldar
7        Joos, Levi          5         4-1-2           Orks
8        Sellers, Josh       5         5-2-0           Grey Knights
9        Houghtby, Julian    5         4-1-2           Tyranids        
10       Regul, Jon          5         5-2-0           Orks
11       Kaminsky, Jeffrey   5         5-2-0           Chaos Space Marines
12       Jacobsen, Russel    5         4-1-2           Space Wolves
13       Adderson, Russ      5         5-2-0           Orks
14       Pace, Robert        5         4-1-2           Dark Eldar
15       Bousquet, Joshua    4.5       4-2-1           Blood Angels
16       Smith, Steven       4.5       3-1-3           Dark Eldar
17       Wilder, Benjamin    4.5       4-2-1           Chaos Space Marines
18       Danke, Gordy        4.5       4-2-1           Grey Knights
19       McKelvey, Paul      4.5       4-2-1           Tau
20       Gurule, Jason       4.5       4-2-1           Dark Angels
21       Epstein, Ehren      4.5       4-2-1           Dark Eldar
22       Villagrana, Joaquin 4         3-2-2           Grey Knights
23       Caballero, Pablo    4         4-3-0           Blood Angels
24       Miller, Douglas     4         4-3-0           Imperial Guard
25       Mclaughlin, Tom     4         3-2-2           Space Marines
26       Tangey, Michael     4         3-2-2           Dark Eldar
27       Ferrell, Peter      4         4-3-0           Imperial Guard
28       Brown, Kevin        4         4-3-0           Tyranids
29       Holt, Keith         4         4-3-0           Necrons
30       Glenboski, Doc      4         3-2-2           Imperial Guard
31       Entropo, Mike       4         3-2-2           Eldar
32       Loukides, Mathew    3.5       3-3-1           Blood Angels
33       Kingsley, Davis     3.5       3-3-1           Space Marines
34       Moore, Michael      3.5       3-3-1           Blood Angels
35       Steele, Casey       3.5       3-3-1           Blood Angels
36       Pierce, Charles     3.5       2-2-3           Blood Angels
37       Chadwik, Ian        3.5       3-3-1           Tyranids
38       Lemly, Jack         3.5       3-3-1           Tyranids
39       Webster, Scott      3.5       2-2-3           Space Wolves
40       Reeser, James       3.5       3-3-1           Imperial Guard
41       Bruch, Andrew       3.5       3-3-1           Dark Angels
42       Heater, Kenneth     3         3-4-0           Dark Eldar
43       Frazier, Xavier     3         3-4-0           Dark Eldar        
44       Cotton, Alexander   3         2-3-2           Eldar
45       Nieuwenhuis, Daniel 3         2-3-2           Space Marines
46       Kirkendall, Nick    3         2-3-2           Imperial Guard
47       Gahner, Ian         3         3-4-0           Space Marines
48       Cornelius, Paul     3         3-4-0           Orks
49       Machado, Jon        3         2-3-2           Blood Angels
50       Jernigan, Kelly     2.5       2-4-1           Space Marines
51       Setchell, Pete      2.5       2-4-1           Tyranids
52       Scgwl, Scott        2.5       2-4-1           Dark Eldar
53       Hoover, Peter       2.5       2-4-1           Chaos Daemons
54       Weyermuller, John   2.5       2-4-1           Space Wolves
55       Hoover, Jason       2.5       2-4-1           Blood Angels
56       Kishimoto, Brian    2         1-4-2           Orks
57       Trammel, Timothy    2         2-5-0           Dark Angels
58       Doan, David         2         1-4-2           Blood Angels
59       Ruggiero, Phillip   2         2-5-0           Dark Eldar
60       Gordon, Thomas      2         2-5-0           Blood Angels
61       Bevard, Douglas     2         1-4-2           Dark Eldar
62       Key, David          2         2-5-0           Blood Angels
63       Jung, Joshua        1.5       0-4-3           Orks
64       Saraga, Dante       1.5       1-5-1           Eldar
65       Myers, Nick         1.5       1-5-1           Space Marines
66       Franklin, Carlos    1.5       1-5-1           Tau
67       Saraga, Chris       1         1-6-0           Grey Knights
68       Bredt, Adam         1         1-6-0           Tau