Remembering The Immortals…
Since the debut of the idea in 2008, Dark Age has organized and managed the unique March to Immortality tournament circuit. Each year (with 2010 being the exception) a single player manages to battle all the way to the top rank over a long list of defeated foes to be crowned as one of Dark Age’s Immortals. These Immortals are then transformed into game play pieces by the Dark Age staff, earning their own special place in our story.
With GenCon and the March to Immortality Finals rapidly approaching, we are looking at the story of the Immortals thus far. We took a closer look at our Immortals and asked them a few questions about how their journey down the road to Immortality treated them, and what the tournament circuit was like in their experiences.
Today we are going to have a little chat with Marc Berlove, the winner of the 2011 March to Immortality and the idea source for the upcoming duo Phadras and Maximo; whose rules have just been released to the public in a sneak preview found in Ravage Magazine US #2!
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Bryan Steele: Hey Marc! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today about your experience with Dark Age and the March to Immortality. With GenCon and its March to Immortality Qualifiers right around the corner, we figured you and the other past winners who have been immortalized in the game might have some fun insight for the masses. First and foremost, how did it feel to win the March to Immortality in 2011?
Marc Berlove: It was a thrill. I had won other events that year at GenCon, but winning Immortal was highlight of the weekend. I think this was due to the unique opportunity winning Immortal gives you, making your own figure. Back in 2008 I remember talking to a buddy of mine about Immortal 2008. I had to decide between playing in the Dark-Age immortal event, and playing in two other game companies’ “big” GenCon events. I ended up choosing to not play in the Dark Age event. Looking back I think I made the wrong choice. After seeing Hoj’s and Jon’s figures I was even more excited to join their ranks as an Immortal winner. In 2009 I did not go to GenCon, and 2010 there was not an Immortal event. So I was really looking forward to taking my shot at Immortality in 2011. After winning all my friends were giving me ideas about what to make my figure look like, which faction to make it part of, or any number of cool new abilities to give it.
BS: Do you remember some of your matches on YOUR road to Immortality? How tough was the competition in 2011?
MB: I playing against Outcasts, Skarrd, and Blood Cult. Round 1 was against Outcasts, it was a good game, but I sent Johann against the troops that did not have brutal weapons and sent the Drillhead to deal with those. Johann made short work of most of the Outcasts. The second round I played against Jon Wojcik (Immortal 2009). That match was interesting Skarrd vs. Saint Johann. It was hard fought, but Jon had the most amazing run of bad luck in the middle (critical fail after critical fail) that turned the tide my way. Over all it was a fun game. The last game was against Cerealkiller and his Blood Cult. He had all troops no big guns other than Red. I was wondering how I was going to kill all those Buzzblades. My Ravages did some damage, but then one died, and the other ran away. Not good. Quietus saved the day he ran through and killed quite a few Buzzblades that day. In the end the Blood Cult was destroyed to a man (at one point we ran out of blood counters to place on the battle field). Cerealkiller had a beautifully painted army and was a fun player to play against.
BS: Did any opponent or specific type of force stand out as your greatest obstacle?
MB: The two forces I thought I would have the hardest time with would be a Dragyri force with a lot of slaves, and any Skarrd force with lots of models. I never faced a Dragyri force, but I did face a very large Skarrd Blood Cult force in the final round.
BS: What made up your force? Did you have a particular idea or scenario in mind when you were building it?
MB: I ran a Saint Johann list; Johann, free Grafter, Quietus, Dexus, Sister of Charity, two Ravages, three Harpies, and a Drillhead. I had made custom Quietus and Dexus figures by modifying spare Nathanial and Orchid figures. The force was made to give me a good number of activations (
, and enough speed to get to and interact with objective markers. It was also very good at taking down heavy hitters like Mongo, Saint John, or a Dragyri ice elemental.BS: Other than your victory in the finals, what was the greatest moment along the way?
MB: All three rounds were fun games. I have to take my hat off to Kyle, Jon, and Cerealkiller all three were good sports and fun to play. The highlights; In Round one, my Harpies took out Cesspool, in round 2 a Ravage took out an Abomination, and in round 3 I lost count of how many Buzzblades Quietus killed.
BS: How did the initial idea for Phadras & Maximo, and what sort of direct input did you have on their creation?
MB: I have a nine-year-old son that loves gaming. When I won the tournament I had a few idea’s running around in my head, but I knew that if I could get a figure of me and my boy then that would earn me some major cool dad points. I talked to the Dark-Age guys and they were cool with it, so that is how Phadras and Maximo were started. I thought about making them a part of the Brood similar to master blaster in the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome movie. I also thought it would be cool to be a brain in a jar with my kid carrying me around as part of the new CORE faction. I liked the look of the Outcasts and when it was suggested that I could be a Bounty Hunter and play with either Outcast or Forsaken, I liked that Idea best. As for input, you start with a blank slate, All Immortals get never fear, never panic, and tough and nails to start with. After that it is up to you to work with the Dark-Age guys to get the rest done. I can’t wait to see what you came up with for Phadras and Maximo.
BS: They are really, really cool. I think you’ll be very pleased.
BS: Are you currently playing any Dark Age for 2012's March to Immortality?
MB: We are trying to get a tournament scheduled in the DC area, but other than that I hope to be playing Phadras and Maximo at GenCon this year. One of the other perks for winning the Immortal tournament is you are invited to future Immortal tournaments if you play your figure.
BS: What sort of army have you been using this year?
MB: I am a play tester, so I have been playing most of the Dark-Age armies as part of that effort. I have been playing Phadras and Maximo with an Outcast force and have like it so far. I can’t wait to get the rest of my Outcasts painted up.
BS: Any parting advice to everyone walking along the Road to Immortality in Dark Age: Apocalypse along with you?
MB: Remember winning Immortal is about winning the scenario you pick. Focus on that first, because it does not matter how much of the opponent’s force you kill off, if you fail to meet your scenario objective you will lose.
BS: Hey, thanks for your time, Marc, we’ll see you in August at GenCon I hope! Perhaps you will be the first player to ever achieve double-immortality…or one of the loyal fans reading this will be the one to defeat you and join the ranks of the Immortals!
