The Premise and Standings
Each week we’ll face off in a best of three series playing a different board game from our collection. The winner claims the moniker of C&C Clash Champ for the week. The loser may be haunted by memories of poor turn choices forever. The lesser player also gets to choose the game for the next week.
We will maintain a record of wins and losses throughout the year to see who finishes 2022 as the ultimate board game champ in our household.
Our current C&C Champion is Chaos after winning last week’s Santorini showdown.
Current Standings:
- Weekly Winner: 1 Chaos – 1 Confetti
- Individual game wins: 3 Chaos – 3 Confetti
After losing last week, Confetti has chosen Disney Villainous for this week’s Clash.
The Game – Disney Villainous
Disney Villainous puts you in the shoes of some of Disney’s biggest villains as you try to succeed where they failed. Each player has a villain with their own unique win-condition: Gaston hopes to woo Belle, Lady Gothel aims to win Rupunzel’s trust, Scar plans on taking over the Pride lands, and the Queen of Hearts wishes to take an epic wicket shot. Between the core box and the four expansions so far, there are 18 different villains for players to choose from with another three dropping in March of this year. (There is also Marvel Villainous but since it’s not compatible with Disney, we’ll not be talking about it here. What see what future clashes hold).
No matter which villain is played, the basic mechanics of the game stay mostly the same. Each turn a player decides where to move their villain in their personal realm (player board) and then they get to take as many of the actions printed on that spot as they desire. Each villain’s board is different with what actions are available and some have unique aspects such as locked areas. Every villain also has its own personalized player deck and fate deck. The player deck is what you’ll use to draw and play cards from. The fate deck is what your opponents will use against you. That is where you’ll see your classic heroes such as Peter Pan, Robin Hood, and Aladdin standing up against the forces of evil. How a villain should best be played is completely dependent on their individual win condition. Thankfully, Disney Villainous comes with a small booklet for each character, giving some basic strategy and tips to help players get a handle on their selected villain.
It’s a race to achieve your goal while also doing what you can to slow down your opponent. Evil is reigning supreme this time, but whose flavor of bad will it be?
Chaos’ Pre-Clash Thoughts:
It’s one thing to chase the C&C Clash Championship, but it’s another to come in as champ. There’s a lot of pressure to do well and not be a one hit wonder. I need to bring my best because Confetti won’t go down easily. I’ve always enjoyed Disney Villainous in the past, so at least it’s a game I like. The characters we end up with will definitely have an impact, but I’ve always been pretty adaptable. And as Mae West said, “When I’m good, I’m very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.”
Confetti’s Pre-Clash Thoughts:
As a massive Disney fan, Villainous is one of my favorite games. Sadly, a lot of Disney based games are aimed younger, so it’s great to have a game that works for older audiences too. When playing Villainous, I tend to choose the same handful again and again. I know I might have to try some new characters this time. I think I can make it work, but we’ll see.
Game 1:
For the sake of fairness, Chaos and Confetti were assigned their villains randomly. Chaos would take on the form of the classic Mickey Mouse villain Pete, with the aim of completing four secret mini objectives. Confetti would be running Robin Hood’s Prince John, with the goal of starting a turn with at least 20 power (Villainous’ currency).
Chaos had to divide his attention amongst his four objectives, but because they were hidden it made it harder for Confetti to know exactly where to step in to hinder him. Meanwhile, as Confetti did her best to tax and prey upon the residents of Sherwood Forest, Chaos had a clearer aim of allowing heroes to steal money back and tear up money-making warrants.
Luck was on Chaos’ side as he quickly completed a task of winning big at the card table by drawing two high cost cards from the top of his deck. Pete allows for some deck manipulation, but Chaos chose to fly blind and the true gamble paid off. The risk also came with the benefit of a lot of power/money. Prince John, be jealous. The excess money would be needed to achieve Pete’s other goals too: spend at least six power in one location, gather three objects in another, and amass ten ally (henchmen) strength in a third.
Chaos sped toward his goals but tried to stay subtle enough so Confetti couldn’t pinpoint exactly how to thwart him. Confetti slowly amassed her money through taxation and force. The resident couldn’t hold onto stolen loot if archers and the Sheriff crushed them.
At last, Confetti achieved 20 power. Unfortunately, she needed to start her turn with 20 power. At this point, Chaos only needed ten strength in a particular location and Confetti picked up on trying to not let his henchmen gather. If she had one more turn, she could have pulled out the victory, but Chaos finally aligned his men (bandits, parrots, and horses) to bully his way into a win. Round one goes to Chaos!
Game 2:
In the second round, Dr. Facilier (Chaos) took a swing at ruling New Orleans while Captain Hook (Confetti) hoped to defeat Peter Pan Both players needed to align certain elements in the right locations before taking their winning shots. Hook’s win depended upon finding and luring Peter Pan to the Jolly Roger before defeating him. Facilier had to get ahold of his magic amulet and then consult his card at his voodoo emporium before hoping the cards drawn did foresee a win.
Confetti dove into Chaos’ fate deck again and again trying to mess with his fortune deck (which he needed to set up correctly to increase his chances of winning) and to send heroes to slow him down. This time out, Chaos was more hesitant to fate Confetti because he knew he could potentially unleash Peter Pan into Hook’s realm which would only help Confetti. Chaos may have played too cautiously though because Confetti built up quite an army of minions freely. This meant when Peter Pan finally did arrive, he was sorely outpowered.
The spirits and cards clearly didn’t favor Chaos this time because he couldn’t meet his objective before Hook fired his cannon and took Peter Pan down once and for all. Confetti tied up the clash ending Chaos’ hope for a shutout.
Game 3:
The final round would decide everything. Jafar (Confetti) had big plans of taking over Agrabah using the magic lamp and a brainwashed Genie. Chaos and The Queen of Hearts aimed smaller with the simple intentions of making the perfect wicket shot.
Chaos quickly got to work summoning card guards which he then forced into being wickets. Confetti began setting up her needed components, but also had to find a way into the Cave of Wonders before actually progressing her plans. This meant she needed the golden scarab to locate and unlock the cave’s location.
Confetti knew that she would have to kneecap Chaos’ steady march toward the perfect shot if she was going to have enough time to meet her own objectives. She threw Alice, the March Hare, the White Rabbit, and Dodo in The Queen of Heart’s realm. The Queen of Hearts couldn’t vanquish everyone, but thankfully her shrink mechanic minimized the impact of those she couldn’t beat.
Chaos didn’t sit out of fate shenanigans this time, and he happily sent Rajah and Genie to mess with Jafar.
Before Confetti could successfully enter the cave, Chaos had set up his four wickets and attempted the perfect shot. He needed to draw five cards from the top his deck with their total cost being less than ten. The first card revealed was worth three. Then, a two cost came out. A one cost made victory seem possible again. A no cost card was fourth and with only another two as the final reveal, Chaos hit the perfect shot! Jafar was left in the dust (sands of time).
Your winner and STILL your C&C Clash Champion: Chaos!
Chaos’ Post-Clash Thoughts:
It’s a big relief to pull out the win and to become the first C&C Clash Champ to ever successfully defend their title. I know there is no rest for the wicked though and I’ll have to defend my championship next week. I can only imagine what Confetti plans to throw at me next week, but whatever it is, I’ll be ready.
Confetti’s Post-Clash Thoughts:
I got unlucky in the last game, but it was still fun to play Villainous. The Queen of Hearts was just too fast for Jafar’s slower pace. I tried but couldn’t do it. I need to think hard about what to play next week.
Next Week: Confetti chooses Quacks of Quedlinburg!
Chaos & Confetti 