EOFCC 1v1 Tournament: Ryox "the Bruiser"
31 May 2022Streya Jormagdnir
Riding the wave of my previous victories, I had slapped together a completely silenced Karma C44 to prepare for my next opponent in the Elite On-Foot Combat Community (EOFCC) Tournament. I was matched to fight CMDR Ryox, the tournament's host and referee, and I had encountered him before alongside CMDR Arsen Cross. I knew in advance that he prefers close-range combat with the deadly Manticore Intimidator, so I reckoned the Karma C44 would deliver a solid counter in close quarters.Unfortunately for me, CMDR Ryox has trained in hundreds of matches against other CMDRs, whereas I've only done perhaps a dozen. His experience really shined through; where most opponents I've encountered could be overwhelmed by my offense-and-speed loadout, Ryox was able to hold his ground and make wise use of Shield Projector grenades to lock down the Capture Points. Usually I'm able to "flip" a point being captured by the enemy team by way of sheer assault, but this strategy did not work against such a powerful close-quarters combatant. He also diversified his loadout with not only an Intimidator shotgun, but also the Manticore Executioner to keep pressure on me at range. This narrowed my "comfort zone" of engagement to a sliver, while he kept pressing closer or luring me in as he dominated the Capture Points. By the end of the match, I was sorely missing my trusty AR-50 for those extended ranges. I managed to trick him a few times, once with a pressurized canister near his cover, but overall he was the stronger and more strategic fighter, winning the match. While he too focuses on Capture Points and the big picture, he pointed out that assaulting a hostile Capture Point is high-risk/high-reward, whereas securing a friendly CP can assure a more steady victory.
Returning to Archon Delaine's patch of space, I certainly have a lot to think about. Even if I get knocked out of the tournament, I know I'm more of an assassin than an outright fighter. All of my best work has been done in cold, rather than hot, blood. Translating that into a tournament environment has been a challenge, but I look forward to future fights! The helmet cam footage is available, though choppy.