Your Master has Arrived
By: Trent McCrow

The small shuttle is on its final approach, creeping ever closer to the looming dreadnaught, the second Death Star. Imperial officers and Stormtroopers wait silently in the main docking bay, firmly at attention, both out of stringent military training and fear of being reproached. As the Imperial shuttle touches down on the floor of the landing bay everyone in the room becomes stiffer still, never flinching. Slowly, the shuttles ramp descends; nobody dares move for fear of instant death. A lone figure descends, the galaxies greatest evil, Emperor Palpatine. Your master has arrived.

In the third Independent Development Committee (IDC) expansion, Battle of Endor, the fate of the galaxy is in your hands. The ultimate battle of good versus evil is about to begin. Far above, in the cold reaches of space, two Jedi fight to fulfill their destinies and a third seeks to corrupt the galaxy with evil. This week I'll introduce you to the ninth card from the Battle of Endor (BOE) dream card expansion set developed by the Independent Development Committee (IDC).
Corruption, the use of public office for private gain, can be found all across the world we live in. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, corruption was born in Palpatine. It wasn't until WOTC's ESB set that corruption found its way into the SWTCG with the addition of Dark Cave. Later, WOTC revisited the corruption idea and transformed it into something more powerful. Emperor Palpatine (E) not only brought a new way to win but also a way to taint your opponent with the Dark Sides' evil.

Today I'm going to reveal the ultimate evil, Emperor Palpatine (H):

The circle of corruption is now complete with Palpatine (H). He is substantially better than the (E) version. For an extra build Palpatine gains; 2 power, 10 speed, the Imperial subtype and a much better corruption ability. This version has some great potential, especially when stacked, and will become somewhat of a bane to Jedi. Previous versions of Palpatine and Sidious have all had their unique flavor and this version is not different with a distinct anti-Jedi approach. For just 2 Force, Emperor Palpatine (H) can place a corruption counter on any of your opponent's Jedi Character's. When there are a good amount of counters on the Jedi, you can Pay 2 Force and tap Palpatine and do damage equal to the corruption counters to the corrupted Jedi. This strategy works really well with Capture Obi-Wan and Maul's Strategy as they both gain you Force while depleting your opponent's. The bonus of being Imperial, Jedi and Sith, is something the galaxies most evil politician defiantly deserves and there might even be a diplomat version coming your way!

In the Battle of Endor expansion two Jedi are fighting to fulfill their destiny; Luke and Anakin. Luke is trying to become the Jedi his father should have been and Anakin will eventually choose between the light and the darkness inside him. All the while Palpatine (H) will be taunting them both, "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side."
Today was just a glimpse of the ultimate evil in the BOE set. Join me next week, for the tenth preview of the Battle of Endor expansion, as I reveal the true power of the Dark Side.

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