|
Post by gabochido on Apr 19, 2012 23:43:59 GMT -5
Kennon has convinced me to write something about A Game of Thrones: The Card Game.
I've played it a few times now. I'm just a casual player using the core set as a board game and I've only played it with my wife. She uses the Stark deck and keep whooping me. I've read a bit on the web that its not that Stark is overpowered, its that it takes a while to understand how the other houses work, specially if you come from a Magic background. I was hoping you might be able to help me, Kennon.
I find that the Stark house deck is overpowered because they have the plot that destroys all creatures and the land that gives +1 to all their creature AND a plot that lets them fetch it. I can never win. My wife just plays a few wolves and guys, then makes them all much stronger. From then on she can just attack me for military and kill one of my dudes each time and seemingly always be able to defend. And if I ever manage to develop the board better than her, she just wraths!.
How do I play with the other houses (any will do) to beat the Starks!!? All I know is that there are other aspects of the game, like the intrigue attacks that make them discard a card at radom. I tried focusing on this but I think I did it wrong cause I just got whooped... again!
KENNON HEEELP!!!
BTW.. It seems that for this game they have gotten rid of most of the complaints people have about magic. There's no mana to get screwed on and no rarities to whine about.
|
|
|
Post by RockBass on Apr 20, 2012 12:00:55 GMT -5
Well, you know, if you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die.
|
|
kennon
Is Super Cool
Posts: 125
|
Post by kennon on Apr 20, 2012 19:56:38 GMT -5
Ok, this could be tricky. The Core Set is balanced largely around a 4 player melee (multiplayer) game, and you may notice that quite a few of the plots only really work if you have multiple opponents. Still, I'm game to help.
Which house are you using against her? My personal vote would probably be for Lannister (as they're my favorite house anyway). So far, you may have noticed that the Core Set Stark deck plays in many ways, similarly to White Weenie- spewing out offensive characters backed up with an Anthem style effect and an on demand Wrath of God. The Lannister Core Set deck probably plays more similarly to some variety of U/B hand control. Their strength is all about card advantage from the intrigue challenge to the largest concentration of draw effects. You did mention that you've tried focusing on the intrigue challenge against Stark, so I'm sure you've seen their lack of intrigue icons. Much like White Weenie, they tend to play through their hand quickly, and you can attack that from two angles. By using intrigue to speed the clock until they're topdecking and encouraging them to use up their cards ASAP so that they don't lose something that they wanted to play. Both of those scenarios play into the fact that the Lannister deck comes with the other board reset in the Core Set- Wildfire Assault (which is probably somewhat more analogous to something like a Black Sun's Zenith in that it's generally clearing the smaller chaff off the board rather than emptying it completely.)
Of course, this strategy comes with an onus on your own hand as well, in that you need to focus on maximizing your draw and thus the size and option differential between your hand and your opponent's. Just as you shouldn't overcommit in MtG if you're reasonably certain your opponent may have Wrath, playing around the reset and watching how much you commit the the board is even more important in AGoT when you have to assume that your opponent has the Wrath at all times.
Now, you can utilize this to your benefit. If you can manage to maximize the size differential of your hand versus your opponent's, then you could intentionally overcommit to the board in order to force the Valar, which puts your opponent in a very tough place.
A few key cards for Lannister in this matchup are as follows:
Lannisport Brothel- This will likely be an all-star for you. Much like Dungeon Geists is seeing some popularity in Standard MtG to lock down opposing threats like Titans, Lannisport Brothel functionally keeps the Stark deck's biggest threat from ever untapping again. Abuse this to the fullest.
Jaime Lannister- Deadly can help you force through offensive challenges of your own, but don't forget that he essentially has Vigilance, which means he's a stellar defender as well. Taking every reasonable opportunity to defend (and deny your opponent power) could be the key in giving you time to stabilize. As well, be sure to use him on offense even if you can't win, as the opponent will likely be forced to kneel characters to defend anyway, and due to the nature of challenges in AGoT, defending one challenge may open your opponent up to a second or third, or at the very least deny them attackers against you for that turn.
A Lannister Pays His Debts- Lannister has relatively little targeted kill in the Core Set, so making optimal use of the kill that is available to you is key. The surprise factor of this event is important, and don't forget that it just says you have to lose the challenge, not necessarily as the defender, so keep in mind that you could chump an attack at an opponent, knowing that they could win just so that you can trigger this.
Bronn- Deadly is again useful in pushing through challenges when you have fewer characters, but his ability is also dreadfully useful when you're up against a military powerhouse like Stark. Lannister has traditionally had a leg up in Gold production (which gives them a touch of Green flavor) so try to make certain that you keep some extra on hand to trigger his ability.
Actually, now that I've done some analysis, I'd actually probably say that this type of Lannister deck plays a bit more like some variety of U/G build. Strong on card advantage and resource production, but needing to rely on tricks to get its way. I psyched myself out with the U/B comparison at first since I was equating intrigue challenges somewhat to Black discard. Sadly, Lannister doesn't have the creature kill available to it that Black does, so I think U/G is probably more appropriate.
If you're using one of the other decks and would like some thoughts, just let me know.
|
|
|
Post by gabochido on Apr 21, 2012 2:23:10 GMT -5
Awesome.. just awesome Kennon, thanks!!!
Now, I just need to digest it all, breath... and have revenge on my wife for all that whoopin!
I'll have Ned Stark's head in my trophy room!
|
|
|
Post by RockBass on Apr 22, 2012 13:11:03 GMT -5
Alright. I'm sold. Now I just need to find other people in the area to play this with.
|
|
kennon
Is Super Cool
Posts: 125
|
Post by kennon on Apr 22, 2012 22:41:22 GMT -5
Lol, if I might ask, what sold you?
|
|
|
Post by RockBass on Apr 23, 2012 9:15:33 GMT -5
Both the similarities and differences to Magic: the Gathering. Especially the idea that I can pick it up and not have to do any rare chasing if my wife and I just want to play it on occassion.
|
|
|
Post by jcrodd7776 on Apr 23, 2012 11:34:37 GMT -5
OK I'm a loser and ran out yesterday and bought GOT card game watched video on how to play and went to website next logical question is what to buy next? let me know
|
|
kennon
Is Super Cool
Posts: 125
|
Post by kennon on Apr 23, 2012 22:41:04 GMT -5
Lol, well, I'd say that the house boxed expansions are the way to go. There are actually, six houses in the game, but only 4 in the Core Set, so two of them are must buys if you want a taste of all the houses. If you don't mind me asking what sorts of things that you tend to enjoy playing most in MtG and I might be able to point you to houses and decks that play to a somewhat similar style (and thus, what you might want to buy first).
|
|
kennon
Is Super Cool
Posts: 125
|
Post by kennon on May 13, 2012 10:01:32 GMT -5
Gabo, it's been a few weeks.... any luck?
|
|
|
Post by gabochido on May 13, 2012 21:29:25 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I just haven't had a chance to play at all. My wife being 7 months pregnant doesn't help either.
|
|
kennon
Is Super Cool
Posts: 125
|
Post by kennon on May 20, 2012 17:48:01 GMT -5
Ah well, them's the breaks. If you or anyone ever wants to try out a game online through OCTGN, I'd be willing to try out a match.
|
|