Battle for Atlanta 2012 - League Updates
30 Jan 2012 01:12 #22042
by Haze
Replied by Haze on topic Re: Battle for Atlanta 2012 - League Updates
Rather than reporting on individual league games, I thought it'd be more interesting to write up about the deckbuilding itself. Similar to the deck-mashup project, new players can get a feel for how an experienced player constructs their deck with a limited card pool -- in this case with one starter, a few boosters, and some promos (and/or giveaways). Other league players might read this and find out the contents of my deck, but they've probably already seen it, so eh. There's a limited card pool so it's not like they can easily metagame around it.
---
Before the league started I looked through the starters and decided I wanted LOTN Ravnos as my first pick. I was worried someone else would take it before me, but nobody else was interested in it so I got it. I think it's a very strong toolbox deck with stealth, bleed, permanent intercept, combat... it can do it all! and the Week of Nightmares is perfect for wrapping up a game, or at least scoring an oust. Getting 0.5 VPs in the league has no reward, so there's no reason at all to survive until a timeout. Most importantly, I had never played a standard Ravnos toolbox before, so this would be something new and fun to play with for half a year.
For those curious, my backup picks were either Akunanse or Toreador Antitribu . the Akunanse is another good toolbox, if slightly weaker, but I had already built a lot of similar Akunanse decks so I'd probably get bored playing it. the Tori-Anti deck seems weak by itself, but I think it has a lot of potential when improved by boosters. It even comes with a Palla Grande, and it's not too hard to find more in 3rd Edition.
(I almost considered the Gangrel Antitribu for a challenge, to play as the weak underdog. Maybe next time.)
---
Deck building time. The weaknesses of the Ravnos starter I wanted to fix was the low amount of pool gain, and very few wakes to support the raven spies. The boosters that would help me most are Lords of the Night, 3rd Edition, and Kindred Most Wanted, so I focused on those (also got one Gehenna pack, which was kind of a gamble since the set mostly sucks). I can't remember every single card I got, just the ones that interested me. Also the crypt selection was weird, with everyone trying to dial-a-crypt, so I won't go too much into that as it has nothing to do with normal constructed play. Though I did put a Hazimel in my crypt, which may be important later.
ACTION MODIFIERS: I added in a False Resonance and another Zapaderin, and also one more Leverage. I took out the Forced March since nobody in my crypt could play it anymore.
MASTERS: one of the rares was Kumpania. permanent ravnos intercept, very lucky! also got a King's Rising, which is risky poolgain. it's great in the late game, but I ended up drawing it in my opening hand every game, doh. most of the masters in the starter are already very useful, but Ravnos Carnival can be taken out. I don't have that many action cards to begin with so it's not very useful, but I might add it back in if I find some Tumnimos or Procurers. I also added 2 Blood Dolls from the promo freebies. 13 Masters + 2 Trifles is a pretty nice number.
REACTIONS: This needs the most work, but I did find what I needed. I opened a Fillip, Forced Vigilance, and Sense the Savage Way, and then I traded with a player for one more copy of Savage Way. My first promo freebie was a Wake. Hopefully now I can use those Raven Spies effectively. Pseudo-Blindness just had to be cut out, the opportunity cost is terrible. Why couldn't the starter have included Draba instead?
COMBAT: Don't need 2 copies of Mayaparisatya! though I kept 1 as a nice surprise card (a lot of
decks were chosen). nobody knows what Fata Amria does, therefore I HAVE to use it. I got a few more various prevention cards that I added in, but probably too many. Undying Tenacity was added but is relatively weak so it should be dropped. At this point I'm noticing I'm using far more than 
so I make sure to adjust my crypt towards those disciplines.
ACTIONS AND EQUIPMENT: the 3rd Edition packs gave me Revelations and a Lunatic Eruption. Hazimel has
, and quite a few other Ravnos have 
, so I put both in. High opportunity cost, but they can be very powerful surprises if I get to play them! I also got a Sport Bike and Assault Rifle. I need to play a few more games to decide if I should really include those or not, but they're nice options for later.
now the library is about 84 cards. a bit chunky and it has no card-cyclers. a focused deck like Setites would be ideal at 60-70 cards, but since this is a toolbox the goal is somewhere between 70-80. next game I'll try to filter some more of the combat out. and maybe I don't really need that Talith...
---
Before the league started I looked through the starters and decided I wanted LOTN Ravnos as my first pick. I was worried someone else would take it before me, but nobody else was interested in it so I got it. I think it's a very strong toolbox deck with stealth, bleed, permanent intercept, combat... it can do it all! and the Week of Nightmares is perfect for wrapping up a game, or at least scoring an oust. Getting 0.5 VPs in the league has no reward, so there's no reason at all to survive until a timeout. Most importantly, I had never played a standard Ravnos toolbox before, so this would be something new and fun to play with for half a year.
For those curious, my backup picks were either Akunanse or Toreador Antitribu . the Akunanse is another good toolbox, if slightly weaker, but I had already built a lot of similar Akunanse decks so I'd probably get bored playing it. the Tori-Anti deck seems weak by itself, but I think it has a lot of potential when improved by boosters. It even comes with a Palla Grande, and it's not too hard to find more in 3rd Edition.
(I almost considered the Gangrel Antitribu for a challenge, to play as the weak underdog. Maybe next time.)
---
Deck building time. The weaknesses of the Ravnos starter I wanted to fix was the low amount of pool gain, and very few wakes to support the raven spies. The boosters that would help me most are Lords of the Night, 3rd Edition, and Kindred Most Wanted, so I focused on those (also got one Gehenna pack, which was kind of a gamble since the set mostly sucks). I can't remember every single card I got, just the ones that interested me. Also the crypt selection was weird, with everyone trying to dial-a-crypt, so I won't go too much into that as it has nothing to do with normal constructed play. Though I did put a Hazimel in my crypt, which may be important later.
ACTION MODIFIERS: I added in a False Resonance and another Zapaderin, and also one more Leverage. I took out the Forced March since nobody in my crypt could play it anymore.
MASTERS: one of the rares was Kumpania. permanent ravnos intercept, very lucky! also got a King's Rising, which is risky poolgain. it's great in the late game, but I ended up drawing it in my opening hand every game, doh. most of the masters in the starter are already very useful, but Ravnos Carnival can be taken out. I don't have that many action cards to begin with so it's not very useful, but I might add it back in if I find some Tumnimos or Procurers. I also added 2 Blood Dolls from the promo freebies. 13 Masters + 2 Trifles is a pretty nice number.
REACTIONS: This needs the most work, but I did find what I needed. I opened a Fillip, Forced Vigilance, and Sense the Savage Way, and then I traded with a player for one more copy of Savage Way. My first promo freebie was a Wake. Hopefully now I can use those Raven Spies effectively. Pseudo-Blindness just had to be cut out, the opportunity cost is terrible. Why couldn't the starter have included Draba instead?
COMBAT: Don't need 2 copies of Mayaparisatya! though I kept 1 as a nice surprise card (a lot of
decks were chosen). nobody knows what Fata Amria does, therefore I HAVE to use it. I got a few more various prevention cards that I added in, but probably too many. Undying Tenacity was added but is relatively weak so it should be dropped. At this point I'm noticing I'm using far more than so I make sure to adjust my crypt towards those disciplines.ACTIONS AND EQUIPMENT: the 3rd Edition packs gave me Revelations and a Lunatic Eruption. Hazimel has
, and quite a few other Ravnos have , so I put both in. High opportunity cost, but they can be very powerful surprises if I get to play them! I also got a Sport Bike and Assault Rifle. I need to play a few more games to decide if I should really include those or not, but they're nice options for later.now the library is about 84 cards. a bit chunky and it has no card-cyclers. a focused deck like Setites would be ideal at 60-70 cards, but since this is a toolbox the goal is somewhere between 70-80. next game I'll try to filter some more of the combat out. and maybe I don't really need that Talith...
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