Cactus Game Design Message Boards

With Disciples being so dominating over not just defenses, but voted as top brigade head and shoulders above the rest, why use other brigades and strategies if you are playing competitively?

Most people are splashing Disciples with what they think to be the most balanced mix, and I even commented earlier this year saying how the top deck at nationals will be the deck that can consistently beat Disciples, which also means the best Disciples deck possibly. I think if it was not for the new sites hurting each colors main offensive weapon, then more colors would be played this year. But every offensive weapon was nulled this year, and Thaddeus is a beast. So why use other brigades? My favorite offense is Gold/White. TGT ladies with He Is Risen, and TC converts for gold, throw some Abomb in for defense and you're golden. But now Chorazin stops TC and Golgotha stops TGT, I'm not complaining I am just stating that I can no longer use that strategy. Yes I can add Benedictus/Consider the Lillies, but that takes away from my offense, which makes it weaker. Nazareth hurts a lot, if not almost all, of greens majority battle winners, silver is still lacking, same with red, and blue took a big hit due to Zebulun/Jacob getting slapped by Golgotha. So really that only leaves the new shiny Disciples who have so much to offer, didn't get hurt, has new battle winners, new bands, multiple new ways to keep them alive, can draw, can search, and Fishing Boat for infinite protected site access. Which I would like to add how much I love to use sites for T2 defense, no point really anymore thanks to FBoat/CP.
So saying all this I go back to my original question, do you think there is going to be less versatility in MN for Nats '11 due to Disciples being so strong? Or do you think maybe in a few months people will not have room for every site in their deck and other colors will be played again? I just hope the new set brings about characters/TC enhs/artifacts that negate sites for a turn, or a set aside for X amount of turns sites are negated. I am beyond excited for nationals this year, but at the same time I'm thinking to myself, am I going to be playing 6 rounds of type 2 2 player, 4 of those rounds I will probably see the same offense...I sure do hope not.

If Captain is giving you the blues with a Phars defense, a WC character with Bow and Arrow is a good answer.

The only thing Ive seen is A Soldiers Prayer abuse with Trumpet and Sword but not alot. Thadd stops demon defences too. No trembling demon abuse this year. All in all I would very much practice the mirror match if I was you guys and try to find some tech to stop the guy across the table from you as he'll probably be playing something from the above.

And with that I leave you with this...Mayhem turn 1 is hard to beat but any other time it usually helps so...To Nazzy or not to Nazzy-that is the question.

Disciples will be the most common offense, but not as common as you may think. I'm pretty sure only 4ish people used Disciples at the T2 only. I do agree with Sauce that you'll probably only see threeish offenses (if you're lucky) after the first few rounds.

As far as defenses go, Pharisees are super super common, as they play first immunity or protection. I'm guessing at nats that'll be different. Herods can hurt disciples the most, but aren't the best way to stop disciples. Demons aren't as bad as you think, unless they use ET (which I don't think many do), you have Strong Demon to beast their Thad. Also, a splash magician or W/C defense with Gib's Trick, Forgotten History, and the Plot would stall plenty long. Phillies are also going to be great with Goliath's Armor and Goliath, not to mention Land Dispute to take out the sites that kill your offense.

And never forget side battles. 

There were five.

Disciples will be the most common offense, but not as common as you may think. I'm pretty sure only 4ish people used Disciples at the T2 only.

And those four people took first, third, fourth, and in the tournament. That kind of success breed imitation. You also need to remember the T2 only doesn't accurately predict future popularity. The year when Priests came out, I was the only player at the T2 only to play PG banding with 2kH and Forgotten History. At MN State a few months later six of the the top seven spots went to that defense.

And never forget side battles. 

In general side battles are a bit too iffy to count on as a primary strategy.

I took 9th wtih Disciples, but I lost the last round to the Disciples deck that placed 2nd, so I was in there furing the last round.

Not true >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c >:c

No way. We both had the same points, but my differential was fantastic.

I know somebody else (don't really want to give it away...just in case) used Disciples, but their deck was actually gardenciples, so I didn't count that.

Having checked in all the decks at the Type 2 only, I think Type 2 will have plenty of versatility in it at Nationals. (My three deck checkers couldn't make it at the last minute.) I feel that a Disciples deck is pretty predictable and since it came out early as the favorite strategy, players will have good ways to counter it by Nationals. There is alot of creativity in the Redemption Type 2 community and not all will come succumb to the lure of the Disciples. North Central Regions on Memorial Day Weekend will be a good test.

On the bright side, every round you lose will decrease your chance of facing a disciples deck. 

Everything Syrians play is protected if Thad has enough of his homies out. So I don't see Syrians hurting Di too much.

I think the top states/regionals will showcase the most popular decks, and the winners of those tournaments, like every year, will have their deck re-created for nationals, if just depends on what is used at these tournaments, and if people are prepared for the top decks/offenses. The best way to beat Disciples is to win before the end of the game. You have to have counters throughout the game in order to stop their attacks and stall them, so you can win first, before crazy man Thad comes to town with his homies.