Cactus Game Design Message Boards

That depends on how much bluffing is being done with the Nazareth talk.

Here's one.

http://www.cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/complete-decks/the-deck/

The Deck isn't a deck, it's a concept.

Agreed. It's like saying "Speed" is a specific deck.

If the deck is an idea/concept... then what exactly is the idea or concept of it?

If the deck is an idea/concept... then what exactly is the idea or concept of it?

Basically (from my understanding) it's a mix of Speed and Power. I've never piloted The Deck, but I have played vs. several iterations. It uses a variety of speed cards (the draw set asides, AutO, Samuel, Wheel to tutor Auto, Isaiah, etc) to be fast, and it relies a lot on small CBN banding combinations (Simeon/Jacob->AutO->Moses, Aaron->Moses, Daniel->Michael, Seraph->Isaiah, Samuel->David, etc.) but doesn't typically do large banding chains (Seraph->Daniel->Michael is usually the biggest chain from what I've seen). Good enhancements are typically relatively few in number, and are most often negates or interrupts, sometimes combined with a battle winning ability, and often are able to be made CBN (Live Coal on Isaiah, Striking Herod on Michael, Edict on Samuel). Isaiah with Call, Daniel, and Moses all stop EC abilities, and the interrupts/negates stop most EEs.

Defense is smallish, but are probably the most varied part among iterations of The Deck. They are bigger than the old 5 character, 1 enhancement defenses of yore,   but still range from 10-14 cards maximum.

Weaknesses are soul drought (though Hopper, Assyrian Survivor/Cupbearer/TAS are usually staples) and large defenses that draw well. I have been most successful vs. iterations of The Deck with my Heroless Herods and Sadducees deck, though a poor draw on my part will allow the Deck player to get to 5 before my defense is built up enough.

Foreign Wives, Scattered, and Strife were designed with The Deck and Martin's Championship FBTNB deck in mind. I'm sure that the concept will still do well, but there are a few more considerations that need to be made now (Kidron Valley and/or Kerith Ravine may need to be used to stop Household Idols, possibly multiple times, due to Foreign Wives).

It's a lot of people's deck. Ergo why it got the name "The Deck."