Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Player: Jonathan Greeson

I thought why just post a deck without the thought process behind it.  Afterall, the thought process gives a little extra insight into what the deck can do.

Ultimately, this is the "little deck that could."  It has a lot of naysayers, you may be one too after seeing it, but it was effective.
   The Goal:  Not to be stopped defensively.
After playing several defensive decks on RooT, spotting the success of "TealTomb," and having someone tell me that prophets "at best, are the 5th toughest offense but that's being generous."  I decided to build a unique deck of my own.
   I wanted 7 battle winners in this deck without dominants which would bring my total to 11 winners for 5 lost souls.  I wanted the deck to be able to cut through anything.

The Evolution of the deck:
   It started out as a 51 card deck with "Spiritual Warfare" and "The Garden Tomb."
Prophets would be used to clear a player's territory and deck if needed while the Teal's power would rule the day in battle.  Joanna was a splash in to milk off other people's Garden Tombs while giving me access to the 2 Lost Souls that Priests and Prophets historically have struggled reaching.
   As I played, I realized that I used my own Tomb less and less and that Zechariah negates my own Ignores (Spiritual Warfare being a prime example.)  At the same time, I realized that my Philistines, by themselves, weren't holding the line long enough in some games.
  Therefore, I took out 2 good cards and added 4 evil cards. 
  Did I want the deck smaller?  Absolutely, but I stubbornly refuse to leave my basic premise of being able to win without my SoG/NJ.  Mostly, because in games, they are typically in the bottom half of my deck.  It's just the way it goes with me.

   As I played, TGT annoyed me more and more.  I decided to do something about it.  I added Image of Jealousy to start shutting down annoying heroes and forts.  It was a gamble, but a worthwhile one IMO.  Especially, when a big weakness to this deck's defense is John.

  Another note, I would bounce between the 1st Rounder and the Anti-Burial.  I found that the 1st Rounder was more useful in most of my cases, so I decided to just stick with it.

Cards I wished I could find places for:
   Darius Decree:   to slow down other strong offenses (but I ran out of Art spots)
   Household Idols:  see Darius Decree
   Destructive Sin:  With 1 demon, it just didn't seem practical
   Gifts plus Feast of Trumpets:  More drawing would have been great, I kind of regret maybe not pulling the trigger on these two.

The Most Controversial Card in the Deck:
   Habakkuk Stands Watch
  Call me stubborn, sentimental, or a Noob with a medal, but I like this card.  A LOT of the top players don't like it and think I'm crazy for putting it in.  At least, hear/read my side of the story before you take me off to the "farm"....it's mostly for sitelock but there are other benefits. 
   1.  Most sitelocks can deal with Arts and Sites...they can't deal with territory class enhancements.
   2.  It kept out annoying weapons especially horses.
   3.  If the above 2 don't exist, then it cleared out territories for my Priests of Christ to roll through.
   4.  It cleared out that one site for Land Dispute to pop an annoying Fort.
   5.  It gave me great numbers for crucial wins against a Gomer/KoT combo.
   6.  It can be First Fruits fodder in a pinch.
   7.  It can serve as other discard fodder in a pinch.
The top players still don't agree with me and you may not either...but I'm stubborn like that.  As for help, it made a crucial difference in several of my games.  Other games, it was as worthless as the top players say.  Judge me if you will, but I'm glad I won with it in my deck.

Ultimately, this deck is best described as Priests/Prophets (Pr²) and included a little bit of everything.

I stopped keeping records a while back, and tried to concentrate on fun at Nationals (since I am leaving for a while) but here are some notable accomplishments with this deck without remembering the exact record.
    It took 2nd in June ROOT (when I was testing it), won NY States, 3rd at MW Regionals (took 1 loss on a draw IMO), and won Nationals.

This deck gave me a chance in every game I played, and I enjoyed playing it immensely.

Rd 1:  Tyler Stevens    Win: 5-0
    Tyler did a good job describing this game, it ultimately came down to 1 rescue to decide the outcome. The score did not indicate how this match went. Had he blocked me, he potentially could have won 5-4.  I gave him everything & squeaked out the win in that final battle.  A well-timed Mayhem helped as I emptied my hand to 6 to make sure I got every card back because I knew I would need it the next battle while trying to cripple him.
Rd 2:  Alex Olijar    Win: 5-0
     Alex had decided to go with a heavy defensive deck.  The game was a blur, but it seems like I won every battle that I went in with, this game was over quickly.
Rd 3:  Martin Miller   Loss: 5-2  (5-3)
    Martin opened up with one of the sickest draws I'd ever seen. (Guardian, TSA, AotL, 2 ECs, Mayhem + 2 LSs to decide who goes 1st)  I had a decent draw, but I couldn't keep up with Martin.  He seemed to get everything.  Towards the end, I started to make a move. I had a ruling go against me (I didn't know until the end of the game) which wasn't game changing but would have netted me 1 more LS.  I never saw my SoG/NJ combo and FA popped me too.  It was an ugly game that I had to suffer.
Rd 4: Nick Archik   Win: 5-2
    I don't remember much b/c I was still rattled from the beating of the last game, pretty disheartened, & doubting my deck.  Gabe encouraged me prior to the game to stick with my deck or I would regret it. This game was close & I ultimately pulled the "big 2" before Nick did.  
Rd 5:  Mike Mencino(sp?)  Win: 5-1
     I remembered getting a good draw, & I kept the pedal to the floor.  This game was over quick.  There is no way Mike could have enjoyed this game.  A week later & I can't tell you his O or D.
Rd 6:  Justin Santangillo  Win: 5-2
     This game went back & forth as far as "momentum" can go in Redemption.  Ultimately, I got the break-through I needed & pulled out the win.  The thing that stood out to me is JDS likes shuffling in piles, & I was going to make him do it a lot with my prophets, & I was worried we would time out with the shuffling.
Rd 7:  Clayton Stupenski    Win: 5-3 or 4
     This was an amazing game when it comes to momentum & what Mayhem can do.  Clayton was the last undefeated person & I had 1st crack at him.  The game started amazingly in my favor.  In fact, Clayton blocked from hand 3 times against Priests of Christ!  (I grabbed Guardian with the first rescue.)  I couldn't believe it.  I had 2 LSs, guardian, the big 2 in hand....that is when it happened...he CMed my PoC.  Drew his cards, played SoG/NJ (he snagged them early in the game) & then dropped Mayhem after a successful rescue.  He was now up on me 3-2 & my dominants were gone.  He started rolling...we go back and forth until a fateful move:  I get Mayhem.  After I play it,  I pull out my 2-Liner, I roll through for a rescue; we are tied & I'm about decked.  I can give up one block with my 2 Liner, & I just needed my combo back for the win.  Ultimately, I get it before he could get through anymore.
Rd 8:  Nic Marshall   5-2 or 3
     This game was a rematch from MW Regionals where he bested me with a better draw (that & I forgot to put Uzzah in my deck from a T2 switchover-->I found out mid-game.)  I knew his deck & he knew mine.  I had the better starting draw, & I didn't let up.  It was a tough game, but I was able to stay one step ahead of him.  I joked with him later that I would rather take Nats any day over a Regionals.  He is a great young up & coming player!
Round 9:  Championship Round  Matt Stupenski
     This turned out to be a rematch of a June RooT game.  Matt earned the distinction of the 2nd sickest draw I had seen in T1.  He got his combo in the opening hand (Abom, High Places, + a Greek), and he drew the most LSs.  Nathan is going to prove useful if I could get him out quick enough.  Eventually, I get Nathan 2 turns later.  No more Abom, for 2 turns, he gets it back almost immediately.  The 2nd time is when he started doing damage against me.  He killed my CoF so I couldn't recur Nathan anymore.  After his Mayhem, I get Nathan back.  I get rid of Abom again.  In the meantime, I go after his deck with Hidden Treasures...1st by popping Pride of Simon.  With Nathan back, I shuffle away his Abom just to pop it with HT; Nathan is beat for the final time.  We are holding each other off through different plays and stops as time runs down.  Neither of us have played the big 2.  Time expires as I get one more chance to run in.  If I get in, then I win outright.  If I don't then a tie is Matt's best possible scenario if he has the big 2 because I've decked out.  He stubbornly throws everything at me to take away the taste of victory.  My heavy offense had ran dry.  I play the "big 2", and he adds his 2 w/ mine.  Neither of us could best the other in a 4-4 tie.  It was a GREAT game!

He stayed to catch the Sox game tonight since he's a fan. Unfotrunately they weren't in town until today.

He stayed to catch the Sox game tonight since he's a fan. Unfotrunately they weren't in town until today.

I'm a fan of baseball to be clear to everyone, and my dream is to visit all 30 MLB parks.  IMO, if you are a fan of baseball, then you don't want to miss Fenway when you get the chance.

Some noob without a TGT deck won nats? NOWAI 

he's not from Iowa.

I'm surprised this deck worked. great job!

Is Land Dispute your only way to deal with sites?

I didn't see that in there..... guess I should do more than skim the list

I didn't see that in there..... guess I should do more than skim the list

Don't worry, most people don't know what Habbakuk Stand's Watch does because nobody plays it.  

Congrats, Jonathan.  This was your year, buddy!  Well done!

Good job, I am glad you won!

on that note, SoulSeeker was the only open category winner who was not from the NC Region.

If you were to keep this deck now, what disciples additions would you use?

Quote from: TheHobbit13 on August 19, 2010, 08:32:01 PM

Good job, I am glad you won!

on that note, you were the only open category winner who was not from the NC Region.

If you were to keep this deck now, what disciples additions would you use?

I can't honestly answer this question because I don't have the complete set yet.  I like to know all my options first.  Plus, disciples has helped one of my other decks get stronger so I will probably tinker with that first. 

Unfortunately, all of the above will get put on hold when my Master's classes start Monday.  So my future in Redemption is kind of up in the air.

Hey,

Don't worry, most people don't know what Habbakuk Stand's Watch does because nobody plays it.  

Not anymore   I loved the flexibility of that card, but I just couldn't find enough viable green cards to put with it.

Tschow,

Tim "Sir Nobody" Maly

Congrats Soul Seeker.  Haven't played you in a long while, but you were always a tough player.  Again, congrats.

Daniel

 

I loved playing our game at regionals cuz we actually had battles, this was more of a "i hope i draw this card b4 he does" lol i still enjoyed, congrats on the win, (and actually i did switch around a few cards - captured ark...uhhh...CA....and that card that is two words and end with "ark"....