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Redemption® Collectible Trading Card Game HQ => Deck Building & Design => National Tournament Winners => Topic started by: Red Dragon Thorn on August 14, 2011, 01:01:00 PM

Title: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Red Dragon Thorn on August 14, 2011, 01:01:00 PM
Player: John Earley
Cards in deck: 51
Lost Souls: 8
   Lost Soul (anti-burial)
   Lost Soul (Female Only)
   Lost Soul (hopper)
   Lost Soul (N.T. only)
   Lost Soul (revealer)
   Lost Soul (shuffler)
   Lost Soul (Wanderer)
   Lost Souls (3-line)

Lamb Dominants: 5
   Angel of the Lord
   Guardian Of Your Souls
   Harvest Time
   New Jerusalem
   Son of God

Grim Reaper Dominants: 4
   Burial
   Christian Martyr
   Destruction of Nehushtan
   Falling Away

Fortresses: 1
   The Garden Tomb

Artifacts: 4
   Holy Grail
   Samaritan Water Jar
   Temple Veil
   Unholy Writ

Multi-Color Heroes: 1
   Faithful Servant

White Heroes: 6
   John Earley (4/4 Musician, Returns a Hymn to bottom of deck)
   Joanna
   Lydia
   Mary the Mother of James
   Salome
   Susanna

Red Heroes: 1
   Peter

Gold Heroes: 2
   The Thankful Leper
   The Woman at the Well

Purple Heroes: 2
   John
   Lois

Multi-Color Hero Enhancements: 5
   Benedictus (Teal/White)
   First Fruits
   Lay Down Your Life
   Pentecost
   Preaching the Truth

White Hero Enhancements: 3
   Consider the Lilies
   'He Is Risen'
   Words of Encouragement

Gold Hero Enhancements: 1
   Meeting the Messiah

Purple Hero Enhancements: 2
   Authority of Christ
   Reach of Desperation

Gold Evil Characters: 1
   King of Tyrus

Gray Evil Characters: 1
   Sabbath Breaker

Brown Evil Characters: 2
   Gomer
   Uzzah

Brown Evil Enhancements: 1
   Haman's Plot

As you can see, this deck is a slightly modified version of this deck (http://www.cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/complete-decks/the-water-garden-(t12p-nc-regionals-1st-place)/msg366205/#msg366205) So I'll let you read that for most of the commentary - The changes between the two decks were actually quite simple:

Out of 2010 version:

Three Nails
Joanna (Green)
The Generous Widow
Convincing Miracle

In 2011 version:

John Earley
Joanna (White)
Benedictus
Lay Down your Life

The Joanna change is pretty much irrelevant, but I really liked the other three changes - I can't count the number of times Lay Down your Life saved me from CM. Benedictus was a no-brainer to me because of Golgatha, but I don't think I used it once to stop Golgatha. The custom hero was in because c'mon, how legit is that, and because I wanted a way to recur Benedictus, Ethan was in version 2 and 3.

I only played the deck in two tournaments this year - NC regionals where I tied for third at 5-1, and Nationals where I placed second at 9-1. I have never ripped a plot whilst playing this deck, and only strongly considered playing it twice, against John N. in the last round at Nationals, but he had AotL available so I didn't get the chance to. And then against Matt I had it, but had no way of getting a character into battle against his TGT, otherwise I would have played it there as well.
Title: Re: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Smokey on August 14, 2011, 03:34:14 PM
Inb4 Alex_O "I WAS RIGHT SON, TGT IS THE BEEZ KNEEZ" ect.

How did Faithful servant work out for you?

Grats on your sucess.

What's the word on Custom heroes btw? I heard something about them being banned for this season.
Title: Re: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Red on August 14, 2011, 06:04:59 PM
This deck is FTW.  modding a deck from last season that shouldn't work anymore and getting 2nd place at the biggest tournament in 2 years is epic.(It shouldn't work as good if di sites were played but they weren't)
Title: Re: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Josh on August 14, 2011, 07:08:10 PM
Ok, I've got to ask.  Why no Mayhem?
Title: Re: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Red Dragon Thorn on August 14, 2011, 07:39:17 PM
Because, despite it's crazy popularity, the chance of drawing it in the opening hand, and the perception that a FTM will win you the game most of the time, I simply don't think its that good. I had three people play first or second turn Mayhem's against me - I beat 2 of them, and the game I lost (to Matt) wasn't necessarily because of mayhem. Also, in order to truly take advantage of Mayhem, it helps to be able to get, and keep your hand at a small number. This deck tends to play a bit enhancement heavy, and I hate to play down my EC's, so I can't use it very effectively. The only reason I would consider playing it would be for lost soul generation, and I think I've got plenty of that already.
Title: Re: 2011 T1-2P 2nd Place
Post by: Gabe on August 16, 2011, 02:31:36 PM
Great job piloting this deck in T1-2P, John. As much as I enjoy playing you I was not thrilled to start off the event like that. I know any game against you is going to be a challenge. The deck is blazingly fast and in your hands, downright lethal. Congrats on obtaining a placing that's congruent with the skill level I've always known you possess.
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