Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Round 6 – Josh Knitt – 5-3

I was still feeling great when I went in to this game, simply because one loss at nationals, is ‘usually’ not a problem. So I was still calm and relaxed, however, no disrespect to Josh, who I’ve played a half dozen times in the last two years, I don’t remember anything about the game, I think I may have been the least concerned during this game, despite the considerable skill of my opponent.

Round 7 – Randall K – 5-4

I knew Randall’s offence was disciples because I had sat next to him for two games earlier in the tournament – I was mildly concerned because despite the fact that I’d beaten Gabe’s similar disciple deck earlier, they were ‘the offence’ this year, and they are quite, quite good. In the end, I feel that I got off, really, really, really lucky this game – Randall decided to go for a FTM, or perhaps it was a second, and to do so dropped SoG+NJ on the second turn. This allowed me to do LS manipulation through the roof, and then I had two turns where with less than 15 cards and 6 souls in the deck I didn’t draw any. This gave me the time that I needed to rescue souls, as he was playing a stereotypical speed-style defense that didn’t scare me very much, if at all.

Round 8 – Isabelle Reuter – 5-3

Man, even win I’m winning, I can’t win. Not only did I beat Britta earlier, now I’ve got to face ‘Belle’ and now I truly do have half the tournament routing against me, because lets admit, how awesome would it be for her to win/place/etc. We were both 6-1 at the time, and the winner was going to be in really great position. Lo and behold – Pharaoh’s Throne Room! I saw as many Egyptian Defenses as I did Disciples offenses, I also beat them all.. I really didn’t want to beat up on the lovely ladies, but it was nationals, and I am a competitive player.


Round 9 – Andrew Wester – 5-1

Sweet, round 9, and I’m still rocking and rolling. Matt had just lost to Andrew last round, so I was slightly worried that I might as well, because Andrew was turtling. However the fact that Matt had lost meant that if he lost once more in the next two rounds, I had a shot at the tournament. This game was very interesting, and I’m very glad that Andrew has a different defensive philosophy than I do, because if I was in his chair, I would have played a play differently that probably changed the course of the game. I managed to pick up a free TGT soul because Andrew wasn’t drawing well, and decided to try to race me. I also got a pretty easy soul early on, so I’m up 2-1, but now Andrew has enough defenders down that TGT will not be ignoring anybody. He has Magic Charms on Manny in territory, as well as KoT, so the Lydia in my hand won’t do me much good, and the two character TGT band that I have won’t get past Magic Charms, so I need some way to fuse the two of them together. I decide to make him play Charms – and rescue with the two TGT ladies. Andrew surprises me by blocking with Philistine Armor Bearer – and searching for Goliath!!!! Suddenly I can fuse those two ideas together after all. I play Lydia and drop the Boat. That gets me to three, and next turn I get the second half of the big two for a relatively painless victory. We talked after the game, and Andrew told me that his deck was built on the premise of making people waste cards, and that Charms was a last resort. I caught him off guard with the Lydia exchange, and he couldn’t counter.

Round 10 – John Nesfeder – 5-2

I was actually sitting in seat one for this game as my differential was a soul better than Matt’s. If I won and Matt lost (He beat Belle in round 9) I win, anything else, and I’m out of luck. In fact, I was fairly certain that two loses would knock me entirely out of placing (as is, I would have taken third) John was playing a disciples deck, with a stereotypical speed defense, and the game was about as stereotypical as they go – It certainly helps to hit your opponents Son of God with Samaritan Water Jar. [EDIT:] Apparently I didn't do this play against John, but I know that SWJ certainly had some really nice hits, and did hit at least one SoG when it mattered. [EDIT] As luck would have it, Matt won as well, so I finished my tournament at 9 and 1, with a +22 LS differential, and second place – Out of 98 people, I think I’ll take second place most days of the week.

Yeah, I probably confused the game, after 10 rounds most of them blur together - I'll amend that tomorrow as well. Nah, stereotypical speed defense is Gomer, Uzzah, KoT, A's Slave, Plot, etc.

I was fully prepared to rip a plot against you by the way - It would have been the first time I had ripped one in tournament play with this deck.

Some minor details have been corrected, and the deck has been posted and linked to.

Let me clean it up a bit, fix the grammar, see if I can remember any more details of the games, and then I'll get it to you - When do you need it by?

*continuing complaint* I was playing Phillies, not speed-style.  Other than that, great read!

Well, in that case, yes.  I've always imagined "speed style" as more of a splash defense.  I did have three enhancements (all interrupts), intended to make you waste your non-cbn stuff.  Not that it helped.