Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Since I was allowed to create this new sub-board, I wanted to use it to also not only help new playgroup leaders but to help possibly refine current leaders methods (myself included).  Since I wrote my articles (Part 1 & Part 2) I've adjusted my tier lists based on what I felt a new group leader could/can't do.  I have made some cards harder to acquire than before, but it will also allow me to be much more generous than I had originally planned, and have been before.  So now my personal tier lists are as follows:




All cards from Limited/Unlimited, Prophets, Apostles, Patriarchs, Faith of our Fathers & Rock of Ages.
Commons/Uncommons from Kings, Angel Wars & Priests.




Rares from Kings, Angel Wars & Priests.
Commons from Early Church, Persecuted Church, Cloud of Witnesses, Revelation of John, Fall of Man & Prophecies of Christ.
All non-ultra rares from Warriors
All cards from Women, G/H Starter Decks, I/J Starter Decks, TxP & Disciples.
All current rotation promos such as all Local, District & winners (on Cactus' tournament form) as well as all State, Regional & National promos given out all those tournaments.

Cards upgraded from the previous tier: Haman's Plot




Ultra-rares from Warriors, Kings, Angel Wars & Priests.
Rares from Early Church, Persecuted Church, Cloud of Witnesses, Revelation of John, Fall of Man & Prophecies of Christ.
All A/B Starter deck (only), C/D Starter Decks, E/F Starter Decks, "non-rotation" promos.

Cards upgraded from the previous tier: 3 Liner LS, Chariot of Fire (WA), Crown of Thorns, My Lord and My God & Prosperity LS




Older Cards: 2-Liner LS, Harvest Time (WA), Holy Grail (WA), King of Tyrus (PS), Michael (WA) & New Jerusalem (WA).

Early Church: The False Prophet, Evil Sacrifices, Peace & The god of this World.1

Persecuted Church: Awake LS.

Cloud of Witnesses: Falling Away, You Will Remain, Coliseum, Dull LS, Forsaken LS, Kinsmen's Agreement, Joshua son of Nun, Moses, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, The Angel of the Winds, Nimrod the mighty, Every Man's Sword, Confusion, Paying Taxes & Treasures of War.

Revelation of John: Guardian of your Souls, Golden Censer, Image of the Beast, Covenant of Prayer, New Jerusalem / Bride of Christ, The Ends of the Earth, Babylon / The Harlot, Humble LS, Imitate LS, Behemoth, The Four Living Creatures, Not Alone, The Strong Angel, The Twenty-Four Elders, Dragon's Wrath, Abaddon the Destroyer & The Deceiver.

Fall of Man: Covet LS, Rubble and Dust & Vindicated LS.

Prophecies of Christ: Chariot of Fire, Orphans LS & Exiles LS.

Promos: Caleb, Chariot of Fire, Faithful Servant, Joshua (Settlers), Majestic Heavens, Nicolas of Antioch, Rapha of Gath, Seeker of the Lost & Soldier of God.




Older Cards: Falling Away (WO), Grapes of Wrath, King of Tyrus (WA) & Mayhem

Early Church: Love

Persecuted Church: Christ's Triumph, Silly Women & Holy Grail.

Cloud of Witnesses: Broken Covenant & Eternal Inheritance

Revelation of John: Michael, the Archangel & Red Dragon

Fall of Man: The Fall of Man, The Wages of Sin

Prophecies of Christ: The Book of the Covenant & The Emmaus Road

Promos: Glory of the Lord, Noah's Ark, The Tabernacle & Whirlwind / Everlasting Ground




Babel, Destruction of Nehushtan, The Second Coming, Shipwreck & Three Woes.



*Obviously, these are just my personal opinions of what the tiers should be.  I feel this gives new playgroup leaders the best way to put all cards into a category that allows them to trade "like cards."  This also protects the new players and the playgroup leader from trading cards from one tier for cards on another tier without realizing it.  So if you have an abundance of cards and want to move them down a tier, then feel free, but I wouldn't move any cards up a tier unless the price of that cards changes.*

Purple:

Abigail
Elders of the City
Ethiopian Treasurer
James Son of Zebedee
John
King Amaziah
King Hezekiah
King Hiram
King Jotham
King Lemuel
Magi, The
Mephibosheth
Prince Jonathan
Saint of Virtue
Widow

Authority of Christ
Drawn Out
Haman's Plot Exposed
Peace Treaty
Prosperity
Royal Parade
Testing Solomon's Wisdom
Unified Kingdom
Valley of Salt

Red:

Abishai
Adino
Ahimelek the Hittite
Amasai the Raider
Army of Simeonites
Caleb
Heldai
Ishmaiah the Gibeonite
Jephthah
Lazarus
Men of Judah
Naharai
Recruiting Officer
Uriah the Hittite

Abishai's Spear
Ambush
Baggage
Battle Cry
Battle is the Lord’s, The
Bravery of David
David's Mighty Men
Jashobeam's Spear
Power of the Cross
Warrior's Spear
Wheel within a Wheel

Silver:

Angel at Tomb
Angel of God
Angel of His Presence
Angel of the Harvest
Angel Under the Oak, The
Angel with the Secret Name
Arianna
Cherubim
Destroyer, The
Gabriel
Paladin the Fighter
Seraph
Seraph with a Live Coal

Angelic Advice
Angel's Sword
Fire, Smoke, and Sulfur
Flaming Sword
Help from Heaven
Protection of Angels
Protection of Jerusalem (FF)
Striking Herod
Swift Beings
Three Angels
Victory
Winds

Teal:

Abiathar
Ahimaaz
Ahimelech, Priest at Nob
Amariah the High Priest
Azariah the High Priest
Eleazar, son of Aaron
Eli the Priest
Eliashib the High Priest
Ezra
Hilkiah the High Priest
Ithamar, son of Aaron
Jehoiada the High Priest
Jehoram the Priest
Joiada, Son of Eliashib
Joiakim, Son of Joshua
Seraiah the High Priest
Shelemiah the Priest
Temple Priests
Zadok

Burning Incense
Fellowship Offering
Filling Zerubbabel’s Temple
Grain Offering
Guilt Offering
Jehoiada's Strength
Jordan Interrupted
Melchizedek’s Blessing
Perpetual Priesthood
Phinehas' Spear
Sin Offering

White:

Abednego (Azariah)
Asaph
Chenaniah
Daniel
Ethan
Heman
Jeiel
Maharai
Mary the Mother of James
Meshach (Mishael)
Salome
War Officer

Blessings
Bronze Cymbals
Burning Bush
Cymbals of the Levites
Fellowship
He is Risen
Joseph before Pharaoh
Lost Coin Found
Love at First Sight
Moses and Elders
No Need for Spices
Sing with Stringed Instruments
Transfiguration
Undefiled

Good Multi-Colored:

Ezekiel
Joseph
Samuel
Zechariah

Capturing Canaan
Counsel of Abigail
Gabriel meets Zecharias
Isaiah's Call
Live Coal
Lord Fights for You, The
Renewing the Covenant
Temple Dedication
Wheel Within a Wheel
Wickedness Removed

Black

Alexander
Cain
Fallen Warrior
Gibeonite Delegates
Goliath
Greek Philosophers
Greek Scholars
Herod the Great
High Priest Annas
High Priest Caiaphas
High Priest's Maid
King Amon
Malchus
Manasseh
Philistine Armor Bearer
Philistine Priests
Sadducees (4 Men)
Sadducees (Ear Scratch)
Sadducees (Group)
Shechem
Simon the Magician
Sisera
Twelve-Fingered Giant, The
Woman of Thebez, The

Abomination of Desolation
Babel
Bringing Fear
Displeased Philistines
Fortify Site
Gibeonite Trickery
Hunger
Hypocrisy
Joseph in Prison
Net
Political Savvy
Stone of Thebez
Worship of Milcom

So I posted these to do two things.  To have other playgroup leaders see what they think about this and modify it based on their collections, budgets, and players.  I also wanted to see what other people's opinions of my tiers and card selections are.  Again, when it comes to tier 1, I'm giving all of these cards away for free so I'm not looking for reasons why I shouldn't include a certain card as much as I am did I miss a card that should be included.

If people are interested I would be glad to list the cards I didn't include in my higher level tiers, but I feel that is more based on your tournament experience and collections.

I can see you put a lot of work into these lists - thanks for sharing! One suggestion I have is to clearly label what each one's purpose is, because at least to me that's not immediately clear. Something like, "GUIDE FOR GIVING AWAY CARDS TO YOUR PLAYGROUP" or "CARDS TO GIVE AWAY" / "CARDS TO NOT GIVE AWAY".

Also, regarding the lists themselves, where would you put Alternate Border cards and National Winner promos?

So I need clarification on the cards to give away and cards not to give away part.  I'm assuming you are asking something along the lines of how do I know either what I intend to give away or maybe don't give these away because they aren't good / I don't have enough to do that.

For the AB and National winner promos.  National winner promos go in tier 6, and AB cards would be a mixture.  Commons would probably start in Tier 3, and then move up the next group (rares to 4, ultra-rares to 5) then also move up a tier if they were moved up for the non-AB version.  The reason I didn't put these in my original tier list is that (most) playgroup leaders aren't going to ever have these to possibly give away or trade to their players.

Gotcha about the AB & winner promos. I think though it still may be helpful to add in, just in case. Also, I think that your first list of the 6 tiers also serves as a helpful guide for everyone for trading.

Quote from: Crashfach2002

So I need clarification on the cards to give away and cards not to give away part.  I'm assuming you are asking something along the lines of how do I know either what I intend to give away or maybe don't give these away because they aren't good / I don't have enough to do that.

I just think it would be helpful to have title labels on your lists that clearly and succinctly state their purpose.

I will add the AB stuff and once I post all of my info (which is a lot), I’ll bring it all together in one post explaining all of it!

The tier idea is great, but the question I have is for a structure like this, how many cards do you keep on hand?

So I keep 3 of every card in a binder for my players to pick from.  This gives me enough that multiple people can have access to a card, but not enough that is too difficult to replace (except URs, which I don’t just give away they have to trade other URs for).