Author Topic: I don't even know where to start....... (Read 3789 times)

Shofarblower · « **on:** December 05, 2009, 11:22:28 PM »

I am having some big problems. It seems that I can pull a decent combo out of my deck every now and then, but as a whole, I am not doing well.

I have been back in the game for 4-5 months and not won a single match. It seems that the combos that are posted on the threads never seem to work out for me. I have copied the decks that others have won repeatedly with and never pull off a single rescue.

I know that there is luck of the draw and everything, but you would think that I would pull a win out every now and then. Is there any help for the terrible player?

Cameron the Conqueror · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2009, 11:25:12 PM »

Combo decks, while they can be fun and very powerful, are often subject to horrible loses. I don't know how long you have played, but I would recommend trying a slightly simpler deck. I hate to suggest TGT, but it is a deck type that is relatively easy, simple, yet is very powerful. Then, experience with combo decks and work up towards them.

You might also think about trying a deck using the 7 rule, or something along that line. Go simple, then work upwards.

Sean · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:11:54 AM »

If you are judging yourself based on games played online I think you definitely should be less hard on yourself. A majority of the people who play online have made a habit of winning high level tournaments. Nearly all of the players in ROOT have won a State level tournament or higher, and at least two have won a Nationals event more than once.

I would suggest going simple. One brigade offense, one brigade defense. You could also just use FbtN warrior-class banding, its fast and easy to play.

3-Liner And Bags Of Chips · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:13:08 AM »

Quote from: Sean on December 06, 2009, 12:11:54 AM

If you are judging yourself based on games played online I think you definitely should be less hard on yourself. A majority of the people who play online have made a habit of winning high level tournaments. Nearly all of the players in ROOT have won a State level tournament or higher, and at least two have won a Nationals event more than once.

I would suggest going simple. One brigade offense, one brigade defense. You could also just use FbtN warrior-class banding, its fast and easy to play.

That isn't easy. But super super super effective. I fell victim to it 3 times in a row. Stupid Ira and Benaiah.

lol

Shofarblower · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2009, 01:19:24 AM »

I have 5 decks, Banding/#'s, 3 Nails Conversion, TGT/Brown, TGT/Crimson, Green Prophets, and actually a 6th that is a very bad purple white deck designed to recur aoc promo.

I have tried all and dismantled my others that ranged from standard 7 rule and site lockout. I can't get any kind of offense to work. I need to practice, but when you enter a game knowing you will not only lose, but lose horribly, it makes it seem not worth it.

I don't try too many combo decks in serious competition, because I can't ever pull them off. I am seriously considering dropping the game again.

I don't want to sound like a whiner, I just really want to get better because my son is looking for me to teach hime the game and I don't feel like I can.

Perri · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2009, 03:31:33 AM »

Honestly, I'd say practice is one of the biggest things, no matter what deck you're playing. Knowing how and when to play certain dominants or enhancements, knowing who to block with, and other things like that is important, and while it will differ from deck to deck, getting really good on your basic strategy can help a lot.

Also, something I've just recently been doing better with is knowing your deck. Knowing how many of a type of card you have left, and what you have and haven't played can make a HUGE difference.

Red · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2009, 08:27:31 AM »

dude when i used to play online i got beat all the time but then i got better so just keep trying.

Minister Polarius · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2009, 08:57:18 AM »

You'll almost always get trounced in online play since it's mostly the elite who play online.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2009, 09:04:22 AM »

Try a blue Genesis offense, since there is nothing tricky about it. If all of your heroes are blue Genesis, all the enhancements do what they are supposed to (and very effectively).

For defense, maybe try Egyptians. Once again, they are pretty straight forward. You could even add a couple evil gold auto-blocks like King of Tyrus and Emperor Claudius.

EmJayBee83 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2009, 10:52:19 AM »

Quote from: Shofarblower on December 06, 2009, 01:19:24 AM

I have 5 decks, Banding/#'s, 3 Nails Conversion, TGT/Brown, TGT/Crimson, Green Prophets, and actually a 6th that is a very bad purple white deck designed to recur aoc promo.

That may be part of your problem (in addition to comparing yourself to online players).

For some (most?!?) people the easiest way to learn to play better is to pick a deck and stick with it for a longish while. The important thing is to learn to minimize mistakes which means--for me as an example--that I need to minimize the number of things I need to think about. People who learn like I do are best served by becoming familiar enough with the deck so that certain plays become automatic. So, pick one deck that matches your personality/play style, play it a bunch, and tweak it as necessary.

A second suggestion is not to get discouraged by online play but use it to your advantage. Forget about winning for the time being, and focus on finding the opponents who will help you improve your deck/play. From personal experience I can highly recommend Prof Underwood and BrianGabe for T1 and Captain Kirk and DaClock for T2. You won't beat those players--or I don't at any rate--but they have always been more than willing to spend some time with me in post-game analysis. Getting ten minutes or so of their attention with specific advice related to your deck/play will help you improve really fast.

I'm sorry for rambling. Here's the one line summary...Focus on finding a deck that works for you and improving your play, and victories will come.

Lamborghini_diablo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:26:12 AM »

Agreed. Stick with one deck and learn it well.

I also agree with using single brigades, especially on defense. I find that anytime I use a normal sized dual brigade defense, I often get mismatched enhs and characters. I say "normal" because one of my new favorite defenses is my 80+ card orange/grey T1 defense. 100+ ftw.

Just keep in mind, my deck advice may not work for everyone... as I'm an EXTREMELY defensive player. This leads to another point... You really need to find a playstyle that works well for you, and stick with it. My strategy is to use an oversized defense to shut down the opponents deck entirely, then once their offense is ruined, I go in with a small, but powerful offense. You need to learn how YOU like to play, and then build decks to make the most of it.

Also, be sure you have a plan for how the deck runs. I rarely just throw good cards of one brigade in a deck and call it a day. I build the deck with a very specific strategy in mind, and I focus the ENTIRE deck on it. It's even better if you build a deck where the offense and defense work together, like blue/grey hand discarding.

Thats just my $.02, do with it what you will.

Sean · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:45:12 AM »

Quote

I just really want to get better because my son is looking for me to teach hime the game and I don't feel like I can.

You don't have to win to be able to teach people the game. Schaef is the perfect example of this.

I like the idea of using a Genesis offense. It is really straight forward and really effective. I've had several loses to it lately.

Shofarblower · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2009, 07:38:38 PM »

I appreciate all the help. I do want to say that I know that winning isn't everything. I have tried new decks lately but have generally stuck with what worked for me in the past. The only decks I have tried that were different were the ones that included the new cards (TGT and the Green Prophets deck). I have always run banding and convert decks and only changed up because they were not working anymore.

I don't want anyone to think I am just whining. I really don't think I get the new cards at all. Deck strategy has never been my strong point, but it is rediculous to have gone from assisting in playtest groups to the level I am now. The only reason I mention the losses is to illustrate the poor playing I have been doing. It may look better when you say it was 5-3 (on ROOT) but in actuality, that means I got one real rescue the whole 1-2 hour game.

I am not just comparing myself to online players, I am also reffering to the one tournament there has been in my area (that I could attend). We don't have anyone here to play against so all I can do is play against online players, so if I shouldn't play online then I would be quitting the game (essentially).

I don't know how to "find a deck that works for me and stick with it" if no deck works for me.

Minister Polarius · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:44:39 PM »

Nobody said you shouldn't play online players, just that you shouldn't expect to beat them for a long, long time. Also, finding a deck that works for you means finding a strategy you enjoy, understand, and can implement. Winning comes much later.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2009, 12:12:25 AM »

Quote from: Minister Polarius on December 06, 2009, 11:44:39 PM

Winning comes much later.

Or sometimes, not as much later as expected

However, I do agree with everyone though that if you play online vs. the people who finished in the top 7 of ROOT last month, that you will lose most games. But if you play vs. the people who finished below you last month (except CalebJ), that you'll probably win at least half of those games. This is one reason why I think it would be good for there to be 2 divisions in ROOT.

But don't get discouraged. It is only a matter of time and practice before you'll be beating us all

acree3 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2009, 11:26:31 AM »

Try genesis standalone and sites. Its simple effective and my is now wining tourneys with it. Just try crazy things. That's how people come up with porefol decks. Just my $1.53.

Tracer Burnout · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2009, 11:39:22 AM »

Kevin i'm going to be on hamachi later tonight (like after 9). Do you have time to talk then?

EmJayBee83 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2009, 02:02:33 PM »

Shofarblower--I know you aren't primarily looking for someone to commiserate with, but this past weekend at a tournament I lost to a kid who was 1/4 my age. It wasn't like I was letting him beat me--he just went out and cleaned my clock.

stefferweffer · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2009, 03:53:50 PM »

How large a deck are you using? I would start with 56, and work up or down from there. What lost souls are you using? That's a big part of your defense right there. Definitely try some sites if you haven't been down that road yet. You'll be surprised how long it takes some decks to draw some site access, and Harvest Time won't help them when they're in sites. When I started making decks I only used battle winners and negates/interrupts for enhancements, and I won more games than I lost. Be sure to have some big guys in there for FBTN battles, but also some small folks to get you initiative, and usually try to have some banding too.

Do you find that your offense is most lacking, or your defense? Whichever one you feel is hurting the most, throw in some powerful artifacts to help that "side" out.

Shofarblower · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2009, 04:20:48 PM »

I am definetly getting some good Ideas from this thread, thanks guys. The best idea seems to be stick with where I am comfortable. It helped alot to use an enhanced old school deck against Prof last night. I will continue to tweak it an see where I can take it. (sites might be an option)

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Author Topic: I don't even know where to start....... (Read 3789 times)

Lamborghini_diablo

Tracer Burnout