Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Thanks to all--especially Mr.Hiatus and RTSManiac--for making the T2 portions of the Deck Building and Design boards much more interesting recently.

OK, here is a deck that performed horribly at a recent tournament. Part of it is due to the quality of the competition I played with it (two Alstads and a Voigt). Part of it is due to my rusty play skills. But I think a big chunk is the deck.  I already got some good comments (not included below) but would appreciate any other insights...

Lambs 6
    SoG / NJ / AotL / GoYS / HT / Grapes

Reapers 5
    CM / Burial / Mayhem / FA / DoN

Artifacts 11
    Wool Fleece x3
    HoH x2
    Magic Charms x2
    Unholy Writ
    Temple Veil x2
    Stalks of Flax

Sites 4
    Nazareth x2
    Promised Land
    Dragon Raid
 
Good Fortresses 2
    Wall of Protection x2

Heros 16
    Jacob x2
    Claudia x2
    ET x2
    King Amaziah
    Captain of the Host x2
    Angel at Shur
    Aaron x2
    Hur
    Benaiah
    Midwives
   Joanna

Hero Enhancements 13
    Obedience of Noah x5
    Sound the Trumpet x3
    Provisions x5

Evil Fortresses x4
    Raiders Camp x2
    Gates of Jerusalem
    The Gates of Hell

Curses x3
    Go Into Captivity x3

Evil Characters 22
    Strong Demon x2
    Trembling Demon x2
    Seven Wicked Spirits x2
    Seizing Spirit x2
    Demon Behind the Idol x2
    Persian Presidents x3
    Idolaters
    King Zedekiah x2
    Enchanter
    King Manasseh
    King Jeroboam II
    King Jehoahaz
    King Shallum x2

Evil Enhancements 3
    Two Possessed by Demons x2
    Murmuring

Lost Souls 14
    Shame x2
    NT Only x2
    Exchanger x2
    Speed Bump x2
    Revealer x2
    Female Only x2
    FBTN x2

I noticed at the MN T2 Only that none of my opponents played KotW or Kir against me. So, I decided to take advantage of that with an old school CtB deck. (What I failed to recognize is that Darius' Decree single-handedly destroys this form of CtB.) Basic self capture and capture stall defense.

How do you block?

I think you need to scratch the 1/1 demon and put in 2 wandering spirits. Since wandering spirit to trembling demon is a block sometimes without reprocussions... and ws is a miny gates so you really don't need it.

When I played you I noticed it took awhile to set up your set asides, how about Burial shrouds? 3x? pretty hard to get rid of with nazzy.

Also I think you need 3x Captured arks or 2x to control DDs.

especially Mr.Hiatus and RTSManiac

No problem, it's what we do best.

The main thing I see with this deck is that your defense doesn't support your offense. There's no real synergy going on. One Blue Tassels with a Nazareth really stumps your defense. You need to hurt artifacts on your defense. Also your defense can not really block well, not consistently at least I don't think. I think your defense needs a remodeling personally. You can leave 1/1 kings in there for your defense, but I would include TC enhancements to play off of them. Maybe do some 1/3 Pharisees with Pretensions/Casting Lots? And for brown you could have Image of Jealousy, Beheaded for gold is a great one. That way you can actually stall them off while your offense does work. Pair that defense with Magic Charms/B Shrouds and you should see some improvement.
On the offensive side I think you need a more streamline offense, and options. With every deck having CP I think the Sound the Trumpet's are kind of pointless. I would add some enhancements that work in battle, because right now Darius' Decree wipes you out, you know that. This deck has potential, it just needs more options to win.
Artifacts 11
    Wool Fleece x3- 1 out for Writ or Shroud
    HoH x2- one out for Shroud
    Magic Charms x2
    Unholy Writ
    Temple Veil x2-1 out for another writ
    Stalks of Flax- either add 2 more, or take this out

Sites 4
    Nazareth x2
    Promised Land
    Dragon Raid
 
Good Fortresses 2
    Wall of Protection x2- I see 2 being overkill, take one out for another Jacob


One last thing, I think if you keep your defense to self capture then you need 3 Zaccheus. Your defense relies on Raider's Camp, so get it out fast.

because someone kept stealing them with Abe's Kid and using them against me.    

Who does that...? The nerve of some people...

Just a note...Nazareth shuts down Kir so you really only need to focus on Kingdoms.

I used to have D. Sin in there, but I swapped them out because someone kept stealing them with Abe's Kid and using them against me.

   
That's why you need Abe's Kid to steal it back.