Cactus Game Design Message Boards

NEUTRAL (24)
1.   Rejoice
2.   Rejoice
3.   Shame
4.   Shame
5.   Revealer
6.   Revealer
7.   CBP
8.   CBP
9.   Female Only
10.   Female Only
11.   Site Recur
12.   Site Recur
13.   Site Doubler
14.   Site Doubler

15.   Darius’ Decree
16.   Darius’ Decree
17.   Gifts of the Magi
18.   Gifts of the Magi
19.   Samaritan Water Jar
20.   Samaritan Water Jar
21.   Samaritan Water Jar
22.   Three Nails

23.   Damascus
24.   Damascus

GOOD (38)
1.   Son of God
2.   New Jerusalem
3.   Angel of the Lord
4.   Grapes of Wrath

5.   House at Bethany
6.   Wall of Protection

7.   Martha
8.   Generous Widow
9.   Generous Widow
10.   Good Samaritan
11.   Good Samaritan
12.   Good Samaritan
13.   Simeon
14.   Woman at the Well
15.   The Thankful Leper
16.   Zaccheus
17.   Gideon
18.   Moses
19.   Samuel
20.   Angel Under The Oak
21.   Angel Under The Oak
22.   Captain of the Host
23.   David

24.   Kindness (TEC)
25.   Kindness (TEC)
26.   Meeting the Messiah
27.   Meeting the Messiah
28.   Repentance and Restitution
29.   Repentance and Restitution
30.   Faith as a Mustard Seed
31.   Faith as a Mustard Seed
32.   Ambush the City
33.   Ambush the City
34.   Battle Prayer
35.   Battle Prayer
36.   Samuel’s Edict
37.   Samuel’s Edict
38.   Loaves and Fishes

EVIL (38)
1.   Christian Martyr
2.   Burial
3.   Destruction of Nehushtan
4.   Falling Away
5.   Mayhem

6.   High Places
7.   High Places
8.   House of Rimmon

9.   Covenant with Death

10.   Greek Philosophers
11.   Goat with Horn
12.   Goat with Horn
13.   Philetus
14.   Winged Leopard
15.   Antiochus IV Epiphanes 
16.   Antiochus IV Epiphanes 
17.   Naaman
18.   Shobach
19.   The Strong Force
20.   Syrian Archer
21.   Syrian Archer
22.   Syrian Archer

23.   Naaman’s Chariot & Horses
24.   Naaman’s Chariot & Horses
25.   Naaman’s Chariot & Horses
26.   Gold Shield
27.   Gold Shield
28.   Gold Shield
29.   Idle Gossip
30.   Idle Gossip
31.   Snare
32.   Snare
33.   Snare
34.   Hypocrite’s Proselyte
35.   Hypocrite’s Proselyte
36.   Abomination of Desolation
37.   Abomination of Desolation
38.   Abomination of Desolation

I wanted to get something posted to get some advice rolling on this thing. That being said there are several "fluffy" cards in here that are more or less place holders while I consider and test this deck.

Kindness
Immunity is weak, but making your opponent draw 1 each turn? Priceless. Not to mention that I get to draw 1 off of a Kindness, or draw 2 if Gifts is active, or draw 4 if I have Gifts and 2x Kindness. Although I plan on placing these on Good Samaritans and putting them in House of Bethany, I may test using the immunity and see how it does.

Empowering Antiochus
Syrian Archer, Gold Shield, Antiochus is a pretty strong block, and with a Horses attached I can throw an Abom out. If Abom is already out, I can use Horses for Idle Gossip, bringing Generous Widow or Martha into a side battle to immediately enjoy a draw-to-discard.

Capture... Risky Business I Know
Since I'm running High Places (for obvious reasons), I've included old-school Snares. I can either capture a threatening hero in territory (especially if I'm holding a second copy of High Places), or capture off of The Strong Force. Syrian Archer with Gold Shield can convert them to take away their negates, or possibly protection (Obadiah's Caves only protects GREEN prophets, etc.).

Keeping Abom on the Field
In my few games with an Abom deck in the last few years, I've been frustrated with how easy it is to remove evil enhancements from the field. I'm running 2x Darius Decree and 1x Covenant with Death to try to keep Foreign Swords and Live Coals at bay.

This is NOWHERE NEAR a complete deck, and I'm excited to get feedback and ideas from all of you. Thanks!

I'd really like to see some Sorrow of Mary's in it, as well as an RBD or 2 (to use off of Damascus, and to combo with TGWs in cases where discarding 4 from hand and deck may help more than one from territory). I would only use one High Places and fewer Greeks, as while Abom is the main strategy, the defense should be strong enough to hold off until you are ready to go. I don't really like Hypocrite's Proselyte without Naz, since if a Hero is important enough for underdecking him to help you significantly, then it will come back soon enough.

The offense looks solid, I'm sure there can be improvements, but not sure if they can be fully identified until the deck is tested.

I think that The Holy Spirit would be a good add to get Kindness out faster and to get it back if it's discarded. Guardian should also be in there but if you have a good reason not to have it in that's fine.

John,
I agree on the Balaam's. I started with 2, but ended up cutting them to put Snares. If I lean away from the High Places / Snare idea they'll probably be back. I love Seek and Destroy, and I'm using it in a straight black defense I may post later with Hellestic Jews, but this deck only has Philetus and Greek Philosophers for NT ECs.

Jordan,
Sorrow of Mary is on my radar for sure. At one point I had Aaron and Eli the Priest to trigger a U&T, but when I focused the offense I lost my hand-knowledge element. Sorrow would help quite a bit! The only way I can force RBD on them is to give them control of Generous Widow during an Idol Gossip side battle. It would be a good counter to their own drawing though I agree.

Nameless,
Hellenistic Jews rocks, and I'm using it in similar deck, but being neither Greek nor Syrian in a pretty tight balance I chose to forgo them. If my enhancements or balance make me less theme restricted as we work through this I'll definitely keep them in mind.

Jayden,
Holy Spirit could be a fun add. I almost left Falling Away out for the same reason I ended up leaving GoYS out: This deck will probably be out-raced to the doms. Generous Widow could easily discard one or both if they become useless.

Minion,
Share not the source nor context of said quote with my wife, lest I be made to sleep on the couch tonight, haha.

Note to self: post a Persian deck to see if Justin says the same thing  #NotHoldingBreath