[BALANCE TESTING] FrozenStorm (Black + Vandy Ban) vs NekoAtl (Blue)

Bryce_The_Rice · October 23, 2019, 7:41am

I know, I meant normal vandy minus garth and weaker vandy minus garth

Hobusu · October 23, 2019, 3:00pm

Ah, now that you’ve clarified, I agree. Though it was kind of convenient that I misunderstood since linking to that thread somewhere in here seems like a good thing to do in any case.

FrozenStorm · October 23, 2019, 9:04pm

All right then, let’s see how Vandy and Orpal makes sense without their skeleton buddy. GL HF @Nekoatl!

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 1

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Pestering Haunt
Sacrifice the Weak
Thieving Imp
Poisonblade Rogue
Jandra, the Negator

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (4)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Main:

Vandy (2)
Pestering Haunt
Worker (1)

Workers

Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 3 Draw 5
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 20

In Patrol:

Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

Pestering Haunt (1/1)
Vandy (2/3 lvl 1)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 0
Disc: 3

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 5

End of Turn Hand

Summon Skeletons
Graveyard
Skeleton Javelineer
Deteriorate
Skeletal Archery

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

I’m very curious to see how right I am about Vandy being mediocre without Garth!

Nekoatl · October 23, 2019, 9:21pm

I’ll do my best. GL HF!

P2T1

StartingHand Workers

STARTING HAND
Reputable Newsman
Arrest
Lawful Search
Building Inspector
Bluecoat Musketeer

WORKERS
Lawful Search

NextHand

Jail
Manufactured Truth
Traffic Director
Porkhand Magistrate
Spectral Aven

Discard

Building Inspector
Bluecoat Musketeer
Arrest

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Reputable Newsman - ($2)
General Onimaru - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger: Reputable Newsman (0/3) $2 blocked
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 General Onimaru (2/3) Frenzy 1

Buildings:

Base HP: 20

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 0
Disc: 3

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 6

Thoughts

Lawful Search isn’t great against heroes with card draw/fetch. This is a rather nice card split for defending against Vandy; hopefully Onimaru can take advantage of it.

FrozenStorm · October 25, 2019, 1:43pm

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 2

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Summon Skeletons
Graveyard
Skeleton Javelineer
Deteriorate
Skeletal Archery

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (5)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Dark Pact, Bone Collector

Main:

Vandy and Haunt take down Newsie, you get 1g
Skeleton Javelineer (4)
Midband Vandy (2)
Worker (1)
Tech 1 (0)

Workers

Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 3 rs Draw 5
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech1 HP: 5

In Patrol:

Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger: Skeleton Javelineer (1/1)
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

Pestering Haunt (1/1)
Vandy (3/4 lvl 3)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 3
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 6

End of Turn Hand

Thieving Imp
Dark Pact
Graveyard
Summon Skeletons
Deteriorate

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

So far so good, this does feel like every other black game. Keeping it typical with BC and DP, next turn the aim will be to BC + Imp or Graveyard

Nekoatl · October 25, 2019, 2:24pm

P2T2

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Spectral Flagbearer
Spectral Flagbearer

STARTING HAND
Spectral Aven
Manufactured Truth
Jail
Traffic Director
Porkhand Magistrate

WORKERS
Lawful Search
Jail

NextHand

Spectral Flagbearer
Spectral Flagbearer
Manufactured Truth
Building Inspector

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + Scavenger - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Traffic Director - ($5)
Tech I - ($4)
Porkhand Magistrate - ($1)
Onimaru kills Javelineer

Float ($1)
Discard 2, reshuffle, draw 4

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Traffic Director (1/1A)
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician: Porkhand Magistrate (2/3)
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 General Onimaru (2/2) Frenzy 1

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 5

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 4
Deck: 4
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 1
Workers: 7

Thoughts

Looks like he midbanded Vandy in case of Arrest; a wise precaution, but it works in my favor because he couldn’t afford a Heroes’ Hall. I have to patrol the Magistrate in case StW takes out the Director, which could lead to an inefficient trade in the worst case, but even so, it probably won’t be too bad. The only way this can go really wrong is if he teched and drew Shadow Blade (or draws it off of Dark Pact), but I don’t have a better option.

FrozenStorm · October 25, 2019, 2:44pm

Oni kills Jav I take it?

Nekoatl · October 25, 2019, 2:51pm

Gah, I did it again! Yes, sorry.

FrozenStorm · October 25, 2019, 5:16pm

No sweat dude, I do that all the time too, especially in situations where I’m really unsure which path is the right one and I edit my turn to try three different lines before I submit.

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 3

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Thieving Imp
Dark Pact
Graveyard
Summon Skeletons
Deteriorate

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (6)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Soul Stone, Bone Collector
Dark Pact, Bone Collector

Main:

Dark Pact draw 2
Bone Collector (4)
Thieving Imp, discard #1 of 4 (1)
Vandy kills SQL
Haunt pings your tech1 to 4hp
Worker (0)

Workers

Jandra, the Negator, Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 3 Draw 1 rs Draw 4
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 18
Tech1 HP: 5

In Patrol:

Squad Leader:
Elite: Thieving Imp (2+1/2)
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout: Bone Collector (3/3)

In Play:

Pestering Haunt (1/1)
Vandy (3/3 lvl 3)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 3
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 7

End of Turn Hand

Sacrifice the Weak
Bone Collector
Deteriorate
Skeleton Javelineer
Soul Stone

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

Vulnerable to Arrest here but not a ton to do about that, going to tech a Soul Stone but also another BC.
…
Got the BC on DP, solid, building the advantage…

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 2:25am

Look what yer makin’ me do!

P2T3

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Macciatus, The Whisperer
Reteller of Truths

STARTING HAND
Building Inspector
Spectral Flagbearer
Spectral Flagbearer
Manufactured Truth

WORKERS
Lawful Search
Jail
Manufactured Truth

NextHand

Bluecoat Musketeer
Arrest
Reputable Newsman

Discard

Spectral Flagbearer
Traffic Director
Porkhand Magistrate
Building Inspector
Macciatus, The Whisperer
Reteller of Truths

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($8)
Worker - ($7)
Spectral Flagbearer - ($6)
Tech II: Truth - ($2)
Magistrate trades with Imp
Onimaru trades with Collector, Vandy maxband fizzles
Sirus Quince - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 1, draw 3

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Mirror Illusion (0/1A)
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician: Spectral Flagbearer (2/2) Tempting Target
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 Sirus Quince (1/3)

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 4
Tech II HP: 5 (Truth)

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 3
Deck: 1
Disc: 6

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 8

Thoughts

Arrest would be pretty handy right about now, but no dice. Vandy’s maxband is a problem for Flagbearers, so I"ll burn it now, reluctantly. Playing early Quince because I need cannon fodder, and specing Truth to support Quince. Garrisons will have to wait.

FrozenStorm · October 26, 2019, 1:58pm

You’ve played against Vandy before nice maxband fizzle

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 4

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Sacrifice the Weak
Bone Collector
Deteriorate
Skeleton Javelineer
Soul Stone

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (7)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Metamorphosis, Dark Pact
Soul Stone, Bone Collector
Dark Pact, Bone Collector

Main:

Deteriorate Flagbearer, you draw 1
Vandy kills Mirror
Haunt hits your tech 2 to 4hp
Bone Collector (5)
Worker (4)
Tech 2 Demonology (0)

Workers

Skeleton Javelineer, Jandra, the Negator, Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 2 Draw 4
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 18
Tech1 HP: 5
Tech2 HP: 5 DEMONZ

In Patrol:

Squad Leader:
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

Bone Collector (3/3)
Pestering Haunt (1/1)
Vandy (4/5 lvl 5)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 4
Deck: 6
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 8

End of Turn Hand

Dark Pact
Graveyard
Summon Skeletons
Thieving Imp

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

Meta threat is way less menacing with no Garth to buff up… Still, that’s the “correct” play here IMO, so we’re gonna threaten it. I’m going to let him kill Haunt with Quince, as I don’t want BC arrested.

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 3:12pm

P2T4

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Free Speech
Free Speech

STARTING HAND
Bluecoat Musketeer
Arrest
Reputable Newsman
Spectral Aven

WORKERS
Lawful Search
Jail
Manufactured Truth

NextHand

Spectral Flagbearer
Spectral Aven
Free Speech
Bluecoat Musketeer
Traffic Director

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($8)
Quince kills Haunt
Reputable Newsman: $6 blocked - ($6)
Bigby Hayes, maband - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader: L5 Bigby Hayes (3/4A)
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician: Reputable Newsman (0/3) $6 blocked
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 Sirus Quince (1/2)

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 4
Tech II HP: 4 (Truth)

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 7
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 8

Thoughts

Very likely Meta incoming next turn, almost guaranteed, in fact. I could play Newsman to interfere, but I can’t keep the Newsman alive… however, I just need to force him to spend $1 and he won’t be able to summon Orpal and pay for Meta next turn… which means even if StW kills Newsman, he’s done his job. There’s still the problem of him being attacked, though… so I need some patrol that’s guaranteed to protect him… which means a 4 health hero needs to SQL. If he wants the kill, he has to come at with with either both Vandy and Bone Collector, or solo-meta Vandy… and a single Meta’d hero is manageable (though I suppose he could cast a 2nd to bring Orpal up to speed). If Vandy does fight Bigby, the damage will stick with her until she dies (if that ever happens). This is painfully inefficient, but I think I have to do it.

FrozenStorm · October 26, 2019, 4:02pm

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 5

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Dark Pact
Graveyard
Summon Skeletons
Thieving Imp
Soul Stone + Sacrifice the Weak (DP)

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (8)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Shrine of Forbidden Knowledge, Blackhand Dozer
Metamorphosis, Dark Pact
Soul Stone, Bone Collector
Dark Pact, Bone Collector

Main:

Dark Pact, base to 16 draw 2
Orpal + lvl 2 (5)
Bone Collector hits Bigby to 2hp, dies, I get a skeleton
Vandy tutors for a Shadow Blade, kill Bigby, Orpal to midband, you discard #4 of 5 (1)
Worker (0)

Workers

Summon Skeletons, Skeleton Javelineer, Jandra, the Negator, Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 3 Draw 4 rs Draw 1
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 16
Tech1 HP: 5
Tech2 HP: 5 DEMONZ

In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Orpal (2/4+1armor lvl 4)
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

Skeleton (1/1)
Vandy (4/5 lvl 5)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 9
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 9

End of Turn Hand

Bone Collector
Dark Pact
Metamorphosis
Deteriorate
Soul Stone

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

Hopefully we can pivot to T2 strength, since it seems the goal for Neko is prevent Meta. Teching Dozer and Shrine.
…
I suspect a Free Speech is imminent, almost would have been better to draw the StW + Meta if it isn’t though.

FrozenStorm · October 26, 2019, 5:38pm

I think you should be discarding 1 drawing 3, no? Had 5, discard 1 to Shadow Blade, Flagbearer + Free Speech + worker?

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 6:11pm

Now I understand how I gained 2 workers in my first draft. Good catch.

P2T5

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Eyes of the Chancellor
Reteller of Truths

STARTING HAND
Free Speech
Spectral Flagbearer
Bluecoat Musketeer
Spectral Aven
Traffic Director

WORKERS
Lawful Search
Jail
Manufactured Truth

NextHand

Spectral Flagbearer
Building Inspector
Free Speech
Macciatus, The Whisperer

Discard

Bluecoat Musketeer
Free Speech
Traffic Director
Spectral Aven
Eyes of the Chancellor
Reteller of Truths

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($8)
Free Speech - ($6)
Mirror Illusion - ($4)
Spectral Flagbearer - ($3)
General Onimaru - ($1)

Float ($1)
Discard 2, draw 4

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Mirror Illusion (0/1A)
Elite:
Scavenger: Spectral Flagbearer (2/2) Tempting target
Technician: Reputable Newsman (0/3) $6 blocked
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 General Onimaru (2/3) Frenzy 1
L1 Sirus Quince (1/2)

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 4
Tech II HP: 4 (Truth)

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 4
Deck: 3
Disc: 6

Gold:

Gold: 1
Workers: 8

Thoughts

I can’t stop the Newsman from dying to a Hoodex Executioner even under the protection of Free Speech, and I can’t maintain the Free Speech lockdown forever. I need to try to push back or I’ll lose even without Meta. I want to worker, but the extra card draw is more critical in the short term, and if I don’t survive the short term, there won’t be a long term.

FrozenStorm · October 26, 2019, 7:02pm

Set 2, Game 1, Player 1, Turn 6

P1 Black but no Garth or his Spells vs P2 Blue

Starting Hand

Bone Collector
Dark Pact
Metamorphosis
Deteriorate
Soul Stone

Events of Turn:

Upkeep:

Get Gold (9)
Tech 2 cards in (except turn 1)

All Teched Cards

Zarramonde, the Obliterator x2
Shrine of Forbidden Knowledge, Blackhand Dozer
Metamorphosis, Dark Pact
Soul Stone, Bone Collector
Dark Pact, Bone Collector

Main:

Bone Collector (7)
Orpal kills SQL
Vandy kills techn, you draw 1
Worker (6)
Tech 3 (1)

Workers

Metamorphosis, Summon Skeletons, Skeleton Javelineer, Jandra, the Negator, Skeletal Archery, Poisonblade Rogue

Patrol as below
Discard 3 Draw 5
Tech 2 cards before my next turn

Board Info:

Buildings:

Base HP: 16
Tech1 HP: 5
Tech2 HP: 5 DEMONZ
Tech3 HP: 5

In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Skeleton (1/1+armor)
Elite:
Scavenger:
Technician: Bone Collector (3/3)
Lookout:

In Play:

Orpal (2/4 lvl 4)
Vandy (4/5 lvl 5)

Economy Info:

Cards:

Hand: 5
Deck: 4
Disc: 4

Gold:

Gold: 1
Workers: 10

End of Turn Hand

Shrine of Forbidden Knowledge
Graveyard
Bone Collector
Shadow Blade
Sacrifice the Weak

End of Turn Discard

My Thoughts

Bummer, not having abilities hurts this here. Well, he’s mortgaging gold / worker econ, maybe I’ll still win the T3 race even without any pre-loaded in my deck. Workering meta b/c if I’m playing it at this point, I’m probably tutoring for it.

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 7:24pm

P2T6

Tech StartingHand Workers

TECH
Spectral Hound
Spectral Hound

STARTING HAND
Macciatus, The Whisperer
Free Speech
Building Inspector
Spectral Flagbearer
Porkhand Magistrate

WORKERS
Lawful Search
Jail
Manufactured Truth

NextHand

Arrest
Reteller of Truths
Building Inspector
Eyes of the Chancellor

Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($9)
Free Speech - ($7)
Macciatus, The Whisperer - ($5)
Spectral Flagbearer - ($4)
Onimaru kills Skeleton
Flagbearer trades with Collector
Mirror Illusion x2 - ($0)

Float ($0)
Discard 2, draw 2, reshuffle, draw 2

Board Info:
In Patrol:

Squad Leader: Spectral Flagbearer (3/3A) Tempting target
Elite: Macciatus, The Whisperer (4/3)
Scavenger:
Technician:
Lookout:

In Play:

L1 General Onimaru (2/2) Frenzy 1
L1 Sirus Quince (1/2)
Mirror Illusion (1/2)
Mirror Illusion (1/2)

Buildings:

Base HP: 20
Tech I HP: 4
Tech II HP: 4 (Truth)

Economy Info:
Cards:

Hand: 4
Deck: 10
Disc: 0

Gold:

Gold: 0
Workers: 8

Thoughts

A shame to not draw the Reteller, but at least I got the 2nd Free Speech. Chances of getting one next turn as well aren’t great, but if I can take down a hero or two, I can survive. Man, this is tense.

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 8:20pm

Moved Macciatus to Technician because I forgot to factor in Vandy’s sparkshot to Elite.

FrozenStorm · October 26, 2019, 9:34pm

No sparkshot with free speech, still show you want it?

Nekoatl · October 26, 2019, 9:43pm

Nah, I want him in Elite if no sparkshot. Now I wonder if I really forgot, or just forgot that I hadn’t forgot, or…