Go ahead, I prefer to be second.
White starter has so many effects that are good when you are the aggressor, but don’t work well when playing from behind. I generally have no idea how to play second in Codex, with all my units dying each turn… So, I’d need more practice.
That’s interesting because Blue can’t easily mount an early offense, so we’re both in suboptimal positions. And my starting hand SUCKED. This’ll be interesting.
P1T1
StartingHand Workers
STARTING HAND
Jail
Porkhand Magistrate
Bluecoat Musketeer
Reputable Newsman
Spectral Aven
WORKERS
Porkhand Magistrate
NextHand
Building Inspector
Arrest
Lawful Search
Manufactured Truth
Traffic Director
Discard
Jail
Bluecoat Musketeer
Spectral Aven
Reputable Newsman
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($4)
Worker - ($3)
Onimaru - ($1)
Float ($1)
Discard 4, draw 5
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Onimaru Lv. 1 (2/3 Frenzy) -
[I]Elite[/I]: -
[I]Scavenger[/I]: -
[I]Technician[/I]: -
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B]
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Onimaru Lv. 1 (2/3 Frenzy)
[I]Elite[/I]:
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
[I]Technician[/I]:
[I]Lookout[/I]:[B]Buildings:[/B]
-
Base HP: 20
Base HP: 20[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 5
- Deck: 0
- Disc: 4
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 1
- Workers: 5
Thoughts
Awful starting hand for Player 1, no 1 cost units at all. Considered Porkhand but getting the hero out to grow makes more sense. If Vae is paying attention he’ll build his Tech I now, because Inspector will be coming out; if he does Inspector gets workered. I can’t pull off a Manufactured Truth gambit this time. Probably will still go Law because it never really developed last time.
"
Hm, no 1 mana creatures… it always feels really awkward to me as Player 1 when I don’t get 1 mana creatures. And some decks like Green have only one such creature, so… meh.
On the flip-side my starting hand wasn’t exactly stellar, either 
"P2T1
StartingHand Workers
STARTING HAND
Safe Attacking
Fox Viper
Morningstar Flagbearer
Snapback
Sensei’s Advice
WORKERS
Fox Viper
NextHand
Grappling Hook
Fox Primus
Smoker
Aged Sensei
Savior Monk
Discard
Morningstar Flagbearer
Sensei’s Advice
Snapback
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Rook - ($2)
Safe Attacking - ($1)
Tech I - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Rook (2/4) 1 armor
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]:
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Safe Attacking
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 5
- Deck: 0
- Disc: 3
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 6
Thoughts
I was hoping for smoker, aged sensei or monk in initital hand, Fox viper may or may not have been good but i dont want to worker any of the other cards
"
1 Like
So we just have our two big heroes glaring at each other. That’s a bummer for you because White has such great cost 1 units (Sensei and Smoker).
"P1T2
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Tax Collector (Tech I)
Overeager Cadet (Tech I)
STARTING HAND
Building Inspector
Manufactured Truth
Traffic Director
Lawful Search
Arrest
WORKERS
Porkhand Magistrate
Building Inspector
NextHand
Arrest
Lawful Search
Reputable Newsman
Spectral Aven
Overeager Cadet (Tech I)
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Traffic Director - ($4)
Tech I - ($3)
Tower - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 3, reshuffle, draw 5
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Onimaru Lv. 1 (2/3+1A Frenzy)
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]: Traffic Director (1/1+1A untargatable, unstoppable when attacking buildings)
-
[I]Technician[/I]:
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Tower
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
-
Tower HP: 4
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 5
- Deck: 4
- Disc: 0
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 6
Thoughts
No way to attack meaningfully, Building Inspector is useless given that he built his Tech I. Traffic Director at least puts a body out there. Spells are useless right now. Might as well throw a Tower out there. Going Peace after all.
"
Sorry for the long delay. I’m having unusually high work load during the day, lately. Besides, after 2 rapid defeats… I’m afraid I might be overthinking stuff a bit.
"P2T2
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Sparring Partner
Bird’s Nest
STARTING HAND
Fox Primus
Grappling Hook
Smoker
Savior Monk
Aged Sensei
WORKERS
Fox Viper
Fox Primus
NextHand
Sensei’s Advice
Snapback
Grappling Hook
Bird’s Nest
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Aged Sensei - ($4)
Savior Monk - ($2)
Rook uses the last of his savings to level up to lvl3 and is feeling safe from tax revisions ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 2, reshuffle, draw 4
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Savior Monk (2/2) + 1 armor
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]: Aged Sensei (1/1) + card
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Safe Attacking
- Rook lvl3 (2/4)
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 4
- Deck: 3
- Disc: 0
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 7
Thoughts
My big dilemma is with teching. If he plays Newsman and targets my Bird’s Nest and I’ll be kinda screwed. WIth him having a tower I was considering skipping Nest, powerful as it is, but since I already have Safe Attacking in play, those Birds may actually be able to do work. I’m counting on my board + leveling Rook to kill either Newsman or Oni next turn.
"
How did Rook attack the Traffic Director when Onimaru is in Squad Leader?
Through sheer force of personality… I guess? 
No, I’m sorry, it just comes to show how distracted I am. I will edit the post, things won’t change much.
Edit: Rook didn’t attack at all, Traffic Director is alive and well. Monk is now relegated to Squad Leader (instead of Elite). GO.
That Lawful Search didn’t give me the card I wanted…but at least it gave me junk to turn into a Worker.
P1T3
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Overeager Cadet
Brave Knight
STARTING HAND
Overeager Cadet (Tech I)
Arrest
Reputable Newsman
Lawful Search
Spectral Aven
Bluecoat Musketeer
WORKERS
Porkhand Magistrate
Building Inspector
Bluecoat Musketeer
NextHand
Tax Collector (Tech I)
Jail
Manufactured Truth
Discard
Lawful Search
Arrest
Overeager Cadet
Brave Knight
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($6)
Onimaru executes a Lawful Search of your hand and draws a card - ($5)
Overeager Cadet
Worker - ($4)
Spectral Aven - ($2)
Reputable Newsman pens a new article: ““Birds: Threat or Menace?”” - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 1, draw 3
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Overeager Cadet (2/2+1A)
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]: Traffic Director (1/1+1A untargatable, unstoppable when attacking buildings)
-
[I]Technician[/I]: Reputable Newsman (0/3 Preventing cost 2 spells/upgrades)
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Tower
- Onimaru Lv. 1 (2/3+1A Frenzy)
- Spectral Aven (2/2 flying illusion)
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
-
Tower HP: 4
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 3
- Deck: 0
- Disc: 4
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 7
Thoughts
"
Another over-aggressive move on my part but it feels better this time. I’m once again down to 2 cards, of which 1 would be a worker… Le’t see if you can recover, and whether I can recover after that.
Note: Please review my moves carefully and call me out if you see a mistake. I’m using the spreadsheet from the phone because my company have blocked google services (such as docs) and it’s hard checking through unit and spells. I\m not familiar with stats yet and might have missed something 
. I’m awfully sorry for that.
"P2T3
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Speed of the Fox
Sparring Partner
STARTING HAND
Snapback
Grappling Hook
Sensei’s Advice
Bird’s Nest
WORKERS
Fox Viper
Fox Primus
Snapback
NextHand
Sparring Partner
Morningstar Flagbearer
Discard
Speed of the Fox
Sparring Partner
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Sensei’s Advice on Monk and Sensei - ($5)
Rook levels 2 times to lvl5 (midband) - ($3)
Grappling Hook on Cadet to Lookout
Sensei (2/2) kills Traffic Director and lives thanks to Safe Attacking; get 1 gold
Monk (3/3) kills Newsman and takes no dmg; draw a card
Rook 3/5 bypasses Cadet thanks to midband and kills Onimaru; levels up 2 times to lvl7
Rook levels up to 8 for 4/6 Maxband - ($2)
Cast Bird’s Nest - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 0, draw 2
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]:
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]: Bird 2
-
[I]Technician[/I]: Bird 1
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Safe Attacking
- Rook 4/6 two lives (exhausted)
- Sensei (1/1) exhausted
- Monk (2/2) exhausted
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 2
- Deck: 1
- Disc: 2
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 8
"
That wasn’t overly aggressive at all, that was exactly right. After looking at your hand I knew I was doomed. If Lawful Search had given me my Manufactured Truth I could have done something last turn. Let’s see how this turns out, but with Ultra-Rook out there it’s almost certainly hopeless.
"P1T4
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Flagstone Garrison (Tech II)
Drill Sergeant (Tech II)
STARTING HAND
Manufactured Truth
Tax Collector (Tech I)
Jail
Flagstone Garrison (Tech II)
WORKERS
Porkhand Magistrate
Building Inspector
Bluecoat Musketeer
Jail
NextHand
Traffic Director
Brave Knight
Reputable Newsman
Overeager Cadet
Discard
Overeager Cadet (2/2+1A)
Flagstone Garrison (Tech II)
Manufactured Truth
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid+scavenger+card draw - ($7)
Worker - ($6)
Summon Quince - ($4)
Overeager Cadet eagerly walks under the birds and trades with the Savior Monk
Worker - ($3)
Very confused Tax Collector - ($1)
Float ($1)
Discard 2, draw 4
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Mirror Illusion (0/1)
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]: Tax Collector (2/3)
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Tower
- Spectral Aven (2/2 flying illusion)
- Quince Lv. 1 (1/3)
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
-
Tower HP: 4
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 4
- Deck: 3
- Disc: 3
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 1
- Workers: 8
Thoughts
"
"P2T4
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Whitestar Grappler
Doubling Barbarbarian
STARTING HAND
Sparring Partner
Morningstar Flagbearer
WORKERS
Fox Viper
Fox Primus
Snapback
Morningstar Flagbearer
NextHand
Smoker
Doubling Barbarbarian
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid - ($8)
Worker - ($7)
Tech II (Strength) - ($3)
Sensei gives +1/+1 to Bird 1
Bird 1 (2/2) kills Mirror Illusion
Rook bypasses Tax Collector and kills Quince, takes 2 dmg
Summon Sparring Partner - ($2)
Float ($2)
Discard 0, draw 1, reshuffle, draw 1
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Bird 2
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]: Sparring Partner (2/2) + card
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Safe Attacking
- Rook 4/4 two lives (exhausted)
- Sensei (1/1) exhausted
- Bird 1 exhausted
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 2
- Deck: 5
- Disc: 0
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 2
- Workers: 9
"
OK, I concede at this point. I have no answer for Rook and his birdie friends.
I have limited understand of the game, but my take-away from this particular match was that units like Building Inspector, Tax Collector and the Reputable Newsman are so… timing-dependent. Their effect is strong, yes, but I wonder just how often do you draw them “off-beat”, when the other player has no floating gold, already built Tech I, etc. Of course there’s skill involved, but if you don’t get the right cards in the right turn, the first 2-3 turns, you are pretty much screwed. Codex seems super tempo-oriented. I don’t think I won this match because of some grand strategy involved, in fact the units we both teched didn’t seem to matter all that much, compared to whether one gets them at the right turn, and not the turn after.
I’m not criticizing, I’m rationalizing it.
Should we keep churning matches? I’d like to learn to play Blue/Purle (0 games so far) or Black (the 1 game earlier). But would you be interested in a few more, potentially very quick matches? I understand this might no be ideal for someone experienced for whom early turns might not be as interesting as they still are, to me.
1 Like
Yeah, the Blue starter deck is very strange. I think most people agree that Blue has a very bad early game and tends to lack solid all-around cards. I’m thinking of, for example, Centaur in Green. You don’t need any special timing to use him, he’s just a big pile of horse. The fact that you built Tech I in your first turn (good move, by the way) made Building Inspector totally useless, and Traffic Director is kind of junk anyway. Blue really needs to play defense well, because they can shine in the late game; a Peace deck can throw out a whole army at once, Truth has crazy value in their illusions, Law can shut down your opponent’s options. You just have to get there.
Blue also has a lot of trouble against heroes, especially something like Rook. Free Speech can shut down hero abilities, but Rook doesn’t care…he’s just big and freaking tough.
Sure, I’m definitely up for another game. I’ll switch to Green, I think.
I think most people agree that Blue has a very bad early game and tends to lack solid all-around cards.
And in Codex, bad early games usually means no end-game, at all. Or so it would seem to me.
Well, here goes nothing… mono-Purple. Rolled 20.
Rolled 44. Here we go.
"P1T1
StartingHand Workers
STARTING HAND
Verdant Tree
Forest’s Favor
Rampant Growth
Rich Earth
Playful Panda
WORKERS
Verdant Tree
NextHand
Young Treant
Spore Shambler
Tiger Cub
Merfolk Prospector
Ironbark Treant
Discard
Rampant Growth
Rich Earth
Playful Panda
Forest’s Favor
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($4)
Worker - ($3)
Calamandra - ($1)
Float ($1)
Discard 4, draw 5
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Calamandra Lv. 1 (2/3)
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]:
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B]
[B]Buildings:[/B]
-
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 5
- Deck: 0
- Disc: 4
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 1
- Workers: 5
"
I don’t know what to do Purple heroes seem to range between meh and terrible early on…
What units do people most often use Geiger’s max band ability on? I’ve heard of some off-color synergies. I guess haste units are the best for this. Is “healing” a damaged unit the purpose of this ability?
"P2T1
StartingHand Workers
STARTING HAND
Battle Suits
Plasmodium
Temporal Research
Nullcraft
Fading Argonaut
WORKERS
Plasmodium
NextHand
Hardened Mox
Tinkerer
Time Spiral
Forgotten Fighter
Neo Plexus
Discard
Nullcraft
Battle Suits
Temporal Research
Tech 0 card(s)
Get Paid - ($5)
Worker - ($4)
Geiger - ($2)
Fading Argonaut - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 3, draw 5
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Fading Argonaut (2/3) armor
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]:
-
[I]Lookout[/I]: Geiger (2/3) resist 1
[B]In Play:[/B]
[B]Buildings:[/B]
-
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 5
- Deck: 0
- Disc: 3
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 6
"
I tend to use Geiger’s ability on either Hyperion (extra haste attack + card draw) or Tricycloid (extra 3 time rune shots). Sometimes a Stewardess is a good choice, to bounce an extra unit from your opponent.
"P1T2
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Centaur
Huntress
STARTING HAND
Young Treant
Ironbark Treant
Merfolk Prospector
Spore Shambler
Tiger Cub
Merfolk Prospector
WORKERS
Verdant Tree
Spore Shambler
NextHand
Ironbark Treant
Huntress
Playful Panda
Forest’s Favor
Discard
Merfolk Prospector
Tiger Cub
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($6)
Worker - ($5)
Calamandra levels to midband - ($3)
Calamandra discards 2 cards to gain stealth
Calamandra kills Gieger, gains 2 levels, goes to max level
Young Treant (+ draw card) - ($1)
Tech I - ($0)
Float ($0)
Discard 2, draw 4
[B]Board Info:[/B]
[B]In Patrol:[/B]
-
[I]Squad Leader[/I]: Young Treant (0/2+1A can’t attack)
-
[I]Elite[/I]:
-
[I]Scavenger[/I]:
-
[I]Technician[/I]:
-
[I]Lookout[/I]:
[B]In Play:[/B] - Calamandra Lv. 5 (4/5)
[B]Buildings:[/B] -
Base HP: 20
[B]Economy Info:[/B]
[B]Cards:[/B]
- Hand: 4
- Deck: 3
- Disc: 2
[B]Gold:[/B] - Gold: 0
- Workers: 6
"
Hmmm… so, “Arrives:” effects do trigger off the “return it to play” part pf Gieger’s ability?
Yep. Basically, it becomes an entirely new creature. So, you’re right, it can be used to heal a unit, but the bigger benefit is often the use of Haste or Arrive abilities.
1 Like