Aged Sensei
Saviour Monk
Fox Primus
Grappling Hook
Snapback
Thoughts
I’ve got a few options here:
Worker (6), midband Rook (2), Hook Newsman, Rook kills Oni, Smoker trades with Inspector, Tech I (1), Aged Sensei (0). No maxband Rook, but that means the Newsman staying alive is less of a problem. +4 gold for -1 card, seems good. Rook is left on 3 health, so only killed by copying Brave Knight. Still a risk. 4-card hand.
Worker (6), Hook Newsman, Rook and Smoker kill Oni, midband Rook (4), Tech I (2), Saviour Monk (0). +2 gold for -2 cards, if we include the building tax. Not worth it. 4-card hand.
Worker (6), Hook Newsman, midband Rook (2), Rook kills Newsman, Smoker trades with Inspector, Tech I (1), Aged Sensei (0). Onimaru left alive versus Sensei and 5 HP Rook, and Bird’s Nest isn’t blocked, I think that’s fine. Could probably even skip the Sensei, for more chance to draw a Nest, but I can just put it in Technician and not risk a Tax Collector. +2 gold, neutral on cards. Rook dies to Arrested Sensei and Oni + copied Aven, but that’s expensive on cards. Oh, and he can’t copy the Aven, anyway. Can’t afford Arrest + maxband Oni, either. 4/5-card hand.
Worker (6), Hook Newsman, midband Rook (2), Rook kills Oni, maxband Rook (1), Smoker trades with Building Inspector, Tech I (0). +4 gold for -1 card, good. No risk of Rook dying. No Bird’s Nest or Smoker to ping buildings, though. 5-card hand.
I don’t really like leaving Onimaru alive, but killing the Newsman is probably the better play here, it lets me set up for Birds -> Earthquake.
Teched cards: 2
T2: Bird’s Nest, Sparring Partner
Get paid + float - (7)
Worker - (6)
Grappling Hook, Reputable Newsman moved to Lookout
Midband Rook - (2)
Rook kills Reputable Newsman
Smoker trades with Building Inspector, you draw
Tech I - (1)
Aged Sensei - (0)
Discard 2, reshuffle 9, draw 4
Aged Sensei 1/1 (exhaust: ally gets +1/+1A this turn)
The worst thing about seeing Spectral Hounds is that they’re good for both Peace II and Truth II, so I don’t know how much to go for anti-illusion cards. They pop from Elite Training, at least. Definitely want one Thunderclap, here, then I want something else good for reaching Macciatus / Garrison. If the Raccoon had 4 attack, it might actually be useful here. Maybe Porcupine? I don’t want to tech Earthquake yet: Newsman can come back out to block Bird’s Nest, and he might actually die against Oni-backed aggression quickly. I’ll go for Whitestar Grappler for sidelining / killing Macciatus, and pick up Versatile Style later if I’m dealing with fliers.
Maybe, I’m really bad with white, so I’m not sure what the best strats are, but I think your less out of it then you think (your getting to tech 2 first, and hopefully your tech plan is ready for that).
P1T4
Tech StartingHand Workers
TECH
Drill Sergeant
Overeager Cadet
STARTING HAND
Traffic Director
Flagstone Garrison
Lawful Search
Free Speech
Arrest
Traffic Director
Building Inspector (1/1, your buildings cost 1 more)
Manufactured Truth
Reputable Newsman (0/3 + A)
Tech 2 card(s)
Get Paid + float - ($8)
LS your hand, I draw - ($7)
Oni runs into Rook, dealing 2 and removing armour, levels fizzle
Quince - ($5)
Free Speach, Convincing Rook that they are infact human, and not a rock - ($3)
Hound #1 and Aven kill Rook, Quince to mid
Hound #2 kills Sparring Partner
Worker - ($2)
Ouch. 4 gold after teching up, that’s enough for either hero + Saviour Monk or midband Grave. The latter just does to a copied Aven, so I have to go for the Monk, even if Grave probably still dies.
Just go for the kill before there’s a board flood, right? Free Speech can easily lock me up if I don’t take the board. Going really low on cards, but I’ve got heroes to feed next turn. Not sure what to tech, so I’ll take Martial Mastery for better cycling.
Grave L3 3/4 (sparkshot; readiness)
Rook L1 2/4
Whitestar Grappler 3/5 (exhaust: deal 4 to a unit, it hits Grappler if still alive, gets sidelined)
Sparring Partner 2/2 (exhaust; ally without a + rune gets one; 2g: readies, can’t attack this turn)
Bird’s Nest (channelled by Rook; Birds return at upkeep)
Edit 2: IMO, P1 Blue has the upper hand against P2 White and if White takes P1, Blue’s advantage (mainly due to White’s lack of option to efficiently get rid of Aven) would be neutered. Still, I think overall Blue is favored in this match up.
Rook L1 2/4+1A
Base HP: 20
Aged Sensei 1/1 (exhaust: ally gets +1/+1A this turn)