[dragon] Military Dragon Smash Deck

[Eric Jacobson]

> >It was an interesting calculation.  I decided to take a friends advice
>and
> >run an almost equal# of personalities and gold holdings.  Also, >the fate
> >deck is pretty expensive.
>
> I'll try it too, though I'll decrease mine to 18 peeps (Adding a second
> Gensuo)
>

I had thought of that, but Genshuo has a 5 honor req.  Most of the people
are - hr.

> > >
> > > >Ashigaru Archers x3
> > > >Mirumoto House Guard
> >
> >An interesting suggestion.  I found many of my opponents more annoying
> >personalities had more than 1 force.  The ranged 2 was often part of a
> > >Sneak Attack to remove his only blocking personality.  Mirumoto House
> > >Guard would have helped maybe once, but I didn't use it until I had
> > >forgotten.
>
> I use Elite Spearmen but the drawback is the 2 honor requirement. Vedau
> won't get them...8<  Spearment (the simple ones) maybe? Force and ranged
> attack but NO card drawing (drawback). What do you think?
>

I loved Elite Spearmen in open...haven't played with them in Gold.  I may
have to explore that.  I did give serious thought to regular spearmen.  I
might consider them again.  Could have potential in a Blackened Skies
version of this deck, smaller followers, but some serious quills!

> > > >Gift of the Water Dragon x2
> >
> >On a related note, found Gift of the Water Dragon to be a little
> > >cumbersome, will be switching back to Master of the Rolling River for
> > >speed in my next test.  May also try dropping all followers for more
> > >speed against military decks and running more force boosters.
>
>    I wouldn't advise you to drop the followers. Against other military
decks
> (mainly Lion stand/knowThyEnemy) you'll be in trouble...
>

I had actually planned to play Spider Tattooes and 3 Farmlands and don't
honestly feel it will be any more of a problem.  There are so many ways to
stop Stand it isn't even funny (Flee the Darkness, Ashigaru
Archers/Spearmen, Strike at the Tail, Arrows from the Woods...), and I had
most of them used AGAINST me in the tournament, so I'm dropping it in favor
of something else.

> >Unfortunately, my early tests of this are no faster than this deck >was.
> >Hmmm.  I would really like to add a way to get to key cards.  >Perhaps
will
> >find a way to teak in Aid of the Grand Master to help get >Gaijutsu and
> >Dragon Tats going for defense against another military >deck.  (Really
only
> >fear Lion decks right now.)
>
> Walking the Way???

Once again, costs resources.  I just can't seem to get the synergy to work,
but the concept I'd like to explore is to get as many people into play as
fast as I can and give them just enough force to bust a province without
opposition, or to remove opposition so that units may follow-up later.  I
keep coming back to how effective force that sticks around is (Dragon
Tattoo, Mountain Tattoo repeats, Stand Against Stone, Followers, Weapons).
When I find the right mix of gold cost and speed, the deck will explode.
I'll report immediately ; )

>
> Against Lion:
> Test of Might, Purity of Spirit (!!!) and In search of the future.
> But you will have to change slightly your peeps base.
>

Don't want to change the peep base.  They remove all threat of dishonor.  I
was thinking of using my own force boosts and Overconfidence.  "Oh, you
tactician for 5 huh?  Bow your personality and your followers are lunchmeat,
too."  "I'll frenzy your 3 chi Crab guy with all the cool
followers...Overconfidence in reaction, so he bows...Naga Tattoo to this
other battle to help defend there...he bounces off my buff province and all
the followers die when he makes it home..."  Fun stuff like that.  ; )

Hitomi Jaek
Dragon Clan Laughseeker * Shugenja * Tattooed Comedian

"So this Akodo walks into the sake-house..."