My 14 year old daughter has taken to CoCLCG and has beaten me in every game we played so far! So, I'm now interested in how to start out with deck building because... Revenge must be mine! Actually, I'm thrilled that she a) even wants to spend time with me and b) is having so much fun with a game I enjoy.

I have one core set and 5 out of 6 of the Asylum packs. Can anyone recommend a basic approach to deck building? I'm not the kind of player who will want to read each and every card, calculate the exact game impact and value, etc. That kind of sucks to fun out of it. However, I recognize that some kind of approach is necessary (other then shuffling though and grabbing the cards with the coolest pictures).

Thanks in advance... I'll also pass the tips along to my son who will also need advice on how to will a game from his sister.

card filtering/search/draw. being able to get that card to help turn the game is something i try to fit into every deck. cards that help with that are shocking transformation, under the porch, gibbering soul, unearthing the ancients, gentlemans club, aspiring artist, dr ali, journey to the otherside. those could help and are in four different factions. once you play enough youll see that there will be cards youre gonna wanna play at certain times, and anything to help assure you have that card when the time comes is very important, i think. being prepared never hurts.

also surpise is key too. playing shocking transformation at the right time can totally ruin their plans on winning a story and with that idea, power drain and performance artist can really throw a wrench into plans if timed right. saving powerful cards for key moments is important. shotgun blast is good, but if you wait until they commit to stories then nail them with it, you can do serious damage. maybe youll even win the combat struggle.......now its even better.

also willing to hurt yourself for a gain can help. ive wounded living mummy myself on more than one occasion. wounding it before my operations phase can give a free run at stories, and late in the game can make all the difference.

the main thing is to know what your deck can and cant do and play to that strenght/weakness.

hope that helps alittle.

The best approach is to read each and every card, calculate the exact game impact and value, etc.

Remember: The horror of the Cthulhu Mythos is not the unknown, but knowing too much about the arcane truth about the universe, and knowing that tragedy can (and will) strike at any moment. The mystery comes from the randomness of the card draw. It's a game about making hard choices, and committing to the consequences. Being informed on what could happen will bring you to a higher level.

If you think that'll ruin it for you, than accept that you don't play to win, and it's more about the journey than it is about the goal, and have fun creating new Lovecraft stories on the kitchen tables. Few of the Mythos' heroes where succesful in the end and even then, their stories of at least trying to beat the odds kept people entertained for generations now.

boss.sverok.net/CoC/

is a good set of resources.

What factions is your daughter playing?

If perchance Cthulhu and Hastur are still available, a two-faction deck from the available Cthulhu/Hastur card pool will give you a very good chance of stretching her deck.

Then again, if she IS playing Cthulhu/Hastur, you will have trouble building a deck to reliably spank hers.

Chick

She built a deck with King in Yellow and Yog Soggoth, with some interesting neutrals and such. I held out for a while with my Cthulhu / Hastur deck, but my characters were expensive and with her characters with Investigative skills she kept overwhelming me winning the Investigation struggles for one success token then unopposed for 2 more, thus winning stories in 2 or 3 rounds.

In any case, she has a lot more focus on precise and efficient play of characters to stories... I'm just having fun playing with the cool cards and enjoying my daughter's company. Maybe I don't want to win BAD enough!

Really great the you are having so much fun, DoormatMike. Makes me smile.

Chick

There is a way that you can ensure that you beat your daughter at this game. When she leaves the room, set all of your good cards at the top of your deck. Make sure she trusts you so that she won't cut your deck before you start. Then stomp her with ease. I heard this technique worked well at the start on last year's World Championship Tournament. If she catches you, say, "It doesn't say in the rules that you can't do this."

Happy beatings.

Thanks for all the very "helpful" suggestions!

Just to keep you updated, she has won every single game thus far... last game I had a dynamite Agency / Hastur deck that put me out in front with 2 story cards right off the bat. She kept saying how tired she was, she had a head ache, couldn't concentrate... then she blitzed me in a brilliant pair of tuns like a ninja space marine on stim. It was like watching a computer play. I was left, defeated again, wondering where her headache had gone.

I guess maybe the deck stacking is my only hope.

"like a Ninja Space Marine on Stim"

- - good one - - very emotive.

Chick

chicklewis said:

Indeed an awesome image! Tell your daughter to spread the word on coolness of CCGs to her friends. Geeks need love too.

Seriously though enjoy the time with the offspring. They grow so fast!