As a player of many games, miniatures and board games. There is just that one itch they never seem to scratch. I know you can build an army but there just aren't that many options for miniatures. Board games are set to go right out of the box. But there is something about being faced with a pile of cards and trying to build a deck that will knock your friends deck in the dirt.

All the options you could put in.

Everything looks like it could work but does it work in the deck you are building.

The agonizing decisions. Perusing the cards. THinking, thinking, thinking.

Decision, no not that one take it back. The back and forth of which card is getting the axe to make it a lean mean 60. Or do I add that one or two more cards messing with my draw probability.

What is my buddy doing with his deck? How can I counter it?

Is there anything quite as wonderful or agonizing at the same time?

One of the reasons I am liking this game so much is that the deck building is much easier in regards to getting the cards you want for the deck. And the game has two different styles of matches you need to build for, both great. However I favor melee. This game rocks multi player.

jugglingfool said:

And it just got much better with Tzumainn's updates to his site

http://tzumainn.com/agot/

Interesting, it sounds from your comment that you build one deck intending to play it in both melee and joust. I can never get that to work.

My melee decks usually start slow (to not be a threat early) and build p some kind of combo with minimal control elements. My joust decks often forgoe combos and can be as quick as needed (but built with an eye towards consistiency). Rarely do i find myself building a deck that is equal in both, htough my lanni shadows deck is close (but still better suited for melee).

Lars said:

I build mostly for melee because that is what we generally play around here. But I would be willing to play my deck in Joust if the need arose. But with a very small play group, read me and one other friend who have bought into the game and whoever we can get to play with us on a given night at the game shop, deck building is just a fun activity to do at home before game night. The game is fun and so is deckbuilding. It is like a two for one special when you buy the game.

I agree with you - deckbuilding and trying to anticipate the metgame before you even show up to the match - whether it is at a big tournament or in someone's garage is most of the fun of the game. I have always enjoyed deckbuilding adn deck analysis and discussion.

And its better now wiht a fixed card pool - much, much better.

I ahve found that a solid melee deck can work well in joust - but a deck specifically built to dominate joust often fails in melee. typically contorl efefcts are spread too thin for it to work in the larger format. But things that work in melee, like saves, renwon and spot control usually transllate well into Joust. Just try to keep the card count under 65 - some melee players try and build very slow and non threatening decks that (in reality) are too slow and cu,bersome for head to ehad competition.