Threw this together and it actually seems to work. I need more testing, especially against rush and dwarves. Previously, I haven't been able to build an Empire deck that had any chance at all without an early Judgement against rush decks.

Derriksburg Forge is even better than I expected. Certainly one of the best supports in the game. I've also been really happy with Church of Sigmar, despite the double loyalty - having the forge helps a lot for that. Forge into Church on turn 1 is very nice. Shrine to Taal invariably goes in the battlefield in this deck - you are developing the battlefield a lot for that and the Volley Guns. Runefang on Pistoliers is pretty good too.

However, Knight Training is not good at all and it needs to go once I figure out what fills that slot.

3 Innovation
3 Iron Discipline
1 Knight Training
1 Demolition!
3 Helblaster Volley Gun
1 Runefang of Solland
1 Judgement of Verena
-- 13 tactics/attachments

1 Protect the Empire
-- 1 quest

3 Warpstone Excavation
3 Contested Village
2 Church of Sigmar
1 City Gates
3 Derricksburg Forge
1 Dwarf/Empire Alliance
1 Shrine to Taal
-- 14 hammer supports

1 Peasant Militia
3 Huntsmen
1 Errant Wolf
2 Gold Wizard Acolyte
3 Pistoliers
1 Sigmar's Blessed
3 Warrior Priests
3 Gryphon Legionnaire
3 Reiksguard Knights
1 Thyrus Gorman
1 Zealot Hunter
-- 22 units

I think it's pretty interesting how you guys build decks. I can definitely see you know what you're doing, but I personally find it difficult to run 1s or 2s of a card I find universally useful like demolition. If you don't mind me asking, what is the reason behind that?

You could try mining tunnels instead of the D/E alliance. Seems like for eating the 1 resource early you get a pretty killer card through late game with pretty much the same effect the alliance has.

If you're developing the battlefield a lot, you could try Surprise Attack in Knight Training's slot, I dunno how much use you'll get out of one though.

It's single set, so you're only allowed 1x Demolition. That's why. The Single Set meta is quite a bit different from standard - support removal is even worse than in standard so cards like Contested Stronghold are significantly better.

I'm considering Mining Tunnels - it's pretty amazing. I'd run it in addition to the alliance instead of replacing it though, since if you can play the alliance first the loyalty is negated. Probably as a 2x.

I do not think Surprise Attack is worth it. You have to do a whole lot of indirect damage for indirect damage to be anything more than an annoyance, and it can even help your opponent (e.g. Urgrok, Boar Boyz, Squig Herder, Warrior Priests, etc. etc.) if you're just doing a little bit. Even the 6 indirect from a Book of Grudges often doesn't really matter.

In the single set german style games I played Ulrics Fury was a strong killer with cheap empire units. Adding Sigmars Intervention might help, too.

The problem I have with both of those is that they are dead cards most of the time - this is a pretty aggressive deck. The Gryphon counterstrike guys give you a pretty similar effect only you can use them offensively too.

The actual plan for the deck is to use the superior resource acceleration that Empire provides to get set up quickly, strap guns (or shrine to taal) to guys in the battlefield, develop battlefield and beat face. Protect the guys with guns with Iron Discipline (that actually turns out to be pretty good in this deck). It's not really very subtle. I think Troll Slayers could be pretty good here - I'll have to give them a try especially if I add Mining Tunnels.

I did try an Ulric's Fury deck way back with lots of cheap or 0 cost units in standard - it was ok but I wasn't happy with its matchups.

How do you balance your developments for the sake of innovation? Do you start putting them in the battlefield when you start to rally your offense? or do you just sort of play as your hand dictates?

Sorry for the interview, I'm getting ready to build a similar deck.

I'm not usually innovating for more than 1 or maybe 2 in this deck. If I have an innovation in my opening hand, then the first dev is in kingdom but otherwise the devs are all going in battlefield. It's good to start building up there so the volley guns are at least a choppa's worth.

In theory you can play city gates to battlefield but it never seems to work out that that is what I want to do - instead I'm always wanting the hammer in kingdom.

I like it. I might like it more with Gryphon Standard and Knights OTBS.

Yeah, I considered the Standard. I think the Volley Guns are probably better though just because single units can be a nasty threat. 1 cost vs 2 is pretty big too.

Clamatius said:

Well, yes, for the sake of speed. It might be worth subbing for the Knight Training, which is really only development bait after turn three in a 50 card deck. In single set, KT is not a game changer. GS could be.

Yep. KT is definitely getting cut. It just may be getting cut for something like Troll Slayers for a top-of-the-curve unit - as is it feels like 4 attachments is quite a few.

Just curious, where/how frequently does this single set rule come up? Is it something you're just doing with some of your gaming group, or is it a popular tournament rule?

It's a tournament format I dreamed up a couple of months ago. I figured that since the way a lot of players actually play the game is to have a single copy of each set, why not call that a format and see if it's balanced (it is, and it's fun).

I am not sure if there are other people using the format elsewhere. But given that FFG gives minimal tournament support anyway, I figure that tournament organizers would be well served to use the Single Set format since building the player base is the most important thing for the game right now. Single Set is a lot more accessible in terms of cost - even though WH:I is a lot cheaper than Magic, a lot of players are put off by the idea of buying 3x core set, relevant BPs and Assault on Ulthuan.

What about Battle Standard?

Battle Standard seems like a coaster to me, honestly.