I really really really like this card a lot.

He can be brutal in certain situations (i.e. opponent running Knights of the hollow hill, against baratheon (~since they are the new world power)) and is solid in most every game (anyone not use the streets?)

on top of that he adds more crest diversity to greyjoy.

Sure he has 1 semi negative trait, but he has two beneficial ones.

he goes into just about any greyjoy deck I make, replacing theon most likely.

He seems just OK to me in a greyjoy deck. He is going to affect the greyjoy player as much if not more than every other player. Greyjoy has the fewest nobles of any house so they are going to have to build their whole deck's resource structure assuming he'll be in play. Perhaps with the other cards mentioned in the article it will put him over the top.

I really like this guy, and if Greyjoy continues with the theme of resource denial (Ice Fisherman, Cragorn), then I think we might start seeing Greyjoy with competitive builds again in the large tournament scene. I'd like to see the rest of the Maester set to see if this is an actual theme for Greyjoy, or if Fartwynd is just an anomoly.

But I don't think he is a "splash in every greyjoy deck" kind of character. I think you need to build specifically around him, run 3x roseroad, 3x searoad, 3x gatehouse, otherwise his ability hurts you just as much. I also think there are some possibilities running him out of house with other Nobles in a dedicated Noble deck, particularly a deck trying to use Seastone chair.

1. I shall forever call him Fartwynd now.

2. Aside from that, I think he's very interesting, but will require a very synergistic deck. Wonder what else is coming to flesh this out in the upcoming chapter packs. Right now, I really see him as a character for a dedicated noble deck, not really for a Greyjoy deck.

Saturnine said:

Was there ever another option, really?

I really like this guy too. My Greyjoy deck has worked great in the past utilising only 3 reducers (2 fiefdoms and a street). Replace them with searoads and I don't see his ability being an issue to me. In addition, most GJ decks I see tend to rely on a field of weenies - will he really drastically affect how many Distinguished Boatswains and Seaside Urchins I play? I don't think so. He'll definitely take up a spot in my deck. I think combined with WM and a couple of Price of Wars he makes a resource denial deck at least semi-competitive.

Plus, I get the feeling that this will see the addition of a few more noble GJ chars, finally making the Seastone Chair a viable card to play.

@Dobbler: I was also thinking he could be great in that "See Who Is Stronger" army recursion deck you guys have been mentioning in your podcast.

I really like him. I always liked the first Oakheart, and he is very similar.

I won't play a 3-cost ally as a tempo player (until the other two traits get better maybe), but I really like his design.

Dont forget Greyjoy has that attachment drifwood crown.

bloodycelt said:

That doesn't help you with Fartwynd, though, does it?

Ratatoskr said:

I suppose he means for Greyjoy noble deck in general, in order to make use of Seastone Chair. You are right that it wouldn't help with regard to Fartwynd's ability.