Is there any reason to have any other opening play the to revel At the Gates for Grand Maester Pycelle in a Melee game?
If any two players at the table open with the same play, and you don't, you are stuck playing behind two players with at least a 3 card advantage. And given the playability of search plots in Melee, it's likely that chain will be triggered again, putting you back further. Rule by Decree can only hurt one of them, and then you are still stuck playing behind.
Is there really any option?