I'm an experienced CCGer. I played Magic for around 10 years, and L5R for around 5 years. Now admittedly, part of the reason I kicked those habits is the money you have to put into buying randomly assorted boosters, and buying new sets as old ones rotate out, etc. I hated it. Which is why I play a AGoT. And one of the reasons I love this game is the story. I've been a fan of the book series for a several years now, when I happened across the boardgame at a con. Didn't play it, but remembered the title, and been infatuated ever since.

A real problem I had in MtG and L5R was that you just couldn't play certain cards. No matter how cool they looked or how much flavor they had, they just weren't reasonable to put into a deck. And I hated that too. I would get laughed at or lectured for including a creature in MtG or a character in L5R in my deck, just because I thought they were cool.

So after that lengthy intro here's the question: Do you play for Flavor or Efficiency?

Admittedly, the folks here at FFG have done a wonderful game of balancing all of the houses and such. But the question remains. Do you play your faction for the characters and story or do you play them for their in game efficiency. Also, are there any characters that you feel you always include in a deck, even if their ability isn't that great?

Thanks in advance!

Ben

BenStark said:

I don't think they're mutually exclusive. I play Martell because I like them in the books, but I still try and tune my deck for efficiency. Everyone (most likely) who plays a house or two that they like still builds them to be as good as they can be. Also I can't answer about including subpar characters because there are no Martell characters whose ability isn't that great.

There are Shaggas, Jaimes, and Neds. Some people are combinations of all 3.

When I play for fun, I like to play for theme, but when I go to tournaments, it's all about efficiency.

I mostly try to build efficient decks, but deck building for fun can obviously be enjoyable too... I love seeing the look on my opponents face when I get the Street Waif + 2 To Be a Dragon combo going, and who doesnt love using Balerion's response (when you actually manage to get him out).

I start all of my decks based on theme or novel idea and then work the deck towards efficiency.

I started playing Bara because I liked them in the books. I kept playing Bara because I like how they play. I generally try to follow a theme, which is why I LOVE the asshai. I really like cards that work with each other, regardless of there actually being a combo. I've always liked the NW, but man do they always suck. I usually end up with like an 80 card deck and then Shives will make me take out the fun, yet ultimately bad, cards so that it becomes efficient.

As for characters that are always in my deck, I'd say Mel and Robert. Those two are always in there regardless of their version. Although every version is awesome so it doesn't really matter. If there was a Butterbumps card though, man I would run the **** outta that card!

If your not running Jory Cassel, who is cutting their way back in?

Staton said:

I'm still waiting on a Hot Pie card...

Fieras said:

Ditto on the latter, and for the former, that's the original designer's translation of Rosewater's player-archtypes into AGOT-speak. Jaime is the ruthlessly efficient tourney player, Shagga is the boom-goes-the-dynamite "I win if I pull of my combo once in the entire event" player, and Ned is, well Ned. Follow the story. Never play Devious Intentions in your Stark or Bara decks even if it's totally worth 3 gold on the Blackfish or the Knight of Flowers. And lose a lot, not by poor play, but by not playing the same game as everyone else.

Well, I've always been a flavor player.

I played Scorpion in L5R for the flavor. Even though, most of the time, they sucked at the beginning and ending of sets.

I like Stark alot, and admittedly, it's from a flavor standpoint. I cried at the end of the first book. Giant, manly tears. And I was a little disconcerted to know that if I wanted to play Stark now, it'd probably be Bolton. But after reading DwD, I've come to respect the Boltons in an odd way, and am therefore cool with it.

It's just one of the reasons I like this game is that a player can still play for flavor, but have their deck be competitive.

For me it's all about flavor. I start with a theme I like and do my best to make it efficient while sacrificing as little of the flavor as possible.

I will always run at least 2-3 charatcers for falvor or theme in a deck - its just not worth playing Thrones if your deck is a bunch of locations,. control efefcts opr accelerants and 20-30 namelss chuds. I allot at leats five slots in my charatcer base fo four+ cost uniques and teh like - and every deck i bring to a tournament will have a base of unique charcters to allow me to express a theme from the soruce material.

It is a testament to R&D that the POV uniques and their memorablesupporting players are generally legit for tournament play. Theya ren't all Tier 1 - but few are belwo Tier 2, and as such can play a role in competitive decks. To me the real challenge in deck building is being able to achieve theme AND efficiency. I always give prop[s to such decks when I see them.