Join us this week for an extra special length episode as FFG's very own Damon Stone sits down with us to work on a listener requested Martell deck. We ran considerably longer than usual this week, but I think we've offset it with some great insights into how Damon's mind works (and a few interesting tidbits from the rest of us) so be sure to check out an episode radically different from last week. (Though actually, feedback on last week's episode was WAY more positive than I expected). Anyway, Tally ho and be sure to listen to the very end of the episode this week.

All Your Icons Are Belong to Our Cocaine Machine

House (1)
House Martell (Core) x1

Agenda (0)

Character (30)
Quentyn Martell (VD) x3
Areo Hotah (PotS) x1
Ser Archibald Yronwood (CD) x1
Ser Gerris Drinkwater (CD) x1
The Red Viper (APS) x2
Arianne Martell (PotS) x1
Dorea Sand (TftH) x1
Ellaria Sand (PotS) x1
Maester Kedry (FtC) x1
Maester Myles (AHM) x1
Myrcella Lannister (KotS) x1
Nymeria Sand (OSaS) x1
Obella Sand (DB) x1
Tyene Sand (OSaS) x1
Ser Arys Oakheart (PotS) x1
The Bastard of Godsgrace (EB) x1
The Windblown (AHM) x1
Orphan of the Greenblood (PotS) x3
Maiden of Poisons (ODG) x2
Maester of War (TWot5K) x2
Refugee of the Citadel (RoW) x3

Location (21)
The Scourge (ODG) x2
The Brimstone (TBC) x1
The Vaith (TGM) x1
Shadowblack Lane (Core) x1
Street of Sisters (Core) x1
Street of Steel (Core) x1
Street of Silk (LotR) x1
Summer Sea (Core) x3
Norvos (VD) x1
Lord Doran's Chambers (PotS) x1
Kingsroad Fiefdom (QoD) x2
Water Garden (PotS) x3
Bay of Ice (KotS) x3

Event (10)
The Viper's Rage (TftRK) x3
The Prince's Wrath (PotS) x2
To Be a Viper (SB) x2
Red Vengeance (PotS) x3

Attachment (1)
Taste for Blood (PotS) x1

Plot (7)
At the Gates (GotC) x1
Frey Hospitality (LotR) x1
Relentless Persecution (DB) x1
Breaking and Entering (LotR) x1
Retaliation! (ASoSilence) x1
Search and Detain (HtS) x1
Wildfire Assault (Core) x1

I'm not so sure I like Areo, here. Quite aside from being a 4 cost ally, surely rather than synergising with the Viper's Rage, he'd make opponents try harder to NOT to win by 4 or more so as not to activate his effect?

Other than that minor bit of confusion, great episode! Was really cool hearing Damon on there too, but that probably goes without saying.

Yes, the unfortunate things with both Areo and The Viper's Rage, is that as we discussed (and the episode length crept longer and longer) a theme that I had wanted to work in wound up getting dropped. You may notice me mention how the Bastard of Godsgrace can pump incoming Martell characters to ensure that you lose by 4 or more? Originally, I was going to push for us to look for more ways to do similar things so that we could effectively force our opponent to win by 4 when they weren't meaning to, but sadly, that didn't make it in.

Yeah, I noticed that too. It seems like the longer the deck tinkering went on, the less it became about the original premise and more just a general cool Martell deck. Not that that's a bad thing, 'cause maybe it says something about the original idea and how this is a fun alternative?

Kennon said:

rumors of war

Great call there, Dennis.

I think as we worked on it, this became more of a Quentyn deck with a fairly strong icon control theme. It actually might be worth going back to this list again and saying "Ok, so this doesn't abuse The Viper's Rage hard enough. What can we do to change that?" Would folks be interested in hearing a follow up episode address this?

The combo of Rumors of War and Hotah were introduced to me very early on in learning aGoT as the guy who taught me how to play has a brother who is a rabid Martell player, and used Rumors to trigger all the 'Lose by 4' shenanigans in every match we played.

A Martell deck not playing either blade or bannermen? I think the blade fits the theme better. Kill the chud and strip icons from the big characters.

Kennon said:

I would be interested in hearing a follow up episode about how the deck actually performs. What works? What fails? How can the deck be made better without losing the initial concept?

First of all - props to you guys for having Damon come on, and to Damon for doing so. I'd love to hear regularly from FFG AGOT-related staff, and Damon's interview at gencon with Teamcovenant and appearance on this podcast have been great to have. I like hearing from the people with the "vision" for the game, even on such topics as deck building, as it reassures me that they're in touch with the player base, and gives an insight into the design side of the game.

I'm sure he doesn't want to commit to constantly discussing every new card designed etc, but it'd be a really great thing to continue to hear from him (or others) on a few topics here and there, from new FAQs to designing a deck, come on to play a game against one of our champs/chumps.

As for the deck, I'm a little curious as to how it'll preform. To Be a Viper that you can't use till turn 3, assuming you're typically opening with At the Gates, seems like an odd choice. I do think the deck strayed from it's original vision, but most decks I make do that…

I always found the lack of CM management or even simple presence on these boards to be odd. Its the only game that i can think of where the parent company completely ignores its community ( by ignore i mean 'does not participate in' ) on the boards that they themselves host.