Hey guys, I wrote a bit about a log from Hiroki vs goko took my $. I can imagine that I missed (or just get wrong) a million tactical, strategical and orthographical issues when I worte this. In fact I did not even finish the whole game because it was too long for me. Also there this post lacks in structure, but this is just the way my brain works- not structured :/ But I already spent so much time writing this so if I do not post it now, I will never post it. But I want to post it because it is fun^^. Do not hesitate to write your thoughts on it even if its just a small part of text you want to comment on. I appreciate your thoughts on it.
Hiroki vs goko took my $:
The log:
http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141110/log.52215356e4b08be7ae40aa77.1415684325226.txtHaven, Great Hall, Bishop, Death Cart, Noble Brigand, Worker's Village, Embassy, Haggler, Ill-Gotten Gains, Hunting Grounds
I see three strategies: Embassy big money (I think is ruled out by the Colonies), IGG rush and engine.
Thoughts to some cards:
Bishop: Engine: Bishop is weakened by the shelters and improved by Hunting Grounds. However if the opponent goes for an engine approach Bishop can really backfire when played in the Endgame and giving the opponent opportunity to trash Hunting Grounds. And Bishop helps your opponent out thinning his deck. 1-2 Bishops are desirable depending how many IGG your opponent is to buy. When thinking about the number of Bishops you want in your deck you should consider the number of IGG and Hunting Grounds in your opponents deck. While IGG encourages Bishop buys Hunting Ground should discourage them. Probably engine is the strongest approach because it is less commital than an IGG rush, because it can still grab an IGG or two whenever it desires.
IGG rush: In the Endgame I hate Bishop and 4 Coppers in hand, because I can not buy a Duchy :/
Is IGG countered by Bishops?
Death Cart: Death Cart is strictly improved by shelters and Hunting Grounds.
Haggler: Haggler is improved by Colonies and Platins.
Not game related thoughts that just came to mind while studying the log: I think really strong players have a decision process similar to chess professionals looking at „candidate“ buys and then imagining scenarios how the pile splits will end up. I think some questions of Dominion can not be solved by logic. Sometimes extensive simulation from the current state of the game is needed to find out whether a decision was right or wrong.
Hiroki vs goko took my $:
Opening: Something keeps Hiroki from buying a Bishop in the opening, whereas gtm$ buys a Bishop. They have a different assesment when to buy the bishop on this board.
Pre-greening: Turn 3: Buying Workers Village Hiroki reveals his intention to go for an engine and he adresses the fact that Workers Village is the only Village on this board and having a majority (6-4) maybe a big advantage. I think if there was a second Village type of card another Silver would be nice as well, since Embassy and Hunting Grounds are strong drawers and encourage a higher number of treasures for engines.
After that both players get Haggler, a key card on this board. Is a second or even a third Haggler desirable?
Turn 5 gtm$: 4$: He gets rid of his Hovel. Was Workers Village the stronger purchase?
Turn 6: Hiroki has 5$ and still goes for Workers Village. He really wants a healthy share of the Workers Village pile I guess. Embassy was probably weaker here, because Embassy is not the only way to improve the hand size and gives the opponent Silver which is good for him because the strong drawers encourage a higher number of treasures than usually found in engines.
Turn 6 gtm$: 6$ Hunting Grounds because he has an engines approach and IGG because Hiroki has no Bishop, yet. Understandable choices. Is gtm$ already behind?
Turn 7 Hiroki: Hiroki buys a Platin. (Would he also have bought that Platin when there is no Haggler?) and he gains Hunting Grounds. He already has 2 more Workers Villages than gtm$ so he can afford not grab one here?
Turn 7 gtm$: gtm$ is fighting Buying Hunting Grounds and gaining IGG from Haggler. I ask myself: Was a Workers Village preferable instead of IGG.
Turn 8 Hiroki: Hiroki buys Platin and gets his Bishop through Haggler. Was the Bishop necessary? Would it be stronger to just go for another Hunting Grounds? If Hiroki remains with no Bishop maybe the accumulation of VP tokens by gtm$ Bishop gets inconvenient.
Turn 8 gtm$: Another Hunting Ground + IGG. I think there is a strategy shift by gtm$ because he gives up on the Workers Village pile entirely. He is looking for an advantage by cursing his opponent and maybe tactical trash some Hunting Grounds later. However Hiroki has this ability as well. Probably Hiroki has already a strong lead.
Turn 9: gtm$ is commited to IGG and Hiroki to his engine approach.
Turn 10 gtm$: Is grabing a Workers Village. Considering his emphasis on IGG does Workers Village still fit into his strategy?
This is the end. I am running out of time :/ And I know that I will not have the discipline to complete this iteratively. My apologies to you