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[-Stef-]

please discuss your league games here

[jpgerber]

I'd like some advice on a board...
Here's Game 4 of my match against Dunduks.

Code: [Select]

Embargo, Fool's Gold, Stonemason, Oracle, Monument, Baker, Explorer, Mint, Rebuild, Soothsayer
I have a feeling Dunduks should have Embargoed the Fool's Golds but I still don't quite know whether to play Mint with the Baker token.
(http://logs.prod.dominion.makingfun.com//20141023/log.5174d004e4b0af8780309547.1414095529575.txt)

[Hugovj]

Hugovj vs. Pst

So, the new league starts. After a terrible previous season (finishing last in D), I have something to prove. Hopefully my first game can be the one to start

Game 1: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413886567888.txt

Code: [Select]

Duchess, Scrying Pool, Develop, Feast, Tournament, Hunting Party, Journeyman, Mint, Fairgrounds, HaremSo, I assessed this as a Kingdom which relied much on Prizes from Tournament, as there is lack of a Village as well as an Attack (Scrying Pool doesn't count). That also means this isn't going to be the most fun game ever. Hunting Party can help to line up Province+Tournament. So I open Tournament/Silver, get a second Tournament and a Hunting Party. Pst does basically the same thing. I get a lucky early Province, line it up and I build up an lead which proves unbridgeable: 1-0

Game 2: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413887424058.txt

Code: [Select]

Poor House, Scrying Pool, Caravan, Horse Traders, Island, Pirate Ship, Remodel, Council Room, Mystic, PossessionThis board lacks strong trashing, as only Island and Remodel are available, and it also has no village. I see Caravan and go for an Caravan-based deck, with some help of Mystic and Remodel. Pst goes for Mystics, and also buys Horse Traders. My deck is consistently able to buy a Province every turn from turn 11 on, and I win. I don't know whether my plan was the best though. Scrying Pool doesn't seem viable here, but maybe the Mystic idea wasn't bad. 2-0

Game 3: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/kingdomvisualize?logurl=http://dominionlogs.goko.com/20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413888847018.txt&width=100&submit=Search

Code: [Select]

Cellar, Pearl Diver, Vagrant, Smugglers, Farming Village, Remodel, Junk Dealer, Minion, Wharf, GoonsInteresting board I think, with both a Goons-Village and Minion on the board. Wharf is also a powerful card. I decide to go for a Minion deck, helped with a few Goons and FV's. Pst chooses to buy Goons earlier and also buy a lot of Villages (7 in total). He gets an early lead, but after an amazing turn (24 VP) we get very close. This was a tight game until the end. I manage to end it on a three pile. 3-0

Game 4: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413890259817.txt

Code: [Select]

Sage, Wishing Well, Spice Merchant, Trader, Apprentice, Count, Ghost Ship, Mint, Harem, HoardTrashing is everywhere here, so that won't be a problem. I don't see a strategy afterwards though, Ghost Ship+BM doesn't sound good, and Wishing Well alone is probably to weak. Pst goes for a combination I did not see: Trader and Hoard: Buying Estates with Hoard, getting Gold and a Silver. It works and he gets loads of Gold. I'm worried and buy an Apprentice. It seems to do the trick: I can trash useless expensive stuff (like Gold) and buy a Province with my 6 drawn cards, getting a new Gold from Hoard. I win this game, although I don't know how. There should be some room for improvement here, anyone ideas? 4-0

Game 5: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413891009175.txt

Code: [Select]

Vineyard, Chapel, Ambassador, Doctor, Trade Route, Harvest, Merchant Guild, Mint, Rabble, NoblesVineyard is usually superstrong, but on a board without any cantrips, you can't build an enormous engine with 8-points-Vineyards. Also, there is Chapel and Ambassador, both strong trashing. I choose Ambassador, the junking is too good to miss I guess, as my opponent does the same. We both go for a Nobles engine, and I'm more successful/lucky. 5-0

Game 6: http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141021/log.53091282e4b059e80625a41b.1413891704124.txt

Code: [Select]

Transmute, Courtyard, Herbalist, Ambassador, Watchtower, Ironmonger, Wandering Minstrel, Baker, Catacombs, HagglerThis is a great game, I think. There is draw, gaining, attacks, villages, everything for an engine, which we both attempt to build. Funnily, we both end with almost identical decks. I win, again feeling rather lucky. 6-0

So, yeah, that was an excellent season opener, my first 6-0 ever. I think pst deserved more than what he got, but overall I think I played slightly better. My next match is this Saturday, so hopefully I'll be able to continue this streak

[assemble_me]

D3, matildha vs. assemble_me


My first match this season and first one ever getting streamed.
It's nice that there were actually some ppl around although the boards weren't that interesting and I didn't play great. But why should I complain about it, they can't all be the best boards ever.
Here's the link to the recorded stream, I'll be cutting highlights for the separate games this weekend: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/b/581036500
Also, sorry about those sound issues (mute/volume/windows sounds), I'm working on that for my next streams. I only muted me completely for the first game, so you should hear my comments for most of the rest


Game 1

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359170
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414088768698.txt

Code: [Select]

Duchess, Fool's Gold, Trade Route, Philosopher's Stone, Monument, Merchant Ship, Mine, Pillage, Rogue, Expand
Colonies / Shelters
assemble_me starts, assemble_me wins

As said, they can't all be the most interesting boards ever. This one is just Money into Colonies. We both open Silver/Monument. I'm getting a second Monument and a Mine, she goes for an early Trade Route over second Monument. She picks up a Pillage over the first Gold, and although you can recycle Pillages with Rogue I really think you rather want Golds over Pillage if you can mine them into Platinums. She also gets Rogue early which seems consequentual, but I have two Platinums before her first and dive into Colonies first. My Pillages hit pretty hands and I get a big lead she can't catch up.

1-0


Game 2

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359219
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414089765080.txt

Code: [Select]

Duchess, Fool's Gold, Stonemason, Trade Route, Caravan, Herald, Cache, Counterfeit, Graverobber, Jester
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts, assemble_me wins

My plan is to get a thin deck here to enable Heralds, buy some Fool's Golds and Counterfeits and go for green. I'm opening Herald/Trade Rote where she goes for Caravan/Trade Route. I actually like her opening better. The Heralds aren't that great as I can't use my actions because my payload is just treasures anyways, but on the pro side I can go through my deck quickly. I'm picking up all the Heralds (7/3 split) and can start drawing my deck but it's only one Province a turn for me. She picks up Stonemason into double Jester at some point but I don't see much point in adding Jesters as my deck is mostly Heralds and Fool's Golds and both piles are gone soon, I don't think any 5$ cards besides Counterfeit is really worth it. My Stonemasons don't have sufficient targets so I'm trying to get rid of them asap. The good thing is I'm hitting 8$+ consistently while she has to pick up Duchy at some point. In my second to last turn I click on buy Province quickly without thinking but, lucky me, I have +Buy and 10$ total and can get an Estate as well for a seven point lead. Her Jester hits a green card for a curse next and I already expect the tie, but then it's only Duchy for her, and I get the last Province.
I'm not really convinced of what I did here. I probably should have gotten much more Caravans. Maybe something like 50/50 Caravans and Heralds. Probably Counterfeiting Fool's Gold was premature, too. Maybe you don't need Heralds at all and are better off with a Stack of Caravans, FGs, a Trade Route and nothing else. Buying the PP was a mistake, my deck was consistent enough to go double Duchy and win later I think.

2-0


Game 3

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359393
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414091048243.txt

Code: [Select]

Moat, Ambassador, Tunnel, Militia, Scout, Silk Road, Counterfeit, Graverobber, Border Village, Peddler
Provinces / Estates
matildha starts, assemble_me wins

Here we have an Ambassador war board. We both open double ambassador and although I'm saying it in my stream it seems like this information went just through my immediate memory, because I'm thinking she opened single Amb/Silver for the rest of the game. Maybe I would have recognized that, but she's getting the worst possible luck with BOTH her Ambs missing the shuffle and therefore colliding in turn 5. So probably that game is already lost for her there. I'm getting a thin deck, picking up a Tunnel at some point because she gets Militia and start going into Graverobber/Border Village/Peddler buisiness and some Counterfeits to keep thin. I guess I'm doing okay there, maybe I could have gotten Counterfeit earlier, but who knows when the game is more or less over after the second shuffle.

3-0


Game 4

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359399
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414091692751.txt

Code: [Select]

Haven, Masquerade, Village, Alchemist, Noble Brigand, Scout, Trader, Embassy, Farmland, Harem
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts, assemble_me wins

With Embassy as BM enabler, we both see no point bothering about going for an engine. I'm opening Masq/Silver while she has 5/2 and opens Embassy/Haven. She can pull ahead incredibly fast with Gold in both turn 3 and 4 and her first province in turn 5.  Although I'm thinking it might have been too early for a Province there during my stream it's probably the right call. I need some more time to ramp up. I'm that far behind that I think I just have to go for the PP and I really wonder next turn that she only has 2$ for an estate, so I can get the last Province and win. It's sad for her, because later, in the log, I saw she havened away a Gold there. If she would have havened a green card buying a Duchy I couldn't have won there because that would have been a loss on turns. Surprisingly, I've been able to track my deck well before my first Province, as I wanted that Gold on 8$ knowing I had Gold+Mask+C+C+C coming up. If I would have been more confident about it, the best solution to have both Gold and Province would have been buying that Province for 8$ first, then don't playing the Masq, buying Gold and starting a new clean shuffle.

4-0


Game 5

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359419
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414092548924.txt

Code: [Select]

Native Village, Lookout, Steward, Swindler, Remodel, Taxman, Vault, Adventurer, Harem, Expand
Provinces / Estates
matildha starts, matildha wins

Once more, there are some engine-like components but it doesn't look very strong. On the other hand, Vault + Gold = Province. I'm opening double Swindler getting quite lucky in the early game (Gold on turn 3, hitting two Coppers for Curses in turn 3 + 4). She opens Swindler/Remodel and adds Lookout and Native Villages. As she swindles my 3$ cards into Stewards I decide not to add any trashers myself and I end up never trashing one of my cards at all. Finally we both add Vaults. I'm having a lead here, but finally one of my Vaults don't help me to a Province, and so she wins.
I don't like Native Villages here. You just want to play your Vault with a 5 card starting hand. I also think that Remodel is not a good opening here. If you want to get rid of your starting cards, I think you want Steward or maybe Lookout for that. Maybe Swindler/Steward is better than what I did, though and I'd probably open that next if I'm playing a somewhat similar board. Finally I got a little bit unlucky here, but there's no need to complain after the other games and maybe I should have picked up a trasher earlier.

4-1


Game 6

Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5359460
Log: http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414093749192.txt

Code: [Select]

Forager, Workshop, Feast, Quarry, Sea Hag, Taxman, Count, Merchant Guild, Trading Post, Fairgrounds
Provinces / Estates
matildha starts, assemble_me wins

And another non-engine board here. With Forager, Count and Trading Post around we both ignore Sea Hag. She opens Forager/Quarry while I'm opening Forager/Silver. I really don't like Quarry here altough it makes some sense looking at what she does. She goes for lots of Merchant Guilds and Foragers to trash extra Coppers gained for Coin tokens. I only get one Merchant Guild and also pick up a Count. I'm having a horrible misclick midgame picking up Duchy with it instead of +3 coins and so I get Duchy+Silver there instead of my second Gold. Her coin token machine isn't really appearing to be running well as she never has lots of tokens around when I look at it. In the end game we both get some coin tokens from extra Copper buys but I can end it before she can accumulate too many. I guess she could have picked up a Fairgrounds over Duchy somewhere which would have been worth 4 instead of 3 but it wasn't that big of a deal in the end.

5-1


There we go, first match, first win. I'm happy with the result, not with the way I played those games. Maybe I have a shot at getting promoted. But it's still a long, long way. Good luck for matildha during the other games this season, you surely will have more than in this match.

[assemble_me]

D3, Hugovj vs. assemble_me

My second match this season, I'm playing against Hugovj who won against me in the first season of the FDS league.
This match also got streamed, so I'm linking my videos in here, again.


Game 1

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414228011468.txt
Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369792

Code: [Select]

Duchess (Bane), Tunnel, Marauder, Militia, Young Witch, Apprentice, Laboratory, Mint, Royal Seal, Grand Market, Possession
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

We both decide to build our decks with mainly Tunnel, Young Witch, Apprentice and Grand Markets. I'm having 2/5 with and can't resist opening Duchess/Mint because I want the thin deck while he opens YW/Silver, getting a second Young Witch and Tunnels. The thin deck and my second Duchess make it almost impossible to get a Curse dumped. I'm feeling my deck is coming together well, but I'm not 100% sure if building for the Grand Market before adding Tunnel and Young Witch is the right call for me. I wanted them earlier but then I kept hitting 5$+ and then I thought it would be better to go for GM first. While I'm taking my time to build, he gains a lot of economy and can take a points lead, threatening to pile out soon. But he hasn't trashed down and can't get my Curses out of his deck, so he also has some in-between stall turns and my deck, which is supposed to be more reliable, wins.
I still like the early Mint, although I'm not sure. I guess I might have picked up too many Apprentices, although I thought I could Apprentice an Apprentice at an opportue moment instead of a Gold to kick off, which never happened, though. He probably should have picked up a Mint at some point, like turn 11.
Oh, and Possession, I didn't want it here because I could only play one without any Villages...

assemble_me wins

1-0


Game 2

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414230084635.txt
Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369810

Code: [Select]

Embargo, Doctor, Oracle, Warehouse, Envoy, Butcher, Counterfeit, Graverobber, Jester, Knights
Provinces / Shelters
Hugovj starts

He opens Silver/Doctor aiming for a thin deck, I open Envoy/Silver. I just want to go into Money, Butcher and Counterfeit. He decides to embargo Golds and starts going for Knights. I hadn't thought Knights would be really good here and decide not to go for them, despite the synergy with Graverobber. He's hitting some pretty cards of mine and I also have three Butchers so I decide to add a late Graverobber. I can Province/Duchy for a 10 point with only one province left, but my deck isn't that good any more. We both have some bad turns and I have to flip 10 bad cards to find a hand with my Butchers and Graverobber only to see him pulling off Province + Duchy with help from his Graverobber and Counterfeit.
Very close game, I probably underestimated Knights against my somewhat trimmed deck, but he also hit my Golds a lot and his Embargo on Golds was also pretting annoying, i.e. worked quite well for him. I could have bought a Duchy with coin tokens when I went for an Estate in the end, but I think I had to keep my coin tokens there hoping to hit Province.

Hugovj wins

1-1

After two games that took quite some time we had to take a break going on in the late afternoon.


Game 3

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414251379626.txt
Video Part 1: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369821
Video Part 2: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369827

Code: [Select]

Poor House, Storeroom, Advisor, Remake, Trader, Bandit Camp, Cartographer, Stash, Harem, King's Court
Provinces/Estates
assemble_me starts

I'm opening Silver/Remake only to recoginze that you have to pick up Poor Houses with your Remakes. He's opening Poor House/Remake which I don't really understand. I avoid Remaking Coppers and pick up Silvers and Advisors to reach King's Courts. He gets Trader and remakes his Coppers into Poor Houses, revealing Trader, although his chat comments tell he isn't fond of what he's doing. I'm getting a big building lead with more Remakes, King's Courts, Cartographers and a Bandit Camp. It's only a question of time until I can pile out, I feel I'm missing opportunities and the chat suggests a dozen possibilities for it. On top of that, I miscount and can't buy out Remakes when I thought I could, and then I'm having a disconnect during my final turn.
This game was painful for both of us.

assemble_me wins

2-1


Game 4

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414252190925.txt
Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369840

Code: [Select]

Duchess, Squire, Trade Route, Familiar, City, Counting House, Highway, Jester, Journeyman, Laboratory
Provinces / Estates
Hugovj starts

I want to build a Highway engine here, but it never actually becomes a topic in this game, because we just have to go for Familiar. He opens Potion/Trade Route where I go for Silver/Potion. He hits 3P$ anyways and so do I, but then my Potion misses the shuffle and I only hit 2P$, where he gets more Familiars, also trashing one of his Squires with Trade Route for more. I'm falling far behind in the Cursing and have a questionable decision between trashing a Potion for double squire or going for another Familiar with only 3 Curses left, but the game is probably already lost at that point. No one ever buys a Highway.

Hugovj wins

2-2


Game 5

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414252941648.txt
Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369856

Code: [Select]

Stonemason, Vagrant, Develop, Fishing Village, Bridge, Coppersmith, Wandering Minstrel, Hunting Party, Ill-Gotten Gains, Mint
Provinces / Estates
Hugovj starts

We both agree that the engine is much stronger and doesn't care about curses that much so we're building something with Bridge/Fishing Village and Hunting Party. I decide to open Develop/Bridge where he goes for FV/Bridge. He also adds an early Silver and can pick up Hunting Parties, where I have a hard time to pick up HP and think I can't pass on Bridges and Fishing Villages and pick them up first. Until the game is almost finished, no one recognizes the crazy synergy between Bridge and Stonemason, because the Bridge is effectively doubled, and then I go for a double Hunting Party only opening the door for him to pile out. Develop didn't do me any good here, it actually lost me the game because he won by one point from my trashed Estate.

Hugovj wins

2-3


Game 6

Log: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141025/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414254494495.txt
Video: http://www.twitch.tv/assemble_me/c/5369957

Code: [Select]

Loan, Steward, Village, Conspirator, Coppersmith, Count, Counting House, Graverobber, Border Village, Possession
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

This is a clear Possession board to me. Border Village/Graverobber is there, but you don't want to go for it with Possession around. I'm opening Steward/Steward where he has to go Count/- on a 5/2. I'm trashing down adding Villages, a Silver and a Conspirator before I pick up a Potion. I'm building up for triple Possession before diving into green, as he is significantly behind. Probably it was due to his 5/2, I don't think he could have done much better.
Finally, we had one board where I can think I played well.

assemble_me wins

3-3


Seems like this wasn't my best day for playing. I missed so many things that were going on, and I think I can't complain for becoming unlucky during one of the games. I know I'm prone to these things sometimes and I had some games where I just played bad last season, but I have to rethink if I want to go on streaming my matches. Right now I have to say, I'll probably skip at least the next league match. I don't want the streaming to be my excuse, but, although I expected it to help me to be more focussed, it appears that blabbering about my thoughts might be more of a distraction to me.

[assemble_me]

I'd like some advice on a board...
Here's Game 4 of my match against Dunduks.

Code: [Select]

Embargo, Fool's Gold, Stonemason, Oracle, Monument, Baker, Explorer, Mint, Rebuild, Soothsayer
I have a feeling Dunduks should have Embargoed the Fool's Golds but I still don't quite know whether to play Mint with the Baker token.
(http://logs.prod.dominion.makingfun.com//20141023/log.5174d004e4b0af8780309547.1414095529575.txt)

Here's the prettified log:
http://gokologs.drunkensailor.org/static/logprettifier.html?20141023/log.5174d004e4b0af8780309547.1414095529575.txt

I think, I like the Mint opening despite the extra Copper you have to keep around, but it might be a close call.
I think, both of you undervalued Rebuild. I don't think you ever want a second Soothsayer in a Rebuild deck. For the FG-Mint deck, I'd probably skip Soothsayer entirely, especially when your opponent signals he doesn't want FGs. Maybe Rebuild/Silver would have been a viable opening as well. The embargoed Soothsayer makes some sense, because your opponent appears to have assessed the Curse split to be very important and had one extra Soothsayer, and you already had 4 FG and could mint for them, too. But probably, yes, he should have embargoed FGs.
You had a great opportunity for Stonemason overpay in turn 4, and you really should have gone for it. The Stonemason should help more than they hurt with the cursing around. And maybe it could be helpful to trash Provinces into more Duchies to run them out faster. But, if you look at my last match, I tend to forget about Stonemason sometimes as well.

[liopoil]

If my opponent ignored fool's golds there I would just go full FG, ignoring rebuild. I'd get 10 FG, overpay for stonemason gaining soothsayer and explorer, then just buy provinces. I think that would probably beat rebuild. If FG were contested, then I would go full rebuild (after getting 3-5 FG), which would beat anything with soothsayer. mint/FG is the opening either way. embargo doesn't matter.

[Hugovj]

Hugovj vs. Assemble Me(me)

My second match, and a rematch of a previous one (my first win in this league, a glorious 4-2 (I was feeling ridiculously proud)). So, with good spirits I begin and I'm somewhat freaked out when I notice AM has climbed somewhat on the leaderboard, now having a L30+ and 6000+ goko rating. But anyway, let's get to the games. As AM has already written them down, I'm only gonna give some clarification/insight in my thoughts.

Game 1:
Actually, I didn't spot the Tunnel/Apprentice thing until AM started doing it with his golds. That's why I do buy some labs. Furthermore, I think I made a mistake by not getting a Mint. I was going to, but I forgot around turn 8, not a great thing to do. Clear win for AM I think.

Game 2:
I embargoed the Golds because I was going for a Knights/Graverobber deck and then Graverobbing things into Provinces, not really needing Gold. Seeing the Envoy opening, I was a little afraid of a Envoy BM-kind of thing, so I tried to stop that. The Knights are pretty nice here, I think, also because there was no Village (that's why I bought three, despite the many terminals, I was digging for Molly). Graverobber really combo's nicely, and I was picking up some Golds after all. I don't really think it is very lucky I hit those Golds, because I played my Knights pretty often, and then there is a bigger chance of hitting nice things.

Game 3:
Horrible, horrible game. So horrible, it's the one I skipped the stream about. Poor House/Remake: The idea was to build an engine with Remake for trashing (and then I discovered the horrible pricing of PH). You would have little money, so I figured PH could maybe help a bit. I actually liked the Silvers I got with the Trader, I hadn't thought of that. I just couldn't get a KC, kept hitting 6, and then had to sit through long turns (not blaming AM for this, I could have played better myself). Blugh.

Game 4:
This was one I rather liked on first glance, mainly because I thought it'd last longer, City'd become good, and then we could go crazy on Highways with a mass turn and blablabla. Didn't work out, because I totally won the Curse split and could just relax to the end. I guess the TR opening was... Risky. Silver was better, but I was a bit lucky.

Game 5:
Only note here: I also missed SM completely, until AM bought two HP's with it. Then I saw the three pile, and I felt pretty good about myself

Game 6:
5/2 was just really bad here. I think AM played better, but yeah, I didn't start a chance after the beginning.

Well, 3-3. I'm happy with this tie, because now I can stay at the top for a little while. There are some tough opponents coming up, so I have to enjoy it while I can

[Joseph2302]

Looking for some extra insight on these games against Kfm, think luck played a part in a few of them. Broadcast on twitch, so will post the log and the twitch.

Joseph2302 4.5-1.5 Kfm

Game 1: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414460274218.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385205

Code: [Select]

Duchess, Bishop, Bridge, Salvager, Sea Hag, Thief, Apprentice, Count, Junk Dealer, Merchant Ship
Lots of trashing to counter sea hag, both go for money. He picks up apprentices, I choose a count- not sure which is better. Nevertheless, I narrowly win.

Game 2: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414460702777.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385123

Code: [Select]

Armory, Ironworks, Rats, Highway, Margrave, Merchant Ship, Mystic, Stables, Treasury, King's Court
Massive Engine Board, with KC, stables, highway, margrave with ironworks/armory to gain lots of components. My luck was perfect, his sucked, and it was effectively over after T4. Luck was key here, and I hated winning the game like that.

Game 3: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414461299153.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385131

Code: [Select]

Cellar, University, Masquerade, Trade Route, Woodcutter, Familiar, Spice Merchant, Thief, Count, Rebuild
Masquerade board, I go for familiar, and transition into lots of rebuilds (with Universities), he goes money and 1 or 2 rebuilds.

I think the potion might have been a mistake here, as neither Unis or Familiars were that good. Also, the Unis committed me to buy too many rebuilds, and I had not enough deck economy. Kfm deserved to win here.


Game 4: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414462067530.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385140

Code: [Select]

Vineyard, Beggar, Cellar, Secret Chamber, Masquerade, Alchemist, Bureaucrat, Minion, Trading Post, Bank
Alchemists vs Minion, both having Masquerade too. He gets ahead with the Alchemists, but a bad turn 16 allows me to get a tie, which we both seem to be happy with.

An interesting game, not least because we both thought our decks were worse than our opponents. The Alchemist stack looked like it was going to work, but folded just in time for me to tie the game.


Game 5: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414463188226.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385151

Code: [Select]

Smugglers, Storeroom, Familiar, Coppersmith, Smithy, Wandering Minstrel, Band of Misfits, Festival, Trading Post, Vault
Big engine board, we both use Minstrels, Smithies, BoMs. I also pick up some storerooms, and a festival, which allows me to 2-province, to win the game.

Think the festival was a good call here, it gave me extra buy and therefore pile control and the ability to double province, which ultimately was the winning factor.

Game 6: http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141027/log.5062f3dc51c3843e7939eb9f.1414463766603.txt, http://www.twitch.tv/joseph2302/c/5385162

Code: [Select]

Stonemason, Loan, Lookout, Oasis, Philosopher's Stone, Nomad Camp, Council Room, Counting House, Margrave, Mint
Margrave/BM, I only get 1 Margrave, but get lucky after he breaks PPR, and win.

If only there had been a village there, it would have been a nice engine board, but I don't think the engine was viable without the village.


Overall, my luck was great in these games, and there were some nice boards. Comments appreciated.

[assemble_me]

D3: pst vs. assemble_me

I decided not to stream this match because I'm not feeling too comfortable with it already.
pst had a huge 0-6 loss in his first game. I'm not sure how lucky/unlucky that loss really was, but I still want to get promoted and have to try and win this match.


Game 1

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414696106550.txt

Code: [Select]

Steward, Throne Room, Wandering Minstrel, Bazaar, Catacombs, Council Room, Horn of Plenty, Rabble, Torturer, Venture
Provinces / Estates
pst starts

With all cards on this board being viable components for an engine, this board screams Horn of Plenty to me. He opens Steward/Silver where I go for Minstrel/Steward. I probably should have picked up another early Steward, at least during my second shuffle. He picks up a second Steward and we both go into Torturers and Bazaars. His deck gets thinner but surprisingly, he doesn't join me going for HoP and adds Golds. I actively avoid Council Room despite the +Buy, because I don't want him to have the free lab effect. Before I can count my variety my Horn is able to pick up Provinces but I keep building, buying one Province to be a bit safer. He gets a points lead and I have a mediocre and one dut turn, probably because of my insuffiecient trashing early, but without Horns or +Buy he can only buy one Province a turn. Finally, I can draw my deck and pile out Provinces.

assemble_me wins

1-0


Game 2

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414696573883.txt

Code: [Select]

Candlestick Maker, Pearl Diver, Watchtower, Baron, Bridge, Moneylender, Navigator, Silk Road, Spice Merchant, Cache
Provinces / Estates
pst starts

This is a weak board with not a lot going on, so I decide to use Baron to rush Silk Roads. He opens Candlestick Maker / Spice Merchant on 2/5, where I open CSM/Baron. I'm picking up a second Baron and two more CSM, he mostly mirrors what I'm doing. Late in the game, my extra Silvers help me to a Province and he also misses a late Duchy (which wouldn't have helped him, because I would have won on turns). Not sure if Bridge might have been better here to go for Silk Roads. I'm not sure why he opened Spice Merchant, maybe he didn't plan to go for the Slog/Rush right away.

assemble_me wins

2-0


Game 3

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414697192194.txt

Code: [Select]

Watchtower, Bridge, Bureaucrat, Pirate Ship, Spice Merchant, Tournament, Duke, Mint, Rabble, Venture
Provinces / Estates
pst starts

Clear Tournament board for both of us, he opens Spice Merchant/Silver. I don't like my 5/2 here and go for Rabble anyways. He's getting two early Golds in turn 3 and 5 where I keep hitting 5, which is really not what I wanted to see, adding Spice Merchant and Tournament. He already has a Province when I'm getting to my first Gold while I figure that Rabble isn't the best when playing against Tournament... He gets Followers and I add a late Watchtower which never helps me. I probably should have gotten the fourth Duchy instead of my first Duke but it didn't really matter at that point. I got behind early and never had a chance to get back in it here. But, I'm having a 2-1 lead and have to start the last three games - things could be worse, couldn't they?

pst wins

2-1


Game 4

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414698439770.txt

Code: [Select]

Fishing Village, Masquerade, Bishop, Herald, Bazaar, Journeyman, Knights, Outpost, Harem, King's Court
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

King's Court + Knights seems important here. He opens 5/2 for Sir Vander/- where I have 3/4 for Masq/Silver. I guess 5/2 is quite bad here but I guess I'd have opened Journeyman. Hard to say who is ahead in this game. It feels like, kinging Dame Natalie gives me a litle lead although she gets trashed right away, but the extra Villages/Masqs seem very good. I'm finally adding an Outpost which might have been a good call earlier (well, maybe not because the Knights would have trashed it anyways). As Knights are sold out, I'm having Dame Josephine while he has none left. The game is probably won at that point, and I cruise to the victory while he has mostly KC's, Provinces and Coppers only in his deck.

assemble_me wins

3-1


Game 5

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414699324414.txt

Code: [Select]

Hamlet (Bane), Develop, Woodcutter, Bridge, Remake, Sea Hag, Young Witch, Cultist, Highway, Stables, Altar
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

Lots of Junking, but also Remake is here and great engine potential. He's having 2/5 for Hamlet/Cultist where I go for Silver/Remake. I'm losing the Ruins split and Hamlets run out (5/5 split) fast. We're both adding Highways and Bridges, I'm also adding Stables. At some point I decide it's time to rush points and I can get a nice lead with three Bridges for triple Duchy, from which he can't recover.
Probably a second Remake would have been good for me. I'm sure he should have gotten a Remake at some point, and maybe some Stables instead of Highways. I guess a Sea Hag could have been good after ruins were out, but I never really found the right moment to go for it.

assemble_me wins

4-1


Game 6

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141030/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1414700361434.txt

Code: [Select]

Wishing Well, Advisor, Noble Brigand, Thief, Bazaar, Horn of Plenty, Stash, Wharf, Fairgrounds, Goons
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

Clearly a Goons board for me here. I'm opening Silver/Silver, because I really want to hit 5$ desperately, adding Wishing Well on subsequent hands with <5$, he opens Silver/Noble Brigand. I'm getting two Wharves first to get the draw up, then adding a Bazaars and Goons after more Wharves. He's adding a second Noble Brigand and goes for Goons a bit early. I guess I should have picked up even more Wharves earlier. He starts buying green cards and also buys coppers on extra buys, which I don't think is good, while his Brigands start to junk me with one or another Copper. Finally, after a few double and triple Goons turns I can pile out for the win. Maybe a Horn somewhere would have been good, but on the other hand my deck was never really realiable and I rather wanted to play more Goons.

assemble_me wins

5-1


Overall this felt like a clear win for me. I'm still in OK shape regarding promotion but I have to play two players which I know are both pretty good. I think, I have to win against both and probably have to get at least 8 more points to have a decent shot at getting promoted. Maybe the tie in my second match will still cost me the promotion, though.
Good luck to pst for your upcoming matches.

[pst]

D3: pst vs. assemble_me

Thanks for the analysis!

Game 2
...
I'm not sure why he opened Spice Merchant, maybe he didn't plan to go for the Slog/Rush right away.

That was exactly so. I didn't have the nerve to just continue, but changed plans and mirrored instead. Not that that usually works.

Game 3
... while I figure that Rabble isn't the best when playing against Tournament...

Actually in turn 10 I had $7 + Tournament, but didn't play it because your Rabble had topdecked Province, and I thought I would have another Tournament to go with it.

Overall this felt like a clear win for me.  ... Good luck to pst for your upcoming matches.

Agreed. Thanks, you too!

[assemble_me]

D3: assemble_me vs. Simon (DK)

I've had a decent start into this season but I still have to play the two guys who are best according to their ratings. So my plan has to be to set a good pace and to finish as high as possible. I can't even count on my former results because Simon (DK) and Zappie have both started well into this season themselves and probably the best way to keep them off is just to win these matches. So, my goal for the last two games is to win both and to get 8 points out of them, but even then winning the division can't be guaranteed. Now, it's the second time I'm playing against Simon. In season 1 he gave me a crushing 1.5 - 4.5 defeat and so I'm a bit worried to play this match. On the other hand, I think I did reasonably improve my play during these months.


Game 1

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415129073764.txt

Code: [Select]

Vineyard, Vagrant, Scrying Pool, Shanty Town, Swindler, Militia, Plaza, Embassy, Grand Market, Prince
Colonies / Estates
Simon (DK) starts

I think - and I also have heard this from other players - sometimes there are these boards where you can't find a clear plan, and if that happens, you're most likely about to loose. I'm opening Militia/Swindler here because I want to attack his hand because I think you want an early Embassy to get the draw up, and because "Swindler is always good". He opens Plaza/Swindler, swindles my Militia right into a Potion and starts to accumulate coin tokens. I feel like his Swindlers hit better targets and his coin tokens help him to Grand Markets early, where I have some extra Embassies around. He ends up with 7 (shortly after it's 6 because of my Swindler) GMs where I have only 3, but I have a Platinum. Although I can catch up on points in-between, I'm stalling in the end while he pulls far ahead for a comforting win. Despite the Swindlers, I think it was Simon's better plan that won him the game, here. Not sure if I should have picked up Scrying Pools once the Potion has been swindled into my deck, I had some opportunities to do so but I thought it wasn't worth it.

Simon (DK) wins

0-1


Game 2

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415130047320.txt

Code: [Select]

Fool's Gold (Bane), Chancellor, Doctor, Farming Village, Herald, Marauder, Mining Village, Navigator, Remodel, Young Witch, Minion
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

Another somewhat strange board with a lot of junking. Doctor will have some problems once the junking starts and is especially weak against ruins. Fool's Gold is the bane for Young Witch and there's also Remodel around to help FG, so I decide to go for it, opening FG/Remodel. He decides he wants to attack with YW anyways and goes for YW/Silver. We both add Marauders, Villages and Minions, he even gets a second Marauder. We're both going for midgame Doctors+Overpay, although I only hit one Copper with it. As he hasn't picked up any Fool's Golds, I go for a late Young Witch. In the end, I'm having lots of Ruins but I also have lots of Fool's Golds which help to reach Provinces and Duchies, and so I win. I guess going for Fool's Golds was the right call here, maybe I could have picked up my Young Witch a bit earlier.

assemble_me wins

1-1


Game 3

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415130723649.txt

Code: [Select]

Crossroads, Watchtower, Familiar, Mining Village, Moneylender, Silk Road, Smithy, Taxman, Cache, Peddler
Colonies / Estates
assemble_me starts

The 3P lottery is on, a Familiar board. I'm opening Watchtower/Potion to get some defense against incoming Curses. He opens Potion/Crossroads and adds an early Smithy. I hit my Familiar right after the shuffle while his Potion misses his shuffle, but then my Familiar misses so he starts with the Curses before I can. I'm getting another Watchtower, he's going for another Smithy and we both add more Crossroads. It's quite sad, because my Watchtowers can't deflect any incoming Curse but I'm still winning the Curse split 6-4. With 1 1/2 piles gone we start rushing Silk Roads. He has two extra estates and after his last SR he can level them up. I don't see myself hitting 5$ for a Duchy anytime soon and just end it. Probably I should have taken some Silver earlier but I feel like I got a bit unlucky with my Watchtowers there. His extra Smithies made up for the lacking economy in our decks, but he also had at least 1 Silver.

Simon (DK) wins

1-2


Game 4

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415132121548.txt

Code: [Select]

Beggar, Ambassador, Masquerade, Smugglers, Ironmonger, Marauder, Monument, Worker's Village, Mountebank, Mystic
Provinces / Estates
Simon (DK) starts

This is an interesting Ambassador war board. We both open Ironmonger/Ambassador, but while he adds a second Ambassador asap I'm hitting 5$ and decide to add a Mountebank first because giving two different pieces of junk is still a challenge for Ambassador and it also gives me some economy. I'm adding a Masquerade to get through my deck easier while he keeps thinning and adds a Monument. He's getting ahead in points and my deck is thicker, but I'm getting several good turns where I can junk him with both Ambassadors + Mountebank or can buy two components at once. I'm finding a way through my deck more easily and add a second Monument myself. He gets a Mountebank and a Marauder for more attack power but at once I'm getting through my deck every turn, can return all his junk with Masquerade and can play my Monuments every turn. I could even buy a Province but I decide to just try and run out Ironmongers and Worker's Villages, which works out quite well.
Interesting game, I think my Masquerades won it for me as I could go through my whole deck at some point and he didn't.

assemble_me wins

2-2


Game 5

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415132787223.txt

Code: [Select]

Masquerade, Woodcutter, Bandit Camp, Cache, Hunting Party, Laboratory, Pillage, Stash, Witch, Hoard
Provinces / Shelters
Simon (DK) starts

On most of the boards, having an opponent open 5/2 when there's Witch around is a big deal. I'm not that sad because there's Masquerade around, and so I open Masq/Silver. We're both going for Hunting Parties, but he has 4$ and picks up a Masq himself first. My Masqs not only help me to get rid of the Curses, I can also get rid of my OgE and my Hovel, so my HPs can get through more easily while he passes me his Necro. I decide to keep his Necro around, it's very nice that I can ensure my Masq not to draw dead while he can't play Witch+Masq in a turn on his own. I'm winning the HP split 6-4 and have the choice if I want to go on building, but I just add a Hoard instead and start greening. I have one more interesting decision after my first Province and decide to pick up a single Lab over a Duchy. I'm not sure if it was his plan to go more for an actual engine or if it's his draws that leads him toward it, but he's adding a Bandit Camp, a Lab and a late Woodcutter, but he has not a lot of time to build and follows me as I'm hitting Provinces very well. On my second to last turn I can pass him one Curse, receiving a Copper, trashing another Curse with my Masquerade and have a two point lead before buying the penultimate province (also being second player). But it doesn't matter, he has a stall turn and although I don't have a Hunting Party floating around, I have enough money in my deck that my Lab finds 10$ for the last Province.
I believe not going for the Witch on my site was a good call, getting the Hunting Parties was just more important and my Masq did a great job. Maybe you could go more towards an engine here. With Shelters you may open Masq/Woodcutter on a 4/3 but then you might be sad if you don't hit 5$ sometime, because you neither really want Silver nor a second Woodcutter. You could add an in-between Bandit Camp and try to build towards double Province turns. On the other side I think it might have been a bit safer to go the way I did considering what he did, and I think 5 Provinces in 15 turns is still nice when getting constantly Witch-attacked.

assemble_me wins

3-2


Game 6

http://gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141104/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1415134268782.txt

Code: [Select]

Vineyard, Secret Chamber, Fishing Village, Masterpiece, Storeroom, Sea Hag, Throne Room, Worker's Village, Bank, Prince
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

We're playing another weird board first but I'm loosing my connection mid-game and it's hard to say who was winning. I know it's common in the Dominion community to just replay the game, but I have to thank Simon for offering it to me as I know from other communities where you would simply receive a loss.
So the real game 6 is a Sea Hag board with Fishing Villages and Masterpiece. We're both opening Fishing Village/Sea Hag on 4/3. I'm not sure if you want a second Hag here but neither of us goes for it. He adds lots of Fishing Villages and also a Throne Room where I only add one more FV and an early Storeroom, simply for the extra cycling. I'm adding Silver after that, because I want to get some big Masterpieces and Silver seems better for that than FV. He has the same plan, but he's really going for Masterpiece aggresively buying them for 5$ where I really only want it for 6+ (although I still pick one up for 5 late). I'm hitting 8$ early-ish and decide to stop building my Silverflood for a second and go for the Province instead. With all the Masterpieces and 8 curses gone and being ahead because of the early Province I decide to go all green all the time after a reshuffle, and while he has some bad turns, also buying another Gold, I'm getting a big points lead.
In the end I saw that although he had 7 Masterpieces in his deck he only had one extra Silver, which he probably had never played because he bought it right before the end of the game during one dut turn.

assemble_me wins

4-2


There we go, still in race for the promotion. I guess, I can be a bit proud of myself tonight as I think I played decently against a strong opponent. As said, I believe, I still need a good amount of points in my last match and I'm not out of reach for Hugovj, Zappie and Simon himself.
Thanks Simon for the games and good luck for the rest of your season.

[assemble_me]

D3: assemble_me vs. Zappie


My last game this season already. I'm playing against Victor Savenije / Zappie and it's the second time we're playing against each other. Last time I would have needed to win at least with 3.5 points to win the division, but I could only tie. I got promoted anyways, but still, he knows how to ruin my result. Well, last time, winning the division would have been a sensation while this time I would really like to make it back into C. It's hard to tell how many points I'd need to win the division, but I guess I have to win against Victor to have a decent shot.

As these games were very close, I'd be happy to read about your opinions about these matches (especially about Games 2 and 4). Thanks.


Game 1

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415445533598.txt

Code: [Select]

Beggar, Hamlet, Sage, Swindler, Bureaucrat, Remodel, Silk Road, Festival, Rabble, Treasury
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

A Rabble engine with Swindler. We both open Remodel/Swindler as you can trash Estates, Curses and Coppers into Hamlets. I'm going for a second Swindler early and even have a third one, as he swindles one of my Silvers. We're both trying to get our decks under control, he adds Sages and Treasuries, while I rather want more Festivals and Rabbles. I see piles are in danger and I'd really want to buy a Province, but I can't hit 8$ when he trashes a Curse into an Estate. With a Festival, a Hamlet and two Swindlers in hand I can just pile out Estates and win.

assemble_me wins

1-0


Game 2

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415446527342.txt

Code: [Select]

Embargo, Menagerie, Philosopher's Stone, Horse Traders, Moneylender, Plaza, Highway, Junk Dealer, Altar, Hunting Grounds
Provinces / Estates
assemble_me starts

We're both going for Highways here. I open Silver/Horse Traders where he opens Silver/Moneylender. I like Horse Traders because I want the +Buy and HT helps to hit 5$ a lot which I wanted for the Highways. His Moneylender is a little less good to get to 5$, but still nice, and also helps to trash a little bit. We're both hitting 6$ after the shuffle for Altar, which seems pretty good here. I'm getting a Junk Dealer as my first 5$ where he goes directy for Highways, and so he wins the Highway split 6-4. I'm still in OK shape because I have my other "stuff". I'm getting a big turn (11) and could just double Province, but instead I'm only getting one Province, picking up a second Altar and a Hunting Grounds to get through my deck easier, he just goes for double Province as he can (turn 12). I can't get through my whole deck with a lot of cantrips in my last cards and I can only double Duchy while he can draw a big amount of his deck to double Province again.
I'm not entirely sure what I did wrong here. Probably his opening was better and not going for Junk Dealer in favor of Moneylender + Altar was a good call. I'm also not sure if double provincing in turn 11 would have been better, but I like my extra building there. I feel I got a bit unlucky in the end.

Zappie wins

1-1


Game 3

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415446968495.txt

Code: [Select]

Fool's Gold, Scrying Pool, Trade Route, Caravan, Council Room, Ghost Ship, Torturer, Trading Post, Wharf, Goons
Provinces / Estates
Zappie starts

Fool's Gold + Wharf money mirror. He opens Caravan/FG where I go for double FG. We're both picking up an in-between Wharf while going for FG, but he wins the FG split because I pick up a second Wharf early. I'm starting off to a 2-0 Province lead but I can't power through and have to pick up Caravan+Gold. In the end, he can Province+Duchy so I can't buy the my fourth Province and while I'm having more dut turns he can line up his Caravans+Wharves nicely for a big point difference as result.
I'm not sure what I could have done differently, maybe double FG instead of FG+Wharf would have been better. In the end I probably got a bit unlucky, but it wasn't unreasonable with his better economy.

Zappie wins

1-2


Game 4

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415448726126.txt

Code: [Select]

Beggar, Secret Chamber, Vagrant, Forager, Oasis, Trade Route, Wandering Minstrel, Harvest, Hunting Grounds, Bank
Colonies / Shelters
assemble_me starts

Engine time with lots of money from Banks. I'm opening Forager/Silver where he goes for double Forager. I can't buy anything in turn 3 but have 6$ in turn 4 for an early Hunting Grounds and feel significantly ahead at that point. He picks up a Begger for Forager food and to increase the value of his Banks. It's a swingy game, we both have some bad turns in the end and we agree in the chat that we shouldn't have trashed our second Forager, but as he replaces it I don't. In the end, I decide to just go double Colony for the second time as I could, but more dut turns follow until he can finally dig through his deck for Colony + 2x Province for the win.
Victor disagrees in the chat with my Platinum buy but I think it was okay. I think I misplayed here significantly, although I'm not sure at all, where my mistakes were. I guess my second Hunting Grounds should have been a Gold. Also, I should have picked up a Beggar earlier and I should have never trashed my second Forager. My Minstrel for 10$ was probably questionable, too, but I thought it was not the worst choice at that point.

Zappie wins

1-3


Game 5

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415450390827.txt

Code: [Select]

Great Hall, Storeroom, Ironmonger, Nomad Camp, Apprentice, Baker, Bazaar, Catacombs, Minion, Farmland
Provinces / Estates
Zappie starts

We're both opening Silver/Apprentice and go for Minions and a Storeroom. After splitting the Minions and a few Ironmongers I feel like building a bit more, but he goes right for Province. I have a little misclick when I wanted to have a Province myself but and have to pick up another 5$. I can't really make up his point lead as we both can't buy a lot of points at once.
So, this board looked a lot more interesting than it actually played. My main problem was probably mostly that he could play his Apprentice more often and was trashed better.

Zappie wins

1-4


Game 6

http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?20141108/log.50e7525ee4b0b5b74140a6c0.1415451087771.txt

Code: [Select]

Ambassador, Hermit, Horse Traders, Plaza, Procession, Thief, Counting House, Duke, Farmland, Peddler
Provinces / Estates
Zappie starts

I want to go for Dukes here and open Hermit/Horse Traders, where he opens Ambassador/Horse Traders, because he probably already noticed that Duke is the way to go. Due to his opening it doesn't matter that much that I trash my Hermit unintionally early on, where I rather wanted to use it to pick up more Silvers. He follows me into Duchies but I can win the split and the game is more or less won at that point.
Finally, at least one more win and this match didn't go into a total disaster.

assemble_me wins

2-4


So, it guess Victor destroyed my hopes of winning the division again. I can't complain because he probably played better, bad luck here and there is just part of the game. I guess, in our division 19 points won't be enough and I fully expect Victor or Simon to score something between 20-23 points. Maybe I can get lucky and promote as second again like I did after season 3, but I feel like my chances are around 25%. I guess it's good that I finished my league games that early, because now I have some time to lick my wounds as this end was really a bit frustrating. Nevertheless, thanks Victor for this match, if anyone deserves to get promoted, it's probably you.

[Zappie]

I found game 4 interesting.
A bit of frustrating came up early, because i didn't want fall too far behind so i started picking up wandering minstrels before i reached Hunting Grounds, but they just discarded my valuable silvers to reach 6. In this game i was really looking for triple colony turns (2 turns of that). Beggar is the only virtual +buy here with 2 foragers. To reach 33 coins i feel that you do need banks instead of platina.

[JacquesTheBard]

Game 3 would've been WAAAAYYY different with a village.

[Zappie]

Victor Savenije - Simon DK (4-2)
I normally don't post here, but I want to thank Simon for 3 reasons:

1 Having the patience of trying to make anther appointment for the 3th time

2 giving me the win in game 4.
Goko let us disconnect on moment were is was actually just on the boundary of a decided game/not yet decided game.

3 trying a different strategy than me in game 5.
I loved this board, and i don't think i have ever played a rats SP board before. But i not quite sure if this was the best strategy if competing vs a someone stealing highways.
http://www.gokosalvager.com/static/logprettifier.html?/20141122/log.513880ece4b006f8dc8ce4c2.1416656282289.txt

ps: I don't know how to make a log appear nice with cards layed out.
pss: as requested, quote by Simon: I didn't play well those games, you played a lot better