Round 4 Results: scryordie (50) vs. gamesou50 4 - 3 gamesouA tight and intense series all the way through. I was glad because all the sets were interesting and there was relatively little luck involved.
Game 1: scryordie 122 - gamesou - 55An engine was clearly the optimal strategy here. We both got the 5/2 split and opened Haggler/Nothing. In the second cycle, I opted for Tactician/Bishop over Gold/Haggler. This helped accelerate my engine, and soon, with the aid of many bishops, I got my deck down into a very consistent Colony engine with a Haggler for Bishop fodder. Gamesou suffered from too many terminal early game, and was not able to pull himself back into it with Double Tactician + Mass Bishop.
Game 2: scryordie 9 - gamesou -7An interesting set with a ton of engine cards. We both open Steward/Quarry and snatch up 5 cost engine components. (Although gamesou favors trashing some more cards, while I pick up both a Mountebank and a Wharf). As the game develops, with both pick up Farming Villages and Throne Rooms. Gamesou upgrades his first Mountebank into a Gold, which I feel was a mistake. With Quarry, Throne Room, and Mountebank, money is simply not that important, and this allows me to get a decisive Curse split. I am able to get an insurance Province and end it on piles.
I feel the midgame Scrying Pool was a trap, as it was simply too slow in this volatile set.
Game 3: scryordie 36 - gamesou 42The board lacks a large engine and we both favor a Stables Big Money. I feel pretty confident with Smugglers as second seat, especially when I am able to get an early Stables. I have an edge going into the mid game, and gamesou goes for develop, which was a little slow in my opinion, but I fail to get enough money before diving into the Provinces. Some bad shuffle luck (Turns 10 and 15) where I have two Stables and no treasure to be found and 4 of my Stables clump together at the bottom of my deck.
Gamesou takes the lead, and through some nice use of develop is able to grab the estates necessary to guarantee a tie and able to close out the game on piles.
Game 4: scryordie 42 - gamesou 37Going in, I am quite worried because this sizes up to be a Big Money game, and Militia can heavily favor the first seat. Gamesou opts to go Militia/Silver while I go Militia/Courtyard. I make some tough decisions about when to play the Militia vs. the Courtyard to deny gamesou $6 and $5, and it pays off, because I am able to get a massive Gold lead, while gamesou builds up with more Militia and Throne Rooms. I feel that Throne Room might not have been as great here as it may seem. Throne Rooming a Militia is not substantively different from playing a Militia and a Silver.
I buy the Penultimate Province (happily, because if we tie, I think I can take a different game that does not favor first seat quite as heavily). Fortunately for me, gamesou can only grab an Estate, and I take the last Province for the win.
Game 5: gamesou winsI thought I grabbed the log for this game, but apparently not. Unfortunately, I totally forget what the set was and how the game ended. If gamesou still has the log, I will type up my thoughts and edit this post.
Game 6: scryordie 12 - gamesou 26An interesting game. Chapel/Possession calls out to both of us. I can think of no way to rush Greens quick enough to beat someone taking 2-3 times as many turns. I opt for Spice Merchant/Chapel while gamesou goes for Silver/Chapel. With some bad luck on turn 5, I don't get the second play of the Chapel (despite a two thirds chance) which slows me down and costs me first seat advantage. Gamesou keeps his deck more focused and doesn't make my mistake of undervaluing the starting Copper. He is able to get the first Possession and the third Possession. Suddenly, I am in a deep hole. We both trash most of our decks with Chapels, and the long drawn out bleeding begins.
Menageries are the first to empty as we both alternate taking 2 or 3 turns in a very poor economic situation. I know I have to make my move as the pawns begin to go. I get a Province with gamesou's deck, but he follows suit and starts picking up Duchies with mine. I then transition into trying to get a second Possession, but by the time I due, gamesou has filled his deck with a glut of green and is able to close out piles for the win.
Very nicely and patiently played by gamesou. If someone can think of a way out of my bind, please post, I'd be interested to know!
In any case, the series goes on to the decisive seventh game.
Game 7: scryordie 18 - gamesou 13Once again, Possession shows itself in a game with powerful trashing (Steward) and mediocre card draw. I opt for the risky Steward/Steward opening while gamesou goes Steward/Potion. I hope to go for the Possessions with a thin deck once again. gamesou also favors Alchemy, but throws in some Universities to pick up Caravans and Festivals.
I am able to successfully thin my deck and grab a Possession on Turn 10. I steal a Possession turn from gamesou, and things look good. My deck gets into gear as I grab a second Possession. Gamesou begins to ruin his deck by grabbing Estates to fend off my Possession. Three piles are becoming dangerously close to running.
I see that gamesou is no longer planning to go into the Possession war with me, and I make a mad grab at all the power cards I can. I grab Universities, the remaining Caravans, some Festivals, and several of Stewards.
I now follow gamesou into the greens and we are both grabbing Duchies and Estates at every opportunity. The game comes to a heart pounding culmination as gamesou grabs a Duchy and an Estate leaving only one Duchy left and 4 Estates. Either running means the game ends.
If I buy the Duchy I win, but I am forced to double Estate with $4. I play a Possession, look at gamesou's hand to find a Duchy buy waiting for me. I take it for the game and the match.
GGs and a nice series gamesou. I hope to see you around!
Author
Topic: Gardens Division: Bracket and Results (Read 78245 times)