Result of Polk5440 versus shraeye: 3-3 DRAW
Comments below.
Game 1) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367784713565.txt
Courtyard, Herbalist, Scrying Pool, Scheme, Feodum, Ironmonger, Sea Hag, Cache, Festival, Mandarin
We play very similar strategies here, first going for Sea Hag, then going for a few Ironmongers, Courtyard, and Mandarin. I opened Sea Hag/Scheme which I like better than his Sea Hag/Courtyard, and even though we eventually split the curses, I think this opening contributed to me being able to win from the second seat. The other difference was that I picked up two Cache's while he went for Festivals. I was going Cache to increase the variance of my deck, and if it became a Duchy rush, I would be better positioned. In addition, a second Courtyard helped me. He bought the last Province, but I was ahead.
Sea Hag/Scheme into Courtyard-Big Money with a Cache or two without any other fanciness might be better than the decks we put together, though.
Game 2) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367785583106.txt
Native Village, Hermit, Wishing Well, Philosopher's Stone, Caravan, Feodum, Moneylender, Scavenger, Hunting Party, Upgrade
Yeash. What a horrible game for me. Having broke the first game, I tried to get clever by trying to find a better strategy than Moneylender-Hunting Party. I thought for a couple minutes, and came up with... Phil Stone, Hermit. What a mistake. I blame jet lag. I would have been better off mirroring and hoping for shuffle luck.
Game 3) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367786465859.txt
Hermit, Oasis, Pirate Ship, Thief, Bazaar, Horn of Plenty, Ill-Gotten Gains, Rogue, Tactician, Treasury
I went for a double Tac deck with Pirate Ship, Oasis, and Bazaar. Hermit to gain Oasis and protect against IGG. He goes single Tac, one Oasis, one Treasury and money. I was confident in my strategy and play in this game, but in the end, I was a little careless getting so far behind and a really bad shuffle for me late (my second Tac was the last card in my deck) and a good draw for him decided the game in his favor.
Game 4) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367787739277.txt
Squire, Scheme, Watchtower, Baron, Cutpurse, Silk Road, Golem, Mountebank, Nobles, King's Court
I was in control the whole way here. I open Baron/Squire (no Shelters) with an eye on Watchtower engine early into Mountebanks, Nobles, and KCs. He opted for Cutpurse over Baron and went light on Watchtowers, which I think was a costly early mistake here, because I got to 7 first, and was really able to clog him up.
Game 5) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367789143579.txt
Moat, Village, Philosopher's Stone, Pirate Ship, Sea Hag, Council Room, Knights, Tactician, Grand Market, Hoard
This game was a disaster for me and very well played by shraeye. I get confused about how to handle all the attacks and go heavy early on Moats. Of course, that means I don't pick up attacks myself early enough, and he is able to get some Grand Markets and pull a deck together. Nor do I have a good strategy later, expecting it to be a slog, but of course, my overly Moatified and attack light deck means it isn't.
shraeye is up 3-2 and went first game 1, so we played a sixth with me going first
Game 6) http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130505/log.50b19237e4b0c5dcbb3e0778.1367790200705.txt
Sage, Smugglers, Mining Village, Remake, Silk Road, Talisman, Apprentice, Bandit Camp, City, Horn of Plenty
When this kingdom came up, I salivated. I have been getting better at the timing in HoP mega-turn games, and I played this one as well as I could have, though by no means perfectly. Smugglers helped me extend my first player advantage early. I was able to set it up well and trigger the required HoP bonanza with activated cities and a well timed Apprentice. Not much else to this game. I just had to be careful I didn't wait too long, otherwise he would pull the trigger first.
I really enjoyed the match, thanks for the games, shraeye!
