Belgium/France - Finland, board 4 : TheMirrorMan - Julle
Well, here's the first game ended and posted of the team competition. Thanks Julle for the games !
Game 1 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384288699595.txtVineyard, Fishing Village, Masterpiece, Catacombs, Council Room, Laboratory, Mandarin, Soothsayer, Stash, Wharf (Province game)
There's a clear engine on the board with FV/Whard and Soothsayer to support it. It could become a Vineyard game at any time, yet Soothsayer makes the board race quite quickly.
We both go for the engine + a soothsayer, yet I pick up a few FV extra, which I think makes the difference. That and a mandarin at a lucky point in order to put 7 back on my deck. With Wharves this is searing, although I do think I was a bit lucky here - could have gone either way.
Game 2 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384285813687.txtTransmute, Great Hall, Oasis, Oracle, Urchin, Alchemist, Feast, Explorer, Highway, Journeyman (Province game)
Two ways to go here : Oracle/Urchin or Alchemist ... and second problem is where to get money from. Mercenary is obvious, but also dangerous given the lack of +buy. Was thinking of getting an Explorer for that, but that would only collide with the Oracle/Mercenary terminal.
Julle takes the first route, I take the second. Only later in the game he picks up a potion to get his deck racing, I get my Urchin in between. My drawing power gets the upper hand and the constant bashing of the mercenary is enough to score the game.
Game 3 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384286711067.txtHerbalist, Fishing Village, Trade Route, Bishop, Horse Traders, Moneylender, Mint, Soothsayer, Harem, Expand (Colony game)
Bit of a weird game. Was hoping for Soothsayer and then Mint (since lack of engine) but it never comes to that. My 2/5 split of course is heaven, potentially topdecking some Golds (which also doesn't happen much).
In order to keep the money going I start stacking up on FV/Soothsayer, but much to my surprise, he gets quite quickly to Platinums while I am stuck with Golds.
As an emergency resolution, I switch to Trade route + Bishop with the FV and this seems to pay off for quite some time.
In the long run, my deck seems to get going better than his, but he kicks back with a few colonies and makes it a draw.
Game 4 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384287624833.txtChancellor, Storeroom, Watchtower, Bishop, Feast, Feodum, Golem, Cultist, Graverobber, Merchant Guild (Shelters + Province game)
I'm a big fan of Watchtower in Shelter games (and as a counter to cultist). However, doesn't run that smoothly as he is quick with the cultists (three ruins already at T8, yuck). I see something else shining on this board which I love too : Watchtower - Feodum - Graverobber. Julle leads the way by taking a graverobber himself, trying to trash the cultists for provinces, but never gets the hand he wants. The "buy feodum, trash feodum with WT, topdeck 3 silvers and then pick up feodum with Graverobber" strategy pays out nicely and I can build a very nice deck, feodums gaining strength with each WT passing by.
Game 5 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384288250044.txtVineyard, Urchin, Mining Village, Salvager, Spice Merchant, Count, Hunting Party, Laboratory, Royal Seal, Stables (Province game)
It's a bit back and forth here. He picks up a Count T1 (very strong) and I'm struggling a bit with what to do with Salvager. In the end I trash it with a count picked up and go for sort of a golden deck with Count - Hunting party - 2 Golds - Urchin, which severely pays off. Julle can't get his deck really organized, while I'm gaining a province almost every turn.
Game 6 :
http://dominionlogs.goko.com//20131112/log.50785f090cf28ed55d9d72bf.1384288699595.txtLighthouse, Native Village, Tunnel, Moneylender, Pirate Ship, Baker, Butcher, Junk Dealer, Fairgrounds, Nobles (Shelters + Province game)
Butcher seems to shine here with the Shelters, although care is needed with Pirate ship on the board. Strangely enough, the game goes so quick, neither of us feels like picking one up. I stock two golds quite quickly, but then make the mistake of ignoring his coins. He makes a nice bakers/butcher combo, stocking up every turn on coins, while I concentrate on Nobles.
The last turn I am too optimistic - thinking he can never buy 2 provinces, right. Wrong! Suddenly 2 provinces and bam, game over.
Julle, thanks for the games. Really interesting (mostly non-engine) stuff.