Results of Polk5440 versus SheCantSayNo:
SheCantSayNo defeats Polk 3-2Game 1:
http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130525/log.50ba29b8e4b015dcbac5f45a.1369487567369.txtTransmute, Cellar, Lighthouse, Smugglers, Bridge, Conspirator, Horn of Plenty, Jester, Mine, Border Village
This was interesting because there was no real drawing. We both go for a Conspirator-Cellar-Lighthouse-Border Village thing with one Jester. He picks up a Bridge and I get a Mine. I pick up a Bridge later when I feel I'll need the buy, and he gets HoP before me, as well. I like Mine here for increasing money density; however, I got too many Conspirators before having enough other cards, so there were too many terminal clashes early. Because of my Mining, I was able to get two Provinces, but my deck wasn't really ready to handle them as much as it should have been. He was able to very nicely end the game on piles.
This was a good game overall. I think this might have been my favorite of the match, actually, because it's the one I would like to go back and play again to try to get the deck balance right early.
Game 2:
http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130525/log.50ba29b8e4b015dcbac5f45a.1369488015759.txtSecret Chamber, Shanty Town, Smugglers, Baron, Caravan, Feodum, Island, Catacombs, Rabble, Saboteur (+Shelters)
Not much to say here. I went Catacombs + money with timely Island buys, and he went Rabbles + money with timely Island buys. He also picked up a Baron. I'm not sure what his plan was with that. I think I had the better strategy, and I won. (However, the Necropolis featured in the one brutal Rabble-Rabble turn for him, which left me with Province-Province-Overgrown Estate on the deck which was made extra brutal because I didn't have Catacombs in hand).
Game 3:
http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130525/log.50ba29b8e4b015dcbac5f45a.1369489307179.txtHerbalist, Lookout, Workshop, Ironworks, Marauder, Trader, Ghost Ship, Border Village, Hunting Grounds, Bank (+Colony)
Lookout-Marauder openings for both of us. I was unable to commit to staying the Lookout deck-thinning course (I chickened out), and I lost because of it. I do like picking up a Trader at some point this game. However, when my Lookout and Trader collide, I trash the Lookout, which was a big mistake at that time which I really didn't realize until later. I should have thinned a lot more. He rightly wins this one by a mile.
Game 4:
http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130525/log.50ba29b8e4b015dcbac5f45a.1369489941593.txtOracle, Armory, Militia, Noble Brigand, Thief, Trader, Counting House, Graverobber, Stables, Possession
This one I win, but I am not sure I had the winning strategy. He goes heavy on Noble Brigand and money picking up Stables later. I open Silver-Militia and go for Stables and money. His NB misses early, but eventually he does get two of my Golds. I got out to a lead, and he couldn't catch up. Eventually I got more than half of the total points, and he bought the last Province to end the game and move on to the next one.
I do like Militia here, but I am not sure I did the right thing by never picking up a NB. I also contemplated picking up a Graverobber late instead of another Stables to expand a stables into a Province in the end game. I decided it was Duchy time instead. It worked out in the end, but I'm not sure what's right.
Game 5:
http://dom.retrobox.eu/?/20130525/log.50ba29b8e4b015dcbac5f45a.1369490729455.txtQuarry, Silk Road, Treasure Map, City, Explorer, Jester, Mint, Tactician, Trading Post, Goons
Ok. So this one I am a little bummed about. We both go Tac-City-Goons with one Trading Post. I pick up two Quarries, he one then a second much later. I win the City Goons split and get out to a sizable lead. My last two turns I draw almost dead. Very bad luck -- that was self-made. SheCantSayNo suggests I should have left one city and one goons in each pile. That was a good suggestion, and something that I didn't consider. What I did consider, and regretted not doing, was buying a Mint. I first considered it on turn 10, and I think it was right not to, but on turn 14, I really proabably should have. This would have also left one City in the pile not giving the buy bonus to SheCantSayNo which was critical to three pile on me. Minting away my treasures would have given me a much better shot at connecting my Cities and Goons since I had won the split and I just needed to get a few of them together to rack up some more points and pile out for a win. Nice risk at the end by him to buy all the Estates but one, too.
Thanks for the games, SheCantSayNo, you played better than me overall today, so I don't feel bad about the loss at all. I wish you luck in round 2!