Author Topic: Going First or Second? (Read 1748 times)

TheHobbit13 · « **on:** July 26, 2017, 04:33:35 PM »

Anyone have any rule of thumb that they follow when you get to choose? And explain the conditions of the choice, have a legitimate attack, have defense, opponent has more than one soul etc...

bmc25 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:41:13 PM »

I always go second to draw first if I have something to block with. I always want the 3 card head start!

My thought process is they are going to have to attack with whatever they got in their original 8 cards...I get to attack when I have 11 cards to choose from.

Just how I've always done it.

Jeremystair · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:42:33 PM »

This is all situational but here are a few rule of thumbs that I follow.
I try to always go first (to have one turn up on your opponent is always great you can win faster because you have one extra turn than they do) unless my opponent does not have a lost soul and I have no way to generate one, or if I have no hero of course. If I have more than two lost souls and can't defend I let them go first so I can draw. There's always that chance with going first that your opponent did not draw an evil character which could gives you a free lost soul.

jbeers285 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:45:47 PM »

I think the absolute best players make decisions every game that make all the difference. Going 1st or 2nd is one of the choices that can be absolutely critical to a game. Evaluating the opponents deck size, what souls go in play and what's in your hand are crucial factors.

Kevinthedude · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:47:34 PM »

In a vacuum, opportunity cost of going first is 3 cards. For the most part the question is just: Can you do something more valuable than drawing 3 cards on your first turn? If yes, you go first, if not, you go second.

It gets more complicated than this if you factor in what deck each of you are playing. If the opponent goes first and does nothing, you just got 3 extra cards for free. If you know their deck is one that doesn't have much to do on their first few turns, you could consider letting them go first to try and get the 3 free cards. Most of the time though I just rely on the opportunity cost rule.

TheHobbit13 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:59:05 PM »

I think for sure I would go first if my opponent had 2 lost souls/ I had a way to make another and I had a good first attack. That way they have to draught you for two turns to make your decisions not worth it. If they have 1 lost souls going first is still great if you have an attack and they don't drought you next turn, yet if I didn't have defense I would be tempted to go second because you are really in a bind if they draught you and you have to block two rescues with 11. Even if they have one I have two rescues to draw cards with my abilities to their 1, so I might go first then.

If they have 0 souls I am assuming its not great to go first? Only reason you'd want to is for them to draw a lost soul faster?

What would you do if you both had zero souls?

The Guardian · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2017, 04:59:21 PM »

http://landofredemption.com/?p=1789

Good article from Gabe on this topic.

For me, it's completely situational, but more situations dictate I should go second rather than first.

Most of the scenarios where I would choose to go first will include situations when I have an immediate draw option that will mitigate the effect of my opponent getting the first draw 3 (i.e. AutO). This is even more likely to be the case if I don't have an effective block in my hand. This gives me a chance to not only draw into defense, but also gives me an opportunity to pick up a LS first since it looks like I might be forced to giving up a freebie LS on my opponent's first turn.

ChristianSoldier · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2017, 05:03:21 PM »

First of all I should clarify that this is based on T2. I tend to go first if I can conceivably rescue a Lost Soul, or if playing something before my opponent's first turn is worth forgoing the Draw 3, which is unlikely.

kariusvega · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2017, 05:04:37 PM »

I find going second to almost always be worth the draw 3

Red · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2017, 06:10:22 PM »

I find the tempo disadvantage to not be worth three cards.

Red Dragon Thorn · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2017, 07:03:12 PM »

I never draw enough souls to make the choice

JonathanW · « **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2017, 10:50:05 PM »

Quote from: Red Dragon Thorn on July 26, 2017, 07:03:12 PM

I never draw enough souls to make the choice

I hear ya there... Of the ~21 games I played at Nats I got to choose like twice...

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Author Topic: Going First or Second? (Read 1748 times)

TheHobbit13

Going First or Second?

bmc25

Re: Going First or Second?

Jeremystair

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jbeers285

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Kevinthedude

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TheHobbit13

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The Guardian

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ChristianSoldier

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kariusvega

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Red

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Red Dragon Thorn

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JonathanW

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