Author Topic: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing  (Read 1910 times)

Offline Sean

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Let me start by saying thank you to Ginger and her family for stepping up and providing the venue for this year's National Tournament.  Big thank you as well to Josiah for being flexible and figuring out a way to make it happen when his states regulations forced a change.  Sorry I wasn't able to stick around long after the winners were announced but I hope to be able to attend more tournaments soon.

It was great to see old friends after not having played in over a decade. (you can see me in one of the pictures Roy posted from Ginger that actually isn't a Nationals picture, red shirt in back row from MD State Tourney)  Had a great time drafting with the eventual winner of the draft as well as sitting with the Marshall brothers during lunch.  I wish I could have played more but Thursday was the only day I was able to take off from work.  Here is my bottom 4 player finish deck with commentary to follow, because, why not?

56 cards, 7 Meek LSs, 3 Reserve

Ride On/Awesome
Doubt (UR)
Led Astray

Gates of Jerusalem
Threshing Floor
Wall of Protection
Book of the Law
Damascus
Marriage Covenant

Manasseh
Azariah/Uzziah
Abijah/Abijam
Amaziah
Naomi's Blessing
King's Weakness

Jehoiada, King Maker
Jeshua, the Restorer
Ezra, Favored by God
Asa
Hezekiah
Boaz
Obed
Jesse
Elimelech
Boaz' Foreman

Root of Jesse
Appointing Judges
Boaz's Offspring x2
Harvest Season
Shared Meal

Assyrian Forces x2
Distressing People
Goliath
Ahuzzath
Queen Maacah x2
Rehoboam
Jehoram
Amon
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin

Arrogance
Destroying Bands
Go Away!
Goliath's Armor
Treason! Treason!
Solomon's Oppression

Reserve
Obed
Nahshon
Hooked and Shackled
May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 4:1b

Offline Sean

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Re: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2020, 08:44:01 AM »
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My record for the draft was 2-4 and I am not sure of my exact differential but it surely was in the negative!  First game I lost to TX Jonathan at timeout and I think it was 4-3.  My second game I lost 5-2, maybe?  My third game was the first game I won and it was a timeout win by 1, I think 4-3 and I think it was Ray that I played but I might be remembering the name incorrectly.  My 4th game was a loss, I don't remember the score but it was a timeout loss against Robin who I had drafted with as well.  The 5th game was a time out loss 3-2.  The last game was a win but not sure if it was 5-2 or 5-3.

The unfortunate part of my draft is that I really think I used the wrong offense as I had a good amount of Blue that I really should have used instead of the white or royalty or combination of both.  My offense ended up setting up OK because of the hero pulling from deck but the biggest thing that held me back was lack of ability to make rescues due to drought which would have been solved with Mahalalel.  Harvest Season worked well but it just wasn't fast enough being the only way for me to get Lost Souls out of my opponent's deck and the couple games I got it I didn't really need it.  Most of the rescues I won were with Boaz's Offspring or Root of Jesse and Appointing Judges worked very well to protect them when I was using my kings. 

The defense was decent.  My biggest trouble with it was lack of enhancements.  Interestingly, if I had gone with the royalty plus Blue offense I had drafted Land Dispute, 3 of the blue and crimson enhancements and 2 Beasts of the Earth so I could have just added those Beasts and had a much easier time.  I had drawn Queen M and Rehoboam in most games but never really had a legitimate opportunity to use them because the numbers would not have been big enough.  Most of my blocks came from the chump kings or Goliath.  I was also able to get Hooked and Shackled in each game except maybe 1 but I think I got it in all of them.  However, it never worked!  It got negated every time :( 

I definitely allowed myself to get distracted by 'shiny" things while drafting.  I really should have focused on 1 or 2 colors instead of picking up additional cards even though they were rares.  I had gone in hoping to get mostly royalty and that worked until I let myself pick up the Ruth heroes.  And once I got a couple Ruth heroes I also pulled Marriage Covenant and then Boaz so my mind was on that instead of getting back to my original goal.  My biggest regret though after relooking at the cards was not playing High Places.  I realized that since you draw every time a meek LS is put down that would have given me an additional draw almost every turn because of all the meek LSs in both decks. 

In hindsight, I definitely would have gone with Blue + Royalty instead and only gone with 50 in the main deck.  I probably still would have included Goliath but probably would not have used Doubt as I only used it once and it really wasn't a good block option, it was just all I had.  I also probably would not have used Hooked and Shackled with Assyrian Forces because I didn't have any negates to back it up and it failed every time.  I also never used Ride on Victoriously/Awesome Things or the add to battle from Gates.  Distressing People was also a disappointment because my opponent never really had to discard from hand but 1 game.  But I had a great time anyway.  Was fun to see Ginger's kids all growed up!

Thanks everyone who played me and or drafted with me for helping me have a great first National tournament and happy return to Redemption.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2020, 02:47:51 PM by Sean »
May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 4:1b

Offline RedemptionMom

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Re: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2020, 06:52:06 PM »
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I was SOOO glad you made it!  I also had fun loosing in Booster.  I pulled 3 ultra rare and 2 dominants in the draft, so that was pretty good.  I was sad I did not get the chance to play you in Booster.   I also missed getting to say good-bye. :-[   Hoping it will not be 10 years til I see you again. 

Offline Sean

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Re: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2020, 07:53:06 AM »
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I will be in touch.  We are heading into an extremely busy time for us but maybe we can get the families together in October.
May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 4:1b

Offline chazmaniandevil

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Re: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2020, 02:19:34 PM »
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I love the title of the subject  :laugh:.

Those are some sick dominant pulls! I agree with you in that you should have stayed focus on the offense, especially in the later packs because it is tough to switch it halfway or so through the draft. Ruth Heroes are tempting but I have found that in booster they are not very viable as you may not find as much enhancement support than if you were to go for red/purple or red/blue. Also banding is just so powerful with the royalty theme (that is what I did and it was nasty good)! Defense definitely got the short end of the stick with LoC...there are way too many good enhancements that negate evil cards that even the characters abilities, although good, are neutralized. It was nice meeting you Sean and hope to meet again!

Charlie (the draft buddy to your left)  :)

Offline Sean

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Re: My 2020 Nats Booster Draft Deck and How to Have Fun While Losing
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2020, 02:36:14 PM »
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(the draft buddy to your left)  :)
AKA: Champion
May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 4:1b

 


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