(Message jeffa:157)
Subj: Re: Blacksmith question
From: Jeff Alexander (GTE) <jwa@to.gsc.gte.com>

  To: lbsinfo@frpg.com
Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 12:34:23 PST
-- /blue/homes/cowell/Mail/mhl.format --

>On the Duqaq's School topic: my experience is that City Sections are
>now almost exclusively Duqaq's Schools and 1-3 Merchant Quarters (3 is
>a bit high), with the exceptions of Senpet (2 Thieves Quarters) and
>Qabal (one Jewel, just because you can). The increased starting water
>_and_ hand size are just too much... and this lower variety is, of
>course, bad for the game, IMHO. Do you have anything different in your
>play groups ?

     Yes, but only because we're doing things wrong.  We have
(soon to be "had" -- it seems to be breaking up) a mutual non-
escalation pact in the one store I play LBS at.  Maximum of $10
worth of new cards bought per week, to preserve that "new car(d)
smell" and put some early hobbles on runaway suitcasitis.
Basically many of us forfeited the trial-by-fire initiation rites
to extend the early, fun stage of the game.  Those still in the
program couldn't make a true SSD or five-Duqaq deck if they
wanted to.  (There is trading, but it's difficult.  Those outside
the agreement buy so much there's little chance we have what they
need.  Those in it often want the same cards as each other.  And
some individuals think too much of their long-term play set and
refuse to part with anything but extras.  If they don't have
four, they won't give up any, even if it's a card they don't plan
on ever using.)

     But, yes, those who have the Ambushes and the Qolat Masters
and the Blacksmiths use 'em all.  Deck construction is no
different for LBS than any other CCG:  identify all the
brainlessly powerful cards, put the legal limits into a pile,
then season with other stuff until you hit the minimum deck size.
I've also seen the genesis of the "play with five city sections
or you suck" philosophy, though that would have happened with or
without Duqaq, to be fair.



Jeff Alexander       (   L5R FAQ and ruling archive:
Phoenix Clan Scribe   )   http://zot.to.gsc.gte.com/jwa/l5r

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