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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Adam Lewis <adamswork@*****.COM>
Subject: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:40:17 -0700
Ok, are theme decks just because they look cool or is there a
strategic advantage in this?


AdamL
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Message no. 2
From: Jonathan Edwards <jonathan.edwards@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:59:37 +0100
At 06:40 PM 8/11/98 , you wrote:
>Ok, are theme decks just because they look cool or is there a
>strategic advantage in this?
>

Theme decks, IMHO, are a little of both. The big bruiser deck, for
example, utilizes some pretty cool cards that work well together, and when
this kind of deck gets rolling, it'll normally walk through just about
anything thrown at it.

It's also a lot of fun to see the creativity of the people on this list
that come up with "theme decks" that they've played. It also helps give
ideas to help better round out your deck.


Welcome, btw!

Cheers,

Jon
Message no. 3
From: David Reis <david.reis@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 11:17:51 -0700
Adam Lewis <adamswork@*****.COM> wrote:
>Ok, are theme decks just because they look cool or is there a
>strategic advantage in this?
>
Not only are theme decks cool, they hopefully give a player some sort of
strategic advantage over his opponent. A well-constructed theme deck
allows you to play cards that work well together so you can play a strong
game no matter how the cards come out. If your deck is too diverse you end
up with a lot of cards in your hand that you can't use, crippling whatever
strategy you might have to win the game.

Deck construction is half the fun of a game like SRTCG. I've played theme
decks based on riggers and drones, shamans and spirits, mages and spells,
rockers, dwarves, and mafia runners. Some of these decks worked well,
others didn't. There are plenty of other ideas out there, so have fun!

David
Message no. 4
From: { Bill Power } <WABBITSFT@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 18:20:49 EDT
if you were to play a theme like:lone star and place add-ons like the mob. you
can do sum nasty thing to your opponents runners.
lock them up,
fit them for sum new shoes,
show your opponent who the really work for.(you LS undercover).

maybe you like gangers,try thr halloweeners,your opponents 1st run throw his
deck.
your ganger should be able to get rid of half of his challenges. makin' no
chance for a long game if it starts out slow or is locked down.

then there is the deckin deck. one of the most deadly. locking down apponents
and getting rep going to a location.

yes there is alot to gain in theme deck. all you have to stick to is 1 or 2
themes and
keep your deck down under 75+ cards
Message no. 5
From: Robert Thomas <Strangefate@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 18:28:55 -0400
Here is my take on theme decks. If you have a theme to your deck, as
cards come up you know how to use them to the best advantage with the
other cards. Choosing the cards for a specific theme helps weed out
cards so that you can keep the deck small. I know, because it helped me
alot in that respect. I have played themes such as an "Underworld" deck,
where all of the types were represented. I then filled out the rest of
the deck with cards that came from the First Run. This made for a fun
and challenging deck, for it gave opponents fits. Because while it had a
theme it did not depent on one area or type of card for strength. While
the opponent tried to get a handle on the deck, I was making headway in
the objective department.

To be honest, most of the decks that I have posted have seemed lacking
to many that have commented on them. It is as much HOW you play the
decks I make as it is WHAT is in the deck.

Theme decks also let you try out different cards for putting into future
decks you build. That way you can pick out the best (in your opinion)
cards from a specific type that works best with your style.

Rob

----------------------------------
Armadillo

"Armor all my boundaries
Teach me my shields
Reflect all the hurt
So I will not yield"
Message no. 6
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 00:19:30 -0700
David Reis wrote:
>
> Adam Lewis <adamswork@*****.COM> wrote:
> >Ok, are theme decks just because they look cool or is there a
> >strategic advantage in this?
> >
> Not only are theme decks cool, they hopefully give a player some sort of
> strategic advantage over his opponent. A well-constructed theme deck
> allows you to play cards that work well together so you can play a strong
> game no matter how the cards come out. If your deck is too diverse you end
> up with a lot of cards in your hand that you can't use, crippling whatever
> strategy you might have to win the game.

Cave canem: I've often found that having *too* strong a theme also gives
your deck away to your opponent. A "real" decker-Fuchi deck, for
instance, isn't likely to pack Riots ... mine does. (Of course, it also
has three Bulldogs...) That can be key, as a bruiser deck might
ditribute damage heavily one particular Runner (to heal quickly),
leading him into a nice opening to smash a troll.

Of course, I've only managed to pull that off two or three times now,
and now my secret is out!


- Matt

------------------------------------
The truth will set you free - but first it's gonna piss you off.
- Kanya Vashon McGhee

GridSec: SRCard / Freedonian Research Assistant
Teen Poets FAQ: http://pw1.netcom.com/~mbreton/poetry/poetfaq.htm
SRTCG Website: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/2189/ccgtop.htm
Message no. 7
From: Peterson <talos187@**********.BENTONREA.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 17:29:15 -0700
If you want an interesting case of a theme deck's strategical advantage,
I have one deck that I occasionally play that is designed NOT to
shadowrun, and still win. It has a bunch of Coverups, Wild Goose
Chases, etc. to keep the opponent(s) from running. Although it often
blocks off itself from the objectives, that's okay, since it's designed
not to need them.
Message no. 8
From: David Reis <david.reis@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 17:31:26 -0700
Peterson <talos187@**********.BENTONREA.COM> wrote:
>If you want an interesting case of a theme deck's strategical advantage,
>I have one deck that I occasionally play that is designed NOT to
>shadowrun, and still win. It has a bunch of Coverups, Wild Goose
>Chases, etc. to keep the opponent(s) from running. Although it often
>blocks off itself from the objectives, that's okay, since it's designed
>not to need them.
>
How does it generate rep?

David
Message no. 9
From: Peterson <talos187@**********.BENTONREA.COM>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 17:44:14 -0700
> How does it generate rep?
>
> David

Currently, I'm running with proxy cards for Fuchi Industries, 'cause my
friends are beyond nice. We also play with "dream cards", though in
balance: Example, Siringe. Gear for 2 that can be trashed to give a
chance of putting virus counters on target runner. That sort of thing.

Anyways, Fuchi with Fastjack, a cyberdeck, and loaded dice generates the
reputation. The Coverups hide the objectives. The rockers and Dante's
Inferno give the cash that lets the deck cycle fast, letting me
reshuffle the trash pile, which is usually fairly thin, meaning a high
rate of Coverups towards the end of the game.

Which is why I need the Fuchi Industries and am willing to trade well
for them. Also, fear not: You won't gooberize me by trading me one or
two. I use other decks more often than this one. I'm a player who
thinks fun is more important than winning, and odd deck themes are (at
least to me) the real fun of it.

peace by thy path,
talos
Message no. 10
From: "Keith R. Chenoweth" <kchenwth@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Theme decks
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:44:16 -0500
-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Lewis <adamswork@*****.COM>
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 1998 12:40 PM
Subject: Theme decks


>Ok, are theme decks just because they look cool or is there a
>strategic advantage in this?
>


Big time strategic advantage. Most gear and locations and many contacts
will only support a certain type of runner. By building a deck only
containing the combination of that type of runner and those
gear/locations/contacts you maximize your chance of having good combos
early. Example: my Mage deck contains only mages, spells, armour,
Talismonger, hermetic library, etc. and NOT Wired reflexes, Mr. Black, and
Chop Shop, which, while good cards, don't help if I've just got mages out.
So, when I pull a gear/location/contact, it will be immediatly useful to the
runners on the table.

I take this lesson from Magic, where a one-or-two color deck will smoke a
multicolor deck nearly every time. (In my experience)

HTH,
Keith

Further Reading

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