[Deckbuilding Contest] Cardhuntria's Most Stylish #1: Voting Booth

Deciding between Toy Story and Triple Dwarf Control Priests was tough, but the buzz lightyear cameo won me over even though the control priests came further out of left field. Now, if they had been named something stylish like Gardener Squad after the roots and worms...

Props to Vakaz for making the best video.

 

Squidy and Kalin have no sound?

 

They made soundless vids, yeah. Try to focus on some combination of the action and the decklists.

 

I just want to say that all of you lot seem professional commentors.. im so ashamed right now

 

SQUID NEEDS MORE CHESTS!!
Really, wow, I had never seen anything like this before, though I've heard some time ago a nerf was needed to balance draw decks.
Vakaz had nice vid, yes, and he was running something extraordianary in ranked so my credit for that. Can't vote for 2 people though so you will have to accept this, Vakaz
3-Dodge build also played ranked games but come on... my regular MP party has almost the same number of Dodges anyway No clue why people hate to play weapons with less attack cards.
I have an urge now to tune that draw deck up and try it in ranked :O Might it be possible to do that having 20 minutes
GO SQUIDY, GO!

 

The amount of epicness is unbearable. You guys are all victors

 

just want to say 3 thingys:
1) really should have make triple elf priests control ( to be even mor eopposite of 3dwc), with some trickery and elf insight to help control better
2) the video is pre-version of the deck, i did some games after with talented healer (and the submited version) and it helps a lot
3) Fun videos, fun contest

 

The only epicness in my build is epic fail.

 

If it helps, yours is my favorite niche build!

 

That's how the cavemen discovered fire! Lightning bolt fall on a tree -> tree start burning -> cavemen found a new element.
Otherwise I am disapointed that he didn't call the build "Stone Age".

PDXTai build purpose made me laugh.

@tuknir: If you watch Susurrus video, you'll hear that there are babies playing Card Hunter! So chill out on the cursing

 

You don't know how hard it was to shoot a video while I had her. She burped really loud in one of my other takes. She is an angel, but you can totally curse in front of her as long as you smile when you do it. She doesn't understand words yet. My boys on the other hand...

 

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1ST ANNUAL AWARDS SHOW
part 2
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(go to part 1)

R: Heading back across the pond, we find our cephalopod contestant @Squidy drawing inspiration from Pixar to assemble "Toy Story: To Infinity and Beyond!"

N: Looking at this decklist, I'm not sure what we're going to get. Three priests is unusual, but we've already seen tuknir give that a shot. Clearly Buzz Lightyear is a vanilla drawbot, except that he's running the new AotA epic artifact Blackhammer. Wat? Outside of the Artifact Anarchy league, I don't believe I've seen any of the artifact weapons in competitive play.

R: I'm sure he's got some trick up his sleeve. In the meantime, let's roll the film...!

N: Huhm... so there aren't any visual elements to the theme, and it's another long video. Let me pull out that catnip.

R: A bunch of drawing, but oh no!, the Buzz drew into Trip so this turn might be a bust.

N: Nope, there he cycled it off. And cycled off another Trip. And a Fright. That's impressive, but, umm... he's just trading draws back and forth, let's skip ahead.

R: Fine, *click*

N: Huhm, that's a decent hand size. I think I've hit ~16 max. Oh look, he just reshuffled the discard pile during the second round. Wait, he's still going?!!?! Go back. *click* No, not that far back. Give me the remote. *click* *click* *click* Is this for realz? :O :O :O :O :O O_O O_O :O

R: We now turn to Melvin for expert analysis while neoncat recovers from shock...

Melvin: Greetings, Rudolpho. What we have just seen is an infinite draw deck, which Blue Manchu had supposedly nerfed back in October. While it was always technically possible to go infinite via two priests trading Inspiration back-and-forth while equipped with Altruism, the odds of such a streak are infinitesimal. On average, one can expect no more than +1.5 card advantage from Altruism at the present time, which is a far cry from infinite draw.

Squidy appears to have combined two techniques to bypass the constraints introduced by Blue Manchu. First, he noticed that it is entirely feasible to draw into a single character's hand more cards than the number of non-self-replacing cards in a drawbot's deck. In other words, if Buzz's deck has 11 Inspiration, 11 traits, and 13 other cards, it is entirely possible to boost his hand size to 13+1=14 via two supporting drawbots. Once that occurs, Buzz can cycle through his entire deck ad infinitum. Eventually, all 13 non-self-replacing cards will end up in hand, his deck will consist entirely of Inspiration and traits, and he'll have one Inspiration left over in hand.

This is where the second technique comes into play, made possible by Blackhammer's "artifact" attack Impetuous Heal introduced in the recent AotA update. Impetuous Heal is a trait, so it replaces itself when played. However, it also affects all nearby characters, and so will trigger Altruism. (As a crucial side effect, it heals up the damage on the other drawbots from Demonic Power and Demonic Feedback.) Thus, as Buzz cycles through his deck, he potentially grows his hand size by one each time Impetuous Heal comes around. Cycle ad infinitum, as was made possible by the first technique, and his hand will eventually grow to contain his entire deck.

As Buzz cycles, he can occasionally shrink his own hand size by casting Inspiration on the other drawbots, then regrow his own hand as before. Eventually, all three characters can hold their entire decks in hand. Truly astonishing!

R: Thank you Melvin for that elucidating explanation. You saw it first right here - infinite draw is dead, long live infinite draw! I think we'll have to break for intermission so I can coax neoncat out from the corner.

N: *whimper* I am vanquished...


== ♫ Intermission ♫ ==


R: And we're back to finish off the final three contestants in this evening's CMS Awards Show. Up next, @CT5 will parade his own twist on 3DC, turning it into a "Triple Dodge Combo".

N: This reminds me of that one time when I got hit while holding four Dodges in hand. (or was it five? I forget... >_>) I swore to never use it again.

R: Well, here's to hoping that CT5's elves can do better. I'm sure he's on better terms with the random number generator than you are.

N: Ah, another gutsy player, testing out his build in ranked play! I like this confidence... Oh no! And he's matched up against 2 wizards / 1 priest. Let's see how long it takes him to realize things are going to get toasty. 1.. 2.. 3.. There we go, "I am so screwed, 'cause you can't dodge firestorm."

R: Yes, in fact you can't dodge firestorm because it's not a targeted spell. On to the next match... My, these are spectacular matches, but he's not really using dodge. Ah, and there he realizes it, about 19 minutes in.

N: I'll have to join CT5 in commiserating about dodge. It really could have been so good, but it always fails you in a pinch. It's just inevitable. A good showing from CT5, but sadly I do think the attempt was doomed from the start.


R: This next entry is from @Kalin, map-maker extraordinaire. He's put together the "Trans-Adventurers", a rag-tag crew dogged not only by monsters, but also society.

N: Another unique thematic choice, for sure, and I'm curious as to how it will be implemented. Will we have ninja mages and spell-casting warriors??? Roll...!

R: Well, we seem to have an apparently normal 1/1/1 build, but maybe they have something hidden up their sleeves. The warrior is thwacking away, and the wizard is casting spells.

N: Herrrmmm... maybe it's the two minority-themed figures? Kalin does like his figures. But what about the white elf? It's the only figure with its feet turned inwards??? I'm probably just being a thick-headed cad and failing to notice what's going on here.

R: In the meantime, the trans-adventurers seem to be taking a beating! Oh dear, this won't end well.

N: Oh wait! It's the decklist. "Denial" is carrying "Discretion", "Cautious Trickery", "Savvy", etc... "Shield Wall" is carrying "Humbug", "Befuddling", "Confusion", etc... Very subtle. Probably too subtle. (I do hope that's actually it... sry for being thick-headed. >_>)

R: Somewhat like the misfit crew themselves, the build as a whole demonstrates unique effort, but then again they did also get beat down pretty badly in the match.

N: *sniffle* The world is unforgiving. Perhaps the crowd will be less so. Put your paws together for Kalin!!!


R: And here's our final showing from @Susurrus in Gloaming - welcome to "Benihana"!

N: Mmmmmmmm, it is about time for munchies, I do believe. A strong start, excellent character acting from Susurrus. This entry appears to revolve around the performance itself! Slice up the opponent, and roast them over an open fire.

R: Another novel take on the thematic requirement, but can they deliver? He seems to be having difficulty getting his opponent to cooperate.

N: Now that the originality of performance has worn off, the theme does strike me as slightly weak in execution. The warrior's role would probably shine through more stronly with more chopping, such as Bloodchopper. Likewise, the priest is a little out-of-place, though the roots are certainly necessary to keep the opponent in place.

R: Oh dear, it looks like the meal is going to make short work of the chef.

N: But wait! Can it be? He's playing the adorable trump card. It's a baby! Who can vote against a baby? Not me... ^_^;


R: And that brings us to the close of tonight's show. An excellent cast of ten of Cardhuntria's finest pushing the game to its limits!

N: Indeed, so many delicious twists. It's Card Hunter like you've never seen it before! None of that pedestrian ratings-chasing here. It's gaming with flair because anything less isn't worthy. So many surprises, so many different takes on the thematic requirement all coming together to share in the lulz. ^_^

R: Thank you, neoncat. And to those following along at home, remember that neoncat's celebrity judge vote doesn't count any more than yours! Cast your vote for Cardhuntria's Most Stylish!

 

wut...?

 

You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.

 

I knew I was forgetting something! Wall Of Stone! Ugh, that would have been so easy... oh well.

 

Awesome posts, @neoncat!

 

Yes, well done Neoncat fun

 

Just a reminder to everyone to get your votes in! Polls close in about a day.

 

Voting is closed!

Our winners have been determined:

• In first place, Squidy's triple priest, infinite draw slow roll build—Toy Story!
Squidy's prize is two epic chests.

• In second place, Vakaz's triple wizard wall builders—Caveman Castle!
Vakaz's prize is one epic chest.

• In third place, PDXTai's smoking hot elven specialists—the Crack Suicide Squad!
PDXTai's prize is two magnificent chests.

Thanks to all participants and voters! If anyone feels like they missed out on this contest, fear not—it's not Cardhuntria's Most Stylish #1 for nothing! There'll be more of these challenges, possible with special constraints or rules, in the future. In the meantime, however... what say you to a little round robin tournament where our contestants have to face each other using their submitted builds?

Congratulations to the top three winners—your prizes should reach you soon.

 

Yay \o/

Thanks Flaxative for organizing that.
Thanks Rudolpho Emulio for the comments.
Thanks all the voters and viewers.
And thanks the admins for handing out the prizes so fast.