Posted: 03 March 2008 at 8:12am | IP Logged

How can we make GE a better duel game?

I think the major problem is that once a player gets an advantage in ships and/or damage causing monsters the other player really struggles to get back into the game. There are very few 'reset' cards in the game.

Is there an alternative play style for 1 on 1 games that makes GE a better duel game?

J--

Posted: 04 March 2008 at 9:45am | IP Logged

-In a micro-sense, i don't think the question is worth answering quite frankly. Galaktische and i have a bit of a gentleman's agreement that we don't stock multiple Time Skips, Time Traps, Massive Draw cards, terrain denial themes, and other very strong cards in most games. So, the way we play and the cards we self-limit in our decks, the loser doesn't have multiple options to come back or at least stall the opponent for a turn to allow for replenishing those ships/terrain/whatever.

In a macro-sense, i don't think the game needs to be better at dueling, but the players just need to take any concerns they have into account when deciding what/how to play. The booster drafts are fun, and sure it is a race to get better ships out. But in a broader sense; isn't that the point?

Aren't you *supposed* to get the advantage on your opponent so your chance of victory increases by being able to lock him/her down with better phasers/crew/etc.? Isn't that why we design decks to pull off combos, use the reserve fleet to our advantage, etc. As i see it, it isn't the game that needs to be tweaked really. It's just the approach of the players.....Lobo

Posted: 04 March 2008 at 6:11pm | IP Logged

I guess my complaint (and maybe it is just my weakness as a player) is that if one player is able to eliminate a fleet then - regardless of the fact that I have multiple ships to play - they rarely live long enough to engage. I play them disengaged they get blown up I play a few more, rinse and repeat. It strongly signals the end is coming.

This is less of a problem in a constructed game than in the drafts we've been doing but it still seems like a slippery slope.

It may also be that I try to play the 'odder races' when I play Lobo. I tried the Psys for several games, and the Clydons as well. Neither of them are easy to win with in a duel. In fact my record against Lobo with those two races is something like 1-7 or somewhere thereabouts. I'm kind of looking forward to getting back to a constructed format after our draft next week.

In my defense, I may have a winning record when I play the J'Xar.

-I've always loved their card art and mechanics.

J--

Posted: 04 March 2008 at 10:05pm | IP Logged

That's an interesting idea RobPro.  I'm dating myself a bit but I remember playing Spellfire back in the day and having like a six turn building period where you couldn't be agressive toward your opponent.  I don't like the idea of not being able to effect your opponent at all though.  Two well made decks with several turns to build will probably just becomes a stupid slap fight until one person gets unlucky with a bad draw or two.  However, I could see a number of turn before the Sector HQ can be targeted or take damage idea. 

You could also alter the rules, finding a way for the player currently at the disadvantage to get an extra card draw and/or card play each turn.  This would require a way to know who is at the disadvantage but its just an idea.  This would allow for a "get back in the game" factor in duels.

Posted: 05 March 2008 at 8:54am | IP Logged

-Well, RobPro, for those of us that can't help but make bad decks...

In multi-player folks 'turtle' by design. Being the first to shoot off at an opponent may leave you weakened by attack from the guy next to ya. Therefore, you build up a bit so you can fend off that worry.

In a duel, to 'turtle' is to hope and pray your opponent gets bad draws. Having a rule, however, that forces it is a bit much IMERHYHO (In my esteemed-right-honourable-yet-humble-opinion) given we already have turn 1 and turn 2 protections built in.

Specific to Galaktische's concerns, i think the worries are moot for the immediate future. If he gets frustrated that he cannot overcome my juggernaut Dragons or Scorpeads (HA!) then he just breaks out the J'xar and i get all depressed. Down the road, however, perhaps we will simply use different formats of booster draft, collective draw pile, cube draft, etc. that we have discussed to liven it up a bit.

That has the added advantage of feeling good when playing the game as written and designed. It doesn't get stale and the negatives tend to go unnoticed moreso than if we played the same format every week. Just my thoughts, good ideas here though. Have a good one.....Lobo

Posted: 06 March 2008 at 8:00am | IP Logged

Biegel wrote:  ...I think a format that allowed more game play of the lesser used cards could be enjoyable and allow the lesser main races a chance to develop...

My old group used to play a variant where we cut off the top tier cards with the following rules.

Maximum card strength allowed = 6

Regular deck stocking rules apply (8 categories, 5 cards each, exceptions, etc...)

You're allowed to stock Strength 6 cards as if they were entities.

The Krebiz and Clydon become a lot more playable.

I really liked that format.

J--

Posted: 07 March 2008 at 4:31am | IP Logged

My old group used to play a variant where we cut off the top tier cards with the following rules.

Maximum card strength allowed.Regular deck stocking rules apply (8 categories, 5 cards each, exceptions, etc...[Quote]                                                                                                           Thats what I was thinking . But have 2 decks. Say you use the first deck for 6-8 turns. Then its open season useing standard Deck stocking rules. With the 7-10s included.With or without the Time Twins (Groups choice)On the rare occassion you have one. I just noticed I lost the part of Gats Quote about starting with max rank 6. That would be the first deck. Feed Back Lurkers Please