Bara Tempo 5.0

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What's the game plan here? I see some of the Dom package: Edric Storm, Chamber of the Painted Table, The Iron Throne, and some aggressive cards like Robert Baratheon, Ser Davos Seaworth (GoH), and Syrio Forel. But not really a hard focus on either. Maybe I'm missing something?

Having played this deck A LOT, I can say the purpose of this deck is to overwhelm your opponent with "good stuff." Most games are different, with most games going for winning/opposing challenges and some focusing on Dominance. Kneel helps with both of these goals, but it's an ancillary function. I typically try to play aggressive, with the dom package just helping close out close games or games with boards too big to push through. A typical game goes like:

Setup: Aim for 4 cards with 1-2 Econ (The Stone Drum Helps here)

T1: Noble. Aim to play about 10-11G worth of stuff (7 from Plot, 2-3 from econ, 1 from Fealty). If first then go nuts doing all challenges, if 2nd just defend what makes sense and give them some UO and make them hurt. The Red Keep, Moon Boy, and Ser Davos Seaworth (GoH) are important to keep your hand full so make sure to try and draw at least a few extra cards a turn. Goal here is to win the MIL/INT and deny the opponent those challenges.

Turn 2: Usually Calling. Only Marshal 1-2 Characters but save 3-4 G for events, Selyse Baratheon, etc. Ser Davos Seaworth (GoH). I always try to go first this turn if I have an Ours is the Fury. Then rinse, and repeat T1, although my goal on this turn is usually to win my MIL/INT for sure, even if I lose them on the swing back. Even-Handed Justice can also kneel a dude that is then eiligible for Ours is the Fury. Put to the Sword is a cool trick, but mostly it's there as a parlor trick, as I'm telegraphing the gold almost always and if I get a free hit on it onstead of an Even-Handed Justice, it's gravy.

After that, I usually am up 6-1 or so, and then I just continue to pount the MIL/INT challenges and go for a free POW as possible. I usually don't pursue power challenges though, as I don't want to lose and lose a The Red Keep turn.

Some things to note:

1. Cards are key. The deck wants LOTS of cards, so there's a lot of ways to get them.
2. A close 2nd is cash. I usually use all of my 3 econ plots T1-T3, so I rely on drawing econ in those turns to help keep pressure up in later turns.
3. Kneel economy is key. I only use one kneel card a turn even if I have more because I want to activate it as I can. I save the filthy for a turn that i want to go first and there's a must hit on the board. One of the reasons core Stannis Baratheon (Core) is there is to get better work out of my kneel and make more targets for fury.

I'd like to say that this is a different flavor of Bara, and I've even gone cheeky and played Naval Superiority for a while (absolutely brutal for T2 where your opponent needs to recover and you just want to keep the game where it's at). I've been about ~75% with this iteration recently, but please let me know your thoughts/comments.

@AndrewskisHow do you handle Valar Morghulis if you goal is to flood the deck with you best characters the first 2-3 turns?

@SonOfBattles1 That is an excellent question, and a problem I've struggled with with this deck. I've toyed with Bodyguard x3 or more dupes, but where I've settled is just trying to win the draw game to look for dupes and more characters. The problem with Bodyguard to me (and I do still play 1 for now) is that it's a card and slot devoted to not helping you win challenges. Other than wiping the board, their Valar turn is pretty harmless (such low gold for them means that without dupes (which they won't have if their Valar is an emergency stop for me steamrolling them), they don't have characters either), so if I see it coming, I'll just stockpile dudes in hand, and then go for a Close Call to recover (I'm usually up in power for the Valar, so usually I have to wait a turn unless I have a KR to win initiative). However, a Valar against a save-heavy GJ deck is really hard, and I haven't quite figured that out yet.

I wouldn't assume Valar Morghulis is harmless on the turn of. Passive power decks, "The Rains of Castamere", and a particular Squidly faction can rack up a lot of power while playing Valar Morghulis. I'd say if you're really going to depend on aggressive characters like Robert Baratheon and Lord Ser Davos Seaworth (GoH) I would definitely up the number of bodyguards. Maybe sub those in for some of your Royal Entourage. Just my two cents

Its a good thought. I'll probably cut hot pie for one more BG.

I guess what I mean by Valar being "harmless" is that my board position is safe (aside from a put or tears I suppose). Passive power decks haven't scared me a whole lot, because they still require characters and cards to function, and I choose to focus on handling those. My theory on power is that it is exactly meaningless until they have 15, so I'm happy to give them 10-12 if it means they have no board and no cards.

Usually a passive power deck with an offensive Valar Morghulis will have ways to save their characters. Even with that if you're up against a Table-Chair Bara, they can usually cause a 3 power swing in dominance with minimal characters. Valar Morghulis is only going to be played if they feel they will come ahead in board position.