Red Dead Redemption (2nd place, 12 player Regionals, Gautier 1.0

• Versions
• 1.0

This is the deck I built for the GoT 2nd ed. Regional Championship held at Macnarb Gaming in Gautier, MS on May 14th. The field was 12 players, one with a Store Championship bye. Going into the weeks prior to the tournament, I was having issues with what I would bring to the championship, but, ultimately, I went with my first love, the red red robins of Westeros, Lannister Fealty.

Here's a summary of each round.

1st Round - Bye. With one player with a super bye from their store championship, I was fortunate enough to get the other bye and enjoy some chamomile while folks slaughtered the early afternoon away.

2nd Round - Baratheon Fealty - Baratheon kneel down is extremely potent, and the opening of this match was no exception. Melisandre and Stan came out early, and my opponent (Garrett, I believe from New Orleans, LA) had a strong hold on the board, and a solid 9-3 power lead halfway though the plot decks. Unfortunately, after this point, his deck went anemic on R'hllor cards, and Robert Baratheon did not show up until the last turn of the game. By that time, my economy, keyed by a second turn with dupe Tywin Lannister, produced Tyrion Lannister, Ser Gregor Clegane, and both of my Seals (the second one needed once Confiscation took the first), keeping me well stood and still challenging. Final score was 15-10. I chalk the win to Lannister's being a tough bunch when rich and well equipped.

3rd Round - Lannister Lord of the Crossing - A warped mirror match, this, along with Stark Fealty (more on that later) was a deck I was not looking forward to playing. My opponent (Ryan, I believe from Hattiesburg, MS) was also playing Leaping Style (what I like to refer to as a Jump deck), meaning that the board is not necessarily the scariest place he's playing from. The game, in my mind, was typical. The bonus economy allowed by Fealty got me setup early. The surprise factor of Jump and the power gain of Crossing allowed him to stay in the game and pull ahead. At 13-13, the game came down to one play. Having played his first challenge (Intrigue), and with Gregor, Tywin (1 gold), and The Hound standing on his side (total strength 23) and with my Tywin (7 Gold), Ser Jaime Lannister, and the Hound standing on my side (total strength 24), my opponent swung all-in on a military challenge. I blocked all out, won, and got my renown for Jamie and Tywin, taking the match, 15-13. Ryan, God bless him, had miscounted and thought he held 25 standing strength. I cannot stress this enough, as good as I may have played, I got lucky. Ryan is a hell of a player, and as the adage goes, this is the kind of mistake a good player will make once and never make again. I got lucky in that I was the first. 3-0 by the skin of my teeth.

4th Round - Stark Fealty - As much as I hyped myself up to play Stark decks, and for the most part getting him down to 0 cards in hand, my opponent (Esteban from I believe Atlanta, GA by way of Puerto Rico) played an excellent match and taught me the value of Winterfell. +1 Strength is obvious, but being able to shut down an aggressive deck's ability to use events (like mine with Put to the Sword and Trial by Combat and character abilities (Gregor's Pillage reaction) for one challenge is devastating. Esteban understood to start applying pressure early (get Robb Stark), keeping that pressure up (get The Blackfish), and leaving nothing unguarded in return, and you will win your match. For my own part, I made a crucial misplay by waiting a turn too long to put Varys in play to try to reset the board. Esteban played well and solidly took it, 15-4 power. 3-1 for me after the Swiss rounds.

Semifinals - Lannister Lord of the Crossing - The rematch from round 3, this game was much different. This is more luck again than anything as I topped Tywin, a Lannisport Merchant, and a Western Fiefdom with Cersei and Trial by Combat in hand. I have The Hand's Judgment on the refill. Ryan manages a single character on his setup. Play Sneak Attack as the first plot, draw a Tywin dupe. Swing with Cersei, cancel his BAMF, Trial by Combat for three dead Lannisters. He fought back hard but never recovered. Again, Ryan's a hell of a player, and stayed with it to then end, but a full house still loses to a straight flush. Fourtune favors the bold, on to the Finals.

Finals - Stark Fealty - Esteban's back, and more of the same. I had the good luck to spike new Eddard Stark; however, in a reverse on the same misplay I made in our first game, I played Wildfire Assault too early (2nd turn, seeing 3 Winterfell Stewards and a new Sansa Stark), not appreciating nor remembering that he can play a steady stream of characters without fear of a reprisal. I managed to keep the game running for longer than I might have otherwise, but with Winterfell and Robb able to march solidly and consistently, Esteban took the match and the championship, 15 to 3.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience. It was great getting back to basics with my original House. If I had to pick an MVP, Tywin would be obvious, but Cersei Lannister now paired with Trial by Combat and two claim plots, is finally the scary blonde monster she should have always been. If I had to pick a card I would sub out... Casterly Rock. I had it in a few games and never felt the need to play it. With True Steel on the horizon, that card probably becomes Small Council Chamber. My thanks to everyone who came to play in Gautier; it was a really chill group of gentlemen, and I wish we could all get together to play casually. Top notch. My thanks to Greg Spanier, owner of MacNarb's, and Christopher Gomez, store manager, for getting the event and running it very well.