BaraKraken (1st at Neovalhala store Championship) 1.0

• Versions

I took the inspiration from mattastrophic "Kings of Sea and Storm"

I went 3-1 in swiss and finished at 2nd place. I then won my 2 games (Semi-final / Final) - 16 participants

Note at the exception of one game, i had really good pairing.

1st game: Greyjoy (Kings of Winter??) - WON.

I just had a really good setup, i opened with Asha Greyjoy and Selyse Baratheon. I then top decked, Maester Cressen and Melisandre. I had an answer for every threat thrown at me. I managed to quickly gain 15 powers to end this before seing The Seastone Chair and Balon Greyjoy (Core).

2nd game: Stark (The Lord of the Crossing) - WON

I managed to empty his hand very quickly and kept card advantage over him. I kept Gates of Winterfell kneeled with Lordsport Fisherman dominated the intrigue. Eddard Stark (WotN) and The Blackfish were either kneeled or milked all games. I had a ridiculous economy i had The Roseroad and The Stone Drum on setup, and by turn 4 i had some serious economy and The Red Keep to fuel my board.

3rd game: Tyrell ("The Rains of Castamere") -LOST

That was the match-up i was fearing, and my opponent was fearing too. I knew power-rush and/or intrigue heavy Tyrell is a hard match-up for me, they just draw more / have more economy / and i don't have the targeted kill for The Queen of Thorns and Renly Baratheon (FFH). I had a bad draw, bad setup, and my opponent really play well this deck, (last tournament i hardly managed to beat his deck with my Targ-Sun). He controlled the board so easily, won intrigue by 5 with The Queen of Thornsand then Power Behind the Throne for a second character in, killed Asha Greyjoy in the process and then Victarion Greyjoy in the second round with Tears of Lys, milked Melisandre and then milked Maester Cressen right after my Here to Serve. I just conceded after 4 rounds since there was no way i could see, how i could recover against his board, even Wildfire Assault was more damaging for me than him.

4th game: Greyjoy (Fealty?) - WON

I don't remember the match, I think I lost Asha Greyjoy with Marched to the Wall early. But at some point i remember i was controlling the board with Robert Baratheon, Ser Barristan Selmy (TS), Melisandre with Disputed Claim, Theon Greyjoy with Disputed Claim and Victarion Greyjoy. No matter what he could try i was getting power. It quickly became out of control for him. Same with my Stark match-up. If i can empty your hand, i have the plot (Trading with the Pentoshi), the draw (Counting Coppers, The Red Keep) and the big character to turn a game to nightmare.

Semi-Final: Stark (The Lord of the Crossing) - WON

About the same game we had in the swiss. Except he had more intrigue, game was tougher for me, since he knew really well how i was playing. I felt he was more aggressive in his play. I don't remember much the game... Simply because now that we were in top 4, (and im not use to this) i felt everyone around looking at me, and i was just focusing at not making mistake.

Final: Greyjoy (The Lord of the Crossing) - WON

I was again really scared to play against the Tyrell-Rains again... But he barely lost the game 15-14 against this greyjoy. It was reassuring, but i really had no clue about the deck i was playing against.

Even the player, it was the first time we ever played against. I was very stressed out, the crowd and everything. I just had a hard beggining, figuring out his deck. I made few mistake including my Asha Greyjoy with a Fishing Net, I realy played like she received a Craven. I was like "what!? she can't defend" after spending my turn thinking to keep her in defense.

Deck was using only small greyjoy character 1 to 5 max... I had a really good match, it was hard to recover from my few mistake at start. But luckily, i don't think he had a good draw, and against all those 2 claim plot he put at me, Ser Barristan Selmy (TS) has been the hero of the match. Since he was unable to claim the big characters, with my strong economy. At both close to a victory, I pulled off a surprise win after a delayed Wildfire Assault (i could have easily done it 2 rounds before) being first in INI and at 5 power away from the win. I went all in with 2 renown characters in a power chall and won by 5 Support of the People to get Street of the Sisters out for an extra 1 pwr + claim 1 pwr + renown + renown then intimidated his only Intrigue icon, to go unnopose in an intrigue chall.

The card i really liked:

Ser Barristan Selmy (TS) was a mvp

Lordsport Shipwright was really helpful to stall and deny draw.

Melisandre being... Melisandre.

Asha Greyjoy with Disputed Claim

Selyse Baratheon for the surprise intrigue icon.

and of course Robert Baratheon and Victarion Greyjoy for the kneeling domino job.

The only change i would make, maybe make some place for a second Ser Barristan Selmy (TS) and drop an extra card after to have the deck at 60 cards. Maybe droppong a R'hllor ... since, i never went out of them... the problem is more about being out of Melisandre in few games. Game goes quick often, it's not like i need that much of R'hllor card.

For the plot, i don't know, i really liked all of them... i don't see how i could improve.

I think next chapter pack Aeron Damphair (TIMC) could be a nice addition, but then i would consider some change...

Thank you for everyone there, it was really nice. I really appreciate the people who gave me advice and tips about the game.