I'm getting ready for the tournament - on Sunday for me. And looking like I am going to do a HotFH based deck. Anyways, before I got into the deck I'll describe the opposition enviroment...
First, there's going to be at least 2 Crane Decks copying the "World (Or was it European) Championship" deck almost card for card. Shockingly, these aren't the scariest. There might be one more Crane deck too, but I've never met that player so don't know what he or she plays.
Second, there'll be two Scorpion players aside me. A Seven Sting Dishonor Switch Deck. And another who will either do Dishonor out of DVD or Chi Death out of KW.
Then there'll be a military Crab Deck. I've never played much against him. But he's pretty good and definitely has the cards.
A Dragon Monk/Ring Honor deck that's really, really bloody hard to attack but not much of a threat on the offence.
A Spider player I've never been against.
And finally? The real scary one of the group - widely considered the 'one to beat' - A unicorn deck that doesn't seem to have any weaknesses at all barring a really, really bad first two rounds with a poor selection of boxables and lots of money (Rare, since his fate deck is 25% boxables)... and who also runs both versions of The Khan. He can outlast you if he needs to. Most likely he can take out two provinces before you can even defend against him. And basically? Just plain nasty.
He's got a deck that's made to deal with bowing and send-home effects since more than half the local players are Scorpion or Crane (Seriously, our Stronghold Store is: 3 Crane, 3 Scorpion, 1 Crab, and 1 Shadowlands), and dueling is an iffy strategy since he's got plenty of anti-dueling focus effects too. And to top it off if you let him go too long he'll pull out "The Last One" and drop it on The Khan and at that point, there's almost nothing left to do. (And let's not forget Aikune, he's got one of Shiba Aikune in his deck and I'm not sure how to stop him when he's got an attachment and I can't kill him). And this is good enough that he's got a 75% record against the two Crane decks that copied the championship one! So, unlikely he can be beat, but only the Crab player has any decent record against him.
Now, for my situation. I'd love to play my own Dishonor/Switch deck from Seven Stings, but I'm short on Sneak Attacks (AKA: Only 1) and it just hasn't been performing well. And everyone knows I play it anyways. On the other hand? Almost no one knows I'll bring a Ninja deck to the tourney. But... so far against the Unicorn deck I'm only 2 for 7 or so. And I think it definitely needs some tweaking.
Anyways, here we go:
Dynasty:
-Personalities-
Yogo Koji - 1
Shosuro Aroru - 1
Yogo Rieko - 1
Shosuro Kyuichi - 1 (Both Rieko and Kyuichi I only have one copy of... I'd love to have more, but it's not going to happen by Sunday)
Shosuro Hirobumi - 2 (Not sure he's worth it...)
Bayushi Tenbin - 3
Bayushi Kasata - 3
Bayushi Muhito - 3
Shosuro Masato - 3
Bayushi Yumita - 3
Shosuro Masanori - 3 (This is one of the ones I'm really uncertain of... She just doesn't seem good enough barring the fact she's boxable)
-Holdings- (Should I maybe run 16? Instead of 15?)
Seat of Power (Leg)
Private Trader (Leg)
Family Library X1 (I only have one of these - Actually, might have one more, if it would be worth it)
Secluded Waystation x3
Secluded Village x3
Fortified Camp x3
Geisha House x3
Event - In Time of War (To hopefully buy a turn or two against the Crane and Dragon decks)
Regions:
Private Shrine
Sorrow's Path
Fate:
-Actions-
Ruthless Advance - 3
Vengeful Shadows - 3
Find a Way Through it - 3
Arrows from the Woods - 3
Triumph of Courage - 2
Strength in Shadows Style - 3
Swift Darkness - 3
Reinforce the Gates - 3
Refugees - 3
Rout = 2
Unexpected Resistance - 3
-Attachments-
Footman's Pike
Kusari Gama (Wish I had more, but only one so far)
Resilient Naginata - 3
Iron Tetsubo - 2
Heavy Infantry - 3
-Rings-
Earth
Water
That's the deck as it currently is. I -might- get a trio of Shosuro Hihiko tomorrow if it got shipped on time. Not guaranteed though. But that's definitely the first thing to ask. Who do I drop to add her? (For the record, I don't have the clan pack, even if I'd love to have it. It's not currently for sale).
I'll also note, I have no famous bazaars or shrines to Fukorojin.
Second. The Fate deck, there's a pretty good chance I might not have something impressive or good, even rares and uncommons don't always manage to be in my collection - especially anything older than Words and Deeds.
I do have 3 Hired Killers and 1 Sneak Attack (Unfortunately, all I have) I think need to be in the deck. Ruthless advance is nice... but, of less utility. On the other hand? I'm worried if I have the right gold scheme.
Any Ninja actions I have more than 1 of are already in the deck, for the record. So, comments? Advice?