16 Card Mock Draft

[kolakoski]

[Deleted!]

[Dad_Scaper]

Could we please finish this draft before moving on to another thing? Also, the text lines were much easier to comprehend at a glance than the card images.

@Tornado , you're up. And I think, @kolakoski , identifying a map & glyphs is unnecessary and detracts from the elegance of the challenge, as I see it. My 2c. Also don't strain yourself to project what people will do. Do the best you can with the tiers and let the contestants take care of the rest. Again, just my 2c.

[ollie]

Originally Posted by Dad_Scaper

Also don't strain yourself to project what people will do. Do the best you can with the tiers and let the contestants take care of the rest. Again, just my 2c.

Yes in general to DS's points, but especially this. People's different opinions are what makes it not obvious what'll happen, which makes it fun.

[Tornado]

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)
Player 2: Braxas (Tier 1) (DS)
Player 1: Skull Brutes × 2 (Tier 4) (wriggz)
Player 1: Crixus (Tier 3) (wriggz)
Player 2: Anubian Wolves x2 (Tier 4) (DS)
Player 3: Tagawa Samurai Archers x 2 (Tier 4) (Tornado)

[Dad_Scaper]

FWIW, and speaking for myself, my own interest in participating would be lessened if we had to deal with maps & glyphs & whatnot.

I'm just imagining a round robin tournament in which these armies will compete against each other, on neutral maps without regard to glyphs. I don't need or want those extra considerations.

edit: @Tornado , could you please edit in a unit that hasn't been picked already, and we'll pretend that you didn't do that.

[Dysole]

Personally, I think lots of people are underestimating Molty's special plus he has a lot more perches he can take advantage of. I said #4 was the best slot since to me I'd rather have my first choices from Tier 2 and 4 where I saw a much wider discrepancy than I did in Tier 1 or 3 and thought #4 had the best opportunity to do that.

~Dysole, comfortable explaining now that more picks have been made

[ollie]

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)
Player 2: Braxas (Tier 1) (DS)
Player 1: Skull Brutes × 2 (Tier 4) (wriggz)
Player 1: Crixus (Tier 3) (wriggz)
Player 2: Anubian Wolves x2 (Tier 4) (DS)
Player 3: Tagawa Samurai Archers x 2 (Tier 4) (Tornado)
Player 4: Sir Denrick (Tier 3) (Ollie)
Player 4: Shaolin Monks (Tier 4) (Ollie)

[Tornado]

The rest are locked in?

[Dad_Scaper]

Looks that way. Let's finish it off anyway.

[kolakoski]

Well met!

A few thoughts (in red) on what has transpired thus far:

Tier I:
Braxas
Nilfheim
Moltenclaw
Charos

Tier II:
Frost Giant of Morh
Kaemon Awa
Master of the Hunt
Krug

Tier III:
Migol Ironwill
Sir Denrick
Mogrimm Forgehammer
Crixus

Tier IV (2 squads each):
Shaolin Monks
Horned Skull Brutes
Tagawa Samurai Archers
Anubian Wolves

Nilfheim is the logical choice for first pick. Decent staying power, big attack for heroes and strong multi attack for squads mixed with heroes. ~ wriggz

I'd probably go the same way.

In this hero-heavy draft, I'll take the hero-killer. Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1); Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) ~ Dad_Scaper

Good rationale, but I love Kaemon Awa.

Nevermind, Tornado. Tornado commented often, but never actually picked. Dad_Scaper picked for him. I'll do it the way I'm imagining it, and we'll see if others keep it going.

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)

We should remember that you can pick from any tier, provided you have not picked from it before. As I understand it. ~ Dad_Scaper

Kaemon's still out there!

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)

Avoiding being left with Moltenclaw and Master of the Hunt is the motivation there (assuming that I've understood what's happening and that I'm doing it right). Close call between Braxas and Charos. ~ ollie

I'm right there with you, ollie. Not sure I agree as much about MotH, but I love Kaemon.

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)

MotH has a chance to do really well with what’s on the board. Huge risk/reward but that’s my kinda pick! ~ rym

Wow! Over Braxas? At this point? Especially after ollie's comment? Since you'd likely get him anyways? I'd probably take Braxas.

Well, I'm not crazy about where this leaves Player 2. But here's what I've got:

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)
Player 2: Braxas (DS)

Not thrilled, but I think it's the best choice left. ~ Dad_Scaper

Agreed.

I almost paired Nilf with Brutes for a tournament. Reliable 4/4 is solid regardless of no special powers. Also looks like player 1 is getting the frost giant regardless.

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)
Player 2: Braxas (DS)
Player 1: Skull Brutes × 2 (wriggz)
Player 1: Crixus (Tier 3) (wriggz)

Player 1 Final: Nilfheim, Skull Brutes, Crixus, Frost Giant - Game plan Lead with Nif, but avoid engagement at all costs. Follow up with Skull brutes (if Braxas is destroyed or on her final lives) who are still throwing 4 attack. Save either Crixus or Frost Giant for Clean up. All told I think it is fairly solid Army. ~ wriggz

Crixus over Migol? I don't understand, given that both have One Shield Defense. I'm with you on the Brutes, though.

Player 1: Nilfheim (Tier 1) (wriggz)
Player 2: Krug (Tier 2) (DS)
Player 3: Mogrimm (Tier 3) (Tornado)
Player 4: Charos (Tier 1) (Ollie)
Player 4: Kaemon Awa (Tier 2) (Ollie)
Player 3: Master of the Hunt (Tier 2) (rym)
Player 2: Braxas (Tier 1) (DS)
Player 1: Skull Brutes × 2 (Tier 4) (wriggz)
Player 1: Crixus (Tier 3) (wriggz)
Player 2: Anubian Wolves x2 (Tier 4) (DS)

I think the second position really suffers in this format. You never get to go twice in a row, and by the time you get your second pick, there have been six units taken since your first. At least, in the third position, you get the third selection and then the sixth. Given roughly comparable units, as we have here, I think that's better than second and seventh. I suspect that the fourth position is best, because then you get first choice in one of the tiers and (likely) second in one of the others. Maybe even first choice in two tiers.

edit:
Quote:
Originally Posted by wriggz
Also looks like player 1 is getting the frost giant regardless.

Yup. It's possible to math out some combinations. I'm still waiting for one more Tier 3 selection before I know the rest of my army.

FWIW, I know Braxas's Acid Breath is not great in this tiny meta, but it might help some, and her base stats are no joke. Her high price is, of course, a non-factor in a draft. ~ Dad_Scaper

I wonder what would have happened if you'd taken Kaemon for your 1st pick? Again, Tier 3 units are close enough in value not to care which you get, as opposed to those in Tier 4.

P.S.: I'll wait until you all are through drafting, although it is a lock, to make my final comments, and post the other set of cards - sans map.

[Dad_Scaper]

Krug is clearly superior to Kaemon Awa in this small meta, Kolakoski. Most of these heavy hitters could crush Kaemon Awa like an egg, including both Krug and Braxas. Heck, the Anubians could get him, too, considering their high defense and mobility should let them outlast his SA. As for me "picking for" Tornado, he said that would be his choice, and by making it for him I was encouraging him to play. Voila, here we are.

[kolakoski]

Well met!

In any event, I feel bad for how things went for you. The problem with this draft was me, not the format, I think. What do you think of expanding the pool? What would be the smallest viable pool for 4 players? How about 2?