She pretty much has everything I would want in a card. She is a turn 1 no cost character, her startup effect helps me overrun almost any of my opponents characters, and her anti-salvage effect is, in my opinion, the strongest effect in the game.
Overall impressions of the event?
All in all it was a fantastic event. I couldn’t believe the number of people that were able to show up. But what I found most impressive was the amount of different deck types that were represented during the tourney. I played decks ranging from Gargantia to Phantom, and seeing what these decks were able to do, and adapting to them on the fly, was what I found most exciting (and stressful).
Any Non-Tournament highlights?
Meeting a player who had a Mai Hime deck. It’s Mai Hime! I didn’t even know those cards existed anymore.
How does your deck win?
Almost every competitive WS deck contains salvage in some shape or form. If people aren’t running 6-8 gate climaxes, then they run salvage brainstorms or bond cards. So having the ability to counter this play style will, in my opinion, give you a great advantage. Luckily, Dog Days’ is one of the very few sets that have this option.
Early on, I use Dog Days’ vast array of oversized level 0 cards to help maintain field and generate stock. Once I’m pushed level 1, Leo and Gaul hit play. With a full field Gaul becomes a 6500. Leo’s effect can help him overpower most early game level 1’s, and the anti-salvage gives him staying power, since my opponent will either choose not to salvage, which can hurt their late game. Or if they do salvage they must either side attack for little damage, or front attack and lose a character. Once the cat siblings hit play, I follow up with a hard to [defeat] Yukikaze and Éclair.
Level 2 is a basic change-heal that most decks run. Finally, at level 3, I drop Milli and use here effect to burn my opponent for any remaining damage.
That and the art is cute. I think that also gives the deck an advantage!
Your best match?
It was during the top 8 against the da capo deck. The match was fairly straight forward for the most part, but it was the very end that made it so intense. I was on the receiving end of two vicious Charles, Together Is Happiness direct damage assaults. Given the amount of direct damage and attack damage that I was going to receive, I though that the match was pretty much over. Luckily, most of the direct damage stuck, by doing so it caused the higher character damage to cancel. After the brutal assault I managed to survive at 3-6 and swung in for game. I have to admit, that one raised my blood pressure a bit!
Any shoutouts?
Yep, I gotta give a shout out to the HG crew (you know who you are!) who helped me iron out the kinks in this deck through extensive last second playtesting, deck fixing and pizza eating. Thank you all for that, and I mean it!
It is one of the more important cards, I think. It shows how it is kind of about options and getting bodies on the field. Though, my favorite card is Vita & Zafira.
Overall impressions of the event?
It was great to meet people from all over and hear about where they are from, their favorite anime and whatnot. The event could not have been better!
Any Non-Tournament highlights?
My friends bought be banana custard for getting second.
How does your deck win?
It can really get out cards like Vita & Zafira easy and have a great level 1. It also has options for paying out stock at level 0. There are many options for an early level 3.
Why do you play WS?
Really, I started playing because it was a social thing, and kept playing for that. I think I got the most out of the game when I went to Japan. When you roll up into a city you have never been to with your Kudo deck, Suwako sleves, Saya no Uta center stage and DoCoMo "playmat", you already have a good conversation starter. You play someone in a card store that has an Ima@s deck, start talking about your favorite songs, and then go out to karaoke afterwards! Everything from going out to someone's favorite local ramen shop, to learning [about] Japanese dentistry all came from asking someone if they wanted to play a card game. The real best part of the tourney is that I can get to know just a little bit about some anime called Symphogear and in another match just how awesome the BBQ really is in Texas.
Place
Player Name
Title
3rd
Mark K.
The Familiar of Zero
Deck Name
Royale with Cheese
Featured Card
Comment
"'Well, men have to die; might as well die the right way!' Thank you everyone for this year’s WGP!"
Seeing one of my best friends win and the competitive environment that we established. I can honestly say I had fun in all of the games that I played, win or lose.
Non-Tourney Highlight?
The match versus Kazu from California. My Melty Blood deck versus his King of Fighters deck and all of the crazy shenanigans throughout that close fought match.
Overall impressions of the event?
The event was well run, I had a lot of fun and have no real complaints. I think that the players this year in the top cut were a lot more fun to play with, there were no hard feelings and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.
How does your deck win?
My deck wins through simplicity. I need to get two specific cards in level zone to create a healing wall at level two with my level 3 “Louise, Royalty’s Duty” and recycling them to heal at two with the reinstatement of the 2/1 event “Hostage Rescue Operation”. I use “Louise, Strong Bond” to put copies of my level 1’s into play or pull my supports into play and save on ticking past level 1 and keep a full field and hand. After that it’s knowing when to push for game and utilizing the tool-box of events and level 0’s that I run as counter-play to threats that may come up.
My deck is built in a way to just end games. It revolves around an early change at level 1 to a level 2 beater that has 2 soul. The beater also stays relevant till level 3s hit the field, this usually causes my opponent's hand size to dwindle till they can deal with it since they constantly have to run characters into it to keep up in damage. For late game I have a level 3 that burns opponent if they cancel and a level 2 support that stops my opponent from heal spamming mid to late game.
What was your best match?
My best match was my first game vs my friend Devin. We've played each other a ton so we both knew what to do, but the game was just silly and was pretty much a 5 turn game since we both just did so much damage early. I didn't get to refresh and Devin refreshed his first time at level 3.
Shoutouts?
Shout outs to Kira Kira Cards for having one of the most skilled play groups in socal. Devin, Kazuma, Jen and Joon for being awesome friends and making the trip to Rochester together.
