1st edition preview: Gigamajig liberated from R&D

[SubtleThunder]

Since ArtArcana told me I couldn't post the Artist Series Art, I broke into R&D and stole a Gigamjig playtest card. I've uploaded it and now you guys can check it out:

http://www.thespoils.com/spoils/images/art/gigamajig.JPG

Here is an annotated version of it:

http://www.thespoils.com/spoils/images/art/gigamajigedit.JPG

First a couple notes about our playtest cards:

1) The crazy wrench icon is what R&D uses for the gearsmith icon. Theres a long story about that that I'll probably talk about in...a few months?

2) Yes, the image is blured out. When they first made the playtest cards they had no images, but it is way easier to tell cards apart with a picture of some sort up there. Given that they just grab images, we need to make sure we don't distribute them.

and 3) Holy crap 10/10/2 for 6! :chomp:

[plmrelm]

"come along with the snorks"

at least that's what a quick glance seems like.

a 10/10/2 for 6 seems awfully good...what's the catch?

[Oman]

It may cost 6 but also requires 6 resource icons.

[SubtleThunder]

"come along with the snorks"

at least that's what a quick glance seems like.

a 10/10/2 for 6 seems awfully good...what's the catch?

Check the icons. :chomp:

[plmrelm]

like 6 is hard to get into play? every sealed demo we've had each player easily put 8-9 resources into play.

[LucienofShadow]

That many of the same resource? I'm impressed. Many games I'm stuck trying to meet a two or three threshold if I had to play three equal trades. Now in constructed it will be easier. Now you should consider the two speed. That's the other catch. While that means that its super super nice to have it as part of a group attack, on its own it means that it will be last to strike. Now admittedly I don't think that you're likely to have four Pillaging Pirates and a Card Counter to block with, but if you did, this card would be going down. Warlords have enough bulk to take it down pretty easily. Bankers and Gearsmiths have destruction and Bankers have some pretty sizable cheap character at higher speeds. Rogues have masses of fast characters and alot of destruction... and stealing of characters. Rapine this? Nice. Arcanists will have the most trouble dealing with this card but they have enough bounce and discard to survive I suppose.

I like the card. Its another example of twisting the game to press all the limits. Thank you for risking your life to steal it from R&D for us.

[lighttigersoul]

I like the card. Its another example of twisting the game to press all the limits. Thank you for risking your life to steal it from R&D for us.

Quite simply: Quote for truth.

[Ultamis]

So,mono gearsmith has a character that dosent need luteoderm goliath to be a threat,although a 21/21/2 might just be a threat.Dragon tank now has some competition :).Im still waiting on a banker/arcanist preview.

[seventh sage]

But...2 speed...awww....
I'll stick to using Scouts.:p

[lighttigersoul]

But...2 speed...awww....
I'll stick to using Scouts.:p

Pillaging Pirates for me.

[turning_of_the_tide]

Seems good but I don't see a dominant mono-gearsmith, non-combo deck breaking through. I just don't think it will see much play. Its god but othing great.

-Ryan

[ShuffleAndCut]

like 6 is hard to get into play? every sealed demo we've had each player easily put 8-9 resources into play.

Man...I hate to be derrogitory, but I question the fact that you're a judge with a comment like that. :(

Scott

[plmrelm]

How can you not get a lot of resources into play? You start with two in play and can play one each turn. Four turns in and you have 6. In a sealed demo, you have at best two factions to use, both that are getting 10-15 resources in the deck. draw eight cards and you have a pretty good chance at having a handful of resources in play. Play a resource, use several resources to put a card into play, end of turn. Next turn, play another resource. Granted you'll have smaller hands without drawing every turn, but you'll have plenty of resources to play the bigger cards when you do draw them.

[doc8466]

I think the 6 reference is number of threshold icons....
Getting 6 of one resource in play doesn't happen that often that I've seen.
Sure, maybe with 5 minutes left in a round, but most good decks will probably win before that.

[seventh sage]

I'll admit that it adds a much needed high-attack character to the Gearsmith trade.
If you're playing Gearsmith trade mainly (with a splash or mono) it's possible to come into play, at turn 6, but still, if you're alive by then you might be able to mess with your opponent if they don't have a lot of kill cards ready.

[painted_klown]

I like the new big character being pumped out for the gears, sort of an offset to the micromajigs.......mono gearsmith could prove to be a very viable option in the near future.;)

[EndangeredMassa]

How can you not get a lot of resources into play? You start with two in play and can play one each turn. Four turns in and you have 6. In a sealed demo, you have at best two factions to use, both that are getting 10-15 resources in the deck. draw eight cards and you have a pretty good chance at having a handful of resources in play. Play a resource, use several resources to put a card into play, end of turn. Next turn, play another resource. Granted you'll have smaller hands without drawing every turn, but you'll have plenty of resources to play the bigger cards when you do draw them.

Yeah, you can end up with a large number of resources in play. However, it is rather unlikely that you will get 6 Elitism in play until much later in the game.

In sealed, I have found that I often use 3 trades. I do not consider a deck that uses two trades and 20-30 resource cards a standard for sealed by any means. Most of the decks that I have seen use 3 and sometimes 4 different trades. The two-trade decks are far and few between.

Also, when you spend several turns playing only resources, your opponent can spend those same turns playing characters. Even if you do eventually start to draw the "bigger cards" and play them, there is so much removal in the Open Beta set that you will often be overrun by their onslaught with no defenders.

So, it is my opinion that the drawback of having 6 resource icons in a threshold cost is one that should be reckoned with.

[xezol]

It's a card made for Research Investment period.

It's the answer to: "If they play mono-Gearsmith what are they going to do with all those resources?"

[dolseni]

It's a card made for Research Investment period.

It's the answer to: "If they play mono-Gearsmith what are they going to do with all those resources?"

exactly, 2nd turn 10/10/2. I dont like it.

[LucienofShadow]

Have you SEEN the change they've made to Research Investment. Look at the other threads in this forum. It's now a six threshold tactic and it only gives you three resources.

[turning_of_the_tide]

YEa they took my pet card and made it junk for constructed and limited for that matter(although it has never been playable in limited) I don't see this card being played or gearsmith as a dominant occupation....unless they print some other really good stuff. I think I need to relook this over though...I may just be speaking off frustration as its late, I'll reevaluate RI in the morning.

-Ryan