Amenophobis
6/12/2010 4:36:00 PM
On 12 Jun., 18:08, Peter D Bakija <p...@lightlink.com> wrote:
> On Jun 12, 11:20 am, James Cass <tjamesc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Just a simple question, what deck type are you playing that Sensory
> > Deprivation becomes a powerful card?
>
> Wait, what?
>
> Sensory Deprivation is a brutally devastating card to most decks. I
> mean, yeah, it doesn't do much to weenie horde decks, but most decks
> that rely on mid-large size vampires (that aren't infernal) are
> totally hosed by Sensory Deprivation. And, as noted, it is really hard
> to get rid of. Especially given that your good vampires that are
> likely to be able to kill and destroy the guy who played the Sensory
> Deprivations are, ya know, Sensory Deprived.
>
> Sure, some decks don't really care about Sensory Deprivation--Infernal
> decks, weenie hordes, Tupdogs, decks that have bonus untapping
> technology (other than Freak Drive et al, which aren't that common or
> effective, as most reactions that untap you require you to attempt to
> block something, which taps you again. Although Rat's Warning
> *totally* schools Sensory Deprivation :-| ). But most decks? You get a
> guy or two Sensory Deprived, they are essentially out of the game till
> either you are ousted or the Ravnos guy is ousted.
>
> The Ravnos can play Sensory Deprivation cheaply and easily in any
> number of ways (Carnival, Path of Paradox, Personal Pan Path of
> Paradox; abundant stealth on non bleed actions, S:CE continue action
> when blocked). If you want to build a deck that, say, Sensory Deprives
> all of its predator's vampires quickly and easily? It can do so. Which
> pretty much removes them from the game.
>
> I don't think SD needs banning or anything. But it would be nice if it
> got tweaked to be somewhat easier to get rid of. And if it isn't going
> to be banned ever, it certainly should get reprinted at some point
> (preferably with an updated text that makes it less brutal...)
>
> -Peter
I don't see Sensory Deprivation as problematic. Sure it is tough, but
the game doesn't end if you get one.
I think Pentex Subversion is much more tough.
- Pentex can be played in the Master phase - save Sudden of Wash,
there is no stopping it
- Sensory Deprevation is an action, so it's more likely to not pass
due to blocks or DI
- your minions can immediatly benefit from a pentexed vampire
- you need to spend actions first to SD a vampire, which makes it
somewhat slow
- with Pentex, you can't act of block
- SD lets you still react with wake-type cards
- playing Pentex requires no setup, just 2 pool
- playing SD needs considerable setup to play it successfully and in
any significant number
The requirements for SD are CHI, 3 blood and an effect that generates
at least 1 stealth (most CHI-cards cost blood, too). Sure there are
master to help, but again, this needs considerable setup, and you need
a couple of turns to start.
Pentex, on the other hand, is more often then not a brutal game
winner. (See EC finals 2009, won by Martin Weinmayer with 2!!! Pentex
being played due to a Wash, giving him the win.)
Most competitive players plan for Pentex accordingly (Sudden, Wash,
Contesting or crypt-design).
Making SD burn when the playing minion is no longer ready should at
least make the card cheaper by 1 blood. IMO, SD should be left alone.
I see no Ravnos decks running rampart with SDs on the tournament
level, cause it doesn't win you games and makes you a big target.