Lannister City of Shadows - Ain't no party like a Preston Party

I want to make a deck lanni + Arianne Martell for a while, thanks for your share
So i have some questions :
- why don't you use forgotten plan i/o cersei : you need to control opponent so shut down opponent plot effect could be better : king's law, to the spear (lot of martell deck !)
- why maester cressen? you feel it's very important to take back some event?
wich event you'll take back if you have the choice?

I read your report, so cape wrath will be a good add

I don't feel twilight market's better than a gold producer : it's limited and you don't have card to put in shadow all turn, maybe king's road 23 for init and extra response against winter

I prefer keep pentoshi instead of preston as restrected: with cape wrath you can make arianne in shadow and pentoshi shut down any stealth/renown (wich is important in all new deck rush martell/barath)

add betrayal to the wall to gain init would not be interesting ? (if you can make arianne in and out of shadow each turn ! )

In answer to your questions:

1. Forgotten Plans might be better than the Scheme in some circumstances, but as a closer nothing comes close to the Scheme. The City plots are all about being reactive to the opp's biggest threat, Cersei's Scheme pops out on the turn you want to grab 5-7 power and wins you the game. The King's law is a problem for the deck, but you can play around it. Most opponents will tell you if their running it as soon as you reveal the agenda (or will with some goading). So it's all about judging things right. Which is basically the same as what Forgotten Plans does.

2. Cressen is an ace utility guy. He's reasonably cheap and good to get back a Harry the Riverlands. It's also a good way to put the opponent of a Mil challenge. Also I find there's something quite demoralising for an opponent if they've out loads of effort into bombing your Tunnels/AGH for you then to grab it back into hand without any fuss.

3. The Twilight Markets stay, even if they're not going to be used every turn, they're always free to bomb with ACB, without affecting the deck in a major way, but always nice to have. If all is going to plan, you should have a card to put into shadows every turn anyway.

4. NO WAY (caps for emphasis) would I use any card other than Preston for restricted in this deck. He's the engine behind everything. The deck actually got a lot better once I stopped relying on Pentoshi for challenge control.

5. Winning iniative really isn't that important to the deck. Really not seeing what I'm benefitting from the 8th plot (longer to cycle back round my cities) or the Kingsroad. There's loads of weenies in there, so it's never difficult to flood the board after a valar. And the more expensive chars (Tywin) probably won't make it through the next cut.

6. I'd love to get more use out of Arianne, I splashed influence and prayers just for that. But it's not worth that much. And at 2 cost everytime she comes out of shadows, she's definitely not enough to replace Preston.

Hope that answers your qs!

yes ! thanks for your feed back, because you play it a lot (not me), so it's really important to know.

As i said, i read your report, as you wrote: Lashing Out could be removed,and cape wrath come
- what about include smuggler instead of gold cloak (less FOR but cheaper and it's not "draw")
- add counter plot :i know it's prize 3 and limited response but if queen of thorns is in play, it'll save the game against valar ! (and eventually save Arianne if she's not in shadow yet)
- what about add mando moore to shut down any save (event / location and even double for unique character): there are a lot of martell quentin with double and greyjoy save

I'm really surprised you don't have more economy : only 8 locations (included twilight market) + 4 ally gold = 12 so it's just average and there are lot of 3/4 golds cards to play.
With many locations 2 golds and cities plots (few gold), i feel you dont put so much in play each turn, no ?

edit i read again your post and "Cersei's Scheme pops out on the turn you want to grab 5-7 power and wins you the game."
I don't see how you can grab more than 5 powers : ok you kneel some guys, but you have at least 1 opposition win (opponent will defend your first challenge). In best case you kneel a guy to try a no opposition challenge but in most case you won't and finally the third challenge with no opposition. With renown and with power's challenge claim, you can eventually grab 5 powers but 7 powers: i'd never do that (5 powers not in fact !), for my personnal experience, cersei scheme make the opponent kneel all his guys, but you don't grab lot of powers: it's like a stalling effect.I always play first with scheme, but maybe i don't see a trick: to be more precise, i play a lot against lannister/martell with strong int.

I was perhaps exaggerating with 5-7 power...

There probably is a good argument for Forgotten Plans or On My Oath instead of the Scheme, but neither seem as versatile. Along with ACB, it makes a great plan b opening play, especially against A Noble Cause.

With increased levies in the deck, it was overflowing with economy, and it got hit hard when favourable ground dropped (it still does). As you note, it's light in econ at the moment, but I think it works. There's so much draw, it's more a case of spending the gold you have wisely. And most of the 3-4 cost cards are shadows based, so you can breakup the payments.

For balance and semi symmetry, I'd stick two of the POW allies in there, but that CP is like gold dust at the moment.

I'll probably find space for Mandon Moore and one of Counterplot (wasn't legal at time of tournament) and Robert Strong (switching the Arys' as well). Hmmm maybe On My Oath is worth it.

With regards to Arianne/Queen of Thorns, flipping Arianne into valar is both hilarious and amazing. As soon as the queen hits the board it forces the opponent into killing her, if you've got Counterplot in hand I can see that being ace. Or wait till both valars have safely passed...