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Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!
6
Pacta Arcana
Apr 18 2013 05:05 AM |
Danigral
in Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu Pacta Arcana Danigral
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Pacta Arcana, in which we will explore the depths of deckbuilding with multiple factions in Fantasy Flight's Call of Cthulhu LCG. In each article of this series we will be looking at combining two factions (sometimes more) together to form a cohesive deck around a particular theme, combo, or strategy. Call of Cthulhu is the oldest and most overlooked LCG (much to the loss of those who dismiss it), however I have long felt that it is the richest backdrop in terms of deckbuilding among all the LCGs. There are so many possibilities of combinations and permutations that continue to expand with every release, but due to the fact that there are no faction restrictions other than those on the cards themselves (i.e. steadfast icons and loyal keyword), there is much more room to explore the full cardpool. Simply using two factions gives you 28 different combinations; 36 if you include mono-faction builds as well. Trying to combine three factions gives you another 56 possibilities.
Cthulhu
and Shub-Niggurath 
For the first foray in Pacta Arcana, I’ve chosen the game’s namesake faction, Cthulhu, and another mythos faction, Shub-Niggurath. Combining these two will allow me to do a few things: 1) Shub provides the best resource acceleration and “tutor†effects in the game, 2) Cthulhu has some of the best sacrifice effects and abilities to put. By expanding those concepts to a dual-faction deck, we can get some dynamic results.
What do I get out of this deal?
Something you might notice is that both of these strategies are available in cards of both Cthulhu and Shub factions, so what is the benefit of combining them? Other than the obvious answer of getting to play all of both faction’s best cards, synergies open up through cross-pollination of the ‘sacrifice’ and ‘resurrection’ themes.
On the other hand, Shub has some versions of sacrifice effects, most notably The Three Bells (TUP), but it’s only a once per turn effect. It’s cheap so it helps out early game, but there are more efficient options in Cthulhu. One of those is Temple of R’lyeh. Unfortunately, if we want to use Temple of R’lyeh, we would need to sacrifice Cthulhu characters, and we’re using Dark Young, so that won’t work. However, there’s another option in Cthylla (SoK), which can be used up to five times a turn - much more efficient!
Key Cards:
Cthylla (SoK) and Shub-Niggurath (TC) - This is the core of the combo. By using Cthylla once each phase, you can sacrifice up to 5 characters per turn. If those characters are Dark Young, for only 1 2-cost domain you can bring them all back, leaving your opponent with up to 5 less characters, and your board unchanged. However, no matter how great their abilities are, both of these cards are expensive! Cthylla is 5 cost and Shub-Niggurath is 6. So we’ll need another engine to ramp our resources very quickly in order to get them into play.
Nug (SoK) - Many have quickly discovered this card’s amazing ability to give you 3 turns of resourcing in one go. If you have a way to get him out in turn 2 or 3 (or both!) you will be light-years ahead of your opponent in terms of resources.
Aziz Chatuluka (TSS) - Fortunately the Cthulhu faction provides this very easy way to get Nug into play on turn 1, and returns Nug to the top of the deck to play in a subsequent turn. This puts you a little behind in board advantage, but way ahead in resources.
Under the Porch (THBtS) - This is another easy way to get Nug into play quickly to ramp your resources. It can also pull out any of your other Shub cards in order to toolbox, such as support destruction with Grasping Chthonian (IotF), or getting Aziz back with Hungry Dark Young (Core), or pulling out Shub herself if you’re ready for her.
Thoughts on Gameplay:
It’s essential that you have a couple of your combo pieces either in your starting hand, or on turn 1. The goal is to have Aziz and Nug in your hand as soon as possible so that you can sac Aziz to get Nug’s resource ramping ability on turn 1, or turn 2 at the latest. You want to keep an eye on the board because you don’t want your opponent to rush to a win before you can start filling the board with your own characters.
A few sample turns might look like this:
- Turn 1: resource for 2-1-1; play Aziz 2-1-1; sac in story phase to put Nug into play for 3-2-2
- Turn 2: resource for 4-2-2; play characters, hopefully at least one with a Shocking Transformation to get Hungry Dark Young and put Aziz into play again; sac Aziz for Nug again for 5-3-3.
- Turn 3: resource Nug (he’s done his business) to play Shub 6-3-3, or play Under the Porch to get Shub into play, trigger his ability, and then into your hand.
- Turn 4: you’re ready to play your Cthylla/Shub combo.
- Turn 1: resource for 2-1-1; play Aziz and bide your time.
- Turn 2: resource for 3-1-1; play Under the Porch and sac immediately during operations to get Nug for 4-2-2; sac Aziz to put Nug into play during story phase for 5-3-3.
- Turn 3: resource for 6-3-3; play Cthylla or Shub.
- Turn 4: you’re ready.
With at least a couple Ancient Ones on the board, it should be very difficult for a weakened opponent to make any meaningful progress on stories. However, if you don’t get enough characters out early, you have to be aware that too much sacrificing can leave you just as vulnerable, particularly if your opponent is packing sacrifice or wounding effects of his own.
The Deck:
Characters (33)
Aziz Chatuluka (TSS) x3
Nug (SoK) x3
Shub-Niggurath (TC) x2
Cthylla (SoK) x3
Hungry Dark Young (Core) x3
The Mother's Hand (SoA) x3
Ya-te-veo (TUP) x3
Marcus Jamburg (WoP) x2
Lavinia Whateley (DD) x1
Grasping Chthonian (IotF) x2
Dreamlands Fanatic (ItDoN) x3
Naaginn (TbtA) x2
Beings of Ib (TH) x3
Supports (8)
Muddy Waters (TAD) x3
Under the Porch (THBtS) x3
Snow Graves (AtMoM) x2
Events (9)
Forms of the Ether (CotJE) x2
Shocking Transformation (Core) x3
Burrowing Beneath (Core) x2
Thunder in the East (KD) x2
A few notes on the deck:
- Ya-te-veo can help you slow your opponent down if you don't get lucky in your draws in the first few turns.
- Naaginn is mainly for sacrificing to Cthylla. He may seem like an odd choice since he's so inefficient, but he has two ways to get returned to play: by Hungry Dark Young, or by support destruction via his ability.
- Beings of Ib also do double duty as a cheap sarificable character, and sometimes you can use it for its ability when you happen to only have one Ancient One out.
- Forms of Ether may also seem like an odd choice, but if you get really unlucky with your resourcing from Nug, then this is a backup to get a card you want later if necessary.
- There is no restricted card, but if I had to put one in, it would probably be Diseased Sewer Rats (SoA) for more tempo control early game, or Negotium Perambulans in Tenebris (DD) to slow down those pesky rush decks.
- Marcus Jamburg is just stellar. He can get back Under the Porch to search out Hungry Dark Young, or a Grasping Chthonian if you need out-of-turn support destruction, or Lavinia Whateley to sac for Cthylla if you didn't draw her yet.
Obviously the deck above includes cards from the full card pool, including 3 cores, 1-1/2 Secrets of Arkham, Seekers of Mystery, and the following packs: The Shifting Sands, The Cacophony, The Unspeakable Pages, Words of Power, Twilight Horror, Touched by the Abyss, In the Dread of Night, Initiations of the Favored, The Antediluvian Dreams, The Horror Beneath the Surface, At the Mountains of Madness, Curse of the Jade Emperor, Dunwich Denizens, and Kingsport Dreams. Quite a list, I admit, and some of those packs may be impossible to get until they are reprinted (*as of publishing this April 2013).
However, if you wanted to build a similar concept, but on a budget, you could make a few adjustments. Here is a decklist using only 2 core sets, 1 Secrets of Arkham, Seekers of Knowledge, and half as many chapter packs, including The Cacophony, The Horror Beneath the Surface, Kingsport Dreams, The Shifting Sands, Written and Bound, and The Unspeakable Pages.
Characters (33)
Aziz Chatuluka (TSS) x3 (The Shifting Sands)
Nug (SoK) x3 (Seekers of Knowledge)
Shub-Niggurath (TC) x2 (The Cacophony)
Cthylla (SoK) x3 (Seekers of Knowledge)
Hungry Dark Young (Core) x2 (Core)
The Mother's Hand (SoA) x2 (Secrets of Arkham)
Ya-te-veo (TUP) x3 (The Unspeakable Pages)
Lucas Corn (WaB) x3 (Written and Bound)
Basil Elton (KD) x1 (Kingsport Dreams)
Servant from Out of Time (Core) x2 (Core)
Diseased Sewer Rats (SoA) x2 (Secrets of Arkham)
Rampaging Dark Young (SoA) x2 (Core)
Innsmouth Troublemaker (Core) x2 (Core)
Lord of the Silver Twilight (Core) x2 (Core)
Supports (8)
Under the Porch (THBtS) x3 (The Horror Beneath the Surface)
The Three Bells (TUP) x3 (The Unspeakable Pages)
Gentleman's Club (Core) x2 (Core)
Events (10)
Feed Her Young (WaB) x3 (Written and Bound)
Shocking Transformation (Core) x2 (Core)
Burrowing Beneath (Core) x2 (Core)
Thunder in the East (KD) x3 (Kingsport Dreams)
I actually like a few of these changes better, including maybe one copy of Rampaging Dark Young, and two copies of Servitor Out of Time instead of Forms of Ether, and I would consider those changes according to your personal preference in the first deck above. But let me know your thoughts!
Any feedback, suggestions, or comments are welcome.
Thanks for reading! Join me next time for a look at some investigator factions.
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Danigral started hoarding Call of Cthulhu the same time as A Game of Thrones. While he’s played AGoT more competitively, he’s harbored a secret love for CoC and has played it casually and competitively for over 2 years. Initially drawn into the game through a fascination with Lovecraft’s mythos, he fell in love with the innovative mechanics and engaging gameplay CoC offers. And he wants to convert you. Cthulhu Fhtagn!
- Kennon, HappyDD, badash56 and 10 others like this
20 Comments
This must be one of the most comprehensive articles about building a deck I've seen for CoC. And although it's about a specific deck idea, it provides some valuable insight into the general principles behind building any deck. It's just what CoC needs, and I hope the articles help to bring the game some more well-deserved attention.
I also love the inclusion of the 'budget' version of the deck, although I fortunately have access to every card.
Descendant of Eibon (TTotT) would fit right in also I think. His transient ability really doesn't hurt you if you use it often in a Nug deck, and it's another way to get him out and the resources pumping.
@jhaelen - I hope to make this at least a regular article, maybe every two weeks.
@sanctimus - I'm glad this has already started working. }:-) One of the goals is to brings exposure so more players know about this great game.
@badash - Descendent might be a good option, too, but I thought with the whole goal of getting out Shub, for 2 cost I could get a bunch of characters without sacrificing success tokens, which are usually slowly won.
@darkblade - Thanks for reading. Now go get the game.
Great article, looking forward to more.
@toqtamish - Go buy it before you change your mind again. lol. Seriously, you play everything else already. You might as well play this too! I don't think you'll be disappointed. I hope you can see that there is definitely faction flavor that isn't diminished by access to the entire cardpool.
Negotium Perambulans in Tenebris (DD) is a good addition, but I have found to use it well you need something like
Ol' Lazy Eyes (CoC) to make sure you get it out fast enough.
I am still working on a way to block the rush decks with
Flux Stabilizer (PT). You can lose on turn 2-3 if you aren't careful!
I like that idea. You could swap out Diseased Sewer Rats or Naaginn for Ol' Lazy Eyes, and run Negotium as your restricted. That might make it a little more resilient early game.
One question: What is "tutoring"?
Good article Dan. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks dormouse. I hope you keep reading! kamacausey will have some n00b-friendly articles up and running soon that you might enjoy.
And with that...
Amazing article. I like all the points. Sadly, I play pure. Mono-Factions. From LOTR, STar Wars, Netrunner and even other games that support multi faction rules. I like working the strengths and weaknesses of each faction.
That being said, I currently have all the packs and boxes (3 cores, 2 Secrets of Arkham, Seekers of Knowledge, Order of Silver Twilight and all exisiting packs) for COC, so I provide all interested with decks (I have 17 decks, 2 for each faction and 1 neutral). I will be directing my gaming group to this article so they can start designing their own decks using my cards.
You actually have more than a full playset since you have extra commons and x4 of SoA. An interesting point: In AGoT I feel that having more than a full playset is a waste - I would never, for example, buy another copy of Kings of the Storm just for Superior Claim. But in CoC, I have never considered having more than a full playset as "wasted" cards, for the simple reason that it's so easy to play mixed factions, and I can throw those copies into multiple existing decks. Dreamlands Fanatic (ItDoN) is a good example since it comes x3 in the old distribution model, so when you buy 3 packs you have 9 copies of them. (You, of course, would probably never dream of doing this, and I respect that...)
Let me know what changes you make and how it worked!
I'd like to add that as a player who bought hundreds of CCG boosters and all of the TCG releases for this game, and has probably only actually played a couple dozen times, this is the article series I've prayed for. Thanks for taking the time to educate us beginners. I'm looking forward to shuffling this up.