Forgotten Plans - Context Context Context!

Welcome back, loyal readers! This week I want to look at an example of context, and how it can make a card much much better than it seems. When I first saw Shireen Baratheon (VD), I immediately though how awesome she'd be in my Baratheon Noble Rush deck. Being able to turn any renown guy into Robert Baratheon (Core) was amazing. However, I started looking at her more closely and realizing that in order to kill her off I'd have to do it on a turn where I wasn't playing The Power of Blood (Core). Well, that pretty much defeats the purpose of the deck since I am trying to win before I get to a turn where I am not playing Power of Blood. So she's awful right? Wrong.

I was looking at Shireen in the wrong context. I was looking at her in the context of Baratheon Noble Rush, but that's not where she belongs. It's like looking at Riverrun (LoW) in the context of a Stark Murder deck. The card is great, but just not in that context. So last year I was working on a Baratheon Holy Rush deck that used Fanatic (RoR) to turn renown guys into Holy crest characters to use with The Power of Faith (KotStorm). Since they weren't kneeling to attack, I also used Robert Baratheon (KotStorm). As I was looking at some decks I had saved, I came across that one and realized that Shireen would fit in quite well! I wasn't running an agenda at the time, so no worries there. I also was already doing multiple power challenges, so even better!

As I was looking at the deck I realized that I needed a way to kill Shireen. Enter Terminal Schemes (LotR). It's alright a really good fit in the deck because I'm using Asshai and they all have intrigue icons. Ideally the other person will just do a military challenge against me, but I don't want to have to rely on that, so Terminal Schemes is a pretty good choice here because I can always just kill their dudes with it as well. I'm also running Wildfire Assault (Core) so that I can kill her on demand as well. Remember, Wildfire Assault says choose UP TO three. So even if she's your only character you can play Wildfire Assault and choose 0 characters and she dies. Now sometimes the other play won't do a military just in fear of killing Shireen, and that's great! Sometimes you want to just let her sit out there not dying. If you are keeping them from doing a whole challenge, probably want to let her sit there until you are ready to throw down Power of Faith and close the game out. The Asshai are all about control until it's time to close the game out. It's more of a delayed rush than straight up rush out the gate.

Since you are incorporating control into the deck, you will want to look at stuff like Shadows and Spiders (LotR), The Black Cells (TftRK), Kingswood Trail (CoS), Confession (KotS), The Only Game that Matters (LotR), and Altar of Fire (RoR). If you are running both the Black Cells and Kingswood Trail, I would suggest also adding in a few more Shadows cards, like Varys (SaS) and Sister of Truth (KotStorm), so you can use Shadow Enchantress (OSaS). You'll also be able to use King's Landing (SaS) for some extra card draw. The Shadow Enchantress is also an amazing card against Targ Burn, which seems to be pretty popular right now.

In the way of events, you might want to look at Make an Example (PotS) and Superior Claim (KotStorm) to help close out the game. I would make sure to have in Confession and Terminal Schemes first though. I might even put The Only Game That Matters in over those as well. This deck will probably be the most challenging deck to build that I've talked about. The gold curve is pretty high and you'll need to run a bit light in the way of characters, so keep those things in mind when building. You'll want to include at least two copies of Selyse Baratheon (Core) to give those Unique Renown characters an intrigue icon as well to maximize power gain. If you are feeling really ambitious you might want to look at Tower Library (CbtC) and Litany of Light (TIoR). It seems like there's a deck there somewhere.

Well hopefully I was able to show you guys that even if a card is bad at first glance, always give it that second look. You might be surprised what you come up with afterwards. Until next time, everyone!