An *Average* Dragon Deck by Mirumoto Shokan





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*An Average* Dragon Deck by Mirumoto Shokan** May 27, 2002
Shiro Mirumoto with Toturi Tsudao
From: "Mirumoto Shokan" To: dragon@michonline.com, hdm@thedragonclan.com Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 22:06:19 +0000 Subject: [dragon] An Average Dragon Deck Greetings, Well Guys and Gals I have just spent the last few hours tearing thru 9 different deck lists, all developed by people who on their worst day are my equal if not my better. Most of these decks are public record, although a few are not. The important point is that these decks come from the best our Clan has to offer, these are all people we can learn from. Now there is an amazing thing when you average data, you get some amazingly accurate results. The more accurate the data, the more perfect the results (Note the point about how good the players are whose decks I took :)). And that is where the name comes from, as average is how the deck was constructed, not it's performance. At least I hope ;p!! I did though find some interesting things and confirmed some long held beliefs. The biggest confirmed belief is that the Dynasty Deck is truly easy/ier to build. There was very little variation, and if you chose to stray from the archetype, well, you have been warned ;). Over on the Fate side however, the variation was immense. Some choices like choosing to play Flattery with Campsites was easy. Some choices where just short of confounding. Like I said these are people to learn from... <scratch head ;)>. What I will do is break down my deck by card type with comments after each type. Feel free to comment and Hokosaki-san, if you think this deck worthy feel free to add it to your wonderful site. I have included the # appearances per decks after each card. I have not marked cards as Unique or not, so you will have to filter the raw data ;).
Shiryo Mirumoto (9/9) Tsudao (8/9) Personalities:18 Tsuge x3 (27/9) Cheiko x3 (27/9) Chosai x3 (25/9) Shaitung x2 (13/27) Nyima x2 (10/9) Daisuke x2 (13/27) Satsu (8/9) Reju (8/9) Hoshi (9/9) Okay, somebody explain how you leave out Reju in a dueling honor archetype ;)? Seriously I am still thinking of Ukira (3/9) instead of Daisuke, due to my Fate deck choices, but I think I need to play test as is first. The only other peeps even mentioned were Tadoa (sp) (too new?), Ros (5/9), Kagetora (2/9), and Yemi (3/9). Events: 2 Imp Gift (9/9) Welcome Home (9/9) Others mentioned, Chrys Fest (2/9), Boastful (3/9) Bitter Vengence, and Matter of Pride. Holdings: 18 TG x3 (14/9) GM x3 (27/9) JW x3 (27/9) HD x3 (25/9) ST x3 (26/9) KTT FG (8/9) Ki-Rin (9/9) The KTT is a compromise for those who say FG x2 and those who say more gold. I will see how this works... <shrug>. Most people from our list went with TG x3, most non-list Dragon players went SF and usually GH. Only one person choose both TG and SF. I have done the math, so I know my choice, as always, ymmv. Only other holding mentioned more than once were GH (6/9) and Temple of the Dragon (3/9) Regions: 2 Sorrows Path x2 7 out of 9 decks used Regions and all of these chose either SP or Campsite. I am working the PK angle so SP was my choice. This has an impact on my Fate as we shall see. The Fate side was amazingly varied as I have said. The only card unanimously agreed on was the Celestial Sword. After that only 2 other card appeared in every deck and that was BSL and Wind's Truth, although the quantity varied for each. Bottom line is here is what separates very good from great. I will note at this time that Flores was the only person not playing Tsudao. He played Sezaru, and used Elegant fricking Kimono, for the following reason, and I quote... "A) How devastating is card drawing in any of the forms of cycling or drawing? I found Kyuden Hida was able to keep up with me in cards, due to their box as well as Ashigarus. Other clans weren't as fortunate, and I was able to filter down into what I needed at an alarming rate. Even the games I lost, I was able to find what I needed at the time, even though it wasn't enough to stop the outcome." Which brings me to my question, only one person of the nine played I Lesson. I swear by this card for the above reason and plenty more. Anybody want to let me in on what I am missing? Note, as I have done the math, you will have to have a pretty solid argument. The other item of note is that I am still messing with Secrets/Judgment. Nobody with a top deck was, although Armor of Shadows/Mask/For the Empire was. I am pretty sure I see a relationship here (although the For the Empire angle gives me hope :)), but I am fighting the urge to see the obvious ;). Comments on this are also welcomed. Items: 3 Celestial Sword (9/9) Imp Standard (7/9) Judgment (0/9 :() As noted Elegant Kimono (5/9), Armor of Shadows (2/9), and Mask of Fu Leng (1/9) also appeared occasionally. Other than one deck cameos by Laterns and Bitter, that's about it. Followers :0 This card type was across the board. Some decks had 6 followers and some, like me, had none. Here are a few choices, Elite Spearmen (6/9), House Guard (2/9), Veteran Sam (3/9), Warriors of the Great climb (2/9), Shield Wall (2/9), and Hunting Tiger (1/9). Spells: 6 Walking x2 (17/9) Torrential x2 (17/9) Secrets (0/9 :() Other consistent spell choices are Fist (8/9) and ToD (6/9). Kihos: 6 Winds Truth x3 (26/9) Purity of Spirit x2 (10/9) Flee the Darkness (2/9) Only other Kiho mentioned was Ryoshun's Last Words. Actions: 25 Dragon Tat x2 (15/9) Snow Crane Tat x2 (12/9) Crab Tat (8/9) Ambush (3/9) I Duel x3 (20/9) I Lesson x3 (3/9) I Challenge x2 (18/9) TDWWM x2 (11/9) BSL x2 (25/9) Deeds x2 (12/9) Sup Tac x2 (16/9) FYK x2 (11/9) RoV (7/9) I am already suspect of RoV (esp w/ I Lesson), I Challenge (again I Lesson and some personal preference), and maybe the Sup Tacs. Other cards mentioned were I Art (10/9), For the Empire (8/9), Flattery (11/9)(in the Campsite decks was nearly 3 per), ISotF (6/9), Entrapping Terrain (7/9), Test of Might (5/9), Imp Edicts (4/9) (I was surprised at this, as I have always thought this a strong card... <scratch head>), and Avoid (3/9). One last note is that this deck has note been played yet. I will be playing it for the next month, and I will get back to you all with my personal tweaks to this archetype. Well I hope this helps you all to some extent. Take care, Mirumoto Shokan (Rob Bowman)
revised January 8, 2003
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Legends of the Five Rings CCG is copyright Alderac Entertainment Group and Wizards of the Coast. Artwork is copyright by various artists who illustrated for Alderac Entertainment Group or Wizards of the Coast. Other art work, names, stories and ideas are copyright MountainView. Dragon logo by R. Stier. Web design by Mirumoto Genji.

Shiryo Mirumoto (9/9)
Tsudao (8/9)

Personalities:18
Tsuge x3 (27/9)
Cheiko x3 (27/9)
Chosai x3 (25/9)
Shaitung x2 (13/27)
Nyima x2 (10/9)
Daisuke x2 (13/27)
Satsu (8/9)
Reju (8/9)
Hoshi (9/9)

Okay, somebody explain how you leave out Reju in a dueling honor archetype ;)? Seriously I am still thinking of Ukira (3/9) instead of Daisuke, due to my Fate deck choices, but I think I need to play test as is first. The only other peeps even mentioned were Tadoa (sp) (too new?), Ros (5/9), Kagetora (2/9), and Yemi (3/9).

Events: 2
Imp Gift (9/9)
Welcome Home (9/9)

Others mentioned, Chrys Fest (2/9), Boastful (3/9) Bitter Vengence, and Matter of Pride.

Holdings: 18
TG x3 (14/9)
GM x3 (27/9)
JW x3 (27/9)
HD x3 (25/9)
ST x3 (26/9)
KTT FG (8/9)
Ki-Rin (9/9)

The KTT is a compromise for those who say FG x2 and those who say more gold. I will see how this works... <shrug>. Most people from our list went with TG x3, most non-list Dragon players went SF and usually GH. Only one person choose both TG and SF. I have done the math, so I know my choice, as always, ymmv. Only other holding mentioned more than once were GH (6/9) and Temple of the Dragon (3/9)

Regions: 2
Sorrows Path x2

7 out of 9 decks used Regions and all of these chose either SP or Campsite. I am working the PK angle so SP was my choice. This has an impact on my Fate as we shall see. The Fate side was amazingly varied as I have said. The only card unanimously agreed on was the Celestial Sword. After that only 2 other card appeared in every deck and that was BSL and Wind's Truth, although the quantity varied for each. Bottom line is here is what separates very good from great. I will note at this time that Flores was the only person not playing Tsudao. He played Sezaru, and used Elegant fricking Kimono, for the following reason, and I quote...

"A) How devastating is card drawing in any of the forms of cycling or drawing? I found Kyuden Hida was able to keep up with me in cards, due to their box as well as Ashigarus. Other clans weren't as fortunate, and I was able to filter down into what I needed at an alarming rate. Even the games I lost, I was able to find what I needed at the time, even though it wasn't enough to stop the outcome."

Which brings me to my question, only one person of the nine played I Lesson. I swear by this card for the above reason and plenty more. Anybody want to let me in on what I am missing? Note, as I have done the math, you will have to have a pretty solid argument.

The other item of note is that I am still messing with Secrets/Judgment. Nobody with a top deck was, although Armor of Shadows/Mask/For the Empire was. I am pretty sure I see a relationship here (although the For the Empire angle gives me hope :)), but I am fighting the urge to see the obvious ;). Comments on this are also welcomed.

Items: 3
Celestial Sword (9/9)
Imp Standard (7/9)
Judgment (0/9 :()

As noted Elegant Kimono (5/9), Armor of Shadows (2/9), and Mask of Fu Leng (1/9) also appeared occasionally. Other than one deck cameos by Laterns and Bitter, that's about it.

Followers :0

This card type was across the board. Some decks had 6 followers and some, like me, had none. Here are a few choices, Elite Spearmen (6/9), House Guard (2/9), Veteran Sam (3/9), Warriors of the Great climb (2/9), Shield Wall (2/9), and Hunting Tiger (1/9).

Spells: 6
Walking x2 (17/9)
Torrential x2 (17/9)
Secrets (0/9 :()

Other consistent spell choices are Fist (8/9) and ToD (6/9).

Kihos: 6
Winds Truth x3 (26/9)
Purity of Spirit x2 (10/9)
Flee the Darkness (2/9)

Only other Kiho mentioned was Ryoshun's Last Words.

Actions: 25
Dragon Tat x2 (15/9)
Snow Crane Tat x2 (12/9)
Crab Tat (8/9)
Ambush (3/9)
I Duel x3 (20/9)
I Lesson x3 (3/9)
I Challenge x2 (18/9)
TDWWM x2 (11/9)
BSL x2 (25/9)
Deeds x2 (12/9)
Sup Tac x2 (16/9)
FYK x2 (11/9)
RoV (7/9)

I am already suspect of RoV (esp w/ I Lesson), I Challenge (again I Lesson and some personal preference), and maybe the Sup Tacs. Other cards mentioned were I Art (10/9), For the Empire (8/9), Flattery (11/9)(in the Campsite decks was nearly 3 per), ISotF (6/9), Entrapping Terrain (7/9), Test of Might (5/9), Imp Edicts (4/9) (I was surprised at this, as I have always thought this a strong card... <scratch head>), and Avoid (3/9). One last note is that this deck has note been played yet. I will be playing it for the next month, and I will get back to you all with my personal tweaks to this archetype. Well I hope this helps you all to some extent.

Take care,

Mirumoto Shokan (Rob Bowman)