Been playing with the pre constructed decks for awhile, and now my 10 year old son wants to start building his own book.  Are there any basic strategies or guides out there for beginners?  Not really interested in copying other spell books from the forums, we'd like to make our own, but honestly don't know where/how to start.

Thanks!

There has been a lot of really good advice from everyone else that has posted thus far, and what I can add would be this:

Just have your son pick a mage he likes; build a book around that mage, and test it out. When you find something that doesn't work, remember it and correct that error the next time you edit that book. Then repeat the process of finding errors, or something that doesn't work in the book then correcting. It will sound like an afternoon special, but have fun building your book! This is especially true for your son. Don't worry about really complex ideas right from the outset; work towards those ideas through trial and error.

So, while thinking back to the Gen Con tournament, and reading some build concepts around the forums, I noticed that there is no niche "anti-swarm" builds; given the popularity of swarm books, I figured I would take a crack at building a book designed around "anti-swarms" with a solo mage build. So, what better mage to try this out with than THE solo Mage for the game - The Forcemaster.

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Anti-Swarm[/spellbookname]
[mage]Forcemaster[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1a03]1 x  Electrify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a09]1 x  Jet Stream[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a12]1 x  Ring of Fire[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]3 x  Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1w04]1 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]1 x  Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j12]1 x  Mana Crystal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j21]1 x  Suppression Orb[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW02]1 x  Wall of Bones[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j14]1 x  Mana Siphon[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j16]1 x  Mordok's Obelisk[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWE05]1 x  Forcefield[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e07]1 x  Cobra Reflexes[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]1 x  Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e21]1 x  Hawkeye[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e24]1 x  Magebane[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e06]1 x  Circle of Lightning[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE01]3 x  Charm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e02]2 x  Block[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e09]1 x  Agony[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e15]1 x  Essence Drain[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE01]1 x Adramelech's Touch[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWQ04]1 x  Galvitar, Force Blade[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q04]1 x  Deflection Bracers[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x  Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ01]1 x  Dancing Scimitar[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ01]1 x  Sunfire Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ07]1 x  Veteran's Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ04]1 x  Reflex Boots[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x  Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI01]1 x  Combustion[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI05]1 x  Ignite[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i14]1 x  Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]2 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]1 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i01]1 x  Banish[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

Now, the idea behind this build is that if a Mage starts to build for a swarm A) in their starting zone, or B) in one of the near center zones, the Forcemaster can either move to near center with Cheetah Speed turn 1, then Hawkeye/Force Hammer turn 2 to drop the Spawnpoint, or Hawkeye then Move to Force Hammer turn 1 then double Force Hammer to drop the Spawnpoint turn 2. Now, this book doesn't have a lot of kill potential, but the Mage Wand/Ignite with Adramelech's Touch + Combustion should take care of that.

Of course the tried and true anti-swarm cards are in: Mordok's Obelisk, Suppression Orb, Charm, and Essence Drain. Like I said, this is a very, very, VERY niche build.

So, as a Forcemaster player myself, I have to say that your book is lacking a few items, and I have several questions for you.

1) Why the exclusion of attack walls, like Wall of Thorns, when you have Force Push and Bash?
2) Your book is lacking any sort of healing. Have you thought about Sunfire Amulet, or Minor Heal?
3) With all the enchantments you have, you are extremely susceptible to Harshforge Monolith, Dispel, and Purge/Destroy Magic. Have you thought about including Enchanter's Wardstone for some added protection?
4) This applies to your armor: Have you thought about adding in an Armor's Ward? The better scenario than disabling would be to just dissolve your Dancing Scimitar away, as well as your other defenses.

Now, you don't need both Force Bash and Force Push; choose one or the other, which in turn will open up points for other spells like Cheetah Speed or Devil's Trident. Remember that the Forcemaster needs to be outputting damage of some kind on almost every turn, since you're racing against the turn markers. If you are going to run proxy Thoughtspores, put one or two Harmonizes into your book as well, since the 1 channel on the 'spores will take way too long for them to actually mean anything in the long run of the game.

Finally on book construction, think about how you're going to handle lots of creatures. One Mind Control and three Charms might be nice, but they will usually be the first of your enchantments blown up by a Seeking Dispel, Nullify, or Dispel. Instead, consider doing away with both of your creatures, and running a Mordok's Obelisk and Suppression Orb; they are big threats that will hamper whoever you're going up against.

Now, from my experience against several different kinds of mages, Forcemaster generally has a problem with Priestess, Male Beastmaster, Air/Earth/Fire Wizard, Curse Warlock, and any kind of Necromancer. Druid is your nemesis with all the Vine markers that hinder you, making double movement impossible. Female Beastmaster, Male Priest, Dwarf Warlord, and Female Warlock I have yet to play against so I have no advice for you in that regard.

Well, for next year, I'd definitely say have some one, or somebodies doing some video commentary pre-tourney on who they think will claim the prize, and posting to Youtube and/or Facebook. It would be nice to see how the top 8 perform and even get some ideas for other books (i.e. RUNNING SUPPRESSION WITH A WATER WIZARD  ).

Or even for next tourney having a minion of your own Shad0w, so you don't have to do everything at once.

Other than that, this year's tourney was great and I am thoroughly impressed there were five Forcemasters! They will rise, slowly but surely!

If you are trying to go for something like an Earth Wizard, I'd say take out some creatures for more Earth Attack spells. Two Hurl Boulders are nice, but with one bound on your Wizard's Tower that means you are relying on your creatures to do the bulk of the damage, which can be costly if they get Pacified or Charmed.

With only 6 ways to get rid of enchantments, it's not out of the realm of possibility that you'll run out of those Seeking Dispels/Dispels/Nullifies way before the big enchantments are placed.

Also, how do you deal with a Forcemaster who has Charmed your Hydra and your Gorgon Archer, and has put your Stonegaze Basilisk to sleep, while you've run out of Dispels on getting rid of her enchantments?

Quicksand is nice with Construction Yard. I would leave it in.

Unfortunately, Construction Yard does not take the mana cost off Quicksand, because it is an Earth Conjuration, and not an Earth Wall.

What's your thoughts behind running two Force Pushes? Are you trying to take advantage of attack wall cheese? If you are, then switch out one of your level 1 walls for a [mwcard=MW1W04]Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]. Also, instead of running a Meditation ammy, use conjurations like [mwcard=MW1J13]Mana Flower[/mwcard] or [mwcard=MW1J12]Mana Crystal[/mwcard] to increase your channeling; Anvil Throne only has 9 channel, so your build without some channel increase is extremely difficult to pull out and wasting a full round action to put 3 mana into your pool is not worth it.

For creatures, I'd say take out the [mwcard=FWC15]Thorg, Chief Bodyguard[/mwcard] or [mwcard=FWC14]Sir Corazin, Blademaster[/mwcard] and swap with [mwcard=FWC07]Grimson Deadeye, Sniper[/mwcard] to combine with your Archer's Watchtower for turn 1 protection.

I would seriously consider taking out the Quicksand and replacing it with something else maybe a [mwcard=MW1J04]Battle Forge[/mwcard] for all those equipment, because if you use it on a level 3 or 4 creature, it will completely take all of that turn's channel to use it, just for a potential four turn kill since using Quicksand on a level 1 or 2 creature is just a waste of mana.

So, here is the updated version, minus one too many Epic level spells >_>;

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname][/spellbookname]
[mage]Anvil Throne Warlord[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=FWA04]1 x  Hurl Boulder[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFA02]2 x  Hurl Rock[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a09]2 x  Jet Stream[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ05]1 x  Construction Yard[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ04]1 x  Garrison Post[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWW01]2 x  Wall of Pikes[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j13]1 x  Mana Flower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWJ02]1 x  Archer's Watchtower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j04]1 x  Battle Forge[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFJ03]1 x  Altar of Domination[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC07]2 x  Dwarf Panzergarde[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC05]1 x  Anvil Throne Crossbowman[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC07]1 x  Grimson Deadeye, Sniper[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC07]1 x  Gurmash, Orc Seargeant[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC12]1 x  Talos[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFC06]2 x  Goblin Alchemist[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC02]1 x  Earth Elemental[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC05]5 x  Goblin Grunt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC09]1 x  Iron Golem[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC10]1 x  Ludwig Boltstorm[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC01]1 x  Dwarf Kriegsbiel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWC04]2 x  Goblin Builder[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1e37]1 x  Sacred Ground[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]2 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKE01]1 x  Armor Ward[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE09]1 x  Standard Bearer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE06]1 x  Fortified Position[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e27]1 x  Marked for Death[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ04]1 x  General's Signet Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ07]1 x  Veteran's Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ06]2 x  Morning Star[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q23]1 x  Regrowth Belt[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ05]1 x  Harshforge Plate[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ05]1 x  Helm of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWQ08]1 x  Ring of Command[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q11]1 x  Gauntlets of Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFQ03]1 x  Eisenach's Forge Hammer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i12]2 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI04]2 x  Flank Attack[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i02]2 x  Battle Fury[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKI02]1 x  Akiro's Battle Cry[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]2 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFI06]3 x  Defend[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i13]1 x  Group Heal[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]