May 14, 2024, 03:45:48 AM

Author Topic: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)  (Read 9114 times)

Kingslayer

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Hi guys, I have a few questions with regards to a little idea that my friend and I had.

Having bought the game relatively recently I wanted to watch a game be played in a bid to pick up the rules and strategy of the game. Naturally I headed to Youtube and watched every video even vaguely related to Mage Wars, and found some very useful introductory videos but only one game played in its entirety. This left me with a craving for an insight into different people's insight into strategy and deckbuilding, which in turn led me to here, the forums. Seeing different ideas is great, and I have taken a lot of ideas from reading posts on strategy and spellbooks, but sometimes I find it difficult to visualise how some strategies would work against an organic opponent. What I'm trying to say is:

1. Would there be an interest in seeing a video of a game being played in full, albeit by relative newbies (about 30 games of experience by now)? We would also be extremely grateful of any feedback on our strategy and tactics that more experienced and accomplished players could give.

2. Would posting a video of this nature infringe on copyright laws? I'm not exactly an expert on the matter and just wanted to make sure everything was above board.

Fentum

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2013, 05:12:22 PM »

Yes, man. Video a game and post it up. Would be great to see more stuff.

Kingslayer

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2013, 05:42:58 PM »
Cheers labartels, I have seen both of those yt vids :D I just wish that there was more

Thanks for the enthusiasm Fentum, I'll arrange a game for as soon as possible and I'll post a link when it's uploaded to youtube. Hopefully in the next couple of days

Bluebaron

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2013, 11:55:54 PM »
Absolutely yes. There are just too few on the net. Looking forward to see you guys playing a game of Mage Wars.  :)

Fentum

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2013, 03:30:38 AM »


'Crits Happen' is, for me, the best series of Mage Wars vids out there. Well worth a  look via BGG or You Tube.

reddawn

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2013, 04:25:26 AM »
Crits Happen does great reviews and unboxings, but to be honest, I think Tox is more of a casual player.  He himself admits this, and while his videos are entertaining, they shouldn't be taken as sound strategy..
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Kingslayer

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2013, 05:01:02 AM »
I couldn't agree more, when I was learning the game theat critical play video was fantastic. However, I for one would love to see the beatdown forcemaster or solo warlock or earth wizard played before I spend a few hours trying to take apart my spellbooks* and try them out. 
Also, I've arranged a game for today with my Aussie housemate, and should either have it uploaded tonight or tomorrow. He's playing the warlock, and I'm playing the Johktari beastmaster.

*as a side note: I have bought the core set, the forcemaster vs warlord and the conquedt of kumanjaro expansions. With which I have built a permanent 6 mage setups without having to share cards. I'm sure my ultimate strategy suffers for that, but at the same time I like to mix things up. Variety is, after all, the spice of life :D

Fentum

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2013, 07:18:42 AM »
Crits Happen does great reviews and unboxings, but to be honest, I think Tox is more of a casual player.  He himself admits this, and while his videos are entertaining, they shouldn't be taken as sound strategy..

Ah yes. I get you now.

Tox's video is GREAT to learn the mechanics, but not the greatest demonstration of tactics.

My advice would be to try OCTGN. You can get several games in easily, and there is nothing supports learning like  a live enemy.

Kingslayer

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2013, 06:20:19 PM »
Good news: We've managed to record a full game, and have uploaded the first part here...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exd77X0Jiy4

The second part is currently being uploaded. Unfortunately, we aren't youtube partners yet, and as such are restricted to videos under 10mins in length, and our recording equipment leaves a lot to be desired (we've had a lot of trouble with the audio). Hopefully we'll all of it uploaded in the next couple of days.

reddawn

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2013, 07:23:18 PM »
Based on Part 1, here's some critiques:

1. To the Warlock player: Frankly, Flaming Hellions are not good; you should just go with Slayers pretty much every time if you're looking for a meaty demon.  Warlock is probably my most played mage, and even though I've tried to like Hellions in many different builds, they have not earned their spot.  Their Ranged attack rolls too low and at a poor range, and they do not have the stats to stay in melee very long to take advantage of their mediocre melee attack.

This has been made worse with the release of the powerful intercept creatures...

Consequently, this makes them a poor choice for Bloodreaper as well, which you really need to be making use of.  In that context, a Bloodreaper Slayer is incredibly formidable.  In fact, besides Adramelech, you can count on Slayers to do most of your heavy lifting, and should incorporate them into every opening you make as the Warlock. 

2.  I recommend casting 2 Mana Crystals/Flowers instead of one.  In post-Conquest MW, things have slowed down a bit.  Previously, it was much easier to rush the opposing mage, because you could very reliably throw attack spells at the enemy Mage without having to worry about much stopping you (apart from Walls cutting LoS, but with how LoS works, diagonal positioning easily got around it, to say nothing of flying creatures). 

This also heavily impacted the viability of expensive, high-damage, low-survivability ranged creatures such as Grimson, Royal Archers, Gorgon Archers, etc, which you could very efficiently burst down with an attack spell or two plus maybe some creature attacks if you needed them. 

With the reality of Intercept on creatures with a Defense and superb defensive stats, however, it's a lot less of a no-brainer in terms of using attack spells, and very aggressive strategies are more difficult to execute.  Enough so that I now recommend most builds start with 2 Mana Whatevers on Turn 1.  It may seem like a nitpick, but trust me, it's not; after significant testing, I've found that 2 Mana conjurations is difficult to disrupt from Turn 1, and that extra mana usually means the difference between winning and losing.

After Turn 1, however, casting Mana conjurations starts to interfere with tight opening summons, and may make it too difficult to survive/end the game if your opponent is aggressive/defensive enough.  Suffice it to say that you should just go with 2, because it offers a lot of advantage at very little risk.

That's all for now, I'll post more after part 2 is up.
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Kingslayer

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2013, 08:02:13 PM »
Wow :D thanks reddawn. That's some incredible insight into the warlock players strategy after seeing just three rounds! The guy playing warlock is by far the most aggressive opener in our play group, and most of his victories have come from combining attacks, burns and curses in early rounds. I know that Chris will try and take on board all of your advice, as will I (the beastmaster player). Particularly the two mana generator open, I've always liked that idea and now knowing that it proves to be optimal in playtesting will probablysee me doing that in 80% of future games  :)

Part two is now up here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQcuwzqON0 and will be the last for tonight (its currently 2am in the UK)

Ahlano

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2013, 11:16:47 PM »
Just saw them episodes... niiiiiice

As i started playing MageWars and started trying to find for info, gameplay.. theres close to nothing... theres only so many times u can see tutorials and box openings untill you get bored XD... (like 4 tutorilas :l)...

I thought of doing this myself... althought i would prefer to record on OCTGN, you should maybe try it... since you can get better quality recording..without the need of a cam..and you can focus on having good audio...
Well thast my recomendation, based on what i wanted to do... but if you dont..maybe i will xD... and i you do... would love to be on a recorded match :D...

Regarding Stragedy and Plays...
Play alot of warlock... like what i saw so far, i really dont like bats tho :/ they are 1 hit punchbags...if u can get one alive enough maaaybe u can get a rot... but seems like really big investment... but still..this is only 2 parts out of 10... cant jugde untill seeing the whole game, and still would not judge...

As for the Johktari BeastQueen <3, i like her :3... cant saying anything bad about her...(or the player)... just interested in seeing how the game progresses for the bestmaster.

Congrats on being the first to upload, and keep it up... :)

and seriously, if your up for some octgn recording... i would love to join, and i not... would love to know so i can start doing that :D, we need to fill channels of mage wars...spread the fever!
Warlock FTW, untill necro comes out ._.

reddawn

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2013, 11:28:22 PM »
Yeah bats are kind of whatever...the problem is the fact that the Warlock doesn't really "play well" with them.  At least you can make Imps emergency Bloodreapers, and their 6 life survives most creature swings.  Plus, the burn chance is better.   

Either way, it's not really a big deal, since either creature is a pretty small play.
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Bluebaron

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2013, 05:11:21 PM »
Thanks for the video. Great job. Looking forward to the next parts and hope to see more from you guys.

Fentum

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Re: The Quest for Perfect Strategy (and a popular video sharing website)
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2013, 03:22:08 AM »

Good video. Well done.