Gardener Druid

[CobaltGray]

I've been playing with the Druid for a few games and I usually use the [mwcard=DNJ12] Vine Tree [/mwcard] but I really wanted to see if I could find a cool way to use those Seedling Pods. I came up with the below spell book which I'm going to try out this week. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname][/spellbookname]
[mage]Druid[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNA01]4 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNJ12]1 x  Vine Tree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ09]1 x  Samara Tree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ02]3 x  Corrosive Orchid[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j13]2 x  Mana Flower[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j15]1 x  Mohktari, Great Tree of Life[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ06]3 x  Nightshade Lotus[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j22]4 x  Tanglevine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1w04]2 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW01]2 x  Bloodspine Wall[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ08]4 x  Seedling Pod[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNC10]3 x  Raptor Vine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC18]1 x  Togorah, Forest Sentinel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC21]4 x  Thornlasher[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC16]3 x  Spitting Raptor[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC17]1 x  Tataree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC20]4 x  Vine Snapper[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC06]1 x  Kralathor, The Devourer[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNE01]1 x  Barkskin[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e20]2 x  Harmonize[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNE03]1 x  Stumble[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNQ04]1 x  Druid's Leaf Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q07]1 x  Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q16]1 x  Leather Gloves[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q15]1 x  Leather Boots[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q19]1 x  Mage Wand[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q22]1 x  Moonglow Amulet[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ08]1 x  Vinewhip Staff[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ07]1 x  Veteran's Belt[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNI02]2 x  Burst of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]1 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i12]1 x  Force Push[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i25]1 x  Shift Enchantment[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i23]1 x  Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i24]1 x  Seeking Dispel[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]

You are probably wondering what Class-A's I'm on so here's my cunning plan:

• Turn 1: (Deployment: Vine Marker) ; QC [mwcard=DNQ04] Druid's Leaf Ring [/mwcard], FC [mwcard=DNJ09] Samara Tree [/mwcard] with life bond
• Turn 2: (Deployment: Vine Marker; [mwcard=DNJ08] Seedling Pod [/mwcard]); QC [mwcard=mw1e20] Harmonize [/mwcard] on Samara Tree; FC [mwcard=DNJ12] Vine Tree [/mwcard]
• Turn 3: (Deployment: Vine Marker; Vine Marker; [mwcard=DNJ08] Seedling Pod [/mwcard] on end of a Vine somewhere); QC: [mwcard=mw1e20] Harmonize [/mwcard] on [mwcard=DNJ09] Samara Tree [/mwcard]; FC [mwcard=DNE01] Barkskin [/mwcard]

From now on I can put down a seedling pod each turn for free and stick them wherever there is a Vine Marker; Each time a a Pod reaches 3 Mana (Each turn after Turn 3 if they haven't been killed) I get to cast something for 3 less. In play testing it seems like a good way to keep people occupied while I start getting dressed and saving for the fun creatures 

SO how do you think it will play out? Too slow? not enough against flying ? What about the dreaded fire attacks?

[Wildhorn]

You can't have twice the same enchantment (Hamonize here) attached to the same target.

[CobaltGray]

Ah. Bugger. You are right !  Didn't spot that. Thanks
Back to the drawing board.

Any other ideas to make seedling pods useful ?

[wtcannonjr]

Etherian Life tree will increase the life of all Seedling Pods.

Vine Tree allows you to cast an additional Seedling Pod each round if you desire. Coupled with the mage you have the ability to cast 4 Seedling Pods in one turn, if desired. It also allows you to place an additional Vine Marker each round for 1 mana.

The Vinewhip Staff also allows you to pay mana and action to place additional Vine Markers, if desired.

The Druid has the ability to spread her influence very quickly in the arena.

[CobaltGray]

Ok, as promised here is an update of how the Gardener Druid played out. Bottom line is that the tactic worked - I've finally been able to use the Samara tree / Seedling pods in a useful way! BUT it's so slowwwwwww.

I played the deck as suggested with only one change, swapped out one Harmonize for two more pods. Then I used Tataree and one Harmonize on Samara tree to pump out a seedling pod every turn and then after turn 4 get my plants and vines out for three less mana. I was playing my friend Joe who was using the Priestess and a 'quickly-in' strategy using lots of flying creatures. Thornlashers and Nightshade Lotus were good against these. I was surprised after the first rounds when I was able to hold him off by being really annoying with my conjugations. After around 10 rounds of stalemate he came after my tree and manage to beat it down (mainly due to a strategic blunder on my part that had my Druid across the board). From then on I was on the back foot. We called it a day after 3 hours playing but it was great fun.

Just thought you'd like some feedback.

So here is a question that came up: Can you 'force push' a flying creature (in this case Valshalla, Lightning Angel' ) through a 'wall of thorns'? We played that you could but as the flying creature could fly over the wall it didn't feel right so I agreed to check with y'all. 
Cheers

[wtcannonjr]

No, you cannot force push a flying creature through a wall with passage attack since flying allows the creature to fly over walls. However, you can push and bash a flying creature against an outer wall of the arena for a 3-dice attack.

[IndyPendant]

Just to double-check: you do know that--as conjurations--two Seedling Pods can't occupy the same zone at the same time, right?

[CobaltGray]

Yes got that. Thanks. It becomes a bit of a problem trying to make sure all the conjugations with a common name are in different zones. Also look out for zone exclusives. This is where you need your vines markers.