I made multiple changes to this build, but I can't get it to work without the thoughtspores, which I just can't manage to summon. No matter what I do the build is disjointed. You're right, the forcemaster should never touch her channeling or her opponent's mana. If I made a strategy like this for a 2 v 2 match I bet it could work as a wizard forcemaster team, but alone the forcemaster cannot pull it off.
Hi. Firstly thanks for bravely posting the build. I haven't yet (will change soon). I particularly liked the way you just expressed your thoughts.
Forcemaster is one of my lesser played mages (I treat unreliable Deflect as a bonus and I hate the fact she is auto-lose against Golem decks). I am no expert with her. But from my analysis and limited experience, there are 3 Forcemaster builds. All of them play Battle Forge as a must-have for action advantage so that she kits up quickly, retaining aggressor tempo. It's a must-have for her, often built Far Centre after you double move open.
Her first build is Solo. She plays multiple Force Fields and Mind Controls against Elites and all anti-Swarm Epic conjurations like Obelisk, Orb, Pestilence (all of which hurts swarm bad). Mind Control with Obelisk in play is just too powerful. Obviously this build uses opponent's buffed creatures against them so needs less Dispels. You go overboard on enchantments to make them use up their Dispels (you must Dissolve any Wand with Dispel). This build needs plentiful upkeep (a good player will Dissolve each Psy Orb) so this one is where you go down the Mana Crystals route. In the current meta (before Necromancer), I evaluate this to be the stronger build as long as you don't meet Earth Wizard or Golem Charge Warlord.
The second build is Thoughtspore control that you have built. This is a far subtler less aggressive in-your-face build as you have to spend full actions for 2 Thoughtspores in 2 zones that with range 2 cover the whole arena. You generally bind Force Push and Jet Stream (very cost-efficient against those aerial threats to them but also utility spells like Surging Wave, Dispel, Seeking Dispel and Dissolve as well as a cheap point cost toolbox of Flameblast and Arc Lightning against Defence and objects vulnerable to that damage. With Force Push or Jet Stream (if you are playing against a flyer mage) as your go-to binds, you need more than 1 core set of Wall of Thorns. Make no mistake that all your Blocks are mainly there to protect your fragile Thoughtspores.
This build plays Charm on ground enemies to neutralise them whilst your flying Spores kill them. It may play Invisible Stalker but I avoid it because to safely use Invisibility each turn, you need to have creature overlap. It doesn't really need as much mana as the Solo Upkeep build. However, while safer against Psychic Immune Nonliving, it is very vulnerable to flyers. In the end, Forcemaster suffers from uneven match-ups. This luck factor is why I avoid her. Against that regular opponent who plays that same build, she could be awesome though.
So from your build, I'd cull Drain Power, Mana Flower (keep the 2 Crystals), Purge Magic (I love it but too pricey outside Wizard), Invisible Stalker, Force Hold (keep Crush for end-game once opponent is depleted of Dispels on Charms). You need more utility spells (Dispel, Dissolve for armour or Eagleclaw), Jet Stream, more Thorns, maybe cheap tooolbox unavoidable attacks. Battle Forge is non-negotiable.
The third build is borrow out-of-school Elites. Grizzly is favoured for its full action attack, easily gained with Force Push. Always penetrating Cevere (as mentioned) is another favourite. This build is simply "the most aggressive mage with the most Elite" and is built quite similar to many other mages with this strategy. Of course control may neutralise your spell point investment to leave you at a huge disadvantage. It lacks the stylishness of the other 2 builds which is the only reason to play Forcemaster really. If I want to play an efficient build, I would choose another mage. Still, it is an option.
However, as this thread is titled "Mana Force", I urge you to try the more aggressive Solo Build. Thoughtspore is far too fragile and playing pinball with the opponent through Walls of Thorns is a stylish way of winning but it's very difficult. Also most decks have some flyers which, despite Jet Stream, eat Spores for breakfast. The risk of facing Iron Golems is small. So make the most of that build before Necromancer becomes popular (and swarm builds gain from Lifetree). It is so satisfying when Forcemaster stylishly wins, Solo Mind Control especially.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert at Forcemaster. I dislike polarised match-ups (and d12 rolls). Please feel free to ignore everything I have written.
Good luck with the build!
(Btw I really liked your Shaman idea: you have a very creative imagination, a talent which is often complementary to efficiency analysis).
