This forums is for questions, answers, and discussion about First Edition rules, formats, and expansions.
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Director of First Edition
By MidnightLich (Charlie Plaine)
 - Director of First Edition
 -  
Prophet
#535244
Welcome to today's First Edition Friday Question, where you get a chance to answer questions that will help shape the future of First Edition. If you'd like to catch up on previous entries, here's a list of all of my previous Friday Questions:

13 NOV 2020: What do you expect to see in the movie block?
6 NOV 2020: Do you enjoy the Promo-a-Week project?
30 OCT 2020: Should I revive the weekly column?
23 OCT 2020: Do you want to see more reprints as set promos?
16 OCT 2020: What OS cards/stories did we miss?
9 OCT 2020: What makes you happy in First Edition?
27 SEPT 2020: What reasons do you use to re-engage older players?
18 SEPT 2020: What are you looking forward to in A Private Little War?
11 SEPT 2020: What old decks/themes do you want us to revisit?
4 SEP 2020: Should tactics continue to target sites on a Nor?
21 AUG 2020: Should you have to be in Ops to return fire on a Nor?
14 AUG 2020: How should we name the Excalbians?
7 AUG 2020: Which ship needs a new card?
31 JULY 2020: Which boutique expansion should we make first?
24 JULY 2020: Do you want to see Xindi introduced to 1E?
17 JULY 2020: What makes a good expansion name?
10 JULY 2020: What would make good theme packs in a Cube draft?
3 JULY 2020: What would be a good name for a Klingon?
26 JUNE 2020: Which card story needs a "do over"?
19 JUNE 2020: Which card do you most want to see added?
12 JUNE 2020: Why do you play First Edition?
5 JUNE 2020: What is 1E's biggest barrier to entry?
29 MAY 2020: What do you think of [SPOILER], a potential card from Project Londo?
22 MAY 2020: What is the worst affiliation in the game?
15 MAY 2020: Should bans be effective immediately?
8 MAY 2020: Which episode should inspire a boutique expansion?
1 MAY 2020: What was the best Star Trek gift you ever received?
24 APR 2020: How often do your [BB] dilemmas get scouted?
17 APR 2020: What do you want to know about how we work?
10 APR 2020: Should we make animated series cards?
3 APR 2020: Should we make more Tribbles/Troubles?
27 MAR 2020: Should we develop new [Q] cards?
20 MAR 2020: What regions should we focus on in the future?
13 MAR 2020: How would you feel about 1E adding extra "bits"?
6 MAR 2020: What are your favorite "almost good" S/P dilemmas?
28 FEB 2020: What are your favorite decks to play?
21 FEB 2020: Which Decipher expansion most deserves a sequel?
14 FEB 2020: Which "broken link" should be fixed first?
7 FEB 2020: What's your favorite episode of Star Trek?
31 JAN 2020: Which TOS main character needs a new card?
24 JAN 2020: What should qualify a card for the "watch list"?
17 JAN 2020: What card would you unban without changes?
10 JAN 2020: What single card would you ban to improve your game?
3 JAN 2020: What are you looking forward to in The Neutral Zone?
27 DEC 2019: How can we help you recruit new players?
20 DEC 2019: Where do you want the game to be in five years?
13 DEC 2019: Which concepts should 1E "import" from other games?
6 DEC 2019: Which couples should get a dual personnel card?
29 NOV 2019: Which old, unused 1E cards deserve some love?
22 NOV 2019: Which upcoming milestones need celebration?
15 NOV 2019: What's your favorite card image?
11 NOV 2019: What was your first 1E experience?
1 NOV 2019 What is your opinion of the "full page" policy?
25 OCT 2019: What do you want to see in a Halloween set?
18 OCT 2019: What is your favorite expansion?
11 OCT 2019: Which TNG main character needs a new card?
4 OCT 2019: Which Star Trek story needs more cards?
27 SEP 2019: How many points should [SPOILER] be worth?
20 SEP 2019: Which rules always confuse you?
13 SEP 2019: What do you think of [SPOILER]?
6 SEP 2019: Which card needs an alternate image (AI)?
30 AUG 2019: Which characteristic needs love?


Today, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you find to be the fun challenges of building a deck in First Edition. All too often, we focus on the negatives. Sometimes, that's a good thing, when it leads to improvements and changes to enhance the experience. But solving problems is human nature, and for many players, doing it when building a deck is part of the fun.

What are your favorite deck building challenges?

For example, I was recently building a deck for a format limited to just a handful of sets. (It was this tournament, if you're curious.) I found that several personnel that I really wanted to include in my deck were not in the legal expansions. This forced me to get creative and find different ways to deal with the skill shortage. It ended up being a lot of fun, and I looked at different cards I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

What kind of challenges do you enjoy solving when building your decks? Maybe it's an intentional challenge, like trying to find a way to use a card that nobody has used in years. Or maybe it's something that comes up, like trying to figure out how to get a specific personnel into play. What obstacles do you love to get past when building your 1E decks?

That's it for this week. I hope you have a great weekend, and if you're in the US, you're making safe plans for Thanksgiving. Stay safe, stay sane, and play some Trek if you can!

-crp
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By Armus (Brian Sykes)
 - The Center of the Galaxy
 -  
Regent
Community Contributor
#535246
Trying to fit story mode achievements into a tier one deck.

I've had some (though not a lot) of success, which means I have a lot of "play" achievements but not as many "win" achievements.

Given some of the crazy achievements out there, trying to turn them into a competitive deck is a challenge, especially with the usual sharks in the online tournament scene! :wink:
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By Iron Prime (Dan Van Kampen)
 - Delta Quadrant
 -  
Moderator
#535248
I really like limited card pools (as you alluded to above). It makes things simultaneously harder and easier. Sure it sucks that only on personnel has a specific skill I need/want - but it makes it easy to pick which one to put in the deck! 8)

It also forces out 'old reliable' cards and makes me explore other options. That is always very educational. Plus seeing how an opponent worked around the same problem can help me expand my thought process the next time I'm searching for answers....
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First Edition Rules Master
By BCSWowbagger (James Heaney)
 - First Edition Rules Master
 -  
Community Contributor
#535257
Last night I played a game where I got to say the words, "I play Wolf." Not really relevant but I'm very proud.

I enjoy decks that force me to put things into odd ratios to work. Learning Curve is fun for this reason. Pre-errata Continuing Mission was a really interesting card in this respect if you were trying to make it work at maximum efficiency. [SPOILER REDACTED] is a ton of fun to build around, even though it is very hard. When there aren't specific cards forcing me to do this, I tend to force it on myself, by stacking weird, not-quite-compatible play engines like Fed Flag: Relaunched and Montana Missile Complex on top of each other.
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By Professor Scott (Mathew McCalpin)
 - Delta Quadrant
 -  
Trailblazer
1E Cardassia Regional Champion 2023
#535277
An example from another Decipher product, but not entirely irrelevant to the topic was the Bespin and Beyond environment from SWCCG. There were many staples from that game's Premier Set that simply were not available in the above limited environment; I had to find ways to emulate those mechanics in the limited pool.

While STCCG doesn't have an equivalent to Traffic Control and Reactor Terminal from SWCCG, the idea is the same. I enjoy trying to find Limited Pool alternatives for Open Pool mechanics.
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First Edition Rules Master
 - First Edition Rules Master
 -  
Continuing Committee Member - Retired
Community Contributor
#535283
I like building weird, and I like avoiding the staples unless actually necessary. Q-Ref and Tents get used too often because they're easy.

But then, I'm from the Strictly Casual School of Playing, so YMMV.
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Executive Officer
By jadziadax8 (Maggie Geppert)
 - Executive Officer
 -  
2E North American Continental Semi-Finalist 2023
ibbles  Trek Masters Tribbles Champion 2023
2E Deep Space 9 Regional Champion 2023
#535294
It’s tough to say because I’m still re-learning how to build decks in this game. In fact, I’ve started come to the conclusion that 20-year-old me knew jack about building decks in 2000, because I’m thinking about very different things now. I’m pretty sure I didn’t think about play/draw ratios quite so much, even though that was a relevant question in 2000.

I know generally that I enjoy limited card pools because they give me a smaller pool of cards to work with. That helps me learn about new things I’ve missed in the years I didn’t play.
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By karnstein
 - Alpha Quadrant
 -  
#535295
My favorite deck building challenge is building from a sealed deck. It’s fun to get a limited set of cards and figure out how to make a playable deck in a limited amount of time.

I’ll never forget playing in my first OTSD tournament! 8)

My friends and I still often play with sealed decks in our casual play (or at least we did pre-COVID).
 
By Se7enofMine (ChadC)
 - Delta Quadrant
 -  
Moderator
#535371
I have a few parts that i enjoy, not one specific thing.

- dilemma combos to drive your opponent insane

- making an overall structure of a deck be functional but also fun

- figuring out the line between a streamlined deck and an over bloated deck

- anticipating what your opponent will do and creeping in just enough tech to deal with it but not derail your plans

Its all a puzzle that needs to come together in the end. With such a large card pool, it can be tough but thats part of the fun.
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By sexecutioner (Niall Matthew)
 - Gamma Quadrant
 -  
1E World Runner-Up 2023
1E European Continental Semi-Finalist 2023
1E British National Second Runner-Up 2023
#535501
Finding obscure cards and finding a place for them in a deck.

I've been deckbuilding a LOT this year. For every 10 ideas I have, only 1 makes it past the 'getting 8-14 seed cards' phase.

Cards I've used so far that don't see much love.

Data Laughing
In for a Trim
Baryon Buildup
Ultimatum in NON Dominion decks
Live Long and Prosper
Gold! (everyone should be using this one)
Dukat of Borg
Plasma Energy Burst

Expect more offbeat cards and ideas, coming to an online event near you...
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By Smiley (Cristoffer Wiker)
 - Gamma Quadrant
 -  
Continuing Committee Member - Retired
#535503
Building decks for a limited card pool is the most fun thing. Not being able to use my staples or can't use my extensive knowledge of the game going back to 94 is pretty exciting. Sure I know some of the cards but not what the opponent will throw at me as it's all-new for both of us.
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Online OP Coordinator
By pfti (Jon Carter)
 - Online OP Coordinator
 -  
2E Cardassia Regional Champion 2023
#535513
sexecutioner wrote: Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:26 am Finding obscure cards and finding a place for them in a deck.

I've been deckbuilding a LOT this year. For every 10 ideas I have, only 1 makes it past the 'getting 8-14 seed cards' phase.

Cards I've used so far that don't see much love.

Data Laughing
In for a Trim
Baryon Buildup
Ultimatum in NON Dominion decks
Live Long and Prosper
Gold! (everyone should be using this one)
Dukat of Borg
Plasma Energy Burst

Expect more offbeat cards and ideas, coming to an online event near you...
This is why we need to work together more. Seed card optimization is my favorite part!
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