Story Behind the Decks

Chris Bergstrom: Lion

This Lion Speed Deck is very direct and doesn't waste time on Honor. It hits you fast to knock out a province. Then just keeps on attacking until you cave under or until events like Desperate Measures, Evil Feeds Upon Itself, or the Return of Fu Leng finish you off: Chris won the Day of Thunder with this deck.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Matsu Gohei
2 Matsu Chokoku
3 Matsu Yojo
3 Matsu Agetoki
1 Kitsu Motso

Holdings

3 Small Farm
3 Copper Mine
3 Jade Works
3 Merchant Caravan

Events

Inheritance
The Return of Fu Leng
Desperate Measures
Corruption of the Harmonies
Evil Feeds Upon Itself
Iris Festival

Fate

Actions

2 Avoid Fate
3 Superior Tactics
3 Focus
3 Charge
3 Strength of Purity
3 Lies, Lies, Lies
3 Refugees
Ring of the Void

Followers

3 Spearmen
1 Matsu House Guard
1 Light Infantry

Items

1 Ancestral Armor of Lion Clan
1 Ancestral Sword of Lion Clan
2 Fan of Command

Rob Kramer: Crane

This Crane deck is an honor Hyperdrive and won second at GenCon. Its Shinsei's Shrines and Crane Poets make it not impossible for this deck to win at turn four. This deck is defensive enough to last that long or longer.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Daidoji Uji
1 Ki-Rin
1 Kakita Toshimoko
3 Doji Reju
3 Kakita Shijin
2 Kakita Yinobu

Holdings

3 Market Place
3 Jade Works
2 Merchant Caravan
1 Temple of Bishamon
2 Watchtower

Events

Inheritance
Iris Festival
Imperial Gift
Doom of the Lion
Chrysanthemum Festival

Regions

3 Shinsei's Shrine

Fate

Actions

3 Iaijutsu Challenge
3 Iaijutsu Duel
3 Code of Bushido
3 Refugees
3 Block Supply Lines
2 Superior Tactics
2 Flight of Dragons
3 An Oni's Fury
3 To Do What We Must
2 Avoid Fate
3 Focus
1 Egg of Pan Ku
Ring of the Earth

Items

1 Ancestral Sword of the Crane Clan

Derek Huisjen: Phoenix

This Dark Phoenix deck corrupts the Dragons and bends them to his will. Using the Stronghold ability to buy out the Dragons as Shadowlands. Isawa Osugi is always ready to use the Touch of Death or The Wasting Disease on your enemy.

Dynasty

Personalities

1 Thunder Dragon
1 Air Dragon
1 Void Dragon
1 Earth Dragon
1 Water Dragon
3 Isawa Osugi
3 Isawa Uona
1 Isawa Uona exp.
1 Isawa Norikazu
1 Isawa Tsuke exp.
1 Izawa Tomo
1 The Nameless One

Holdings

2 Hawks and Falcons
2 Merchant Caravan
3 Silver Mine
3 Gambling House
3 Jade Works
1 School of Wizardry

Events

Inheritance
Rampant Plague
Evil Feeds Upon Itself
Battle At Isawa Palace
2 Crossroads

Fate

Actions

1 Egg of Pan Ku
3 Superior Tactics
3 Refugees
2 Night Battle
2 Treacherous Terrain
1 Counterattack
1 Focus
1 Oath of Fealty
1 An Oni's Fury
Ring of Earth
Ring of Air
Ring of the Void

Spells

3 Touch of Death
1 Wasting Disease
1 Torrential Rain
2 Summon Faeries
2 Stifling Wind
1 The Fire Within
1 Walking the way
2 Double Chi

Items

Ancestral Sword of Phoenix

David Salsman: Junzo

This deck doesn't pretend to be subtle and has the theme of "Big monsters quick". This deck has taken the precautions against the "Duel a Shadowlands" cards by using Kharmic Strike and Poisoned Weapons. Feign Death and Utter Defeat are what keeps your monsters coming back tor more.

Dynasty

Personalities
3 Kyoso no Oni
3 Ogre Outlaw
3 Moto Tsume
1 Moto Tsume exp.
1 Oni no Akuma
2 Hida Yakamo (Oni)
1 Hida Yakamo (Exp)

Holdings

3 Black Market
3 Corrupt Silver Mines
3 Corrupt Iron Mine
3 Corrupt Cop. Mine
2 Merchant Caravan
1 Dark Oracle of Water
1 Dark Oracle ot Air
1 Dark Oracle of Earth
1 The Festering Pit of Fu Leng

Events

Inheritance
Time of the Void
There is No Hope
Severed From The Emperor

Regions

1 Kuni Wastelands
1 Plains of Otosan
Uchi

Fate

Actions

Kolat Instigator
3 Evil Portents
3 Sneak Attack
3 Utter Defeat
3 Rallying Cry
3 Avoid Fate
3 Frenzy
3 Feign Death
2 Superior Tactics
2 Forced March
2 Refugees
2 Poisoned Weapon
1 Kharrnic Strike
1 Deadly Ground
1 Crushing Attack

Patrick Ockershauser: Crab

His Crab deck brings out Onis fast and uses Ninja Shapeshifters to copy its force. It will Breach of Etiquette you first turn about every other game. And just when you've had enough Desperate Measures finishes you.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Yogo Asami
3 Ninja Shapeshifter
3 Hida Yakamo (Oni)
3 Toku
3 Oni no Tsuburu

Holdings

3 Jade Works
2 Iron Mine
3 Corrupted Iron Mine
3 Ninja Stronghold

Events

Desperate Measures
Return of Fu Leng
Imperial Gift
Inheritance

Fate

Actions

3 Breach of Etiquette
2 Fu Leng's Steeds
2 Superior Tactics
3 Frenzy
3 Ninja Kidnappers
3 Confusion at Court
3 Refugees
2 Avoid Fate
3 Charge
2 Traversable Terrain

Items

2 Mask of the Oni
1 Ancestral Sword of Crab Clan

Nik Olah: Naga

This Naga is well-paced using Island Wharfs as Ports and Pearl Divers bought with a Small Farm or One Koku. If given half the chance, this deck produces a writhing mass of snakes all buffed up by the Naga Shujenja and Shahadet.

Dynasty

Personalities

2 Shalasha
3 Naga Warlord
3 Naga Shugenja
1 Shahadet
1 Ashamana
2 Isha Belash
1 Qamar
1 Mamoru

Holdings

3 Island Wharf
3 Pearl Divers
3 Pearl Bed
3 Jade Works
3 Small Farrn
1 Bushi Dojo
1 Merchant Caravan

Events

The Price of War
The Tao of the Naga

Fate

Actions

3 Stand against the Waves
3 Sneak Attack
3 Crushing Attack
3 Rallying Cry
2 Utter Defeat
3 One Koku
1 Egg of Pan Ku
Ring of the Void

Followers

3 Naga Bushi
2 Naga Guard
2 Naga Spearmen
2 Traveling Poets
3 Spirit Guide

Items

1 Ancient Spear of the Naga
1 Ancestral Sword of Lion Clan
1 Ancestral Sword of Phoenix
1 Armor of Earth

Phil Piecuch: Unicorn

The strength of the Unicorn is the speed of its steeds. This deck comes out fast and keeps ahead on Honor. It throws Deadly Ground down with a Scout and uses Rallying Cry to sit back ready with a Counterattack.

Dynasty

Personalities

2 Shinjo Mosaku
1 Iuchi Daiyu
3 Otaku Kamoko
1 Otaku Kamoko exp.
1 Otaku Baiken
1 Shinjo Yasoma
3 Shinjo Sadato
3 Shinjo Rojin

Holdings

3 Stables
3 Jade Works
3 Small Farms
1 Master Smith
2 Sanctified Temple

Events

Iris Festival
Inheritance
Imperial Gift

Fate

Actions

1 Test of Honor
1 Enough Talk
2 Rallying Cry
2 Counterattack
2 Defend Your Honor
2 Lies, Lies, Lies
2 Bad Kharma
3 Breach of Etiquette
3 Superior Tactics
3 Strength of Purity
3 Deadly Ground

Followers 1 Shinjo House Guard
3 Scout

Items

Ancestral Armor of Unicorn Clan
Ancestral Sword of Unicorn Clan

Don Tordilia: Lion

This is a Lion Speed deck trapped in a dueling Dragon deck's body and it likes it. It will Duel you with Mirumoto Daini, and stack you with Matsu Gohei with the Ancestral Armor of the Lion and the Matsu House Guard on him.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Mirumoto Daini
3 Togashi Yoshi
3 Matsu Gohei
3 Matsu Seijuro
2 Kitsu Yasu
1 Togashi Hoshi

Holdings

3 Gold Mines
3 Jade Works
3 Merchant Caravan
2 Sanctified Temple

Events

Naming the True Evil
The Return of Fu Leng
Peasant Revolt
Imperial Gift
Inheritance

Regions

2 Farmlands

Fate

Actions

3 Gift of Honor
3 Iaijutsu Challenge
3 Iaijutsu Duel
3 Refugees
3 Strength of Purity
3 Superior Tactics
2 Oath of Fealty
2 Counterattack
2 Poisoned Weapon

Followers

1 Matsu House Guard
1 Shiryo no Togashi

Items

1 Ancestral Sword of Dragon Clan
1 Ancestral Armor of Lion Clan
3 Tetsubo

Kevin Kirby: Toturi

This Toturi's Army has its Alliance with the Dragon Clan. It brings out a Tattooed Man or a Mirumoto, and slaps down some heavy followers, and ignores your attempt to send him home with an Imperial Favor by using Confusion in Court.

Dynasty

Personalities

1 Mirumoto Daini exp.
3 Mirumoto Hitomi
3 Togashi Mitsu
2 Ginawa
3 Toku

Holdings

3 Basecamp
2 Small Farm
2 Merchant Caravan
2 Black Market
1 Jade Works

Events

Alliance
Desperate Measures
Glimpse of the Unicorn
Inheritance
The Return of Fu Leng
Time of the Void

Regions

2 Farmlands

Fate

Actions

3 Rallying Cry3 Confusion at Court
3 Traversable Terrain
1 Forced March
1 Breach of Etiquette
2 Deadly Ground
3 Sneak Attack
3 Refugees
2 Crushing Attack
Ring of the Void

Followers

1 Scout
2 Hawk Riders
3 Heavy Infantry
3 Imperial Honor Guard

Robert Bataraowski with Rick Raven: Monk

This Monk deck holds you at bay long enough to bring out the Five Rings. It uses its Block Supply Lines, its defensive terrains, and duels to keep from losing provinces. The items help bring out the Rings.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Morito Tokei
3 Seikua
2 Togashi Jodome
2 Suana
2 Hitoshi
1 Koichi
2 Takao
1 Taro
1 Tsuo
1 Norio
1 Yodin

Holdings

2 Stables
2 Gold Mine
3 Prayer Shrines
2 Sanctified Temple
3 Market Place
3 Jade Works
3 Small Farm
2 Geisha House
1 Go Master
1 Bridged Pass

Events

Naming the True Evil
Emperor's Peace
Light of the Sun Goddess

Regions

1 Temple of Osano - Wo

Fate

Actions

3 Enlightenment
2 The Way of Earth
2 The Way of Air
1 The Way of Fire
The Way of Water
1 Block Supply Lines
1 Traversible Terrain
3 Entrapping Terrain
2 Strike of Flowing Water
3 Iaijutsu Challenge
3 Iaijutsu Duel
1 Dispersive Terrain
1 Contentious Terrain
All Five Rings

Spells

2 Torrential Rain
1 A Glimpse of the Soul's Shadow
1 The Spirit of Water
2 Strength of My Ancestors
2 Void Strike
1 Wisdom The Wind Brings
1 Double Chi
1 Battlefield of Shallow Graves

Followers

3 Brothers of Thunder

Items

3 Robes of Shinsei
1 Gunsen of Water1 Drum of Water
1 Hammer of Earth
1 Armor of Earth
1 Mantle of Fire
1 Star of Laramun
1 Candle of Void

Jean-Marie Baveux: Tsuko's Revenge

The last Foreign Player Eliminated (Quarter Finals)

This Lion Speed Deck is built around its counterattacks to be able to attack during the opponents attack phase and then again in its attack phase, capitalizing on an army that is bowed. The Death of Tsuko is to destroy the one uniqie personality the opponent has spent the most resources on.

Dynasty

Personalities

3 Matsu Agetoki
3 Matsu Gohei
2 Matsu Yojo
1 Matsu Chokoku
1 Kitsu Motso
2 Morito Tokei

Holdings

3 Small Farm
3 Merchant Caravan
3 Copper Mine
3 Jade Works
1 Hawks and Falcons

Events

Inheritance
Imperial Gift
Iris Festival
The Return of Fu Leng
The Death of Tsuko
Shadow of the Dark
God
Winter Warfare

Fate

Actions

3 Charge
2 Strength of Purity
3 Superior Tactics
3 Counterattack
2 Rallying Cry
3 Bountiful Harvest
2 Defend Your Honor
1 Lies, Lies, Lies
1 His Most Favored
1 Flight of the Dragons

Spells
2 Walking the Way
1 Touch of Death
1 Wasting Disease

Followers

3 Heavy Cavalry
1 Matsu House Guard
1 Spearmen
1 Samurai Warriors

Items

1 Ancestral Sword of the Lion Clan
1 Ring of the Void

Story Behind the Decks

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com