My weak point with TCG deckbuilding is that I love staying on-theme, even if my deck would be stronger otherwise. Like, if there's a deck full of zombies and it'd have huge synergy with...I dunno, a noble paladin or something, I'd probably leave that good card out because it doesn't fit the vibe.
I used to have a Yugioh deck themed around dragons. I almost never won anything, it was way too slow and way too easy to counter. But I didn't want to play anything else, because I just really like dragons...
See typically I go about it the other way and make the lore out of the meta deck (zombie deck with one Pladin sounds like a story) but I don't really got anything for every meta deck in Yugioh having a TV VCR and fox girl shrine maiden in it.
I will say there's a chocolate Magician Girl that wild horses couldn't pull out of my deck.
Yeah its a balancing act, but also dumb Like for Digimon a few months back my favorite deck, Xros Heart was winning, but it seemed to be a finisher digimon completely unrelated to the series was the key card Like hell no, they wouldnt become that, im fine keeping it within series
My favorite ygo deck is objectively not great but I like the way it plays and I like the archetype, I think it's cool, so if I can't win games with it I play it and lose, because I don't want to run the meta decks when the things I think are cool are right there.
I mean, you can do a bit of both on-themeness and competitive play. Especially if you're doing commander, some people just like doing thematic decks, but also just in general that's part of the appeal of Magic. You're allowed to do that, it's a whole category of person that's accepted and even loved
I know the really good players see the cards as just functions, mere applications of game rules and text, but I can't do it, lol. I'll play the low-tier decks full of maids or ninjas because I like those things. I'll play the bad card because I like the artwork. Monkey brain does backflips for this.
All decks with green mana MUST have Deranged Hermit
When in a low-stakes game, this is the way to go, honestly. Having whimsy and a smile on my face as I play "worse version" of a powerful card just because it's powerful? That's why I play. On big stakes game, we ball though.
They should have theme-deck tournament to cater to players like you. With rules like "the number of slightly off theme cards is limited to 4".
I've got an MTG Commander deck that has Sarulf, Realm Eater as the commander. But instead of going all in on "big swing and board wipe" I'm playing it as black/green Wolf tribal (with some minor Garruk tribal as well).
Honestly? Fair. I'm the same way sometimes: is my FE Heroes team of fliers with short green hair any good? Absolutely not. Is it worth it solely because I'm even able to make that team in the first place? Absolutely! So: you end up going to Friday Night Magic at that game shop?
not yet 😭 someday! I think if I do anything, I'll hit up their Digimon or Pokemon days -- decks are waaay cheaper, so investment is less of a barrier
I only played one game of yugi oh and I won by dealing exodia into my hand using a trick shuffle I’m not allowed to deal anymore
I think that you'd like the early Yu-Gi-Oh games, all the weird little tech and differences from the main series in addition to the limited selection of creatures provides the perfect opportunity and justification for heavily themed decks. Stacking matching cards and attributes is a must-do.
Absolutely, this is the way. It's not WRONG to play for pure power or function but I am firmly a theme deckbuilder and I cannot bring myself to concede too much of that theming to deck strength hehehehe
I know its always a huge thing to pick up a new TCG but it sounds like Flesh and Blood would be a great try for you. The game plays more like a fighting game than a traditional TCG but personally having the ability to make an entire pirate necromancer deck spec'd around my one character is big vibes
I have added Flesh and Blood to my big list of stuff to check out, thank you!! 😤🙏 It seems interesting!
All my MTG decks are like this, they all revolve around a creature type, or a theme. Zombies, Spirits, Eldrazi... I have so many themed decks, and love playing them, even if my friends have hard counters to them and know when I'm playing them because my sleeves are also on theme with them lol
the thing about games like yugioh and pokemon and stuff is that you understand REALLY quickly why all the characters lean into one specific archetype/theme. it's just really really fun, man.
rex raptor had the right idea is all im saying.
Cardfight Vanguard used to be the GOAT for this. Every class was fully themed both visually & mechanically and there were like 2 dozen of them, so you'd be like "okay, my robot dinosaurs VS your zombie pirates, let's go." Sadly they condensed them all down to 5 or 6 classes eventually.
To give Yugioh some credit, a fair amount of deck archetypes can mingle while keeping solid vibes. A lot of zombie decks actually can work together while keeping the general look intact, for example. One of my faves is Flameswordsman/Infernoble Knights. All fire warriors with fire swords.
In MTG player psychology terms that means you lean towards Vorthos on the Vorthos-Mel spectrum of flavor vs mechanics, which is separate from the Johnny -Timmy-Spike play style spectrum
I think it depends on how you define "theme". I love brewing MTG commander decks from casual jank to cEDH powerhouses. And for some decks, I'll build 2 decks: 1 with the "intended" theme, and the other with a more personal, wacky, or jank theme. As long as it's fun for you, it should still be fine
I feel this so much. My other thing is being naturally attracted to decks that require high piloting skill which as a super duper casual player, I know I'll never build But those decks are so fun!!
Same, tho I do think it's funny when very the contrast between synergentic cards is so severe that it loops back to being fun In Japan it became a whole meme how the evil lord of death and gold, Eldlich, has some sinergy with Laundry the adorable clumsy dragon maid
I love this...
I do the exact same thing and it bugs the hell out if me when i see a "better" version amd barely anything fits that theme. Some of the Digimon TCG starter decks are like that where the theme is 1 specific Digimon and it has the least number of cards in it
This is only a weak point if your sole goal is winning. I know a lot of people who run decks like these because they’re more interested in the bit & hanging out with people
I don't necessarily need to *win*, but I like to get to play the game, lol. There are some games I've played where the strong meta decks simply steamroll you if you're not on that same power level. I don't really know what the local meta is like because I haven't dropped in yet, but fingers crossed.
I would be such a better TCG player if I didn't follow this exact principle. I'm a flavor over function guy, which is where my main flaw of YGO is (unique main deck into generic good slop that every deck plays) and why I love games that have defined deck construction built into the mechanics
Same thing happens to me. I'm a chronic roleplayer, even in games that aren't for that.
For me, I never have duplicates in my deck. Is it bad? Yeah. Is it more fun? Yeah.
My 'Big Creatures' deck can be so much more scary and powerful with big creatures that better combo together. Instead half the deck is just my favorite creatures