Cactuar Correspondence - Weekly FFTCG Chat 10/4/18

let's talk fftcg!

Every week, there is something new to discuss and analyze in this game. In this feature, we answer your questions and respond to recent developments, new meta decks, specific cards we like or don't like -- you call it, we'll answer.

If you want to join the conversation, send us your thoughts! We would also love to hear the questions you have next week, so please shoot us a message at Facebook or on Twitter. Thanks for reading!

Will sin be playable?

AUSTIN: No doubt about it. In the current Vicekings deck it's better than Nidhogg 6-130 as it removes all the Forwards on your opponent’s side. Yes you lose your board, but those Vikings that broke draw you more cards and make it super easy to do his S ability the next turn. Maybe that's not true, but we all saw how easy to cast Nidhogg became in the current meta, and a board wipe that isn't called Shantotto that EVERY deck can run is too good to not see play. 

ADAM L: 100% Yes. He's very strong and I don't even think you have to play for the S. As a control player, having access to another board wipe, the first being Shantotto 1-107, is going to be amazing. I doubt the S will go off many games but people will be trying, I'm sure. I can see this as easily a one-of in a lot of control decks that I look forward to playing going forward.

CHRIS: I think Sin is a very playable card. He has control deck finisher written all over him.

ADAM D: I’m not sure. We can compare it to Nidhogg, but in most of those decks, Sin will be a non-bo. You don’t want to see Sin when you’re trying to build into a Cloud of Darkness 5-126, for example. I think the original Cloud of Darkness 1-158 does the job way better. But, the advantage to Sin is that you can run it in just about any deck. We’ll see. I’m torn.

Some of us went to Nats, and some of us did not make the trip. How did you experience Nats this weekend and what was the highlight for you?

AUSTIN: I actually didn't tune in over the weekend as work and life took over most of my time. But it was fantastic reading through the group chats we are all in and hearing the stories of our VA brothers and how they were doing. Though we as a whole didn't make it to the final cuts we had a fantastic showing and I couldn't be happier for our group of guys. 

ADAM L: Nats was amazing. I am 100% going back next year and I can't wait. The highlight for me was going out to dinners with the community. We must have gone in a group of 40 to this Korean BBQ restaurant and it was amazing. You can see our Group photo we took outside of the place on Facebook. I love this community and its a big part of why I love this game also.

CHRIS: Nats was an absolute blast! I wish i could have finished my plate in Top 8 of the Dark Crystal Cup but that still didn't take away from the good times with all the amazing people in the community. It’s hard to nail down just a single highlight.

ADAM D: I was battling a serious case of FOMO all weekend, but watching the stream and hearing about the experience from people there was awesome. All the posts are a good indication of how much love and connection is in this scene, too.

About 25% of Opus VII has been spoiled. What decks in the current meta do you think might get squeezed out in the next few months?

AUSTIN: I think the FFII decks might get erased, at least as everyone flocks to making Yuri / Sin / Snow decks. But I don't really see any of the current decks not being played competitively. But, we will see a lot more brewing since Nationals is over and people get back to heavy experimentation. 

ADAM L: Squeezed out is tough. I think all the decks that are meta have something to gain from this set and I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon. Turbo isn't going anywhere and Vicekings just got a very scary card in the form of Snow. Earth/Wind and Scions will still be great as well as other Ice variants. I think Mono Water Monsters is going to be tough to play going forward with a card like Sin rolling around but i see that as more of a tier 2 or 3 deck.

CHRIS: Thats a tough call to make. But, if I had to pick, I think the Vicekings deck is what will start to disappear.

ADAM D: I think Earth / Wind might be in a bit of an identity crisis after this set is all said and done. None of the current cards spoiled help that deck out too much, and I bet some end up hurting them.

What is the number one need for competitive Final Fantasy TCG, right now?

AUSTIN: A comprehensive judge/rulings program. It is the most essential thing we need to continue as a healthy TCG. Also Jecht.

ADAM L: A Judge System. We need to get a concrete Judge system in place and incentivize people to judge over playing. This year was awesome but that is definitely a big thing I want to see going forward.

CHRIS: The biggest need for competitive Final Fantasy is a uniform tournament rules document. This document should cover everything relating to competitive level play all the way from the deck registration sheet to match procedures. 

ADAM D: It’s time for a Judge system and I would really like to see more accessible major tournaments. That might mean more tournaments in more regions, or less reliance on the convention circuit.

Which would you rather see become a competitive format: Title or Pauper?

AUSTIN: Pauper. I know a lot of folks love Title and it is fun, easy way for folks to get into the game, but it breaks the rules of the game and isn’t a great way to learn the actual play of standard. I know it makes me sound snobby, but it's more like Commander in MtG than anything to me, and it should just be played for poops and giggles. Pauper keeps you in the competitive play style and still teaches the actual mechanics of the game without sacrificing for fun sake. 

ADAM L: Title for sure. I like both but I prefer Title. Its super fun and lets you see interactions you would never see otherwise. I think Pauper is much more unexplored so it could be cool to see what people come up with but I prefer the Title format. FFVII all the way!

CHRIS: TITLE!!! It’s such an amazing format, however that doesn't mean that pauper should be ignored. There is a ton to unpack there as well. 

ADAM D: Right now, it’s Pauper, but only because there aren’t enough cards to allow for a lot of innovation in Title decks, and there are in Pauper.