Do you find it particularly difficult to get a patron victory?

Oddemus · July 2022

Cards like "tithe" and "currency exchange" are beneficial for a patron victory. Without using them, do y'all find it difficult to win via patrons?

redspecter23 · July 2022

Against an NPC, they are braindead and just let it happen, especially on early turns. They make no active attempt to stop you. Either they follow their script and use a patron or not on their turn. Your ability to win on the next turn isn't a factor in their choice.

For players, it's a bit different. If they're not looking for it, even with the system telling them you're about to win, sometimes they just let it happen. However, with opponents that are aware, it's less about getting the actual win with patrons and more about forcing them into certain situations where they have to use a patron, sometimes a specific patron. This reduces their options and can often slow them down or possibly even soft lock them. Use this strategy to force them to play on your terms while you apply constant pressure.

With multi patron effects, the math gets all wonky and even the best players could make mistakes trying to play around cards they may not know are available like a topdecked tithe and if they know you have a currency exchange (or even two) in your deck, that sort of constant pressure definitely affects their potential choices.

Tuonra2 · July 2022

Without currency exchange it's not so much about patron victory but more 'patron check' and the fear of god that they reveal a tithe they can't take that restricts the enemy options. It's useful, albeit imo an opportunistic strategy. If you see a player constantly using red eagle to draw for example, it might be useful to tap the other patrons towards you so you can then start a tug of war over red eagle forcing them to buy blackmails for power etc. But this is suicide if you pay crow for it.

In general, currency exchange is alarm bells, anything else: basic mindfulness. I do find I try to use at least one patron every single turn though.

spartaxoxo · July 2022

Yes. And I suspect part of that has to do with the warning they give players. I don't think they should allow that.

BoraBora · July 2022

Against other players that know at least a little bit what they are doing (and most I played against do) it seems close to impossible to get that victory. Against an NPC? Like a walk in the park!

DinoZavr · July 2022

NPCs are quite braindead concerning a Patrons' victory.
Players (especially in Rubedite tier) are well aware about the feature, moreover, in this tier i witness a strong competition aiming to keep your opponent at Patrons' check. Players simply does not allow you to have several Patrons favor.

Casdha · July 2022

I find it easiest early in the game when the other person has really good luck with the tavern. Some tend to be blinded by the great luck they are having. I find it works best if Celarus and Pelin are not in play because you can start flipping early and there are times when they don't have the power or cards to sacrifice to chase you every turn and you also don't need an agent to pull off a turn. If they let you get it within one turn early it is very hard to not be forced to miss a turn if they're not willing to sacrifice that lucky card they got.