SilverBride wrote: »

I've noticed something that I find baffling, and that is that players in certain ranks tend to choose the same Patron. This is the third season I've observed this.

Most games I play in Quicksilver my opponent chooses Red Eagle, and most games I play in Voidsteel my opponent chooses Celarus.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

As people play and move up they learn the current meta.

For example, yesterday I played 17 games. 15 out of the 17 my opponents picked Hlaalu and Rajhin. The basic strat seemed to be: Build your economy while buying as many Rajhin agents. Then buy high value cards and sacrifice them to Hlaalu. When you aren’t sacrificing you spam Rajhin patron to add bewilderment cards.

This is why I fully support ToT changes in every update so the meta changes.

Red Eagle is also a part of the meta too. It seems that Sorc King is out.

SilverBride wrote: »

Psilent wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

I've noticed something that I find baffling, and that is that players in certain ranks tend to choose the same Patron. This is the third season I've observed this.

Most games I play in Quicksilver my opponent chooses Red Eagle, and most games I play in Voidsteel my opponent chooses Celarus.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

As people play and move up they learn the current meta.

I would think this was it if it wasn't the first days of a new season. I believe the only players who start at Quicksilver were all Rubedite the previous season and were started there based on that. Any player new to ToT wouldn't have advanced that far in a day, so these should all be experienced players.

True, but some people like to use the start of a season to try out new decks they might not have used in the prior season.

Patron choice can profoundly affect the winning chances of the 1st and 2nd players.

For example, it's really bad for the first player if Rajhin is in the game along with St. Pellin or Red Eagle. The reason is because the Pounce and Profit type cards are so strong and second player is guaranteed to be able to purchase one, for 5 gold, if they show up, but first player doesn't have that guarantee.

Another example is first player choosing Delmene in order to purchase a first turn Luxury Exports. That is a huge advantage. On the other hand, first player should avoid, in such a case, playing without St. Pellin or Red Eagle. The reason is because first player may get Luxury Export chances, but they don't want to let the opponent have first turn Hierling or Oathman chances by reaching 6 gold with that extra gold that player 2 gets.

It may be that players at certain skill levels have learned some of these lines of player and that could explain patterns found in patron choice on ladder. Of course many players may have their own idiosyncrasies in choice making. That is choice making that benefits them based on their play style, but perhaps wouldn't be beneficial to other players with different play styles. Despite individual preferences, player trends can be important toward understanding a more optimal strategy for most
cases. And with games of skill, that is for all of us to find out on our own whether it be by reading game material or just having these spontaneous realizations about what one is noticing time and time again.