Post by nkeates on Mar 20, 2014 10:36:19 GMT -5
Welcome to the third instalment of the persona profile that of Hamza el Kahir. I am delighted to welcome along Bill who has very kindly said that he would like to make a contribution to the articles. So for this one I have written my thoughts on Hamza in the usual way - thoughts on his power, cards, a strategy section and deck followed by a summary and then a summary of Bill's thoughts. As always I hope this article stimulates some comments on strategy of which the board sadly often lacks.
Until next time
Enjoy
N
Hamza el Kahir M6 A12 S9 T24 E15 R15
You may play blocks with "Guard" in the title from your hand as if from an Exertion. Your opponent's Maximum Hand Size is reduced by one for each Standing Defense that you have in play.
My thoughts on reading this for the first time was meh a particularly average persona power. However when I started thinking about Deck construction I realised that I was very very wrong. This is an excellent persona power which you can really build a deck around. There are more standing defences than you realise and playing guards from hand as if from exertion can get you out of potentially difficult situations. Good power.
Blurring Display EDGE S2 HVMO19 1 X E
Play in conjunction with an attack if you have a guard in play. This attack cannot be a Power Blow. Choose one for each Standing Defense you have in play:
- This attack may be played hidden.
- This attack cannot be dodged.
- This attack cannot be blocked.
Ok if you are playing Hamza you are looking to play standing defences and this card makes your attacks more powerful for EACH standing defense you have in play!!! What is there not to like about this card?
Broad Sweep ATTACK HVM020 1 X S
ATTACK - 1
Play if you have a gridded card titled "Guard" in play. This attack covers the grids not covered by the Guard if it was the last successful defense played or unprovoked this turn. This attack cannot be a Head Shot.
With some of the more unusual WoC guards this has some possibilities. Depending on the deck you are playing this could cause your opponent problems.
Evade FULL GRIDDED DODGE HVM021 1 X A
You lose one attack this turn.
Normal evade
Finale- PLOT S2 HVM022 1 X E
When you successfully block an attack, you may choose one Weapon of Choice or Hilt your opponent has in play. It is nullified until the beginning of your next turn.
Could be quite nasty this. Nullifying an opponent’s weapon of choice has the potential to destroy a strategy which is always fun.
I have that honor EDGE R3 HVM023 1X T
Play during your May Do / Must Do Phase. Once per block played, one Edge card played in conjunction with a Master's Guard returns to your hand when the defense leaves play prior to the Attack Phase.
Could return some potentially nice edge cards to your hand ..alertness etc.
Master’s Guard FULL GRIDDED BLOCK S3 HVM024 1 X M 2 X T
STANDING DEFENSE
When this defense is declared successful, you may immediately return it to your hand (The attack it defended is not successful and it counts as a defense played). If this defense was successful this turn and it is in your hand, discard it at the beginning of your Attack Phase.
This is a game-breaker. One of the best cards I have ever seen. A fully gridded defense that stays in play. It can defend multiple attacks by returning it to your hand if necessary. It is also a standing defence which helps Hamza’s power. One of the strongest cards in the game IMHO. All Hamza decks will include these without question.
The Challenge R3 EVENT HVM025 1 X T
Play during your Defense Phase. Make an Attribute Check for three Toughness. If successful, nullify the text of one defense or attack your opponent has in play for each Toughness gem found (maximum of 3).
OKish. Can think of better things to include in the deck. It is not easy to hit 3 toughness and even if you do it‘s not brilliant. I suppose if you are facing Duncan’s master head shot or similar it could save your head but better things to use.
Teacher of Many EDGE S3 3PP02 1 X E
ALLOWANCE: You may include one non-Master Reserved card from another Persona in your deck. You may only play or put that card into play in conjunction with this card.
Excellent card …where are my protector of the stone cards – the best non master reserved card in the game.
Timepiece S2 OBJECT HVM026 1 X R
During your May Do / Must Do Phase, you may choose a Situation, Location, Plot, or Illusion in play. That card is nullified for the remainder of your turn.
Very nice defensive card and very versatile too. You can also use very aggressively too to nullify one of your own cards that hurts both players like a location or something. Good card
Preparation R3 EVENT LG1 -012 1 X T
RETRIEVE: You may retrieve one card from your Discard for each Standing Defense in play.
Oh OK master’s guard removed and in discard…go get it with this. Wow!!
Summary
Hamza has surprised me . As I eluded at the start of the review I went into it not expecting much but this guy is awesome. Definitely high middle tier maybe even top tier he is that good. I know I keep on about it but Masters guard is really that good., Timepiece is nice and blurring display and finale have possibilities. Very nice power and excellent support cards….did I mention master’s guard???
Ok onto the deck….
Hamza impregnable stone wall
Pre games
Hamza persona
Hamza +1
Amergan Mongolian Broadsword Parrying blade
Colin Block ranged attacks Quickening
Matthew Hale
Darius – hold allowance card + 3 x Teacher of many
6 Crystals
Attacks
1 x ULA promo HS4-03PP
1 x UCA promo HS2-10P
1 x URA HtG-003 1 X E
1 x MLA Promo HM3P-004
1 x thrust PROMO HtGP-07
1x MRA PROMO HS3PP-002
1 x LLA HS1-007 1 x E
1 x LCA 4H-008 1 x E
1 x LRA PRZ2011-004
Blocks
3 x masters guard HVM024 3 x M 6 x T
3 x Guard (upper) HS1-040 3 X T
2 x Guard (lower) HS1 -039 2 XT
Dodges
2 x Evade HVM021 2 X A
Toolbox
1 x Always the last place you look/misfortune 4H-036 1 x E
1 x focus/police 4H-063 1 x E
1 x Foiled/Investigation 4H-067 1 x R
5 x concentration 4H -046 5 x E
2 x watcher Regain weapon HS2 – 168 2 x T
Hamza specifics
1 x Timepiece HVM026 1 X R
3 x preparation LG1 -012 3 X T
Rebecca specifics
3 x protector of the stone. HS2 – 266 3 X E
Hunter
2 x hunter prone HS2 – 097 2 X T
Generic
2 x spiritual centre HSV-154 2 x E
1 x sewer pipe HSFV – 156 1 X T
2 x Master toughness HSFV – 127 2 X M 4 X T
6 x satellite HTQ-212 6 X R
4 x duelling daggers P04-023 4 X R
2 x all-out assault HS33-239 2 X S
2 x waiting to strike 4H -123 2 X R
Deck Size = 57
M = 5 A = 2 S = 2 T = 23 E= 15 R = 15
Strategy
This deck is all about building a stone wall around you so you will never take damage and you just bide your time before going in for the kill. Mongolian stores attacks in wait and the parrying blade is there just for the duelling daggers – awesome card for Hamza.
Get the master guard into play ASAP and never remove it. Just keep it there absorbing punishment. Master toughness stops any unblockables and the Colin Q takes care of any ranged attacks. Spritual center deals with any cheese. The stone wall will stop all things apart from ability loss.
Every turn play a special that reduces your opponent’s handsize …satellites duelling daggers etc and place an attack under the broadsword.
When the handsize is appropriately small make ‘em prone with the hunter and then smack them with the all out assault and watch them die!!!
Conclusion
Hamza is surprisingly strong. An excellent power, superb support cards. What is there not to like? As I said high middle tier or low top tier. Don’t underestimate Hamza he will cause some upsets.
Overall 8.5
Bill says:- Wow, I think Nigel really likes Master’s Guard!
My thoughts on Hamza are pretty similar: his persona ability can go from mild annoyance to downright scary. Looking at his cardset, I see a few standouts:
Broad Sweep: I like this card. If you are running a way to restrict your opponent from dodging too much, it can act as a way to restrict your opponent’s attacks. When your opponent blocks this attack (typically) you cannot attack to where you just blocked, so his only available grids to attack into will be covered by the Guard you already have out.
Master’s Guard: Yes, Nigel, this card is indeed very awesome. To use it effectively, you need to tech against unblockable attacks, but a solid “wall” you can put up.
Teacher of Many: Opens up many options, hard to say anything bad against it. But since it is restricted to 3, shouldn’t it be titled Teach of a Few?
Time Piece: Being able to nullify a card in play every turn is always good, and as long as you can keep nullifying the same card that is hindering you it can save you from needing to use removal for a turn or 2.
Preparation: If your deck is built properly, this should consistently retrieve you 2-3 cards each time you play it.
I am just recently getting back into the swing of things when it comes to Highlander, so I will defer to Nigel on the deckbuilding. The deck looks solid, and one of my first thoughts was Dueling Daggers when I saw Hamza as well. But 5 Concentration and 2 Watcher: Rearm? Did someone lose to getting their weapon broken under a Kinman Q? (Hi Todd!!)
Overall, I am thinking a 7.5 for Hamza. I don’t think he is top tier, but the right build could be a solid tier 1.5?
