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Outer Walls, a common from the latest set, is an interesting card. It
reminds me in several ways of Superior Tactics. It has only one thing
in
common with ST, that they both have two, unrelated, abilities.
Otherwise
they really are nothing alike. Where Superior Tactics is proactive for
the most part, Outer Walls is almost exclusively reactive.
The first ability on Outer Walls is to raise one province's strength
by
+3. As a bonus, this can be done even if you do not have presence.
This
is a great ability. It is not exclusively early game, but it is
definitely better early. Late game, when you have more personalities
out, From Every Side is the better card. Outer Walls is better early.
It provides a set bonus, which is better than the minimum of FES, but
it
is less than even the second of the FES bonus. However, as I
mentioned,
Outer Walls is better early, since you don't have to actually have
presence.
The second ability is a reaction, which can almost only be used in
battle. Thus, both abilities can be used in battle, similarly to
Superior Tactics, they are simply different. The ability, to reduce a
Ranged Attack by 2, is very focused, but useful. With the lack of
battle-enders in Diamond [a good thing in my mind], ranged attacks have
become much more prevalent and powerful. However, often the attack
used
is exactly equal to what is needed, or only a little over. This is a
matter of economics.
Huh? Economics in a ranged attack? What does that mean? I will
explain. Economics usually means money, but can mean any means of
using
resources efficiently. The point of most people with their ranged
attacks is to eliminate the largest opposing card for the least cost to
yourself. One example of this is the use of ranged attacks without
bowing, thus destroying an opposing card, with no cost other than using
up one ranged attack. If you must bow, you want to destroy a card
greater than that of the bowing one. Also, you do not want to aim for
a
weaker card than the strength of the ranged attack, or if you must,
make
the difference as little as possible. Why use a Nuclear Bomb to kill a
fly, when you can use a flyswatter.
Outer Walls takes advantage of that. Ranged attacks targeting your
cards tend to be exact, or within 1 point of the force of the card they
are targeting. Outer Walls lowers the ranged attacks strength by 2
will
often prevent the attack from destroying the card it was targeting.
Though there are exceptions to this, it tends to hold true.
Outer Walls allows you diversity, the ability to use one card for two
functions. Or, as I mentioned earlier, economy of deck. Though these
are somewhat limited, both can be useful. It is that very multi-use
ability which was the true power of Superior Tactics, and I am guessing
will be for this card. Check it out, and see what you think.
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