Card Focus
by Arovyn
Arovyn's Card Focus is my way of looking at cards in ways that other player's may have missed. Much of my information comes from the LBSinfo listserver from FRPG, and my own ideas on the cards I review. I have no real set schedule for how I want to do these yet (1 or 2 a week, 4 or 5 a month...), so bear with me. I plan on reviewing more cards. This particular focus is on Attack at Dawn.
Attack at Dawn is powerful card, but it should not be overrated. The ability for the Attacker to perform the first action in a battle, while certainly capable of doing more damage to the Defender, may end up being somewhat beneficial for the Defender instead.
There are Reactions that players can use in respone to, and in conjunction with, Attack at Dawn. Sudden Strike can be used by the Attack to make a slightly more devastating attack on the Defender by lessening the number of cards the Defender can use. The Defender, however, can use this Reaction as the battle is declared and quite potentially remove the Attack at Dawn before it is ever even played! Wheat Fields can be used to lessen the damage done by an attack. Nowhere to Run can be used to negate the damage done by the attacker without the Defender even losing a card to the sudden powerful attack. And of course, if Gaheris is used as a Defender in the attack, Attack at Dawn will never show up at all. However, only a Moto player will be able to do this.
Defenders should see this card more as an opportunity than a hinderance, however. The Attacker, with his first action, allows the Defender a chance to see what an Attacker is up to and plan accordingly. Players should be careful about how much they do with an Attack at Dawn or the other players may figure out what kind of deck a person is using and quite potentially set up a strong defense against it.
This card is an excellent addition to a deck for anyone who plans on using battles as part of their path to victory. But players should keep in mind that players will often use this card and be sure to include such cards as Sudden Strike, Nowhere to Run, and Wheat Fields to lessen the effects.
-Arovyn
Emerald Empire, Legend of the Burning Sands, the Legend of the Burning Sands logo, Shadow of the Tyrant, the Shadow of the Tyrant logo and all related marks, names and characters are tm and (C) 1995-1998 by Five Rings Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Card illustrations are (C) 1998 by the credited artists (Jewel of the Desert by Nicola Leonard, Library by Jennifer Ambr, Divination by Pamela Shanteau, So