{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"This is a Group Hug deck:"},{"insert":"\nwith the honest intention of giving out clues. This deck is designed to be somewhat political in its build, and meant to encourage deal making and handshakes, although it can play just fine without it.\nAs with any group hug deck, you're trying to give out \"free\" resources while accruing additional value for yourself. The difficulty is finding a balance between how many resources you give out and what types of resources you give them. In my opinion, a successful group hug deck focuses on giving out a specific set resources instead of all types of resources. If I'm going to facilitate your card draw power, I shouldn't also be giving you mana, ramp, and creatures too. If I give out a little bit of everything, then I've solved all of your problems for you at the expense of my own resources. This will typically result in my opponents being able to run away with the game faster than I can keep up, especially when there's three opponents.\nI have chosen to give out most of the card draw in the form of clues, rather than straight card draw. This provides available card draw to my opponents when they want it (crack the clue at their discretion), but at the expense of their own resources instead of mine. This allows me time to advance my board state while still offering the incentives of draw power, and slows them down if they're spending mana on clues. I'm intentionally not facilitating their ramp, mana, or creatures.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Benefits:"},{"insert":"\nThe idea is to stockpile my own clues to use for numerous benefits, like Affinity, card draw, and token synergies to accrue value. The creature selection is primarily focused around payoffs that occur when blinking Wernog, usually at instant speed to \"block and blink\" with my board. The idea is to maximize the number of times Wernog \"tempts\" my opponents with clues.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mini Games:"},{"insert":"\nRather than going with the route of punishing my opponents for taking clues, the deck has been designed to sell clues as an incentive. There are a few pingers in the deck like Hedron Detonator, Disciple of the Vault, and Orcish Bowmasters, who deal single target damage. \nWhen I play these types of cards, I will always offer the caveat of letting my opponents choose where to ping (as long as it's not my stuff) if they take the clue / crack the clue. This is another \"hug\" incentive and usually encourages the mini game of players focusing each other and removes the heat from you. \nIn some cases, people will want the clues because they are starved for draw, and I can typically make deals of immunity or protection to feed them clues. I have found it decently easy to make an ally without having to force oversold conversations about why they should accept my help.\nThe Flumph Deal is my favorite. When Flumph enters, I always offer the \"The Flumph Deal\" to each opponent: you can attack into Flumph and we both draw a card as long as you don't kill my Flumph. If you do kill Flumph, I give another target opponent that card draw. This deal has been the most loved hug the deck offers.\n\nIn the event that the table decides you're the bad guy and nobody will take your clues, there's enough blink built into the deck to start creating some serious Wernog-drain effects. The table typically won't be able to stick together on the \"no clues\" talk for long before someone breaks. Typically, it'll only last 1-2 full rotations of the table before someone folds and can't sustain the life loss at the rate you can pump it out.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bjorna, the other commander:"},{"insert":"\nBjorna is the back up and supports colors. She predominantly plays defense and acts as a deterrent to send threats elsewhere. When giving a Basilisk Collar, she presents a death toucher pinger, which I use as a political tool to offer as another hug. Again, letting my opponent pick where to ping the deathtouch, if the deal they offer is worthwhile.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Closing the Game:"},{"insert":"\nOnce I have enough clues, there are a few finishers to close the game out, like Rise and Shine, Cyberdrive Awakener, Feedback Bolt, or Shao Jun to name a few. As this deck started to take form, I noticed a few other finishers (as listed under categories) that slide under the radar until it's too late.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Academy Manufactor Discussion:"},{"insert":"\nThe more clues you accrue, the more value you can get away with. After all, that's the intention of the deck, but it's subtle enough that the incremental value doesn't raise red flags. Earning a clue, food and treasure raises too many red flags at once. In my experience, if you play Academy Manufactor, everyone will pick life lose until Academy Manufactor is blown up or until you're dead.\nIn my meta, the amount of attention is draws is arguably not worth the heat is creates. All political deals get thrown out the window and nobody will play along with your deals anymore. I have made the choice to remove AM from my list. While it can kick the token production into overdrive, the deck operates perfectly fine without it.\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Game Play:"},{"insert":"\nThis deck is actually in my rotation and not just built for the contest. It aims to be casual and consistent without using infinite combos, stax, or CEDH packages (to match my given play groups). The pods I play in try to provide aggressive game play and not oppressive game play. This deck wants to make political deals and offer help.\n\nCommanders I regularly go up against in my pods include:\n\nCloud, EX SOLDIER\n\nGlarb, Calamity's Auger\n\nXenagos, God of Revels\n\nKrenko, Mob Boss\n\nThe Locust God\n\nEsika , God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge\n\nAtraxa, Praetor's Voice\n\nMarneus Calgar\n\nPantlaza, Sun-Favored\n\nMalcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator & Breeches, Brazen Plunderer\n\nHapatra, Vizier of Poisons\n\nReki, History of Kamigawa\n\nGhalta, Primal Hunger\n"}]}