FAB Foundations, Ep. 1 - The Value of a Card

[@robstien]

Another adjacent topic to this is the 8 point card system to evaluate a cards overall power level when considering the other abilities bolted into them. For example, Brutal Assault is power 6 plus defense 3 plus 1 pitch minus 2 cost is 8 points. Each power on a card such as go again and draw a card on hit add to this math. Head Jab is 3 power plus 2 defense plus 1 pitch is 6 points, the go again is worth 2 points to bring it up to the standard 8 point card. This is seen over and over where each ability is worth some amount of points to balance the card to 8 points.

[@BlameBarky]

I just have to say while I REALLY have to turn my brain on to follow most of your information, I am so grateful for having it here in front of me. You guys are so chill and so relaxed and not at all high and mighty about the knowledge. You share it unconditionally and it feels good to sit and watch with a hot cup of coffee or tea and it’s a big feelsgoodman for me. All that to say thanks for making choice content that feels good to watch. Keep it coming!

[@teamcovenant]

Thanks so much for this comment. Glad to have you along!

[@adilgeresu2296]

I’m basically exactly what you described in the opening. Please keep this series going! This game needs the Netrunner covenant treatment!

[@aaronclark7687]

I love it when you guys get all nerdy and mathematical about games! Reminds me of the early Marvel Champion days and your Star Wars Destiny videos.

[@ArsenalPass]

Great content from two of my favorite people! Excited to follow this series

[@teamcovenant]

Finally, Brendan and Hayden will learn how to be good at FAB! Haha, thanks for the support!

[@chad0x]

Great hair there, very 80's early 90's. Loved the video as well. Looking forward to more of them!

[@LoroofTheWorld]

Oh maan this video was mathematically so beautiful ! Thank you ! This was useful !

[@devinmychan9262]

The game is what it is because you bring it to life with your personalities. Your gameplay explanations Altace been very helpful but also really entertaining. Thanks to you both and everyone behind the scenes for all they do to.

[@thedeadmoneyallstars]

Video 2 popped up in my feed after picking up FaB last week and watching a few beginner vids. Just wanted to let you know that that seems like a good algo hit. Haven't really seen any of your vids since the early days of keyforge, but made it as far in as "we're trying to be right here in the middle" and subbed. Thanks for making content aimed at that huge gap in the middle ground that's so often overlooked 👏👏

[@Bycle]

F*ck yes! I've been waiting for you guys to make an educational series. SO excited!

[@GoblinReserve]

Awesome video! Thanks for the content!

[@dusfim3140]

This the series that I need! Thank you

[@sedlak87]

I just say: Thank you for this.

[@juneaino5805]

incredibly well produced video - so well explained - can’t wait for more episodes!!

[@whooptumwizard2389]

Awesome video! Very well produced!

[@YourBroTekk]

cant wait to see more

[@machaggis_]

Very new player here, and this is amazing to watch. Feels like I'm taking big shortcuts at comprehending the game, and you guys are easy to listen to.

[@BaconJamMA]

Great video. Can't wait for the next installment.

[@jonathan.sutley]

As a new player, I'm so happy to have stumbled on your channel. You two have a wonderful way of articulating the core, underlying concepts that a player should be thinking about both during the game and in deck construction. Absolutely phenomenal lessons here -- thank you.

[@teamcovenant]

Thanks for leaving this comment, Jonathan. Glad you're digging the series and we hope you'll continue to be a part of it!

[@justbaker]

So excited for this! Recommending it to my FAB group of newer players.

[@Jellofish777]

Our word in Vanguard for on-hits is "pressure" - pressuring the opponent to, ideally, overblock, or just block what they wouldn't want or expect to (usually their rear-guards). The hand is used primarily for defense, unless you pressure them into replacing their field so they can maintain their offense. So in Vanguard, you "attack" with your hand by placing units. It's not the same visceral back and forth as Flesh and Blood, which maybe serves to make the pressure aspect more apparent because of the obvious defensive wall the hand represents. But still, there's similar realizations where the tempo/hand flow management finally clicks and a player levels up their understanding. One of my favorite aspects of pressure is how it reveals the cracks. Oh? That unit's worth keeping alive? Now I have to kill it. Meanwhile they could be baiting me into a lesser target. Brings to mind the psychological torture of facedowns in yugioh. This video's awesome by the way. Trying to understand a given game's math bible is half the battle.

[@curatinghumanism]

Bravo!

[@robstien]

Sweet! Keep up the great content!

[@lassesrensen6089]

Nice, just getting started! (because of you!) half way though all your flesh and blood videos now. This series sound like it will be really helpful

[@MrGreeneyes77]

EASILY one of your best videos to date.

[@adiennika24]

I need more of this

[@Krimm664]

Great video! Super excited for future episodes.

[@socasualgaming27]

Such good insight, love the focus on bringing newer/ intermediate players up to speed. Can’t wait for the next one!

[@socasualgaming27]

Also, dig the new outro + music 👍🏻

[@timothye.2902]

You touched on the value of flexbility when it came to defense reactions, and it's worth noting that flexibility is worth some virtual value on attack actions as well. Going from 3 defense to 2 defense should give an attack action more than 1 point of value in some other category, because now the card is below rate on 1 of the 3 actions it can perform (play, pitch, block) and therefore more restricted into doing the thing it's good at.

[@MelodyLikes]

This is FANTASTIC. Love this episode for beginners like me. Thank you

[@TheKaijudist]

This is absolutely fantastic

[@fabledheronz8096]

Love this very well done

[@freshblood6398]

The best !!

[@-ArcticEden-]

this was really fun to listen to :) Just found you, looking forward to the ongoing videos after that.

[@teamcovenant]

There's about a million in the back catalog to enjoy, too!

[@GondorianDotCom]

I really enjoyed this video and found it very insightful. Nice to hear that Three is the MAGIC number … or should that be FAB number?

[@mistercakes]

Love to hear a conversation where there isn't constant uptalk.

[@donaldkelly9833]

I've played with the blitz decks at home but Outsiders Pre release will be my first in store event. Time to learn a bit about deck building fundamentals and base card value

[@teamcovenant]

Let us know if you have any questions Donald.

[@nyghost9991]

great video

[@grvedr]

LEVEL UP

[@CardboardCast]

Blocking with Nourishing and CnC... oof. :) Great series, can't wait for the next one!

[@zga042]

where'd you get that playmat?

[@zacdredge3859]

I think starting with Wounding Blow and Raging Onslaught as they're from WTR makes more sense, in which case the average is 3.5 and 6/2 cards are less efficient not because of deck management but because they float a resource off of blue or are more consistent in allowing a yellow pitch. If anything the design of C&C and Nourishing is only(barely) justified by 6/2 being an awkward costing in terms of efficiency. I doubt a 7/3 on-hit as good as C&C would ever get through playtesting although I wonder if it should be 6/3 so it's not an auto-include.

[@teamcovenant]

Or maybe a 2 for 5 given the effect.

[@zacdredge3859]

Oh true, 5 works just fine. As for value I guess I'm saying 3 is more like a baseline than an average. So in terms of application it's fine to think '3 is okay' but be aiming at '3+' on each play. In context this also has to account for what a block prevents in terms of on-hit etc but I'm hoping there's a 'break-point' video somewhere in the pipeline to frame all of that.

[@M.CraynM]

I'm missing FAB Content on this Channel righr now :(

[@toddadair3651]

Part 2??? Or is Zach not sharing secrets after winning?

[@teamcovenant]

It's imminent!

[@Lohoris]

I'd stress out that IF you don't DO anything with the extra card, then Snatch's "on hit" effect is worthless, as you'd draw it anyway at the end of your turn.

[@teamcovenant]

If you can't play it or arsenal it, correct!

[@putzlappen2818]

Nice

[@WarbossMorgorTeefsmasha]

3 is the most you'll pay for a card.... meanwhile guardian: "oh okay, i guess i'll leave"

[@nickfanzo]

Not sure why everyone explains this differently and in such a confusing way. It doesn’t have to be.