Dear Gang,

    Strike one more win for the Alliance at a Con, as your list's resident Tortoise Advisor won two first place victories for the boys at GrailQuest this weekend, a growing convention in the Florida/Georgia area. RPG-wise, your Tortoise boldly led a party of intrepid explorers throughout the Shadowlands, but for the CCG, things went even better. The following Fox deck has so far gone undefeated against every major deck archetype. Shadowlands, Dragon, Crab, fellow Alliance, and several Unicorn military decks have failed to crush it. Monk, Shadowlands, and Phoenix Enlightenment and Master of Fives decks were not quick enough. And, my personal claim to fame, the Crane honor-runner, which has gained over twenty-one honor in a single turn before, was unable to keep up. So, I think I've found the key to the Fox deck, much like the METH was to Kyuden Yoritomo. As Kaede complimented KY, Seppun aids the Fox.

The following is the deck I used and the stragegy that won the day at GrailQuest. I call it FAD: Fox Attack Denial (I know the term has been used, but it works here, too).

THE FAD "Fox Attack Denial"

Stronghold: Kyuden Kitsune
Sensei: Seppun Sensei
Dynasty Deck: (40 cards)
PERSONALITIES- 17
1 Ryosei Exp
1 Doji Chomei Exp
3 Ryosei
3 Kitsune Tsuke
3 Kitsune Diro
3 Kitsune Shudo
3 Doji Chomei
HOLDINGS- 15
1 Grove of the Five Masters
2 Fortress of the Dragonfly
3 Merchant Caravan
3 Sanctified Temple
3 Jade Works
3 Hiruma Dojo
REGIONS- 2
1 Golden Sun Plain
1 Streets of Otosan-Uchi
EVENTS- 6
Inheritance
Evil Feeds Upon Itself
The Hidden Emperor
The Naga Storm Miromoto Mountain
Battle At Isawa Palace
Blessings of Isawa

Fate Deck: (40 cards)
SPELLS- 12
3 Benevolent Protection of Shinsei
3 Rise From the Ashes
3 Torrential Rain
3 Walking the Way
KIHOS- 9
3 Banish All Shadows
3 The Wind's Truth
3 Facing Your Devils
ACTIONS- 18
3 Iaijitsu Duel
3 Come One At a Time
3 Entrapping Terrain
3 Superior Tactics
3 Strike With No-Thought
3 Bend Like a Reed
RINGS-
1 Ring of the Void

For those who have been list members for a while, you remember that I supported the denial approach for our METHs; if they can't act, they can't win. The same principle is present here: DON'T ENTER BATTLE. The next key is deck control. You must go through your decks more quickly than your opponent. This is not a problem. Dynasty-wise, your personalities and holdings leave with rapid speed. Special note to ZUBE and Kensai: Doji Chomei Exp. is a god-send and much more powerful than most card lists put him. He speeds my deck up exponentially. Fate deck control comes from events, the Grove, and the Banishes and Walking. ALWAYS GO FOR THE RISES. You can Rise, and still gain honor, as your Sensei prevents your honor gains from being prevented or changed. Wonderful stuff. It was my rising and gaining seven honor, whereas my Crane opponent, using Toshimoko Sensei, was stuck under the effects of the spell. Your chi is for duel defense, in those cases where your spells just won't help. Once you get to 25 or 26 honor, start the rises and go for more with the banish and walking. Almost guaranteed win. I won almost all my games at 27 or 28 honor. Started the cycle and the game was mine. All in all, I think we've found the Fox deck that stops it all. The only thing I haven't done yet is test my FAD against my personal METH. I don't want to know which is better. But you kids check it out, and give it a try. Tell me what you think.

Much love, and my God bless us at GenCon!,

Shodaku Tortoise Clan Advisor to the Alliance