#6 Deck Analysis: Ishtarrirabien... by Reyda Seddiki

(I'll be starting this series of posts on analyzing decks that I find interesting. "Interesting" in this case means largely a deck I haven't created but can replicate/customize with what I have, or had. So without further ado...) I present the inaugural post for Deck Analysis: Reyda Seddiki's Ishtarrirabien, which won Fee Stake: Paris on 08 October 2011. 

Deck Name:	Ishtarrirabien..
Created by:	Reyda Seddiki
Description:	NB: - TJ could replace the second copy of Shasa Abu Badr to counter Camarilla votes, but con boon is my main bloat source... - there's probably 2 Villein missing, but without them I'm forced to play very safely which is maybe not a bad thing
First Impressions-- I am partial to decks that pack a lot of commons and have only a smattering of rares. These kinds of decks are a testament to how the player's "VTES IQ" is a larger factor in winning games than the deck itself. Regardless of what other people say, I believe that there is no such deck that "plays itself".

Crypt [11 vampires, average capacity: 6.54545]
3x	Undele	CEL FOR obf pre ser	9	Ishtarri:5	magaji
1x	Ganhuru	FOR PRE cel pro	7	Ishtarri:4
3x	Ubende	CEL PRE for obf qui	7	Ishtarri:4	magaji
1x	Elizabeth Conde	CEL FOR pre	5	Ishtarri:4
1x	Shasa Abu Badr	PRE cel for	5	Ishtarri:4
1x	Kenyatta	cel for pre	4	Ishtarri:4
1x	Abu Nuwasi	cel for	3	Ishtarri:4
// Falhu Shibaba, the Ishtarri's other magaji, was probably not included because of his severe disadvantage, which this deck cannot consistently block. Ayo Igoli, even with a very useful special, is too expensive and the infrastructure requirements to make the most use of her, and protect her, can scarcely be fitted into the deck. As Reyda mentions in the description of the deck, ConBoon is the bloat strategy so non-Ishtarri cannot be considered. Ganhuru's special has a good chance of kicking in, since there are 3 copies of Ubende in the crypt.

Library [75 cards]
Master [12]
2x	Archon Investigation
1x	Blind Spot
1x	Dreams of the Sphinx
1x	Giant's Blood
1x	Grooming the Protege
2x	Ishtarri Warlord
2x	Perfectionist
2x	Vessel
// The Master section is quite thin, with only 12 Masters (16%) with two being trifles and no recursion (which seems to be in such vogue these days). This can tell us that the way the deck is played is fast, churning cards fast enough to get to the next Master(s).
Action [9]
2x	Enchant Kindred
1x	Heart of the City
2x	Legal Manipulations
2x	No Secrets From the Magaji
2x	Public Trust
// Being a mostly political deck, with a Plan B (bleeding), 9 non-political Actions (12%) is a bit high, but the untaps provided by Forced March, Freak Drives and Majesty compensate for it. There is token defense with No Secrets from the Magaji, but without additional intercept, they can be easily negotiated.
Action Modifier [19]
1x	Aire of Elation
1x	Approximation of Loyalty
3x	Bewitching Oration
1x	Daring the Dawn
3x	Forced March
2x	Freak Drive
2x	Into Thin Air
3x	Uncontrolled Impulse
3x	Voter Captivation
// Modifiers are expected, though the surprise Daring the Dawn is a good touch. An unblockable action in exchange for 1-2 aggravated damage is just right for the lunging bleed.  Into Thin Air is a strong choice, given that the only [obf] available is on two vampires, and just at inferior at that.
Action Modifier/Combat [4]
4x	Resist Earth's Grasp
// Expected, given the amount of [CEL] in the crypt. The stealth provided by Resist Earth's Grasp (below) is also a strong choice, since token intercept specifically to deal with 1-stealth actions is very easy to come by these days.
Action Modifier/Reaction [3]
1x	Ishtarri Kholo
2x	Scalpel Tongue
// The Kholo is also expected, given this deck's need for static votes to control the table. Scalpel Tongue, IMO, should be in every vote deck that has the disciplines for it.
Equipment [2]
2x	.44 Magnum
// The typical 1-card combat solution can be enough for some meta, but not for trumpy combat such as CEL-Gun Weenies.
Political Action [14]
2x	Banishment
3x	Consanguineous Boon
2x	Conservative Agitation
1x	Domain Challenge
5x	Kine Resources Contested
1x	Neonate Breach
// Standard-fare political actions to cause damage, do away with pesky voters and punish weenies. Another option would be Secret Must be Kept (especially against Carlton Van Wyk/Jake Washington/Raptor). The crypt is not big enough to justify packing in the Laibon's BigGun(TM): The Eldest Command Undeath, though. That would be funny.
Reaction [3]
2x	On the Qui Vive
1x	Wake with Evening's Freshness
// WWEF is iffy, because of the DNR clause. Other options include Fillip, Delaying Tactics, Forced Awakening (since it's just 1 anyway) or even another On the Qui Vive.
Retainer [1]
1x	Robert Carter
// A very intersting choice with bleed enhancers. Obviously meant for the big-caps, and best used with the untaps. Bleed/Forced March/KRC then be ready to block with the NSftM. Blood spent on Robert Carter can be recouped with Voter Captivation. Strong.
Combat [8]
1x	Concealed Weapon
5x	Majesty
2x	Skin of Steel
// The combat section is consistent with the design intent of the whole deck: Strike deals with the votes, bleed slowly. Token combat options in Majesty and the two .44s earlier. Most of the vampires can take a hit during combat, but obviously not against a dedicated combat deck.

Overall assessment-- This deck is a good example of how careful playing, aided by strong synergy among cards, can win games. There are no scary votes (except perhaps the Banishments), actions or masters. The deck playing style borders on waging a battle of attrition, though not as subtle as Anthony Coleman's 2006 pre-Deep Song Ahrimane Wall. Congratulations on the win Reyda!