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Da Godfaddah
By Nick Zube
Personalities
Bayushi Goshiu (Exp)
Kolat Whisperer
Moshi Wakiza x2
Mukami x2
Ryosei x2
Ryosei (Exp)
Tchickchuck x3
Yogo Asami x3
Holdings
Black Market x2
Island Wharf x3
Kolat Oyabun x2
Pearl Divers x3
Small Farm x3
The Shinjo Stockades x2
Trading Port x2
Events
Doom of the Brotherhood
In Time of War
Kisada's Funeral
Peasant Revolt
The Return of Fu Leng
Regions
Farmlands x3
Ryoko Owari
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Dynasty Total: 41
Items
Kitsuki Kaagi's Journal
Followers
Chitatchikkan x3
Ratling Conscripts x3
Tattered Ear Tribe x3
Spells
Secrets on the Wind x3
Actions
Betrayal x2
Block Supply Lines x3
Break Morale x3
Extortion x2
Face of Ninube x3
Marries a Barbarian x3
Refugees x2
Remoresful Seppuku x3
Shame x3
Test of Honor x3
The Unclean Cut x3
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Fate Total: 42
This deck's goal is relatively simple: dishonor everyone and anyone, and then take advantage of that dishonor to allow your Ratling enforcers to march on to victory! Just like any criminal organization, Da Godfaddah is slow out of the starting gate; however, Kyuden Yoritomo's high Province strength, combined with the defensive cards in this deck can hold off an attacker long enough to get going.
Although the Personality pool isn't outwardly strong, you'll notice that everyone in it has a "-" honor requirement, keeping other dishonor decks or kolat hosers from knocking it out of position. Furthermore, each Personality has a purpose. Goshiu is great for keeping your opponent locked down, since there are several actions and/or holdings in here which generate honor loss. The Whisperer's gold cost is a cinch for the Alliance, and Kyuden Yoritomo in particular can bring him out with just a few holdings. However, due to his low chi, he should be kept out of the game until he is certain to start rockin' and rollin'. Both Ryosei and Moshi Wakiza are included for the purpose of casting various spells, although their benefits and advantages differ slightly: Ryosei, and Ryosei, Exp., in particular, should be used exclusively for Secrets on the Wind duty and for keeping away from the -20 mark. Moshi, too, is useful for Secrets on the Wind, but her hefty -4 ranged attack can come in very handy. Mukami's included mainly for the purposes of holding off any and all attackers and for coming out right off the Stronghold. Tchickchuck provides the deck's main Force "thrust," although, like the Whisperer, he should be brought out only after the opponent is suitably locked down, since, by that time, you can freely use Trading Ports on a useless Secrets to get out the Tattered Ear Tribe and start "downloading" Ratling Packs all over the place.
As for its overall strategy, Da Godfaddah has something against everyone. The Events are mainly geared to hose honor-runners, since they, in particular, can swarm all over this deck. Much of the Fate deck is designed to commit various unsavory acts against the opponent. Against various decks, various actions may be needed. Betrayal works well against attack decks, since this deck will usually have at least one defender out relatively early. Break Morale just plain hoses the Naga: wait until that Warlord gets a small army on him, then use Secrets to dishonor and Break all his troops. Extortion is a good all-around killer card; I do not include three because it's a C&J card and rather hard to get. Remorseful Seppuku crushes the Big Boys, who you really don't want to stay around too long. Shame, with its huge 7 honor hit, can demolish the Lion or the Crane if done early enough. The Unclean Cut can be an unwelcome surprise versus the Dragon. And, of course, Test of Honor is tailor-made for dishonor decks like this. Face of Ninube insures that you'll have a hand full of all sorts of dishonoring dealies.
As if that weren't enough, Da Godfaddah has control of a number of means of bowing those unfortunate enough to have a blackmail file with their name on it: Kolat Oyabun and The Shinjo Stockades. The Oyabun, in particular, may come as a surprise, since it's rarely seen, but do remember that all dishonored Personalities have a Personal Honor of zero. Yep. All you need to do is dishonor somebody, give 'em a token, then bow the Oyabun and them. The Shinjo Stockades works in a similar manner, although there are means of posting bail which make it slightly less powerful.
Of course, this deck may be tailored with in any number of ways. If you have some Blackmails, toss 'em in. If you can up this Focus average, you may even wish to include the Godfather of Rokugan, himself, Kage! The possibilities are endless...and, remember, your greatest advantage is this: surprise. Everyone thought Don Corleone was a busniessman...but how wrong they were. When people think Yoritomo's Alliance, they think of military decks. This leads them to a feeling of smugness. The surprise of finding a Scorpion-style dishonor deck (and one which goes first, even against the Scorpion!) may be enough of a shock to get them to pull back and find out just what you're planning, which gives you enough time to pull out all the stops. Go ahead. Make them an offer they can't refuse.