1) The card has too many requirements
2) The card is unique
3) The benefit is overrated
Let's take a case in point...
Note the usual requirements:
1) Have the card taking card slots in the deck
2) Draw the card
3) Not have it DI'd
In addition to that, it requires that you:
1) Have a 10+ cap vampire
2) Successfully bleed your prey
3) Have the card in your hand at that moment
What do you get?
1) +1 bleed
2) A limited ability to act out of turn
Once copy one hits the table, any other copy you have is only good at clogging your hand. ONE of your fatty vampires can use this ability.
What is your objective? Why is this card worth playing? If only for +1 bleed, a laptop computer, vintage 1994, can satisfy. If it is to bleed in an un-archonable way, that assumes your prey does not have bounce. This does nothing that Madness Network can't do. Why are people paying upwards of $50 for this card? Does everyone need to make some cheesy Rachel Brandywine deck that is slightly better than the original cheesy Rachel Brandywine deck? I can see how it would be useful to sit around with some IC member with DOM, waiting to play obedience and then bleeding at the last minite. What's the opportunity cost there?
Though I agree with many of the things you said I still think Enkil Cog is not overrated. In my play group it is used frequently (there is a Cog deck on maybe every table!) and it works very well.
ReplyDeleteHow many times have I seen vampire go for a Tasha Morgan, or Heart of the City? Consider Enkil Cog partly as a Tasha Morgan you don't have to waste an action for. There are many awesome 10-11 cap vampire with +1 bleed that who will benefit great from another +1bleed from the Cog to hit the fix and Archon save bleed for three! (This is why I use Enkil Cog in my Hardestadt deck)
IMO the main problem with planning decks around the card is that you are playing high-cap vampires. High-cap decks can work, but they have problems against mid-caps and weenies. +1 bleed is soooo easy to come by and the Enkil Cog doesn't even kick in until after your bleed is successful. For Hardestadt, yeah maybe the cog is good, but what about murmur of the false will? It is usable for instant +1 bleed *or* bounce. How often does that card see play? Around here, hardly at all.
ReplyDeleteFor my 11 pool and 1 library card, I'd generally prefer a 5 and a 6-cap and 1x conditioning. With two mid-caps, you are less vulnerable to Pentex, Seduction, block fails, etc.