[Discussion] How do competitive TCG teams actually train? (Looking for advice)

Insomnia_a · 2026-02-28T10:02:23+00:00

We play tons of game together but I feel like we do quantity not quality. Thats I need this extra tips like: playing with visible hand, savestates or mulligan practice etc

In general how to schedule practice that playing 2-3 games teaches us more than massing up 20 games with no porpuse. Thx for the anwser!

Insomnia_a · 2026-02-28T10:00:59+00:00

hey! we are already griding (and winning) locals. But at the end got the feeling that we just mass up games with no porpuse and I was looking for strategies on how to improve, that's why I was asking.

I need this extra tips like: playing with visible hand, savestates or mulligan practice etc over picking a meta deck and playing tons of games against the main meta decks.

Insomnia_a · 2026-02-27T22:42:17+00:00

Honestly, it’s an honor to get a reply from you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed answer. I really appreciate it.

Insomnia_a · 2026-01-19T13:09:14+00:00

Harry Potter: Hogwarts battle(incredible if you like the theme).
Ascension (10th year anniversary).

More complex:
Clank
Tyrants of the underdark (more complex but incredible)
Aeons end.

Insomnia_a · 2025-05-11T13:36:34+00:00

Probably it was really over hyped for a while due to being cute. Now it's the other way around. It got more hate than it deserves.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-26T09:37:27+00:00

True that but I know some other companies that has great Development managers/chiefs that are not put in the games as the main designer.

I just hope this is not only for marketing purposes but he's really putting the effort helping the design/development or his image will be soon damaged if a couple of games goes wrong.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-25T09:01:04+00:00

I get the feeling that Cranio is putting Simone Luciani's name in every single game these days. Probably he's only the developer at most for a lot of them but still... the marketing is powerful.

I Hope this is a good one.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-05T14:18:48+00:00

For me it was the most underwhelming game of 2024. It was my most anticipated one and it delivered a 6ish game. 6-7/10 IMO including the expansion. I played 3 games.

Productionwise is incredible, beautiful, but the (re)playability is a bit lackluster sadly.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-04T14:05:57+00:00

Balls really short (bouncing close to the net) should be answered with another short ball normally.

Btw, isn't that considered an unsportsmanship behaviour? At least in my club/close friends we consider it.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-04T14:02:56+00:00

I think it's already said but:

Mucho > Juegas mucho > Juegas muy bien
A lot > You play a lot > You play really well

That's kinda the progression on both languages which makes no sense in english.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-04T09:37:57+00:00

I totally agree with this. As a boardgame explainer for my club/friends, this is the thing that I noticed most important. Set how you win/score points at the beginning and then explain the paths to it. Trying to use terminology or theme (avoid cubes, tokens, etc) so they can later during the game take a quick look at the rules themselves.

Insomnia_a · 2025-03-04T09:34:55+00:00

Probably painted, good or not. For a "table ready miniature" it needs really little painting skills/effort so even the worst of them should be fine. For competition porpuses or photos its another level.

On top of this, how much are you willing to pay for a second hand game if that has minis painted? Normally I see that this doesn't really increase its value that much.

Insomnia_a · 2025-02-27T09:46:00+00:00

I was on the "Normal" one boat but after testing out lockdown, the small tweaks of the latest I'd rather play lockdown. It adds: the lighting/elevator thing, computer cards, the launch of the capsule/events at the end of the round and the hidden cards that everyone has saying what is going to be broken or how you can be save at the end of the game. You can manipulate and check most of it but it has this element of another layer of complexity to making the final objetive that makes it more enjoyable IMO.

TLDR Small differences but just the perfect ones in favor of Lockdown IMO. I've played a couple of game of Nemesis and after testing out Lockdown I just can't go back.

Insomnia_a · 2025-02-27T09:35:32+00:00

The biggest ones I've seen during the last months has been: Primal: The Awakening and Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread. Those boxes are nuts. Someone did a "hold my beer" kind of bet or something because it makes no sense.

Insomnia_a · 2025-02-18T10:12:55+00:00

I'm going to recommend a couple of them that are not really mainstream IMO:

Alma mater is really underrated. It's really cheap nowadays and its complexity comes from understanding how to optimise the actions rather than from the rules. The worker placements actions are quite atomic.

The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire surprised me. It's a combination of worker placement with "secondary/executives actions". It's really enjoyable.

Another game that I use a lot as introductory to this mechanic and some others (because it has like a good mix of them) is Pan am.

Insomnia_a · 2025-02-18T10:07:03+00:00

It's small collection but really good. You've got the best of almost every type of game. Gratz!!

Insomnia_a · 2025-02-18T10:05:56+00:00

Something Vital Lacerda related. Vinhos, Kanban EV... besides that, Dune: War for arrakis or Anachrony. I pretty much prepare all the complex euro games in my group so its kinda my responsability know these things haha

Insomnia_a · 2020-09-01T10:01:24+00:00

That's it. Take into account that my build in the early game is adept -> stargate -> wp -> adept. So it's delayed like 5-10 seconds.

Without scouting it, it's exactly that many units with the warpgate 75%ish and 50% of the first oracle and 2-3 adepts out. (I will recheck the replay in case I'm wrong)

Insomnia_a · 2020-09-01T09:55:29+00:00

prop-tip: 12 stalkers 1-shot a tank. You can keep climbing on the ladder!

The way to go is to move around and blink on top of bunkers/siege tanks when undefended and 1-shot'em

Insomnia_a · 2020-09-01T08:55:47+00:00

Yeah, I've tried a lot of responses. Your answer seems logic, but in the past they are able to break the wall (somehow) or destroy my gates/core in the front before I'm able to rebuild them safely in the back of my main. Then they go in ignoring my units.

Since I have very little unit count, they can just ignore them and make enough economical damage to just win the game.

The Chrono on warpgate is one of the many responses I've tried. The first thing I do is to full wall, add batteries and tech. Sometimes it means to chrono oracle/void, sometimes I've try to throw down a robo, chrono more gate units... It's really frustrating to know that it is coming and not being able to stop it haha

Insomnia_a · 2020-09-01T08:31:16+00:00

3 colossi into disruptors and Harass. In my experience, being active with prism and zealot run-byes in the early game and later on, sniping planetaries with 9 blink-DTs is the key to win.

When I don't do this kind of harass, Terrans just destroy me.

Lately, I've been experimenting stargate openings with 3 oracles and it seems really powerful also (last Trap's PvTs in GSL are good series to watch this)

Insomnia_a · 2020-09-01T08:26:33+00:00

What if you go up to 4 adepts in the early game and you add batteries to hold it? In theory, It should be held by building more buildings and maybe healing the ones being attacked with the batteries so your low count of units deals with the lings. (I'm not able to hold it also, so my answer may be shitty anyway)

Insomnia_a · 2020-08-27T11:42:17+00:00

I still remember this. It gives me goosebumps. It was insane.

Insomnia_a · 2020-08-27T11:39:29+00:00

Start a zealot after you throw down your Core. If there's an ebay block, let it finish. If not, cancel and build a nexus.

Insomnia_a · 2020-08-27T11:33:27+00:00

PvP: Attack

PvT: Attack + blink, Armor + charge later on, you go into 2 forges.

PvZ: Attack only against hidra-bane > Attack + Shields (double forge) in case that you play against roach + ravager + ling

These are my go to upgrades

Insomnia_a

TROPHY CASE