Post by mikeEB on Aug 18, 2010 3:32:14 GMT -5
(adapted from an older thread on the Black Rose forums)
Goblins out of invisibility are not often used because they are inherently defensive; On one hand, there are few aggressive options off a W; on the other, the summon threatens a telegraphed counterspell for the turn after invisibility ends, so that it defuses a post-invis attack with the side effect of summoning a goblin; depending on the other hand, it might instead be WFP or WWP to take care of an ogre summoned on turn 3 of invisibility.
The Refuge article on invisibility sees the goblin variants as purely defensive, mentioning only fear and a second goblin as potential off-hand spells. However, a few more aggressive weaves look promising, and between them make a nice little guessing game.
The standard anti-spell (SFWx/SPFP) is riskier than the fear variant, as it leaves you with worse spellflow if the anti-spell misses. The opponent certainly needs to respect a potential anti-spell after the goblin, but this weave alone isn't enough.
One tricky use for the goblin is as a way to summon an ogre through a counterspell. (SFWPP/SPSFW). The goblin has at least a 50/50 of resolving, gets protected by a shield, and lets you counter the post-invis attack while simultaneously landing an ogre.
Perhaps my favorite goblin weave is goblin/FoD (SFW/SPW). This version punishes the opponent for aborting their post-invis attack in the face of a telegraphed counterspell. The goblin is there as a distraction to shore up your initiative during the weak part of the FoD weave. Continuations include standard para-fod (SFWFF/SPWPF), time stop (SFWSP/SPWPF), and cause light/protection (SFWFP/SPWPF). I have used the last of these to threaten an immediate win through opponent's ogre without losing any health, something few other invis weaves can boast. Note also that the opponent cannot tell a any of these from a goblin->ogre until the ogre would land.
Finally, you can attempt a grand bluff with SPSPF/SFWXP. This looks exactly like a FoD weave above unless you throw the anti-spell. You could instead continue to fake FoD (PSPFSSS), forcing your opponent to defend frantically while your goblin gets a few hits in and possibly drawing a surrender.
These weaves between them force your opponent to deal with a goblin and several other mutually exclusive possibilities at the same time.
PPWSPx
xxWSFW
Goblins out of invisibility are not often used because they are inherently defensive; On one hand, there are few aggressive options off a W; on the other, the summon threatens a telegraphed counterspell for the turn after invisibility ends, so that it defuses a post-invis attack with the side effect of summoning a goblin; depending on the other hand, it might instead be WFP or WWP to take care of an ogre summoned on turn 3 of invisibility.
The Refuge article on invisibility sees the goblin variants as purely defensive, mentioning only fear and a second goblin as potential off-hand spells. However, a few more aggressive weaves look promising, and between them make a nice little guessing game.
The standard anti-spell (SFWx/SPFP) is riskier than the fear variant, as it leaves you with worse spellflow if the anti-spell misses. The opponent certainly needs to respect a potential anti-spell after the goblin, but this weave alone isn't enough.
One tricky use for the goblin is as a way to summon an ogre through a counterspell. (SFWPP/SPSFW). The goblin has at least a 50/50 of resolving, gets protected by a shield, and lets you counter the post-invis attack while simultaneously landing an ogre.
Perhaps my favorite goblin weave is goblin/FoD (SFW/SPW). This version punishes the opponent for aborting their post-invis attack in the face of a telegraphed counterspell. The goblin is there as a distraction to shore up your initiative during the weak part of the FoD weave. Continuations include standard para-fod (SFWFF/SPWPF), time stop (SFWSP/SPWPF), and cause light/protection (SFWFP/SPWPF). I have used the last of these to threaten an immediate win through opponent's ogre without losing any health, something few other invis weaves can boast. Note also that the opponent cannot tell a any of these from a goblin->ogre until the ogre would land.
Finally, you can attempt a grand bluff with SPSPF/SFWXP. This looks exactly like a FoD weave above unless you throw the anti-spell. You could instead continue to fake FoD (PSPFSSS), forcing your opponent to defend frantically while your goblin gets a few hits in and possibly drawing a surrender.
These weaves between them force your opponent to deal with a goblin and several other mutually exclusive possibilities at the same time.