Maybe I'm missing something here... (order of play question)

[Hiryuu Kouya]

...but doesn't it seem like this game favors the person who goes first? Just in sheer ninja alone, you could possibly always have a one nin advantage over the opponent if I go first and hit a nin every tun, in which case, what's to stop you from making, say, three teams of one while your opponent only has two nin out? Just jack the unblocked nin for an Outstanding Victory every turn FTW. Aside from that, you could also (if you hit your drop) always play a higher powered nin, keeping you ahead of your opponent (i.e. you hit turn five first, drop Guy or Kakashi or another heavy hitter before they get their's out). The latter isn't too big of a problem, the game has enough tricks that you can play around a beatstick, but how does the apparent nin advantage of going first even out? Maybe it's just because I've only been playing for two days, or maybe it's because it's 5:30 am and I just can't "get it" right now, but it seems to me going first has a distinct advantage.

[Kintaro]

Going first isn't always an advantage,,,I've had a few games so far where I've had to mulligan and STILL couldn't get a ninja out first turn......

Although at first it may apear to be an advantage in every game, IMHO it's how you build your deck that's important. I've also had a couple of games where I didn't get a ninja until the 3rd or fourth turn, but came back for the win anyway....

Just my $.02

Kintaro

[Soushouryu]

I see it as decently balanced. Remember, you can only send out 3 teams at once. So while the second player might take a few hits, down the road they should be able to match their opponent in battle. I tend to have a bunch of Jutsu tricks up my sleeves so my opponent dropping a Kakashi before me doesn't really affect me either.

[KamigawaChampion]

In my opinion the game is balanced. No element has a distinct advantage, no card is too "broken" to be really abused. The fact that you draw from a shuffled deck, gives the game a random aspect. A player can go first, and not have any ninja in hand...or have a whole hand made up of only ninja.

Going first isn't always an advantage either. Keep in mind, your opponent would get a draw, and get to see what he/she is dealing with...long before you know what you're facing. The player going second, therefore is given more options than the player going first.

So to put it into deck styles...aggressive decks want to go first, control decks want to go second.

Also, it really doesn't matter as to who goes first, it's how you play with your deck (and the game) that matters. I've seen some really great plays come out of nowhere, and some great plays completely messed up to the point the player couldn't recover from his own mistakes.

After what I just said, do any of you still think that going first would give you a distinct advantage over your opponent?

[Neji+Chouji]

no it depends what kind of ninja you have and how you play them and it depends on what you draw at that time

[Jakotsu]

I agree. Every card game has their higher plane decks and it doesn't really appear until someone plays in a tourny and then everyone finds out that a certain combo is just awesome. I haven't really got a chance to play because I misplaced some cards and can't form a good deck or a deck at all, but its looks cool so far.

[Hiryuu Kouya]

Originally Posted by KamigawaChampion

In my opinion the game is balanced. No element has a distinct advantage, no card is too "broken" to be really abused. The fact that you draw from a shuffled deck, gives the game a random aspect. A player can go first, and not have any ninja in hand...or have a whole hand made up of only ninja.

Going first isn't always an advantage either. Keep in mind, your opponent would get a draw, and get to see what he/she is dealing with...long before you know what you're facing. The player going second, therefore is given more options than the player going first.

So to put it into deck styles...aggressive decks want to go first, control decks want to go second.

Also, it really doesn't matter as to who goes first, it's how you play with your deck (and the game) that matters. I've seen some really great plays come out of nowhere, and some great plays completely messed up to the point the player couldn't recover from his own mistakes.

After what I just said, do any of you still think that going first would give you a distinct advantage over your opponent?

When you put it into perspective that way, it does make everything seem a bit more balanced. Of course control would want to go second, being a much more reactionary type of deck. It actually feels a bit like Yu-Gi-Oh to me when it comes down to going first or second. Do you want that first attack and be able to react to what the opponent does, or would you rather put the pressure on him early by making agressive plays?

I need to go and rethink a few deck ideas.

[KamigawaChampion]

I'm glad I gave you something to think about Hiryuu Kouya. Feel free to post those deck ideas of yours in the "Deck Garage". I've basically set up shop there (you might tell, I'm on it on a frequent basis...so many posts with my name at the top). I'd be glad to help you out.