​by Will "GernBlanston" Thompson

Don’t prioritize crafting golden cards until your collection contains what you need for the decks you regularly play. If you’re on a THL team or plan to be, make sure your collection is diverse, too. Don’t invest in just weapons classes or just Secrets classes. You’ll get Kezan’d and Harrison’d into no tomorrow. To begin, it’s probably wise to have five to six classes with viable decks that you can bring to THL.

by Steven "Cassity14" Cassity

​We’ve finished up our first official season in THL—captains are building rosters, players are looking to get signed, personal ladder goals are being set and accomplished, and side chicks (both of the video game and human variety) are getting a bit more attention.

For me, the hurt is still too real. Competition is something that drives me in life. I’m the guy who traveled the country playing collegiate Dodgeball. I’m the guy who dives for loose balls at the rec. I’m the teacher who loves finding out that the kids in my school outperformed the rest of the district. You get the point. To get this close to winning anything, let alone THL’s Inception, and to come up so short takes something from you. We got to the biggest stage and were entirely outclassed. That unique cocktail of regret, disappointment, and rage can fuel you, but only if you allow yourself to be fueled.

I need to recharge. I need to reflect. I need to let this pissed off mood stay with me a bit. Maybe I need to grow a beard, chop wood, and pull sleds around a secluded cabin. But I will be back better than ever. That’s my offseason plan, and in coming up with it, I realized something …

I love this league.

​I can sit here and say I’ve loved it since Season Alpha, and that every season has been incredible, and that this was just another in the line of great seasons for my experience in THL, but to be candid, that would be a lie. I’ve been in undesirable positions, I’ve been a poor player who feels like they don’t have the same opportunity to get better as other guys in the league, and I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like to be a player in those struggling situations. And to be perfectly honest, by the end of season beta, I was ready to call it with THL and with playing Hearthstone seriously.

I had failed on multiple legend pushes, had not gotten to know very many people in the league, and had been on two massively underperforming teams. It wasn’t that we lost; it was that we couldn’t even finish a season as a functioning team. We all know the signs of a dysfunctional team: missed submission deadlines, guys quitting midseason, Kobe putting up way too many shots at an entirely unacceptable efficiency, etc.

Looking at my involvement and role in THL now, it’s kind of surreal to remember how little I cared by the end of Season Beta. Regardless, in the boredom of summer, and in the desire for at least a shred of continuity right before moving across the country to start a new life chapter, I figured I’d give it one more go. Man, am I glad I did.

I joined Noob Central and it was a revelation. I went from playing on teams where the only form of communication came from the occasional in-game pop-up to a team with practices, its own Facebook page, teammates who thrived with helping each other—the whole nine yards! Pacetry, Joss, Loefster, Silverwave, Joss’ incredible spreadsheets really were my saving light in THL. They know this.

Season Kappa was so much fun. Despite being in last place in our conference halfway through the season, we went on an incredible run in the second half, scoring over 20 points in something like four consecutive weeks. We ended up sneaking into the playoffs, and that was because we never stopped acting as a team. Even when we were losing, we kept talking and practicing. It was such a different experience than either time I had been in that position, and it really ignited my passion for THL. That version of Noob Central lost its playoff match against Xnergy, but the run that got us there was incredible.

In the offseason, I made a difficult decision to continue my journey around the league. After seeing a passionate team like Noob Central, I wanted to meet more members of the league, and starting as a first-year teacher, late night PST practices were no longer an option.

This is when I learned what THL is all about.

Today we have a very special edition of the "What Would You Do?" series
brought to you by Detrucci and Nightsmoke

Our one and only Slimsch has asked for your help. We have picked out FOUR scenarios that Slimsch and the casters did not see eye to eye on and we hope that you can help give us your ideas on what your play would be. So lend him some more of your energy and lets get this figured out for the benefit of THL as a whole.

Although this is a special edition, The same rules will apply so that we don't misjudge the situation
Our Rules:

• We become the player on the bottom of the screen and we decide what we would do next in the upcoming turn.
• Opponents cards are blanked out as well as anything that could give you the answer.
• 5 pieces of helpful information will be given to you in order to help you decide your turn.
• Use facebook to tell us what you would do.
• Once you submit your answer, in a couple of days time we will see if you agree with Slimsch or if he perhaps missed something.

This is the first of four different scenarios. Here Slimsch is an Aggro Shaman and is up against Renolock, Slimsch knew what he wanted to do and has played this deck alot on ladder, But the casters in this scenario didn't agree with him, But now its up to you guys to tell us what you think the correct play is.

Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 7 cards in hand
• The coin is still in the opponents hand
• We know he is a renolock and so we need to play around that knowledge
• Doomhammer is available and on curve
• Earth shock can kill the Twilight Drake, you also have a bunch of spell options in your hand including the 3 mana feral wolves

This scenario is interesting because never would expect to have your 3 cards in hand be your 3 large minion removal cards. The question here is, which one is the correct one to use on Dr Boom

Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 5 cards in hand
• The coin was used last turn by the opponent to play the Dr Boom
• We have such an unfortunate circumstance here as we have 3 cards and they all in a sense, do the exact same thing...just to different extremes.
• Keeper of Uldaman is definitely the strongest play on board presence as a 3/4 is solid stats
• Aldor would take the Dr Boom right down to 1 hp, but Equality would be able to kill it using just 1 dude

This turn was an interesting one, looking back on it Slimsch sees what could be an error in his play, did he choose the wrong cards? The best way to figure this one out is to give us what would you do? Then we can compare!

Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 7 cards in hand
• The coin is still in the opponents hand
• All cards in hand are green and available to play!
• Since its so early in the game, board presence is a must
• Its also the perfect time to set the tone for the rest of the match and hit him hard

This scenario is probably one of the more interesting ones, BUT BEFORE YOU CONSIDER THE SCENARIO... 2 mana crystals have already been used! this was to play Ancestral Knowledge to draw some cards, so we only have 5/7 mana left.

The turns after this one, Slimsch did not have it easy, but is it possible he made the wrong play here? The casters were baffled by his decision this turn...but luckily in this game, it paid off as Slimsch won. But still could this turn have made things easier for him?

Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 6 cards in hand
• The coin was used by the opponent very early into the game
• We only have 5 mana out of 7 as this is midway through the turn
• All cards are green and available, including the hero power
• We do need him to drop some more health but not be too greedy at the same time

If there's a darkhorse Hearthstone team for 2016, it might just be Vicious Syndicate. The organization's founder, Brandon "BeastMode" Youngblood, recently appeared on The Golden Wisp podcast, where he set his goal at nothing less than Blizzcon for a squad that has shown the ability to compete at high levels both in tournaments and on ladder. We're talking multiple tournament wins, top 100 legend finishes, even finishing as high as 3 on ladder.

However, before Blizzcon, they've got to get through THL. This Saturday's Archon Team League format show match will feature Raymond "rayc591" Cipoletti, Jaron "Demigod" Nolasco, and Cora "cgsongbird" Georgiou from vS. It's clear that this is a team with high expectations for the coming year and the talent to make those dreams happen. 

​Be sure to check out the vS site to sign up for one of the world-famous Tuesday Night Hype tourneys or for more information on an organization that is rapidly becoming a more and more important pillar to the wider Hearthstone community. 

Let's meet these tryhards from vS.
 

​THL: What is your personal all-time favorite moment in Hearthstone?

cgsongbird: Blizzcon 2014. I was still relatively new to the game and didn't know much about the players, but seeing so many people gathered to play a game that I was steadily getting more and more absorbed into made me want to be where they were. A bit more selfishly, reaching rank 3 legend in September 2015 was also something I'll never forget.

Demigod:The announcement of Tunnel Trogg in LOE. [Demigod's most recent stream is titled "Top 20 NA going for rank 1 with Aggro Shaman" —ed.]

Rayc591: Attending Blizzcon this past year and watching Ostkaka win worlds live.


THL: What goal or milestone are you currently working toward with Hearthstone?

cgsongbird: As a college student studying broadcast communications and working in the radio industry, I would love to explore the casting side of Hearthstone. I feel that it would be the perfect blend between the things I love to do. Again, more selfishly, I would really love to hit rank 1 legend.

Demigod: I want to build up a successful stream with Hearthstone and possibly win Blizzcon.

Rayc591: Winning the Word Championships.

THL: For those not familiar with Vicious Syndicate, how would you describe your team's approach to the game and the culture of vS?

cgsongbird: Vicious Syndicate is a group of passionate gamers striving to make the esports scene more accessible to everyone. Our roster is competitive and motivated, but what most people don't know is everything that goes on behind the scenes. We have at least half a dozen Line chats full of both competitive and casual players and podcasters who just love Hearthstone and want to communicate and work with other people who feel the same way. Without a big behind-the-scenes organization, weekly events such as the Tuesday Night Hype wouldn't be possible!

Demigod: When it's time to tryhard, nothing will stop us from getting that win. We are very chill, but serious about the game.

Rayc591: Consistent improvement as a player and involvement in the esports scene is the main appeal of being a part of vS for me personally. If our roster is improving and making connections we will succeed. The culture of vS is laid back and serious at the same time. We all want to do well.


THL: Team Hearth League just finished its first official season, and attracts a mix of casual players and those with a competitive TCG/CCG background. For people who are just starting competitive play, what is your advice on how to prepare for a match or tournament.

cgsongbird: Talk to others! I'm lucky to have a brother who loves video games as much as I do and knows a great deal about Hearthstone. When it comes to competitive preparation, you will rarely know everything about everything, so two heads are literally better than one.

Demigod: Bring your comfort decks, get some sleep, and clear your mind.

Rayc591: I just wrote an article that answers this question, "The Quest for Regionals: A Survival Guide to Open Tournaments." You can find it here.


THL: Have you played in a ATLC format match before? What do you think of it?

cgsongbird: I've played in an ATLC style match once before with my team and fortunately we won! I watched ATLC diligently on Twitch while the tournament was happening and I think it's a really great way to collaborate with your teammates and pool skills. Plus, nowadays anything that isn't straight conquest is a welcome relief.

Demigod: Yes, I find the ATLC format enjoyable because I like to work as a team.

Rayc591: Yes. It was fun, the game becomes a lot easier when you have your team to back you up.

​THL: How does preparation differ from normal tournaments formats?

cgsongbird: ATLC style prep differs from other types because you really need to get all team members who are playing together to work out strengths and weaknesses to find the best possible lineup. Everybody has to play different classes, which is great because everybody has different play styles and experiences. If you work everything out correctly, it allows all players to really shine.

Demigod: Not much difference, except practicing communication among each other.


THL: One thing many players in THL have discovered is how much you improve when you play with a team. Vicious Syndicate plays at such a high level, in what ways do you keep pushing each other?

cgsongbird: I've been playing this game for over two years and there's still so much that I don't know. Similarly, my teammates have areas that they excel at and others that need some work. By sharing our knowledge of the game, we all become more well-rounded players and competitors. Anybody can play the game, but a team is there to provide those extra people to bounce ideas off of and to really learn from.

Demigod: What drives me to be better is to see my teammates doing well. I have to one-up them to let them know who is boss :)

Rayc591: I am internally motivated to be the best I can be. Seeing my teammates do well motivates me even more to want to win everything I can.


THL: Our THL team is really looking forward to this match, any parting shots before Salty Showdown?

cgsongbird: Nobody likes losing to a girl. You'll figure that out soon enough :P

Demigod: Happy Feast of Winterveil Champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rayc591: I never wish my opponents luck before a match. I don't want you to be lucky, I want to win.


THL: Finally, when and where can members of THL look for your Hearthstone streams or any of your additional Hearthstone content?

cgsongbird: You can always find me on twitter @vS_cgsongbird or on twitch at twitch.tv/sagecora! If you're interested in learning more about Hearthstone news, I do a weekly podcast called Coin Concede. We're on iTunes and Stitcher, as well as twitter @CoinConcede and you can learn more at coinconcede.com.

Demigod: You can find me at twitch.tv/demigodhs, thank you !

Rayc591: Twitch.tv/rayc591 and Twitter: @vS_rayc591

Before baseball, football, or other professional leagues became big business, there was a tradition of barnstorming. That's when a loosely organized team would hit the road and play a similar rag tag bunch of amateurs from nearby towns in front of a crowd of locals and hee haws. These teams were made up of the kind of athlete who would later be scouted, drafted, and handsomely paid, but who at the time were very much day jobbers, say the guy who could throw hardest at the lumber mill, or the strongest kid in the coal mine. 

As sports became professionalized, these ad hoc throwdowns evaporated. But in the wild west of eSports, the idea of show matches is alive and well. This Saturday, three THL All-Stars or squaring off against three members of the competitive team from Vicious Syndicate, the home of Tuesday Night Hype tournaments.

Two communities collide. Two gaming cultures rub shoulders in Twitch chat. And an echo from a century ago in sports is heard: Your best, our best. Let's go.

Today, we're talking to Team THL: Igor "Catota" Dos Santos Silva, Nick "ClarkKent" Valasco, and Mark "Slimsch" Schede about how they're preparing for Salty Showdown 1 and their thoughts on Season Inception.

​THL: How does it feel to be voted by your peers in THL to represent the league in the first Slaty Showdown?

Catota: It is amazing to represent THL in the first Slaty Showdown against Vicious Syndicate Gaming, I'm playing with great players who I had the honor to play with in the All-Star match last year. I also would like to thank all the players who voted for me and my team, Xnergy.

ClarkKent: I was incredibly honored of course. Coming into the league as a No. 3 seed, having never made legend before I joined, and even with our teams success last season I wasn't sure what everyone thought about me honestly. It's really humbling knowing that other members respect me enough to vote for me, even though I'm not as outgoing and active as I would like.

Slimsch: It's a great honor. I don't know if everyone fully appreciates it yet but these opportunities to interact with organizations outside the league are incredibly important in terms of future growth. In events like this a solid performance is important—it feels amazing to know that the league is confident in my abilities. 


THL: How are the THL All-Stars prepping for this show match?

Catota: The preparation for this show match is divided between the usual Hearthstone practicing and studying the format because [knowing] the rules can increase the team's success.

ClarkKent: Luckily, the three of us have played together before in this format, in the All-Stars tourney for THL, so we had an idea in place of how we wanted to go about preparation and strategy for the match. Now with just a few days left all that's left to do is practice deck lists and make last minute tweaks. 

Slimsch: Coincidentally, the three of us worked together for the previous all-star event. Our approach last time was to look at all nine classes as well as their various archetypes and formulate a lineup that is not only strong based on its own merit but also has the potential to react in a powerful way.

One way this is done is to categorize the classes into a few categories: must bring, debatable, and no. Only so many classes will likely fall into the "must bring" category, leaving opportunity to fill in the cracks based on what we like in the "debatable" category. Debatable classes/archetypes might not be so debatable when taking a glance at the aforementioned "must brings", they might just click perfectly. The third category will represent classes that we either feel aren't powerful enough or that we do not have enough experience with to play very competitively—this one is pretty slim. 

What is most important is ensuring that each player is happy with the classes/decks they are assigned to play and that the team as a whole feels confident in the overall strategy. If there are any doubts they are bound to show in the heat of the moment. The format is still relatively the same (conquest), which we are all quite familiar with at this point. As long as our collective deck selection is firing on all cylinders we are good to go. 


THL: Looking back on your Season Inception, how did it go?

Catota: Season Inception was great for me and for Xnergy, even though we couldn't get to the finals. We got more experience and we believe that we can do even better next season with more preparation.

ClarkKent: As defending champs, we definitely had high hopes coming into this season and it obviously didn't plan out as well as we had hoped. I think that has a lot to do with the league getting better and better and continuing to attract incredible talent. It's just going to get more competitive in the future.

Slimsch: It was easily my best season in THL as an individual. The previous season (Kappa) was rather poor for me, I had a 44% winrate, which I was not very pleased with in that season, where we narrowly missed the playoffs. 

For Inception I felt I was able to take advantage of the new ban format and formulate some powerful strategies week to week. I can't take all of the credit; my teammates steered me away from bad decisions very often in our group discussions. Sometimes I can get a bit carried away when it comes to planning in a format with so many possibilities. 

Outside of league play I got to become a part of Tavern Talk, which is something I look forward to each and every week. The events that are outside of regular season play are quickly becoming some of my favorite parts of THL, but I will always be extremely proud of my performance here in Season 1. 

​THL: What players and teams made the biggest impression on you this season?

Catota: I already had a great admiration for Slimsch since Kappa Season and the All-Star match. Furthermore, Noob Central surprised me, doing a great job in the playoffs.

ClarkKent: I'd be crazy not to say Noob Central has impressed me, especially in this playoff run. After beating us in the first round of playoffs, they proceeded to take down last season's other finalist in Xnergy. 

As for players, both Slimsch and HertzDonut have had incredible seasons. Slimsch going undefeated in the No. 1 seed is very impressive, and I think Hertz record was around 21-5 in games?! That's jaw dropping stuff.

Slimsch: I've had the pleasure of getting closer with seasoned THL veterans throughout this season, but I'd like to point to the newcomers. Their impact is the most noteworthy. 

As far as teams go I'd have to go with Team Soupreme. The Gosu Casuals had to face them in the Turf Wars and it was pretty daunting. I had to go up against MVParker who at the time was sitting cozy in the single digits of legend ranking, while Jingbudda had to go toe to toe with the former Blizzcon qualifier Deerjason. They were loaded heavy at the top and even had solid performances at lower seeds as we would learn throughout the season. Soupreme was knocked out narrowly by THL's own frat boys, but they will be a force to be reckoned with once again in Season 2. 

As far as players, Super Sam has made a big impression on me this season. In the early weeks of Tavern Talk we looked over at The Angry Chicken Fan Club with Super Sam as a last minute sign up and called them the dark horse of the season. Having watched Super Sam's streams regularly and speaking with him a bit, I think he is going to be one of the biggest players moving forward in THL. 

​
THL: Finally, we're expecting a decent THL turnout for the Salty Showdown, which dank memes and Twitch emotes can THL use during the match to send you power?

Catota: I would go with the classics: BabyRage, BibleThump, Kappa.

Slimsch: For this one I think we should consult an expert in dank memes such as Brunson. Personally I'm a fan of "THL all-stars, take my energy! \ MingLee /" But that is just me. You could also try to insert the Grinning Man (no space). ​

Semi Finals were filled with salt, sweeps and a whole lot of sugar coating! But unfortunately the Semi Finals were also filled with a lack of streams, the only stream being my crushing loss :) So here we go...

With the lack of streams(Come on guys! streams help this blog get content), Our new game mode's puzzle is not from THL this week, but there IS still a puzzle!

First though...as Always, we have our rules!
Our Rules:

• We become the player on the bottom of the screen and we decide what we would do next in the upcoming turn.
• Opponents cards are blanked out as well as anything that could give you the answer.
• 5 pieces of helpful information will be given to you in order to help you decide your turn.
• Use facebook to tell us what you would do.
• Have fun and try to explain your decision for the newbies out there.

JesusC (Team Rank 5l) vs Detrucci (The Hairy Generals)
I can only think of 1 match in my entire THL backlog of games since Kappa that I have walked away more salty than this. But lets take a look at some scenarios.
We will be playing the role of JesusC
We have a Tempo Mage and we are in luck of having lots of spells in our hand.


Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 4 cards in hand
• The coin was used in the previous turn by the opponent to coin a silverhand regent (hero power), Our Ragnaros also died a horrible death at the hands of the keeper of uldaman
• We have no idea what type of paladin secret is in play
• Fireball + hero power is a popular way to kill Dr Boom
• Flamewaker has alot of spells at his disposal including....Frostbolt, power overwhelming, unstable portal and fireball

 Welcome back to Is It Lethal?
This week we have an exciting new challenge for you

Let us know your answers on our facebook page!

Whew, what a way to start off the playoffs last weekend. Now only 4 teams are left in the Semi Finals. But before we get into that next week. We have to take a recap of some interesting situations from the Quarter Finals

This week we have decided to start something new within our weekly blog posts, still related ofcourse.
But we have a new game mode that we will introduce in the 2nd part of this blog post.

BoomBoomHall (The Hairy General) vs Jingbudda (Gosu Casuals)
What a crazy back and forth weekend it was for these 2 teams. Fortunately, this match gave us one of the most interesting scenarios of the entire Quarter Finals...and its not the first time BoomBoomHall has had the casters scratching their heads and then praising him afterwards.
We will be playing the role of BoomBoomHall
So its turn 1 and we have a Midrange Druid, theres lots of options surprisingly...but lets make this a good one as the first 4 turns of a Midrange Druid are some of the most difficult turns to get correct in the entire game.


Here are some things to consider:

• The opponent currently has 4 cards in hand (its the start of the game)
• The coin is available
• We could coin out the Darnassus Aspirant or Wild Growth
• Innervate is available aswell as a Shade of Naxxrammus afterwards
• A second Darnassus Aspirant is also available thanks to the luck of the draw. We could actually play both of them this turn!

The rules of this are a bit different. Instead of figuring out what you would play next and having the opponents cards blanked out, here we can see both players cards but we have a very interesting scenario.

During the Twizz vs Killajive game, Twizz was caught in a turn that could have changed the entire game completely.
Now bear in mind that Killajive in this screenshot, has 6 cards left in his hand. Now its up to you to do the math and see if you can find yourself in a position to have lethal or as close as you can to it. Once you do the math, let us know your answer on facebook!

The more you guys the participate, the better me and Alex can make this blog and hopefully it can continue to improve into something everyone can enjoy.

But for this week, that is all we have until next time. Please go write your replies into the THL Facebook Page

by Will "GernBlanston" Thompson

How much can you play? Can you get in 300 or more games in a month on ladder? If not, then you’re probably not going to hit Legend right now. Be realistic with your time and, just as important, be aware of your mental state.

Right when I get home from work isn’t a great time to play because I’m spent, not to mention that my daughter wants to play Weebles and I need to fix dinner. If you can find a set time to play each day, do it. A friend plays during his bus commute. I often play on the stationary bike or while my daughter falls asleep—though at that time I’m usually relegated to Druid, since her favorite hero is “the reindeer.”

In addition to time, keep in mind that you’re not always at your mental peak during your usual play time. If work was especially draining, today might be the day to dink around with a new deck in casual. Be flexible. While Hearthstone might have a ton of variance, life’s RNG is always going to deliver even crazier swings. ​

​How much can you invest, right off the bat? If you want to be super competitive and have almost every meta deck right away, you’re likely looking at a $400 dollar investment, possibly a little more. 

Lucky for you, Hearthstone is free to play (unless you ask Jaxox #neverlucky). Control decks are fun and, yes, golden Knife Jugglers are absolutely worth it (the knife spins), but starting out with a deck you can afford and building your collection slowly ensures you learn your first decks well. 

If you’re coming at Hearthstone with budget limitations, just enjoy the ride. Cracking that Sylvanas you need in a pack from quest gold or disenchanting a golden Windfury Harpy to finally net the dust for that Lay On Hands will be something to remember. Make memories. Take screenshots. Savor the small stuff. 
​

​​We all want to reach Legend every month, but is it realistic for you right now? As of this moment, Rank 5 is my Legend. I say that knowing my current abilities, as well as time and mental constraints. Do you want to be an infinite Arena player? If you’re at three to four average wins right now, maybe aim for hitting 50 wins over your next 10 runs.

Making matters somewhat worse, one of the few in-game rewards is that sweet, sweet orange cardback. But that doesn't mean you should ignore your personal milestones. Celebrate these incremental goals—crack a pack, use some dust. Hearthstone is a game and games are designed to be fun, in addition to whatever else we get out of them. Don’t make firing up Hearthstone be a trip to the salt mines. That’s what Facebook is for. 
​

After a particularly brutal three-day losing streak during my second month of Hearthstone, part of me wanted to up and quit. Thankfully, VendiClique added me to the THL group and, despite my fears that I would horribly embarrass myself, I sought a spot on a team and was very lucky to get picked up (shout out to the dudes in Entropy). 

Even if I hadn’t been drafted then, I’d have hung around and asked questions. THL is extremely well run and the folks at the top do an incredible job of making it welcoming for players of all levels. If THL isn’t for you, seek out a positive place with players that can assist you and that you can also assist. Sure, I usually sit at about Rank 12 and can’t figure how to best navigate the midgame with anything but Face Hunter or midrange Druid (note to self: go face), but I can definitely help a noob out with some card choices or in making better trades. 
​

​What about your loved ones? My wife doesn’t particularly find watching Hearthstone interesting (though I’m pretty sure Fallout 3 brought us closer together than just about anything), but my daughter loves the animations and characters. She sometimes sits and watches me play, telling me when my “job’s done” or that she really wants me to play Jaraxxus. Other times, she’ll play Play-Doh and I’ll roll up whatever shape she wants on my opponent’s turn. 

Also, the game is free. Con one of your buddies into trying the game and walk them through the beginner stages and maybe buy them a few packs. My best friend lives in Seattle, but we talk about Hearthstone almost every day and I help him with what to disenchant and occasionally coach him through the lower ranks. 

Podcasts are a great way for the time strapped to get a Hearthstone fix. Most Hearthstone podcasts are run by average folks just like you, but who also have a microphone. Noob Central’s AlecGWPodcast co-hosts Golden Wisp, a great source of news, strategy, and metagame rundown. If time is of the essence, give 1600 Dust a listen. In 20 short minutes, these guys cover what’s new in the game and throw in the occasional guest, such as KRUPS. 

In short: Don’t isolate yourself. Look for those who can share the game with you. But not in Twitch chat. Never, never in Twitch chat.

Hearthstone is great. THL is awesome. Be excellent to each other. Don’t give up. Work hard. Have fun. Gaming doesn’t have to end at parenthood, after all the first draft of this was written with my daughter napping on my shoulder.