Luck/Turmoil versus Nothing.

[RadicalTurnip]

I agree that Niefel is usually a huge candidate for Order over Turmoil, but I was trying a niche strategy, and it was on a medium map against 5 people (so a fairly small map), which meant that I had the game won within a few years. If anybody would have been focused on researching or figuring out how to beat my bless, they would have had an easy time with it, but everyone happened to be in-fighting, so my 2 30-giant armies steamrolled all the castles, and my 7+ thugs raiding into enemy territory bought me most of the other provinces.

I guess this got a bit off-topic, but what I was trying to say is that no pretender build is the best 100% of the time, there are niche uses for everything, even things which seem counter-productive sometimes.

[chrispedersen]

No pretender choice will be the best for all situations - but some pretender choices are optimal or near optimal, and will allow you to both maximize your positives and have a shot at winning the game.

Sub-optimal designs, conversely will lower your chances.

[RadicalTurnip]

Unless of course you get deep into game theory and everyone is planning on playing against you. The the optimum choice is to pick a sub-optimal build that maximizes a different style of play.

But, that wasn't the case. I agree that certain pretender choices are sub-optimal (Sleeping pretender on LA Ermor?), and that a given pretender may be optimal or nearly optimal in many to most situations, but I don't think this is a game where one can play like in a vacuum, you have to look at your opponents and the situation.

I guess that's all pretty obvious stuff...I'm probably preaching to the choir, so to speak.