BATTLE MAGE SECRETS : BACK TO BASICS RULESET

Back To Basics as a ruleset have its own beauty when deployed in a battle. In a battle where there's an unlimited possible combination of attack-type, random-number-generation, abilities, etc. the battle result could be a Butterfly Effect which outcome we couldn't predict. And within this complexities, Back To Basics seemed to provide solace by bringing the battle back to its basic nature. Fight with all your strength!

Each cards type will perform to their original nature. Melee to fight in the front-row, while ranged and magic to support attack in the back-row. This will result in an ideal formation consist of 1 melee, followed with 2 / 3 magic, and ended with 2 / 3 ranged. Melee are literally useful only on the 1st row and would be idle in any other position. And then to gain the most firepower, back-row must have balance between ranged and magic cards.

Magic cards are versatile that they able to step-up to the front-row that as backup Tanker. But magic cards have lower damage output compared to ranged cards. Having more magic cards in the mid-row would render enough line of defense but risking a lower damage output. In contrary having less magic cards, allow more damage output from ranged cards, but leave a thin line of defense that could jeopardize the ranged cards itself.

So it was a simple ruleset, but still a deep though is neeeded.

Pros & Cons

1. Without abilities, the battle will become simplified, and less time would be needed to think for strategy .	1. There's a predictable pattern on the formation being used, as I mentioned in the opening above.
2. Status parameter is the sole strength that rule under this ruleset. Thus raw cards (cards without any abilities) would be a priority card in this battle.	2. Summoner effect could still applies, therefor having powerful summoner (for example with damage buff) could totally change the course of the battle.

Rulesets To Be Watched

Ruleset	Strategy
	Any ruleset which empower armor or accuracy seemed to go along with Back To Basics ruleset, since they will apply to all cards with no equal benefit, and not reversed from particular abilities.
	Ranged cards are very important as main damage dealer. With Close Range, at least less concern must be given on providing line of defense before ranged cards. Therefor the more number of ranged cards could be deployed than the magic cards.

WATCH BATTLE

So here we have the battle experience with Back To Basics as the ruleset.
https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sm_zfwDaAwlkUs0FgALLA6N

The battle has 50 mana cap, with Armored Up, Back To Basics, and Lost Legendaries ruleset, and Splinter are all accessible except for Earth Splinter. For my formation, I used:

Position	Card Name	Level	Mana	Health	Armor	Speed	Damage Type	Damage
Summoner	Thaddius Brood	2	4	-	-	-	-	-
1st Row	Night Ghoul	1	11	10	4	1	Melee	4
2nd Row	War Chang	1	7	8	-	3	Melee	2
3rd Row	Magi Of Chaos	1	6	5	-	2	Magic	2
4th Row	Magi Necrosi	1	6	4	-	4	Magic	2
5th Row	Insidious Warlock	2	5	5	-	2	Magic	2
6th Row	Dhampir Stalker	2	7	5	-	3	Ranged	3

My opponent formation:

Position	Card Name	Level	Mana	Health	Armor	Speed	Damage Type	Damage
Summoner	Grandmaster Rathe	1	6	-	-	-	-	-
1st Row	Imperial Knight	3	7	8	6	2	Melee	2
2nd Row	Djinn Renova	2	7	6	-	3	Magic	2
3rd Row	Captain Katie	1	7	6	-	2	Magic	3
4th Row	Magi Of Chaos	2	6	6	-	2	Magic	2
5th Row	War Pegasus	1	7	7	-	3	Ranged	2
6th Row	Supply Runner	3	6	5	-	4	Ranged	2

I don't bring the most powerful and efficient cards for my formation in this battle. I choose Death Splinter since this my main priority is to have a strong magic cards for my line of defense. I wish I could use Life Splinter with its powerful ranged cards, but I felt its too risky without strong magic cards.

The first row filled by Night Ghoul which cost me 11 mana. The card have an overall status parameter that wasn't extra stronger compared to Imperial Knight which only cost 7 mana. The 2nd row filled by War Chang with its double melee-ranged attack which seemed to be a good choice to be a backup Tanker. My 3rd to 5th row filled with magic cards. And the last row filled with Dhampir Stalker.

My opponent bring a powerful arsenal of magic and ranged cards. But unfortunately, the formation are dragged down by Thaddius Brood magic debuff.

Round 1 started and both formation launched their attack into the Tanker. By the end of the round, Night Ghoul left with only 6 health, while Imperial Knight left with 7 health

Both formation continue exchanging blow until the Tankers are down, and the backup now step up to the front-row. War Chang and Djinn Renova seemed to be an equal match in term of health, speed, and damage.

Entering Round 3, the combined power of my formation managed to bring down Djinn Renova first. But its not long before War Chang was taken down by Captain Katie.

At the start of Round 4, the tide start turning upon my formation. With the combined damage output better than my opponent, my Magi Necrosi and Dhampir Stalker finally shot down Captain Katie.

At the start of Round 5, my formation already gained the upperhand from the more number of surviving cards. Magi of Chaos was shot down by Supply Runner, but it didn't take long for Dhampir Stalker to make a payback.

Once my opponent War Pegasus have to step up into 1st row, it already lost momentum with only Supply Runner as it main damage dealer. It not long before Round 7 come and Supply Runner step up into 1st row and become a sitting duck.

CONCLUSION

In Back To Basics ruleset, the battle turn into somehow tug of war battle. The first formation to tip off the opponent firepower, would likely to secure victory of the battle. Thus in this kind of battle, speed seemed to be an important aspect. Having earlier act order, could ambush your opponent formation, destroying their cards before they able to act.