Sponosors, (the most efficient first round ramp?)

[Wargraith]

Is the best path to victory a big sponsor card inside the first break to get the ramp running the most effeciently?

I know getting a conservartion funded or a card or 2 flipped is really strong as well.

I am beginning to believe the most effcient and eaiest path to ramping (with excellent or better tempo) inside of the first break, is to simply have drawn a top sponsor card and play it. If your opponent manages to get one off the opening hand and you don't does it feel pretty hopeless?

If i am correct about this the luck rating of this game should be much higher than 1.

Thoughts and feedback welcome!

[Azoken]

Yes and... No.

I've had opponent had the dream hand against me a few times, but didn't have the skill to keep the engine alive.

There is a luck component for sure but it's not that important. Compared to skill at least. Check the profile of top Arena players. They should have a 80~90% winrate which can't be obtain in a Luck based game.

But you are right on one thing : having the good sponsor does help :p.

[Monkeyunit]

While there are some sponsor cards that are just generally good ( Federal Grants, Technology Institute) most of them require you to build your game plan around it in some way.

There can be very strong starts, but most of them require a lot of time/turns to play them all out.
The thing I see most with weaker players is they take too many inefficient actions in the first 2 rounds given the other player all the time in the world to develop their engine.

a key skill in Ark Nova is understanding who has the most benefit of the round lasting an triggering a break accordingly.
Sometimes its just better to use sponsor action to trigger a break ( perhap even using a couple of X tokens) even when you have a sponsor card you want to play.