+7

Great article. Alt-VP often highlights and complicates the beatdown vs. control dichotomy. Some examples:



Goons: The engine player who can play more Goons per turn is clearly in the controlling position. Indeed, that player almost never wants to purchase green cards. On the other hand, if you're behind in your ability to play Goons (whether it be due to losing the village split, the Goons split, or the draw-cards split), but have more economy, you are the beatdown deck playing for Provinces (with additional VP from Goons).



Fairgrounds: On a Fairgrounds board, one player might invest in 6-point Fairgrounds while the other player aims for Provinces with 4-point Fairgrounds as a consolation prize. This case is complicated. Often, the 6-point Fairgrounds player starts out in the control position. They need a longer game for their investment in a bunch of cards to pay off. Their opponent (who might have a more focused engine) wants to end the game quickly with more Provinces. But the situation might change if the first player gets 15 unique cards before the Provinces are close to empty. In this case, the 4-point Fairgrounds player might want the game to last longer, because their deck is (presumably) higher quality and they can (a) buy Duchies faster and (b) reach 6-point Fairgrounds of their own.



Vineyards: Also complicated. Suppose both players go for Vineyards somewhat early. One player wins the Vineyards split 5-3. They (a) have more VP, and (b) have a lower quality deck. Are they the beatdown deck or the control deck? Well, the player with fewer victory cards has more control over the ending of the game, but it might be in their interest to end the game before the 5-Vineyards player can gain a bunch of action cards. The 3-Vineyards player might want to aggressively empty low action piles and grab some Provinces to win on three piles before the 5-Vineyards player can pull ahead.



Feodum: Another complicated case. Suppose there is a powerful Silver gainer on the board with Feodum (like Masterpiece). One player goes all in on Feodums. Their opponent ignores it and goes for Provinces with either with a moneyish approach or an engine. A moneyish Province player doesn't have much control. The game ends when they buy all of the Provinces, which is what they want to do anyway. Perhaps they snag a Feodum or two for denial? The Feodum player generally wants the game to last longer, but they don't have much control in that regard. Perhaps the Feodum player grabs the 3rd-to-last Province to setup a penultimate Province threat. Even if the Province player is playing an engine, it isn't obvious that they are the control player. They have more control over the end of the game, but they might not want the the game to go long. That would give the Feodum player time to max out on Feodums and snag some Provinces. Silk Road can present a similar situation, where the Silk Road player wants the game to last longer but doesn't have much control over the end of the game.