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Originally Posted by usa_hank
Disagree. Balance just means you're just playing blackjack with others who know the same basic strategy. It's all just random chance then.
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This relies on the assumption that everyone has the same level of game knowledge and the same strategies. They don't. We're surrounded by a sea of players whose game knowledge runs from overwhelmed noob to master of the most intricate details. People also play the game with differing goals and strategies.
I'm certainly not in the top echelon of players, but I won two championships last week with teams that were worse on paper than their competition. Being FTP, I'm mostly biding my time and stocking up on points. That means finding value in silver and gold cards that won't break the bank rather than spending on shiny diamonds that won't actually outperform a well-chosen silver card. There are plenty of dud diamond cards in the launch deck, and some of the perfects are far from perfect. As usual, OVR is not a reliable indicator, at least not until we hit endgame around December and can count on the 104's and 105's to be top dogs.
One way to "beat the system" is to understand the underlying ratings, build a solid roster where every card has a use, and have a coherent strategy that ties it all together. That's why a well-balanced set is important: value throughout, if you know what you're looking for. It's also a lot of fun to watch your 70-something third baseman outperform the competition's diamond cards at bat and on the field.