Pathfinder is probably the riskiest avatar to run, especially when considering the atlas draw. That said it can offer the most explosiveness..potentially landing 6 sites while drawing 6 cards.
This deck hopes for at least 2 of the first 4 sites to be fire, otherwise you won't get enough speed to win.
MULLIGAN EVERYTHING EXCEPT.
Against Archimago do not mulligan Courtesan Thais.
Against Sorcerer keep Warhorse.
Playing.
It's a race....decimate before you are decimated.
Block only if you are losing the race.
Attack sights wherever profitable. Trade attack when you have more minions.
If your opponent allows Pathfinder to get upfield early, do so.
Save your blinks for when you really need a site or to get adjacent to an enemy avatar on deaths door.
Late game airborne minions should be used like chess pieces to contain the enemy avatar.
Don't play cerebrus if there are more aggressive options.
Card selection
I didn't put 2 monstrous lions because I wanted to be able to attack sites, nothing worse than a monstrous lion without any food.
I only have 1 manticore and 1 infernal legion ( which explains the phoenix and ancient dragon).
Shackles are great Against big minions...but the deck was fire / earth for a while, and really I was worried about missing bury.
There is only one siege giant because I wanted immolation and major explosion ( for protection and late game victory).
Pellinore is explosiveness, kill a big minion and draw a card??
Coutesan is to be played against Archimago as soon as you see craterize in the graveyard or thier hand ( via lookout ).
regarding sites, i wanted pillar of Z, but i left it in buffalo and didn't have it with me.
Also I like randomness!
My experience.
Gen con was my first time playing in an actual event. The community of players and organizers were fantastic. That was the biggest takeaway.
Technically tho.
Game 1, I drew 3 of 4 air sites and lost convincingly. The sight that shuts of charge minions was a major kryptonite.
I drew good sites games 2-7, and fortunately did not run into any avatars who disrupted my site placement which guaranteed me 6 or more sites in the early going.
Manticore hit the table once.
I drew ancient dragon 3x but never played it. There were some close calls , but I think this deck has decent chance against druid, deathspeaker is a favorable match up as well (as the deck has almost zero genesis minions). I was fortunate to not run into battlemage, archimago OR any heavy water decks.
I had alot of fun and in truth I got lucky catching the right card in a few close matches.
I have a small 5-6 person play group just south of Buffalo NY, that meets up at kitchen tables. The closest gamestore to carry it is 90 minutes away. This game is great, I hope it grow legs and thrives..Can't wait for gothic.!!