A Critical Analysis of Openings:
D/P vs. D/P

• DP/PS vs. DP/PS

  DPP wrecks other moves, such as DPS. So you can expect both you and your opponent to be hit by Amnesia. DPP/PSD leads to Delay Invis, most probably to a double Delay Invis setup (best finished with the TaliDelay weave). In the past, weaves such as DPPPSFWS PSDDPPWS were sometimes used in an attempt to punish Delay Effect chasers. For a long time they were deprecated in the face of defenses like DPPPWSSWFP PSDDWSSSPFP which can disarm an ogre and trump the non-delayer's Invisibility. However, summoning two ogres and moving into charm leaves no real answer for a player who delays: DPPPSFWPSD PSDDPPSFW Of course, if neither player goes invisible, you are left with a rather ugly stalemate of repeated DPPs and PSDs. DPP/PSF is another tempting alternative, since the para can both prevent Invis and commence Para/FOD at the same time. However, this is pretty obvious, so your opponent can instead continue DPPPS/PSDDP, which gets him at least three 50/50s to escape the FOD, with likely initiative if he escapes or you abandon the FOD. Not recommended.

• DS/PS vs. DS/PS

  The standard move here, and probably the best one, is DSF/PSD. Assuming both Maladroits hit, you have three real options for continuing. PSDD beats the SFW option, while PSDF beats PSDD. PSDF and SFW are close, but PSDF probably wins again, as it can attempt to kill or steal the goblin while curing and setting up more threats: DSFFF PSDFP DSFWxx PSDW-- If the goblin owner doesn't set up a counterspell on his free hand, he is vulnerable to a nasty strike of disease, with the real possibility of a kill. If he does, the charmer wins enough initiative to try to steal the goblin (or going on to Para/FOD, though this is a bad idea with the goblin out and various 50/50s available). So the PSDF/DSFF route is most solid. If the Maladroits happen to bounce, PSDF/DSFW and PSDD/DSFW are both decent lines. Other possibilities include two DSF-absorbing dummies: DSW/PSD, DSWD PSDD DSFW PSDF which can have haphazard results, and the rarely seen DSP/PSD, which has the potential to nab a little initiative, or a big Perm Blind combo, depending on whether or not the DSF player defends well: DSPFP PSDFW DSFFF PSDFW

• DP/PS vs. DS/PS

  Each player has two real options here: DPP/PSD or DPS/PSD, and DSF/PSD with the Maladroit targetted at either player. Other moves, including those using PSF, DSW, or DSP, are inferior to the ones above in pretty much every case. Looking at the possible results, the DS player is basically screwed if he's hit with either disruption. If both DPP and DSF land, DP goes Invis, and DS can't defend it beyond throwing a weak, last minute para: DPPWS PSDWSD DSFFF PSDD If DS hits himself with Maladroit but DP dummies Amnesia, DP has two charms lined up while DS has the choice of a single charm or a goblin. The best he can do to defend still leaves his opponent with an ogre. (DS can sneak a goblin in, but risks being charmed (and then having the goblin charmed, or the ogre summoned anyway) to do it, and comes out behind regardless.) DPSFW PSDF DSFF PSDF If DS hits DP with Maladroit, but DP dummies Amnesia, it's a little better for DS, but not much. The best case scenario for DS is that the two disruptions bounce: DPP PSD DSF PSD The potential for Invis Delay likely forces DS to fire the charm. He'll either end up up a goblin if the charms both hit, or down a goblin and up a charm. Alternately, he can avoid summoning the goblin and guarantee a great outcome if he isn't charmed, or a nearly even one if he is. DP should probably dummy Amnesia to avoid this last possibility. However, regardless of what he does, there are no outcomes of DP vs. DS that favor DS outright, while there are several that favor DP. Therefore, DP/PS is the better tack to take in D/P vs. D/P.

  Best Variant for D/P: DP/PS