@@donete9699First is not better. Letting Gecko go second gives them extra resources to counter and grind you out and lets them play Gecko Moria on curve which makes the game so much harder. Going first also means we cannot be aggressive with our board since if we can’t find a 3 cost our best play is swing 8K. Even if you find a 3cost and they respond with Absalom we have effectively made the game stall an extra turn where Gecko is favored.
There are also arguments to be made for going first though. Being able to swing first is one. But another is taking away their 7 don play if leader ability + raw dropping a 4c. Going first also allows you to evade their perona play by playing a Gordon (although you’re right, this only really works if you have a 3c to play). The game gets difficult once a Gecko is out, and letting them go second lets them play it faster in curve, but really Gecko on 8 is much more limiting than Gecko + Great Eruption or Ice Age on 9. Not here to agree or disagree, but ive been taking 1st and ive been comfortable with it