Thank you so much for the feedback!
I don't think there's a right or wrong way of playing the game. If you won I think you deserve the praise for that achievement! Sometimes you are able to avoid the vampire and the priest, but other times there's a chance that one or even both might be activated at the beginning of the game and you'll have to adapt.
However, your idea of having the possibility to not randomly affect cards is an interesting concept. Thanks for the idea! We'll explore it.
The reason for which we chose to have them active when in their lairs, was to make it so that the player has to make a choice: either keep the special cards deactivated or take a risk and keep them active, with the benefit that you have extra neutral zones. Your idea with the target rows, though, would make for a very for a very interesting mechanic.
Lots of thanks again! Really cool!