Here’s what I’ve found: If you let the other guy have the first building scene, you’re giving him the initiative. You’re going to have to follow him around - play to his strengths instead of yours.
I’ve done this to PCs, where their skills are mostly irrelevant to the situation at hand. Because they stood back while I took the fight to them, on my own terms.
Awesome strategy, Dave. That’s what I’m in the process of now in my own group. They’re having a hell of a hard time figuring out how to work their scenes to their advantage, so I’m having to use my scenes both to set the pace (by giving the players something to do/respond to) and, hopefully, win my maneuvers.