Big Blue. Such an awesome name. Unfortunately, as I built the deck, turns out black was needed. Lemme whip up that there list. And dude, I would KILL for Mana Drain. Also, the unrestriction of Fact or Fiction. Luckily, my group is testing playing with no banned lists. So, I need some Gushi.
3 x Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
3 x Psychatog
2 x Tombstalker
4 x Fact or Fiction
2 x Decree of Pain
1 x Damnation
2 x Evacuation
3 x Sudden Death
2 x Wipe Away
~14 more slots for CA and Removal. Gush, maybe? For the kill!
Le Lands, including 4 Charge lands and 2 Thawing Glaciers.
Right, right. Trust me, I'll get something. Tomorrow's the big day... here we go!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Everybody's Working for the Weekend!
It's so true. At least, I am. And I'll be damned if I'll let something like school or this is a dead thought that hit a wall.
I made it to a second page! That's freakin' awesome.
Huh. I like the Wooden Marble, by the way.
Alright, alright, I need concrete topic. Uh, uh.
Okay, aight, got one.
I wanna build Doran.dec. Not the extended super mega-beast that's dominating the metagame at my last check. A deck built for dudes with big butts. I'm talking having a single tutorable Indomitable Ancients. For. The. Win. Also, multiplayer friendly. Hmm. What do I need...
4 x Doran
4 x Harbinger
1 x Indomitable Ancients (two?)
2 (3?) x Leafcrowned Elder
Some of those new Wardens, Thorntooth Witches, Regenerators, that new Champion guy.
More fun stuff.
4 x Nameless Inversion
4 x STP
4 x Prison
Demonic Tutor and Regrowth?
X x Footbottom Feasts.
And Murmuring Bosks! I shall get them this weekend, after I win 5 foil Mutavaults in the draft.
Dude, I can not follow a train of thought to save my life. Just you wait!
I made it to a second page! That's freakin' awesome.
Huh. I like the Wooden Marble, by the way.
Alright, alright, I need concrete topic. Uh, uh.
Okay, aight, got one.
I wanna build Doran.dec. Not the extended super mega-beast that's dominating the metagame at my last check. A deck built for dudes with big butts. I'm talking having a single tutorable Indomitable Ancients. For. The. Win. Also, multiplayer friendly. Hmm. What do I need...
4 x Doran
4 x Harbinger
1 x Indomitable Ancients (two?)
2 (3?) x Leafcrowned Elder
Some of those new Wardens, Thorntooth Witches, Regenerators, that new Champion guy.
More fun stuff.
4 x Nameless Inversion
4 x STP
4 x Prison
Demonic Tutor and Regrowth?
X x Footbottom Feasts.
And Murmuring Bosks! I shall get them this weekend, after I win 5 foil Mutavaults in the draft.
Dude, I can not follow a train of thought to save my life. Just you wait!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Drama!
At the Magic boards! Crazy shit going down. I got an account on the Wooden Marble myself, but I'm not leaving the WotC site. I like it too much, and quite honestly, the stuff that's going down doesn't effect me too much. It's just that the people who's opinions I respect (some of them) are leaving, so I shall follow. I like getting all sides of my stories.
By the by, I couldn't update this weekend. Totaled my bike and went to the emergency room. Whoops!
That being said, still not much Magic done recently. I played some the night I got out, borrowing a deck. I won both games off of a Chandra... fun stuff. I need more of her, I have only one. Also, no Magic will be done for a while... 'til this weekend. I'm totally fully documenting at least 2 MOR-MOR-MOR drafts.
Damn, I'm excited.
By the way, they'll be 6-man drafts. Matt's working, Fidel sucks. Et. Al. At least it's a small set.
By the by, I couldn't update this weekend. Totaled my bike and went to the emergency room. Whoops!
That being said, still not much Magic done recently. I played some the night I got out, borrowing a deck. I won both games off of a Chandra... fun stuff. I need more of her, I have only one. Also, no Magic will be done for a while... 'til this weekend. I'm totally fully documenting at least 2 MOR-MOR-MOR drafts.
Damn, I'm excited.
By the way, they'll be 6-man drafts. Matt's working, Fidel sucks. Et. Al. At least it's a small set.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
My Cube is the Cloverfield Monster
Updated, Bagged, and Tagged.
Pretty much all I have to say. It's proxying a Golgari Signet. Unless Brett can hook me up. What the hell. Also, Morningtide draft next weekend. Freaking sweet. I won't be playing Magic this weekend, training for the MS 150. Soo, until next weekend. Game report time them. Yep.
Pretty much all I have to say. It's proxying a Golgari Signet. Unless Brett can hook me up. What the hell. Also, Morningtide draft next weekend. Freaking sweet. I won't be playing Magic this weekend, training for the MS 150. Soo, until next weekend. Game report time them. Yep.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Exploding
Wow, so on a whim on Wednesday, I'm brainstorming deck ideas and came up with the idea of 11Wurm.dec. It was RGB madness, with 4 Arrogant Wurms, 4 Wreckless Wurms, and 3 Roar of the Wurms. It'd have a sweet removal suite, 4 Lightning Axes, 4 Dark Witherings, and 4 Fiery Temper. Then there'd be some nice outlets, like Urborg Syphon-Mage, Llanowar Empath, and everyone's favorite: Wild Mongrel. Top it off with some neat effects with Anger, Grave Scrabbler, and then some Threshold beaters, and things would be nice.
Well, the only problem is that, for some reason, my group can not pull together commons. In 3 boxes of Lorwyn we can crack the essentials for Elves, Merfolk, Faeries, Goblins, Treefolk, and Giants. But we can not get 4 Lightning Axes or Syphon Mages. Out of anyone. A little disheartening. But, I still played on with what I could get together.
And it was awesome.
This deck was fairly explosive, and I'd call it one of the first real aggro decks that I've seen successful in Multiplayer. Having several 4/4's and 3/3's with various benefits being sent out to the red zone each turn was awesome. Plus, there were two occasions where I got to knock 3 players out of the game by comboing off Forced Fruition and having crazy Mongrels. The deck is super explosive, and I think I'm going to get more essentials for it soon.
In the mean time, Morningtide prereleases went by. It seems Rogues are broken in limited, but you need to hit a crazy high critical mass so you can guarantee Prowl. I think Warriors would be plenty fun, just beating face with an efficient drop each turn.
We shall see in 2 weeks.
Well, the only problem is that, for some reason, my group can not pull together commons. In 3 boxes of Lorwyn we can crack the essentials for Elves, Merfolk, Faeries, Goblins, Treefolk, and Giants. But we can not get 4 Lightning Axes or Syphon Mages. Out of anyone. A little disheartening. But, I still played on with what I could get together.
And it was awesome.
This deck was fairly explosive, and I'd call it one of the first real aggro decks that I've seen successful in Multiplayer. Having several 4/4's and 3/3's with various benefits being sent out to the red zone each turn was awesome. Plus, there were two occasions where I got to knock 3 players out of the game by comboing off Forced Fruition and having crazy Mongrels. The deck is super explosive, and I think I'm going to get more essentials for it soon.
In the mean time, Morningtide prereleases went by. It seems Rogues are broken in limited, but you need to hit a crazy high critical mass so you can guarantee Prowl. I think Warriors would be plenty fun, just beating face with an efficient drop each turn.
We shall see in 2 weeks.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bestiaire Drafting
First, it's a terrible site. Secondly, it's an awesome site.
So I was playing around with it, and made 6 packs of 10th Ed. with 5 rares and 15 commons, with 15 drafters.
And I got this.
Welllll that copypasta'd funny. Anyways, If you actually read through that, you'll see that I drafted UW turbofog. I lol'd.
Anyways, jus' saying that once again I have nothing to say today, even an hour later.
So I was playing around with it, and made 6 packs of 10th Ed. with 5 rares and 15 commons, with 15 drafters.
And I got this.
Welllll that copypasta'd funny. Anyways, If you actually read through that, you'll see that I drafted UW turbofog. I lol'd.
Anyways, jus' saying that once again I have nothing to say today, even an hour later.
i think casual is a pretty cool guy
eh is fun and doesnt afraid of anything.
Okay, so maybe that one was pretty lame. But seriously, I love casual. Why? Because of what it allows me to do. I'm all about the eternal formats. I hate restrictions, and almost nothing feels better than a 1st turn Brainstorm. But the problem with any eternal format is, inevitably, the cost. Fetches and Duals and Forces are quite expensive to get a hold of. And you pretty much need those to play (read: You pretty much need those to play any deck I want to play).
That's where casual comes in. Casual lets me play with all of the cards I'd want to, but it's perfectly cool with me having only so much at my disposal. Case in point, my (multiplayer) UGW thresh deck that I'm lookin' at.
21 x WHERE AN EXPENSIVE LAND BASE WOULD BE
And some Nantuko man-land things. And one of them Krosan Verges. And Terramorphic Expanses.
4 x Werebear
4 x Nimble Mongoose
3 x Mystic Enforcer
4 x Ghostly Prison
4 x Brainstorm
4 x Ponder
4 x Impulse
4 x Swords to Plowshares
And junk. By the way, totally off topic, but this deck'll never win. It ain't got crap going for it. No finishers, no huge threats, and not enough staying power.
Back to where I was. If I wanted to take this to Legacy, ForcesFetchesAndDuals would all be necessary. First of all, they'd speed up the deck and give it the proper defense it needed. Secondly, consistencylol. Casual is forgiving. If you trip up and are color screwed for a second or so, the game is probably not done just yet.
And, jesus, this deck sucks. Okay, let's scrap it. Also, I had something else I was going to say about Casual... awesome buddies, no pressure, etc... but screw it, I'm just looking at a deck idea now.
UR Midrange, once again, Multiplayer Friendly. This isn't a list, per se, but stuff that I think needs to be considered and, of course, will make life harder when I have to cut stuff.
Torchling
Kumano, Master Yamabushi
Meloku
FTK
Tauren Mauler
Serra Sphinx
Niv-Mizzet
The Blue and Red Martyrs
Snap
Lightning Bolt
Electrolyze
Fire//Ice
Compulsive Research
Deep Analysis
Izzet Signet
Mind Stone
Brainstorm
Ponder
Impulse
Sulfurous Blast
Pyroclasm
So, there's a problem here. Blast and 'Clasm can deal a number on me with Meloku, FTK, Mauler, and the Martyrs. Fire//Ice and Electrolyze need to be maxed out for their potential or not run at all. The Signet, Mind Stone, Brainstorm, Ponder, and Impulse all serve as the same thing: setting me up to do better things. Research and Analysis are all late game dig. And, oh, all of my beaters have ~5CMC. Bawww. Bah, I'll table this deck, too.
0 fer 2 right now. Grrrreat.
Oh, okay, more deck construction. Brett and I are considering doing some T2 FNM. He's got a very nice Fairy Deck, effectively the best build in the format. I'd lend him my Thoughseizes. However, what would I run? I dunno. I don't have many components for the best decks. If I could get some Shriekmaws, I'd have Commandless Mannequin. So, while looking at my collection, I had a fairly duh moment. I have a playset of Wrath of God's. Durr. While Damnation may be preferred, and people may like black better, I'm also only trying to win an FNM here. Further exploration into my Standard legal white shows I have a set of O-Rings, Condemns, and Sacred Mesa. Alright, seems good. I could probably pick up Martyr of Sands. A Snow engine would probably be a touch expensive, but I've always wanted one. So, my white could be fairly strong. But would it stand alone?
Because after those dozen-and-some cards, the power runs thin. There's an Akroma (and some decks just can't deal with her) and, uh, the white Ghostly-Prison-Muse. And some Austere Commands. If I stretch, I suppose I have, well... Mana Tithe. Temporal Isolation. Cloudgoat Ranger? Budget finisher for the masses, mirite?
No.
Okay, so, we've established that my white is good. But is it good enough to go monocolored? It better be, as my only pains are Battlefield Forges. The power in that combo is Brion Stoutarm, good burn, and then it dries up after a Chandra. Although, that wouldn't be too bad. I've always liked midrange Aggro Control like decks.
Other good T2 cards I'm looking at show up in blue. I have Rune Snags... And Mulldrifter? And a Venser. 4 Riftwing Cloudskates! Yeah, no. I ain't building me no Blink. But Pickels... Eh. My Black is lacking. Just, 100%. Theres 2 Seizes, Terrors, and NADA. I have no Goyfs. Green's out.
So I think my options are looking like this:
Mono W Mesa (with Loxodon Warhammers and Gauntlets of Power, too)
RW Aggro Control (probably a blast to play, obscene amounts of removal)
UW Control (Hey, there's Cancel, too!)
W/u/r (The most power cards, with Numot and Angel. But Riskyyyy)
I'm feeling the RW Aggro Control. I'd kill for some Lightning Helixes, but you gotta suck it up and go with it some times.
Alright, the shell:
3 x Brion Stoutarm
2 x Bogardan Hellkite
4 x Bottle Gnomes
1 x Akroma
(1 x RAkroma?)
7 x Incinerate/Lash Out
~11 x Pyroclasm/Sulfurous Blast/Wrath of God/Austere Command
4 x Condemn
4 x Oblivion Ring
~8 x Specialties (Disenchant, Mana Tithe, Sudden Shock)
~ 3 x Sacred Mesas
1 x Chandra
That's already about 48. Hmm, less point removal. And Oblivion Ring takes card of special situations. We'll see, we'll see.
I've written a lot of words but not said much. I'm too busy tearing people up on the forums =D
No, but srsly though. I'm good-point-making'd out for now. I'll come back when I have something real to say and not just thinking out loud.
Okay, so maybe that one was pretty lame. But seriously, I love casual. Why? Because of what it allows me to do. I'm all about the eternal formats. I hate restrictions, and almost nothing feels better than a 1st turn Brainstorm. But the problem with any eternal format is, inevitably, the cost. Fetches and Duals and Forces are quite expensive to get a hold of. And you pretty much need those to play (read: You pretty much need those to play any deck I want to play).
That's where casual comes in. Casual lets me play with all of the cards I'd want to, but it's perfectly cool with me having only so much at my disposal. Case in point, my (multiplayer) UGW thresh deck that I'm lookin' at.
21 x WHERE AN EXPENSIVE LAND BASE WOULD BE
And some Nantuko man-land things. And one of them Krosan Verges. And Terramorphic Expanses.
4 x Werebear
4 x Nimble Mongoose
3 x Mystic Enforcer
4 x Ghostly Prison
4 x Brainstorm
4 x Ponder
4 x Impulse
4 x Swords to Plowshares
And junk. By the way, totally off topic, but this deck'll never win. It ain't got crap going for it. No finishers, no huge threats, and not enough staying power.
Back to where I was. If I wanted to take this to Legacy, ForcesFetchesAndDuals would all be necessary. First of all, they'd speed up the deck and give it the proper defense it needed. Secondly, consistencylol. Casual is forgiving. If you trip up and are color screwed for a second or so, the game is probably not done just yet.
And, jesus, this deck sucks. Okay, let's scrap it. Also, I had something else I was going to say about Casual... awesome buddies, no pressure, etc... but screw it, I'm just looking at a deck idea now.
UR Midrange, once again, Multiplayer Friendly. This isn't a list, per se, but stuff that I think needs to be considered and, of course, will make life harder when I have to cut stuff.
Torchling
Kumano, Master Yamabushi
Meloku
FTK
Tauren Mauler
Serra Sphinx
Niv-Mizzet
The Blue and Red Martyrs
Snap
Lightning Bolt
Electrolyze
Fire//Ice
Compulsive Research
Deep Analysis
Izzet Signet
Mind Stone
Brainstorm
Ponder
Impulse
Sulfurous Blast
Pyroclasm
So, there's a problem here. Blast and 'Clasm can deal a number on me with Meloku, FTK, Mauler, and the Martyrs. Fire//Ice and Electrolyze need to be maxed out for their potential or not run at all. The Signet, Mind Stone, Brainstorm, Ponder, and Impulse all serve as the same thing: setting me up to do better things. Research and Analysis are all late game dig. And, oh, all of my beaters have ~5CMC. Bawww. Bah, I'll table this deck, too.
0 fer 2 right now. Grrrreat.
Oh, okay, more deck construction. Brett and I are considering doing some T2 FNM. He's got a very nice Fairy Deck, effectively the best build in the format. I'd lend him my Thoughseizes. However, what would I run? I dunno. I don't have many components for the best decks. If I could get some Shriekmaws, I'd have Commandless Mannequin. So, while looking at my collection, I had a fairly duh moment. I have a playset of Wrath of God's. Durr. While Damnation may be preferred, and people may like black better, I'm also only trying to win an FNM here. Further exploration into my Standard legal white shows I have a set of O-Rings, Condemns, and Sacred Mesa. Alright, seems good. I could probably pick up Martyr of Sands. A Snow engine would probably be a touch expensive, but I've always wanted one. So, my white could be fairly strong. But would it stand alone?
Because after those dozen-and-some cards, the power runs thin. There's an Akroma (and some decks just can't deal with her) and, uh, the white Ghostly-Prison-Muse. And some Austere Commands. If I stretch, I suppose I have, well... Mana Tithe. Temporal Isolation. Cloudgoat Ranger? Budget finisher for the masses, mirite?
No.
Okay, so, we've established that my white is good. But is it good enough to go monocolored? It better be, as my only pains are Battlefield Forges. The power in that combo is Brion Stoutarm, good burn, and then it dries up after a Chandra. Although, that wouldn't be too bad. I've always liked midrange Aggro Control like decks.
Other good T2 cards I'm looking at show up in blue. I have Rune Snags... And Mulldrifter? And a Venser. 4 Riftwing Cloudskates! Yeah, no. I ain't building me no Blink. But Pickels... Eh. My Black is lacking. Just, 100%. Theres 2 Seizes, Terrors, and NADA. I have no Goyfs. Green's out.
So I think my options are looking like this:
Mono W Mesa (with Loxodon Warhammers and Gauntlets of Power, too)
RW Aggro Control (probably a blast to play, obscene amounts of removal)
UW Control (Hey, there's Cancel, too!)
W/u/r (The most power cards, with Numot and Angel. But Riskyyyy)
I'm feeling the RW Aggro Control. I'd kill for some Lightning Helixes, but you gotta suck it up and go with it some times.
Alright, the shell:
3 x Brion Stoutarm
2 x Bogardan Hellkite
4 x Bottle Gnomes
1 x Akroma
(1 x RAkroma?)
7 x Incinerate/Lash Out
~11 x Pyroclasm/Sulfurous Blast/Wrath of God/Austere Command
4 x Condemn
4 x Oblivion Ring
~8 x Specialties (Disenchant, Mana Tithe, Sudden Shock)
~ 3 x Sacred Mesas
1 x Chandra
That's already about 48. Hmm, less point removal. And Oblivion Ring takes card of special situations. We'll see, we'll see.
I've written a lot of words but not said much. I'm too busy tearing people up on the forums =D
No, but srsly though. I'm good-point-making'd out for now. I'll come back when I have something real to say and not just thinking out loud.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Game Reports and Fish
Alright, guys, I got some game reports for you. I'll just jump into it. I had 2 semi-okay nights of magic. One was with the brothers, Chris, Bijan, and a new guy, Kevin. Kevin basically got 6 packs of 9th Edition and 3 of Mirrodin. I helped him build his deck. It was like sealed deck, just much shakier. So, without further ado, game time!
Game 1: Me (Running the UGW Gifts deck I just recently built, also the only deck I brought that night) vs Bijan, running a RW Midrangeish deck.
The first few turns are spent keeping off an early rush of Boros Swiftblades and ilk with Snaps and Ghostly Prisons. I had a fairly nice hand, and on turn 7, I drew a Gifts Ungiven. My Current hand was Eternal Witness and Compulsion, so I was fairly sure I'd be happy with whatever I gifted up. I lay Compulsion and passed the turn. On his turn, he Incendiary Commands (?!) dealing 4 to me (...) and making each of us get a new hand (!!). Arg! My new hand is crap: Lands, STE, and Explosive Vegetation. Wow. End of his turn I cycle some stuff away with Compulsion... right into Eternal Witness. Nice. I play the regrowther, getting Gifts, and pass the turn. This turn, I meet no opposition, grab my Gifts package (Wtiness, Roar of the Wurm, Debtor's Knell, Decree of Justice). He gave me the Roar and the Decree. I discard the Roar and draw into a Witness, get the Knell, and shortly recur my whole graveyard, winning with a dozen tokens and Witness beats, fighting through another Incendiary Command.
That's pretty much exactly how I want the deck to run. Awesome that it works on its first test run.
Game 2 was now a multiplayer FFA. I was running Gifts, of course. Bijan got out his much stronger UW Control deck, Morty went BU control, Chris went with his bajillion-card Mono Blue deck that wins off of Forced Fruitions, Windfall, and stupidly large Skyscribings. Bijan won the die roll, so I was last. Schade...
The first action of the match was on turn 2, and it was a doozy. Morty dropped a Shapesharer, and it resolved. I put up some early defenses with Carven Caryatid and Sakura Tribe-Elder. No Ghostly Prison to be found, though, and it's always a star in Multiplayer. However, there're no worries, as there's nothing aggro going on. A turn 4 Kami of the Crescent Moon from Chris meets a Rune Snag, but it gets payed for. Then, a turn 5 Grave Pact by Morty puts everyone on the edge, and makes them careful with creatures. I just drop my 4th (lol) Sakura Tribe-Elder and ship the turn, planning to Wish for a possible Gifts or something. Maybe a Krosan Grip. However, something else comes up. Bijan Drops a Grand Arbiter (Augistine the 4th? Something) and everyone else passes priority to me. I could wish up a Counterspell, but that seems so... wasty. Instead, I go for a flashier play. I Cunning Wish up a Hunting Pack, and then play it for 3 4/4's. I'll just beat him down instead.
The turns go around with nothing scary, and I beat Bijan for 12. He then Solar Tides. Dang. Come everyone's EOT, I try to Gifts Ungiven, but it gets countered. Then I Witness back the Gifts, and just when everyone things I'm the big threat, now, Morty drops a No-Stick (Counterspell on an Isochron Scepter). I'm forced to Krosan Grip it, and I have to hard-cast a Roar of the Wurm. I swing it at Bijan and he freakin' blocks with the Arbiter! And, just when I think it couldn't get better, I resolve a Debtors Knell. With a Field of Witnesses and STE's (I had enough mana, I chose to just wait and Block-and-Sac), I was confident that I could pull ahead quickly... until Bijan drops Akroma. It would have come at me if it wasn't for 2 Prisons I had pulled up.
And then Morty drops Ascendant Evincar. This kills his own Shapesharer, and everyone has to Sac a creature and lose their x/1's. Basically: The field is now the Evincar. I knell up Akroma, and swing it at Morty. Then the game breaker came. Bijan Austere Commanded for all Bigguns and Enchantments. Wiped my freaking board, two turns in a row. EOT, I Gifts (resolves), and I get Roar and Ghostly Prison while an Eternal Witness and Academy Ruins go into the graveyard. Everyone else explodes over the next turns while I play catch-up. Chris Body Doubles Akroma, Bijan has a double Guile, and I get Glimpse the Unthinkable.
I witness up the Knell, it resolves... and I get Glimpsed again, and milled FTL. Bijan ended up winning that by stealing spells and beating face with 2 unblockables.
Game 3 was a Three-Way Two-Headed Giant... and this game was a marathon. Throughout the game, there were over a dozen Sundering Titan triggers. The teams were Me and Chris, with Gifts and Sliver/Dragons, Morty and Kevin with Clerics and WUr Stuff, and Bijan and Alec, with RW Midrange and MostlyU Artifacts.
We lead off with a Heart Sliver and STE, but our x/1's were quickly put in check by a Viridian Longbow by Kevin. Bijan and Alec basically have no early game, while we have a steady flow of Slivers (including a Sinew, most importantly) and defense, with Prisons and Caryatids. Morty and Kevin are only at 21 after repeated attacks because of a Lenoin Elder that has triggered off of all the artifacts being played.
Morty gets a Daunting Defender and Vile Deacon, and suddenly all of my attention was shifted to them, and not to the guy who had just pulled a Teferi and Broodstar off of some tutors.
Game Highlight! I go to Wish for a Gifts, and Bijan says, and I quote: "Don't counter it... I just remembered Akroma's not an Instant."
Yeah, wow. Over the next few turns, Alec resolves Teferi, Bijan clears all of Morty's bombs, and we take that opportunity to punch through with slivers for the kill on the KevinMorty team. Then, the first Sundering Titan. Pow, sock! On the very next turn, though, Bijan DOUBLE FREAKING HEATSHIMMERs the Sundering Titans. Chris, with Domain, loses all of his lands. I most of my basics. Bijan loses... a plains. We block with Caryatids, and a stalemate begins. Bijan Brightflame's some of our slivers, and the life totals are suddenly very far apart, 16 to 43. With a constant Debtor's Knell/Eternal Witness, I'm able to hold off with a single Snap until I drew into a second Snap, allowing us to break the stalemate and being able to recommit to Slivers than defense.
Here comes Brightflame number two, wiping the board of all green creatures. It is now 16 to 99. Then Alec Copy Artifact's Sundering Titan. And then again. And then Heatshimmer.
Once again, no lands. One gets trample from a Loxodon Warhammer, and they all charge in. Everyone, including Teferi! With the choiciest blocks, we drop to 10, and I promptly Knell up Teferi. Then, I return to the Snap/Witness routine, holding off a 15/15 Broodstar. Once I draw into a Triskelavus, we're able to start Knelling slivers. We nab a Gemhide, Telekinetic, Sinew, and Sidewinder over the next few turns. With flanking, Alec's indestructable weenie blockers eventually wear out, and we can tap them down long enough to swing for the win.
This game took ~2 1/2 hours. Yeah, we were done for the night.
The next night, the crew was different. It was just Me, Brett, and Chris. I built a cheesy Mind's Desire/Empty the Warrens deck. It goes off for 160 Goblins. Pyrohemia. Next game, though, I kill. That deck got old, fast. When Matt got here, I comboed off for 42 Gobbo's. Meh. Done with that deck.
The only big multiplayer game of the night was dull. Chris had consecutive Forced Fruitions, and after I'm forced to deal with him, my fliers are tapped out for Brett's fairies. Weeeak.
So, that night, I decided it was time for me to build one of my favorite Archetypes: UB Fish. It could've been cool. It actually has a 3-3 record. But, the problem is, it just stalls out, and sometimes I just can't force through the damage.
Here's the list:
10 Swamps
7 Islands
3 Chrome Mox
2 Lotus Petals
4 Dark Confidant
4 Looter il-Kor
3 Rakdos Guildmage
3 Ravenous Rats
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughseize
1 Duress
3 Mana Leak
4 Spell Snare
3 Brainstorm
3 Impulse
3 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Profane Command
Specific card choices:
Ravenous Rats - Until there's a 2 cost Cantripper that's not Silvergill Adept, I need this guy. He effectively replaces himself.
Rakdos Guildmage - Removal, 2/2 for 2.
Looter - With a warhammer, he's a wincon. Loots, which is good.
Profane - It can kill, 2-for-1, kill, or kill. All are great choices.
I need efficient beaters. And Force of Will. Schade.
Hooray for the last card in Morningtide! The set looks pretty sweet.
Game 1: Me (Running the UGW Gifts deck I just recently built, also the only deck I brought that night) vs Bijan, running a RW Midrangeish deck.
The first few turns are spent keeping off an early rush of Boros Swiftblades and ilk with Snaps and Ghostly Prisons. I had a fairly nice hand, and on turn 7, I drew a Gifts Ungiven. My Current hand was Eternal Witness and Compulsion, so I was fairly sure I'd be happy with whatever I gifted up. I lay Compulsion and passed the turn. On his turn, he Incendiary Commands (?!) dealing 4 to me (...) and making each of us get a new hand (!!). Arg! My new hand is crap: Lands, STE, and Explosive Vegetation. Wow. End of his turn I cycle some stuff away with Compulsion... right into Eternal Witness. Nice. I play the regrowther, getting Gifts, and pass the turn. This turn, I meet no opposition, grab my Gifts package (Wtiness, Roar of the Wurm, Debtor's Knell, Decree of Justice). He gave me the Roar and the Decree. I discard the Roar and draw into a Witness, get the Knell, and shortly recur my whole graveyard, winning with a dozen tokens and Witness beats, fighting through another Incendiary Command.
That's pretty much exactly how I want the deck to run. Awesome that it works on its first test run.
Game 2 was now a multiplayer FFA. I was running Gifts, of course. Bijan got out his much stronger UW Control deck, Morty went BU control, Chris went with his bajillion-card Mono Blue deck that wins off of Forced Fruitions, Windfall, and stupidly large Skyscribings. Bijan won the die roll, so I was last. Schade...
The first action of the match was on turn 2, and it was a doozy. Morty dropped a Shapesharer, and it resolved. I put up some early defenses with Carven Caryatid and Sakura Tribe-Elder. No Ghostly Prison to be found, though, and it's always a star in Multiplayer. However, there're no worries, as there's nothing aggro going on. A turn 4 Kami of the Crescent Moon from Chris meets a Rune Snag, but it gets payed for. Then, a turn 5 Grave Pact by Morty puts everyone on the edge, and makes them careful with creatures. I just drop my 4th (lol) Sakura Tribe-Elder and ship the turn, planning to Wish for a possible Gifts or something. Maybe a Krosan Grip. However, something else comes up. Bijan Drops a Grand Arbiter (Augistine the 4th? Something) and everyone else passes priority to me. I could wish up a Counterspell, but that seems so... wasty. Instead, I go for a flashier play. I Cunning Wish up a Hunting Pack, and then play it for 3 4/4's. I'll just beat him down instead.
The turns go around with nothing scary, and I beat Bijan for 12. He then Solar Tides. Dang. Come everyone's EOT, I try to Gifts Ungiven, but it gets countered. Then I Witness back the Gifts, and just when everyone things I'm the big threat, now, Morty drops a No-Stick (Counterspell on an Isochron Scepter). I'm forced to Krosan Grip it, and I have to hard-cast a Roar of the Wurm. I swing it at Bijan and he freakin' blocks with the Arbiter! And, just when I think it couldn't get better, I resolve a Debtors Knell. With a Field of Witnesses and STE's (I had enough mana, I chose to just wait and Block-and-Sac), I was confident that I could pull ahead quickly... until Bijan drops Akroma. It would have come at me if it wasn't for 2 Prisons I had pulled up.
And then Morty drops Ascendant Evincar. This kills his own Shapesharer, and everyone has to Sac a creature and lose their x/1's. Basically: The field is now the Evincar. I knell up Akroma, and swing it at Morty. Then the game breaker came. Bijan Austere Commanded for all Bigguns and Enchantments. Wiped my freaking board, two turns in a row. EOT, I Gifts (resolves), and I get Roar and Ghostly Prison while an Eternal Witness and Academy Ruins go into the graveyard. Everyone else explodes over the next turns while I play catch-up. Chris Body Doubles Akroma, Bijan has a double Guile, and I get Glimpse the Unthinkable.
I witness up the Knell, it resolves... and I get Glimpsed again, and milled FTL. Bijan ended up winning that by stealing spells and beating face with 2 unblockables.
Game 3 was a Three-Way Two-Headed Giant... and this game was a marathon. Throughout the game, there were over a dozen Sundering Titan triggers. The teams were Me and Chris, with Gifts and Sliver/Dragons, Morty and Kevin with Clerics and WUr Stuff, and Bijan and Alec, with RW Midrange and MostlyU Artifacts.
We lead off with a Heart Sliver and STE, but our x/1's were quickly put in check by a Viridian Longbow by Kevin. Bijan and Alec basically have no early game, while we have a steady flow of Slivers (including a Sinew, most importantly) and defense, with Prisons and Caryatids. Morty and Kevin are only at 21 after repeated attacks because of a Lenoin Elder that has triggered off of all the artifacts being played.
Morty gets a Daunting Defender and Vile Deacon, and suddenly all of my attention was shifted to them, and not to the guy who had just pulled a Teferi and Broodstar off of some tutors.
Game Highlight! I go to Wish for a Gifts, and Bijan says, and I quote: "Don't counter it... I just remembered Akroma's not an Instant."
Yeah, wow. Over the next few turns, Alec resolves Teferi, Bijan clears all of Morty's bombs, and we take that opportunity to punch through with slivers for the kill on the KevinMorty team. Then, the first Sundering Titan. Pow, sock! On the very next turn, though, Bijan DOUBLE FREAKING HEATSHIMMERs the Sundering Titans. Chris, with Domain, loses all of his lands. I most of my basics. Bijan loses... a plains. We block with Caryatids, and a stalemate begins. Bijan Brightflame's some of our slivers, and the life totals are suddenly very far apart, 16 to 43. With a constant Debtor's Knell/Eternal Witness, I'm able to hold off with a single Snap until I drew into a second Snap, allowing us to break the stalemate and being able to recommit to Slivers than defense.
Here comes Brightflame number two, wiping the board of all green creatures. It is now 16 to 99. Then Alec Copy Artifact's Sundering Titan. And then again. And then Heatshimmer.
Once again, no lands. One gets trample from a Loxodon Warhammer, and they all charge in. Everyone, including Teferi! With the choiciest blocks, we drop to 10, and I promptly Knell up Teferi. Then, I return to the Snap/Witness routine, holding off a 15/15 Broodstar. Once I draw into a Triskelavus, we're able to start Knelling slivers. We nab a Gemhide, Telekinetic, Sinew, and Sidewinder over the next few turns. With flanking, Alec's indestructable weenie blockers eventually wear out, and we can tap them down long enough to swing for the win.
This game took ~2 1/2 hours. Yeah, we were done for the night.
The next night, the crew was different. It was just Me, Brett, and Chris. I built a cheesy Mind's Desire/Empty the Warrens deck. It goes off for 160 Goblins. Pyrohemia. Next game, though, I kill. That deck got old, fast. When Matt got here, I comboed off for 42 Gobbo's. Meh. Done with that deck.
The only big multiplayer game of the night was dull. Chris had consecutive Forced Fruitions, and after I'm forced to deal with him, my fliers are tapped out for Brett's fairies. Weeeak.
So, that night, I decided it was time for me to build one of my favorite Archetypes: UB Fish. It could've been cool. It actually has a 3-3 record. But, the problem is, it just stalls out, and sometimes I just can't force through the damage.
Here's the list:
10 Swamps
7 Islands
3 Chrome Mox
2 Lotus Petals
4 Dark Confidant
4 Looter il-Kor
3 Rakdos Guildmage
3 Ravenous Rats
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughseize
1 Duress
3 Mana Leak
4 Spell Snare
3 Brainstorm
3 Impulse
3 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Profane Command
Specific card choices:
Ravenous Rats - Until there's a 2 cost Cantripper that's not Silvergill Adept, I need this guy. He effectively replaces himself.
Rakdos Guildmage - Removal, 2/2 for 2.
Looter - With a warhammer, he's a wincon. Loots, which is good.
Profane - It can kill, 2-for-1, kill, or kill. All are great choices.
I need efficient beaters. And Force of Will. Schade.
Hooray for the last card in Morningtide! The set looks pretty sweet.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Gifts Ungiven
Is really freakin' awesome. The card is so versatile. It's a tutor for anywhere from 1 to 4 things, and it's so skewed towards the caster, not the splitter. There's the classic GiftsRock package: Eternal Witness, Cabal Therapy, Genesis. There's the Tron package: 1 of each piece of the Urzatron and Life from the Loam. Hell, I'm sure there's some janky package with all flashback cards. The card is just damn versatile.
So, of course, I had to order two more from SCG to compliment the one I got a long time ago from Midnight Comics. 'Course, this means no vintage anymore... but I think I can go without Sol Ring and Frantic something-or-other. Balance would be such a sweet singleton, though. Also, to my oversight, I ordered stuff for UG Madness. Bad UG Madness. We're talking about... well, bad UG Madness. But damn, I wish I got me a Genesis instead of Arrogant Wurms. And some Roar of the Wurms. And Mongrels. And Compulsions. Actually, I like the Roars and Compulsions. But Damn those Arrogant Wurms. When added up, they're the same price of that lean Green recurring machine.
Well, the reason I say that, is I now has me a Gifts deck. However, I don't know exactly what to call up as the package. Currently, when it's time to win the game, I go for this: Eternal Witness, Roar of the Wurm, Debtors Knell, and Decree of Justice. By the way, did I mention that this is a Big Mana deck? 8 Mana going into turn five isn't too uncommon. STE, Explosive Vegetation, etc. So all of those things I just tutored are reliable threats.
Personally, I'd probably give me the Roar and the Decree. They're both expensive, so I won't be able to play then on the same turn. And, Debtor's Knell and Witness is such a crazy CA engine that to give it to me would be, well, crazy.
But, do you really want 2 4/4 angels and 2 6/6 Wurms across 2/3 turns? Or a dozen EOT soldiers? I mean, that is a lot. Card Advantage is good... but swinging for the win is better. But I mean, come on, you're not going to give me the Witness. I think that's legally idiotic. And, if you dump the Wurm in the yard, that's a 6/6 that's +1 CA if you kill it, and comes in with counter back up.
Ouch.
I'm thinking of another package in there, but I don't know what to just yet... I feel like it's going to be Witness, Academy Ruins, Debtors Knell, and [INSERT BIG SCARY ARTIFACT CREATURE], like Sundering Titan. I think that gives maximum recursion possibilities and guarantees a win con, more or less. I dunno, though, mang, I just dunno.
If I had the money and stuff, I actually think I'd straight up buy, card for card, the current best GiftsRock archetype. I love Gifts Ungiven, and I love BG Rock-like decks. It'd be sweet. Plus, with Collective Restraint, I could play it in multiplayer. What's not to love?
So, Morningtide. At my last check, 18 cards left unspoiled.
I'm excited that this is the set we're doing boxes and not a Prerelease. I just want a lot of cards from this set.
Also, does anyone want a foil Goyf? It's too expensive, and no one wants to trade for it. Not enough vintage pimps in the area.
So, of course, I had to order two more from SCG to compliment the one I got a long time ago from Midnight Comics. 'Course, this means no vintage anymore... but I think I can go without Sol Ring and Frantic something-or-other. Balance would be such a sweet singleton, though. Also, to my oversight, I ordered stuff for UG Madness. Bad UG Madness. We're talking about... well, bad UG Madness. But damn, I wish I got me a Genesis instead of Arrogant Wurms. And some Roar of the Wurms. And Mongrels. And Compulsions. Actually, I like the Roars and Compulsions. But Damn those Arrogant Wurms. When added up, they're the same price of that lean Green recurring machine.
Well, the reason I say that, is I now has me a Gifts deck. However, I don't know exactly what to call up as the package. Currently, when it's time to win the game, I go for this: Eternal Witness, Roar of the Wurm, Debtors Knell, and Decree of Justice. By the way, did I mention that this is a Big Mana deck? 8 Mana going into turn five isn't too uncommon. STE, Explosive Vegetation, etc. So all of those things I just tutored are reliable threats.
Personally, I'd probably give me the Roar and the Decree. They're both expensive, so I won't be able to play then on the same turn. And, Debtor's Knell and Witness is such a crazy CA engine that to give it to me would be, well, crazy.
But, do you really want 2 4/4 angels and 2 6/6 Wurms across 2/3 turns? Or a dozen EOT soldiers? I mean, that is a lot. Card Advantage is good... but swinging for the win is better. But I mean, come on, you're not going to give me the Witness. I think that's legally idiotic. And, if you dump the Wurm in the yard, that's a 6/6 that's +1 CA if you kill it, and comes in with counter back up.
Ouch.
I'm thinking of another package in there, but I don't know what to just yet... I feel like it's going to be Witness, Academy Ruins, Debtors Knell, and [INSERT BIG SCARY ARTIFACT CREATURE], like Sundering Titan. I think that gives maximum recursion possibilities and guarantees a win con, more or less. I dunno, though, mang, I just dunno.
If I had the money and stuff, I actually think I'd straight up buy, card for card, the current best GiftsRock archetype. I love Gifts Ungiven, and I love BG Rock-like decks. It'd be sweet. Plus, with Collective Restraint, I could play it in multiplayer. What's not to love?
So, Morningtide. At my last check, 18 cards left unspoiled.
I'm excited that this is the set we're doing boxes and not a Prerelease. I just want a lot of cards from this set.
Also, does anyone want a foil Goyf? It's too expensive, and no one wants to trade for it. Not enough vintage pimps in the area.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Cast of the Show (and the Show itself)
What is this blog? Why did I make it? Well, two things. First of all, I've had this idea floating around for a while in my head. Always thought it'd be something cool to do. And secondly, I'm bored as hell. And, wow, that's a swift introduction. And a short one. So, uh, what is this. Well, obviously, it's a blog. That has something to do with dining room tables...? Yep. That sounds about right so far. Who am I? Well, my names André, I have some hobbies, a girlfriend, school, etc., but most importantly, and why I'm here, is because I play Magic: The Gathering. Semifrequently, too. About as often as I can, really. Now, to some people, that means nearly 24/7. And those people are MODO snobs trying to go infinite and break the system (though not that I blame them. Infinite drafts and infinite packs? Cool). I don't frequent PTQs. I've never gone to Regionals or States.
No, none of those. I play at the Dining Room Table. Yes, I play casual Magic. I do have a DCI number, but I'm only in it for the PreReleases. I have a group of buddies, with up to 8 regulars, and we get together on weekends and holidays, and card sling. It's that simple. I'd like to think that we at least play some form of competative-casual. We have a Cube, and it's not without its broken cards. You'll face a choice between Balance and Skullclamp. Rather than crying about how our Serra Angel just got Rend Fleshed, we laugh at how inefficient that is compared to Swords to Plowshares, and why in the hell you're using something that costs 5 and doesn't win the game. We just don't, you know, don't do tournies. We do a lot of other things, though. We have giant free-for-alls. There's 2HG. We do head to head and duels. Hell, we have RPG Magic going as a current project, and we actually tried to do something as wild as incorporate Risk into the game (one deck to rule the world!)
We just play to have fun. And, well, I'm going to write about it. Anyone who might actually read this could get ideas, or grow angry at Fidel with us, or freak the hell out at how awesome Morningtide is like OMG!, or discover, uh... something.
Oh, yeah, speaking of that Fidel guy.
As I said, there's a coupla guys in my group. We spread across the whole spectrum, Timmy-Johnny-Spike/Vorthos-Melvin, from beginners to a higher level of playing. Each game is different, as everyone has at least 2 distinct decks (or, a dozen in some cases), wild ideas, and stupid ideas for politicking this game around.
So, who is there. There's Brett. He has a dozen decks. He's definitely JohnnyTimmy, and easily one of the strongest players in our group. And, he's probably who I lookout for in a draft. Being seated next. And then Matt. He's fairly Spikey, I'd say. He's at least flexible with what he can do, even though can make mistakes before the game starts (choosing a color before drafting, going after the last winner even though he's not a threat). But not everyone gets to see a 20something/20something Draining Whelk. Except Fidel, cos Fidel sucks, and will do anything to ruin your day. He's cool, easily. And one of the best players within the group. It's just, the time you're in monogreen, he Dark Rituals out a turn 2 Kokusho. Or Elves when your Wrathless. I give him crap, but you know, he's just asking for it by playing the way he does. You know, to win. And stuff. And take stupidlong turns.
There's Morty and Alec, brothers. They inherited cards from their dad from something like 4th edition. Anyways, they play with obscure stuff. And bad stuff. And good stuff. I dunno, it's a grab bag of skill and cards when you play against them. Morty is strong at limited, at least. Alec, well, 1st-picks Horde of Notions.
And Chris. Same as above, but without the old cards. Oh, and he's a lifeguard. And takes long turns with his 160 card deck that Skyscribes for 23 and drops a Forced Fruition. Bijan is entirely hit-and-miss. He has good decks. But, say, he'll Austere Command, killing all creatures, before swinging with his jillion/jillion avatar Token. Le Sigh.
And me. I have a dozen or so decks, too. Not to brag, but I'm the best player in limited, and I'm fairly sure that's undisputed. I overthink my decks, though, and they come out too well done. Like a steak left on for too long and spoiled what could have been good. Nawatimean? At least I'm threaty enough to be a target.
Then we have some not-so-regulars. Bobby and Billy are just learning how to play and stop by randomly. Scott has things like Force of Wills and other good cards of ye olde times, but doesn't use them... Just annoying stuff, like wizards.dec. There's Cedric. I played with him once. He suspended a turn 1 Heroes Remembered. That's all I remember.
And that's the show. We got a game night coming up Saturday, so I'll have stories from that. And we're drafting MOR MOR MOR when it comes out, at least thrice (so we can easily split 2 boxes). I'll share my super-secret draft tech that won't mean crap.
I like how I'm addressing a 'you' that doesn't exist. Yet!
Srsly, though, I plan on making other people hate Fidel. It will work!
No, none of those. I play at the Dining Room Table. Yes, I play casual Magic. I do have a DCI number, but I'm only in it for the PreReleases. I have a group of buddies, with up to 8 regulars, and we get together on weekends and holidays, and card sling. It's that simple. I'd like to think that we at least play some form of competative-casual. We have a Cube, and it's not without its broken cards. You'll face a choice between Balance and Skullclamp. Rather than crying about how our Serra Angel just got Rend Fleshed, we laugh at how inefficient that is compared to Swords to Plowshares, and why in the hell you're using something that costs 5 and doesn't win the game. We just don't, you know, don't do tournies. We do a lot of other things, though. We have giant free-for-alls. There's 2HG. We do head to head and duels. Hell, we have RPG Magic going as a current project, and we actually tried to do something as wild as incorporate Risk into the game (one deck to rule the world!)
We just play to have fun. And, well, I'm going to write about it. Anyone who might actually read this could get ideas, or grow angry at Fidel with us, or freak the hell out at how awesome Morningtide is like OMG!, or discover, uh... something.
Oh, yeah, speaking of that Fidel guy.
As I said, there's a coupla guys in my group. We spread across the whole spectrum, Timmy-Johnny-Spike/Vorthos-Melvin, from beginners to a higher level of playing. Each game is different, as everyone has at least 2 distinct decks (or, a dozen in some cases), wild ideas, and stupid ideas for politicking this game around.
So, who is there. There's Brett. He has a dozen decks. He's definitely JohnnyTimmy, and easily one of the strongest players in our group. And, he's probably who I lookout for in a draft. Being seated next. And then Matt. He's fairly Spikey, I'd say. He's at least flexible with what he can do, even though can make mistakes before the game starts (choosing a color before drafting, going after the last winner even though he's not a threat). But not everyone gets to see a 20something/20something Draining Whelk. Except Fidel, cos Fidel sucks, and will do anything to ruin your day. He's cool, easily. And one of the best players within the group. It's just, the time you're in monogreen, he Dark Rituals out a turn 2 Kokusho. Or Elves when your Wrathless. I give him crap, but you know, he's just asking for it by playing the way he does. You know, to win. And stuff. And take stupidlong turns.
There's Morty and Alec, brothers. They inherited cards from their dad from something like 4th edition. Anyways, they play with obscure stuff. And bad stuff. And good stuff. I dunno, it's a grab bag of skill and cards when you play against them. Morty is strong at limited, at least. Alec, well, 1st-picks Horde of Notions.
And Chris. Same as above, but without the old cards. Oh, and he's a lifeguard. And takes long turns with his 160 card deck that Skyscribes for 23 and drops a Forced Fruition. Bijan is entirely hit-and-miss. He has good decks. But, say, he'll Austere Command, killing all creatures, before swinging with his jillion/jillion avatar Token. Le Sigh.
And me. I have a dozen or so decks, too. Not to brag, but I'm the best player in limited, and I'm fairly sure that's undisputed. I overthink my decks, though, and they come out too well done. Like a steak left on for too long and spoiled what could have been good. Nawatimean? At least I'm threaty enough to be a target.
Then we have some not-so-regulars. Bobby and Billy are just learning how to play and stop by randomly. Scott has things like Force of Wills and other good cards of ye olde times, but doesn't use them... Just annoying stuff, like wizards.dec. There's Cedric. I played with him once. He suspended a turn 1 Heroes Remembered. That's all I remember.
And that's the show. We got a game night coming up Saturday, so I'll have stories from that. And we're drafting MOR MOR MOR when it comes out, at least thrice (so we can easily split 2 boxes). I'll share my super-secret draft tech that won't mean crap.
I like how I'm addressing a 'you' that doesn't exist. Yet!
Srsly, though, I plan on making other people hate Fidel. It will work!
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