I never got the idea of getting stuff countered is unfun but getting your head bashed with creatures is ok. Why should a player not get the chance to cram a deck with 20 counters spells add some islands and have his own brand of fun.
Wizards doesn't want to encourage people to pursue schadenfreude. Don't worry, though, there are still plenty of ways to do so in Magic - you just have to look for them.
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Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not watching.
Time Spiral-Lorwyn because this is when I built my first real deck, Reveillark Midrange/Combo. Time Spiral-Lorwyn-Shadowmoor when I could play Merfolk in Standard. Shards-Zendikar because I loved my BR Control/Vampires deck. Oh and anytime with Scars Block and no Ancient Grudge so my Tempered Steel builds were awesome.
This thread is a perfect microcosm of why this game will never please everybody. Imagine somebody reading this thread and trying to get an "idea" of what the best Standard was. Never happen.
Personally, I liked them all for different reasons.
Standards like Mirrodin (Affinity) had a high power level and a deck that could literally demolish you in 3 turns.
Standards like Zen/Scars had Caw-Blade where you had two people playing what was as close to a chess match as you could get in this game.
Standards like right Inn/RtR have numerous decks where it's almost impossible to meta against any one deck because there are so many.
Each has its own challenges. Each has its own flavor. This is why I've always loved playing this game whatever I was playing. Even back in the days of Urza's "OMG are they ****ing serious" Saga. Those were some wild and crazy times that we will probably never see again.
Reading threads like these give me a very good idea of who "conditionally" and "unconditionally" loves Standard. While it's not my favorite format (Vintage and Legacy for the infinite possibilities) I enjoy it regardless of what the meta happens to throw my way.
Seems to me there aren't a lot of players who feel that way and that's kind of sad.
me very new player to standars, the standards format would have preferred would have been old ravnica block and time spiral block, biggest standards format in terms of number of cards, must have been very nice
Unfortunately, most of the designers seem to think combo and control are too complex for new players, and cause them to go to Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon. They continue to point out that not being able to play a card all game long because of counters, or losing right on the spot with no interaction because of a combo are things they're trying to get rid of.
Personally, I like the current GTC cycle, if only because there are a couple viable combo decks, for the first time since BloodCrank. Control could use some help though.
I came to this game from yugi because it was so degenerate for me. There are even more viable decks that could win a tournament, and the power level of some of these decks are just dumb. (I don't learn a thing from my losses)
I loved some RAV-TSP, really, it's what brought me back into the game after leaving around Masques block.
It just felt like so many strategies were possible, and they were so very different! Unfortunately, I think Mtg has changed sufficiently that we'll never get back there.
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Sig by Dark Night Cavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios!
If I were around for it, the '96 to '98 era would have been really enjoyable for me, primarily because there was that deck that everyone loved to hate, in addition to some really innovative and fun decks. Counterpost, big blue, 5c control, propa-orb, drainBloom, ...
In recent memory, Lorwyn-Alara is my favorite. 5c control.... Mmmm [card]cruel ultimatum[\card].... Toasty.
My least favorite: the era just after that when Jund took over. No way to come out ahead against bloodbraid elf.
RAV/TSP/CSP(people always for get about this small but important set!) followed by Kami/RAV and TSP/LOR. Each environment was fun and there were interesting decks for every type of player.
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Wizards doesn't want to encourage people to pursue schadenfreude. Don't worry, though, there are still plenty of ways to do so in Magic - you just have to look for them.
On a break from Paper Magic.
Current Decks:
Modern: WR Allies WR
EDH: WRG Uril, The Mistsalker WRG
Mirrodin-Kamigawa - The issues with Affinity were taken care of, so we finally got to see what Mirrodin really had.
Personally, I liked them all for different reasons.
Standards like Mirrodin (Affinity) had a high power level and a deck that could literally demolish you in 3 turns.
Standards like Zen/Scars had Caw-Blade where you had two people playing what was as close to a chess match as you could get in this game.
Standards like right Inn/RtR have numerous decks where it's almost impossible to meta against any one deck because there are so many.
Each has its own challenges. Each has its own flavor. This is why I've always loved playing this game whatever I was playing. Even back in the days of Urza's "OMG are they ****ing serious" Saga. Those were some wild and crazy times that we will probably never see again.
Reading threads like these give me a very good idea of who "conditionally" and "unconditionally" loves Standard. While it's not my favorite format (Vintage and Legacy for the infinite possibilities) I enjoy it regardless of what the meta happens to throw my way.
Seems to me there aren't a lot of players who feel that way and that's kind of sad.
I came to this game from yugi because it was so degenerate for me. There are even more viable decks that could win a tournament, and the power level of some of these decks are just dumb. (I don't learn a thing from my losses)
Magic is different, in where I do.
It just felt like so many strategies were possible, and they were so very different! Unfortunately, I think Mtg has changed sufficiently that we'll never get back there.
However, I did play straight through Exodus to Future Sight, and Magic was extremely awesome during those periods (minus combo winter and skullclamp)
Favorite standard/type 2 = Any time between Mercadian Masques - Scourge
Psychatog
UG Madness
CounterRebels
Blue Skies
Fires
Goblins
Million Dollar Man
In recent memory, Lorwyn-Alara is my favorite. 5c control.... Mmmm [card]cruel ultimatum[\card].... Toasty.
My least favorite: the era just after that when Jund took over. No way to come out ahead against bloodbraid elf.
Card reviews, web development tutorials, and more at: http://blog.wrightonlineworks.com