When are planeswalker points checked and Byes awarded for this event? For instance, if someone signed up last week, but at the time they signed up they did not have 400 points for a round 1 bye, would they be able to accumulate points after they signed up in order to earn a bye?
Basically, is there any advantage (bye-wise) to signing up later?
Also, what would happen if a player pays for the "sleep in special", but subsequently does not earn any byes in a tournament? Does that create registration issues or does that just mean the player wasted their 20$?
If perfectly viable options, such as flipping a coin, are refused by a player, odds are there is something else going on.
Yes, that certainly would be the most likely scenario. However, I'm just curious about the case where both players are just being difficult and won't come to an agreement. If one wants to have the other select a card from two face down cards and the other wants to roll a die, is one method more viable than another? I know rolling a die is the most commonplace method, but does that mean that it should be given preference over other methods?
Just hoping to hear responses on how people would handle it as a judge (besides being annoyed at the triviality of the issue)
I'm wondering what the correct way is to determine who chooses whether or not to play first.
Does the rule book specifically point to flipping a coin or rolling dice?
As a judge, what would the call be if one player refused to roll dice (for instance, the non-random spin downs) and the other refused to use an alternative method?
Just on my cell so I apologize if the post isn't pretty. I also play merieke control although my deck more heavy on the control. My wincon is generally off of a Rite of Replication or Storm Herd combined with damage from creatures I have stolen. I am a big fan of blink to both stolen creatures and to blink Merieke for the untap. To that end why no Deadeye Navigator? This is easily the best blink engine in EDH. Is an absolute force when paired with Angel of Despair. Also, with Stornhorn Dignitary you can lock out combat on at least one player for some time. It is rather hard to stop either of these combos as long as mana remains to blink both creatures as well.
My next piece of advice is Intruder Alarm. Man is this card good with Merieke. It speaks for itself.
Finally, when playing merieke just in case you never thought of this as I didn't at first either. First rekeber when you have an untapper in play to use it on merieke after her ability has gone on the stack but before it resolves. This allows you to steal two creatures. Also, make sure when choosing blink engines that it reads "return this creature under your control". This will allow you to permenantly steal creatures.
I really like Stonehorn Dignitary in this deck. Good with Deadeye and Mistmeadow Witch.
I really dislike Intruder alarm as you now have no control over whether you can keep the creatures you steal with Merieke. I prefer the more controlling approach, but I can see it being a riot if you want to stir up the game.
Any reasons that you aren't running Proteus Staff or Rings of Brighthearth? I guess for the Rings you are a little light on creatures to use with it, but it seems worthwhile to use with Merieke alone. 6 of your 13 creatures are huge beaters. That seems like pretty good odds to hit with the Proteus Staff.
If your deck is controlling enough, Synod Sanctum can also be a huge beating if you can safe haven enough big creatures and/or ETB effect creatures that you steal with Merieke. Admittedly, it is slow and hard to pull off and your opponents can see it coming a mile away, but a man can dream...
Also, Mimic Vat seems better than Animate Dead and Necromancy, right?
Despite it's likelihood to eat removal and draw residual hate, I still thinkMeekstone would hinder a lot of decks enough to be worth inclusion, but I guess that is totally dependent on the group of people you play with. In my case, I definitely want the Meekstone. One bonus, it's also tutorable by Trinket Mage.
Seeing as how we've already built in a suite of tap/untap effects for Merieke, we can easily manipulate the board to keep our opponents creatures locked down while we can get in with our beaters.
So I've found the Maelstrom Wanderer deck to be pretty fun in a Multiplayer setting. Most of the people in my playgroup know the potential of the deck, but still don't take it as enough of a threat to hate me out. I really enjoy the deck because it doesn't need a lot to set itself up for a win out of nowhere. Since it only requires one card played from your hand, you don't often have to leave pieces lying around on the board. I've even won a few games without hitting the Primal Surge for the win.
This is my third EDH deck and definitely my least competitive. I built this before Commander's Arsenal was released so now that people have been thinking about the deck I'm hoping that some good ideas have developed. I'm looking for ways to make the deck slightly more competitive without doing anything degenerate, so suggestions are welcomed.
A couple things to keep in mind.
- The budget is moderate. I generally don't have a problem buying/trading for cards up to about 20 USD in value.
- On the same note, please keep in mind that the moderate budget means the deck is missing duals and fetches, grim monolith, etc.
So with only 2 non-permanents in the deck, the aim is obviously to resolve Primal Surge and win.
Mystical Tutor searches out Primal Surge and if that's already in hand it gets your lone counterspell as backup. Planar Portal searches out your wincon as well.
Kaho, Minamo Historian is in the deck to pull out your other two spells if you already have Primal Surge in hand.
Winning
I've included 4 layers to protect the Primal Surge combo and to increase it's likelihood of winning if one or more methods fail.
1) Ideally, you already have out Warstorm Surge or Pandemonium or hit one early after resolving Primal Surge. The sheer volume of creatures coming into play will trigger enough damage to topple one or more opponents, most likely.
3) Opponents didn't respond to your Primal Surge? It will be too late as soon as Dosan the falling leaf hits play.
4) Gutter Grime. If, somehow, all else fails and your opponents get to untap after you've laid out your entire deck, Gutter Grime protects you from one wrath.
Both markets share R&D expenses and when all is said and done i'd be willing to wager that the cost of producing physical product is only marginally more expensive than maintaining an online product. Both are extremely high margin.
If a person has $X to spend and is currently spending it on paper magic, it's logical to assume that any amount spent on MOTL will reduce the $X spent on paper magic.
Wizards probably doesn't want to make the push yet, as maintaining a healthy paper magic market is what really attracts new players and ascribes value to the product.
If you are a fan of the game and enjoy opening packs as part of it, get a box of Innistrad. Don't put too much stock into the "advice" of all the naysayers.
From what I can tell by reading your post, you're looking for a fun way to burn some disposable income. Opening a box will certainly provide you with that, regardless of its soundness as an investment.
I've drafted on Thursdays at Pandemonium (mentioned earlier in the thread) many times now and the arrangement they have with the bar around the corner is pretty sweet.
The drafts are held in a function room off the side of the bar and there are one or two servers for the group. About 2/3's of the people eat meals and drink, the other third usually orders a coke or something. It's good for both the card store and the bar because the draft is $20 but you get a $5 food voucher, so it ensures all the soda drinkers will at least be spending some money.
I enjoy the crowd there much more. It seems a good number of normal guys and girls come out for this. Most are like myself: late 20's, working professional, prefer to play magic in a social setting instead of a basement.
Contrary to popular belief in this thread, spills are very rare and I've yet to see anyone get drunk to the point of it being an issue in any way.
To the OP:
Anyone hating on the idea in this thread without providing firsthand experience has obviously never played magic in a bar. You'll read that almost all those who have prefer it or have had good experiences.
I think having a Bar where you can play magic is probably not the best way to frame it, however. It seems better to have a TCG shop that serves alcohol would work better. You should have no problem letting any age in, but you would have to be very strict about who you serve (maybe a wristband/ stamp system). It also depends on your state laws.
Everyone already knows what happened. LSV put up a post stating exactly what happened between Tristan and the rest of CFB. He stole from them and that's that. What happens now is up to them. If anyone at my LGS says "So you heard about Tristan?" I'll say "Yeah, He stole". He's got a black mark now, he will not be employeed with any respectable magic-related site, store or anything of that kind. What more is there to discuss?
If you don't wish to discuss it, there is always the option of not posting in this thread. Instead, you've chosen to post three times now in this thread about how you "don't think it should be discussed".
Channelfireball could have quietly severed ties with TSG, or even just mentioned that TSG would no longer be part of their team, with no explanation.
Instead, LSV decided to provide specific detail on the incident because he felt it was important for the MTG community to know about (which it is).
When are planeswalker points checked and Byes awarded for this event? For instance, if someone signed up last week, but at the time they signed up they did not have 400 points for a round 1 bye, would they be able to accumulate points after they signed up in order to earn a bye?
Basically, is there any advantage (bye-wise) to signing up later?
Also, what would happen if a player pays for the "sleep in special", but subsequently does not earn any byes in a tournament? Does that create registration issues or does that just mean the player wasted their 20$?
Thanks!
Trades
Yes, that certainly would be the most likely scenario. However, I'm just curious about the case where both players are just being difficult and won't come to an agreement. If one wants to have the other select a card from two face down cards and the other wants to roll a die, is one method more viable than another? I know rolling a die is the most commonplace method, but does that mean that it should be given preference over other methods?
Just hoping to hear responses on how people would handle it as a judge (besides being annoyed at the triviality of the issue)
Trades
Does the rule book specifically point to flipping a coin or rolling dice?
As a judge, what would the call be if one player refused to roll dice (for instance, the non-random spin downs) and the other refused to use an alternative method?
I couldn't get any good results through google.
Thanks!
Trades
I really like Stonehorn Dignitary in this deck. Good with Deadeye and Mistmeadow Witch.
I really dislike Intruder alarm as you now have no control over whether you can keep the creatures you steal with Merieke. I prefer the more controlling approach, but I can see it being a riot if you want to stir up the game.
Trades
Any reasons that you aren't running Proteus Staff or Rings of Brighthearth? I guess for the Rings you are a little light on creatures to use with it, but it seems worthwhile to use with Merieke alone. 6 of your 13 creatures are huge beaters. That seems like pretty good odds to hit with the Proteus Staff.
If your deck is controlling enough, Synod Sanctum can also be a huge beating if you can safe haven enough big creatures and/or ETB effect creatures that you steal with Merieke. Admittedly, it is slow and hard to pull off and your opponents can see it coming a mile away, but a man can dream...
Also, Mimic Vat seems better than Animate Dead and Necromancy, right?
Despite it's likelihood to eat removal and draw residual hate, I still thinkMeekstone would hinder a lot of decks enough to be worth inclusion, but I guess that is totally dependent on the group of people you play with. In my case, I definitely want the Meekstone. One bonus, it's also tutorable by Trinket Mage.
I run a slew of mid to high-impact weenies in my build that don't get locked down:
Shadowmage Infiltrator
Thada Adel, Acquisitor
Intrepid Hero
Dimir Cutpurse
Disciple of Bolas(huge draw power)
Azorious Guildmage
Solemn Simulacrum
Mistmeadow Witch
Mulldrifter
Seeing as how we've already built in a suite of tap/untap effects for Merieke, we can easily manipulate the board to keep our opponents creatures locked down while we can get in with our beaters.
My tap/untap suite is a little overboard, but I'm never stuck with a tapped Merieke:
Azorious Guildmage
Thousand-Year Elixir
Magewright's Stone
Puppet Strings
Minamo, School at Water's Edge
Unbender Tine
Stonybrook Angler
Puppeteer
Trades
This is my third EDH deck and definitely my least competitive. I built this before Commander's Arsenal was released so now that people have been thinking about the deck I'm hoping that some good ideas have developed. I'm looking for ways to make the deck slightly more competitive without doing anything degenerate, so suggestions are welcomed.
A couple things to keep in mind.
- The budget is moderate. I generally don't have a problem buying/trading for cards up to about 20 USD in value.
- On the same note, please keep in mind that the moderate budget means the deck is missing duals and fetches, grim monolith, etc.
2 Pact of Negation
3 Primal Surge
4 Wild Pair
5 Hibernation's End
6 Birthing Pod
7 Soothsaying
8 Sylvan Library
9 Seer's Sundial
10 Planar Portal
11 Akroma's Memorial
12 Fervor
13 Fires of Yavimaya
14 Concordant Crossroads
15 Gutter Grime
16 Swiftfoot Boots
17 Pandemonium
18 Warstorm Surge
19 Cream of the Crop
20 Basalt Monolith
21 Coalition Relic
22 Darksteel Ingot
23 Everflowing Chalice
24 Gilded Lotus
25 Gruul Signet
26 Izzet Signet
27 Mana Vault
28 Simic Signet
29 Sol Ring
30 Talisman of Impulse
31 Worn Powerstone
33 Quirion Elves
34 Treasure Mage
35 Borderland Ranger
36 Nulltread Gargantuan
37 Somberwald Sage
38 Eternal Witness
39 Dosan the Falling Leaf
40 Primal Forcemage
41 Wood Elves
42 Kaho, Minamo Historian
43 Mystic Snake
44 Ondu Giant
45 Descendant Of Soramaro
46 Archaeomancer
47 Acidic Slime
48 Urabrask the Hidden
49 Kuldotha Flamefiend
50 Rampaging Baloths
51 Roil Elemental
52 Vedalken Dismisser
53 Baloth Woodcrasher
54 Brutalizer Exarch
55 Chancellor of the Forge
56 Avenger of Zendikar
57 Great Whale
58 Sphinx of Uthuun
59 Hoverguard Sweepers
60 Craterhoof Behemoth
61 Bogardan Hellkite
63 Temple of the False God
64 Sulfur Falls
65 Stomping Ground
66 Steam Vents
67 Simic Growth Chamber
68 Shivan Reef
69 Rootbound Crag
70 Karplusan Forest
71 Izzet Guildgate
72 Izzet Boilerworks
73 Hinterland Harbor
74 Gruul Turf
75 Copperline Gorge
76 Command Tower
77 Breeding Pool
78 Ancient Ziggurat
So with only 2 non-permanents in the deck, the aim is obviously to resolve Primal Surge and win.
Mystical Tutor searches out Primal Surge and if that's already in hand it gets your lone counterspell as backup. Planar Portal searches out your wincon as well.
Kaho, Minamo Historian is in the deck to pull out your other two spells if you already have Primal Surge in hand.
Winning
I've included 4 layers to protect the Primal Surge combo and to increase it's likelihood of winning if one or more methods fail.
1) Ideally, you already have out Warstorm Surge or Pandemonium or hit one early after resolving Primal Surge. The sheer volume of creatures coming into play will trigger enough damage to topple one or more opponents, most likely.
2) Swing - I've included Akroma's Memorial,Fervor,Fires of Yavimaya,Concordant Crossroads, and our General gives haste. This is more than enough enablers to let you swing in for a TON of damage immediately.
3) Opponents didn't respond to your Primal Surge? It will be too late as soon as Dosan the falling leaf hits play.
4) Gutter Grime. If, somehow, all else fails and your opponents get to untap after you've laid out your entire deck, Gutter Grime protects you from one wrath.
Utility
Nantuko Tracer, Archaeomancer and Eternal Witness for recursion, in case your first Primal Surge gets countered.
Acidic Slime, Vedalken Dismisser, and Hoverguard Sweepers help clean up anything annoying that may be on the board. (I'd really like to add more in this area).
Weak Cards (stuff I'd like to cut)
Archaeomancer
Great Whale
Swiftfoot Boots (don't think I need this)
Pact of Negation (Feel like the deck doesn't need it)
Please let me know what you think!
Trades
Both markets share R&D expenses and when all is said and done i'd be willing to wager that the cost of producing physical product is only marginally more expensive than maintaining an online product. Both are extremely high margin.
If a person has $X to spend and is currently spending it on paper magic, it's logical to assume that any amount spent on MOTL will reduce the $X spent on paper magic.
Wizards probably doesn't want to make the push yet, as maintaining a healthy paper magic market is what really attracts new players and ascribes value to the product.
Trades
Opp turn 3: index. Pass.
Me turn 4:vedalken entrancer
Opp turn 4: Draw. Go.
Me turn 5: "Milling an indexed deck? Seems good." Mill him for 2, milling Sands of Delirium and Jace, Memory Adept
I LOLed.
The actual PWN of the story, though, is that I still lost the game.
Trades
Trades
From what I can tell by reading your post, you're looking for a fun way to burn some disposable income. Opening a box will certainly provide you with that, regardless of its soundness as an investment.
Trades
The drafts are held in a function room off the side of the bar and there are one or two servers for the group. About 2/3's of the people eat meals and drink, the other third usually orders a coke or something. It's good for both the card store and the bar because the draft is $20 but you get a $5 food voucher, so it ensures all the soda drinkers will at least be spending some money.
I enjoy the crowd there much more. It seems a good number of normal guys and girls come out for this. Most are like myself: late 20's, working professional, prefer to play magic in a social setting instead of a basement.
Contrary to popular belief in this thread, spills are very rare and I've yet to see anyone get drunk to the point of it being an issue in any way.
To the OP:
Anyone hating on the idea in this thread without providing firsthand experience has obviously never played magic in a bar. You'll read that almost all those who have prefer it or have had good experiences.
I think having a Bar where you can play magic is probably not the best way to frame it, however. It seems better to have a TCG shop that serves alcohol would work better. You should have no problem letting any age in, but you would have to be very strict about who you serve (maybe a wristband/ stamp system). It also depends on your state laws.
Trades
If you don't wish to discuss it, there is always the option of not posting in this thread. Instead, you've chosen to post three times now in this thread about how you "don't think it should be discussed".
Channelfireball could have quietly severed ties with TSG, or even just mentioned that TSG would no longer be part of their team, with no explanation.
Instead, LSV decided to provide specific detail on the incident because he felt it was important for the MTG community to know about (which it is).
Trades
Trades
I'm still not sold on the card, although its been used against me to decent effect a number of times.
Trades
Thank you for the quick reply.
Trades