I'd like to try out a casual format that allows deck-stacking. If others have tried this already, it might help me bypass some playtesting of starting hand-size and deck-size before I arrive on something that works.
Basically, what I imagine is that each player has a constructed deck which they have sorted into the order they want. I am guessing that it should be smaller than normal -- maybe 20 - 30 cards. Each player draws their staring had (which also should likely be smaller than normal -- maybe 4 cards), and play proceeds as normal.
Cards that allow for a deck to be shuffled instead allow for the deck to be re-ordered.
What I suspect is that this would unfortunately devolve into having a short list of unbeatable combos that players would select from at random, so the game would essentially become a form of rock-paper-scissors. Maybe the idea would work better in Limited instead of Constructed? Or maybe the whole concept is unworkable...
On the very first player's upkeep, exile 2 ESG and cast Manamorphose making UG and drawing Pact of Negation. Cast Flash into Protean Hulk (with 1-3 Pacts as protection), assemble Body Double + Lark + Feeder + Fanatic and win the game immediately before any player gets a draw step or mainphase.
So you either need to start with fewer than 5 cards and/or ban Flash, because winning on turn 0 is too good.
Even with 4-card hands, if you win the die roll, there are many first turn wins.
Silence protects against enemy spells drawn from Wheel. Tranquility lets you remove nasty stuff like multiple Leyline of Sanctity from the opening hand. Turn 1 build storm and cast a big Tendrils.
Imposing the Legacy ban list helps, but there are still first turn wins with 4-card openers.
After casting Balustrade Spy on turn 1, your whole library goes to your graveyard. 3 Narcomoebas enter play. Dread Return Angel. Angel returns Lab Maniac and Azami. Draw to win.
Even banning Balustrade Spy, you can achieve the same result just playing a regular Dredge shell (with some creative deck stacking)
Turn 1 play LED and the land. Cast Breakthrough, pop LED with Breakthrough on the stack (discarding Grave-Troll), then replace all the draws with Dredge. If you are on the play (26 cards left in deck), Dredge 23 (3 Grave Trolls + 1 Stinkweed). If you are on the draw (25 cards left in deck), Dredge 22 (2 Grave-Trolls + 2 Stinkweed).
After dredging is complete, you will have 4 Narcomoebas in play, 3 mana in the pool, and 3 cards left in the library. Use Cabal Therapies to shred opponent's hand of any annoying spells, getting zombie tokens from Bridge from Below. Dread Return Grand Abolisher as needed. May not be needed. Then, you can either Dread Return for Flamekin Zealot to win with hasty zombie tokens in combat, or you can Dread Return for Cephalid Sage, drawing the last 3 cards of your deck and discarding the 2 creatures. Then Dread Return Angel of Glory's Rise into the Lab Maniac combo and win.
There are a lot of similar ways to build the "mill your whole library" engine, so you probably need to ban all of them and/or Dread Return and/or Laboratory Maniac
Then, storm is still easy with a Legacy banlist, so you may need to ban even more cards.
Turn 1 Infernal Contract protected by Chancellor. Draw 4. Play 3 LEDs. Cast Probe, popping the LEDS in response for BBBUUUGGG. See opponent's hand and then draw Meditate. Cast Meditate, drawing 4 more. Cast Cabal Ritual, Brainstorm (if needed to find Tranquility for Leylines, discard for Mindbreak Traps, Void Snare to remove permanents) and then Tendrils.
In general, storm is too easy to do when you can stack your library. You can throw in protection as needed too.
There are a ton of other ways to win turn 1 by stacking your deck, and you can build protection into some of the opening hands so they can beat hate and/or other combo decks that go first.
I don't see the advantage to this format. People would just keep trying to break it.
Basically, what I imagine is that each player has a constructed deck which they have sorted into the order they want. I am guessing that it should be smaller than normal -- maybe 20 - 30 cards. Each player draws their staring had (which also should likely be smaller than normal -- maybe 4 cards), and play proceeds as normal.
Cards that allow for a deck to be shuffled instead allow for the deck to be re-ordered.
What I suspect is that this would unfortunately devolve into having a short list of unbeatable combos that players would select from at random, so the game would essentially become a form of rock-paper-scissors. Maybe the idea would work better in Limited instead of Constructed? Or maybe the whole concept is unworkable...
For example, this 7-card hand wins on turn 0 every single game (works as a 5-card hand, minus 2 Pacts):
Cards in library in the following order:
Pact of Negation, Reveillark, Body Double, Carrion Feeder, Mogg Fanatic followed by anything.
On the very first player's upkeep, exile 2 ESG and cast Manamorphose making UG and drawing Pact of Negation. Cast Flash into Protean Hulk (with 1-3 Pacts as protection), assemble Body Double + Lark + Feeder + Fanatic and win the game immediately before any player gets a draw step or mainphase.
So you either need to start with fewer than 5 cards and/or ban Flash, because winning on turn 0 is too good.
Even with 4-card hands, if you win the die roll, there are many first turn wins.
The old classic. Channel for 19 and Banefire opponent for 20.
Opening Hand:
Top of library:
Silence protects against enemy spells drawn from Wheel. Tranquility lets you remove nasty stuff like multiple Leyline of Sanctity from the opening hand. Turn 1 build storm and cast a big Tendrils.
Imposing the Legacy ban list helps, but there are still first turn wins with 4-card openers.
Remaining deck contains 0 lands and the following cards: 3 Narcomoeba, Dread Return, Angel of Glory's Rise, Azami, Lady of Scrolls, Laboratory Maniac.
After casting Balustrade Spy on turn 1, your whole library goes to your graveyard. 3 Narcomoebas enter play. Dread Return Angel. Angel returns Lab Maniac and Azami. Draw to win.
Even banning Balustrade Spy, you can achieve the same result just playing a regular Dredge shell (with some creative deck stacking)
4-card hand: Lion's Eye Diamond, Breakthrough, Island, Golgari Grave-Troll
Rest of library (assuming 26 cards):
Turn 1 play LED and the land. Cast Breakthrough, pop LED with Breakthrough on the stack (discarding Grave-Troll), then replace all the draws with Dredge. If you are on the play (26 cards left in deck), Dredge 23 (3 Grave Trolls + 1 Stinkweed). If you are on the draw (25 cards left in deck), Dredge 22 (2 Grave-Trolls + 2 Stinkweed).
After dredging is complete, you will have 4 Narcomoebas in play, 3 mana in the pool, and 3 cards left in the library. Use Cabal Therapies to shred opponent's hand of any annoying spells, getting zombie tokens from Bridge from Below. Dread Return Grand Abolisher as needed. May not be needed. Then, you can either Dread Return for Flamekin Zealot to win with hasty zombie tokens in combat, or you can Dread Return for Cephalid Sage, drawing the last 3 cards of your deck and discarding the 2 creatures. Then Dread Return Angel of Glory's Rise into the Lab Maniac combo and win.
There are a lot of similar ways to build the "mill your whole library" engine, so you probably need to ban all of them and/or Dread Return and/or Laboratory Maniac
Then, storm is still easy with a Legacy banlist, so you may need to ban even more cards.
Opening hand: Lotus Petal, Dark Ritual, Infernal Contract, Chancellor of the Annex
Top of library:
Turn 1 Infernal Contract protected by Chancellor. Draw 4. Play 3 LEDs. Cast Probe, popping the LEDS in response for BBBUUUGGG. See opponent's hand and then draw Meditate. Cast Meditate, drawing 4 more. Cast Cabal Ritual, Brainstorm (if needed to find Tranquility for Leylines, discard for Mindbreak Traps, Void Snare to remove permanents) and then Tendrils.
In general, storm is too easy to do when you can stack your library. You can throw in protection as needed too.
There are a ton of other ways to win turn 1 by stacking your deck, and you can build protection into some of the opening hands so they can beat hate and/or other combo decks that go first.
I don't see the advantage to this format. People would just keep trying to break it.
Thanks for the detailed reply.
It sounds like, if this would work, it would need to be restricted to Standard-legal cards, then?