Firstly, I want to thank you all. Because of you and your suggestions, some of my decks have become automatic targets in my small play group.
Probably like some of you, my play group is rather small 6-8 people and it is rare, though not unheard of, that we can all get together to play eight player games. Therefore, the games I typically play are with 2-4 players. This presents a problem when constructing decks on a budget as I want the decks I build to be versatile enough to compete well in duels and multiplayer games, even if it means the deck isn't as vicious as it could be in either mode. Usually that means putting in a certain number of cards that don't always do well in one setting, like Abyssal Gatekeeper or Fleshbag Marauder when dueling or Negate and Terminate in Multiplayer.
My question is this: How many of you are like me? If you are, roughly how do you find the balance between cards that scale well in multiplayer and cards that perform well in duels, or you accept the fact that some decks cannot be used in both and dedicate them to either one or the other?
I typically run both sort of decks, some decks optimized for winning duels, others for MP.
My duel decks focus on the legacy format.
My MP decks don't tend to be as powerful as they might be, I want to enjoy MTG time with friends instead of being *that guy*.
The one thing I've learnt by playing powerful decks, is that if you do it routinely, you'll earn *the threat* status, and whether you're playing a harmless deck or not, you'll be gang-raped until you're dead every game. I try not to be that guy too often these days, but sometimes I can't help myself...
If budget is a concern, I'd focus on flexible cards for either format - like Eternal Witness - if you build your decks around as many good cards in either format as you can, you'll be fine.
I've accepted that the raw power of multiplayer scalingcards is too good to pass up so I build separate decks for both 'formats'.
My multiplayer decks are semi-budget, most of the time only running expensive stuff that I already had access to or am easily able to trade for.
For duels I build peasant decks to keep the costs down. Five uncommons and a bunch of commons ensure a relatively inexpensive deck while also allowing for creativity in deck building. Most of my peasant decks are updated versions of old extended decks I used to have put together at one point or another.
I'd think that you'll have to focus on a good curve and running enough mana sources that enter the battlefield untapped.
Play value cards and play them early enough so you don't get rushed in the early turns.
Save your scaling / multiplayer cards for higher on the curve.
Things like that. Si?
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In magic there's Harry Dresden, Fizban, Sethra Lavode, Dorotea Senjak and me...
My meta: 3 or 4 player free for all, anything goes but boring games or broken decks cause a vote to end that game.
I try to keep my decks capable of both, but it's a tough thing to do.
I tend to play more MP than duals now, it was the other way around before....so I bring a sideboard of cards to put in/out depending on dueling or playing FFA
Forge? Is this the new software instead of Cockatrice?
I found 3 to 4 players very difficult to judge because that's the tipping point for aggressive strategies. Committing to the board becomes risky, but necessary if you don't want to be killed by those who do. You could hardly play B/W allies in an 6-player game and expect to get away with not getting wrathed, but in a 3-player game you can.
I'm having trouble figuring out the right amount of aggro I can get away with in my 3 player FFA matches (granted they are cube matches, but the dilemma is the same).
I've had wins with what is essentially a duel deck because my opponents had slow draws, but I've also had blow outs where they stabilized and I was left in the dust. Still trying to find the correct mix of threats and late game options to diminish this problem.
If anyone has any experience with 3 player FFA games, let me know what works for you
Uncle Istvan is an awesome flavor card and I would automatically respect a deck running that card...right before I crush it to death ;P
Shandalar is awesome...I didnt know there was a 2012 updated version (i still play the original one sometimes) but when I click your link, the latest update seems to point out that it doesnt work anymore...is it worth installing ?
3-players game are the worst nightmare out there...best player and 2nd best player end up fighting each other and worst player wins more often than not ;P
You hit the nail on the head. 3 player games remind me of bonus levels in Mortal Kombat..... two players wail on each other and then the third pounces and cleans up. Almost a waste of time.
I like 4-5 player FFA myself. I find 8 player games difficult to keep moving. Inevitable someone breaks out there phone or some other distraction.
One at a time. If one player attacks you, the other can't attack you until after you take another turn.
We play with this one, it's very good. The only issue with that is there are sometimes situations where bad plays from the player with the weakest board can make you loose, but that also encurages talking with each other so it's not really a backdraw.
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Probably like some of you, my play group is rather small 6-8 people and it is rare, though not unheard of, that we can all get together to play eight player games. Therefore, the games I typically play are with 2-4 players. This presents a problem when constructing decks on a budget as I want the decks I build to be versatile enough to compete well in duels and multiplayer games, even if it means the deck isn't as vicious as it could be in either mode. Usually that means putting in a certain number of cards that don't always do well in one setting, like Abyssal Gatekeeper or Fleshbag Marauder when dueling or Negate and Terminate in Multiplayer.
My question is this: How many of you are like me? If you are, roughly how do you find the balance between cards that scale well in multiplayer and cards that perform well in duels, or you accept the fact that some decks cannot be used in both and dedicate them to either one or the other?
My duel decks focus on the legacy format.
My MP decks don't tend to be as powerful as they might be, I want to enjoy MTG time with friends instead of being *that guy*.
The one thing I've learnt by playing powerful decks, is that if you do it routinely, you'll earn *the threat* status, and whether you're playing a harmless deck or not, you'll be gang-raped until you're dead every game. I try not to be that guy too often these days, but sometimes I can't help myself...
If budget is a concern, I'd focus on flexible cards for either format - like Eternal Witness - if you build your decks around as many good cards in either format as you can, you'll be fine.
My multiplayer decks are semi-budget, most of the time only running expensive stuff that I already had access to or am easily able to trade for.
For duels I build peasant decks to keep the costs down. Five uncommons and a bunch of commons ensure a relatively inexpensive deck while also allowing for creativity in deck building. Most of my peasant decks are updated versions of old extended decks I used to have put together at one point or another.
I'd think that you'll have to focus on a good curve and running enough mana sources that enter the battlefield untapped.
Play value cards and play them early enough so you don't get rushed in the early turns.
Save your scaling / multiplayer cards for higher on the curve.
Things like that. Si?
My meta: 3 or 4 player free for all, anything goes but boring games or broken decks cause a vote to end that game.
I tend to play more MP than duals now, it was the other way around before....so I bring a sideboard of cards to put in/out depending on dueling or playing FFA
Forge? Is this the new software instead of Cockatrice?
IMO it's better. I've tried playing EDH on MTGO and it was one of the worst experiences of my life lol.
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I've had wins with what is essentially a duel deck because my opponents had slow draws, but I've also had blow outs where they stabilized and I was left in the dust. Still trying to find the correct mix of threats and late game options to diminish this problem.
If anyone has any experience with 3 player FFA games, let me know what works for you
My 450ish 1vs1 cube
Shandalar is awesome...I didnt know there was a 2012 updated version (i still play the original one sometimes) but when I click your link, the latest update seems to point out that it doesnt work anymore...is it worth installing ?
3-players game are the worst nightmare out there...best player and 2nd best player end up fighting each other and worst player wins more often than not ;P
You hit the nail on the head. 3 player games remind me of bonus levels in Mortal Kombat..... two players wail on each other and then the third pounces and cleans up. Almost a waste of time.
I like 4-5 player FFA myself. I find 8 player games difficult to keep moving. Inevitable someone breaks out there phone or some other distraction.
Will check out Shandalar
We play with this one, it's very good. The only issue with that is there are sometimes situations where bad plays from the player with the weakest board can make you loose, but that also encurages talking with each other so it's not really a backdraw.