So I played my first few games of EDH at the card shop this evening, and I have to say it really got on my nerves. I thought it would have sort of an interesting, random flare to it, but my eyes were literally glazed over half the time.
Everyone I played literally took 15 minutes a turn using Sensei's Divining Top and playing cards that searched for other cards that triggered other cards that also brought cards back from the graveyard that in turn triggered other cards to the point where I completely lost track of what was going on halfway through the turn, and then they played Time Warp and did it all over again.
Essentially what it boiled down to every game was who could get off their broken combo first that caused them to immediately win the game or completely lockdown their opponent to the point that they had no chance of ever casting a spell again. Or just drawing the game out to epic proportions when someone has Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, and Kor Haven on the field, requiring you to have at least 3 creatures out to even think about doing a few points of damage.
And of course, whoever gets the Sol Ring and/or Mana Crypt in their opening hand is automatically two turns ahead of their opponent, who then has little chance of catching up before the ridiculous, half-hour combo takes place as the opponent sits there and daydreams about something else.
So yeah, I can see how this could be fun as a casual,multiplayer format, but as a 1vs1 competitive format, it just doesn't work at all. While in multiplayer, I can see how everyone could immediately turn on the guy in the lead and give some semblance of balance, in 1vs1, starting with 40 life essentially allows you as much time as you need to mana-ramp into one of the many broken card interactions available to you.
That's pretty much how I feel about the format, and it's clearly not ever going to be suited to 1vs1 (I didn't get to play a multiplayer game). But at the same time, people obviously want to win. Life totals are still being counted, after all, so why wouldn't you use the deck that allows you to win as quickly, efficiently, and mind-numbingly (for your opponent) as possible?
"Some of the other guys dared me to go out, but I knew it weren't no ordinary giant giga-blasting blaze of unending flames that would scorch the whole world."
—Norin the Wary
Unfortunately I had too many bad experiences playing edh that i finally quit. I think it was the shift from being a casual (play whatever crap is in your bulk binder) to "optimized" net decked commander lists with dual lands, legacy staples, infinite card drawing and infinite mana. I been mind slaver locked too many times, had all my mana pulled out my deck with a kicked sadistic sacrament, had the board wiped every turn way too many times, Players take way too long on their turns and i get bored out of my skull. Its almost as if EDH has turned into "watch me play solitaire and you do nothing"
I have access to every legacy staple, but i still don't put any of them into an EDH deck, because in my opinion my Legacy staples belong in my competitive legacy decks. I played EDH to play cards that don't have a home, or would be horrible in any constructed format.
But I'm a relic of the past when it comes to EDH, and its no longer the format I once knew. Its impossible to play a 'fun deck' anymore as you will just get steam rolled.
There is a 1v1 version of edh, maybe you would like that more. It's called french. In french, combo is almost unheard of.
I read up on that, and I like the idea of 30 life and the more comprehensive ban-list for 1vs1, but unfortunately I'm not in France and people here play 1vs1 with the normal rules; I didn't see any multiplayer games going on. The French rules do seem like a legitimate attempt to balance it as a competitive format.
On the side, lgs are not the place to play edh. It's kitchen edh that is the real format.
The only place to play MTG is at the local game store here; I don't even have 1 close friend that plays the game, much less 4 :-).
stay away from playgroups who just do the race as to who combos out first. You'll need a shipload of money to at least be able to compete with them the slightest. Find a playgroup that plays some fun, casual games. You may later feel the urge to go all "competitive" with one deck for the fun of it, but some never do. As Sheldon puts it: "Build casually, play competitive". In a lot of playgroups there's the gentle(wo)man's agreement to not play infinite combos - this leads to longer games with shorter turns.
I actually took quite a bit of time, being on vacation from work, to build a deck out of my old cards; I'm just starting to play magic a bit again, and while I've done decently in the two standard tournaments I played with the deck I threw together, I'm just not into it enough to purchase the "mythic rare" cards needed to really win the tournaments.
I'd definitely prefer the nostalgia I was expecting with EDH, but that seems to be the epitome of pay-to-win.
Quote from Tormod »
Unfortunately I had too many bad experiences playing edh that i finally quit. I think it was the shift from being a casual (play whatever crap is in your bulk binder) to "optimized" net decked commander lists with dual lands, legacy staples, infinite card drawing and infinite mana. I been mind slaver locked too many times, had all my mana pulled out my deck with a kicked sadistic sacrament, had the board wiped every turn way too many times, Players take way too long on their turns and i get bored out of my skull. Its almost as if EDH has turned into "watch me play solitaire and you do nothing"
Yeah, I wasn't really upset that I was getting steamrolled, but I definitely felt a bit embarrassed. It was like, "Sorry all I can do is sit here with a dumb look on my face as you take 3 turns in a row, shuffle your library umpteen times, then Genesis Wave me with your 30 mana."
I read up on that, and I like the idea of 30 life and the more comprehensive ban-list for 1vs1, but unfortunately I'm not in France and people here play 1vs1 with the normal rules; I didn't see any multiplayer games going on. The French rules do seem like a legitimate attempt to balance it as a competitive format.
The only place to play MTG is at the local game store here; I don't even have 1 close friend that plays the game, much less 4 :-).
Sorry that you have no close friends to play edh with, that's a bummer.
However, if you really like the idea of french edh, you could always pitch the idea to your lgs. Sounds just like the thing competitive players would be into. Also, if you tune your current edh deck to be competitive for french, it should absolutely destroy the typical multiplayer edh deck in a french game.
"Some of the other guys dared me to go out, but I knew it weren't no ordinary giant giga-blasting blaze of unending flames that would scorch the whole world."
—Norin the Wary
One thing I would suggest is trying to find another group to play with, if possible. There are about 4 or 5 different stores in my area and each has its own culture. Some are pretty cutthroat, but the others reward originality over raw power. The big difference between these two types of stores is that the ones that prize originality over raw power use a point system to determine wins, and shape the play experience.
EDH is definitely about your playgroup. I liken it to D&D in that, more than direct competition, you're looking to create a shared experience where the payout if fun, not winning. If other people in your playgroup don't get that, it really ruins the spirit of the format, in my option. I firmly believe that money has no place in EDH unless it's friendly wagers between friends. It sounds like the guys you played with are playing it like Legacy Singleton, which is sad.
The lgs that hosts the commander league subtracts serious points if anyone infinite combos, takes more than 1 extra turn at a time, etc....so basically people don't do stupid stuff and you can play actual games. Sounds like the group you need to find.
Crazy combo EDH has a place, but not with me in it. I'm not opposed to infinite combos, I just don't actively search for them and limit it to 1-2 per deck incase I may need it late in a kitchen table game to get it over with. After several 2 hour stalemates with my friends, a game winning combo here or there is basically welcomed.
So I played my first few games of EDH at the card shop this evening, and I have to say it really got on my nerves. I thought it would have sort of an interesting, random flare to it, but my eyes were literally glazed over half the time.
Everyone I played literally took 15 minutes a turn using Sensei's Divining Top and playing cards that searched for other cards that triggered other cards that also brought cards back from the graveyard that in turn triggered other cards to the point where I completely lost track of what was going on halfway through the turn, and then they played Time Warp and did it all over again.
Essentially what it boiled down to every game was who could get off their broken combo first that caused them to immediately win the game or completely lockdown their opponent to the point that they had no chance of ever casting a spell again. Or just drawing the game out to epic proportions when someone has Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, and Kor Haven on the field, requiring you to have at least 3 creatures out to even think about doing a few points of damage.
And of course, whoever gets the Sol Ring and/or Mana Crypt in their opening hand is automatically two turns ahead of their opponent, who then has little chance of catching up before the ridiculous, half-hour combo takes place as the opponent sits there and daydreams about something else.
So yeah, I can see how this could be fun as a casual,multiplayer format, but as a 1vs1 competitive format, it just doesn't work at all. While in multiplayer, I can see how everyone could immediately turn on the guy in the lead and give some semblance of balance, in 1vs1, starting with 40 life essentially allows you as much time as you need to mana-ramp into one of the many broken card interactions available to you.
That's pretty much how I feel about the format, and it's clearly not ever going to be suited to 1vs1 (I didn't get to play a multiplayer game). But at the same time, people obviously want to win. Life totals are still being counted, after all, so why wouldn't you use the deck that allows you to win as quickly, efficiently, and mind-numbingly (for your opponent) as possible?
Clearly I didn't have the best experience.
There are a few types of EDH players.
MTG Gods that optimize decks to the highest level of power possible. Play on their level or don't play them because you are actually just wasting your time.
EDH players who build decks purely on theme.
Players that just want to have a good time and throw random crap into a deck.
Players that try to balance fun and power.
Unless all parties are aware of the other, they really shouldn't mix. It's purely a play group issue. EDH is no where near a balanced format, it's broken as hell.
I agree. We should all only play g/x decks because they are the most objectively fun and anyone who disagrees does not know the truth about EDH. Everyone should just play their decks because interaction beyond high fiving about how many land are in play is unfun and equivalent to casting Stasis while kicking puppies. I for one will never play with anyone who casts tutors, removal spells, blue cards, things I arbitrarily decide I don't like but will probably cast myself later.
MTG Gods that optimize decks to the highest level of power possible. Play on their level or don't play them because you are actually just wasting your time.
EDH players who build decks purely on theme.
Players that just want to have a good time and throw random crap into a deck.
Players that try to balance fun and power.
Unless all parties are aware of the other, they really shouldn't mix. It's purely a play group issue. EDH is no where near a balanced format, it's broken as hell.
Pretty good description of how EDH works. If you want to play a crazy, silly, game of random/theme card EDH then you need to find others who want the same. Expecting all players to play how you want to isn't how EDH works.
a) stay away from 1vs1 edh. A lot of people will disagree, but i don't get why these people not just play Legacy instead. Edh is multiplayer at it's heart.
Off topic, but I just couldn't help it: because competitive singleton 1v1 is the most fun thing ever?
I read up on that, and I like the idea of 30 life and the more comprehensive ban-list for 1vs1, but unfortunately I'm not in France and people here play 1vs1 with the normal rules; I didn't see any multiplayer games going on. The French rules do seem like a legitimate attempt to balance it as a competitive format.
The only place to play MTG is at the local game store here; I don't even have 1 close friend that plays the game, much less 4 :-).
If you'd like to play some MP commander games but don't have a playgroup, you could play on Cockatrice (which is free), or MTGO, which isn't free, but it isn't very expensive to build a decent commander deck.
My first Intet deck on MTGO cost me 12 bucks, and it actually wasn't awful.
The online metas can be a little more cut throat, as the social side of things get downplayed somewhat, but as you go on more, you'll see the same faces and begin to feel bad about bringing broken decks.
Taking multiplayer decks and playing 1v1 with them is going to result in one deck almost always beating the other I think. If you've never played edh before, don't judge it on that. Last night, we had a huge stall courtesy of tainted aether. When it was broken, Jarad used his insane mana from black market to cast army of the damned twice in one turn, all of which got reins of powered the next turn and swung to even the life totals (orzhov player had an active bloodchief, polluted bonds, and exquisite blood in a big 5 player game).
Then again, I don't think anyone in our group plays top or any take a turn spell (I may put a single one in my next deck). It doesn't seem like top would be that time consuming 1v1, especially if you normally play multiplayer (I prefer 4, then 3 the most). Multiplayer definitely balances things out naturally, though your group has to form a meta. All combo decks better have lots of counterspells among the group. Lots of creatures, someone needs a few wraths or the board gets too clogged for me. Our group apparently needs more enchantment hate (hard to have enough in 5 player).
So yeah, I can see how this could be fun as a casual, multiplayer format
That's how most of us play it and enjoy it. If you want 1v1 you could try the french list and rules I guess. And yeah, life totals are still there, but because of multiplayer the fastest way to win...is usually not the fastest way. Super aggro can overextend trying to do enough damage because of high life totals so wraths (which are good) are real good there. Plus you draw a lot of heat if you dump a lot of stuff on the board. Our group mostly avoids infinite combos, which allows for longer crazier games (though we had one last night where two of us were trying to figure out how to not die and the other person conceded out of the blue, I guess we were taking too long or he didn't appreciate our collusion...still not sure, I was pretty surprised- we were basically dead next turn and just exhausting our options, I had saved him another turn by tap a land to heal him via his exquisite blood and my mana barbs, lol).
I don't exactly agree that an LGS is a terrible place to play, but I can see why.
At my store (Anthem Games what whaaat) there are some jerks who play haaard combo but there's also a decent amount of players (4-6) who play fun games, and I have my own group who I drive there every now and then.
If you really wanna have fun, in my opinion you gotta find friends to play with first.
Perhaps I take my playgroup forgranted sometimes
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Decks: WUG Jenara, Asura of War WR Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas WU Lavinia of the Tenth UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus
So I played my first few games of EDH at the card shop this evening, and I have to say it really got on my nerves. I thought it would have sort of an interesting, random flare to it, but my eyes were literally glazed over half the time.
Everyone I played literally took 15 minutes a turn using Sensei's Divining Top and playing cards that searched for other cards that triggered other cards that also brought cards back from the graveyard that in turn triggered other cards to the point where I completely lost track of what was going on halfway through the turn, and then they played Time Warp and did it all over again.
Essentially what it boiled down to every game was who could get off their broken combo first that caused them to immediately win the game or completely lockdown their opponent to the point that they had no chance of ever casting a spell again. Or just drawing the game out to epic proportions when someone has Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, and Kor Haven on the field, requiring you to have at least 3 creatures out to even think about doing a few points of damage.
And of course, whoever gets the Sol Ring and/or Mana Crypt in their opening hand is automatically two turns ahead of their opponent, who then has little chance of catching up before the ridiculous, half-hour combo takes place as the opponent sits there and daydreams about something else.
So yeah, I can see how this could be fun as a casual,multiplayer format, but as a 1vs1 competitive format, it just doesn't work at all. While in multiplayer, I can see how everyone could immediately turn on the guy in the lead and give some semblance of balance, in 1vs1, starting with 40 life essentially allows you as much time as you need to mana-ramp into one of the many broken card interactions available to you.
That's pretty much how I feel about the format, and it's clearly not ever going to be suited to 1vs1 (I didn't get to play a multiplayer game). But at the same time, people obviously want to win. Life totals are still being counted, after all, so why wouldn't you use the deck that allows you to win as quickly, efficiently, and mind-numbingly (for your opponent) as possible?
Clearly I didn't have the best experience.
Taking a hastily thrown together list and going up against tweaked or netdecked lists will not be a fun experience.
Unless all parties are aware of the other, they really shouldn't mix. It's purely a play group issue. EDH is no where near a balanced format, it's broken as hell.
Amen to that. You have to build your deck to the others that play with you and play the decks that make the most of each game. For instance, I have a Kaalia deck for 1 vs 1 and more competitive playgroups, a Ghave for the stupid combo club, Riku for when I just want to see what silly interaction I can create that has never won against anyone, and a Mimeoplasma for big multiplayer tables. I'll play all my decks against anyone, but I'll definitely pick one deck over the other based on the situation and the playgroup just to get the most fun out of each game and so that everyone can enjoy it.
EDH is like everything else you do in groups. It is only fun if your all on the same page. Trying to just have a chill game with elite combo players will always end badly. Same as trying to have a competitive game with a group of casual players.
So like many others suggest, trying and find a group more to your liking and you may find a much more interesting and fun experience.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
Single player EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun.
Everyone I played literally took 15 minutes a turn using Sensei's Divining Top and playing cards that searched for other cards that triggered other cards that also brought cards back from the graveyard that in turn triggered other cards to the point where I completely lost track of what was going on halfway through the turn, and then they played Time Warp and did it all over again.
I stopped reading here. You dont like the format fine, but thats not how all games go. Find a better group and get a thicker skin. Play with some people you like and shoot the bull while the game is going on.
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
I think that the "fun" in EDH is entirely dependent on the group of people. If your playgroup is super competitive then turn 4 locks and "comboiing out" become quite common. I personally dislike infinite combo decks because they don't interact with other decks. If you have the same sentiments then I would suggest finding others that play non-combo decks.
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Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the awesome sig!
I stopped reading here. You dont like the format fine, but thats not how all games go. Find a better group and get a thicker skin. Play with some people you like and shoot the bull while the game is going on.
So get a thicker skin... so I can sit there and do nothing for extended periods of time like a man?
The issue isn't getting angry about losing to infinite combo decks, it's just about how the format doesn't work at all as a 1vs1 game and how balance is impossible without other players to team up against the guy in the lead.
I saw the EDH interviews with Sheldon, and he basically said the same thing as some of the other posters have expressed, that he feared some players would take it from being a social experience to a competitive format.
So get a thicker skin... so I can sit there and do nothing for extended periods of time like a man?
The issue isn't getting angry about losing to infinite combo decks, it's just about how the format doesn't work at all as a 1vs1 game and how balance is impossible without other players to team up against the guy in the lead.
I saw the EDH interviews with Sheldon, and he basically said the same thing as some of the other posters have expressed, that he feared some players would take it from being a social experience to a competitive format.
So you dont like the format. I really am sorry, but as others stated, thats a playgroup issue, not a format issue.
EDH is fun, you dont think your group is. I guess I have an issue with your title
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
Everyone I played literally took 15 minutes a turn using Sensei's Divining Top and playing cards that searched for other cards that triggered other cards that also brought cards back from the graveyard that in turn triggered other cards to the point where I completely lost track of what was going on halfway through the turn, and then they played Time Warp and did it all over again.
Essentially what it boiled down to every game was who could get off their broken combo first that caused them to immediately win the game or completely lockdown their opponent to the point that they had no chance of ever casting a spell again. Or just drawing the game out to epic proportions when someone has Mystifying Maze, Maze of Ith, and Kor Haven on the field, requiring you to have at least 3 creatures out to even think about doing a few points of damage.
And of course, whoever gets the Sol Ring and/or Mana Crypt in their opening hand is automatically two turns ahead of their opponent, who then has little chance of catching up before the ridiculous, half-hour combo takes place as the opponent sits there and daydreams about something else.
So yeah, I can see how this could be fun as a casual, multiplayer format, but as a 1vs1 competitive format, it just doesn't work at all. While in multiplayer, I can see how everyone could immediately turn on the guy in the lead and give some semblance of balance, in 1vs1, starting with 40 life essentially allows you as much time as you need to mana-ramp into one of the many broken card interactions available to you.
That's pretty much how I feel about the format, and it's clearly not ever going to be suited to 1vs1 (I didn't get to play a multiplayer game). But at the same time, people obviously want to win. Life totals are still being counted, after all, so why wouldn't you use the deck that allows you to win as quickly, efficiently, and mind-numbingly (for your opponent) as possible?
Clearly I didn't have the best experience.
On the side, lgs are not the place to play edh. It's kitchen edh that is the real format.
Cockatrice Username: seriph0
I have access to every legacy staple, but i still don't put any of them into an EDH deck, because in my opinion my Legacy staples belong in my competitive legacy decks. I played EDH to play cards that don't have a home, or would be horrible in any constructed format.
But I'm a relic of the past when it comes to EDH, and its no longer the format I once knew. Its impossible to play a 'fun deck' anymore as you will just get steam rolled.
Long live Cube!
I read up on that, and I like the idea of 30 life and the more comprehensive ban-list for 1vs1, but unfortunately I'm not in France and people here play 1vs1 with the normal rules; I didn't see any multiplayer games going on. The French rules do seem like a legitimate attempt to balance it as a competitive format.
The only place to play MTG is at the local game store here; I don't even have 1 close friend that plays the game, much less 4 :-).
I actually took quite a bit of time, being on vacation from work, to build a deck out of my old cards; I'm just starting to play magic a bit again, and while I've done decently in the two standard tournaments I played with the deck I threw together, I'm just not into it enough to purchase the "mythic rare" cards needed to really win the tournaments.
I'd definitely prefer the nostalgia I was expecting with EDH, but that seems to be the epitome of pay-to-win.
Yeah, I wasn't really upset that I was getting steamrolled, but I definitely felt a bit embarrassed. It was like, "Sorry all I can do is sit here with a dumb look on my face as you take 3 turns in a row, shuffle your library umpteen times, then Genesis Wave me with your 30 mana."
Sorry that you have no close friends to play edh with, that's a bummer.
However, if you really like the idea of french edh, you could always pitch the idea to your lgs. Sounds just like the thing competitive players would be into. Also, if you tune your current edh deck to be competitive for french, it should absolutely destroy the typical multiplayer edh deck in a french game.
Cockatrice Username: seriph0
Crazy combo EDH has a place, but not with me in it. I'm not opposed to infinite combos, I just don't actively search for them and limit it to 1-2 per deck incase I may need it late in a kitchen table game to get it over with. After several 2 hour stalemates with my friends, a game winning combo here or there is basically welcomed.
G Azusa, Lost but Seeking G
WU Grand Arbiter Augustin IV WU
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftan WBG
B Korlash, Heir to Blackblade B
RU Tibor and Lumia RU
'He tasks me! He tasks me, and I shall have him!' - Khan Noonien Singh
There are a few types of EDH players.
MTG Gods that optimize decks to the highest level of power possible. Play on their level or don't play them because you are actually just wasting your time.
EDH players who build decks purely on theme.
Players that just want to have a good time and throw random crap into a deck.
Players that try to balance fun and power.
Unless all parties are aware of the other, they really shouldn't mix. It's purely a play group issue. EDH is no where near a balanced format, it's broken as hell.
Pretty good description of how EDH works. If you want to play a crazy, silly, game of random/theme card EDH then you need to find others who want the same. Expecting all players to play how you want to isn't how EDH works.
Off topic, but I just couldn't help it: because competitive singleton 1v1 is the most fun thing ever?
R.I.P. Sundering Titan (6/20/12) and Braids, Cabal Minion (9/12/14)
If you'd like to play some MP commander games but don't have a playgroup, you could play on Cockatrice (which is free), or MTGO, which isn't free, but it isn't very expensive to build a decent commander deck.
My first Intet deck on MTGO cost me 12 bucks, and it actually wasn't awful.
The online metas can be a little more cut throat, as the social side of things get downplayed somewhat, but as you go on more, you'll see the same faces and begin to feel bad about bringing broken decks.
It all evens out in the end.
Then again, I don't think anyone in our group plays top or any take a turn spell (I may put a single one in my next deck). It doesn't seem like top would be that time consuming 1v1, especially if you normally play multiplayer (I prefer 4, then 3 the most). Multiplayer definitely balances things out naturally, though your group has to form a meta. All combo decks better have lots of counterspells among the group. Lots of creatures, someone needs a few wraths or the board gets too clogged for me. Our group apparently needs more enchantment hate (hard to have enough in 5 player).
That's how most of us play it and enjoy it. If you want 1v1 you could try the french list and rules I guess. And yeah, life totals are still there, but because of multiplayer the fastest way to win...is usually not the fastest way. Super aggro can overextend trying to do enough damage because of high life totals so wraths (which are good) are real good there. Plus you draw a lot of heat if you dump a lot of stuff on the board. Our group mostly avoids infinite combos, which allows for longer crazier games (though we had one last night where two of us were trying to figure out how to not die and the other person conceded out of the blue, I guess we were taking too long or he didn't appreciate our collusion...still not sure, I was pretty surprised- we were basically dead next turn and just exhausting our options, I had saved him another turn by tap a land to heal him via his exquisite blood and my mana barbs, lol).
At my store (Anthem Games what whaaat) there are some jerks who play haaard combo but there's also a decent amount of players (4-6) who play fun games, and I have my own group who I drive there every now and then.
If you really wanna have fun, in my opinion you gotta find friends to play with first.
Perhaps I take my playgroup forgranted sometimes
Decks:
WUG Jenara, Asura of War
WR Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas
WU Lavinia of the Tenth
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Thiiiis guuuuyyyy gets iiiiit.
There's a format out there for everyone!
Decks:
WUG Jenara, Asura of War
WR Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas
WU Lavinia of the Tenth
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Taking a hastily thrown together list and going up against tweaked or netdecked lists will not be a fun experience.
BRGrenzo, Dungeon Warden EDH
GAzusa, Always in a Rush EDH
GWUDerevi, Empyrial Warlord EDH
Trade thread on MOTL
Amen to that. You have to build your deck to the others that play with you and play the decks that make the most of each game. For instance, I have a Kaalia deck for 1 vs 1 and more competitive playgroups, a Ghave for the stupid combo club, Riku for when I just want to see what silly interaction I can create that has never won against anyone, and a Mimeoplasma for big multiplayer tables. I'll play all my decks against anyone, but I'll definitely pick one deck over the other based on the situation and the playgroup just to get the most fun out of each game and so that everyone can enjoy it.
BUG Reanimator
BWG Nic-Fit
BGR Punishing Nic-Fit
So like many others suggest, trying and find a group more to your liking and you may find a much more interesting and fun experience.
On building a Celestial Kirin Stax EDH:
I stopped reading here. You dont like the format fine, but thats not how all games go. Find a better group and get a thicker skin. Play with some people you like and shoot the bull while the game is going on.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the awesome sig!
UW Isperia, Supreme Judge WU
URB Thraximundar BRU
So get a thicker skin... so I can sit there and do nothing for extended periods of time like a man?
The issue isn't getting angry about losing to infinite combo decks, it's just about how the format doesn't work at all as a 1vs1 game and how balance is impossible without other players to team up against the guy in the lead.
I saw the EDH interviews with Sheldon, and he basically said the same thing as some of the other posters have expressed, that he feared some players would take it from being a social experience to a competitive format.
So you dont like the format. I really am sorry, but as others stated, thats a playgroup issue, not a format issue.
EDH is fun, you dont think your group is. I guess I have an issue with your title
You can even play drinking games. Lose the game? Chug. Combo off? Chug. Destroy all creatures? Chug.
Just make sure the beers are far enough from the cards.