Just a tip, 20 cards per colour pair is WAY too much. You're not even going to be able to find that many good cards.
I suggest 5 cards per colour pair for a cube that size.
i think he is deliberately trying to make a multicolor-focused cube, for a drafting environment similar to alara and ravnica, not a standard cube.
if that's the case, i think the best bet is to look at the layout of ravnica block and design accordingly. you'll probably have to put more than one of certain cards in to maintain a decent power level. you should probably also look into block cubes for ravnica and alara if anyone has any. i'm not sure if anyone does, though.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
For six players I would prepare about 200 basics. In other words, 40 of each color.
Your curve depends on how aggressive you want your cube to be. If I had to ballpark some numbers I would guess a really aggressive cube has an average converted mana cost of 2.8-3 and a more control oriented cube has a curve around 3.5-3.8. You can check out my cube if you want to see a list that has a low curve and aggressive tendencies.
Don't run more than one copy of each staple card.
Also, is there a reason you are aiming at 528 cards?
1. I assume you mean for the single color 50. You only need to worry about 4 guilds for any given color(assuming my math is correct). So... set aside ~24 cards maybe. That divides to 6 cards per guild to flesh out that guilds theme. You could probably go to 32/4=8 cards if you want it very heavily ravnica cube. I would leave the rest for generally powerful cube cards.
2. Not off the top of my head, but I agree with Juju, 20 is a bit much. Try 10 or 15. (Since you clearly want a heavy guild feel). Also try focusing on cards that really help that guild theme.
3. In my personal opinion, no. I feel it takes away from the cube.
4. Try to have the average converted mana cost around 3 or so. (Typically a cube standard)
5. As many as you can find in foils...they are awesome.
Thank you all for your comments. It did help a lot in my designing the cube.
I'm now going for 9 hybrid of each pair and 15 gold of each pair.
The WWK man-lands - if I'm designing around all 10 color pairs, do these 5 dual lands give too strong of an advantage to their respective colors, or is that acceptable for alled vs enemy differences?
Yeah most people tend to run between 4-6 cards per colour pair in total, and that's not discriminating between hybrid and gold.
I don't think you really need to worry about balancing out the two colour combinations exactly. Adding a manland for the allied colours isn't going to make much of a noticeable difference in the viability of any of the other combinations.
The group will be 6 person. Planning on a 528-card cube, with 4 packs of 11 cards drafted, so each draft will only be half the cube.
It will likely be a powered cube, and I was thinking about designing it to start with around ravinica block with Alara influences.
I was estimating 50 cards per color, 20 per color pair, 3 for each shard, with lands and artifacts rounding it out.
1. Are there any reccomendations to color breakdowns for being able to support all 10 guilds equally?
2. Any cards I should specifically avoid from any color or pair? (Expecially from Ravinica block.)
3. Should I consider running more then 1 of any staple cards? Terramorphic Expanse for example?
4. What kind of curve should I aim at?
5, For 6 players, what # of basic land should I prepare?
Thanks! Once I get more of an idea of the cube contents, I'll post it for critique
I suggest 5 cards per colour pair for a cube that size.
Juju Alters - Altered MTG Cards
i think he is deliberately trying to make a multicolor-focused cube, for a drafting environment similar to alara and ravnica, not a standard cube.
if that's the case, i think the best bet is to look at the layout of ravnica block and design accordingly. you'll probably have to put more than one of certain cards in to maintain a decent power level. you should probably also look into block cubes for ravnica and alara if anyone has any. i'm not sure if anyone does, though.
Your curve depends on how aggressive you want your cube to be. If I had to ballpark some numbers I would guess a really aggressive cube has an average converted mana cost of 2.8-3 and a more control oriented cube has a curve around 3.5-3.8. You can check out my cube if you want to see a list that has a low curve and aggressive tendencies.
Don't run more than one copy of each staple card.
Also, is there a reason you are aiming at 528 cards?
2. Not off the top of my head, but I agree with Juju, 20 is a bit much. Try 10 or 15. (Since you clearly want a heavy guild feel). Also try focusing on cards that really help that guild theme.
3. In my personal opinion, no. I feel it takes away from the cube.
4. Try to have the average converted mana cost around 3 or so. (Typically a cube standard)
5. As many as you can find in foils...they are awesome.
Decks
RW Blessed Destruction
BR Goblin Cult
G Elven Multiplayer
G Elven Explosion
G Can-o'-Wurms
UW Merfolk Paradise
UR Space Dragon
U Internet Lockdown
B Multiplayer Zombie Aggro
UB The Mill
EDH
WUBRG Slivers
Under Contruction
BR Kaervek's Domination
Juju Alters - Altered MTG Cards
I'm now going for 9 hybrid of each pair and 15 gold of each pair.
The WWK man-lands - if I'm designing around all 10 color pairs, do these 5 dual lands give too strong of an advantage to their respective colors, or is that acceptable for alled vs enemy differences?
What?!
So... like 250+ multicolor cards? That's insane!
There aren't even close that that many cubeworthy multicolor cards. Maybe like 1-3 per hybrid and 5-7 per gold... and that's about it.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
I don't think you really need to worry about balancing out the two colour combinations exactly. Adding a manland for the allied colours isn't going to make much of a noticeable difference in the viability of any of the other combinations.
Juju Alters - Altered MTG Cards