At its core, I actually really like the concept. The execution is downright awful.
A lot of people are upset about the cost structure. I am not. I would gladly participate using the cost structure they have set up if the game were fun. Unfortunately, the game is not fun.
IMO, the interface and graphics are just awful. If they were perfect, this game would be tolerable. I think they could have made the game a lot better by going with a simpler graphics setup, i.e. no 3D, and just focusing in on a really crisp gaming experience with interesting interactions between the "cards."
Shouldn't mix Commons and Uncommons either. Evaluate the two separately.
Why? When I open a pack for draft purposes I have to evaluate them together. I actually really dislike the seperate rating system that many writers use, because it does not tell me some vital information.
To give you a relevant example. I know staggershock is probalby the best common in red for ROE, I could not tell you what uncommons (if any) might be in consideration ahead of it.
I reviewed all commons and uncommons and created these basic pick orders. I am sure I am misvaluing some cards. I am also sure the lists can never be perfect because cards fluctuate in value depending on your pool/draft. Just wanted to get the discussion started.
White
Serra Angel
Pacifism
Blinding Mage
Assault Griffin
Cloud Crusader
Wild Griffin
Condemn
Stormfront Pegasus
Mighty Leap
White Knight
Blue
Mind Control
Jace's Ingenuity
Air Servant
Aether Adept
Azure Drake
Cloud Elemental
Scroll Thief
Mana Leak
Augury Owl
Sleep
Black
Doom Blade
Quag Sickness
Corrupt
Howling Banshee
Sign in Blood
Assasinate
Liliana's Specter
Gravedigger
Black Knight
Child of Night
Red
Fireball
Lightning Bolt
Chandra's Outrage
Act of Treason
Ember Hauler
Beserkers of Blood Ridge
Vulshok Berserker
Prodigal Pyromancer
Manic Vandal
Fire Servant
Even if it turns out the "wrong" answer was printed. I'm really happy to see that this issue was brought to the forefront. These cool interactions, are really interesting to read about.
Seems like in todays world you have to have a plan game 1 against swans... This may be something to just file away and pull back out once swans dies down. I'm expecting to see 20%+ of the filed at most ptqs to be cascade swans.
I like this deck, but how can we possibly justify running telepathy? At least peek replaces itself. The fact is, most of the time you should know what to call without casting peek, but i do think having peek is worth it.
Also, this deck should be running 4-8 nonbasics max imo. One of the best advantages this deck has is that it can avoid anathemancer effectively.
So hard to judge a metagame. I played 5c bloodbraid. Played g/w tokens (drew in game 3), lost to mirror that ran captured sunlight main, lost to old school 5cc, then beat old choold 5cc.
The captured sunlight deck was a total beating even with anathemancer. back to back turns he went bituminous blast -> sunlight -> finks. So uh, despite drawing 3 anathemancers, I lost.
I love bituminous blast, but what the heck matchup are they good against? They seem to come out in every single matchup, and not in a way that makes sense.
I'm just confused though because needle has a good target in every single matchup. Its obvioulsy not maindeck for a reason though. My guess is because its reactive instead of proactive. The question I'm trying to have answered, is what deck is it that you want the reactive card instead of the proactive card?
I've really been trying to test this deck out and it's working out a lot for me. With Chapin's Thursday preview of the deck (the most recent) I changed the mana base around to remove those pesky Cascade Bluffs and disliked the 3 Pyroclasms, removing them for 2 more Jund Charms and a Runed Halo. I added another Runed Halo to the sideboard for the other Jund Charm slot left open, I feel that these fixes will help deal with Anathemancer while dealing with B/W Tokens as well.
Are you leaving in the wrath of god, or switching them for hallowed burial?
I wouldn't have Pithing Needle in the sideboard in the first place. You don't have to follow Chapin's list to the exact, 75 card tee.
1. I'm not as smart as Chapin and his crew.
2. I would like to understand the original intention before I go about willy nilly changing things.
Chapin and his crew are a smart bunch. I am guessing they considered many of the changes I would make (hallowed burial for wrath of god, at least 2 fallout in the board *faeries is not as dead as people think*)
A lot of people are upset about the cost structure. I am not. I would gladly participate using the cost structure they have set up if the game were fun. Unfortunately, the game is not fun.
IMO, the interface and graphics are just awful. If they were perfect, this game would be tolerable. I think they could have made the game a lot better by going with a simpler graphics setup, i.e. no 3D, and just focusing in on a really crisp gaming experience with interesting interactions between the "cards."
Why? When I open a pack for draft purposes I have to evaluate them together. I actually really dislike the seperate rating system that many writers use, because it does not tell me some vital information.
To give you a relevant example. I know staggershock is probalby the best common in red for ROE, I could not tell you what uncommons (if any) might be in consideration ahead of it.
White
Serra Angel
Pacifism
Blinding Mage
Assault Griffin
Cloud Crusader
Wild Griffin
Condemn
Stormfront Pegasus
Mighty Leap
White Knight
Blue
Mind Control
Jace's Ingenuity
Air Servant
Aether Adept
Azure Drake
Cloud Elemental
Scroll Thief
Mana Leak
Augury Owl
Sleep
Black
Doom Blade
Quag Sickness
Corrupt
Howling Banshee
Sign in Blood
Assasinate
Liliana's Specter
Gravedigger
Black Knight
Child of Night
Red
Fireball
Lightning Bolt
Chandra's Outrage
Act of Treason
Ember Hauler
Beserkers of Blood Ridge
Vulshok Berserker
Prodigal Pyromancer
Manic Vandal
Fire Servant
Green
Garruks' Packleader
Garruk's Companion
Llanowar Elves
Cudgel Troll
Yavimaya Wurm
Spined Wurm
Giant Spider
Cultivate
Greater Basilisk
Duskdale Wurm
Also, this deck should be running 4-8 nonbasics max imo. One of the best advantages this deck has is that it can avoid anathemancer effectively.
The captured sunlight deck was a total beating even with anathemancer. back to back turns he went bituminous blast -> sunlight -> finks. So uh, despite drawing 3 anathemancers, I lost.
Are you leaving in the wrath of god, or switching them for hallowed burial?
How are you sideboarding against b/w tokens?
How are you planning to deal with the mirror?
1. I'm not as smart as Chapin and his crew.
2. I would like to understand the original intention before I go about willy nilly changing things.
Chapin and his crew are a smart bunch. I am guessing they considered many of the changes I would make (hallowed burial for wrath of god, at least 2 fallout in the board *faeries is not as dead as people think*)
Why run Blast main at all if its going to be sideboarded out against bw tokens? Is it THAT good against the other matchups?
If you don't want 2 pithing needle in this matchup, which matchup do you want 2 against?