I'm by no means a Magic historian, nor have I been playing for years and years, but I just want to say one thing (and someone touched on it already):
The majority of Magic players are casual players like myself. I think Theros and RtR block are really fun to play. I think the flavor of the cards and way Wizards is doing it is great. I also don't think that things should be ignored just because they aren't in a Top 8 deck. That doesn't seem like a great way to judge the worthiness of a theme/mechanic/card in the overall scheme of Magic. I have a lot of fun making non-competitive decks with the cards that I have and playing with friends. None of our decks would be even close to competitive, but we sure do have fun playing with all these (non)enchantment creatures and things that remove (non)enchantment creatures but don't say they remove creatures.
I hope that makes sense. Judging cards or sets or themes by just the effect they have on the competitive environment doesn't make much sense to me. I play to have fun, and for the past two years I've been having a lot of fun playing.
It also seems that the way Wizards have done things in the past is different than how they're doing them now. At least that's what I gather from all the reading I've done (and from this very thread). Maybe some of the comparisons to past sets/blocks just isn't apples to apples because the business and/or design/R&D model has changed. Does that make sense?
I never buy sealed product except for immediate use in Limited. Just can't compete with the per-pack prices that American stores opening hundreds of cases pay, and competition among those stores forces average prices of the cards in a pack well below booster prices quickly.
I do the following:
1) Decide what new set cards I want "Right Now" and what I can wait 6 weeks for. Also assess what cards are likely to be undervalued, although this is pretty hard now as not many gems get missed. (I miss the days when you'd go to a prerelease and people would trade you the foil Rishadan Port they had opened in the tournament for what was then foil junk rare price).
2) Enter the prerelease if I can. Aggressively trade my new set cards and any sealed prize packs for the cards on my "I want it RIGHT NOW" list from the new set.
3) Four weeks after set release, MTGO redemption starts. So buy four digital sets from online dealers, and redeem them for the paper cards. You'll have the full 4x set to your door about 6 weeks after set release.
4) Six months before rotation, sell the whole 4x set on Ebay for 20-40% more than you paid for it in step 3.
I haven't got into MTGO thus far. Are single card prices better there than they are on other marketplaces?
Mono red is typically more budget friendly. But pulling two Xenagos is awesome! Seriously, though, mono red is budget friendly. I wouldn't count out going that direction.
There are plenty of RDW threads in the budget section to help you out.
I'm interested in the decklist also. I like fun decks. I haven't been to any FNM's yet with this deck, but I haven't lost any "casual" games. I won a few with just three mana on the board. Granted, they weren't competitive decks, but neither were they terrible or crap.
They are, but I'd rather have the lands. They will be in standard rotation for two years. Everything else that isn't in the RTR block rotates out in October. I'd only be able to play with them for about half a year and I don't want to spend 10 dollars on each card for such a limited amount of play time.
Experiment One and Burning-Tree Emissary are both great 1cmc and 2cmc cards for Gruul. Strangleroot Geist is also a great 2cmc if you have the curve for 2G. Zealous Conscripts is a much better choice than Wolfir Silverheart. Taking their bomb to finish the game is a great wincon. You could also consider Thragtusk, but I'm not sure exactly how that would play in an aggro build (my gut tells me not so good).
I'm actually working on building a deck similar to yours. I've got a bit more money to spend than what you have posted on here. What would the optimal R/g version be? I don't mind spending money on lands, but I'd rather not spend money on Hellriders or Boros Reckoners.
I think in a build like this Hellrider would be the first "non-budget" card to make the list besides lands. And aren't the lands the same price as Hellrider anyway? Stomping Ground is actually more per card.
Could room be made for 2-3 Thragtusk so the deck has a little bit more gas after turn 4? I have 4 of them, but wouldn't want to take too much away from the aggro of the deck.
Hellrider is THE wincon of all the R/x aggro atm, ends your deck at a lower curve, hits the board with haste, and has a killer effect for all aggro based R/x decks
Yeah, but this deck doesn't seem to fit the typical R/x aggro that I've seen floating around here. The G is much more than a splash, which is why I asked. I know Hellrider is a killer card and should be included in any creature heavy deck that has R at all.
Maybe Vampire Nighthawk to take advantage of the exalted mechanic for the life gain. Plus, it's a cheap flyer with evasion. The BB in the casting cost might not be ok, though.
Following this thread. I like the way you think (actually making me change from Golgari to Gruul now I think ).
One thing I'm having a problem keeping up with is your decklist. I'm not interested in using Domri Rade unless the price drops, but would stick to Rancor (it helps that I already have three). Is Hellrider a good fit for the deck? Seems like by turn four you're on your way to victory already. Or would it serve as an alternate wincon?
The majority of Magic players are casual players like myself. I think Theros and RtR block are really fun to play. I think the flavor of the cards and way Wizards is doing it is great. I also don't think that things should be ignored just because they aren't in a Top 8 deck. That doesn't seem like a great way to judge the worthiness of a theme/mechanic/card in the overall scheme of Magic. I have a lot of fun making non-competitive decks with the cards that I have and playing with friends. None of our decks would be even close to competitive, but we sure do have fun playing with all these (non)enchantment creatures and things that remove (non)enchantment creatures but don't say they remove creatures.
I hope that makes sense. Judging cards or sets or themes by just the effect they have on the competitive environment doesn't make much sense to me. I play to have fun, and for the past two years I've been having a lot of fun playing.
It also seems that the way Wizards have done things in the past is different than how they're doing them now. At least that's what I gather from all the reading I've done (and from this very thread). Maybe some of the comparisons to past sets/blocks just isn't apples to apples because the business and/or design/R&D model has changed. Does that make sense?
I haven't got into MTGO thus far. Are single card prices better there than they are on other marketplaces?
There are plenty of RDW threads in the budget section to help you out.
I've been busy at work and haven't really had a chance to take a good look.
Makes sense.
I think in a build like this Hellrider would be the first "non-budget" card to make the list besides lands. And aren't the lands the same price as Hellrider anyway? Stomping Ground is actually more per card.
Rakdos's Return seems to be key, but beyond that I'm clueless. Thanks for the help.
Yeah, but this deck doesn't seem to fit the typical R/x aggro that I've seen floating around here. The G is much more than a splash, which is why I asked. I know Hellrider is a killer card and should be included in any creature heavy deck that has R at all.
One thing I'm having a problem keeping up with is your decklist. I'm not interested in using Domri Rade unless the price drops, but would stick to Rancor (it helps that I already have three). Is Hellrider a good fit for the deck? Seems like by turn four you're on your way to victory already. Or would it serve as an alternate wincon?
There we go! I knew I was missing something LOL.
I still think I want them for casual games.