I'm quite surprised Face to Face thinks that, in my opinion Altered Ego is a lot better first pick. Thankfully Frank Karsten approves: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/a-new-kind-of-pick-order-for-shadows-over-innistrad-draft/. If the pro players can't decide which one is better maybe I should give up and believe that it is much closer than I thought it would be. Still, thinking Altered Ego is better.
Frank Karsten doesn't actually approve when it comes to P1P1. It looks like his list this time is not a first pick list, but ranking assuming you are in those colors. For P1P1, he has Breakneck Rider at tier 3 and Altered Ego at tier 4.
Altered Ego and Anguished Unmaking are good if you are already in these color combinations, but they're closer to a Tier 4 card for the first-pick-first-pack decision.
Personally, I don't think there's much information to be gained from these kinds of non-specific comments. From experience, unless people are specifically calling out cards or colors, they are just about as likely to be dead wrong about what colors their neighbors are in, compared to no table talk. It's less about collusion and more about socializing.
If it bugs you though, you can try to change things without making a big deal about it. Every group draws the line somewhere, and you are part of the group after all. If someone says something you think is particularly egregious, give them an incredulous look or say something like 'come on, guys.' Baby steps.
I played an awful lot of Endless Ones, so I feel I can say this with some authority: if you were playing Endless One on 2 or 3 very often, you were probably doing it wrong. The sweet spot really was at 4 or 5 mana. Not 3, and not 6.
I'm probably not explaining what I'm trying to say very well. What I mean is that, if you were to draft a vanilla creature in any given set, a 3/3 for 3 and a 4/4 for 4 are generally better picks than a 2/2 for 2 or a 5/5 for 5. If you have an Endless One though, you can get more value out of the card by playing it a bit later if you aren't pressured too much, which didn't happen too much in BFZ. I totally get that you would want to play it at 4 or 5 in its environment, but I think it's format and matchup dependent.
You want to play it for as much as you can, but it's more value for the mana lower. 2/2 for 2 is good, 3/3 for 3 and 4/4 for 4 are better, 5/5 for 5 and 6/6 for 6 are just ok. Being able to fill all those slots made Endless One great. It did happen to be in a slower format, so you were usually able to wait on it and get more value for the card.
My point is that when your finisher has utility on 4 mana, you don't need to actually play 6-drops in your deck. Thinking "oh, I can play my finisher for 2" was never the point with Endless One - it was to say "oh, I have cards in my deck that can be finishers without clogging it up with expensive cards". Altered Ego does the same thing, even better than Endless One did, because it usually has flying.
I do agree that it is nice to have utility on 4 for your finisher. It certainly makes it better than many other finishers.
No other finisher in the format can claim that.
But I don't agree that it's unique.
Soul Swallower is about the same size on curve, and can still finish the game if played early.
Tireless Tracker can be played on 3, though it's really a 4 drop. It is better early than late, and gives you cards back even if it gets killed.
Elusive Tormenter can come down on 4, though it's safer on 5 of course.
Hanweir Militia Captain is a bear that goes both tall and wide when transformed.
Mindwrack Demon can come down on 4, though it's a little scary unless your deck is built for it.
Arlinn and Nahiri are also 4 drops. Nahiri won't technically finish the game I guess, but can summon a finisher up in a jiffy. They're also gold like Altered Ego though.
Not too long of a list, but that's not counting the card advantage engines that will finish the game, such as the two uncommons I mentioned.
It *is* better than Erdwal Illuminator, and I think it's more valuable to the average deck that can run it than Duskwatch Recruiter is (although that card is its own kind of insane).
I guess we'll just have to disagree with these. I do consider them basically finishers because they generate so much value, and can still do so when played on curve.
Remember Endless One? If you swing the color commitment, Altered Ego has a lot in common with that, and that was an extremely good card.
That's not to say that I don't recognize the color commitment is an issue, but there is a great deal of power and versatility here. There's not much point in denying that.
I certainly won't deny that. But I will argue that it doesn't have the strength during development that Endless One has. It is never a 2/2 on 2, never a 3/3 on 3, and almost never a 4/4 on 4, which are the points on the curve with the best value for the cost for Endless One. If you need to cast Altered Ego on curve, it is probably going to be a hill giant, which is just not a very good fail case. So in my mind it is definitely a finisher that costs 5+ mana. It's a great one for that spot, don't get me wrong, but you don't need or want too many of those in a deck.
Even if I was in U/G and didn't have to worry about the gold aspect, there are on-color uncommons (Erdwal Illuminator and Duskwatch Recruiter come to mind) that I would happily pick over it. I wonder if others feel similarly when comparing to these cards rather than Breakneck Rider?
Maybe Avacyn has no connection or communication with the council, and they reorganized themselves, but if that is the case it doesn't seem explicitly stated anywhere so far. Further, and this is perhaps my biggest nitpick, why would Avacyn not start the purge with Thraben, Innistrad's largest city? Wouldn't that make more sense? Her absence from the storyline and the apparent over extension of the inquisition and council into the cleansing seems.....odd.
It doesn't say anything about the organization, but it does sound like the council is now operating independently. For instance,
Odric: "But I am subject to their will. To Avacyn's will."
Thalia: "Those aren't necessarily the same thing, you know."
It sounds like the council members (who aren't following a demon) are trying to find out how to appease Avacyn. They're following her example, as misguided as that may be, rather than her direct communication.
I think signaling is good to keep in mind, but it takes a lot of drafts to recognize when a good card is coming by late. I would work on card evaluation first, then worry about signaling.
Welcome to limited, the best format in the world~ This format is complicated, so don't feel too bad if it takes some time to get the hang of things. It also happens to be really fun, though, so it's not a bad time to start I'm not an authority by any means, but here's my two cents.
First of all, I'm hesitant to play 16 lands without a good reason. Having eight 4-drops and a 5-drop is enough for me to say you should run the usual 17. Fortunately, you have an easy cut, assuming the Morkut Necropod is correct, because the card is literally uncastable in your deck as it stands
Speaking of your curve, I think it looks ok when you lay out all the cards together. However, if you split up the creatures and the other spells, you'll notice that you actually have very few early plays, since most of your 2 cmc spells are non-creatures that you don't want to play on turn 2. In fact, the deck has a total of 5 creatures that cost 3 or less. Not having consistent early plays makes you specifically vulnerable to werewolves, which you unfortunately seem to have gotten matched up against a lot. Look out for more good creatures that cost 3 or less.
On specific card choices: Hulking Devil is generally a weak creature, because it often trades with a small creature. Pyre Hound is a fine card, but wants a deck with more instants and sorceries (usually a U/R deck). Inspiring Captain really wants to be played after a couple of other creatures, another reason to get more 2 and 3-drops. Senseless Rage is ok if you have instant speed discard outlets such as Stern Constable, but I would still be wary of playing three auras. Auras are generally very risky, because they are easily blown out by removal (as a side note, I think Invocation of Saint Traft is not very good and wouldn't consider it a big draw for your sealed pool.)
SOI is not about tempo. SOI is not about aggro. SOI is not about control. SOI is not about mid-range. SOI is all of these. So I do not take much stock in comments which refer to it being about only one of these. To be successful I believe it's best to be able to play any of these types of decks and best to be able to beat any of these type of decks (easier said than done).
Not sure if this is directed at me, but I don't disagree. What I'm trying to say is that Altered Ego is good against slower mid-range or control decks, but doesn't fare as well against the faster ones, as it's a gold card of questionable value on curve. It also might not be able to break the more engine-based control decks, because a lot of those aren't relying on a big bomby creature to win and won't fold to one either. Breakneck Rider, on the other hand, is great in almost any matchup, in most any deck that can play it.
What do you mean by "that kind of tempo loss". You are playing a 4 mana creature. It's not like you're spending some crazy amount of mana. Do you not run 4 mana bombs when you can?
In my quote that was 'fixed,' I specifically said paying 5-6 mana for a largish creature was not ideal against a fast deck. Yes, you can run it out on turn four, in which case it's hardly a bomb. In the best case (on the draw, opponent plays a good 4 drop), you are copying a 4 mana creature, which is good but not game breaking. Ideally you want to one up an opponent's expensive bomb by getting a couple counters (or lock up a game where you one already, I suppose) - I just don't think the format is defined by expensive bombs. Individual matches might be, but not the format as a whole.
Even in the grindy match ups, some of the more common bombs are enchantments like Ulvenwald Mysteries, which this doesn't really interact with.
Altered Ego is usually just a largish dude, and tapping 5-6 mana for a largish dude is a good way to win against the faster decks.
Fixed that for you.
If you say so. Nearly every time I've played it or against it, it immediately gets tapped, Voldaren Duelist'd, bounced, or just permanently removed. With that amount of tempo loss, it's usually just about game. Again, in a stalled out game, it's great, just not in the faster matchups, in my opinion.
I'm with you. I hold tempo in the highest regard in this format, though I know that's not a universal position. To me, Altered Ego is usually just a largish dude, and tapping 5-6 mana for a largish dude is a good way to get yourself killed against the faster decks. It's great in slower matchups, but I'm not really looking to draft those decks at the moment. Breakneck Rider all the way. 2-drops and 3-drops are what I'm looking for, and this is one of the scariest 3-drops to be facing down on curve.
Cards are technically worth less online than in paper, but in a practical sense, the difference is not that big. Assuming you are trying to get cash for your cards, you'd be lucky to get half of what your cards are worth in paper, and you have to deal with the hassle and cost of shipping. Online, however, there are so many competing bots that the buy and sell prices are very close, so you can get almost full value for the cards at the click of a button.
The big advantage for online is in prizes though. Unless your LGS lets you enter events using packs, prize packs hold very little value. Online though, the packs are worth full value. When the pack prices went up, both the entry costs and the payouts increased. Even for the majority of people including me who aren't infinite, being able to use those prizes really helps defray the costs of drafting.
Byway Couriers vs. Farbog Revenants 2-0
Very close game one. Unfortunately, rough luck game two for the Revenants, both mulligan and missing a color for awhile.
Frank Karsten doesn't actually approve when it comes to P1P1. It looks like his list this time is not a first pick list, but ranking assuming you are in those colors. For P1P1, he has Breakneck Rider at tier 3 and Altered Ego at tier 4.
If it bugs you though, you can try to change things without making a big deal about it. Every group draws the line somewhere, and you are part of the group after all. If someone says something you think is particularly egregious, give them an incredulous look or say something like 'come on, guys.' Baby steps.
I'm probably not explaining what I'm trying to say very well. What I mean is that, if you were to draft a vanilla creature in any given set, a 3/3 for 3 and a 4/4 for 4 are generally better picks than a 2/2 for 2 or a 5/5 for 5. If you have an Endless One though, you can get more value out of the card by playing it a bit later if you aren't pressured too much, which didn't happen too much in BFZ. I totally get that you would want to play it at 4 or 5 in its environment, but I think it's format and matchup dependent.
You want to play it for as much as you can, but it's more value for the mana lower. 2/2 for 2 is good, 3/3 for 3 and 4/4 for 4 are better, 5/5 for 5 and 6/6 for 6 are just ok. Being able to fill all those slots made Endless One great. It did happen to be in a slower format, so you were usually able to wait on it and get more value for the card.
I do agree that it is nice to have utility on 4 for your finisher. It certainly makes it better than many other finishers.
But I don't agree that it's unique.
Soul Swallower is about the same size on curve, and can still finish the game if played early.
Tireless Tracker can be played on 3, though it's really a 4 drop. It is better early than late, and gives you cards back even if it gets killed.
Elusive Tormenter can come down on 4, though it's safer on 5 of course.
Hanweir Militia Captain is a bear that goes both tall and wide when transformed.
Mindwrack Demon can come down on 4, though it's a little scary unless your deck is built for it.
Arlinn and Nahiri are also 4 drops. Nahiri won't technically finish the game I guess, but can summon a finisher up in a jiffy. They're also gold like Altered Ego though.
Not too long of a list, but that's not counting the card advantage engines that will finish the game, such as the two uncommons I mentioned.
I guess we'll just have to disagree with these. I do consider them basically finishers because they generate so much value, and can still do so when played on curve.
I certainly won't deny that. But I will argue that it doesn't have the strength during development that Endless One has. It is never a 2/2 on 2, never a 3/3 on 3, and almost never a 4/4 on 4, which are the points on the curve with the best value for the cost for Endless One. If you need to cast Altered Ego on curve, it is probably going to be a hill giant, which is just not a very good fail case. So in my mind it is definitely a finisher that costs 5+ mana. It's a great one for that spot, don't get me wrong, but you don't need or want too many of those in a deck.
Even if I was in U/G and didn't have to worry about the gold aspect, there are on-color uncommons (Erdwal Illuminator and Duskwatch Recruiter come to mind) that I would happily pick over it. I wonder if others feel similarly when comparing to these cards rather than Breakneck Rider?
It doesn't say anything about the organization, but it does sound like the council is now operating independently. For instance,
Odric: "But I am subject to their will. To Avacyn's will."
Thalia: "Those aren't necessarily the same thing, you know."
It sounds like the council members (who aren't following a demon) are trying to find out how to appease Avacyn. They're following her example, as misguided as that may be, rather than her direct communication.
First of all, I'm hesitant to play 16 lands without a good reason. Having eight 4-drops and a 5-drop is enough for me to say you should run the usual 17. Fortunately, you have an easy cut, assuming the Morkut Necropod is correct, because the card is literally uncastable in your deck as it stands
Speaking of your curve, I think it looks ok when you lay out all the cards together. However, if you split up the creatures and the other spells, you'll notice that you actually have very few early plays, since most of your 2 cmc spells are non-creatures that you don't want to play on turn 2. In fact, the deck has a total of 5 creatures that cost 3 or less. Not having consistent early plays makes you specifically vulnerable to werewolves, which you unfortunately seem to have gotten matched up against a lot. Look out for more good creatures that cost 3 or less.
1x Stern Constable
1x Unruly Mob
1x Ravenous bloodseeker
1x Cathar's companion
1x Bloodmad vampire
1x Hulking Devil
1x Voldaren duelist
2x pyre hound
2x Inquisitor's Ox
1x inspiring captain
1x Nahiri, the harbinger
1x Morkut necropod
Spells
3x Senseless rage
2x Tormenting voice
1x Expose evil
1x magmatic chasm
1x Always watching
1x Fiery temper
8x Mountain
8x Plains
On specific card choices:
Hulking Devil is generally a weak creature, because it often trades with a small creature.
Pyre Hound is a fine card, but wants a deck with more instants and sorceries (usually a U/R deck).
Inspiring Captain really wants to be played after a couple of other creatures, another reason to get more 2 and 3-drops.
Senseless Rage is ok if you have instant speed discard outlets such as Stern Constable, but I would still be wary of playing three auras. Auras are generally very risky, because they are easily blown out by removal (as a side note, I think Invocation of Saint Traft is not very good and wouldn't consider it a big draw for your sealed pool.)
Those are my thoughts, hope it helps!
Not sure if this is directed at me, but I don't disagree. What I'm trying to say is that Altered Ego is good against slower mid-range or control decks, but doesn't fare as well against the faster ones, as it's a gold card of questionable value on curve. It also might not be able to break the more engine-based control decks, because a lot of those aren't relying on a big bomby creature to win and won't fold to one either. Breakneck Rider, on the other hand, is great in almost any matchup, in most any deck that can play it.
In my quote that was 'fixed,' I specifically said paying 5-6 mana for a largish creature was not ideal against a fast deck. Yes, you can run it out on turn four, in which case it's hardly a bomb. In the best case (on the draw, opponent plays a good 4 drop), you are copying a 4 mana creature, which is good but not game breaking. Ideally you want to one up an opponent's expensive bomb by getting a couple counters (or lock up a game where you one already, I suppose) - I just don't think the format is defined by expensive bombs. Individual matches might be, but not the format as a whole.
Even in the grindy match ups, some of the more common bombs are enchantments like Ulvenwald Mysteries, which this doesn't really interact with.
If you say so. Nearly every time I've played it or against it, it immediately gets tapped, Voldaren Duelist'd, bounced, or just permanently removed. With that amount of tempo loss, it's usually just about game. Again, in a stalled out game, it's great, just not in the faster matchups, in my opinion.
The big advantage for online is in prizes though. Unless your LGS lets you enter events using packs, prize packs hold very little value. Online though, the packs are worth full value. When the pack prices went up, both the entry costs and the payouts increased. Even for the majority of people including me who aren't infinite, being able to use those prizes really helps defray the costs of drafting.