This deck is an attempt at a sacrifice deck using undying creatures and token producers to power out strong creatures and control. Retribution of the Ancients has the potential to work with the undying creatures to make for some pretty fun and powerful plays. I also figured this would be a fun place to try out the Bogbrew Witch package.
The goal is not necessarily to get the most efficient removal or spells but to force the opponent to make choices as their options get restricted, while I sail overhead with sphinges. The deck obviously needs another 2 lands, but I'm not sure what to cut as I'm still playtesting. Since its first iteration, I've cut Martial Law and AEther Barrier. Other cards I've considered including Suppression Field and Blind Obedience. It's obviously a budget deck so I'm not trying to add anything particularly expensive. Any advice would be appreciated.
Anyone played with the new set yet? How's it feeling? I haven't bought cards in a long time and I'm thinking of jumping in head first with this set.
As an aside, I've been thinking a bit about color pie and I wasn't sure where else to put this:
I recognize that allied color pairs obviously dont see eye to eye on everything, but are they ever diametrically opposed on some issues the way enemy color pairs are?
For example, green to me has always seemed like the color most associated with sustainable growth. Green searches for and play extra lands, plays mana dorks, is secondary in card advantage, and tends to focus on permanent card types (ie creatures and enchantments). In comparison, red seems to be specifically non-sustainable in its approach. Red play rituals, focuses on instants and sorceries, and a lot of it's creatures expire at the end of turn. Is this an accurate assessment? And if so, what are some other examples?
Congrats Polski! Personally I liked the length of this report. In depth enough to be interesting, but not so long that I get tired of reading it.
Rewind, I would have thought you could find a workshop at the con this weekend. As Arctursa noted, our friend Ilvaldi was there as well and most of his pictures were of cards on sale.
I think the whole "opponent has a 4/4 and a Dragon's Claw at 3 and I have a bolt" debate is particularly interesting because it really begs the question: where is the line for being respectful and sportsmanlike in the face of a losing board state?
In the Claw example it's pretty cut and dry that you're dead and have nothing. If you were playing on MTGO only a misclick of the Dragon's Claw trigger would win you the game. While I personally would just Bolt the face and see if they forget, I understand the sentiment that that is an unsettling way to win.
But there are other times that your opponent has you dead and doesn't know it. Do you forfeit then? I've had opponents do combat math wrong and not realize they could swing and kill me, and then the next turn I swing in for lethal myself. Should I have forfeited in the face of, if they had played perfectly, a losing board? Or even more complex, what if I Gitaxian Probe my opponent, see a line they don't see that will guarantee a kill, and then after they pass on the opportunity to win I kill them in return? If they have a complex combo available but don't use it, should I have forfeited?
I know that these examples may seem a little hyperbolic, but I think they all represent the same situation as the Dragon's Claw does. Sometimes your opponent has you dead to rights and doesn't know it. I personally believe that in those situations, if you win because your opponent forgot or didn't notice something, whether it be something as simple as a trigger or as complex as a combo, you have earned your win by taking advantage of their lapse of judgement, failure to do math, or inexperience. Remembering triggers is part of the game, and if you can't do it then your game will suffer.
Of course, none of this would apply in a casual game, because what's the point? It is a little jarring to hear about new players being treated poorly in shops. Even if you're playing in a competitive event, and even if prizes are on the line and you're enforcing the rules, I don't believe that's an excuse for being rude to a new player, or any player for that matter. With a little show of effort, it's easy to play a tight, polite, game of Magic, and I don't think there's an excuse for doing otherwise.
It really is a judgement call when I'm with inexperienced players. If it's an egregious mistake or one like in the OP where there was a misunderstanding of the triggers, phases, or just how something works, I'll usually point it out and let them take it back. For more nuanced mistakes, usually strategic mistakes or like your later examples, I'll usually point it out to them after the fact so they can learn from it, but not rewind. While I know it's a blurry line, I think it's a bit disingenuous to pretend that the two kinds of mistakes are wholly similar (not that I'm saying you are, your post was just a convenient place for me to add my thoughts). I think there's definitely a divide between a lack of understanding of how the game works and just bad gameplay.
Of course this was for casual, so I used the Seat of the Synods. My version used the Savor the Moments basically as ramp. I still have this actually. I might make some changes and try to make my entry into Modern.
Whoa, hey Mindslavor! I'm glad to hear that a lot of the old crew is still around, if somewhat sporadically. So what led to the creation of this new clan? I think I was lurking back when it came up for the first time, but even then I wasn't too clear on the circumstances.
Wow, those are some rough hours. I can't imagine that leaves much time for Magic, which is a big shift, because iirc you used to be the most interested in competitive play out of all of us, other than maybe Xanth. But how have you been, other than work?
The card draw I have right now is 4x Fact or Fiction and 2x Ancestral Vision. Do you guys think that's sufficient? I also have plenty of cantrips in Remand and Cryptic Command. If I add more, what should I add? I only have the two of Visions, and I'm not trying to buy more. But I do have playsets of Ponder, Accumulated Knowledge, and Brainstorm sitting around. I've thought of putting in the Accumulated Knowledges, but I'd have to take out the Visions to make that worth it.
In light of the past year's legacy staples shooting sky-high, I think it is actually better to lock in on the workshop. If prices fall $X per card, it is better to own one card whose price only went down that $X than to own five cards who each went down $X.
i.e. Workshop goes down $40, not as big a deal as if all of your duals EACH went down $40. Personal trading philosophy is consolidate value when the market is high, liquidate those when the market is high, and buy in at the low point.
That's certainly true if you have a good feel for how the market will turn, but diversifying is stronger imo if you're not as certain of the trends. Sort of like in stocks, where investing in an index is almost always safe and likely to go up. I know it's purely anecdotal, but it's happened to me, where I traded an expensive card for a bunch of less expensive cards. Sure, the value on some of them dropped, but enough of them spiked to give me a profit in the end. Again, this only applies if you don't have a knack for reading the overall market.
I've never bought or traded in cards that expensive, so I can't say. But I can say that in my experience, multiple cards hold their value collectively better than single cards. Idk how much they move at that pricepoint though, if at all. But I think Polski's right; you'll get more play value out of the duals probably.
I used to be a member of the old mono blue clan. Took a few years off from magic. It wasn't really planned or anything, but between college ending and grad school, I kind of just lost touch of my old circle and didn't have the time to find a new one. Started working full time recently, which means I have time for hobbies again. It looks like this is where most of my old compatriots ended up, so I thought I should stop by here and see what's up.
Constructed (as of 2011-09-05)
1891 rating 222 matches 37 events
Highest ever was 1936
Limited (as of 2011-09-05)
1737 rating 50 matches 9 events
Total (as of 2011-09-05)
1915 rating 272 matches 46 events
Highest ever was 1952
I think its interesting to note that though Ive been playing since Tempest, I have ever only played in 46 sanctioned events, and amassed a 1915 rating, math says, when starting at 1600 Ive gained 315 points. 315/46=6.85 or roughly 7 points a tournament. I wish it gave me my overall match record. I know lame/sick brag, arrogant etc.. but its practically my last time to brag, as none of this is really relevant anymore.
I find it funny peopleseed says the perks of being a blue mage after his rant about not wanting to discuss it. All I am saying is I would seriously be pissed if you were just counted back in, because all of the sudden the topic meets your needs or interests. In 2+years, since your "invite" you find now the most appropriate time to want to be in, I find it ridiculous, and its just my two cents. I am pretty nit-picky and very much an 'old' man of the clan, (get off my lawn.....wouldve gotten away with it if it werent for you meddling kids.....more old man sayings etc...)
I never really bothered with competitive play, so I was wondering, is that a good score? I honestly don't know.
Also, when you say poppeleseed shouldnt just "be counted in", do you mean he shouldnt be counted as a full member? That's a tricky subject, one which Xanth or H_H might be able to address more thoroughly. He should still be able to add to the discussion and what not, regardless of his official status in the clan. It should also be noted that, while you, mindslavor, are remarkably resilient in dealing with pie discussion, not everyone (read most people) sticks around when their chosen topic of discussion is out of the limelight. Give the guy a break.
As an aside, welcome back poppeleseed! It's always good to have you around.
I'm a bit late on this, but I figgered I'd throw it out there. I'm with Xanth on madam Voldaren. When I first saw it, I assumed it was her knee, and actually had to go back to realize it wasn't :/
2x Bogbrew Witch
3x Demonlord of Ashmouth
3x Festering Newt
4x Fleshbag Marauder
3x Grim Haruspex
2x Phyrexian Plaguelord
4x Strangleroot Geist
3x Thelonite Hermit
4x Young Wolf
7x Forest
4x Woodland Cemetery
2x Grim Backwoods
8x Swamp
Artifact (2)
2x Bubbling Cauldron
Enchantment (5)
2x Necrogenesis
3x Retribution of the Ancients
2x Doom Blade
Sorcery (2)
2x Bone Splinters
This deck is an attempt at a sacrifice deck using undying creatures and token producers to power out strong creatures and control. Retribution of the Ancients has the potential to work with the undying creatures to make for some pretty fun and powerful plays. I also figured this would be a fun place to try out the Bogbrew Witch package.
I'd love suggestions, but I'm not trying to shell out serious money. I'm thinking of adding Thoughtpicker Witch, Mortician Beetle, and Mind Slash.
I've been working on a new deck and I was hoping to get some input. It's a janky prison deck that mostly only exists because I love/hate the pun.
2x Alhammarret, High Arbiter
2x Guardian of Tazeem
1x Sphinx of Jwar Isle
2x Auramancer
4x Mesa Enchantress
Enchantments
3x Mana Chains
3x Soul Tithe
4x Oblivion Ring
3x Nevermore
3x Propaganda
2x Rhystic Study
2x Monastery Siege
2x Curse of Exhaustion
1x Leyline of Sanctity
2x Sphere of Safety
2x Plea for Guidance
Lands
10x Island
12x Plains
The goal is not necessarily to get the most efficient removal or spells but to force the opponent to make choices as their options get restricted, while I sail overhead with sphinges. The deck obviously needs another 2 lands, but I'm not sure what to cut as I'm still playtesting. Since its first iteration, I've cut Martial Law and AEther Barrier. Other cards I've considered including Suppression Field and Blind Obedience. It's obviously a budget deck so I'm not trying to add anything particularly expensive. Any advice would be appreciated.
As an aside, I've been thinking a bit about color pie and I wasn't sure where else to put this:
I recognize that allied color pairs obviously dont see eye to eye on everything, but are they ever diametrically opposed on some issues the way enemy color pairs are?
For example, green to me has always seemed like the color most associated with sustainable growth. Green searches for and play extra lands, plays mana dorks, is secondary in card advantage, and tends to focus on permanent card types (ie creatures and enchantments). In comparison, red seems to be specifically non-sustainable in its approach. Red play rituals, focuses on instants and sorceries, and a lot of it's creatures expire at the end of turn. Is this an accurate assessment? And if so, what are some other examples?
@H_H: please expand. It's been a few years, I'm ready for some pie discussion.
Rewind, I would have thought you could find a workshop at the con this weekend. As Arctursa noted, our friend Ilvaldi was there as well and most of his pictures were of cards on sale.
It really is a judgement call when I'm with inexperienced players. If it's an egregious mistake or one like in the OP where there was a misunderstanding of the triggers, phases, or just how something works, I'll usually point it out and let them take it back. For more nuanced mistakes, usually strategic mistakes or like your later examples, I'll usually point it out to them after the fact so they can learn from it, but not rewind. While I know it's a blurry line, I think it's a bit disingenuous to pretend that the two kinds of mistakes are wholly similar (not that I'm saying you are, your post was just a convenient place for me to add my thoughts). I think there's definitely a divide between a lack of understanding of how the game works and just bad gameplay.
17x Island
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Reliquary Tower
Creatures
2x Sphinx of Jwar Isle
4x Time Warp
4x Savor the Moment
2x Time Stretch
2x Walk the Aeons
4x Howling Mine
4x Mind Stone
4x Pact of Negation
4x Echoing Truth
4x Thirst for Knowledge
1x Elixir of Immortality
Of course this was for casual, so I used the Seat of the Synods. My version used the Savor the Moments basically as ramp. I still have this actually. I might make some changes and try to make my entry into Modern.
Wow, those are some rough hours. I can't imagine that leaves much time for Magic, which is a big shift, because iirc you used to be the most interested in competitive play out of all of us, other than maybe Xanth. But how have you been, other than work?
That's certainly true if you have a good feel for how the market will turn, but diversifying is stronger imo if you're not as certain of the trends. Sort of like in stocks, where investing in an index is almost always safe and likely to go up. I know it's purely anecdotal, but it's happened to me, where I traded an expensive card for a bunch of less expensive cards. Sure, the value on some of them dropped, but enough of them spiked to give me a profit in the end. Again, this only applies if you don't have a knack for reading the overall market.
@Rewind: That makes sense. Treat yo self!
I used to be a member of the old mono blue clan. Took a few years off from magic. It wasn't really planned or anything, but between college ending and grad school, I kind of just lost touch of my old circle and didn't have the time to find a new one. Started working full time recently, which means I have time for hobbies again. It looks like this is where most of my old compatriots ended up, so I thought I should stop by here and see what's up.
How's the state of control and blue these days?
I never really bothered with competitive play, so I was wondering, is that a good score? I honestly don't know.
Also, when you say poppeleseed shouldnt just "be counted in", do you mean he shouldnt be counted as a full member? That's a tricky subject, one which Xanth or H_H might be able to address more thoroughly. He should still be able to add to the discussion and what not, regardless of his official status in the clan. It should also be noted that, while you, mindslavor, are remarkably resilient in dealing with pie discussion, not everyone (read most people) sticks around when their chosen topic of discussion is out of the limelight. Give the guy a break.
As an aside, welcome back poppeleseed! It's always good to have you around.