Hey guys. I had a distinctly mediocre experience at both the midnight PR (3-2, drop to get sleep) and the Sunday PR (4-2-1), but had a good time hanging out with my friends at Applebee's afterward.
I finally finished my grad school application for MSU's MSW program, so I hope I get accepted for this fall. I also just helped train new volunteers at the crisis center, so I've been feeling really pleased with all of that.
I'd like to welcome all of the new Test Subjects to the Clan. I hope you guys like it here and don't get lost in Yet Another Æther Vortex!
@Russian Alara: Do we have a QuickTopic thread set up for the CC?
Hey guys. I had a distinctly mediocre experience at both the midnight PR (3-2, drop to get sleep) and the Sunday PR (4-2-1), but had a good time hanging out with my friends at Applebee's afterward.
I finally finished my grad school application for MSU's MSW program, so I hope I get accepted for this fall. I also just helped train new volunteers at the crisis center, so I've been feeling really pleased with all of that.
I'd like to welcome all of the new Test Subjects to the Clan. I hope you guys like it here and don't get lost in Yet Another Æther Vortex!
@Russian Alara: Do we have a QuickTopic thread set up for the CC?
You just have to register an account at QuickTopic.com and click [New Topic]. Afterward, PM the link to people who are interested in helping out. This is a much easier way to consolidate the information than using PMs, while still maintaining Clan privacy.
You just have to register an account at QuickTopic.com and click [New Topic]. Afterward, PM the link to people who are interested in helping out. This is a much easier way to consolidate the information than using PMs, while still maintaining Clan privacy.
Okay... I have midterms this week, but I'll work on the contest this weekend.
I didn't go to any pre-releases or releases, as it turns out. Just got a box instead. Got a Breeding Pool, Godless Shrine, and Watery Grave, of note. I also got another Steam Vents in the box! Haha! Kidding. I got nothing else in that box really... so I traded the Clifftop Retreats I've been hoarding for the new Gideon
I'm pretty excited for Dragon's Maze because it's OUR maze, that and Ral Zarek is highly likely to be in the set.. go Izzet PW!
Sorry for my dearth of activity lately, guys! I moved out to college, got sick, worked my tail off, got a job, got sick again, and have midterms now. It's been a pretty hectic month+. Then again, my chronomancy title is becoming increasingly appropriate.
I love the Izzet's flavor/mechanics this time around; also liking the Golgari, Boros, and Simic mechanics.
Story-wise, I'm wondering what the thing every guild is looking for is, and when the Izzet will beat everyone else to it. Also, they say Niv doesn't know that Ral Zarek is a Planeswalker, but come on! He's connected to the firemind!
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If life gives you lemons... keep them. Because, hey, free lemons.
Okay, since this seems to be the place to talk Commander, I will jump right into the conversation.
When I first started playing MTG (Way back when Ice Ages was the newest set) my very first deck was a green blue merfolk deck. And it sucked. A lot.
Then, I stopped playing for a long time. Around 7th Ed I started again. This time I started with another green blue deck (Less merfolk though) and it sucked to.
After another hiatus (Both were due to lack of other players) I came back and made a red white deck that blew people's socks off. This part has nothing to do with the idea I am coming to, just wanted to brag a little.
Now, getting back on track, I absolutely adore the Commander format (It is my favorite of all the formats for several reasons I won't get into right at the moment.) and would like to try something crazy with it: I want to redeem my intro color combination.
That's right, I want to make a green blue Commander deck that can win as well as compete. I have considered Kraaj as my General but I wasn't sure if there was something more suitable, like say Mormir Vig or the new green blue guild leader (Whose name escapes me at the moment). This doesn't have to have merfolk but it may be kind of cool if it did.
Card advantage is pretty sweet. Plus blue has loads of unblockable and green could beef them. That could be some serious acceleration toward creature swarm. Then have the other three in the deck as well. They would help plus provide the open door to swap Generals. What do you think?
Ehh... We only discuss EDH in this place anymore. What happened to discussing the current state of standard, or the storyline, or anything else? Is EDH really the most Izzety thing we can discuss?
Alright, let's see what I can do then. I love the storyline and it makes me sad to know that they aren't really doing the novels anymore. Yeah, they have the occasional e-book but that is nowhere near the same as the novels were. Plus they seem to focus only on the Planeswalkers anymore.
What I have been wondering is what do you think the story is with RTR? I read all three of the original novels (Loved them. Check them out if you get the chance.) and every time I see a named character I wonder where they fit into things and what the new story is. Do you have any thoughts on that?
I'm with Raz. The books are cool and I'm really disappointed that they're only available as e-books. I like to have a tactile experience when I read, turning pages... on-screen reading just doesn't do it. That being said, I did find copies of the Artifacts Cycles 1 and 2 at a far away local bookstore a year or so ago. Essentially, they contain the first 5 books in the series, taking us through Urza's Saga. Urza is awesome-sauce, by the way. They also gave me some sweet background for what is happening on the cards
I've read some of the Neowalker books (Agents of Artifice, Test of metal [boo....], Purifying Fire [Gideon! :3], and Alara Reborn. Oh, and Quest for Karn.... no matter how much I wish I hadn't wasted time doing that >_<;). I like them well enough, but they just don't compare to the godlike powers of oldwalkers.
I stopped caring about the story after Innistrad dropped because (to me!) that set failed fluff-wise. Maybe it's just me, but Innistrad wasn't fantastic enough for a game that can literally go to any world the creative designers could imagine. It just felt like Creative dumped us off in 18th/19th century France and threw English Gothic literature at us... like a really bad field trip or something. I wasn't around for Kamigawa, but having played with cards from that block, I'm pretty sure I would have felt the same way - that it hits too close to our own history to be really fantastic. Actually, I probably would have hated Kamigawa more for its flagrant triteness and misuse of Japanese motifs, names, etc. (hey, I study Japanese lit... that's my justification XD). I understand a lot of people really enjoyed the storylines of both Innistrad and Kamigawa, and that's cool. I just really like the high fantasy of sets like Zendikar, Alara, and the Urza/Weatherlight blocks (to name a few). That gets me wondering: what's everyone's favorite set?
Also Raz, for blue/green EDH you might consider Edric. I've just built that deck and it's pretty competitive. It has the explosive aggression of green with the counters, draw, and time magic of blue. Plus, the nature of the general keeps you relatively safe from opponents' attacks (unless you're playing 1v1, but the deck is still fine due to its speed).
I like the different sets for different reasons. My favorites tend to be those that mess around with fun mechanics (ravnica, lorwyn, alara, zendikar), but the setting for most sets seems to be split up into original settings (that fit in the mtg universe flavor better) and settings based off of existing mythos.
I'm extremely unfussy when it comes to my fantasy. I've only really gotten sick of one block since Zendikar, and that was Scars, mostly due to the endless parade of artifacts. It didn''t feel like an alien invasion story. The Phyrexians came out too sympathetic in the final set IMHO.
I am a sucker for Ravnica. However, I do like the idea behind sets like Lorwyn. Innistrad seems like it could have been more but as a fan of the old Gothic horror stories I love the flavor behind it. I even kind of liked Kamigawa (And Hatter, if you would like to share some of your knowledge about Japanese literature, please feel free to pm me.).
I will agree that the sets that are super close to reality don't seem to be nearly as epic as the more fantasy flavored ones.
I was not too big of a fan of sets like Zendikar, Alara, or the new Mirrodin because it all seemed to revolve way to much around power as opposed to a good story.
Weatherlight though, that was awesome. So many great characters and such a big adventure. Sign me up!
Over all though, as I already stated, I am a huge Ravnica fan. Such a different flavor of fantasy and one so right up my alley I can't ignore it.
Love to all the sets though. If there is one you really like that I haven;t mention or you feel I didn't give a fair shot, let me know. I will be happy to give it a shot. You see, as much as I like this game, I LOVE the flavor.
I'm extremely unfussy when it comes to my fantasy. I've only really gotten sick of one block since Zendikar, and that was Scars, mostly due to the endless parade of artifacts. It didn''t feel like an alien invasion story. The Phyrexians came out too sympathetic in the final set IMHO.
Really, though, only the red-aligned Phyrexians were in any way demonstrating non-hostility to the Mirrans.
Really, though, only the red-aligned Phyrexians were in any way demonstrating non-hostility to the Mirrans.
Perhaps a better word would have been understandable. Phyrexians are only one step short of eldritch horror, endlessly modifying their own bodies and ecosystems, but I think that these new Phyrexians feel way too human to be scary. I still don't want to spend any time near them, but it's more disgust then fear. I don;t want to be in New Phyrexia the same way I don't want to be in prison, when I should feel I don't want to be there because it will violate me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
In short, I see too much humanity in these New Phyrexians.
Ehh... We only discuss EDH in this place anymore. What happened to discussing the current state of standard, or the storyline, or anything else? Is EDH really the most Izzety thing we can discuss?
I don't know. I'm down to talk about any other format (Legacy, Modern, Limited), but all anyone seems to want to discuss is EDH. I don't really put that much thought into EDH since I just play it for fun with friends.
Can you send me some more details on the cards and what you have already. Though I am not a guild member I could still lend a hand.
I think there are some rules about this somewhere. Like I remember non-Clan members not being able to help with Clan Contests a while ago. Thanks for the offer anyway!
Update guys: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=480292
Digi :Remember, Thursday February 21, 2013 at 11:00AM EST will be the cutoff for submissions. Please get them to us (by pming me) before then.
Everyone please get to work : Gideon Jura , Dangit12 , SC and all others!
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[Official Tech Geek of [The Crafters]
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I finally finished my grad school application for MSU's MSW program, so I hope I get accepted for this fall. I also just helped train new volunteers at the crisis center, so I've been feeling really pleased with all of that.
I'd like to welcome all of the new Test Subjects to the Clan. I hope you guys like it here and don't get lost in Yet Another Æther Vortex!
@Russian Alara: Do we have a QuickTopic thread set up for the CC?
How do you make one about the Quick topic?
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Former Izzet clan Rep.
[Official Tech Geek of [The Crafters]
admin of[SIZE=3] MAGECRAFT:[/SIZE][SIZE=3] a forum for all from Magic to Pokemon!
You just have to register an account at QuickTopic.com and click [New Topic]. Afterward, PM the link to people who are interested in helping out. This is a much easier way to consolidate the information than using PMs, while still maintaining Clan privacy.
everyone : pmed you the quick topic.
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Former Izzet clan Rep.
[Official Tech Geek of [The Crafters]
admin of[SIZE=3] MAGECRAFT:[/SIZE][SIZE=3] a forum for all from Magic to Pokemon!
I didn't go to any pre-releases or releases, as it turns out. Just got a box instead. Got a Breeding Pool, Godless Shrine, and Watery Grave, of note. I also got another Steam Vents in the box! Haha! Kidding. I got nothing else in that box really... so I traded the Clifftop Retreats I've been hoarding for the new Gideon
I'm pretty excited for Dragon's Maze because it's OUR maze, that and Ral Zarek is highly likely to be in the set.. go Izzet PW!
Thank you to Rivenor for this awesome banner!
Palladia-Mors of {The Spirit of EDH}
EDH
WLinvala, Queen of the AngelsW
WUThe Prison of the Grand ArbiterUW [Primer]
URNiv-Mizzet, Handcycling ComboRU
UTalrand, Drake-Slinging to VictoryU
WUGDerevi, Tactical ShufflingGUW
BCao Cao, Discard Stax of Absolute MiseryB
thanks for the awsome image http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=329663!
proud member of the Spirit Of EDH
I love the Izzet's flavor/mechanics this time around; also liking the Golgari, Boros, and Simic mechanics.
Story-wise, I'm wondering what the thing every guild is looking for is, and when the Izzet will beat everyone else to it. Also, they say Niv doesn't know that Ral Zarek is a Planeswalker, but come on! He's connected to the firemind!
"Like wood would?"
If you can , its a volunteer basis but we need everyone's help.
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Former Izzet clan Rep.
[Official Tech Geek of [The Crafters]
admin of[SIZE=3] MAGECRAFT:[/SIZE][SIZE=3] a forum for all from Magic to Pokemon!
When I first started playing MTG (Way back when Ice Ages was the newest set) my very first deck was a green blue merfolk deck. And it sucked. A lot.
Then, I stopped playing for a long time. Around 7th Ed I started again. This time I started with another green blue deck (Less merfolk though) and it sucked to.
After another hiatus (Both were due to lack of other players) I came back and made a red white deck that blew people's socks off. This part has nothing to do with the idea I am coming to, just wanted to brag a little.
Now, getting back on track, I absolutely adore the Commander format (It is my favorite of all the formats for several reasons I won't get into right at the moment.) and would like to try something crazy with it: I want to redeem my intro color combination.
That's right, I want to make a green blue Commander deck that can win as well as compete. I have considered Kraaj as my General but I wasn't sure if there was something more suitable, like say Mormir Vig or the new green blue guild leader (Whose name escapes me at the moment). This doesn't have to have merfolk but it may be kind of cool if it did.
So with all of this in mind let's talk guys.
"Like wood would?"
Decks:GU Evolver, W Modern Knights
Apprentice of Spell Manipulation
Archester: Frontier of Steam
What I have been wondering is what do you think the story is with RTR? I read all three of the original novels (Loved them. Check them out if you get the chance.) and every time I see a named character I wonder where they fit into things and what the new story is. Do you have any thoughts on that?
I've read some of the Neowalker books (Agents of Artifice, Test of metal [boo....], Purifying Fire [Gideon! :3], and Alara Reborn. Oh, and Quest for Karn.... no matter how much I wish I hadn't wasted time doing that >_<;). I like them well enough, but they just don't compare to the godlike powers of oldwalkers.
I stopped caring about the story after Innistrad dropped because (to me!) that set failed fluff-wise. Maybe it's just me, but Innistrad wasn't fantastic enough for a game that can literally go to any world the creative designers could imagine. It just felt like Creative dumped us off in 18th/19th century France and threw English Gothic literature at us... like a really bad field trip or something. I wasn't around for Kamigawa, but having played with cards from that block, I'm pretty sure I would have felt the same way - that it hits too close to our own history to be really fantastic. Actually, I probably would have hated Kamigawa more for its flagrant triteness and misuse of Japanese motifs, names, etc. (hey, I study Japanese lit... that's my justification XD). I understand a lot of people really enjoyed the storylines of both Innistrad and Kamigawa, and that's cool. I just really like the high fantasy of sets like Zendikar, Alara, and the Urza/Weatherlight blocks (to name a few). That gets me wondering: what's everyone's favorite set?
Also Raz, for blue/green EDH you might consider Edric. I've just built that deck and it's pretty competitive. It has the explosive aggression of green with the counters, draw, and time magic of blue. Plus, the nature of the general keeps you relatively safe from opponents' attacks (unless you're playing 1v1, but the deck is still fine due to its speed).
Posted from MTGsalvation.com App for Android
Thank you to Rivenor for this awesome banner!
Palladia-Mors of {The Spirit of EDH}
EDH
WLinvala, Queen of the AngelsW
WUThe Prison of the Grand ArbiterUW [Primer]
URNiv-Mizzet, Handcycling ComboRU
UTalrand, Drake-Slinging to VictoryU
WUGDerevi, Tactical ShufflingGUW
BCao Cao, Discard Stax of Absolute MiseryB
"Like wood would?"
Decks:GU Evolver, W Modern Knights
Apprentice of Spell Manipulation
Archester: Frontier of Steam
I will agree that the sets that are super close to reality don't seem to be nearly as epic as the more fantasy flavored ones.
I was not too big of a fan of sets like Zendikar, Alara, or the new Mirrodin because it all seemed to revolve way to much around power as opposed to a good story.
Weatherlight though, that was awesome. So many great characters and such a big adventure. Sign me up!
Over all though, as I already stated, I am a huge Ravnica fan. Such a different flavor of fantasy and one so right up my alley I can't ignore it.
Love to all the sets though. If there is one you really like that I haven;t mention or you feel I didn't give a fair shot, let me know. I will be happy to give it a shot. You see, as much as I like this game, I LOVE the flavor.
Really, though, only the red-aligned Phyrexians were in any way demonstrating non-hostility to the Mirrans.
Facebook MTG Anti-scam rep
Former Izzet clan Rep.
[Official Tech Geek of [The Crafters]
admin of[SIZE=3] MAGECRAFT:[/SIZE][SIZE=3] a forum for all from Magic to Pokemon!
Perhaps a better word would have been understandable. Phyrexians are only one step short of eldritch horror, endlessly modifying their own bodies and ecosystems, but I think that these new Phyrexians feel way too human to be scary. I still don't want to spend any time near them, but it's more disgust then fear. I don;t want to be in New Phyrexia the same way I don't want to be in prison, when I should feel I don't want to be there because it will violate me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
In short, I see too much humanity in these New Phyrexians.
Decks:GU Evolver, W Modern Knights
Apprentice of Spell Manipulation
Archester: Frontier of Steam
I don't know. I'm down to talk about any other format (Legacy, Modern, Limited), but all anyone seems to want to discuss is EDH. I don't really put that much thought into EDH since I just play it for fun with friends.
Not that it's relevant since we have nothing on there, but posting the QT link in the thread defeats the purpose of it's existence.
I think there are some rules about this somewhere. Like I remember non-Clan members not being able to help with Clan Contests a while ago. Thanks for the offer anyway!
The Izzet
So, let's talk some more.
Who do you feel is the most powerful Guild in Standard? All bias aside, or course.