For my materials, I use mostly Games Workshop acrylic paints and brushes- they're rather ideal (and relatively cheap) for this process, you just have to make sure to water them down first, as they come rather pigmented in their nifty little paint pots. The Games Workshop "Fine Detail Brush" is also as fine a tip as you'll need- that's what I used for my alters.
To begin, I very lightly sketch onto the card how I want to extend the image on the card, in pen. I do not use pencil. I tried pencil before, and it leaves too much graphite residue, sometimes you can see the traces of the pencil marks even after you go over them with paint.
Then I fill in the bobs of outlined to-be-altered space with a few diluted washes of black acrylic paint to give me a base to work up from. This serves two additional purposes- if you want a thin black outline, this will help you achieve that (by painting whatever else to just before the edge of the black). On newer cards, there is a "sheen" that does not let paint adhere that well at first. "Priming" it with a few very thin layers of black paint does the trick and gives you a workable surface that is not as burdensome. Another technique instead of priming is to erase the portion of the card you want to paint/draw on first, with a standard good-quality eraser, but that takes a lot of time and elbow grease, and is much less detail-oriented.
If you have trouble with keeping straight lines or painting up to the edge of the card frame's straight border, you can use art masking tape (the type that will not leave a sticky residue) to mask off the edge where you don't want paint overlapping to help you as you go along.
When it comes down to painting the actual image, make sure you keep diluting your paints, and giving it ample drying time in between. Acrylics dry pretty fast, but you want to make sure it is dry before painting another layer or else it will pool up again with your new layer you're adding and give some awkward effects. Usually you do not have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a given layer to dry.
One of the key issues to be faced is matching the right colors. This is why I particularly favor Games Workshop paints. They have a huge variety of colors, and help me get as close as possible before I have to start mixing paints to get an exact match. One thing I suggest to help is to have a "demo card" where you've primed most of it with a few thin layers of black, and test colors on it, then hold it next to your image to see if the colors match well enough before applying them to your actual card to be altered.
Anyway, before I go off on some tangent that you don't really need an explanation on (if I have not already), let me know if any of this is useful advice and if there is anything more specific you would like answered.
Great, thanks for the intro Xanth. There's GW not far from my house, I'll give them a visit + check out their paints + brushes, see how I go
No problemo, good luck. I think they offer a starter paint set that gives you 10 paints for $25, where as the individual pots themselves are around $3. Hmm now that I say it, that does sound like it might be expensive, but trust me, from someone who has bought much paint from art stores in the past, the GW paints are rather decent and worth the purchase.
If you get that starter set, I don't think it comes with the "fine detail brush" however. You might have to purchase it individually, which I think they charge something like $8 for x_x Or they probably still sell this bundle set that gives you 4 good-quality brushes (including it) for $15.
Time Manipulation Device Mark Three: Hour Glass Reversal
Idea was found looking into the past useing the time turner to go to egypt. After study have made improvments to device and are ready for testing. Waiting for Slaker to come back to throw him through it. I hope he turns out better then the elf i captured.
Decks UR Delver UB Dredge WB Tokens UR Moderns Storm
I've started whit gouache (my favourite of all), but recently i've started training at using Photoshop-for merchandise purposes...
And also I can confirm that: GW colours are great: for my automatons ( wich you may remember ) and truly they are the best acrylics around-despite their cost...
Nice stuff sir! What is gouache? And how do you go about making your art? Do you draw it first then scan it in and manipulate it digitally?
Quote from Niv-Mizzet324 »
hello clan mono blue. long time no post. never relised u all where such good artists. keep up the good work.
popple: as for blue kill i like snap back, and psionic blast personaly, but any bounce should work for you.
Hey, long time no see Welcome back!
SO GUYS, after a bout of unemployment and desperately searching for a job in this economic dilemma striking America while barely getting by with selling my artwork on the side, I have managed to arrange a job interview with a marketing firm tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck! *crosses fingers*
On an unrelated note (ok that's a lie, it's quite related) I'm looking for something that will equate to a "kill spell" in blue. Something about resolved threats makes me sad in the current build for MUC. Any help?
On an unrelated note (ok that's a lie, it's quite related) I'm looking for something that will equate to a "kill spell" in blue. Something about resolved threats makes me sad in the current build for MUC. Any help?
Or you can get Reality Acid, for me it's too slow.
I would assume you want cheap removal, but... hopefully you haven't forgotten about Persuasion?
Xanth's art modifications are too good. What makes it amazing is you could seriously use them in a sanctioned match. You just need T.O. approval - and it would be unusual for them to refuse (but for the basis of believing them to be identifiable through sleeves, say because you made one too heavy or something).
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I rather dislike giving my opponents the chance to grab something new, and potentially bigger. I also considered Proteus Staff, but rejected it for the same reason. It's funny against Stifle-Nought, though...
If only goblins were running as amok as they were back in the day... That would be a wonderful answer to turn 1 Goblin Lackey, Mother of Runes and the like...
Against an aggro deck like goblins, this could be quite useful. Against the aggro-control decks that like to pop up in legacy now (DreadStill, Thresh) this is slightly less great. I'll be holding on to these for the Goblins comeback.
I presume you mean friend of the clan? Why sure you can *updates registrar*
Quote from Horsehoe_Hermit »
Xanth's art modifications are too good. What makes it amazing is you could seriously use them in a sanctioned match. You just need T.O. approval - and it would be unusual for them to refuse (but for the basis of believing them to be identifiable through sleeves, say because you made one too heavy or something).
Thanks I paint pretty thin, so it would be very hard to tell a difference in a sleeve.
@Poppeleseed: I misunderstood your dilemma the first time around, which is why I was suggesting to you an alternate win condition Now that I understand what you mean, well, you have Vedalken Shackles, and you can try Wipe Away or Repeal as two of the probably most useful forms of bounce.
Assuming you just want something to take care of stuck permanents, I would suggest slightly more steal. It tends to be expensive, but can really be worth the investment, considering it doesnt just put them down one, but puts you up one. For something cheap, perhaps Threads of Disloyalty.
There's also Pacifism style effects. One that has a low mana cost, stops attacking and blocking, AND stops activated abilities is Lost in Thought. This one comes with high recommendations.
I beat a Mannequin deck with this. When it resolved Oona! (on the back of a Ghastlord of Fugue I took out, but still).
I haven't drawn (or even goldfished) the Galepowder Mage, and I'm looking to fit in more Parasitic Strix. First though I need a fourth Sculler (which I thought I had), and I need to decide what to do about the Waves and the Cryptic. I don't think Cryptic does much for me, actually.
The mana base hums like a phase converter. The card draw is decidedly less present than you would think. And I hate the Mulldrifters, somehow.
My goal is to ease this back into a control deck of my style. I somehow have a Brilliant Ultimatum, and I really want to play a Time Stretch off it.
Get outta here, Lendritus.
You're welcome. For that other thing. That you thanked me for.
I actually learned something about myself in examining what I did; the way I used that approach.
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On an unrelated note (ok that's a lie, it's quite related) I'm looking for something that will equate to a "kill spell" in blue. Something about resolved threats makes me sad in the current build for MUC. Any help?
'If you can't kill it, overtake it.' That's been my approach to blue creature control. Most attempts at killing or stopping a creature in blue are clunky/unsafe or overpriced. Bounce is only usefull in a tempo deck or in combination with a counter and then I feel I wasted a spell bouncing a thread rather than outright countering it. so my two nominees for the job are Vedalken Shackles & Sower of Temptation (there are more if you go to casual). And if you have a slot free in your Trinket-Tool-box maybe you want to try Synod Sanctum in combination with Shackles - I know I posted it like 300 times on this board but it's my pet combo #1 and frustrates every creature based deck.
btw playing Fail Foil is not a good idea, atleast in MUC, double CdA is just plain bad no matter how you look at it, play Thwart or Daze if you need free counters but for Teferi's love not Foil.
@ artwork: simply great. my sincere admiration to both Xanth and Lendritus. Kraken looks really good - like a sketch from a pro imo. Now you'd only need to work that thing out in some style. I think Mistmeadow Skulk's style would fit the card if made a bit darker.
H_H's deck looks again like a mess. ^^ do that 2cc slots work for you? looks hard to get 'em down correct by t2. Blind Hunter might be an addition to the leeching theme of the deck or are you trying to stay T2?
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Each reality is but the dream of another, and each sleeper a god unknowing.
We define the boundaries of reality; they don't define us.
Yes, I did manage to forget to congratulate everyone on the artwork. It is, as I'm sure everyone agrees, very awesome.
A question. The lady on Thwart. Who is she? I've seen her before on Counterspell (masques).
For that matter, whos the fellow on Flash Counter and Inspiration? Just some random guy?
I beat a Mannequin deck with this. When it resolved Oona! (on the back of a Ghastlord of Fugue I took out, but still).
I haven't drawn (or even goldfished) the Galepowder Mage, and I'm looking to fit in more Parasitic Strix. First though I need a fourth Sculler (which I thought I had), and I need to decide what to do about the Waves and the Cryptic. I don't think Cryptic does much for me, actually.
The mana base hums like a phase converter. The card draw is decidedly less present than you would think. And I hate the Mulldrifters, somehow.
My goal is to ease this back into a control deck of my style. I somehow have a Brilliant Ultimatum, and I really want to play a Time Stretch off it.
Get outta here, Lendritus.
You're welcome. For that other thing. That you thanked me for.
I actually learned something about myself in examining what I did; the way I used that approach.
Like the deck, looks fun to play No Esper Panoramas? Doesn't sound like your mana base is having issues, but there is :symu::symu::symu: in Cryptic Command and with eight Plains maindeck it could be hard to get that on turn four (though you allude to its removal so perhaps nevermind then :p). I definitely think you should run four copies of Parasitic Strix, he's a great card in an esper deck. I also think you should include that Sedraxis gentleman, Sedraxis Alchemist, as he can bounce annoying threats all day, or allow you to have some fun reusing your CITP (come into play) abilities, such as those of the Strix and the Mulldrifters.
I am surprised you are not running any Scepter of Insights, you seemed rather fond of those when we first discussed them
@ artwork: simply great. my sincere admiration to both Xanth and Lendritus.
Thanks I'm almost done with my alter of Sliver Overlord (redoing the entire thing, the old art is so horrid), looking forward to showing all you fine gents soon enough
Quote from 2maxwell »
Yes, I did manage to forget to congratulate everyone on the artwork. It is, as I'm sure everyone agrees, very awesome.
A question. The lady on Thwart. Who is she? I've seen her before on Counterspell (masques).
For that matter, whos the fellow on Flash Counter and Inspiration? Just some random guy?
Like Lendritus says, she is pretty much known as the Saprazzan Vizier. In the Mercadia storyline, the Saprazzan Merfolk were native to Dominaria, but were taken to Mercadia by the Dragon Engine (card doesn't really do it justice lol) to insure their survival, this happened during the Brothers' War storyline (Urza vs. Mishra). There they built a floating city called Saprazzo, which is why they are called Saprazzan Merfolk (I don't remember what their original handle was on Dominaria other than "Dominarian"). They were led by the Saprazzan Vizier, and worshipped the Power Matrix as a holy relic, but gave it to the Weatherlight crew (Gerrard, Mirri, Hanna, Sissay, Karn, Eratai, etc.) when it was discovered that it was part of the Legacy, a collection of powerful artifacts built by Urza, that together were meant to defeat his mortal enemy, Yawgmoth. The Saprazzan Merfolk went on to aid the Weatherlight crew and the Cho-Arrim (basically, the Rebels from Mercadia) in overthrowing the Kyren Regime, decendants of a group of Goblins from Dominaria (yeah, wh woulda thought goblins would end up being rulers?) who at the time were ruling Mercadia City and in control of almost everything, while breeding corruption and siding with Phyrexia (and Yawgmoth). The Kyren were much taller and more intelligent than regular goblins of course, but were still cowardly and sadistic. Oh, I'm getting side-tracked, heh, sorry, hope I answered your question
Oh and thanks for the praise @ the art, too
Ah, and about that guy on the 8th edition art- I don't think he is anyone in particular. If he was they would have alluded to it in the cards' flavor texts. He's probably just some guy meant to look like a wizardly figure.
*edit:
Quote from Lendritus »
What about the marketing firm?:glee:
:(... Turned out to be a huge disappointment. They were far from what they alluded themselves to be on washingtonpost.com. They essentially were looking to hire people to go door-to-door and stand in malls and sell their lame pamphlets, and these pamphlets are basically super-cheesy coupon discounts, that are suppose to save the buyer more money than that which they spend on them. Uggh. Back to the drawing board.
I don't hate it, although it seems a bit casual for my blood. If you want to be a dick, try Ensnare for a 1 mana (but two card) Plague Winds
Yeah, I had that idea too but, in comparing ensnare with cryptic command or time stop, the card kind of falls short on itself at being the better utility among the those. With cards like cryptic command and time stop, threats actually have the possibility of being eliminated single-handedly by those cards alone.
I presume you mean friend of the clan? Why sure you can *updates registrar*
That's what I meant. Thanks. As a member of the Izzet who's part Blue, my sentiments are very sympathetic to your clan. You may expect my loyalty to be strong even though I'm not really a member.
I am surprised you are not running any Scepter of Insights, you seemed rather fond of those when we first discussed them
This is EsperAggro. Such a card simply wouldn't belong in an aggro deck.
More pressingly in the actual world, though, I don't have any, you snarky [censored] [censored] [censored]-ick. >:-(
I do have occasion to procure two Scepters of Dominance, though. But the guy is being cautious about their worth and wants some valuable stuff for 'em.
If you mean posting here in this thread, feel free to speculate all you like (you're enticed by the new bird card aren't you? :glee:)
The invasive mime?
EDIT: Hey d00dz, there's an Orb of Insight again!!!
I wonder if we, using our ultra super power as casters, could come up with a top list of most informative words to search. Perhaps twenty-five terms?
I always like searching for "0" and "two".
This is EsperAggro. Such a card simply wouldn't belong in an aggro deck.
More pressingly in the actual world, though, I don't have any, you snarky [censored] [censored] [censored]-ick. >:-(
I do have occasion to procure two Scepters of Dominance, though. But the guy is being cautious about their worth and wants some valuable stuff for 'em.
Indeed. They're a little odd for accelerators in constructed though. Three mana and they only tap for one. It's trouble...
The invasive mime?
EDIT: Hey d00dz, there's an Orb of Insight again!!!
I wonder if we, using our ultra super power as casters, could come up with a top list of most informative words to search. Perhaps twenty-five terms?
I always like searching for "0" and "two".
Hehe looks like I managed to push the right buttons
As for Obelisk of Esper- Coalition Relic is a better alternative if you have any
Would you mind linking me to the Orb of Insight?
Quote from 2maxwell »
A 3/1 flyer with a relevant creature type for 3cc that also pumps Kangee, Aerie Keeper every turn? Yes please.
I can read you like a book ;D
Quote from Lendritus »
@Xanth: (referring to the "job":sweat: thing) Don't worry Xanth, wasting time with those who do not deserve it can only damage you - better leave...
I'm definitely not considering their offer. I'm still looking for that ideal job, hoping to get something with the government. Working at the US Patent Office would be rather ideal, I'd love to follow in the footsteps of my role model (high five to you if you can guess who that is!!!)
So guys, I have been working on, and playtesting a lot (on MWS, if you want to playtest with me, I'd love to :D) a new mono blue control build.
It takes advantage of a card I often overlook, but am now very intrigued by: Turbulent Dreams. I titled the deck "The Three Wise Men" (perfect name for a mono blue control deck!!!) due to the three unique win conditions. Here's the decklist:
It has been working marveoulsy, and I am very fond of the flashback engine Turbulent Dreams is the big answer we need early in the game vs. several decks out there; lately I've been loving using it on enemy Mox Diamonds and Chrome Moxen :xd: Accumulated Knowledge and the flashback cards are great to discard to Turbulent Dreams, as well.
Also, they each function a bit better in different environments;
-Rainbow Efreet: dodges Diabolic Edict and wrath effects and can handle creatures of any size (without trample lol)
-Morphling: dodges targeted removal easily, 4-turn clock with 5dmg a turn, allows for offence and defense, can stop most big threats.
-Meloku: dodges Diabolic Edict effects, faster clock than other two threats but more vulnerable, provides multiple threats however (and the ability to save land vs. removal, as if decks out there destroy basic islands :p)
Anyway what do you guys think? Is it good for the mono blue control primer? Or is it unique enough to have it's own thread? I'm thinking of making a thread for it in the Developing Competitive area just for feedback and critique. It can still be included in the primer, I suppose
jeeze, changing the clan name on me... no wonder i've been so confused.
sorry my mono-blue work has been falling apart. I've been trying to do testing for the Mighty Fighty Hulk, and there's a PTQ coming up, so my magic life has been a little hectic.
@xanth
Meloku is kinda a house. I'm going to cry a little when I'm white-bordering him. Rainbow Efreet dodges so much, plus his ability also makes him/her a godly blocker.
Hmm... it seems Turbulent Dreams lets you turn an overwhelming hand into all the bounce you could want to shut down your opponent's tempo.
....
If I ever went casual, I'd get a playset. It would be so handy for the way I like to play! (hint: I have controlled permanents named Tomoya the Revealer on more than one occasion).
For your deck, is it really good enough to have just the four? Your draw is definitely slow and the only work you do in the deck is with seven counterspells. Not even eight! Will Back to Basics really carry you through the rough?
Meanwhile, I'm trying to break Hurkyl's Recall. I mean, damn, how cool is that? I think I need to use it with Puca's Mischief.
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jeeze, changing the clan name on me... no wonder i've been so confused.
sorry my mono-blue work has been falling apart. I've been trying to do testing for the Mighty Fighty Hulk, and there's a PTQ coming up, so my magic life has been a little hectic.
@xanth
Meloku is kinda a house. I'm going to cry a little when I'm white-bordering him. Rainbow Efreet dodges so much, plus his ability also makes him/her a godly blocker.
Yes I can edit the thread's name to whatever we like, as seems is the tendency of most of the other clan threads, changing between various titles that have the "[Clan Name]" somewhere in the title. I am quite open to suggestions for future clan titles
No worries, we all have other projects and pressing matters Just posting here about anything is quite alright.
Rainbow Efreet is pretty darn great, but the only real problem with it is you cannot provide offense and defense at the same time like with Meloku and Morphling- you're either swinging for 3 or blocking. But, it's ability to dodge wrath and sacrifice-effects are absolutely a plus. Another plus is, if your opponent is heavy on removal but low on threats, you can always phase the efreet out on your turn, so your opponent must wait until you're got all your mana untapped on your next turn as you swing for 3 to play any removal spells they've got
Quote from Lendritus »
Simpson's patty and Selma???
Guess again :xd:
Quote from Lendritus »
Meloku :jam:and the still greater Morphling are such a Quietus....
Hmm... it seems Turbulent Dreams lets you turn an overwhelming hand into all the bounce you could want to shut down your opponent's tempo.
....
If I ever went casual, I'd get a playset. It would be so handy for the way I like to play! (hint: I have controlled permanents named Tomoya the Revealer on more than one occasion).
For your deck, is it really good enough to have just the four? Your draw is definitely slow and the only work you do in the deck is with seven counterspells. Not even eight! Will Back to Basics really carry you through the rough?
Meanwhile, I'm trying to break Hurkyl's Recall. I mean, damn, how cool is that? I think I need to use it with Puca's Mischief.
Turbulent Dreams has definitely proven a good and reliable source of "removal". And it's not there to answer my problems all day; it's there to get me safely to 5-6 mana so I can drop a threat and start handling the situation with my threat rather than my responses.
The rather nice upside of Turbulent Dreams is that the deck doesn't have to worry as much about several of the cards it can discard to it. If you have Deep Analysis or Flash of Insight in hand, those are quite fine to discard. If you have your first or second Accumulated Knowledge in hand, that is fine too, as the next one you play will reap the benefits
Only seven hard counters, I know. So far, it has proven most effiicent though. You're forgetting the 4x Stifle- in competitive matches, those often work as counterspells, or better; I can Stifle: fetchlands, imprint on Chrome Mox, unsuspending Rift Bolts (I think), the storm effect on Tendrils of Agony & Empty the Warrens (HUGE play :D), etc.
But, one of the beauties of the deck is it's ability to sideboard very effectively. Find I'm facing too much aggro? Bring in 4x Propaganda. Lots of 2cc spells? 4x Spell Snare (so beautiful in the right situations). Stax, Dreadnought, Affinity? Recall & Rebuild.
I'm thinking of changing the sideboard up a little bit though. 4x Hurkyl's Recall and 2x Rebuild seems like overdoing it a bit, and Turbulent Dreams already helps rather nicely versus Stax builds. I'm thinking of cutting the two Rebuilds for two Vedalken Shackles
And to answer your last question, Back to Basics is absolutely brutal versus many decks; I'll often put additional copies of it in my hand to work by "foolishly" tapping out during their turn to cast a draw spell, then letting them tap their nonbasic lands they've been keeping untapped for an answer to use said answer on my Back to Basics in play, let it resolve, then simply cast another one on my turn, having sucessfully baited the rest of their land :xd:
Right now, there are two tournament-style match-ups that I am worried about-
-Thresh: I cannot answer an early Nimble Mongoose, that is pretty much my worry here. I need to be able to stall long enough to get down a threat. Good thing is, 4x Spell Snare coming in from the sideboard answers Tarmogoyf & Counterblanace, among other things.
-Burn: I do not have much to improve my situation in this match-up. I will typically sideboard out the 3x Back to Basics and a Turbulent Dreams to bring in the 4x Spell Snares, but my other three Turbulent Dreams are pretty much dead in this match-up and I'd rather like to find a way to include 3 sideboard spots that I can board in vs. Burn without lessening the effectiveness of my sideboard pool that much (ideally cards that can be boarded in vs. both Burn and other archetypes).
Perhaps I should pass on the Vedalken Shackles in the side, cut one Propaganda, and find 3 slots to dedicate to anti-burn and anti-other-archetypes-too. I don't want Hydroblast/Blue Elemental Blast, as, other than Burn, there aren't many other decks that run red competitively, other than the Red versions with the Chalice of the Void & Trinisphere pool, and my match-up versus those builds is already pretty well in my favor.
So, 3 sideboard spaces that will work vs. Burn and other archetypes... hmmm....... so far, I'm thinking Divert (not fond of the additional card disadvantage from Misdirection), which would help rather nicely vs. decks that pack discard as well What do you guys think?
Only seven hard counters, I know. So far, it has proven most effiicent though. You're forgetting the 4x Stifle- in competitive matches, those often work as counterspells, or better; I can Stifle: fetchlands, imprint on Chrome Mox, unsuspending Rift Bolts (I think), the storm effect on Tendrils of Agony & Empty the Warrens (HUGE play :D), etc.
PErsonally I'd run Trickbind for it, but I'm just dumb like that.
Make sure you counter the "play this" trigger on suspend cards.
But, one of the beauties of the deck is it's ability to sideboard very effectively. Find I'm facing too much aggro? Bring in 4x Propaganda. Lots of 2cc spells? 4x Spell Snare (so beautiful in the right situations). Stax, Dreadnought, Affinity? Recall & Rebuild.
I'm thinking of changing the sideboard up a little bit though. 4x Hurkyl's Recall and 2x Rebuild seems like overdoing it a bit, and Turbulent Dreams already helps rather nicely versus Stax builds. I'm thinking of cutting the two Rebuilds for two Vedalken Shackles
V-Shack seems kind of greedy. Only do it if you actually face guys that can do something when you take them (or sac themselves).
... Gaaahh, I still shake my head when I remember I used to own one. It was so awesome...
Right now, there are two tournament-style match-ups that I am worried about-
-Thresh: I cannot answer an early Nimble Mongoose, that is pretty much my worry here. I need to be able to stall long enough to get down a threat. Good thing is, 4x Spell Snare coming in from the sideboard answers Tarmogoyf & Counterblanace, among other things.
Yeah, Mongoose is supposed to work like that. I think it's a very nice counter to us. Not like Scragnoth, ugh. And I hate Counterbalance. It doesn't even seem Blue to me (although I can hardly argue it's White...).
It just sort of powers you through the opponent's spellcraft, in the sense that it's all upside; it doesn't stop your stuff, as the two-mana price tag might suggest. It works in a precise and yet random way, but not really random. This latter factor feels like Blue but rings of "the old ways." The first one... I only see that kind of flavour in Blue so often. It was also in Equilibrium. I suppose it just shows Blue getting serious about things when it comes downto it.
Plus it's like... it's a very classical-looking Island spell. Just imagine the art being a little less spiffy, put it in the old frame. . . . You see it? Yeah.
-Burn: I do not have much to improve my situation in this match-up. I will typically sideboard out the 3x Back to Basics and a Turbulent Dreams to bring in the 4x Spell Snares, but my other three Turbulent Dreams are pretty much dead in this match-up and I'd rather like to find a way to include 3 sideboard spots that I can board in vs. Burn without lessening the effectiveness of my sideboard pool that much (ideally cards that can be boarded in vs. both Burn and other archetypes).
Yeah Dreams does nothing here; their mana situation just isn't fazed.
Blue is supposed to generally win in the abstract by hoarding up cards and just power-denying the Red mage out of the game until he doesn't have anything. You can't prevent damage but you can counter Bolts to the face if it's important enough. Spell Blast type of counter. Or the better card, Spell Burst.
so far, I'm thinking Divert (not fond of the additional card disadvantage from Misdirection), which would help rather nicely vs. decks that pack discard as well What do you guys think?
No, Misdirection would rather be a great substitute for Turbulent Dreams, if changing targets will get what you need. It's just you might not find it helpful enough in other matchups (and I don't know about the format).
Divert is awesome on its own, too, though.
I love subverting discard... GodNightmare Void was a... well.
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Spell Burst is a rather interesting idea, but I definitely would not run more than two copies, as it is mana-intensive for a counterspell, and I'd rather see it in a list with more mana acceleration.
Also, I have stumbled upon the most perfect and solid and effective answer to Nimble Mongoose and aggro in general: Plumeveil!!! I have always thought this card blows hard because it provides zero offense capabilities, but the more I think about it, the more I find myself enthusiastic about it- compare it to the Propaganda slot- it costs 3 mana, comes down at instant speed, and kills their attacking dude instead of you casting Propaganda on your turn while they find an answer for it on theirs and get to keep their guy alive. Also, Propaganda doesn't stop them when they simply have enough mana to keep paying its effect
Added bonus: If they waste creature removal on Plumeveil, that's lest removal reserved to deal with your win conditions
If you get that starter set, I don't think it comes with the "fine detail brush" however. You might have to purchase it individually, which I think they charge something like $8 for x_x Or they probably still sell this bundle set that gives you 4 good-quality brushes (including it) for $15.
popple: as for blue kill i like snap back, and psionic blast personaly, but any bounce should work for you.
The Izzet League Pyros Welcome
High Mage of Time Manipulation in the IzzetLeague
Time Manipulation Device Mark Three: Hour Glass Reversal
Idea was found looking into the past useing the time turner to go to egypt. After study have made improvments to device and are ready for testing. Waiting for Slaker to come back to throw him through it. I hope he turns out better then the elf i captured.
Decks
UR Delver
UB Dredge
WB Tokens
UR Moderns Storm
Nice stuff sir! What is gouache? And how do you go about making your art? Do you draw it first then scan it in and manipulate it digitally?
Hey, long time no see Welcome back!
SO GUYS, after a bout of unemployment and desperately searching for a job in this economic dilemma striking America while barely getting by with selling my artwork on the side, I have managed to arrange a job interview with a marketing firm tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck! *crosses fingers*
p.s. NOT an April Fools joke... lol
Pongify?
Siren's Call + Cryptic Command/Time Stop?
Mucisian?
Polymorph?
Isochron Scepter + Piracy Charm + Merfolk Assassin?
Um, Piracy Charm?
Piracy Charm + Merfolk Assassin?
Winter's Chill?
By the way, can I be your friend?
You gotta go with Mystic Restraints or similar.
Controlled Instincts (mwahahaha)
Or you can get Reality Acid, for me it's too slow.
I would assume you want cheap removal, but... hopefully you haven't forgotten about Persuasion?
Xanth's art modifications are too good. What makes it amazing is you could seriously use them in a sanctioned match. You just need T.O. approval - and it would be unusual for them to refuse (but for the basis of believing them to be identifiable through sleeves, say because you made one too heavy or something).
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
I don't hate it, although it seems a bit casual for my blood. If you want to be a dick, try Ensnare for a 1 mana (but two card) Plague Winds
I rather dislike giving my opponents the chance to grab something new, and potentially bigger. I also considered Proteus Staff, but rejected it for the same reason. It's funny against Stifle-Nought, though...
That seems like quite a handfull. I've played Reality Acid + Vedalken Mastermind and Thousand-Year Elixer + Ovinomancer, but alone, the cards are a lot less useful.
If only goblins were running as amok as they were back in the day... That would be a wonderful answer to turn 1 Goblin Lackey, Mother of Runes and the like...
Against an aggro deck like goblins, this could be quite useful. Against the aggro-control decks that like to pop up in legacy now (DreadStill, Thresh) this is slightly less great. I'll be holding on to these for the Goblins comeback.
Absolutely.
Have any questions or concerns? Come take a dip in my pool.
I presume you mean friend of the clan? Why sure you can *updates registrar*
Thanks I paint pretty thin, so it would be very hard to tell a difference in a sleeve.
@Poppeleseed: I misunderstood your dilemma the first time around, which is why I was suggesting to you an alternate win condition Now that I understand what you mean, well, you have Vedalken Shackles, and you can try Wipe Away or Repeal as two of the probably most useful forms of bounce.
@ Poppleseed:
This might be too casual for your tastes but you might try Merfolk Thaumaturgist and Serendib Sorcerer.
Assuming you just want something to take care of stuck permanents, I would suggest slightly more steal. It tends to be expensive, but can really be worth the investment, considering it doesnt just put them down one, but puts you up one. For something cheap, perhaps Threads of Disloyalty.
There's also Pacifism style effects. One that has a low mana cost, stops attacking and blocking, AND stops activated abilities is Lost in Thought. This one comes with high recommendations.
I will submit my application for clan membership now. I believe you'll find everything in order.
*presents stacked Magic deck*
4 Plains
4 Arcane Sanctum
4 Terramorphic Expanse
8 Island
3 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Tidehollow Strix
2 Parasitic Strix
2 Esper Battlemage
3 Mulldrifter
1 Galepowder Mage
2 Air Elemental
2 Tower Gargoyle
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Agony Warp
2 Punish Ignorance
3 Esper Charm
1 Cryptic Command
2 Resounding Wave
I beat a Mannequin deck with this. When it resolved Oona! (on the back of a Ghastlord of Fugue I took out, but still).
I haven't drawn (or even goldfished) the Galepowder Mage, and I'm looking to fit in more Parasitic Strix. First though I need a fourth Sculler (which I thought I had), and I need to decide what to do about the Waves and the Cryptic. I don't think Cryptic does much for me, actually.
The mana base hums like a phase converter. The card draw is decidedly less present than you would think. And I hate the Mulldrifters, somehow.
My goal is to ease this back into a control deck of my style. I somehow have a Brilliant Ultimatum, and I really want to play a Time Stretch off it.
Get outta here, Lendritus.
You're welcome. For that other thing. That you thanked me for.
I actually learned something about myself in examining what I did; the way I used that approach.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
'If you can't kill it, overtake it.' That's been my approach to blue creature control. Most attempts at killing or stopping a creature in blue are clunky/unsafe or overpriced. Bounce is only usefull in a tempo deck or in combination with a counter and then I feel I wasted a spell bouncing a thread rather than outright countering it. so my two nominees for the job are Vedalken Shackles & Sower of Temptation (there are more if you go to casual). And if you have a slot free in your Trinket-Tool-box maybe you want to try Synod Sanctum in combination with Shackles - I know I posted it like 300 times on this board but it's my pet combo #1 and frustrates every creature based deck.
btw playing
FailFoil is not a good idea, atleast in MUC, double CdA is just plain bad no matter how you look at it, play Thwart or Daze if you need free counters but for Teferi's love not Foil.@ artwork: simply great. my sincere admiration to both Xanth and Lendritus. Kraken looks really good - like a sketch from a pro imo. Now you'd only need to work that thing out in some style. I think Mistmeadow Skulk's style would fit the card if made a bit darker.
H_H's deck looks again like a mess. ^^ do that 2cc slots work for you? looks hard to get 'em down correct by t2. Blind Hunter might be an addition to the leeching theme of the deck or are you trying to stay T2?
A question. The lady on Thwart. Who is she? I've seen her before on Counterspell (masques).
For that matter, whos the fellow on Flash Counter and Inspiration? Just some random guy?
Like the deck, looks fun to play No Esper Panoramas? Doesn't sound like your mana base is having issues, but there is :symu::symu::symu: in Cryptic Command and with eight Plains maindeck it could be hard to get that on turn four (though you allude to its removal so perhaps nevermind then :p). I definitely think you should run four copies of Parasitic Strix, he's a great card in an esper deck. I also think you should include that Sedraxis gentleman, Sedraxis Alchemist, as he can bounce annoying threats all day, or allow you to have some fun reusing your CITP (come into play) abilities, such as those of the Strix and the Mulldrifters.
I am surprised you are not running any Scepter of Insights, you seemed rather fond of those when we first discussed them
If you want to run Brilliant Ultimatum, I definitely suggest you fit in some Obelisk of Espers.
Also: welcome back!!! *updates registrar*
Thanks I'm almost done with my alter of Sliver Overlord (redoing the entire thing, the old art is so horrid), looking forward to showing all you fine gents soon enough
Like Lendritus says, she is pretty much known as the Saprazzan Vizier. In the Mercadia storyline, the Saprazzan Merfolk were native to Dominaria, but were taken to Mercadia by the Dragon Engine (card doesn't really do it justice lol) to insure their survival, this happened during the Brothers' War storyline (Urza vs. Mishra). There they built a floating city called Saprazzo, which is why they are called Saprazzan Merfolk (I don't remember what their original handle was on Dominaria other than "Dominarian"). They were led by the Saprazzan Vizier, and worshipped the Power Matrix as a holy relic, but gave it to the Weatherlight crew (Gerrard, Mirri, Hanna, Sissay, Karn, Eratai, etc.) when it was discovered that it was part of the Legacy, a collection of powerful artifacts built by Urza, that together were meant to defeat his mortal enemy, Yawgmoth. The Saprazzan Merfolk went on to aid the Weatherlight crew and the Cho-Arrim (basically, the Rebels from Mercadia) in overthrowing the Kyren Regime, decendants of a group of Goblins from Dominaria (yeah, wh woulda thought goblins would end up being rulers?) who at the time were ruling Mercadia City and in control of almost everything, while breeding corruption and siding with Phyrexia (and Yawgmoth). The Kyren were much taller and more intelligent than regular goblins of course, but were still cowardly and sadistic. Oh, I'm getting side-tracked, heh, sorry, hope I answered your question
Oh and thanks for the praise @ the art, too
Ah, and about that guy on the 8th edition art- I don't think he is anyone in particular. If he was they would have alluded to it in the cards' flavor texts. He's probably just some guy meant to look like a wizardly figure.
*edit:
:(... Turned out to be a huge disappointment. They were far from what they alluded themselves to be on washingtonpost.com. They essentially were looking to hire people to go door-to-door and stand in malls and sell their lame pamphlets, and these pamphlets are basically super-cheesy coupon discounts, that are suppose to save the buyer more money than that which they spend on them. Uggh. Back to the drawing board.
Yeah, I had that idea too but, in comparing ensnare with cryptic command or time stop, the card kind of falls short on itself at being the better utility among the those. With cards like cryptic command and time stop, threats actually have the possibility of being eliminated single-handedly by those cards alone.
That's what I meant. Thanks. As a member of the Izzet who's part Blue, my sentiments are very sympathetic to your clan. You may expect my loyalty to be strong even though I'm not really a member.
Also, just a question. Whats the rules per posting on rumored material?
This is EsperAggro. Such a card simply wouldn't belong in an aggro deck.
More pressingly in the actual world, though, I don't have any, you snarky [censored] [censored] [censored]-ick. >:-(
I do have occasion to procure two Scepters of Dominance, though. But the guy is being cautious about their worth and wants some valuable stuff for 'em.
Indeed. They're a little odd for accelerators in constructed though. Three mana and they only tap for one. It's trouble...
The invasive mime?
EDIT: Hey d00dz, there's an Orb of Insight again!!!
I wonder if we, using our ultra super power as casters, could come up with a top list of most informative words to search. Perhaps twenty-five terms?
I always like searching for "0" and "two".
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
A 3/1 flyer with a relevant creature type for 3cc that also pumps Kangee, Aerie Keeper every turn? Yes please.
Also, Orb of Insight doesnt seem to be loading for me...
Anyone feel like looking up gain for me?
Hehe looks like I managed to push the right buttons
As for Obelisk of Esper- Coalition Relic is a better alternative if you have any
Would you mind linking me to the Orb of Insight?
I can read you like a book ;D
I'm definitely not considering their offer. I'm still looking for that ideal job, hoping to get something with the government. Working at the US Patent Office would be rather ideal, I'd love to follow in the footsteps of my role model (high five to you if you can guess who that is!!!)
So guys, I have been working on, and playtesting a lot (on MWS, if you want to playtest with me, I'd love to :D) a new mono blue control build.
It takes advantage of a card I often overlook, but am now very intrigued by: Turbulent Dreams. I titled the deck "The Three Wise Men" (perfect name for a mono blue control deck!!!) due to the three unique win conditions. Here's the decklist:
23x Island
Creatures (3)
1x Rainbow Efreet
1x Meloku the Clouded Mirror
1x Morphling
Draw (16)
4x Ancestral Vision
4x Accumulated Knowledge
3x Flash of Insight
3x Deep Analysis
2x Quiet Speculation
4x Stifle
3x Counterspell
4x Force of Will
4x Turbulent Dreams
3x Back to Basics
4x Propaganda
4x Spell Snare
4x Hurkyl's Recall
2x Rebuild
1x Back to Basics
It has been working marveoulsy, and I am very fond of the flashback engine Turbulent Dreams is the big answer we need early in the game vs. several decks out there; lately I've been loving using it on enemy Mox Diamonds and Chrome Moxen :xd: Accumulated Knowledge and the flashback cards are great to discard to Turbulent Dreams, as well.
3 separate win conditions instead of 3 of the same helps us versus Extirpate, Morphling, Cranial Extraction, Cabal Therapy, etc.
Also, they each function a bit better in different environments;
-Rainbow Efreet: dodges Diabolic Edict and wrath effects and can handle creatures of any size (without trample lol)
-Morphling: dodges targeted removal easily, 4-turn clock with 5dmg a turn, allows for offence and defense, can stop most big threats.
-Meloku: dodges Diabolic Edict effects, faster clock than other two threats but more vulnerable, provides multiple threats however (and the ability to save land vs. removal, as if decks out there destroy basic islands :p)
Anyway what do you guys think? Is it good for the mono blue control primer? Or is it unique enough to have it's own thread? I'm thinking of making a thread for it in the Developing Competitive area just for feedback and critique. It can still be included in the primer, I suppose
sorry my mono-blue work has been falling apart. I've been trying to do testing for the Mighty Fighty Hulk, and there's a PTQ coming up, so my magic life has been a little hectic.
@xanth
Meloku is kinda a house. I'm going to cry a little when I'm white-bordering him. Rainbow Efreet dodges so much, plus his ability also makes him/her a godly blocker.
Have any questions or concerns? Come take a dip in my pool.
....
If I ever went casual, I'd get a playset. It would be so handy for the way I like to play! (hint: I have controlled permanents named Tomoya the Revealer on more than one occasion).
For your deck, is it really good enough to have just the four? Your draw is definitely slow and the only work you do in the deck is with seven counterspells. Not even eight! Will Back to Basics really carry you through the rough?
Meanwhile, I'm trying to break Hurkyl's Recall. I mean, damn, how cool is that? I think I need to use it with Puca's Mischief.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
Yes I can edit the thread's name to whatever we like, as seems is the tendency of most of the other clan threads, changing between various titles that have the "[Clan Name]" somewhere in the title. I am quite open to suggestions for future clan titles
No worries, we all have other projects and pressing matters Just posting here about anything is quite alright.
Rainbow Efreet is pretty darn great, but the only real problem with it is you cannot provide offense and defense at the same time like with Meloku and Morphling- you're either swinging for 3 or blocking. But, it's ability to dodge wrath and sacrifice-effects are absolutely a plus. Another plus is, if your opponent is heavy on removal but low on threats, you can always phase the efreet out on your turn, so your opponent must wait until you're got all your mana untapped on your next turn as you swing for 3 to play any removal spells they've got
Guess again :xd:
Are you suggesting Greater Morphling? :xd: Also, what is a Quietus?
Turbulent Dreams has definitely proven a good and reliable source of "removal". And it's not there to answer my problems all day; it's there to get me safely to 5-6 mana so I can drop a threat and start handling the situation with my threat rather than my responses.
The rather nice upside of Turbulent Dreams is that the deck doesn't have to worry as much about several of the cards it can discard to it. If you have Deep Analysis or Flash of Insight in hand, those are quite fine to discard. If you have your first or second Accumulated Knowledge in hand, that is fine too, as the next one you play will reap the benefits
Only seven hard counters, I know. So far, it has proven most effiicent though. You're forgetting the 4x Stifle- in competitive matches, those often work as counterspells, or better; I can Stifle: fetchlands, imprint on Chrome Mox, unsuspending Rift Bolts (I think), the storm effect on Tendrils of Agony & Empty the Warrens (HUGE play :D), etc.
But, one of the beauties of the deck is it's ability to sideboard very effectively. Find I'm facing too much aggro? Bring in 4x Propaganda. Lots of 2cc spells? 4x Spell Snare (so beautiful in the right situations). Stax, Dreadnought, Affinity? Recall & Rebuild.
I'm thinking of changing the sideboard up a little bit though. 4x Hurkyl's Recall and 2x Rebuild seems like overdoing it a bit, and Turbulent Dreams already helps rather nicely versus Stax builds. I'm thinking of cutting the two Rebuilds for two Vedalken Shackles
And to answer your last question, Back to Basics is absolutely brutal versus many decks; I'll often put additional copies of it in my hand to work by "foolishly" tapping out during their turn to cast a draw spell, then letting them tap their nonbasic lands they've been keeping untapped for an answer to use said answer on my Back to Basics in play, let it resolve, then simply cast another one on my turn, having sucessfully baited the rest of their land :xd:
Right now, there are two tournament-style match-ups that I am worried about-
-Thresh: I cannot answer an early Nimble Mongoose, that is pretty much my worry here. I need to be able to stall long enough to get down a threat. Good thing is, 4x Spell Snare coming in from the sideboard answers Tarmogoyf & Counterblanace, among other things.
-Burn: I do not have much to improve my situation in this match-up. I will typically sideboard out the 3x Back to Basics and a Turbulent Dreams to bring in the 4x Spell Snares, but my other three Turbulent Dreams are pretty much dead in this match-up and I'd rather like to find a way to include 3 sideboard spots that I can board in vs. Burn without lessening the effectiveness of my sideboard pool that much (ideally cards that can be boarded in vs. both Burn and other archetypes).
Perhaps I should pass on the Vedalken Shackles in the side, cut one Propaganda, and find 3 slots to dedicate to anti-burn and anti-other-archetypes-too. I don't want Hydroblast/Blue Elemental Blast, as, other than Burn, there aren't many other decks that run red competitively, other than the Red versions with the Chalice of the Void & Trinisphere pool, and my match-up versus those builds is already pretty well in my favor.
So, 3 sideboard spaces that will work vs. Burn and other archetypes... hmmm....... so far, I'm thinking Divert (not fond of the additional card disadvantage from Misdirection), which would help rather nicely vs. decks that pack discard as well What do you guys think?
PErsonally I'd run Trickbind for it, but I'm just dumb like that.
Make sure you counter the "play this" trigger on suspend cards.
V-Shack seems kind of greedy. Only do it if you actually face guys that can do something when you take them (or sac themselves).
... Gaaahh, I still shake my head when I remember I used to own one. It was so awesome...
Yeah, Mongoose is supposed to work like that. I think it's a very nice counter to us. Not like Scragnoth, ugh. And I hate Counterbalance. It doesn't even seem Blue to me (although I can hardly argue it's White...).
It just sort of powers you through the opponent's spellcraft, in the sense that it's all upside; it doesn't stop your stuff, as the two-mana price tag might suggest. It works in a precise and yet random way, but not really random. This latter factor feels like Blue but rings of "the old ways." The first one... I only see that kind of flavour in Blue so often. It was also in Equilibrium. I suppose it just shows Blue getting serious about things when it comes down to it.
Plus it's like... it's a very classical-looking Island spell. Just imagine the art being a little less spiffy, put it in the old frame. . . . You see it? Yeah.
Yeah Dreams does nothing here; their mana situation just isn't fazed.
Blue is supposed to generally win in the abstract by hoarding up cards and just power-denying the Red mage out of the game until he doesn't have anything. You can't prevent damage but you can counter Bolts to the face if it's important enough.
Spell Blast type of counter. Or the better card, Spell Burst.
No, Misdirection would rather be a great substitute for Turbulent Dreams, if changing targets will get what you need. It's just you might not find it helpful enough in other matchups (and I don't know about the format).
Divert is awesome on its own, too, though.
I love subverting discard... God Nightmare Void was a... well.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
Also, I have stumbled upon the most perfect and solid and effective answer to Nimble Mongoose and aggro in general: Plumeveil!!! I have always thought this card blows hard because it provides zero offense capabilities, but the more I think about it, the more I find myself enthusiastic about it- compare it to the Propaganda slot- it costs 3 mana, comes down at instant speed, and kills their attacking dude instead of you casting Propaganda on your turn while they find an answer for it on theirs and get to keep their guy alive. Also, Propaganda doesn't stop them when they simply have enough mana to keep paying its effect
Added bonus: If they waste creature removal on Plumeveil, that's lest removal reserved to deal with your win conditions
*off to playtest*