I just have no idea why MaRo chose to spoil this. If it was left to the final last-week all-cards-out spoiler, every would just skim over it and never give it second thought.
I think you've answered your own question.
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
This card is worth it if only for the amazing NERD RAAAAEG it's generated; definitely more entertainment generated than the 3 mana 2/3 near-vanilla common that gets drafted 9th, played if people need something to fill out their curve, and then forgotten as soon as the next draft format rolls along.
If you play more then one opponent this card ought to turn out to favour you statistically.
I think it has some (very limited) potential synergies with other cards in the block, mostly in white. Reckoner, pallisade giant, holy mantle, guildscorn ward.
Perhaps it's a silly hoser to, say, token generation? (Selesnya, I'm looking at you)
Anything as hilarious as this card can't be the worst card in the set. At least we got a chuckle out of it.
It's not playable in constructed (like about 50-90% of many sets, honestly), and I probably wouldn't play it in limited due to the hassle it causes, and I'd be paying people to take them off my hands, and I will surely pull 36 of them if I buy a DGM box, but at least it's funny, which is hardly something that can be said about a lot of other unplayable crap.
I have a theory on this card. I believe it was intentionally made as bad as possible to keep the "rules headache" from being a problem. Nobody will want to play with it. I mean if they had made it even pretty badly underpowered, it would slow down drafts and limited pretty badly. Its a terrible thing to deal with especially when decks were not preconstructed with ways to use it (like bringing a ton of dice or a non-suspicious electronic means). No, they made this card to be so bad that its actually arguably worse than a numai outcast, so bad that this card is objectively among the worst creatures ever printed in this game, that its tap effect is almost always going to be a negative expected value, that it is functionally a 1URornithopter, simply to dissuade people from ever actually playing it. Limited players will take it #15, they'll grab basic lands sooner than this. Because this mechanic was someone on R&D's pet mechanic they badly wanted to see in-game, but development wanted it to be as soft a hit as possible. At least, this is my theory
But yes, this card is right up there with wood elemental and aven trooper and razor boomerang. I mean in objective power level, not overall cuteness- its a funny mechanic, good art and interesting design, its just one of the worst cards ever printed
Isochron Scepter & Reroute turn this into a repeatable pseudo-Electrolyze. It's still not amazing, but I might run it for the sake of adding more odd combos to my SCIENCE deck.
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
I have a theory on this card. I believe it was intentionally made as bad as possible to keep the "rules headache" from being a problem. Nobody will want to play with it. I mean if they had made it even pretty badly underpowered, it would slow down drafts and limited pretty badly. Its a terrible thing to deal with especially when decks were not preconstructed with ways to use it (like bringing a ton of dice or a non-suspicious electronic means). No, they made this card to be so bad that its actually arguably worse than a numai outcast, so bad that this card is objectively among the worst creatures ever printed in this game, that its tap effect is almost always going to be a negative expected value, that it is functionally a 1URornithopter, simply to dissuade people from ever actually playing it. Limited players will take it #15, they'll grab basic lands sooner than this. Because this mechanic was someone on R&D's pet mechanic they badly wanted to see in-game, but development wanted it to be as soft a hit as possible. At least, this is my theory
But yes, this card is right up there with wood elemental and aven trooper and razor boomerang. I mean in objective power level, not overall cuteness- its a funny mechanic, good art and interesting design, its just one of the worst cards ever printed
I agree with sentiment. No one wants this obnoxious of an effect to be good enough to see continuous play. In fact, that would harm it's value, because those hilarious stories were someone actually gets totally blown out by a Goblin Test Pilot would be far more common, and far less hilarious. That this card is such a risk to activate is what will make for memorable moments; if it was any good, all that tension would be lost, and the card would not be as fun/irritating/legend-wait for it-dary.
Also, I think they made it to troll all the wannabe Spikes in Magic. Do you think actual professionals lose their pants over these sort of cards? Unlikely, because they know the value of a single Uncommon slot in the entire set isn't going to make or break it, and that not all cards are made to be used in tournaments.
That being said, if this ended up seeing play in a PT (even in the Limited portion), it'd be the talk of the town. Losing your shot at Magic fame because the Green Goblin showed up and pumpkin bombed the hell out of the place is a story all of its own.
it's a bad card by itself, but if all your creatures have shroud, then it's less bad. it's the kind of card you build an entire deck around, and then it becomes w really good card.
It's certainly the most obnoxious card in the set. I hope to God that I don't ever get pitted up against someone playing it in limited, or worse, someone playing multiples (Because it's going to be one of the last cards in the pack).
I'm probably going to need to buy some more dice just in case.
it's a bad card by itself, but if all your creatures have shroud, then it's less bad. it's the kind of card you build an entire deck around, and then it becomes w really good card.
It never becomes a really good card, it just gets less bad.
I don't see why people have such a huge problem with this card. Honestly, it's hilarious, flavorfull as all hell, and obviously made for people who love that kind of card (myself included) If you don't like it, it wasn't made for you, and honestly, that's ok.
It's certainly the most obnoxious card in the set. I hope to God that I don't ever get pitted up against someone playing it in limited, or worse, someone playing multiples (Because it's going to be one of the last cards in the pack).
omg! that's my new goal for DGM draft. Get as many goblin test pilots as possible (how many do you think is possible since only the first pack in draft is DGM?).
How awesome would it be to have like 4-5 of these out at once? "Activate Goblin Test Pilot's ability. In response to its activation, I activate my other goblin test pilot's ability. ..."
I'm sure I could get some concessions just from people not wanting to play with me anymore.
Art is life itself.
For who?
Nobody will ever play this.
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BRGKarrthus, Tyrant of Jund
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BGSkullbriar, the Walking Grave
WUGDerevi
Thanks Argentleman;)
WB Teysa token aggroBW (retired)
MAKING (Onmath, Numot, maybe something in Esper)
Perhaps it's a silly hoser to, say, token generation? (Selesnya, I'm looking at you)
It's not playable in constructed (like about 50-90% of many sets, honestly), and I probably wouldn't play it in limited due to the hassle it causes, and I'd be paying people to take them off my hands, and I will surely pull 36 of them if I buy a DGM box, but at least it's funny, which is hardly something that can be said about a lot of other unplayable crap.
LOL, anytime someone says everyone or nobody in relation to whether a card will be played, they immediately fail.
I for one, would play this card, because it's random and hilariously fun.
Yes, I was the person this card was made for. You can send your copies to me.
In fact, it's probably going to be the textbook example from now on.
Hoi, hoi, u embleer hrair
M'saion ulé hraka vair.
But yes, this card is right up there with wood elemental and aven trooper and razor boomerang. I mean in objective power level, not overall cuteness- its a funny mechanic, good art and interesting design, its just one of the worst cards ever printed
You know what would be better than Ivory Mask in your set up? Lifelink or any card that accomplishes the same thing.
Art is life itself.
I agree with sentiment. No one wants this obnoxious of an effect to be good enough to see continuous play. In fact, that would harm it's value, because those hilarious stories were someone actually gets totally blown out by a Goblin Test Pilot would be far more common, and far less hilarious. That this card is such a risk to activate is what will make for memorable moments; if it was any good, all that tension would be lost, and the card would not be as fun/irritating/legend-wait for it-dary.
Also, I think they made it to troll all the wannabe Spikes in Magic. Do you think actual professionals lose their pants over these sort of cards? Unlikely, because they know the value of a single Uncommon slot in the entire set isn't going to make or break it, and that not all cards are made to be used in tournaments.
That being said, if this ended up seeing play in a PT (even in the Limited portion), it'd be the talk of the town. Losing your shot at Magic fame because the Green Goblin showed up and pumpkin bombed the hell out of the place is a story all of its own.
Goblin Test Pilot + Holy Mantle + Witchbane Orb.
Toss in some redirects and Divine Deflections and you got yourself a deck.
=)
Hexproof doesn't protect you from your own spells and abilities.
A slight oversight on my part.
Oh I got it!
Pair this guy up with Gisela!
Edit: OH and Boros Reckoner and Stuffy Doll
I'm probably going to need to buy some more dice just in case.
Master of Cruelties is a one-hit kill with Kaalia in EDH. That's pretty damn useful.
Thanks to Rivenor of Miraculous Recovery Signatures!
It never becomes a really good card, it just gets less bad.
Check out http://www.mtgbrodeals.com/author/john-murphy/ for my EDH articles!
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omg! that's my new goal for DGM draft. Get as many goblin test pilots as possible (how many do you think is possible since only the first pack in draft is DGM?).
How awesome would it be to have like 4-5 of these out at once? "Activate Goblin Test Pilot's ability. In response to its activation, I activate my other goblin test pilot's ability. ..."
I'm sure I could get some concessions just from people not wanting to play with me anymore.
Thanks to Rivenor of Miraculous Recovery Signatures!
I personally love the card, regardless if it makes it to my T2 cut throat competitive deck.
first and foremost this is a game. Games are meant to be fun.