This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, Good Game: A Limited Experience. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.
I loved this article. Personally, I can never get enough of blow-by-blow games/matches, especially in single elimination. I was excited throughout the article to see if you would win. Well done.
What about the "just kidding" at the end of the. Article? Was that in refernce to the entire article?
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Rules Advisor as of 4/23/10
Regarding Stoneforge Mystic
Quote from oranges2 »
This guy, would either eat up several turns worth of mana to get a slow permanent that relies on your already have some board presence (after wasting said mana), or dies without generating any advantage.
Good draft strategy there. White was definitely the right call.
Just one complaint, though, if it's not hubris to disagree with a pro...
I mean, I had two Adventuring Gears, which are obviously nutty in this set
Not only is it not obvious, it's not true. Adventuring Gear is acceptable filler, but it's far from a great card. It can create blowout wins if everything works out well, but often it's just bad.
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--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Go G/W Rock or whatever its called.
Im Talking;
Walletslayer, noble, KotR, scoup mob, ranger of eos, elspeth, steppe lynx, etc.
Expensive deck but fun and good. Beats my Jund too often.
Seen the Crypt combo deck with extractor demons? Ouchy! its like T4-5 three demon strike.....
Khalni Gem? You couldn't pay me enough to run it. Your deck is more than good enough that you don't want random screwjob losses to getting Sanctified or Shambled or Roiled there, even if it does turn on your Lynxes.
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Quote from "Flamebuster" »
Tarmogoyf has no evasion, yet it sees tonnes of play. What makes this any different?
Adventuring gear is no Machette, but it does have good synergy with the Minotaur/landfall. It may be filler, but it's good filler. I don't know that I would want to run 2 of them.
The article was well written. Congratz on getting back on the Tour. The only thing I didn't like was making it sound like winning was about raw skill or lucking your way back in. "I played sealed once, I've never drafted Zen". Dunno it kind of blows smoke in the face of players who have been working harder than you to qualify but haven't.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
What about the "just kidding" at the end of the. Article? Was that in refernce to the entire article?
It was not in reference to the entire article. Just the "Behind you!" thing at the end. Bad Friday the 13th thing. Sorry.
As for blowing smoke in the faces of people who have been testing hard, that was not my intention by any means. What I was trying to show was what I've been talking about with friends recently, and that is that I feel like Limited is a format more defined by general rules rather than format specific ones. Of course, this isn't an absolute (Zendikar is much different than Alara--it's faster with weaker removal), but some rules about limited still apply. Removal (especially good removal) is boss; in draft, it's best not to commit to a color too early; etc.
I'm not saying these things won me the PTQ, but they certainly helped. I feel like they're good limited rules.
Congratulations on your win Andrew, and good luck in San Diego!
RW was definitely the right call in both parts of the event. There is one card choice I disagree with in each deck, but they're minor enough to not have been a liability for you, or so it seems. I'll still point them out so you can give it thought for later Limited events :
Murasa Pyromancer is truly bad in any deck that's not really heavy on Allies. A 3/2 for six mana that only deals one or two damage to a creature ETB really is no Kavu, and not the kind of card I want in a beatdown deck. It can be stellar when you have 5+ other allies in your deck, otherwise it's a big no-no. Learning this after construction, I would have sideboarded it out every time for Ruinous Minotaur, not Goblin Ruinblaster which is great even just as a 2-power hasty guy for 3.
Khalni Gem is not the kind of card you want in a beatdown deck either if you have only 2-3 landfall cards. You want it when you need mana fixing and/or acceleration for high-cost cards, or when you have a true landfall-heavy deck.
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
first of all, congrats on gettin' back in the game. second, this article was a real nail bitter, i felt like i was right there with you in the matches, even though they were the "abridged" version. third, what the heck? "behind you, lol jk"?
Good job on getting to the Pro Tour! I really love the way you write, I feel like I'm watching the whole thing, even though I'm lazing around at home. Nice decklists there. This confirms my suspicions that red is an epic colour in Zendikar.
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DCI Level 2 Judge
Modern: GRB Jund BRG RBU Grixis Delver UBR Legacy: W Death & Taxes W GRB Punishing Jund BRG GUR Canadian Threshold RUG Commander: RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Wish i could have won my quarterfinal match so I could have played against ya in the semis.
And shame on you for taking all of that lovely white! Were we the only white drafters at that table?
Heck, I didn't even know you went white. But yeah, I don't think there was anyone else in that color (I didn't notice anyone else playing white). If there was, I don't know what they were taking over what they passed to me.
Damn I love magic.
Rules Advisor as of 4/23/10
Regarding Stoneforge Mystic
Good draft strategy there. White was definitely the right call.
Just one complaint, though, if it's not hubris to disagree with a pro...
Not only is it not obvious, it's not true. Adventuring Gear is acceptable filler, but it's far from a great card. It can create blowout wins if everything works out well, but often it's just bad.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Im Talking;
Walletslayer, noble, KotR, scoup mob, ranger of eos, elspeth, steppe lynx, etc.
Expensive deck but fun and good. Beats my Jund too often.
Seen the Crypt combo deck with extractor demons? Ouchy! its like T4-5 three demon strike.....
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
The article was well written. Congratz on getting back on the Tour. The only thing I didn't like was making it sound like winning was about raw skill or lucking your way back in. "I played sealed once, I've never drafted Zen". Dunno it kind of blows smoke in the face of players who have been working harder than you to qualify but haven't.
It was not in reference to the entire article. Just the "Behind you!" thing at the end. Bad Friday the 13th thing. Sorry.
As for blowing smoke in the faces of people who have been testing hard, that was not my intention by any means. What I was trying to show was what I've been talking about with friends recently, and that is that I feel like Limited is a format more defined by general rules rather than format specific ones. Of course, this isn't an absolute (Zendikar is much different than Alara--it's faster with weaker removal), but some rules about limited still apply. Removal (especially good removal) is boss; in draft, it's best not to commit to a color too early; etc.
I'm not saying these things won me the PTQ, but they certainly helped. I feel like they're good limited rules.
RW was definitely the right call in both parts of the event. There is one card choice I disagree with in each deck, but they're minor enough to not have been a liability for you, or so it seems. I'll still point them out so you can give it thought for later Limited events :
Murasa Pyromancer is truly bad in any deck that's not really heavy on Allies. A 3/2 for six mana that only deals one or two damage to a creature ETB really is no Kavu, and not the kind of card I want in a beatdown deck. It can be stellar when you have 5+ other allies in your deck, otherwise it's a big no-no. Learning this after construction, I would have sideboarded it out every time for Ruinous Minotaur, not Goblin Ruinblaster which is great even just as a 2-power hasty guy for 3.
Khalni Gem is not the kind of card you want in a beatdown deck either if you have only 2-3 landfall cards. You want it when you need mana fixing and/or acceleration for high-cost cards, or when you have a true landfall-heavy deck.
Modern:
GRB Jund BRG
RBU Grixis Delver UBR
Legacy:
W Death & Taxes W
GRB Punishing Jund BRG
GUR Canadian Threshold RUG
Commander:
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer GUR
Wish i could have won my quarterfinal match so I could have played against ya in the semis.
And shame on you for taking all of that lovely white! Were we the only white drafters at that table?
Heck, I didn't even know you went white. But yeah, I don't think there was anyone else in that color (I didn't notice anyone else playing white). If there was, I don't know what they were taking over what they passed to me.