"An explorer of one's own mind. A psychonaut often embarks on inner voyages with the aid of psychoactive substances, meditation, sensory deprivation, binaural beats, and other means. Most commonly, one who experiments with psychedelic substances. The goal of the psychonaut is to learn about self and reality by transcending normal consciousness. Psychonauts are distinguished from purely recreational users of psychoactive substances in their desire to learn and grow from these experiences."
I am building a pimped out Commander deck for a friend for Christmas. He is a psychonaut and introduced me to how to be a "Lawful Good" psychonaut in college.
What Commander best personifies the above definition of Psychonaut? In terms of flavor and function. What key Commander cards best personify Psychonauts?
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HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
If you post 8 suggestions that are "A+" suggestions (the card's name, art, and textbox perfectly illustrate the themes and goals of the Psychonaut deck) I will send you a foil version of a card from the list of cards you suggested!
Happy Holidays! May 2018 be as fruitful of a year as 2017 was for me!
If the library is a PW's arsenal of tricks, being able to access it, manipulate it, excavate and put them on "top" of the library (as if bringing the most useful idea/wisdom to the frontline), and materialize the said insights, is a great way to represent a psychonaut. Besides, the three colors of green, red, and blue each represents a Freudian aspect of human mind: Id, Ego, and Superego, respectively, and Intet "dreams".
On the flip side of the coin, Grenzo, Dungeon Warden delves deep into the bottom of one's mind, alongside many cards what swipe graveyard (the past) back into the library, again at the bottom of it. Grenzo deck would fit a psychonaut with its constant reminder of past mistakes and success returning as wisdom (how experience and adventures builds up), repeatedly discard and retrieve, rinse and repeat of ideas, constant examination of self.
You are right in my wheelhouse for building on flavor friend. Before delving into card choices let's start with the commander.
From the color pie persepective Psychonautical ideologies are entirely izzet (UR) so you'll want your commander to be at least part that. I personally recommend sticking with the two colors for ease of use and flavorful impact.
As far as pure flavor goes, including card flavor text, Arjun, the Shifting Flame is absolutely your man. He is inspiration personified in card form, every card is a dose of psychoactive elements that give you new ideas and new ways to play.
I agree with Fenrir Rex. Psychonautical ideologies are an Izzet thing, for sure. I also like the Arjun, the Shifting Flame suggestion a lot too. I was gonna say that one. He can represent the overwhelming waves of knowledge that come with the use of psychedelics. The knowledge isn't always useful, and is sometimes gone before you can put it to good use. A++
Another one I thought of was Melek, Izzet Paragon. Could represent cracking open one's own mind for things you can make use out of. But you might not always like what you get.
Lastly, this one is a little on-the-nose, But I think Ghave, Guru of Spores could be a pretty good one too. I mean, he is a Fungus Shaman...
That's my 2 cents. Cool idea. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
Because of this, I think having white could be good, and leads to a more peaceful theme. Narset, Enlightened Master would be my choice for managing the colors you probably want and you can read about Narset personal journey through life in the Tarkir story line.
The other Commander who come to mind is Phelddagrif. Group hug is kind of where you want to be at, and flying purple hippo...trippy much?
"An explorer of one's own mind. A psychonaut often embarks on inner voyages with the aid of psychoactive substances, meditation, sensory deprivation, binaural beats, and other means. Most commonly, one who experiments with psychedelic substances. The goal of the psychonaut is to learn about self and reality by transcending normal consciousness. Psychonauts are distinguished from purely recreational users of psychoactive substances in their desire to learn and grow from these experiences."
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=psychonaut
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I am building a pimped out Commander deck for a friend for Christmas. He is a psychonaut and introduced me to how to be a "Lawful Good" psychonaut in college.
What Commander best personifies the above definition of Psychonaut? In terms of flavor and function. What key Commander cards best personify Psychonauts?
***
HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
If you post 8 suggestions that are "A+" suggestions (the card's name, art, and textbox perfectly illustrate the themes and goals of the Psychonaut deck) I will send you a foil version of a card from the list of cards you suggested!
Happy Holidays! May 2018 be as fruitful of a year as 2017 was for me!
Namaste
If the library is a PW's arsenal of tricks, being able to access it, manipulate it, excavate and put them on "top" of the library (as if bringing the most useful idea/wisdom to the frontline), and materialize the said insights, is a great way to represent a psychonaut. Besides, the three colors of green, red, and blue each represents a Freudian aspect of human mind: Id, Ego, and Superego, respectively, and Intet "dreams".
On the flip side of the coin, Grenzo, Dungeon Warden delves deep into the bottom of one's mind, alongside many cards what swipe graveyard (the past) back into the library, again at the bottom of it. Grenzo deck would fit a psychonaut with its constant reminder of past mistakes and success returning as wisdom (how experience and adventures builds up), repeatedly discard and retrieve, rinse and repeat of ideas, constant examination of self.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
From the color pie persepective Psychonautical ideologies are entirely izzet (UR) so you'll want your commander to be at least part that. I personally recommend sticking with the two colors for ease of use and flavorful impact.
As far as pure flavor goes, including card flavor text, Arjun, the Shifting Flame is absolutely your man. He is inspiration personified in card form, every card is a dose of psychoactive elements that give you new ideas and new ways to play.
Another one I thought of was Melek, Izzet Paragon. Could represent cracking open one's own mind for things you can make use out of. But you might not always like what you get.
Lastly, this one is a little on-the-nose, But I think Ghave, Guru of Spores could be a pretty good one too. I mean, he is a Fungus Shaman...
That's my 2 cents. Cool idea. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
Mind Unbound
Mind's Dilation
Brainstorm
Possibility Storm
Eye of the Storm
Omniscience
Narset Transcendent
The best commanders flavour wise I can think of are Zedruu the Greathearted and Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest. Maybe some of the Kamigawa moonfolk could be flavourful too? Hisoka, Minamo Sensei or Uyo, Silent Prophet could be feasible. Right now my vote goes to Zedruu or Shu Yun though.
// These are more like hallmarking a transcendence, so only if you want to have powerful cards
// All the time cards (the distortion time is a real thing)
[edit]
Went through my artifacts as well
As far as theme content I think that you don't ever want to be actually doing much/any harm to opponents, so alternate win-conditions are important.
Because of this, I think having white could be good, and leads to a more peaceful theme.
Narset, Enlightened Master would be my choice for managing the colors you probably want and you can read about Narset personal journey through life in the Tarkir story line.
The other Commander who come to mind is Phelddagrif. Group hug is kind of where you want to be at, and flying purple hippo...trippy much?
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
Mystical Tutor - pretty much describes your friend.
Freed from the Real
Everyone who posted before this post, please PM me your mailing address.
I will be sending all of you a copy of Arjun and an Unstable booster pack for all your help!
Merry Christmas