I've posted this on FB and the official forums, so it makes sense to bring it here as well.
I trust that most of you know I write a weekly column on Commander over at Star City Games.com Since this format is as much about community, I'd like to hear what kinds of written content you as the community prefer to read--not just the type and style of articles you like, but what drives you to particular content. The time you have for reading Commander articles is limited, and we'd like to make the best use of that time. I'm curious not just what gets you to a site or author, but what keeps you coming back there/to them (other than the obvious "needs to be at least somewhat coherently written").
My preferences in reading run towards strategy and crafting discussion; there are a couple of specific decklists that first drew me to MtG Salvation. I'm a big fan of hearing other peoples' perspectives on the value of new release prints, hidden gems, strategies I hadn't thought of and how well they work. I like the 'Other people's decklist' articles too - I was late to the format, so I missed most of them, but having caught up they make a good read, and it's a good way to delve a little deeper into other peoples' strategies, and your thoughts on how well those strategies pay off. It's deckbuilding inception, and that's sorta cool.
Personally, I don't think you need to cover off anything further regarding banlist or RC content unless specifically asked to do so in say, AMA articles or whatever. It's an invitation for people to throw shade because the rules don't reflect their desires, and that's flak you shouldn't need to take. The quarterly updates cover off everything people need to know moving forward, any disagreements they can house rule for.
I like reading about deck creation strategies and synergies between obscure cards and / or commanders! Also the rotisserie draft posts were very fun to read
I like reading about deck creation strategies and synergies between obscure cards and / or commanders! Also the rotisserie draft posts were very fun to read
I promise that once grad school is finished in May, we will do another Rotisserie Draft. I loved those things too.
Deck theory grabs my attention fairly regularly -- articles covering generalities like honing your mana base, how much removal, etc. General-specific articles with decklists and so forth don't interest me very much, because they're never Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder. I'll read articles on deckbuilding philosophy such as your own/the RC's, and that 75% concept. I have a keen interest in thematic deckbuilding and incorporating artificial restrictions into my card selection, and articles about color pie and the underlying philosophy that might be represented in a particular color identity will always get a read from me. I've minimal interest in set reviews -- the only opinion on a card that matters to me is my own.
I'm not much of an article reader commander-wise. Most of the mtg content I consume is limited focused. I think the primary reason for this is that there aren't really experts in commander in the same way as traditional competitive formats. I want to know what Owen turtenwald says about the latest format because he has proven credentials as a pro player. The vast majority of commander content is amateur because, well, there's no such thing as pro commander, or pro commander players. I'm sure there are cEDH people who think they're something equivalent to pro, but I trust those people least of all.
The content I'm most likely to consume, commander-wise, is mostly card analysis, whether set reviews or hidden gems or w/e, but usually just to enjoy disagreeing. Anything promising a scientific approach is almost guaranteed to get my attention. Fastest way to lose it is a decklist for a commander I'm not interested in (and even if I am, I'll probably lose interest pretty quickly if it's anything short of spectacular).
I would be most interested in commander philosophy, background information on thought processes and discussions (either pertaining to rules discussions or to other things), articles like Maro's Life Lessons articles which make parallels between magic and 'real life', and I am interested in unique experiences that make for great stories (usually about interesting games or play experiences).
I am not really interested in strategy or deckbuilding, unless they come from a philosophical angle (or some way touch on of the other points above). Commander metas are all very different and I don't really have interest any more in seeing what other people are doing in their metas... The only exception would be when someone has a very whacky build.
I like reading about deck creation strategies and synergies between obscure cards and / or commanders! Also the rotisserie draft posts were very fun to read
I promise that once grad school is finished in May, we will do another Rotisserie Draft. I loved those things too.
Also it would be cool to host and tape some games with the RC, if one of you guys have a hd cam it shouldn't be so much of a hassle or we can all ask Josh to invite you on Game Knights
I feel like deckbuilding philosophy to help newer players, discussions and examples of deck archeytpes for intermediate players, and advanced theory and gameplay for seasoned players would be something for everyone.
The deckbuilding philosophy would address the general basics of how many lands, ramp, card draw, etc. an average deck should have. Pros and cons of having too much or too little could be a good topic of discussion. The deck archetypes could have examples of tuned decks of those type and point out which card choices make it a specific archetype. E.g. Edrics playstyle where all the 1/1s for 1 with counterspell and time warps allow you to play tempo and here's why....
Advanced theory and gameplay is semi open but you could find examples of cards that use crossover synergy to optimize card slots in your deck. E.g Pir's whim is ramp and removal.
I think we could all enjoy that and find benefits throughout.
Exploring obscure/single-block mechanics and other card interactions(and obviously, buildings decks around them). Finding out about some Kamigawa uncommon that's mediocre at best otherwise but makes a particular commander tick is great.
Perspectives and possibilities of new cards. Always interesting to see what others think of new stuff.
General deckbuilding theorycrafting, "what makes a good deck" even if it's very loose discussion. "You can't get mad" articles have been a fun read too.
Building decks based on self-imposed restrictions.
Really, pretty much anything related to the process of making a commander deck tick.
I'm maybe less interested in the rules discussion or social contract, as those vary per table you sit down on anyway.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
X Hope of Ghirapur Swordpile W Ghosty Blinky Anafenza U Nezahal- Big, Blue and HERE! B Gonti Can Afford It R Etali, Primal 'Whatjusthappened?' G Polukranos Wants More Mana WU The Exalted Vizier Temmet WB Home, Athreos WR Basandra, Recursive Aggression WG Karametra, Momma of Lands UB Wrexial Eats Your Brains UR Arjun, the Mad Flame UG The Fable of Prime Speaker BR Hellbent, Malfegor Style BG Jarad, Death is Served RG Running Thromok WUB Varina and ALL the Zombies WUBYennett, the Odd Pain-Train WUR Zedruu the Furyhearted WUG Arcades' Strategy, Shmategy, Sausage and Spam WBR A Case of Mathas' Persistent F*ckery WBRLicia's League of Legendary Lifegain Layabouts WBG The Karador Advantage PackageWRG Gahiji Rattlesnake Collection UBR Jeleva... does... things UBG Damia's Just Deserts URG Yasova's Has More Power Than Sense BRG Wasitora, Bad Kitty WUBRBreya, Eggs, Breya'd Eggs WUBG Tymna and Kydele, Extended Borrowing WURG Kynaios and Tiro, Landfall Impersonations WBRG Saskia Pet Card EnchantressUBRG Yidris of the Chi-Ting Corporation WUBRG Tazri's Amazing Allies
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I trust that most of you know I write a weekly column on Commander over at Star City Games.com Since this format is as much about community, I'd like to hear what kinds of written content you as the community prefer to read--not just the type and style of articles you like, but what drives you to particular content. The time you have for reading Commander articles is limited, and we'd like to make the best use of that time. I'm curious not just what gets you to a site or author, but what keeps you coming back there/to them (other than the obvious "needs to be at least somewhat coherently written").
Personally, I don't think you need to cover off anything further regarding banlist or RC content unless specifically asked to do so in say, AMA articles or whatever. It's an invitation for people to throw shade because the rules don't reflect their desires, and that's flak you shouldn't need to take. The quarterly updates cover off everything people need to know moving forward, any disagreements they can house rule for.
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
I promise that once grad school is finished in May, we will do another Rotisserie Draft. I loved those things too.
The content I'm most likely to consume, commander-wise, is mostly card analysis, whether set reviews or hidden gems or w/e, but usually just to enjoy disagreeing. Anything promising a scientific approach is almost guaranteed to get my attention. Fastest way to lose it is a decklist for a commander I'm not interested in (and even if I am, I'll probably lose interest pretty quickly if it's anything short of spectacular).
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I am not really interested in strategy or deckbuilding, unless they come from a philosophical angle (or some way touch on of the other points above). Commander metas are all very different and I don't really have interest any more in seeing what other people are doing in their metas... The only exception would be when someone has a very whacky build.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Also it would be cool to host and tape some games with the RC, if one of you guys have a hd cam it shouldn't be so much of a hassle or we can all ask Josh to invite you on Game Knights
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
The deckbuilding philosophy would address the general basics of how many lands, ramp, card draw, etc. an average deck should have. Pros and cons of having too much or too little could be a good topic of discussion. The deck archetypes could have examples of tuned decks of those type and point out which card choices make it a specific archetype. E.g. Edrics playstyle where all the 1/1s for 1 with counterspell and time warps allow you to play tempo and here's why....
Advanced theory and gameplay is semi open but you could find examples of cards that use crossover synergy to optimize card slots in your deck. E.g Pir's whim is ramp and removal.
I think we could all enjoy that and find benefits throughout.
Perspectives and possibilities of new cards. Always interesting to see what others think of new stuff.
General deckbuilding theorycrafting, "what makes a good deck" even if it's very loose discussion. "You can't get mad" articles have been a fun read too.
Building decks based on self-imposed restrictions.
Really, pretty much anything related to the process of making a commander deck tick.
I'm maybe less interested in the rules discussion or social contract, as those vary per table you sit down on anyway.