MTG Salvation

Where can I find a pauper discord? My favorite format, yet I cannot find one.

Hi Balsamify!

The Pauper community on MTGO is basically dead, as sad as I am to say it. I would ask around on Reddit. I did a quick search and most results came from there.

Hope you find what you're looking for!

Sorry for veering off topic but I wanted to get something off my chest:

Many FNM players complain about the cost of competitive magic. Constructed takes a considerable investment in singles. Limited (esp sealed) has a hefty registration fee and the practice expense it takes to build skill adds up.

Enter paper. Singles are dirt cheap and there's no long term practice fees. In theory, this affordable format should appeal to everyone! But in reality, expense of cards is just an excuse. People want to win easily. That's why we net deck - it takes too much effort to brew. The problem w/net decking in pauper is - pauper isn't competitive among pros so you can't simply steal tier 1 lists... you have to put in some effort too.

I've seen so many ppl copy a competitive-looking list, lose and never return. It's like gamers feel entitled to success... even tho they realize (subconsciously) they've been taking short cuts the whole ride.

Pauper has been dying in my LGS since before lockdown. If it dies for good, so be it. I'm tired to listening to excuses and lies. You can afford it. You just have to work to win.

I understand your issue, but I hope that pauper doesn't die because it remains one of my favorite formats. What you are saying is true and very eyeopening to me as a netdecker. Recently i started playing a deck that I got right from the builder. We discussed card choices and now I understand the deck in more detail than any netdeck I ever have done, down to simply glancing at my graveyard and immediately knowing what remains in my deck, (why is it always lands ).: ) but I think deeper dives into how deckbuilding wizards do it could benefit every player as it has me.

As with all formats until there are prizes/rewards for playing brews and non-tier cards there will be the same old decks with the same old cards being run competitively. The motivation isn't there to induce players to brew, only netdeck. Tier decks and tier staple meta cards should be given a handicap in games versus a homebrew/off meta cards. Until that happens it will be more of the same. I love to brew up decks but I am always an underdog vs. the tier netdeck crap.

I'd like to see every card given a power level number from 1 to 10 in each format. Add up the power levels of both decks and assign a handicap somehow. Yes this would be excruciating and time consuming to initially set up. And yes it would need to be updated yearly. But again, short of that competitive play will always be netdecking.

Quote from WarMachinePrime »

I'd like to see every card given a power level number from 1 to 10 in each format. Add up the power levels of both decks and assign a handicap somehow. Yes this would be excruciating and time consuming to initially set up. And yes it would need to be updated yearly. But again, short of that competitive play will always be netdecking.

My old LGS had 3 seasons of something similar. First we ran Tempest sealed. I had UW control, notables being Tradewind Rider and Capsize. Season 2, Type 2 (standard) legal commons, uncommons and rares were assigned point values. I cut white and bought red cards, including Incinerate, Mogg Fanatic and Fireslinger in red. In Blue, I bought more Rootwater Hunter (8 total pingers!) Season 3, I went full-on RDW, buying Lava Hounds, Fireblast, Viashino Sandstalker, etc.

My competition didn't try to convert limited into constructed, like I did. It was glorious!