1. There is to be no overlap. The only card which should be discussed is the current card.
2. All discussion should be geared Cube only. The card may be the greatest card in another format, but we're building Cubes.
3. Do not post just to say that a card sucks. It's fine that a card does, and will happen quite frequently, but either say why it sucks or don't say anything at all.
3a. While spammy 'Card sucks' posts are discouraged, amusing anecdotes, stories, and other silliness to make bad card days more entertaining is welcomed.
3b. Try to respond with what could may you want to include this card into your cube if it isnt good enough whether a card being rareshifted down to help with it or even a new card printed to help make it better.
While not a solid player for CU/bes at the moment, blood speaker does offer possible future build around potential if more demons are printed at uncommon or Common Levels.
Of these demons I Cube one (Havoc Demon) and have considered maybe 2 others. I think you would want maybe 4-5 demons to make BloodSpeaker worth considering but until then he will remain benched for me.
Ah.... Blood Speaker. This card is honestly one of the few which genuinely captured my imagination when I was first getting started with MtG. For a Peasant card, it is almost absurd that you have a combination of tutoring and self-recursion, and even the body itself is not completely unusable.
However, it is also obviously true that we would need more playable Demons for Blood Speaker to be worth it unless you are running a themed CU/be. I currently only run Indulgent Tormentor and Rakshasa Gravecaller, for instance. However, should there ever be a return to Kamigawa, I would have my hopes up for new additions. While there will never be a return to Amonkhet, the designs from that block give me hope.
That is a hard one. Some of the ones I would at least consider include Grinning Demon, Archfiend of Depravity, Carnifex Demon, Demonlord of Ashmouth, Eater of Hope, Necropolis Fiend, Pestilence Demon, Reiver Demon, or Woebringer Demon. Even out of these, most would be unplayable but at last there are some interesting designs such as Necropolis Fiend and Woebringer Demon. The main problem, though, is how demons have tended to have extremely high casting costs. That is why both Kamigawa and Amonkhet provide the template for what I would be interested in seeing: at least borderline playable demons with CMC 3-5. The main problem with Kamigawa's demons is how parasitic their drawbacks are and how the stats do not quite make up for it. Amonkhet's demons are more interesting and I have at least temporarily included both in my CU/be but the power level is just not quite there and cards like them would not be quite good enough to dedicate support slots to because they are role-players more than key pieces.
I would probably have to see at least three more demons with interesting enough effects and at least some lower casting costs. If at least one of them had an effect which shuffled it back in the library, Blood Speaker would obviously get extra value for counteracting that drawback.
Mind Ravel is a discard spells that if it cost just 1 less I would highly consider it. At 3 CMC, I feel it is too weak for our cubes but I could see some cubes possibly running it if you have a more depowered cube.
I don't understand the benefit of rule one. The point is to have satisfactory conversations, and a hard+fast rule on this seems unnecessarily restrictive
I don't understand the benefit of rule one. The point is to have satisfactory conversations, and a hard+fast rule on this seems unnecessarily restrictive
I stole the rules from the EDH card of the day. It to minimize people talking about several days ago COTD (card of the Day) prior. Im more flexible with this.
That's probably a problem for bigger subforums. FWIW, we've not gone by that rule for the regular Card of the Day thread and as long as it was active it was never a problem.
Evaluating it first as a plain cantrip instead of a slowtrip.
It's interesting that card draw is usually better than discard, due to the fact that the average card in your deck is usually better than the worst card in your opponent's hand. However, this stops being true right before you transition to the lategame.
By the middle turns of a robust game, your opponent's hand is likely to not have multiple cards of low value (and if so, good for you), so the second card youd be ripping from their hand is often better than an average card in your deck. Not being able to reach that target is really bad.
And on the other hand this card isn't good at bailing you out on turn 3 or 4 when you need land the way that divination is.
So even as a cantrip, it's much, much worse than either mind rot or divination.
The card is very far away from playable, but it's at least an interesting case to dissect
/
I had the 2 mana, cantrip (and lose 2 life) hypothetical version of this card in a custom set of mine. It seems underwhelming but ok there, but that's retail limited. I can't make that card worse twice and expect it to be good for us.
There is no Horsing around today. This guy seems interesting but man oh man do I wish they were +1/+1 counters as that would make this horse probably worth considering as it would then fall into the +1/+1 counters there that many cubes run.
And then there is a ton of other 4-drop artifact creatures almost strictly better than Clockwork Steed.
If it had haste, it might be unique enough to consider under specific circumstances (though probably still weaker than Slash Panther). If it had the ability to pump itself above 4 power, it might also be semi-interesting. For instance, if the pumping reset the number of counters to what you paid since that way, you would still require a hefty mana investment to make a big attack the next turn.
I feel its worth discussion what would have made cards work for cube and where each cards short comings are rather than just leaving it as not worth cubing.
If it cost 3 it's probably playable as a 3 mana 4/3 with downside.
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Is this supposed to be a design thread? Discussing how playable Craw Wurm would be at 2GG is vaguely interesting, but since the card doesn't exist (I think) and no one has experience with it it's hard to take anything out of the discussion imo.
If it cost 3 it's probably playable as a 3 mana 4/3 with downside.
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Is this supposed to be a design thread? Discussing how playable Craw Wurm would be at 2GG is vaguely interesting, but since the card doesn't exist (I think) and no one has experience with it it's hard to take anything out of the discussion imo.
While not specifically a design thread it does take into account card design and what would have made this card make your cut off. Cubes are a giant custom designed set so I feel we should adapt for what design changes could make it work to help foster discussion on what some of the barriers are for making it into a cube.
I vote for not posting every uncommon/common, but having a low bar is OK. Like for Blood Speaker, its cool to highlight the card, see what demons are available, and discuss what could make it a good card to run (if at all possible).
Mind Ravel was borderline I felt, as I guess most people are just not interested in it. I found it interesting to see and think about the comparison to Mind Rot and Divination, but even that is kinda ultimately fruitless since neither Mind Rot nor Divination are typically seen in cubes. (I could also swear there was a modern cantrip version of Mind Ravel that drew you the card immediately?)
Clockwork Steed is just so bad on so many fronts that it becomes pointless to discuss in my opinion. The rate is bad by modern standards, it shrinks from there, you have to take a turn off attacking or blocking and spend mana to rewind it, and you even have to do it during your upkeep so you can't see your card for the turn to know whether it is the best use of your mana or not.
If you really want to keep the door open for bad cards to get some discussion, you could mention but not highlight the skipped cards. So you could post something like "I skipped Clockwork Steed and Coastal Hornclaw for Fireball". Then we discuss fireball, but it gives someone the opportunity to jump in with an "actually, Coastal Hornclaw can turn on Delirium and threshold at instant speed" or something if they feel that the skipped card(s) has some redeeming quality.
If you really want to keep the door open for bad cards to get some discussion, you could mention but not highlight the skipped cards. So you could post something like "I skipped Clockwork Steed and Coastal Hornclaw for Fireball". Then we discuss fireball, but it gives someone the opportunity to jump in with an "actually, Coastal Hornclaw can turn on Delirium and threshold at instant speed" or something if they feel that the skipped card(s) has some redeeming quality.
Thats a good suggestion. We'll try that.
Today's Card:
First card to pull up. Hellspark Elemental I know I have seen in some cubes at certain points. I personally cut the card a while back just due to player complaints on how over powered red felt. The main issue my group had with the hellspark was too often it would blitz people to victory on turn 3 or 4. Since then I have depowered some of the direct burn so Hellspark might be worth considering once again.
I'm curious do other have history with this lil' spark?
I removed Hellspark Elemental quite some time ago because it has no board presence and is so easily nullified (any untapped creature with 4+ toughness). However, I think I should reconsider adding it back given how many cards which discard red has been receiving. Hellspark is a fine way to mitigate the cost of something like Bloodrage Brawler, after all.
I also removed it. It played decently some times, but other times it just sort of was never correct to play it. If you play it early to make sure you get through you play a Flame Jet, and forego developing your board. If you choose to play other 2 and 3 drops over it, it might be hard to get it through. This might just be that I (and some of my playgroup) are bad at playing optimally with the card.
I never really managed to get any value for the "two bodies for sacrifice" part of the card either.
It's just a lava axe that occasionally gets blocked. It being a creature very rarely came up. It's hard to get benefits from curse of predation or overrun effects when you are so ephemeral.
It's still a decent lava axe, but I don't like this kind of modal inconsistency
1. There is to be no overlap. The only card which should be discussed is the current card.
2. All discussion should be geared Cube only. The card may be the greatest card in another format, but we're building Cubes.
3. Do not post just to say that a card sucks. It's fine that a card does, and will happen quite frequently, but either say why it sucks or don't say anything at all.
3a. While spammy 'Card sucks' posts are discouraged, amusing anecdotes, stories, and other silliness to make bad card days more entertaining is welcomed.
3b. Try to respond with what could may you want to include this card into your cube if it isnt good enough whether a card being rareshifted down to help with it or even a new card printed to help make it better.
Link to Today's Card of the Day
Celestial Flare
Clockwork Steed
While not a solid player for CU/bes at the moment, blood speaker does offer possible future build around potential if more demons are printed at uncommon or Common Levels.
The current demons in Peasant are:
Of these demons I Cube one (Havoc Demon) and have considered maybe 2 others. I think you would want maybe 4-5 demons to make BloodSpeaker worth considering but until then he will remain benched for me.
However, it is also obviously true that we would need more playable Demons for Blood Speaker to be worth it unless you are running a themed CU/be. I currently only run Indulgent Tormentor and Rakshasa Gravecaller, for instance. However, should there ever be a return to Kamigawa, I would have my hopes up for new additions. While there will never be a return to Amonkhet, the designs from that block give me hope.
I think if we got Grinning Demon or Herald of Torment with out bestow I think I would consider running blood speaker
I would probably have to see at least three more demons with interesting enough effects and at least some lower casting costs. If at least one of them had an effect which shuffled it back in the library, Blood Speaker would obviously get extra value for counteracting that drawback.
Mind Ravel is a discard spells that if it cost just 1 less I would highly consider it. At 3 CMC, I feel it is too weak for our cubes but I could see some cubes possibly running it if you have a more depowered cube.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
I stole the rules from the EDH card of the day. It to minimize people talking about several days ago COTD (card of the Day) prior. Im more flexible with this.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
But any thoughts on mind Ravel?
It's interesting that card draw is usually better than discard, due to the fact that the average card in your deck is usually better than the worst card in your opponent's hand. However, this stops being true right before you transition to the lategame.
By the middle turns of a robust game, your opponent's hand is likely to not have multiple cards of low value (and if so, good for you), so the second card youd be ripping from their hand is often better than an average card in your deck. Not being able to reach that target is really bad.
And on the other hand this card isn't good at bailing you out on turn 3 or 4 when you need land the way that divination is.
So even as a cantrip, it's much, much worse than either mind rot or divination.
The card is very far away from playable, but it's at least an interesting case to dissect
/
I had the 2 mana, cantrip (and lose 2 life) hypothetical version of this card in a custom set of mine. It seems underwhelming but ok there, but that's retail limited. I can't make that card worse twice and expect it to be good for us.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
There is no Horsing around today. This guy seems interesting but man oh man do I wish they were +1/+1 counters as that would make this horse probably worth considering as it would then fall into the +1/+1 counters there that many cubes run.
And then there is a ton of other 4-drop artifact creatures almost strictly better than Clockwork Steed.
If it had haste, it might be unique enough to consider under specific circumstances (though probably still weaker than Slash Panther). If it had the ability to pump itself above 4 power, it might also be semi-interesting. For instance, if the pumping reset the number of counters to what you paid since that way, you would still require a hefty mana investment to make a big attack the next turn.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article
I feel its worth discussion what would have made cards work for cube and where each cards short comings are rather than just leaving it as not worth cubing.
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Is this supposed to be a design thread? Discussing how playable Craw Wurm would be at 2GG is vaguely interesting, but since the card doesn't exist (I think) and no one has experience with it it's hard to take anything out of the discussion imo.
While not specifically a design thread it does take into account card design and what would have made this card make your cut off. Cubes are a giant custom designed set so I feel we should adapt for what design changes could make it work to help foster discussion on what some of the barriers are for making it into a cube.
Mind Ravel was borderline I felt, as I guess most people are just not interested in it. I found it interesting to see and think about the comparison to Mind Rot and Divination, but even that is kinda ultimately fruitless since neither Mind Rot nor Divination are typically seen in cubes. (I could also swear there was a modern cantrip version of Mind Ravel that drew you the card immediately?)
Clockwork Steed is just so bad on so many fronts that it becomes pointless to discuss in my opinion. The rate is bad by modern standards, it shrinks from there, you have to take a turn off attacking or blocking and spend mana to rewind it, and you even have to do it during your upkeep so you can't see your card for the turn to know whether it is the best use of your mana or not.
If you really want to keep the door open for bad cards to get some discussion, you could mention but not highlight the skipped cards. So you could post something like "I skipped Clockwork Steed and Coastal Hornclaw for Fireball". Then we discuss fireball, but it gives someone the opportunity to jump in with an "actually, Coastal Hornclaw can turn on Delirium and threshold at instant speed" or something if they feel that the skipped card(s) has some redeeming quality.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Thats a good suggestion. We'll try that.
Today's Card:
First card to pull up. Hellspark Elemental I know I have seen in some cubes at certain points. I personally cut the card a while back just due to player complaints on how over powered red felt. The main issue my group had with the hellspark was too often it would blitz people to victory on turn 3 or 4. Since then I have depowered some of the direct burn so Hellspark might be worth considering once again.
I'm curious do other have history with this lil' spark?
I also removed it. It played decently some times, but other times it just sort of was never correct to play it. If you play it early to make sure you get through you play a Flame Jet, and forego developing your board. If you choose to play other 2 and 3 drops over it, it might be hard to get it through. This might just be that I (and some of my playgroup) are bad at playing optimally with the card.
I never really managed to get any value for the "two bodies for sacrifice" part of the card either.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
It's just a lava axe that occasionally gets blocked. It being a creature very rarely came up. It's hard to get benefits from curse of predation or overrun effects when you are so ephemeral.
It's still a decent lava axe, but I don't like this kind of modal inconsistency
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
Manamath Article