That sounds fun, I might even assemble this parallel to my regular peasant cube, for new players or just for a change of pace. What I dislike is that you get to tinker so little with it, and that you have to include terrible cards. Maybe establish an 80% rule or something thst lets you cut the absolute worst from each color and rarity? I think that would help improve the drafts.
I would LOVE a card list like you described. A core set peasant cube but with the absolute worst culled from each color. I've been looking for an introductory cube like this to get back into MtG and introduce non-gamer friends. PLEASE consider posting a card list like that!
I'm the process of building a newb cube for use with the students I teach at my school (we have a games club). I'll post my list when I'm done.
Did you ever get that novice friendly cube together?
I've been hunting all over for a well balanced pauper/peasant cube that can be constructed on a tight budget, offers enough depth to be have long term replay value (fun), but is also straightforward enough that it wold work well with new players.
Any suggestions?
Adam Styborski's Pauper Cube page here specifically refers to "hooking new players" regarding the inclusion of the new "powerful commons" but I get the sense that his cube doesn't really fit that purpose well overall?
So this cube never got any feedback at all? Has it been vetted, tested, played in any way yet?
I'm very interested in a small cube well suited to MtG novices, and have basically been looking for a Pauper Cube that fits most of your goals here. Are there any pauper cube lists that come in under $100 that are fairly novice friendly?
The more I look around at pauper cubes the more I'm realizing how true what you're saying really is. I've clearly misinterpreted what "pauper" implies in the world of cubing, now that I'm seeing "budget" lists for certain cubes that total $300+
That said when I've checked prices for the first 20-30 cards of a few cubes, many prices have been very reasonable. Usman's was averaging close to my target of .11 cents, and Styborski's maybe 50% more at about .16.
So I'm still hopeful that with a willingness to proxy the 20-30 most expensive cards I might be able to keep this below $100? (feel free to let me know if this is still utterly delusional)
So that said, is there any Pauper Cube in particular that folks would say is more newbie friendly than most others?
This cube looks like it had a similar goal in mind albeit with a much larger "budget" build of $360. Unfortunately it looks like the OP got almost no feedback on the actual card list he posted so it appears to be entirely un-vetted:
And to clarify further, my interest in the format is not because I think it's ideal for teaching new players, but rather because I honestly wouldn't be coming anywhere near MtG again if it wasn't for the rise of a limited format like this where I've heard a one time outlay can yield a great deal of gaming fun without an ongoing investment. (I quit playing 4th Ed. right around the time Ice Age was released when I saw what a money sink it was going to be for me)
My desire for it being newcomer friendly is simply because most of the people I will be using my cube with will likely be learning the game in the process.
Thanks Lanxal. So am I basically hearing that there are no pre-constructed cube lists available that meets with the three criteria I'm asking for?
I completely appreciate that for all of you it's a natural recommendation to just begin putting a cube together from an assortment of cards, but that's just not going to happen.
Truth is, I just don't have the time to familiarize myself with hundreds and hundreds of cards well enough to make an even remotely balanced cube.
Is there really not a single cheap beginner friendly cube design out there that someone can point me to?
If not, then it sure sounds like a challenge to put out there in the community to create one because I found my way here from a board game forum where there are countless people who would LOVE to try exactly that.
What better way to introduce new players that are daunted by how vast and overwhelming MtG has become, and who have steered clear because of the perception that the only way to enjoy it is by investing a ton of cash.
I'm sure that many many folks would find their way deeper into the fold if something like this was out there as a perfect introduction.
I'm sure I'd eventually start tinkering myself, but only AFTER I've played with a cube like this for quite some time.
------
(from second post added later… sorry for double posting)
Look, how about if I made the first two points a bit more flexible…
As far as availability, as long as the vast majority can be acquired at very reasonable prices, I'm more than willing to do paste-up proxies for the few that are either harder to find and/or more expensive.
So the criteria would be… a balanced cube well suited to play by relative newcomers where most of the cards can be had for a reasonable price. (allowing for a few exceptions that will be proxied)
Does that help?
Or is this more a problem because those who are savvy enough to have spent time developing a solid cube are also so deep into the game that it's always going include very complex mechanics and strategies that aren't suited to new players?
Also, let me clarify what I mean by "new players". This will usually be gamers that have no experience with MtG, but do have a good deal of experience with modern deck builders like Dominion and Ascension. So there won't be any knowledge of MtG strategies but they will have a basic grasp of the concepts of card synergies and combos.
Thanks so much for the tip on TCGPlayer, definitely seeing a good number of cards cheaper there than other sites I've browsed so far.
So of the these four already mentioned:
Usman
Styborski
Rubin
Lanxal
Which of these do folks think would best fit the original criteria I posted earlier?
- Cards that can be acquired without major difficulty ("common" means diddly if I can't find the card easily and for cheap)
- Can be constructed for $40 (at 360 that's an average of .11 cents per card)
- Well suited for players new M:tG (most people I will using the cube with)
Sleeves are going to cost at least $25. Excluding that, it's pretty easy to hit your near your price criteria with many pauper cubes. Playing with more newer cards helps that criteria and the third one as well, which is something to consider.
It's a pauper cube for someone that isn't at all involved in the CC part of CCG. I won't be sleeving, so that $25 is not at all a consideration.
Of course if it's simply impossible to find a cheap cube where every single card can be acquired easily and I absolutely must resort to proxies for a few cards, then I'd just use penny sleeves which I have access to super cheap.
Probably the overall cheapest and easiest way to build a cube would be to buy two deckbuilder's kits and combine them for a 370 card cube (or cut the 10 worst cards to make it an even 360) as described here:
You could probably make a dedicated pauper cube for less money, but it'd take a lot more time to round up all the necessary singles if you're starting from scratch.
I actually came across that thread in the same search that landed me here, and I may resort to that if there's no other alternative.
I actually don't mind rounding up all the cards if it will provide a far superior gaming experience.
My main concern is whether there is a well designed pauper/peasant cube that is made up of cards that are readily available within my budget.
but the cards are just hard to find. I'm still missing three cards..
So are there any small Pauper Cubes which are highly regarded that meet all of the following criteria:
- Cards that can be acquired without major difficulty ("common" means diddly if I can't find the card easily and for cheap)
- Can be constructed for $40 (at 360 that's an average of .11 cents per card)
- Well suited for players new M:tG (most people I will using the cube with)
Going to the trouble of crafting a cube myself is out of the question as my whole attraction to cube drafting is to enjoy M:tG in a form that doesn't involve such fiddling or become a money sink.
I'm willing to go to the trouble of ordering all the cards from a few different online vendors if need be, but that's as much time as I'm willing to devote to it apart from the actual playing.
I would LOVE a card list like you described. A core set peasant cube but with the absolute worst culled from each color. I've been looking for an introductory cube like this to get back into MtG and introduce non-gamer friends. PLEASE consider posting a card list like that!
Did you ever get that novice friendly cube together?
I've been hunting all over for a well balanced pauper/peasant cube that can be constructed on a tight budget, offers enough depth to be have long term replay value (fun), but is also straightforward enough that it wold work well with new players.
Any suggestions?
Adam Styborski's Pauper Cube page here specifically refers to "hooking new players" regarding the inclusion of the new "powerful commons" but I get the sense that his cube doesn't really fit that purpose well overall?
I'm very interested in a small cube well suited to MtG novices, and have basically been looking for a Pauper Cube that fits most of your goals here. Are there any pauper cube lists that come in under $100 that are fairly novice friendly?
That said when I've checked prices for the first 20-30 cards of a few cubes, many prices have been very reasonable. Usman's was averaging close to my target of .11 cents, and Styborski's maybe 50% more at about .16.
So I'm still hopeful that with a willingness to proxy the 20-30 most expensive cards I might be able to keep this below $100? (feel free to let me know if this is still utterly delusional)
So that said, is there any Pauper Cube in particular that folks would say is more newbie friendly than most others?
This cube looks like it had a similar goal in mind albeit with a much larger "budget" build of $360. Unfortunately it looks like the OP got almost no feedback on the actual card list he posted so it appears to be entirely un-vetted:
Savation Cube: a Community Project To Help New Players Get Into The Format
And to clarify further, my interest in the format is not because I think it's ideal for teaching new players, but rather because I honestly wouldn't be coming anywhere near MtG again if it wasn't for the rise of a limited format like this where I've heard a one time outlay can yield a great deal of gaming fun without an ongoing investment. (I quit playing 4th Ed. right around the time Ice Age was released when I saw what a money sink it was going to be for me)
My desire for it being newcomer friendly is simply because most of the people I will be using my cube with will likely be learning the game in the process.
I completely appreciate that for all of you it's a natural recommendation to just begin putting a cube together from an assortment of cards, but that's just not going to happen.
Truth is, I just don't have the time to familiarize myself with hundreds and hundreds of cards well enough to make an even remotely balanced cube.
Is there really not a single cheap beginner friendly cube design out there that someone can point me to?
If not, then it sure sounds like a challenge to put out there in the community to create one because I found my way here from a board game forum where there are countless people who would LOVE to try exactly that.
What better way to introduce new players that are daunted by how vast and overwhelming MtG has become, and who have steered clear because of the perception that the only way to enjoy it is by investing a ton of cash.
I'm sure that many many folks would find their way deeper into the fold if something like this was out there as a perfect introduction.
I'm sure I'd eventually start tinkering myself, but only AFTER I've played with a cube like this for quite some time.
------
(from second post added later… sorry for double posting)
Look, how about if I made the first two points a bit more flexible…
As far as availability, as long as the vast majority can be acquired at very reasonable prices, I'm more than willing to do paste-up proxies for the few that are either harder to find and/or more expensive.
So the criteria would be… a balanced cube well suited to play by relative newcomers where most of the cards can be had for a reasonable price. (allowing for a few exceptions that will be proxied)
Does that help?
Or is this more a problem because those who are savvy enough to have spent time developing a solid cube are also so deep into the game that it's always going include very complex mechanics and strategies that aren't suited to new players?
Also, let me clarify what I mean by "new players". This will usually be gamers that have no experience with MtG, but do have a good deal of experience with modern deck builders like Dominion and Ascension. So there won't be any knowledge of MtG strategies but they will have a basic grasp of the concepts of card synergies and combos.
Doubleposting merged.
—Lanxal
So of the these four already mentioned:
Usman
Styborski
Rubin
Lanxal
Which of these do folks think would best fit the original criteria I posted earlier?
It's a pauper cube for someone that isn't at all involved in the CC part of CCG. I won't be sleeving, so that $25 is not at all a consideration.
Of course if it's simply impossible to find a cheap cube where every single card can be acquired easily and I absolutely must resort to proxies for a few cards, then I'd just use penny sleeves which I have access to super cheap.
I actually came across that thread in the same search that landed me here, and I may resort to that if there's no other alternative.
I actually don't mind rounding up all the cards if it will provide a far superior gaming experience.
My main concern is whether there is a well designed pauper/peasant cube that is made up of cards that are readily available within my budget.
So are there any small Pauper Cubes which are highly regarded that meet all of the following criteria:
- Cards that can be acquired without major difficulty ("common" means diddly if I can't find the card easily and for cheap)
- Can be constructed for $40 (at 360 that's an average of .11 cents per card)
- Well suited for players new M:tG (most people I will using the cube with)
Going to the trouble of crafting a cube myself is out of the question as my whole attraction to cube drafting is to enjoy M:tG in a form that doesn't involve such fiddling or become a money sink.
I'm willing to go to the trouble of ordering all the cards from a few different online vendors if need be, but that's as much time as I'm willing to devote to it apart from the actual playing.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated!