I have been playing Starke a bit on Magic Online and have had great success by upping the count of both temporary steal effects and sac outlets, since they go so well together. Right now I have 8 and 10, respectively, including Helm of Possession which can play either role. They go well with Bazaar Trader and Conjurer's Closet, which can give you permanent control of a creature you steal with Zealous Conscripts and similar effects. Another card that can do the same thing for stolen dudes is Synod Sanctum which can also exile Starke in response to using his ability and bring him back later.
The deck definitely wants Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and probably could stand to expand the Goblin suite with Moggcatcher. If you want more good creatures to target with Starke with an untapped out, there's Tuktuk the Explorer (which can be fetched with Goblin tutors) and Rukh Egg.
On individual card choices, I would think Vandalblast would be much better than Kill Switch, especially in combination with either one of your artifact-makers (Lattice and Coating). And I see little that makes Braid of Fire better than just a land.
Catastrophe lets you pull the same trick as casting Armageddon post-Avacyn, but with the added flexibility of being able to Wrath away creatures beforehand.
The mana base needs a lot of work. You have only one red card that needs two red (Urabrask) and many that need two blue, but just one more source of blue. Start by cutting Urabrask and all but 2-4 mountains. Add Command Tower, along with the 3 Ravnica duals, 2 Zendikar fetches, and 3 Eventide/Shadowmoor filters. Replace Cluestones with Ravnica Signets for better filtering. It would sure be a shame to be unable to cast Godhead of Awe even though you're at 5-6 mana.
Also, Turn/Burn makes an excellent Sunforger target, especially as a replacement for Pongify if you cut it as Variable suggests.
I think you may actually be overloaded on mana fixers; 39 lands, two Gauntlets and 5 mana rocks/fetch should be enough. You definitely want more creature density.
The Dark was not legal as Maze of Ith was not, and I'm not sure about Fallen Empires which came between those sets
Actually, The Dark was the oldest set legal in the initial Extended format, but Maze was explicitly banned. The initial May 1997 announcement of the format was an overhaul of "Type 1.5" (i.e. Legacy), but a huge player outcry caused Wizards to quickly reverse itself and continue supporting 1.5.
I want a token generating finisher in that slot alongside Throne of Empires and Myr Turbine, but want it to make more than one guy a turn (often not enough).
Thopter Assembly is a pretty good way of ensuring a steady supply of (flying!) tokens that doesn't even require you to commit mana each turn to get multiple tokens, and which also gives you the option of having a 5/5 flyer stick around if you leave at least one token on the field.
Master Thief. I'm surprised I haven't seen this one elsewhere. He is AMAZING with Barrin. Steal a critical piece of equipment, sac it to Barrin, and bounce the Thief to do it all again. It's like Gilded Drake, but with artifacts.
What a great idea! And of course, if you want to repeatedly steal and sac creatures for the same cost, Sower of Temptation is available as well. I think both deserve a place.
Orochi Hatchery just costs too damn much, good lord it's expensive.
If all you want from Hatchery is Barrin fodder, there's Wall of Kelp which is a surprising, fun option that costs much less.
Is there a solid substitute to Cascade that isn't 'twister or Reversal (which I already run)?
There's Diminishing Returns, which costs 4 and whose exile effect is pretty negligible in this format with a deck like this.
Mind Unbound + Solitary Confinement is easier to break but stops attacks on you as long as it lasts.
Zur's Weirding + Words of Worship: opponents can't draw another nonland card, and eventually you deck them.
The deck definitely wants Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and probably could stand to expand the Goblin suite with Moggcatcher. If you want more good creatures to target with Starke with an untapped out, there's Tuktuk the Explorer (which can be fetched with Goblin tutors) and Rukh Egg.
On individual card choices, I would think Vandalblast would be much better than Kill Switch, especially in combination with either one of your artifact-makers (Lattice and Coating). And I see little that makes Braid of Fire better than just a land.
Caged Sun and Gauntlet of Power make Avacyn more castable, as does Journeyer's Kite. Herald of War is another interesting way to bring down Avacyn's cost.
Your lands should definitely include Homeward Path, since few creatures are as attractive to steal as Avacyn.
Also, Turn/Burn makes an excellent Sunforger target, especially as a replacement for Pongify if you cut it as Variable suggests.
Here's what I would play:
-Extraplanar Lens
-Caged Sun
-Gilded Lotus
-Urza's Incubator (or Ruby Medallion)
-Incendiary Command
+ Countryside Crusher
+ Krenko, Mob Boss
+ Warren Instigator
+ Lightning Mauler
+ Renegade Warlord or Gathan Raiders or Kamahl, Pit Fighter
Actually, The Dark was the oldest set legal in the initial Extended format, but Maze was explicitly banned. The initial May 1997 announcement of the format was an overhaul of "Type 1.5" (i.e. Legacy), but a huge player outcry caused Wizards to quickly reverse itself and continue supporting 1.5.
If anyone is interested, here is the original announcement with the card pool and the second one walking it back:
http://www.classicdojo.org/news/may_announcement.html
http://www.classicdojo.org/news/may_clarification.html
Thopter Assembly is a pretty good way of ensuring a steady supply of (flying!) tokens that doesn't even require you to commit mana each turn to get multiple tokens, and which also gives you the option of having a 5/5 flyer stick around if you leave at least one token on the field.
What a great idea! And of course, if you want to repeatedly steal and sac creatures for the same cost, Sower of Temptation is available as well. I think both deserve a place.
If all you want from Hatchery is Barrin fodder, there's Wall of Kelp which is a surprising, fun option that costs much less.
There's Diminishing Returns, which costs 4 and whose exile effect is pretty negligible in this format with a deck like this.