Well although I would disagree about how competitive this deck is, could you please post some links to where this deck has been talked about and some proven results of it top 8'ing?
I have a BS from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in Communication Studies with an Emphasis in Persuasion and Public Communication. I minored in Comm Studies w/ Emp on Family and relational comm.
I also have a MA from Minnesota State University, Mankato in Speech Communication, focusing on Family Communication and people with disabilities.
I am currently getting a PhD in Relational and Family Communication from the University of Denver.
However, I am also exploring the idea of getting a J.D. at the same time.
becareful. These posts are getting onto the edge of flaming.
To answer your question though, it's a mana accelerant, which is a permanent, that nets more mana than it costs. On top of that, it has no draw backs like Mana Vault or Mana Crypt, or even Grim Monolith.
However, if it's a 9.5, you'd be a damned fool to crack it out of it's case. That being said, in my personal opinion, you could ask 375-400.00 for this card and probably get it.
If I were you John, I would wait until June and sell it then.
You don't need it necessarily. You do have Viridian Shaman, and you don't have to combo to win. Adam at our local store played this deck a few times. You can just beat down.
Also, to answer your first question, you go:
turn 1: Forest - Mana Elf
turn 2: Forest, Heritage Druid, Nettle Sentinel, Skull clamp. Tap 3 elves, gain 3 mana. Use 1 to attach Skull Clamp, draw 2 cards, play 2 more elves, untap Nettle Sentinel, tap mana elf, nettle sentinel and 1 drop elf, 3 mana, attach skull clamp to something else
It's very fast.
If you are playing against Stax, you have to win the roll. I think you've played against me and carl enough where you have a good idea on what target is the most important to hit.
Your biggest worry though is probably Ad Nauseum, Stiflenaught and TPS.
If you get no response, use the "report" function so the mod for this forum can see the post. When people post outside of the desired forum, many mods will miss it if they don't frequent the forum often. As for the Standard forum, you should definitely PM one of the Mods, they are UBER busy and modding standard is equated often to cruel and unusual punishment.
I think it's an interesting point you bring up. Whatever it takes to win.
The reality is, winning is important to everyone. Having fun is also important. I don't think though, that winning and having fun is mutually exclusive.
For me, I am a Spike (Link to Magic The Gathering Website Article) I enjoy winning and will play what I believe to be the best deck. I don't care if the combo that I win with is considered cheap or creative. I have played every single archtype and often will netdeck and adjust for the appropriate meta.
As a Stax player, I feel as if I am playing the best deck. I am not scared of any archtype, and I have even been told that playing against me is not very fun. People hate when you take their ability to play spells away from them.
So when it comes to combos like Helm of Obedience + Leyline or Voltaic Key + Time Vault or even Painter Servant + Grindstone, winning is winning.
As a Stax player, playing against Ichorid, I feel confidant in my overall match up. Cards like Powder Keg, Engineered Explosives (If 5c) and Pithing Needle tend to be enough to keep them locked down. On top of that, I already run Crucible of Worlds which helps me keep their mana locked down and all the different sphere effects allow me to keep them off of Dread Return.
If you want hate against Yawgmoth's Will, sphere's will be enough.
Stax is all about tempo and permenant advantage. If they are going to bounce or destroy your Leyline, they are going to have to spend a lot of resources to do so.
I don't think you understand though. What you are proposing is not Vintage. It's a variant or casual format. Just because you choose to use the P9 or Libraries, etc, does not make a format "Vintage."
You are placing House Rules on an existing format with a strict set of rules already.
I also have a MA from Minnesota State University, Mankato in Speech Communication, focusing on Family Communication and people with disabilities.
I am currently getting a PhD in Relational and Family Communication from the University of Denver.
However, I am also exploring the idea of getting a J.D. at the same time.
I can't remember the set. Jabberwocky would know.
To answer your question though, it's a mana accelerant, which is a permanent, that nets more mana than it costs. On top of that, it has no draw backs like Mana Vault or Mana Crypt, or even Grim Monolith.
However, if it's a 9.5, you'd be a damned fool to crack it out of it's case. That being said, in my personal opinion, you could ask 375-400.00 for this card and probably get it.
If I were you John, I would wait until June and sell it then.
Also, to answer your first question, you go:
turn 1: Forest - Mana Elf
turn 2: Forest, Heritage Druid, Nettle Sentinel, Skull clamp. Tap 3 elves, gain 3 mana. Use 1 to attach Skull Clamp, draw 2 cards, play 2 more elves, untap Nettle Sentinel, tap mana elf, nettle sentinel and 1 drop elf, 3 mana, attach skull clamp to something else
It's very fast.
If you are playing against Stax, you have to win the roll. I think you've played against me and carl enough where you have a good idea on what target is the most important to hit.
Your biggest worry though is probably Ad Nauseum, Stiflenaught and TPS.
The reality is, winning is important to everyone. Having fun is also important. I don't think though, that winning and having fun is mutually exclusive.
For me, I am a Spike (Link to Magic The Gathering Website Article) I enjoy winning and will play what I believe to be the best deck. I don't care if the combo that I win with is considered cheap or creative. I have played every single archtype and often will netdeck and adjust for the appropriate meta.
As a Stax player, I feel as if I am playing the best deck. I am not scared of any archtype, and I have even been told that playing against me is not very fun. People hate when you take their ability to play spells away from them.
So when it comes to combos like Helm of Obedience + Leyline or Voltaic Key + Time Vault or even Painter Servant + Grindstone, winning is winning.
What do you guys think?
As a Stax player, playing against Ichorid, I feel confidant in my overall match up. Cards like Powder Keg, Engineered Explosives (If 5c) and Pithing Needle tend to be enough to keep them locked down. On top of that, I already run Crucible of Worlds which helps me keep their mana locked down and all the different sphere effects allow me to keep them off of Dread Return.
Another card that can be an MVP in the Dredge Matchup is both Silent Arbiter and Platinum Angel.
If you want hate against Yawgmoth's Will, sphere's will be enough.
Stax is all about tempo and permenant advantage. If they are going to bounce or destroy your Leyline, they are going to have to spend a lot of resources to do so.
You are placing House Rules on an existing format with a strict set of rules already.
Unfortunately, I have to move this to Casual.
If your answer is fun, than this thread should probably be pointed to the casual area of this forum.