Hope everyone is having a good week to this point.
Few brief announcements on the format:
First: Prize support has been expanded, the total prize pool has expanded to 16 tix for every event. This said, winner will take home 8 tix, and the remaining tix will be split between the X-1 players. Thanks again to our great sponsors at MTGOCardMarket.
Second: Voting on the ban listing is still open, we've only had six players cast a ballot. So far there's a lot of cards that are sitting on the fence (50/50 vote). Keep in mind, with only 6 voters, even some of the cards showing 25% voted for them to get in the format are at 50% because two players voted to adopt the German Highlander Banned list (well more voted to adopt it, but then proceeded to vote independently on the cards, but that's alright, at the end we'll count the specific cards that these players believe safe for the format). If 0001 on 8 OCT 17 comes around and all we've had are 6 voters, then we'll go with that majority. So if you want to have a voice in the format please feel free to cast your ballot at: CSM Voting Tool.
Third: Offer is still up, if we hit twenty players this next Saturday then 16 treasure chests are going into the winners circle for added prize pool.
Take it easy you all and if you're into drafting etc, then take a look at that hamtastic gamestate that a deck I drafted in the Ixalan limited format came to (3-0 limited cradle combo :P).
Congratulations to Johnny on the win after a hiatus from the event. Recording of the matches I was able to catch will be up momentarily at this link: CSM 3.51.
Below is the winner's trophy, the lovely lady Atarka, and long may she reign.
Tell your friends about the event and run up that "play more" hype. If we hit 20 players next week, then I'll throw in 16 treasure chests for the winner's purse. Unless you're Michelle_Wong and you got burned out
Take it easy everyone and have a good week. Thanks for hitting the polls and if you haven't get there
It's certainly an honor to host and ML thank you for the many years of hosting to this point and really keeping the format alive for so long; from conversation, I know we'll continue to see you at events which is a good thing man. Despite my rally to alter the format in a different direction, one that I think positively impacts the range of viable/good decks, I still firmly believe in the democratic approach to solving it. That said, linked right here is a voting tool: Ban List Voting Poll. I ask that by next Saturday everyone get's to this google poll and provides their votes for either independent cards or adoption of the German Highlander Ban list. The list does not include the most busted cards in MTG, ie the cards that were deemed to broken for German Highlander were not even offered up in this poll; for instance the Power 9, Skullclamp, Jitte are no where to be found on this poll because what they do tends to wreck games way too rapidly. However, if you think I've missed a card then please feel free to contact me at brekyl02@yahoo.com, put a note up here in MTGS, or hit me up on MTGO chat. We'll stick with the current ban list for at a minimum of 2 weeks until the voting can be completed and folks have 1 week after completion of voting to retool their decks or make new ones. Voting is up now and closes at 0001 EST on 8 OCT 17, so please take the time to make it to the polls. Additionally, you do not have to answer all questions if not desired, however, the final question: What is your user name is required to stop duplicate voting or nonsense voting as it is a duplicate poll. This may happen regardless but I'll toss all duplicate votes or unnamed votes out at the end. Hope my stint as host of the 100CS community is just as fruitful as ML's has been and that you all continue to enjoy slinging electron cardboard at each other from a big ol'pile of count 100. Thanks guys and see you all tomorrow.
Came back to see what was going on in forum and in general with the format...looks like we're still where we were before...Here's a suggestion, set up an online poll, give a time limit (2 weeks seems reasonable) and then go with the majority vote. This would likely be more efficient then an open ended dialogue without actual outputs. German Highlander does have a far better ban list then our own; rather it increases the viability of multiple other archetypes whereas under our own we're limited (if you want to win consistently) to a smaller subset of the how the game can be played. If you don't feel like following the link these are the cards that differ in both ban lists:
Birthing Pod (illegal in GHL, but legal in 100CS)
Natural Order (illegal in GHL, but legal in 100CS)
Channel (illegal in 100CS, but legal in GHL, same for all that follow)
Crucible of Worlds
Demonic Consultation
Demonic Tutor
Dig Through Time
Fastbond
Intuition
Life from the Loam
Lion's Eye Diamond
Mana Drain
Memory Jar
Merchant Scroll
Mind's Desire
Mystical Tutor
Necropotence
Oath of Druids
Stoneforge Mystic
Timetwister
Tolarian Academy
Treasure Cruise
Trinisphere
Wheel of Fortune
Windfall
Yawgmoth's Bargain
Yawgmoth's Will
GHL is a more powerful format...that's a fact...however, as with most powerful formats, there tends to be greater variance the more radical or draw dependent the build (for instance Channel is a busted card; however, how bad is it to have an opener with emrakul or blightsteel in it and no channel--if you haven't felt the pain of a 7 card mulligan, then give it a shot sometime...it's a bitter pill...on the low variance draw (under .02) that you can assemble this combo by T2 and your opponent doesn't bolt, bolt you in response or sequentially, then sure you'll win the game...more often than not though the effects/cards you want will come in a piecemeal manner, while more fair/consistent strategies will just pummel you with the clowns...staying alive isn't easy with these decks and your dead draw count is far higher). I tend to test 100C decks pretty exhaustively...it's my favorite format, so why not...one of the things I tend to do with a deck is port it over to legacy and play some matches against real legacy decks...oddly enough my best results generally come while playing against the unfair decks for instance legacy storm, reanimator, hightide combo, sneak and show, because most of the decks I've run historically in the 100C event have been proactive and disruptive/flexible; beating these decks is easier because if you understand or learn how these strategies work then you can tend to limit their possible lines to victory while your own consistent win con (damage) can shine through. Anyway, the differences above between GHL and 100CS provide stronger control and combo, control options for players and deck builders. Notably Storm is viable under this ban list; which I tend to think is fine, because it's a cool deck, but very easily hated out and generally just slower (on average not on its best draw) than just going aggro. This ban list would keep the "fair decks" (4CBlood) in check (to an extent, the deck is still great), and would establish a wider, viable playset of tier 1 decks--this creates health in the format by opening up the meta to additional natural strategies that can viably win any matchup, but naturally prey upon fair creature and PW decks (they will generally lose horrifically to control, if the control player plays and builds well). This will lead to a meta that has the possibility of bad matchups for any one given deck, which is good, you don't want one deck to dominate a format...it just losses its excitement at that point (Noting that Socnelas took down the CSM last week with my 4C Build [minus one Liliana and plus one Chandra]).
Anyway that's my thoughts on the matter, we should just adopt the GHL ban list because it's based on more objective data, and because this "process" we've historically used doesn't really work at all (it's been 2 weeks...nothing happened). And maybe nothing happening is what you all want: that's cool...but, you'll lose just as many players that way. ML, you're cool and we're on friendly terms, I just have no desire to play this format anymore until we fix the imbalance that exists in it--and I won't--that's all.
I've offered numerous suggestions, and brought this trend up for the better half of a year...I'm tired of running my mouth to no effect. I am a dedicated player of the format--this is true--what is more true is that I'm a disciple of it--I have spent a lot of time learning it and studying it, so when things that I've found through great effort are cast aside as baubles--well that might lead one to not give a ***** anymore about the format.
What you need right now is not more nonsense dialogue--you need a voting or polling system and a plan of action and then hold your player base accountable for rendering their decisions in a timely manner...otherwise, you'll continually be ineffectual in exacting any sort of change or balance.
So, if I understand your logic correctly, what you intended for me to do is generate a council of a smaller subset of the player base just to discuss the cards, have no decision making authority over what cards should be banned/unbanned or watched, but then go back to an open voting system. The most salient question is why would I waste my time or 6 other folks time--why wouldn't we just put the cards to a vote and be done with it; while I admire your egalitarian approach to this process, I cannot see why such a council is anything but superfluous if it does not make said decisions...matter of fact, it would be complete nonsense.
I'm trying to bring order to how this process works, by bringing the most informed of your players to a table to vote, not on what they like, but on what they know or have come to objectively see as fair and balanced. This is why I did not per se use the duration of their play in the format, but their results...results imply knowledge...to overcome ones opposition on a more continual basis is not likely the best way to learn, but it does display a higher level of mastery and tacitly implies a wider knowledge of the game...this was the manner in which I came to this conclusion. I think I've seen several players state that we need a codified process that is both efficient and enlightened to make healthy choices for the format and widen the meta. I appreciate everything you've done to keep 100c alive on Gatherling, but frankly your approach to card evaluation is generally very subjective and your notions of democratic process are akin to the ancient Greeks who fruitlessly squabbled until their city states were driven under the hegemony of others due to continual in-fighting. I've gathered folks I truly believe can be objective about the format, keep it healthy, fun, and thriving for you and really all of the community. But, frankly, you're impeding progress here man.
I told you I wanted to do something, other players showed an interest in developing a more codified process, you charged me with doing it, and now it's a different story...I've continued to show my proof of a need for a relook on this issue, by jamming the same deck I've cited as the being the best under current bannings...think I've won 4/5 tournaments I've played it in, dawts didn't do too much worse with it (maybe even better), If I did it ten times would that be enough proof...
Regardless, I'm under and over it brother...do what you will with the ban list, I'm done trying to help the format grow or see itself more clearly. Thanks for all the great games to the community, you all rock, and keep your eyes peeled if you're interested in playing some Canadian, German, or Australian Highlander, I'm likely to start running some smaller events off of challonge and advertised through reddit.
Take it easy everyone
--KB
2:43 PM lowman02: it's variance laden
2:45 PM lowman02: yeah I suppose we'll see on it--hopefully, we see this format clearly and go in the direction that German Highlander has gone which isn't perfect, but is far more balanced and healthy
2:45 PM ML_Berlin: go ahead and make a council
I agree with Stsung, and I think there is a home for Grim Monolith, it's likely the most busted mana artifact in the format from a raw power level, arguments could be made for lotus petal or coalition relic, but I tend to think this one takes the cheddar on raw power. Before cloudpost this card was used to put accelerated U on the map. The issue I have with cards like this is that they're the worst top decks in the late game, but I think as a builder of decks we can avoid this by paying payoff cards to reward drawing them late, for instance reshape, transmute artifact, daretti, goblin welder, master transmuter, koldotha forgemaster, etc , or upheaval, wildfire, and burning of xinye etc; in one context you would be building a U or MUD based combo control deck more than likely and in the other essentially RU prison (board control with lighter permission). MUD is also viable, but far more midrange than its aggressive and prison style brethren in Vintage...the difficulty I've had building it is that it lacks the cohesion, redundancy of effect to make it either a true control or aggro deck...this is not a problem per se but you may mulligan aggressively matchup dependent because the deck will be less focused...much like Stsung talked about in her 5CAggro(aggro/control [midrange]) or what she alluded to as being the true power of 4CBlood...it's a swtich deck and you can play either aggro or control with it matchup dependent (watch me play vs. WW and RDW...not perfect play but I think it displays how I've boarded the deck to play control moreso than aggro, etc).
I agree with Stsung, and I think there is a home for Grim Monolith, it's likely the most busted mana artifact in the format from a raw power level, arguments could be made for lotus petal or coalition relic, but I tend to think this one takes the cheddar on raw power. Before cloudpost this card was used to put accelerated U on the map. The issue I have with cards like this is that they're the worst top decks in the late game, but I think as a builder of decks we can avoid this by paying payoff cards to reward drawing them late, for instance reshape, transmute artifact, daretti, goblin welder, master transmuter, koldotha forgemaster, etc , or upheaval, wildfire, and burning of xinye etc; in one context you would be building a U or MUD based combo control deck more than likely and in the other essentially RU prison (board control with lighter permission). MUD is also viable, but far more midrange than its aggressive and prison style brethren in Vintage...the difficulty I've had building it is that it lacks the cohesion, redundancy of effect to make it either a true control or aggro deck...this is not a problem per se but you may mulligan aggressively matchup dependent because the deck will be less focused...much like Stsung talked about in her 5CAggro(aggro/control [midrange]) or what she alluded to as being the true power of 4CBlood...it's a swtich deck and you can play either aggro or control with it matchup dependent (watch me play vs. WW and RDW...not perfect play but I think it displays how I've boarded the deck to play control moreso than aggro, etc).
The two most under-represented cards in terms of power level are Hermit Druid and Birthing Pod this is comparative to these two cards central nature in winning decks this season. Despite Hermit Druid claiming a victory in a recent tournament, the card is not often played, maybe 2-3 times this whole season. Birthing Pod is in quite a few decks, but it hasn't been winning as many games as it could...chiefly, I think it has to do with how the decks it's been run in have been built, which are at times conflicted between ramp and true value midrange. Where Pod shines is in a value midrange or value combo based midrange strategy, this is, after all, how it got banned in Modern :). Humility and Moat are two powerful cards that also feel under represented, but the rise of aggressive strategies packing their own PWs has also certainly made their deck (U/W/b) a bit worse an option in the meta. Winter Orb and Black Vise are also high power level cards that don't see a ton of play, the former likely should in more decks, the latter is of dubious quality and highly dependent on when it's played and against what deck you're playing it (it's kind of like Aether Vial for me in this format, ie I don't like it but can't dispute it's power when played T1 etc). Goblin Welder is also a very powerful card for the rate that we don't see very often, if entomb were legal this card would likely see a lot more play though. These are a few that come to mind, why did you think there was something that should see more play?
Appreciate it man. Yeah S&R and THate were definately two people I thought about adding onto the list, and if they were interested should be.
Rob (Z),
Not sure if you read this thread or not man, but did you set up a reddit for this format, if so, then please post it at convenience...and I'll likely take a quick look for it too.
All,
Good clean massacre this weekend, the trophy is posted below, if you've never taken a closer look at the new Chandra (second newest really) art then check it out, they did a pretty good job on that one...and the card is a beating...of course. Game play will be uploaded and linked here for your entertainment, edification, or whatever you like: 09 SEP 17 CSM Video
From what I can tell, T-rex may have been a highschool TIG welding experiment gone wrong in all the right ways, but with his baby arms he's probably not as good at carrying a sword...this is exceptionally important as I want to ensure on turn 7 when I equip my 5 drop sword I don't get blown out and waste any mana...efficiency is crucial. Who do you think you are talking crap on old wiener neck McGee, think that duder was in my starter pack in 94...power creep's a #$%#%...However the old Wurm reminds me of my favorite commander (FFA rules) quote of all time: "What do you MFer's really expect me to be doing with Sol Ring...casting Craw Wurms and *****" (what this lacks in good taste or any sense of correctness...is that it's likely the most elegant summary of that format and expectations in it...ever said by a human)
ML recently charged me with an objective, after vehement disagreement about the direction of the 100c format and its banned listing: to develop a council, similar to German or Canadian Highlander, of voting members who would maintain the ban listing as well as a watch list, which would be used as a tool to ban cards in following meetings of the council; cards that were either introduced through new set development or old cards which see repeated abusiveness in the format. The council would convene to discuss these matters through text chat on mtgo @ #100cCouncil on a biannual basis (June and December exact times to be set by council through coordination with other members) with updates to both the banned list and the watch list, requiring a majority vote for a ban or unban from all voting members (or inclusion on the watch list). There would be 7 voting members on this council to ensure that votes were definitive in nature, but with a majority always achieved. All voting members would be required to vote on any card presented for a vote. Any card that would be removed from the banned list would automatically be on the watch list until the following meeting of the council, meaning that these cards unbanned would be automatically open to rebanning upon the council convening in the subsequent biannual session or for emergency purposes if the format were to grow too unhealthy. Upon determination of this council's members, there would be immediate voting on the current ban list and a nomination of the watch list with effects taking place in the next tournament structure the week following the voting session and dissemination of the council's decision.
The process is simple and would likely require about 1hr to 1.5hrs of time from the voting council on an annual basis. The difficulty in this method comes with the selection of the voting council. Our numbers are small, but they are greater than 7. I've spoken with another player in regards to this matter and feel that this is should not be left to voting, but should instead be chosen by the amount a player plays in the format, their general support for the community, and lastly how often they win in this format. The last is likely to be controversial, but I would offer that although we learn less in victory, we show more knowledge when we are able to achieve it over our opposition, and at the end of the day what I think the format needs is those players that care most about it and have displayed the most knowledge of it to enable it to continue to persevere and grow.
I believe the council should consist of the following players:
1. The_Sensei: He likely has more play experience in the format than all current players combined and has been a part of the community for close to a decade or possibly more, regardless he's a solid player of the game in multiple different formats and a steadfast community member.
2. Rob_Zdar: Rob is a sharp player, deck builder, and someone who I genuinely believe has the ability to be objective about power level and fairness in this format given his long play experience.
3. Michelle_Wong: Michelle has been a steadfast member of the community for a long time, she has shown diversity in her building capability, and shown strong results with multiple different archetypes.
4. ML_Berlin: He's the man that's kept this format alive despite the format losing its filter on mtgo--without him we wouldn't have this semi-sanctioned ability to play it electronically. Although he and I disagree to a large extent on what is fair and what is not, I value his opinions because I'm only human and prone like all humans to think my ideas are the best, but luckily not quite dumb enough to always believe I'm right.
5. Stsung: She is a player who is the most arguable member on my listing of players, due to her limited participation in the event; however, what she lacks in continuous participation I feel she makes up for in experience and also victory when attended (she did win our largest event of last year or the Christmas Extravaganza), has written numerous articles and made video content in support of the format, community and to educate others on this format, and has numerous years of playing German Highlander to several T8 finishes, which is a format not vastly different from our own.
6. dawts: If he'd care to vote, he has been a highly successful player in our format and has shown he knows what it takes to win in the 100c format. I think his views and vote would be value added in growing the format, but preserving a fair environment for players.
7. lowman02: I'm not a politician at heart, so it's weird to say good things about myself, but I can win in this format, or at least numbers have shown this and I feel like I can remain objective about the format...and hell, I care about it quite a bit too and would like to see it grow...I know at least 3-4 of the newest players we have began watching my silly videos that all of about 10-12 folks watch, but it did also help grow this format a bit. I think I could be value added in this process.
I would ask if anyone does not consent to those I've recommended come forward and recommend another, but I think all of these folks are worthy of the charge, if they accept, I expect that we'll have 1-2 folks that would prefer not to vote if that's the case then I'd ask that you let that be known...for instance dawts is a hell of a player, but I'm not sure if he has interest in maintaining the format and may have moved on to other MTGO ventures, etc.
If uncontested in the charge, I could lead the council, all this would equate to is establishing the meeting times and collectivizing the result from all voting members and providing ML the extract to update the front page...nothing more.
Sensei, if possible it'd be nice to know how well my gut led me in listing these players, have I missed other players that have shown continued success in the format and have been a mainstay of the community?...you've been the de facto secretary of the format for a while with the number keeping etc. So if you have some spare time, I'd appreciate how players stack up in regards to volume of play and success in the format if that's possible.
Let me know what you all think. This is the concept that I came up with; if we were to go with it, then the first council would review the entire ban list, ie vote on all the banned cards, and would table any currently unbanned card with a 1/3 minority vote to open the discussion on said card, but then require a majority vote to ban said card that had been tabled.
No, I think Carnage Tyrant is bad; this card is a trap...anytime WoTC prints a card with uncounterable on it certain folks ears perk up, because these sort of folks enjoy a heads up game where both players are playing with certainty that what they intend on enacting will happen(and at this point what is the f'ing point we're just running through permutations of a deck and decisions don't matter outside of building the world's most perfect clock and/or hoping to get lucky...). This card is a far cry from Thrun, The Last Troll, if you cast this against my U based control deck, then I'll throw a Baleful Strix under the bus (and take 6), Diabolic Edict it, Day of Judgement it, Elspeth, Sun's Champion down tick it, Council's Judgement it...etc, etc. Wait none of these cards are even U...the issue with cards like this are that they give players a false hope by treating a symptom of a greater problem vs decks that utilize U as a supporting control color for permission (in U decks you're more often using counter magic to stop the threats you can't 2-1 your opponent on, ie PWs and non-critter spells). You beat U and control style decks in two ways, one presenting permanents that they have to utilize card advantage cards like Wrath of God on a one for one basis against (or Oblivion Ring on a PW threat) (this is crucial in these matchups, if you do it right you can force U/W/B players to play a 4-6 mana spell to take out 1-2 cards, which surprise generally means your crap will resolve next turn [just put 1-2 more down though, sometimes wraths run in packs{like f'ing siege rhinos man}]), and secondly by being more efficient and getting under their curve with presentation of relevant threats (for instance Tarmogoyf or Grim Flayer, if either is left long enough it will win the game rapidly). By the time this guy is smelling the coffee, Thrun has already cranked your opponent for 8 life, by the time it's attacking he's coming in for 12 life and new kid on the block doesn't even have wrath insurance like Thrun does (well some of them).
Guess I'd harken your attention back to the RDW vs MonoU deck matchup we played a while ago when you were concerned about your ML matchup, ie RDW. If I cast a turn 1 goblin guide or jackal pup, I'm infinitely better off than if I cast a T5-6 carnage tyrant, especially if my opponent's only reliable means of dealing with my permanents is one for one permission or bounce. Efficiency is king, especially as you look at how you solely beat permission. For instance we played a game in the RDW vs MonoU matchup, where I got you to 1-2 life and was on like 1 card in hand, to your 5-6 cards in hand, while both of us were on a large mana situation, let's say 7-8 lands a piece. In this 14-15 turn game, I had the luxury of forcing your mono U deck to always keep its mana up and never land a threat of your own, because the moment you tapped out for a Jace, The Mind sculptor or a Consecrated Sphinx I could send 2-3 burn spells that cost 1-2 mana at your face which you'd have to counter at an exchange rate of 2-3 mana and would be unable to in a situation given equitable mana. In this way, I was eventually able to get to 8 cards in hand, and then utilizing my own ability to cast more cards in a turn force a gamestate where 1. you were unable to play threats and 2. unable to present the volume of answers required due to my deck's higher efficiency at an overwhelming cost to card economy. One can always hope a player will throw resources in piecemeal and allow their opposition to deal with them one by one, but if the opposition is apt they'll present overwhelming force at the right point in time to exploit any given weakness of your deck, archetype, specific build, playstyle whatever...Carnage Tyrant is a prime example of a trap that forgets these notions and comforts it's user in rules text that is irrelevant on T6, because you should have already won the game by that point, if all your opponent is doing is countering spells...people play these cards because they like the feeling they give them, not because they're good I guess is my point...and that beating control takes pretty much no 6 drop ever printed, because it's just not the best way to do it Not to mention I've only played five 6 drops (or larger) in all of the CSM's I've played in (not to include X spells): Elsepth, Sun's Champion; Torrential Gearhulk, Karn Liberated; Primeval Titan; and Sun Titan...I suppose you could also claim Griselbrand, Emrakul, The Aeons Torn, and Protean Hulk but these were in a deck that could not reasonably cast them, even then I had generally many ways of cheating them into play...that aside, this card is nowhere near any of those sixes which all break the game in horrible, horrible ways.
Oh, and you know what else carries a sword better, your 1 drop, your 2 drop, your 3 drop, and your 4 drop Follow the curve to 5 it's the magic of the swords, keep them busy with the early nonsense and keep their mana tied up and bash with a hasty 2 power attack on T5 that has it's own backbreaking effects in addition to the added damage, etc.
This card might interest ramp style decks, but I'm really not impressed by it...but, to be fair, I'm also not much of a ramp player...I tend to think that spending 2-3 non-interactive cards (in a single game) that solely increase your mana count puts you in a horrible spot vs interactive decks...so in a lot of ways you're again playing the perfect clock, luck factor and hoping to knock your top deck into what you need. Not really my thing, sometimes it's utterly unbeatable, other times it piece meals into the jaws of answers, because on decks like this you really can't afford to wait on your haymakers because they're not more efficient than the answers of the control player (ie they don't have this option like RDW)...this could put enough equity in the card if you were playing this style of deck...but I think I'd just go for Gaea's Revenge, it's only The Abyss without trample, but then you shouldn't be expecting critters if you're playing these cards in the first place.
Hope this helps or is at least amusing Take it easy homie.
Protip: If you say "Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercats" and hold down control when you cast him then your opponent can't kill him on their next turn...next level tech, give it a shot
Yeah the art actually cracked me up on that Judge Promo Variation on Argothian Enchantress...She's so full of life...among many things--as I'm sure was artistically intended--but while simple folk like me are stuck with their attention elsewhere that $%^&$ is drawing all the cards...damn you chauvinism, even magic art isn't excepted
I thought of writing funny text blurbs for each piece of art: for instance has anyone else ever looked close enough at Kamal to notice that he looks like Usama Bin Laden and Abraham Lincoln had a love child and then force fed that beautiful baby boy crystal meth, or that King Whiskers looks like he's secretly pissed off that Hollywood kept him from starring in Thundercats...not to mention playing second fiddle to Ajani, who got to be a PW for Christ's sake...which by the way is only showing us his good side in his promo art (or he just wants to see you [btw I didn't even know he was one eyed until I google stalked him...should have tried that first before online dating, #lifelessons...oops!]). Needless to say, my musings on magic art and its hilarity, at least to me, might dip in to the vastly profane...and are wont to be far more satirical than the general gravitas I think WoTC tries to induce with it (for instance it was no mistake that I cut the blood baron art right...that caged up lady is thinking "not the road cone, Rodney" (yeah that's a Hot Rod reference...if you enjoy the absurd as much as I do...well...if not, then definitely don't); by the way, how is this card even half White, this bad ass vampire is locking up humans and conducting foul experiments on them...and my guess is, even if they were the worst of human kind before (the whole Orzhov self righteous, old testament theme), they're not likely to get any nicer if they make it through this one...but if you ever want to feel good about any magic art then check out Brushwagg, this poor son of a #$%^^ looks like someone mashed a fecal ball of cat litter in the refuse of a wicker chair gone wrong; truly my favorite masterpiece.
By the way, you're welcome
--KB
PS-- WoTC is actually releasing a bunch of cool old cards in cool promo art only online to include Stasis and Chains of Mephistopheles, check them out Stasis is actually pretty sweet in the new art...one that got better.
Hope everyone is having a good week to this point.
Few brief announcements on the format:
First: Prize support has been expanded, the total prize pool has expanded to 16 tix for every event. This said, winner will take home 8 tix, and the remaining tix will be split between the X-1 players. Thanks again to our great sponsors at MTGOCardMarket.
Second: Voting on the ban listing is still open, we've only had six players cast a ballot. So far there's a lot of cards that are sitting on the fence (50/50 vote). Keep in mind, with only 6 voters, even some of the cards showing 25% voted for them to get in the format are at 50% because two players voted to adopt the German Highlander Banned list (well more voted to adopt it, but then proceeded to vote independently on the cards, but that's alright, at the end we'll count the specific cards that these players believe safe for the format). If 0001 on 8 OCT 17 comes around and all we've had are 6 voters, then we'll go with that majority. So if you want to have a voice in the format please feel free to cast your ballot at: CSM Voting Tool.
Third: Offer is still up, if we hit twenty players this next Saturday then 16 treasure chests are going into the winners circle for added prize pool.
Take it easy you all and if you're into drafting etc, then take a look at that hamtastic gamestate that a deck I drafted in the Ixalan limited format came to (3-0 limited cradle combo :P).
--KB
Final Winner: Johnny Rogue -5
Lost once:
BoozeMongoose -3
mathguy31415 -3
Congratulations to Johnny on the win after a hiatus from the event. Recording of the matches I was able to catch will be up momentarily at this link: CSM 3.51.
Below is the winner's trophy, the lovely lady Atarka, and long may she reign.
Tell your friends about the event and run up that "play more" hype. If we hit 20 players next week, then I'll throw in 16 treasure chests for the winner's purse. Unless you're Michelle_Wong and you got burned out
Take it easy everyone and have a good week. Thanks for hitting the polls and if you haven't get there
--KB
It's certainly an honor to host and ML thank you for the many years of hosting to this point and really keeping the format alive for so long; from conversation, I know we'll continue to see you at events which is a good thing man. Despite my rally to alter the format in a different direction, one that I think positively impacts the range of viable/good decks, I still firmly believe in the democratic approach to solving it. That said, linked right here is a voting tool: Ban List Voting Poll. I ask that by next Saturday everyone get's to this google poll and provides their votes for either independent cards or adoption of the German Highlander Ban list. The list does not include the most busted cards in MTG, ie the cards that were deemed to broken for German Highlander were not even offered up in this poll; for instance the Power 9, Skullclamp, Jitte are no where to be found on this poll because what they do tends to wreck games way too rapidly. However, if you think I've missed a card then please feel free to contact me at brekyl02@yahoo.com, put a note up here in MTGS, or hit me up on MTGO chat. We'll stick with the current ban list for at a minimum of 2 weeks until the voting can be completed and folks have 1 week after completion of voting to retool their decks or make new ones. Voting is up now and closes at 0001 EST on 8 OCT 17, so please take the time to make it to the polls. Additionally, you do not have to answer all questions if not desired, however, the final question: What is your user name is required to stop duplicate voting or nonsense voting as it is a duplicate poll. This may happen regardless but I'll toss all duplicate votes or unnamed votes out at the end. Hope my stint as host of the 100CS community is just as fruitful as ML's has been and that you all continue to enjoy slinging electron cardboard at each other from a big ol'pile of count 100. Thanks guys and see you all tomorrow.
--KB
Came back to see what was going on in forum and in general with the format...looks like we're still where we were before...Here's a suggestion, set up an online poll, give a time limit (2 weeks seems reasonable) and then go with the majority vote. This would likely be more efficient then an open ended dialogue without actual outputs. German Highlander does have a far better ban list then our own; rather it increases the viability of multiple other archetypes whereas under our own we're limited (if you want to win consistently) to a smaller subset of the how the game can be played. If you don't feel like following the link these are the cards that differ in both ban lists:
Birthing Pod (illegal in GHL, but legal in 100CS)
Natural Order (illegal in GHL, but legal in 100CS)
Channel (illegal in 100CS, but legal in GHL, same for all that follow)
Crucible of Worlds
Demonic Consultation
Demonic Tutor
Dig Through Time
Fastbond
Intuition
Life from the Loam
Lion's Eye Diamond
Mana Drain
Memory Jar
Merchant Scroll
Mind's Desire
Mystical Tutor
Necropotence
Oath of Druids
Stoneforge Mystic
Timetwister
Tolarian Academy
Treasure Cruise
Trinisphere
Wheel of Fortune
Windfall
Yawgmoth's Bargain
Yawgmoth's Will
GHL is a more powerful format...that's a fact...however, as with most powerful formats, there tends to be greater variance the more radical or draw dependent the build (for instance Channel is a busted card; however, how bad is it to have an opener with emrakul or blightsteel in it and no channel--if you haven't felt the pain of a 7 card mulligan, then give it a shot sometime...it's a bitter pill...on the low variance draw (under .02) that you can assemble this combo by T2 and your opponent doesn't bolt, bolt you in response or sequentially, then sure you'll win the game...more often than not though the effects/cards you want will come in a piecemeal manner, while more fair/consistent strategies will just pummel you with the clowns...staying alive isn't easy with these decks and your dead draw count is far higher). I tend to test 100C decks pretty exhaustively...it's my favorite format, so why not...one of the things I tend to do with a deck is port it over to legacy and play some matches against real legacy decks...oddly enough my best results generally come while playing against the unfair decks for instance legacy storm, reanimator, hightide combo, sneak and show, because most of the decks I've run historically in the 100C event have been proactive and disruptive/flexible; beating these decks is easier because if you understand or learn how these strategies work then you can tend to limit their possible lines to victory while your own consistent win con (damage) can shine through. Anyway, the differences above between GHL and 100CS provide stronger control and combo, control options for players and deck builders. Notably Storm is viable under this ban list; which I tend to think is fine, because it's a cool deck, but very easily hated out and generally just slower (on average not on its best draw) than just going aggro. This ban list would keep the "fair decks" (4CBlood) in check (to an extent, the deck is still great), and would establish a wider, viable playset of tier 1 decks--this creates health in the format by opening up the meta to additional natural strategies that can viably win any matchup, but naturally prey upon fair creature and PW decks (they will generally lose horrifically to control, if the control player plays and builds well). This will lead to a meta that has the possibility of bad matchups for any one given deck, which is good, you don't want one deck to dominate a format...it just losses its excitement at that point (Noting that Socnelas took down the CSM last week with my 4C Build [minus one Liliana and plus one Chandra]).
Anyway that's my thoughts on the matter, we should just adopt the GHL ban list because it's based on more objective data, and because this "process" we've historically used doesn't really work at all (it's been 2 weeks...nothing happened). And maybe nothing happening is what you all want: that's cool...but, you'll lose just as many players that way. ML, you're cool and we're on friendly terms, I just have no desire to play this format anymore until we fix the imbalance that exists in it--and I won't--that's all.
I've offered numerous suggestions, and brought this trend up for the better half of a year...I'm tired of running my mouth to no effect. I am a dedicated player of the format--this is true--what is more true is that I'm a disciple of it--I have spent a lot of time learning it and studying it, so when things that I've found through great effort are cast aside as baubles--well that might lead one to not give a ***** anymore about the format.
What you need right now is not more nonsense dialogue--you need a voting or polling system and a plan of action and then hold your player base accountable for rendering their decisions in a timely manner...otherwise, you'll continually be ineffectual in exacting any sort of change or balance.
Take it easy everyone --KB
So, if I understand your logic correctly, what you intended for me to do is generate a council of a smaller subset of the player base just to discuss the cards, have no decision making authority over what cards should be banned/unbanned or watched, but then go back to an open voting system. The most salient question is why would I waste my time or 6 other folks time--why wouldn't we just put the cards to a vote and be done with it; while I admire your egalitarian approach to this process, I cannot see why such a council is anything but superfluous if it does not make said decisions...matter of fact, it would be complete nonsense.
I'm trying to bring order to how this process works, by bringing the most informed of your players to a table to vote, not on what they like, but on what they know or have come to objectively see as fair and balanced. This is why I did not per se use the duration of their play in the format, but their results...results imply knowledge...to overcome ones opposition on a more continual basis is not likely the best way to learn, but it does display a higher level of mastery and tacitly implies a wider knowledge of the game...this was the manner in which I came to this conclusion. I think I've seen several players state that we need a codified process that is both efficient and enlightened to make healthy choices for the format and widen the meta. I appreciate everything you've done to keep 100c alive on Gatherling, but frankly your approach to card evaluation is generally very subjective and your notions of democratic process are akin to the ancient Greeks who fruitlessly squabbled until their city states were driven under the hegemony of others due to continual in-fighting. I've gathered folks I truly believe can be objective about the format, keep it healthy, fun, and thriving for you and really all of the community. But, frankly, you're impeding progress here man.
I told you I wanted to do something, other players showed an interest in developing a more codified process, you charged me with doing it, and now it's a different story...I've continued to show my proof of a need for a relook on this issue, by jamming the same deck I've cited as the being the best under current bannings...think I've won 4/5 tournaments I've played it in, dawts didn't do too much worse with it (maybe even better), If I did it ten times would that be enough proof...
Regardless, I'm under and over it brother...do what you will with the ban list, I'm done trying to help the format grow or see itself more clearly. Thanks for all the great games to the community, you all rock, and keep your eyes peeled if you're interested in playing some Canadian, German, or Australian Highlander, I'm likely to start running some smaller events off of challonge and advertised through reddit.
Take it easy everyone
--KB
2:43 PM lowman02: it's variance laden
2:45 PM lowman02: yeah I suppose we'll see on it--hopefully, we see this format clearly and go in the direction that German Highlander has gone which isn't perfect, but is far more balanced and healthy
2:45 PM ML_Berlin: go ahead and make a council
I agree with Stsung, and I think there is a home for Grim Monolith, it's likely the most busted mana artifact in the format from a raw power level, arguments could be made for lotus petal or coalition relic, but I tend to think this one takes the cheddar on raw power. Before cloudpost this card was used to put accelerated U on the map. The issue I have with cards like this is that they're the worst top decks in the late game, but I think as a builder of decks we can avoid this by paying payoff cards to reward drawing them late, for instance reshape, transmute artifact, daretti, goblin welder, master transmuter, koldotha forgemaster, etc , or upheaval, wildfire, and burning of xinye etc; in one context you would be building a U or MUD based combo control deck more than likely and in the other essentially RU prison (board control with lighter permission). MUD is also viable, but far more midrange than its aggressive and prison style brethren in Vintage...the difficulty I've had building it is that it lacks the cohesion, redundancy of effect to make it either a true control or aggro deck...this is not a problem per se but you may mulligan aggressively matchup dependent because the deck will be less focused...much like Stsung talked about in her 5CAggro(aggro/control [midrange]) or what she alluded to as being the true power of 4CBlood...it's a swtich deck and you can play either aggro or control with it matchup dependent (watch me play vs. WW and RDW...not perfect play but I think it displays how I've boarded the deck to play control moreso than aggro, etc).
Take it easy.
KB
I agree with Stsung, and I think there is a home for Grim Monolith, it's likely the most busted mana artifact in the format from a raw power level, arguments could be made for lotus petal or coalition relic, but I tend to think this one takes the cheddar on raw power. Before cloudpost this card was used to put accelerated U on the map. The issue I have with cards like this is that they're the worst top decks in the late game, but I think as a builder of decks we can avoid this by paying payoff cards to reward drawing them late, for instance reshape, transmute artifact, daretti, goblin welder, master transmuter, koldotha forgemaster, etc , or upheaval, wildfire, and burning of xinye etc; in one context you would be building a U or MUD based combo control deck more than likely and in the other essentially RU prison (board control with lighter permission). MUD is also viable, but far more midrange than its aggressive and prison style brethren in Vintage...the difficulty I've had building it is that it lacks the cohesion, redundancy of effect to make it either a true control or aggro deck...this is not a problem per se but you may mulligan aggressively matchup dependent because the deck will be less focused...much like Stsung talked about in her 5CAggro(aggro/control [midrange]) or what she alluded to as being the true power of 4CBlood...it's a swtich deck and you can play either aggro or control with it matchup dependent (watch me play vs. WW and RDW...not perfect play but I think it displays how I've boarded the deck to play control moreso than aggro, etc).
Take it easy.
KB
The two most under-represented cards in terms of power level are Hermit Druid and Birthing Pod this is comparative to these two cards central nature in winning decks this season. Despite Hermit Druid claiming a victory in a recent tournament, the card is not often played, maybe 2-3 times this whole season. Birthing Pod is in quite a few decks, but it hasn't been winning as many games as it could...chiefly, I think it has to do with how the decks it's been run in have been built, which are at times conflicted between ramp and true value midrange. Where Pod shines is in a value midrange or value combo based midrange strategy, this is, after all, how it got banned in Modern :). Humility and Moat are two powerful cards that also feel under represented, but the rise of aggressive strategies packing their own PWs has also certainly made their deck (U/W/b) a bit worse an option in the meta. Winter Orb and Black Vise are also high power level cards that don't see a ton of play, the former likely should in more decks, the latter is of dubious quality and highly dependent on when it's played and against what deck you're playing it (it's kind of like Aether Vial for me in this format, ie I don't like it but can't dispute it's power when played T1 etc). Goblin Welder is also a very powerful card for the rate that we don't see very often, if entomb were legal this card would likely see a lot more play though. These are a few that come to mind, why did you think there was something that should see more play?
--KB
Appreciate it man. Yeah S&R and THate were definately two people I thought about adding onto the list, and if they were interested should be.
Rob (Z),
Not sure if you read this thread or not man, but did you set up a reddit for this format, if so, then please post it at convenience...and I'll likely take a quick look for it too.
All,
Good clean massacre this weekend, the trophy is posted below, if you've never taken a closer look at the new Chandra (second newest really) art then check it out, they did a pretty good job on that one...and the card is a beating...of course. Game play will be uploaded and linked here for your entertainment, edification, or whatever you like: 09 SEP 17 CSM Video
Take it easy everyone
--KB
From what I can tell, T-rex may have been a highschool TIG welding experiment gone wrong in all the right ways, but with his baby arms he's probably not as good at carrying a sword...this is exceptionally important as I want to ensure on turn 7 when I equip my 5 drop sword I don't get blown out and waste any mana...efficiency is crucial. Who do you think you are talking crap on old wiener neck McGee, think that duder was in my starter pack in 94...power creep's a #$%#%...However the old Wurm reminds me of my favorite commander (FFA rules) quote of all time: "What do you MFer's really expect me to be doing with Sol Ring...casting Craw Wurms and *****" (what this lacks in good taste or any sense of correctness...is that it's likely the most elegant summary of that format and expectations in it...ever said by a human)
--KB
ML recently charged me with an objective, after vehement disagreement about the direction of the 100c format and its banned listing: to develop a council, similar to German or Canadian Highlander, of voting members who would maintain the ban listing as well as a watch list, which would be used as a tool to ban cards in following meetings of the council; cards that were either introduced through new set development or old cards which see repeated abusiveness in the format. The council would convene to discuss these matters through text chat on mtgo @ #100cCouncil on a biannual basis (June and December exact times to be set by council through coordination with other members) with updates to both the banned list and the watch list, requiring a majority vote for a ban or unban from all voting members (or inclusion on the watch list). There would be 7 voting members on this council to ensure that votes were definitive in nature, but with a majority always achieved. All voting members would be required to vote on any card presented for a vote. Any card that would be removed from the banned list would automatically be on the watch list until the following meeting of the council, meaning that these cards unbanned would be automatically open to rebanning upon the council convening in the subsequent biannual session or for emergency purposes if the format were to grow too unhealthy. Upon determination of this council's members, there would be immediate voting on the current ban list and a nomination of the watch list with effects taking place in the next tournament structure the week following the voting session and dissemination of the council's decision.
The process is simple and would likely require about 1hr to 1.5hrs of time from the voting council on an annual basis. The difficulty in this method comes with the selection of the voting council. Our numbers are small, but they are greater than 7. I've spoken with another player in regards to this matter and feel that this is should not be left to voting, but should instead be chosen by the amount a player plays in the format, their general support for the community, and lastly how often they win in this format. The last is likely to be controversial, but I would offer that although we learn less in victory, we show more knowledge when we are able to achieve it over our opposition, and at the end of the day what I think the format needs is those players that care most about it and have displayed the most knowledge of it to enable it to continue to persevere and grow.
I believe the council should consist of the following players:
1. The_Sensei: He likely has more play experience in the format than all current players combined and has been a part of the community for close to a decade or possibly more, regardless he's a solid player of the game in multiple different formats and a steadfast community member.
2. Rob_Zdar: Rob is a sharp player, deck builder, and someone who I genuinely believe has the ability to be objective about power level and fairness in this format given his long play experience.
3. Michelle_Wong: Michelle has been a steadfast member of the community for a long time, she has shown diversity in her building capability, and shown strong results with multiple different archetypes.
4. ML_Berlin: He's the man that's kept this format alive despite the format losing its filter on mtgo--without him we wouldn't have this semi-sanctioned ability to play it electronically. Although he and I disagree to a large extent on what is fair and what is not, I value his opinions because I'm only human and prone like all humans to think my ideas are the best, but luckily not quite dumb enough to always believe I'm right.
5. Stsung: She is a player who is the most arguable member on my listing of players, due to her limited participation in the event; however, what she lacks in continuous participation I feel she makes up for in experience and also victory when attended (she did win our largest event of last year or the Christmas Extravaganza), has written numerous articles and made video content in support of the format, community and to educate others on this format, and has numerous years of playing German Highlander to several T8 finishes, which is a format not vastly different from our own.
6. dawts: If he'd care to vote, he has been a highly successful player in our format and has shown he knows what it takes to win in the 100c format. I think his views and vote would be value added in growing the format, but preserving a fair environment for players.
7. lowman02: I'm not a politician at heart, so it's weird to say good things about myself, but I can win in this format, or at least numbers have shown this and I feel like I can remain objective about the format...and hell, I care about it quite a bit too and would like to see it grow...I know at least 3-4 of the newest players we have began watching my silly videos that all of about 10-12 folks watch, but it did also help grow this format a bit. I think I could be value added in this process.
I would ask if anyone does not consent to those I've recommended come forward and recommend another, but I think all of these folks are worthy of the charge, if they accept, I expect that we'll have 1-2 folks that would prefer not to vote if that's the case then I'd ask that you let that be known...for instance dawts is a hell of a player, but I'm not sure if he has interest in maintaining the format and may have moved on to other MTGO ventures, etc.
If uncontested in the charge, I could lead the council, all this would equate to is establishing the meeting times and collectivizing the result from all voting members and providing ML the extract to update the front page...nothing more.
Sensei, if possible it'd be nice to know how well my gut led me in listing these players, have I missed other players that have shown continued success in the format and have been a mainstay of the community?...you've been the de facto secretary of the format for a while with the number keeping etc. So if you have some spare time, I'd appreciate how players stack up in regards to volume of play and success in the format if that's possible.
Let me know what you all think. This is the concept that I came up with; if we were to go with it, then the first council would review the entire ban list, ie vote on all the banned cards, and would table any currently unbanned card with a 1/3 minority vote to open the discussion on said card, but then require a majority vote to ban said card that had been tabled.
Does this system and do these folks make sense?
Thanks guys.
--KB
I'll play that list anytime with curve based permanent decks, ha
and what the hell is that piece of toast doing in your message
KB
No, I think Carnage Tyrant is bad; this card is a trap...anytime WoTC prints a card with uncounterable on it certain folks ears perk up, because these sort of folks enjoy a heads up game where both players are playing with certainty that what they intend on enacting will happen(and at this point what is the f'ing point we're just running through permutations of a deck and decisions don't matter outside of building the world's most perfect clock and/or hoping to get lucky...). This card is a far cry from Thrun, The Last Troll, if you cast this against my U based control deck, then I'll throw a Baleful Strix under the bus (and take 6), Diabolic Edict it, Day of Judgement it, Elspeth, Sun's Champion down tick it, Council's Judgement it...etc, etc. Wait none of these cards are even U...the issue with cards like this are that they give players a false hope by treating a symptom of a greater problem vs decks that utilize U as a supporting control color for permission (in U decks you're more often using counter magic to stop the threats you can't 2-1 your opponent on, ie PWs and non-critter spells). You beat U and control style decks in two ways, one presenting permanents that they have to utilize card advantage cards like Wrath of God on a one for one basis against (or Oblivion Ring on a PW threat) (this is crucial in these matchups, if you do it right you can force U/W/B players to play a 4-6 mana spell to take out 1-2 cards, which surprise generally means your crap will resolve next turn
Guess I'd harken your attention back to the RDW vs MonoU deck matchup we played a while ago when you were concerned about your ML matchup, ie RDW. If I cast a turn 1 goblin guide or jackal pup, I'm infinitely better off than if I cast a T5-6 carnage tyrant, especially if my opponent's only reliable means of dealing with my permanents is one for one permission or bounce. Efficiency is king, especially as you look at how you solely beat permission. For instance we played a game in the RDW vs MonoU matchup, where I got you to 1-2 life and was on like 1 card in hand, to your 5-6 cards in hand, while both of us were on a large mana situation, let's say 7-8 lands a piece. In this 14-15 turn game, I had the luxury of forcing your mono U deck to always keep its mana up and never land a threat of your own, because the moment you tapped out for a Jace, The Mind sculptor or a Consecrated Sphinx I could send 2-3 burn spells that cost 1-2 mana at your face which you'd have to counter at an exchange rate of 2-3 mana and would be unable to in a situation given equitable mana. In this way, I was eventually able to get to 8 cards in hand, and then utilizing my own ability to cast more cards in a turn force a gamestate where 1. you were unable to play threats and 2. unable to present the volume of answers required due to my deck's higher efficiency at an overwhelming cost to card economy. One can always hope a player will throw resources in piecemeal and allow their opposition to deal with them one by one, but if the opposition is apt they'll present overwhelming force at the right point in time to exploit any given weakness of your deck, archetype, specific build, playstyle whatever...Carnage Tyrant is a prime example of a trap that forgets these notions and comforts it's user in rules text that is irrelevant on T6, because you should have already won the game by that point, if all your opponent is doing is countering spells...people play these cards because they like the feeling they give them, not because they're good I guess is my point...and that beating control takes pretty much no 6 drop ever printed, because it's just not the best way to do it
Oh, and you know what else carries a sword better, your 1 drop, your 2 drop, your 3 drop, and your 4 drop
This card might interest ramp style decks, but I'm really not impressed by it...but, to be fair, I'm also not much of a ramp player...I tend to think that spending 2-3 non-interactive cards (in a single game) that solely increase your mana count puts you in a horrible spot vs interactive decks...so in a lot of ways you're again playing the perfect clock, luck factor and hoping to knock your top deck into what you need. Not really my thing, sometimes it's utterly unbeatable, other times it piece meals into the jaws of answers, because on decks like this you really can't afford to wait on your haymakers because they're not more efficient than the answers of the control player (ie they don't have this option like RDW)...this could put enough equity in the card if you were playing this style of deck...but I think I'd just go for Gaea's Revenge, it's only The Abyss without trample, but then you shouldn't be expecting critters if you're playing these cards in the first place.
Hope this helps or is at least amusing
KB
Protip: If you say "Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercats" and hold down control when you cast him then your opponent can't kill him on their next turn...next level tech, give it a shot
KB
Yeah the art actually cracked me up on that Judge Promo Variation on Argothian Enchantress...She's so full of life...among many things--as I'm sure was artistically intended--but while simple folk like me are stuck with their attention elsewhere that $%^&$ is drawing all the cards...damn you chauvinism, even magic art isn't excepted
I thought of writing funny text blurbs for each piece of art: for instance has anyone else ever looked close enough at Kamal to notice that he looks like Usama Bin Laden and Abraham Lincoln had a love child and then force fed that beautiful baby boy crystal meth, or that King Whiskers looks like he's secretly pissed off that Hollywood kept him from starring in Thundercats...not to mention playing second fiddle to Ajani, who got to be a PW for Christ's sake...which by the way is only showing us his good side in his promo art (or he just wants to see you [btw I didn't even know he was one eyed until I google stalked him...should have tried that first before online dating, #lifelessons...oops!]). Needless to say, my musings on magic art and its hilarity, at least to me, might dip in to the vastly profane...and are wont to be far more satirical than the general gravitas I think WoTC tries to induce with it (for instance it was no mistake that I cut the blood baron art right...that caged up lady is thinking "not the road cone, Rodney" (yeah that's a Hot Rod reference...if you enjoy the absurd as much as I do...well...if not, then definitely don't); by the way, how is this card even half White, this bad ass vampire is locking up humans and conducting foul experiments on them...and my guess is, even if they were the worst of human kind before (the whole Orzhov self righteous, old testament theme), they're not likely to get any nicer if they make it through this one...but if you ever want to feel good about any magic art then check out Brushwagg, this poor son of a #$%^^ looks like someone mashed a fecal ball of cat litter in the refuse of a wicker chair gone wrong; truly my favorite masterpiece.
By the way, you're welcome
--KB
PS-- WoTC is actually releasing a bunch of cool old cards in cool promo art only online to include Stasis and Chains of Mephistopheles, check them out Stasis is actually pretty sweet in the new art...one that got better.