This actually fits with all hybrid costs. Hybrid costs are basically a variable cost like {X}. {X} is a variable symbol that means you may pay any amount of mana of your choice from {0} to {∞}
That's not really how X works. When you play a spell that uses X, you choose a value for X first. (Off the top of my head, it's announce, modes, targets, X in that order...but whatever, it's in the rules). Then when you pay its cost, the value of X affects the cost. It may seem like semantic quibbling, but it is actually an important distinction in some cases. The difference is that you are stating that X gives you a choice of how much mana to pay, but you actually have no such choice. You choose X, then you must pay exactly X generic mana.
For what it's worth, my guess is that there will be no general rule for 2/B hybrid CMC cost, but the card itself will have a CDA that tells you what the CMC is, much the same way Ancestral Vision has to have a CDA saying that it's blue because it has no actual mana cost. But I can't imagine how they will do that--any attempt I make at it comes up really lame. The best I can do is something like "If Beseech the Queen is not in play or on the stack, its converted mana cost is 6."
I think in GMontag's case its more a matter of not believing in the concept of intellectual property rights at all.
Forgive me if I'm mischaracterizing what you're saying, GMontag, but would I be incorrect in assuming that you believe that the only real ownership is derived from labor?
I'm not speaking for GMontag, but "intellectual property" theory is severely flawed. Since the development of property theory, property rights have been an extension of the idea of self-ownership. You own your personal property (speaking of objects) because you have made it, or traded things you made for it. You own your land because you mixed labor with it and defended your claim to it.
If people infringe upon your property, you can no longer enjoy it. If they steal your car, you no longer have it. If they trespass, you cannot dispose of your land as you see fit, and you might even be in danger. People cannot do these things without reducing your rights to the property, so they do not have the right to do these things. On the contrary, you have the right to prevent them.
Intellectual property, on the other hand, is ephemeral. It cannot be physically defended--it can only be defended by aid of the government. Further, infringing upon your right to intellectual property does not prevent you from enjoying your property. However, your enforcement of your rights does limit my freedom of expression. So, unfortunately, the concept of intellectual property violates the natural-law principle of no-first-aggression.
I think that I'd rather have 4 Bandits than 4 Bitterblossoms. That appears the direction many of you have gone since I've been away from the thread.
What do you think of going to 4 Earwig Squad (and perhaps 1 fewer Morsel Theft)?
That's pretty funny, Shin, I serendipitously came up with almost exactly the same list. I can't really afford to run Mouth of Ronom, though, because some boneheads at my FNM have actually been boarding Freyalise's Radiance. Who would have thought that?
So I'm still scratching my head finding solutions to major threats. I can use Deathmark against Doran, and Sudden Spoiling against the Colossus. Maybe Nameless Inversion against other miscellaneous threats, though I could go with Sudden Death, too. I'll have to think it over some more.
I would just like to know if the Kinship ability is cumulative.
Remember that keywords in italics have no game meaning, but are there only to remind you that they are similar to other abilities with the same keyword. The "kinship" abilities are simply triggered abilities, and they function just like any other triggered ability.
Yeah, yeah, I know Kavu Predator, right, but I am really irritated to waste 4 spots in the sideboard against this piece of jank. Is there any general strategy tip to consider? This deck seems purposefully constructed to destroy Doran.
Swap helps you with your mana base....which is huge for this deck. You need to be hitting consistent Turn 2 Doran/Viper, in the most pain free way as possible.
You cannot hit T2 Doran/Viper consistently. At BEST it's half the time. Depending on your mana base, it could be worse. If you mulligan for it, you'll be taking a mulligan two games out of three.
If your experience is otherwise, you are simply getting lucky.
Not really. Doran/Rock usually can and does drop Doran on turn two.
People are probably going to get tired of me saying this, but "usually" is completely the wrong word. You have a Doran in your hand by turn two less than half the time if you are on the play, and about half the time when you are on the draw. Having this happen *and* dropping the correct combination of lands/birds/mana elves whatever reduces this SIGNIFICANTLY.
The math for the former is easy, the math for the latter is not, though. I estimate you will drop Doran on turn 2 about 30% of the time, if that. If you are getting him out on T2 more often than this, you are not shuffling very well.
Doran is still a hell of a deck, but let's not overstate how good it is.
Not just that, but your fattie isn't so fat if Doran gets whacked. Plus you will actually only get both of them into play rarely, even if you run 4 of both. Remember that nothing in this deck should DEPEND on Doran.
Whereas, if you can play the Colossus, you have the mana to pump him.
Everything else is self explanatory. I will not play vipers. I own none and do not feel that they are better than anything else that I already have in here.
I don't know. While I almost never have drawn an actual card in actual competition with the Viper, it scares people into not attacking. But for that Wren's Run Vanquisher might be better. Hm.
Uh....a fog deck that uses creatures to beat the opponent to death is not really a fog deck. It's really an extreme tempo deck or something. Might still be a good deck, but whatever.
That's not really how X works. When you play a spell that uses X, you choose a value for X first. (Off the top of my head, it's announce, modes, targets, X in that order...but whatever, it's in the rules). Then when you pay its cost, the value of X affects the cost. It may seem like semantic quibbling, but it is actually an important distinction in some cases. The difference is that you are stating that X gives you a choice of how much mana to pay, but you actually have no such choice. You choose X, then you must pay exactly X generic mana.
For what it's worth, my guess is that there will be no general rule for 2/B hybrid CMC cost, but the card itself will have a CDA that tells you what the CMC is, much the same way Ancestral Vision has to have a CDA saying that it's blue because it has no actual mana cost. But I can't imagine how they will do that--any attempt I make at it comes up really lame. The best I can do is something like "If Beseech the Queen is not in play or on the stack, its converted mana cost is 6."
I'm not speaking for GMontag, but "intellectual property" theory is severely flawed. Since the development of property theory, property rights have been an extension of the idea of self-ownership. You own your personal property (speaking of objects) because you have made it, or traded things you made for it. You own your land because you mixed labor with it and defended your claim to it.
If people infringe upon your property, you can no longer enjoy it. If they steal your car, you no longer have it. If they trespass, you cannot dispose of your land as you see fit, and you might even be in danger. People cannot do these things without reducing your rights to the property, so they do not have the right to do these things. On the contrary, you have the right to prevent them.
Intellectual property, on the other hand, is ephemeral. It cannot be physically defended--it can only be defended by aid of the government. Further, infringing upon your right to intellectual property does not prevent you from enjoying your property. However, your enforcement of your rights does limit my freedom of expression. So, unfortunately, the concept of intellectual property violates the natural-law principle of no-first-aggression.
2 Pendlehaven
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
16 Swamp
4 Prickly Boggart
4 Nightshade Stinger
4 Oona's Prowler
4 Oona's Blackguard
3 Stinkdrinker Bandit
3 Earwig Squad
4 Bitterblossom
4 Noggin Whack
4 Morsel Theft
3 Deathmark
4 Nameless Inversion
4 Sudden Spoiling
4 Thoughtseize
I think that I'd rather have 4 Bandits than 4 Bitterblossoms. That appears the direction many of you have gone since I've been away from the thread.
What do you think of going to 4 Earwig Squad (and perhaps 1 fewer Morsel Theft)?
So I'm still scratching my head finding solutions to major threats. I can use Deathmark against Doran, and Sudden Spoiling against the Colossus. Maybe Nameless Inversion against other miscellaneous threats, though I could go with Sudden Death, too. I'll have to think it over some more.
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Murmuring Bosk
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Secluded Glen
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Adarkar Wastes
3 Mistmeadow Skulk
4 Merfolk Looter
4 Oona's Prowler
3 Oona's Blackguard
3 Chameleon Colossus
4 Cairn Wanderer
3 Shriekmaw
2 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
2 Akorma, Angel of Fury
4 Nameless Inversion
4 Profane Command
3 Chameleon Colossus
4 Murmuring Bosk
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
3 Makeshift Mannequin
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Underground River
4 Mutavault
What do you think? It's sort of a weird reanimator with aggro rogue backup.
Remember that keywords in italics have no game meaning, but are there only to remind you that they are similar to other abilities with the same keyword. The "kinship" abilities are simply triggered abilities, and they function just like any other triggered ability.
14/8. 4/4 -> 7/1 -> 14/8. Unless of course it had the +1/+1 counter, then it would be 16/10.
Sorry.
Yeah, yeah, I know Kavu Predator, right, but I am really irritated to waste 4 spots in the sideboard against this piece of jank. Is there any general strategy tip to consider? This deck seems purposefully constructed to destroy Doran.
You cannot hit T2 Doran/Viper consistently. At BEST it's half the time. Depending on your mana base, it could be worse. If you mulligan for it, you'll be taking a mulligan two games out of three.
If your experience is otherwise, you are simply getting lucky.
People are probably going to get tired of me saying this, but "usually" is completely the wrong word. You have a Doran in your hand by turn two less than half the time if you are on the play, and about half the time when you are on the draw. Having this happen *and* dropping the correct combination of lands/birds/mana elves whatever reduces this SIGNIFICANTLY.
The math for the former is easy, the math for the latter is not, though. I estimate you will drop Doran on turn 2 about 30% of the time, if that. If you are getting him out on T2 more often than this, you are not shuffling very well.
Doran is still a hell of a deck, but let's not overstate how good it is.
Whereas, if you can play the Colossus, you have the mana to pump him.
Ha ha! Why choose?
I don't know. While I almost never have drawn an actual card in actual competition with the Viper, it scares people into not attacking. But for that Wren's Run Vanquisher might be better. Hm.
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Murmuring Bosk
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
9 Plains
4 Rites of Flourishing
4 Underworld Dreams
4 Pollen Lullaby
4 Dawn Charm
4 Darkness
4 Wrath of God
4 Damnation
4 Other
This build might not actually need the mass removal, or as much, which then allows you to put in lifegain, graveyard manipulators, whatever.
The problem I have with Bitterblossom is that you do enough damage to yourself with this deck already.