Sure. But maybe they're not stalling?
On occasion the server is reeeeeaaaaaaaaally slow for me, but my opponent seems to be able to play the game just fine.
I might struggle to play a land before I run out of time due to the game not responding sometimes... just sayin.
This game needs to have tiers or match play based on how powerful one player's entire collection is vs another.
Entire collection? I disagree.
I do think the matchmaking needs some serious work however. Maybe along the lines of win-streaks or win percentage of the deck you're playing? That way if you decide to play some silly deck just for fun, you're not immediately coming up against Esper-Control.
I mean, just today trying to play this game at all in one vs one has ended up having a match where someone ixalan binds a krasis, and the deck shuffler stacked all the krasis together followed by a land pocket 3 deep.
The next match, I get all four arrests bunched up, a land pocket of 4 lands, and die because the other guys starting hand basically was better.
The match after that, I ended up having all my hero of precinct one stacked, a land pocket of 3 lands, and then got into another pocket of three of my four negates.
Yeah I've been having the same problem, but then, real paper magic does have instances of this too, just not as regularly.
Thing is, variance is fine, but I do find your land choices make a big difference to starting hands.
Case in point, playing Esper Control.
I found that having my land count (26 for me) a certain way would get me all 3 colours by T3 every single game, but if I deleted a guildgate for a second swamp, I would see both of those swamps by T2, and generally get locked out of blue until T5.
And I've noticed this in other decks to a lesser degree. My advice would be, if your deck regularly runs well and curves out well, don't change anything.
Methinks the developers have some work to do on their deck shuffler.
Matching up certain decks with others is tedious, but I only notice being really obvious in ranked play. If I play;
RDW - my opponents are almost always running lifegain with Golgari Midrange, White Weenie & Esper Control, occasionally the Mirror.
Gates - Esper Control almost exclusively, which can be very tough to beat.
Esper - Mirror, Golgari Mid or RDW
Izzet Drakes - Mono-Blue, Esper & RDW
Gruul - Esper or RDW
I very rarely play against a Gates deck, and I can expect to play against either Esper or RDW in every second game if I play any of the above decks.
Now if I play a silly deck running lots of basic lands, rubbish creatures etc., I come up against other homebrew janky decks I would otherwise never see.
And this is despite of playing ranked play or not. I never see these decks unless I'm running something rubbish, which is a shame, I kinda want to see homebrew creations across the *virtual table* so I can steal their idea's.
My experience of +1/+1 counter decks is that unless you're running some sort of combo, you're planning to swing massive creatures before an opponent pops a sweeper. Cauldron of Souls here might help a little, but it can be a frustrating type of deck to play, totally dependent on your opponents.
That said, built well, these decks can swing for massive damage quickly in a big FFA.
That's not really surprising given how miserable Jin-Gitaxias is to play against.
Pretty much this. Reanimator does paint a massive target on you generally, as does much combo.
In my MP reanimator deck, I'm running a less powerful shell, Hydra Omnivore, Caller of the Pack, Warchief Giant for stomping & utility in Ashen Rider.
Not the best options considering the archetype, but they force opponents to think about defending, which matters if they're trying to stomp you out.
I really like the Giant, even tho it's the worst target of the lot, as haste does some serious lifting if you can land this on turn2.
You seem to have a tonne of manadorks but little else. Once you burn through your hand you have nothing to do with all that mana.
I'd consider something like Hydra Broodmaster to soak up mana and create multiple threats.
You really need at least 4 to 6 ways to draw into more cards efficiently. Shamanic Revelation & Harmonize could both do a tonne of work here.
Given you're running a large number of small creatures, Shaman of Forgotten Ways is another option.
Formidable just before you attack with a large number of critters is a thought.
Or you might play with some Primal Surge with 1 or 2 Cauldron of Souls.
Make sure the rest of your deck is all permanents so you can vomit a large portion of your library on the board in a single turn.
(see also Genesis Wave)
Overwhelming Stampede can be great but it's counterable.
I'd consider changing it to something like Kamahl, Fist of Krosa or Gempalm Strider.
Kamahl is my preference, but I saw you're using harbinger, which can dig for Gempalm if you might want it.
1
Sure. But maybe they're not stalling?
On occasion the server is reeeeeaaaaaaaaally slow for me, but my opponent seems to be able to play the game just fine.
I might struggle to play a land before I run out of time due to the game not responding sometimes... just sayin.
Entire collection? I disagree.
I do think the matchmaking needs some serious work however. Maybe along the lines of win-streaks or win percentage of the deck you're playing? That way if you decide to play some silly deck just for fun, you're not immediately coming up against Esper-Control.
1
Yeah I've been having the same problem, but then, real paper magic does have instances of this too, just not as regularly.
Thing is, variance is fine, but I do find your land choices make a big difference to starting hands.
Case in point, playing Esper Control.
I found that having my land count (26 for me) a certain way would get me all 3 colours by T3 every single game, but if I deleted a guildgate for a second swamp, I would see both of those swamps by T2, and generally get locked out of blue until T5.
And I've noticed this in other decks to a lesser degree. My advice would be, if your deck regularly runs well and curves out well, don't change anything.
Methinks the developers have some work to do on their deck shuffler.
Matching up certain decks with others is tedious, but I only notice being really obvious in ranked play. If I play;
RDW - my opponents are almost always running lifegain with Golgari Midrange, White Weenie & Esper Control, occasionally the Mirror.
Gates - Esper Control almost exclusively, which can be very tough to beat.
Esper - Mirror, Golgari Mid or RDW
Izzet Drakes - Mono-Blue, Esper & RDW
Gruul - Esper or RDW
I very rarely play against a Gates deck, and I can expect to play against either Esper or RDW in every second game if I play any of the above decks.
Now if I play a silly deck running lots of basic lands, rubbish creatures etc., I come up against other homebrew janky decks I would otherwise never see.
And this is despite of playing ranked play or not. I never see these decks unless I'm running something rubbish, which is a shame, I kinda want to see homebrew creations across the *virtual table* so I can steal their idea's.
1
1
That said, built well, these decks can swing for massive damage quickly in a big FFA.
Chandra's Ignition is great, but your deck isn't focused on the plan. You have too few creatures.
I'd up Hardened Scales to 4. Forgetten Ancient begs for a partner to abuse, like Fathom Mage does for blue.
Lurking Predators is great in decks where the only non-creatures are lands, I can't see a reason to play it here. If you do decide to run with a creature only deck, Bane of Progress is great.
You need draw. I usually go with around 4. Greater Good, Momentous Fall, Life's Legacy, Shamanic Revelation, Rishkar's Expertise, Inspiring Call, Armorcraft Judge etc. are just some options this deck could use.
Pathbreaker Ibex can be pretty good here too.
Ion Storm might be useful to control utility creatures your opponents control.
1
Pretty much this. Reanimator does paint a massive target on you generally, as does much combo.
In my MP reanimator deck, I'm running a less powerful shell, Hydra Omnivore, Caller of the Pack, Warchief Giant for stomping & utility in Ashen Rider.
Not the best options considering the archetype, but they force opponents to think about defending, which matters if they're trying to stomp you out.
I really like the Giant, even tho it's the worst target of the lot, as haste does some serious lifting if you can land this on turn2.
1
I'd consider something like Hydra Broodmaster to soak up mana and create multiple threats.
You really need at least 4 to 6 ways to draw into more cards efficiently.
Shamanic Revelation & Harmonize could both do a tonne of work here.
Given you're running a large number of small creatures, Shaman of Forgotten Ways is another option.
Formidable just before you attack with a large number of critters is a thought.
Or you might play with some Primal Surge with 1 or 2 Cauldron of Souls.
Make sure the rest of your deck is all permanents so you can vomit a large portion of your library on the board in a single turn.
(see also Genesis Wave)
Overwhelming Stampede can be great but it's counterable.
I'd consider changing it to something like Kamahl, Fist of Krosa or Gempalm Strider.
Kamahl is my preference, but I saw you're using harbinger, which can dig for Gempalm if you might want it.