The specific example: I was recently pondering over how great a card Tidehollow Sculler was. Mesmeric Fiend is a weaker example of this effect. I was wondering how much an enchantment, nickname "Oblivion Sculler", would cost. The effect could be considered better or worse than discard, and even better or worse than Sculler himself.
The general question: How do you cost enchantments when they have similar effects to other spells?
EDIT: For the sake of critique, my take on the cost for the Oblivion Sculler is :symbw:, but understand this could be too aggressive.
You get the Detain keyword in your guildpack, an absurd finisher also with Detain, and then you can use the equally absurd Selesnya/Izzet cards, ie the 2/2 Knight producers or Blustersquall, which is an INSTANT SLEEP.
@rustheman - that image has already been ruled a fake.
In regards to these 5, nothing looks immediately playable in Standard besides maaaaaaaaybe Dreg Mangler, because it is an aggressive, card-advantageous creature in the colors of ISD Block's most successful deck: Jund. Izzet Charm looks like it might have a place in Modern at the moment, but there will definitely need to be a shift in the meta PLUS some more support to be Standard playable.
She's meant to be in a GW or rGW deck, with mana dorks and other efficient beaters.
Sublime Archangel overcomes the combat inefficiencies of Bant. Instead of neutering decent cards by limiting when they can attack, Archangel takes the creatures that you don't want to attack with anyways and gives them exalted.
Last of all, she's a 4/3 flyer. That is more than fine to add to alpha swings. I don't see why people rag on Exalted so much when math is simple. Q: Do I gain more by swinging with one creature, or all of them? A: Do the better option.
Return to Ravnica will be the ultimate decider of Sublime Archangel's playability; right now I see her as a just fine 1-of in a deck with 8 mana dorks.
I agree. if there was something else that could be great with it other than Doomed T., it would be awesome.
Yeah if you could run 8 Travelers, I think it's very viable.
Other responses to Geist would include Tribute to Hunger, which is a 3-drop in a tight list with a tight 3-drop spot already. If you want insanely clunky options, Hollowhenge Spirit removes the Angel from combat and trades with Geist. lol
I can't help but think Altar's Reap isn't worth the slot. More often than not you're trashing a token to play an extra one (-1 for sac +2 tokens for spell).
EDIT: Whoops, meant to preview, not reply. In its place maybe Mikaeus? Sorry, I only looked through the last page or so, didn't see too much talk on him.
I think a suite of singleton bullets is fine in a deck with 4 Snapcasters.
However, I would move to a full 4 Gitaxian Probes pre-board. The information is extremely valuable in Game 1 - especially after you've had time to playtest and learn the correct lines for each matchup. I haven't been super impressed with Psychic Barrier, so I would cut that and go to 20 lands. 20 lands is really more like 24 when you have 8 0-1 mana cantrips.
Also, I would cut the Invisible Stalkers for Merfolk Looters and 1 Haunting for 1 more Geist, but that is just personal preference.
You know, that's quite true, at least in testing. This deck gets weirdly flooded, and Psychic Barrier hasn't been spicy at all.
Taking into consideration the suggestions made by you both, I'll start testing this:
Dissipate was an instant inclusion halfway through the second day of testing. I'd add one main, but five 3-CMC spells with 20 lands (even with the cantrips) already seems a touch dodgy. I'll also see how Looter fares.
I just picked up the deck, but have actually been running 1 Revoke MB from the start to great results. It is rarely ever a dead card, feeds Delver, and is usually a surprise.
Then I have 1 more Revoke SB along with 2 Purges that I bring in against the Curse.
Ya so I tried contacting my senator, Orin Hatch about SOPA. His email link is "under construction", and phone calls went straight to an answering machine. Anyone else having this problem?
Orrin Hatch is one of the more publicly known congressmen, I'm not too surprised. I'd keep trying intermittently.
I've played about 20 matches since picking up the deck yesterday. Most were against the mirror, with RDW and U(W)/(B) control the other main decks in the mix. Looking forward to another round of testing again today.
I just can't bring myself to organize my 1-ofs, I love each of them so much in testing. I also hate Gitaxian Probe, but view it as a necessary evil.
I definitely did NOT know how to play this deck at the start. I was way, way, way too aggressive and it showed in my results. So much more practice to be had...
The general question: How do you cost enchantments when they have similar effects to other spells?
EDIT: For the sake of critique, my take on the cost for the Oblivion Sculler is :symbw:, but understand this could be too aggressive.
You get the Detain keyword in your guildpack, an absurd finisher also with Detain, and then you can use the equally absurd Selesnya/Izzet cards, ie the 2/2 Knight producers or Blustersquall, which is an INSTANT SLEEP.
There's also too many Forests and not enough Caverns in those sample BG lists, you definitely want to cast Messenger on 3.
Seriously, it sickens me how fun this would have been to play in this Standard.
So now, a possible Jund lineup of:
Gravecrawler
Lotleth-Troll
Geralf's Messenger
Falkenrath Aristocrat
Thragtusk
4 Tomb, 4 Crypt, 4 Cavern; your move, Trebek.
In regards to these 5, nothing looks immediately playable in Standard besides maaaaaaaaybe Dreg Mangler, because it is an aggressive, card-advantageous creature in the colors of ISD Block's most successful deck: Jund. Izzet Charm looks like it might have a place in Modern at the moment, but there will definitely need to be a shift in the meta PLUS some more support to be Standard playable.
Sublime Archangel overcomes the combat inefficiencies of Bant. Instead of neutering decent cards by limiting when they can attack, Archangel takes the creatures that you don't want to attack with anyways and gives them exalted.
Last of all, she's a 4/3 flyer. That is more than fine to add to alpha swings. I don't see why people rag on Exalted so much when math is simple. Q: Do I gain more by swinging with one creature, or all of them? A: Do the better option.
Return to Ravnica will be the ultimate decider of Sublime Archangel's playability; right now I see her as a just fine 1-of in a deck with 8 mana dorks.
Yeah if you could run 8 Travelers, I think it's very viable.
Other responses to Geist would include Tribute to Hunger, which is a 3-drop in a tight list with a tight 3-drop spot already. If you want insanely clunky options, Hollowhenge Spirit removes the Angel from combat and trades with Geist. lol
EDIT: Whoops, meant to preview, not reply. In its place maybe Mikaeus? Sorry, I only looked through the last page or so, didn't see too much talk on him.
You know, that's quite true, at least in testing. This deck gets weirdly flooded, and Psychic Barrier hasn't been spicy at all.
Taking into consideration the suggestions made by you both, I'll start testing this:
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Moorland Haunt
8 Island
1 Plains
Creatures (13)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Invisible Stalker
1 Merfolk Looter
2 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Runechanter's Pike
Instants/Sorceries (25)
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Ponder
4 Vapor Snag
3 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Revoke Existence
1 Disperse
3 Midnight Haunting
2 Mental Misstep
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Celestial Purge
1 Negate
1 Revoke Existence
1 Divine Offering
3 Timely Reinforcements
1 Dissipate
Then I have 1 more Revoke SB along with 2 Purges that I bring in against the Curse.
Orrin Hatch is one of the more publicly known congressmen, I'm not too surprised. I'd keep trying intermittently.
http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/
A list of proponents and opponents of the bill.
Any input on this 75?
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Moorland Haunt
9 Island
1 Plains
Creatures (12)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Invisible Stalker
2 Geist of Saint Traft
Equipment (2)
2 Runechanter's Pike
4 Ponder
4 Vapor Snag
4 Gut Shot
2 Gitaxian Probe
4 Mana Leak
1 Negate
1 Psychic Barrier
1 Revoke Existence
1 Disperse
3 Midnight Haunting
3 Mental Misstep
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Celestial Purge
1 Negate
1 Revoke Existence
1 Divine Offering
3 Timely Reinforcement
I just can't bring myself to organize my 1-ofs, I love each of them so much in testing. I also hate Gitaxian Probe, but view it as a necessary evil.
I definitely did NOT know how to play this deck at the start. I was way, way, way too aggressive and it showed in my results. So much more practice to be had...