Hmm, not exactly what I was expected. My initial reaction to seeing BUG Evolggro was thinking you used a few more evolve creatures, and indeed at least some Cloudfin Raptors, combined with Corpsejack Menace to curve into with evolve creatures. Menace would give your evolve creatures 2 +1/+1 counters when it enters the battlefield, thus probably posing a significant threat. But with the significant lack of a critical mass of evolve creatures, Menace probably isn't worth it. And other than that strategy, I can't help but shake the feeling that the evolve creatures are subpar for a deck like this. Testing will definitely be required.
Mercy Killing exists. Transforming creatures in green (and white for that matter) has some precedence.
Edit: Sorry, saw previous post mentioned it. To add to this, would people be so upset if it wasn't so aggressively costed? What if it cost 4CMC? A drawback added to an instant speed Bramblecrush or a more expensive Mercy Killing that doesn't provide massive card advantage to the creature's controller. Could people live with themselves then? Probably wouldn't make a difference. It is pushing the boundaries, but it isn't like they made another desert twister. Plus, Wizards has been experimenting with Green lately it seems to give it some additional removal options. I have come to accept the Hornet Stings and Beast Withins as the experiments they really are.
If are really determined to make the card work at an FNM or for casual games, your best bet would probably be pair Lost in the Woods with Sphere of Safety, some ramp, and a few finishers. Stall aggro rushes with sphere, and whatever gets through will only ever actually hit you about half the time. Could be a silly, fun deck to try out.
This card will make waves, of course, but it won't completely destroy decks, just roadblock a bit like Thalia. And a nice roadblock at that. Thalia's best friend. Gotta remove 'em both.
I suspect that, should there be another Magic parody product, it will not be a traditional set but a side product ala Planechase or Duel Decks. Perhaps they could poke fun at all the different side products they shoveled out over the years in addition to the usual mockery of traditional Magic.
It's probably just to help show that this Ravnica is different. There are now places that the guilds don't touch. So one pure land of each, and then the guild influenced lands as previously speculated makes the most sense. The guild-influenced ones may have panorama arts ala Lorwyn lands.
I've never understood why Rebuff the Wicked is still more popular than Faith's Shield (as indicated by their prices). Any spell that targets a permanent you control can easily be hosed by giving the targeted permanent protection from that spell's color, but giving a permanent protection from a color makes Faith's shield more flexible imo. The only instance I can think of Rebuff > Faith's is if the offending spell has multiple targets or additional effects tacked onto it, but these cases seem few and far. Perhaps I'm missing something?
On a similar note, I've also never understood why Paradise Mantle is so much more expensive (popular) over Springleaf Drum, especially considering that the drum sees tournament play in affinity. Both spells cost 1 mana before you can start using their ability, but drum can let you add mana right away, AND you don't have ever worry about paying extra mana to re-equip. Yet paradise plume is a $2+ card!
I don't understand, someone please enlighten me
Rebuff the Wicked is an older card. Packs are not being opened as frequently of Planar Chaos anymore.
As for Mantle vs Drum: 1) Mantle is an uncommon from an older set.
2) Drum is not superior in all aspects.
For example: Paradise Mantle + Puresight Merrow
3) A card doesn't need to be used in tournaments to have a higher price tag. Ex: Doubling Season
Price =/= popularity. Prices are not solely based on demand, but on supply as well.
Not pleased with Perilous Myr? Why not add some Mortarpods? Not only is it good with Perry, it provides another much needed relevant two-drop and some spot removal, and it also gives you a use for those goat tokens should you choose to make some.
I can accept that it might have been a misunderstanding. All I'm saying is it took me out of the story and reminded me I was reading a computer screen. Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but 'hand' instead of 'hands', regardless of accuracy, would've sounded better.
I agree that the sentence could use a rewording. As is, it is confusing. I had to reread the sentence before I got what was meant, and I see how the sentence can be jarring. It works as is now in regards to continuity, but I am sure there was a better way to phrase it. Changing to "hand" would have sacrificed accuracy and sounded better, yes. I don't think that little bit of accuracy needed to be lost at all, though. I am sure there is some alternative wording of the sentence that would sound better as well as staying in continuity by avoiding "hands" altogether.
The story lost me when the main character we've been repeatedly told was one-armed, washed his hands. I assume it was a typo, but it pulled me out of an already shaky narrative. At least there was no gratuitous thesaurus waving this week, thankfully.
It wasn't a typo, just a easily-made misunderstanding. He only lost his arm 6 years ago. He was making clocks for decades. He had washed the filings and oil off his hands long before he lost one hand.
Relevant parts:
He had lost his left arm to the creeping plague that had been his constant companion for the past six years—the plague turned the strange clockmaker into the village pariah. He was certain that, were it not for his rare skills, he would have been cast out into the snow-covered forest and forgotten long ago.
For decades, he had scrubbed a similar mixture from his own hands at the end of a long day's work.
Anyway, I liked all the stories so far. This Chronomaton one was not as well executed as the other two and was really reaching to incorporate some other cards (I had to reread to see how Wild Guess was connected), but it wasn't close to horrid or cringe-worthy, so I'll accept it. Looking forward to the next installment.
This is the only time Geist of Saint Traft would suck in an Exalted deck because he would never attack alone.
Geist does get exalted bonuses if you declare it as the only attacker. The token it puts into play was never declared as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step, and so the game stills sees only one creature has attacked (as opposed to "is attacking") that turn. Plus, geist's trigger triggers at the same time as exalted anyway so you can stack them.
Before the wall of text, I am just going to say I got caught up in responding to things that I let time slip away from me. After posting this, I am going to bed, but here are some things that popped out at me.
Quote from Expired Rascals »
Trolling still spills out from the gutter
I would like some citations please. As far as I can see, since the reopening of the Gutter, everything has been extremely calm. (Except, of course, during this current drama, since these are not regular circumstances and emotional responses are understandable.)
Also, you say "spills out" meaning...? Do you mean a few Gutter members are found trolling? Then the individuals are punished accordingly... right? What further actions must be taken then? Why should I be punished for their misbehaving?
A few Gutterites are found trolling =/= the entire Gutter community consists of trolls who have to contain their trolling in the Gutter. (The Gutter is not a place to troll behind other posters' backs.)
And "spills out" makes it sound like the Gutter itself is the reason these people are trolling. Show one instance where this is the case, please?
I guess I will give my lurker's perspective on the loaded question.
Quote from ExpiredRascals »
Can the Gutter show and prove how over the past 7 years it's presence has enhanced and promoted MTGS site and the MTGS "community" as a whole in a positive light that encourages participation by individuals, families and other entities affiliated with the game whether it be on a casual or professional level and how a continued presence of the Gutter would be of future benefit to the site?
The Gutter is an extremely strong draw for many posters, seeing as it is defended time and time again. It encourages people to be a quality poster, even if the regular poster cannot see the encouragement. It gives users who discover the place and enjoy the atmosphere a place to call home.
Also, I could argue that the Rumor Mill does not promote the MTGS community in a positive light... nor the competitive forums and the elitists... But I am convinced we can solve the problems without having to kill a tight-knit community.
Quote from Surging Chaos »
7+ years of the Gutter and site's history as a whole
History is history. I know a lot of people have spotty history with members of the Gutter in the past. But could you consider that the Gutter may have changed? The Gutter has been behaving since its reopening. This is not the Gutter of old, and I cannot stress that enough. Has there been some great wrong that the Gutter has done since it reopened that is deserving of insta-banning? (Insta-banning meaning a banning that seems to have come out of nowhere) Is insta-banning anything ever a good thing? Should we not try to change it first and give it some time to foster the change, then decide on the appropriate action? I can understand if the collective Gutter pushed another big no-no button (like a dedicated assault against another user or something ridiculously heinous like that) but that is not the case, and I do not foresee anything like that coming from the current Gutter. And if it is a concern, could we not find some rules to prevent such an event? There has to be some compromise.
Quote from TomServo »
Anyway, so far we have that people enjoy posting there and that it helps the "consciousness" of the site, but is not necessary for it to exist.
Well, 1) none of this site is necessary, and 2) do you really want that question to start being the "should we kill this subforum" test?
Quote from MDenham »
As far as the last sentence: While it's great that it benefits you, do you accept that there are people for whom the Gutter provides a net decrease in total benefit, or do you think that the minimal effect of the Gutter on any one person is neither an increase nor a decrease in total benefit?
How can the existence of the Gutter provide a net decrease? If a poster willingly asks to be let into the Gutter, accepts, and does not like the atmosphere, they can simply walk away and never look into it again. It then does not affect their experience on MTGS. Perhaps you mean people who were hurt in past dramas? Not to say that their hurting is unwarranted, but it should not apply here since the Gutter now is not the Gutter then. (Broken record, sorry.)
tl;dr: Past Gutter =/= current Gutter, and drama that was resolved in the past should be left in the past. (Just stressing this point since I feel it is important.)
You need four Biovisionaries specifically, not just any four creatures sharing the same name.
Edit: Sorry, saw previous post mentioned it. To add to this, would people be so upset if it wasn't so aggressively costed? What if it cost 4CMC? A drawback added to an instant speed Bramblecrush or a more expensive Mercy Killing that doesn't provide massive card advantage to the creature's controller. Could people live with themselves then? Probably wouldn't make a difference. It is pushing the boundaries, but it isn't like they made another desert twister. Plus, Wizards has been experimenting with Green lately it seems to give it some additional removal options. I have come to accept the Hornet Stings and Beast Withins as the experiments they really are.
Anyone remember pithing needle on a stick? Didn't do lots for standard. Even before gut shot IIRC. 2/1 is extremely easy to handle.
This card will make waves, of course, but it won't completely destroy decks, just roadblock a bit like Thalia. And a nice roadblock at that. Thalia's best friend. Gotta remove 'em both.
Rebuff the Wicked is an older card. Packs are not being opened as frequently of Planar Chaos anymore.
As for Mantle vs Drum: 1) Mantle is an uncommon from an older set.
2) Drum is not superior in all aspects.
For example: Paradise Mantle + Puresight Merrow
3) A card doesn't need to be used in tournaments to have a higher price tag. Ex: Doubling Season
Price =/= popularity. Prices are not solely based on demand, but on supply as well.
I agree that the sentence could use a rewording. As is, it is confusing. I had to reread the sentence before I got what was meant, and I see how the sentence can be jarring. It works as is now in regards to continuity, but I am sure there was a better way to phrase it. Changing to "hand" would have sacrificed accuracy and sounded better, yes. I don't think that little bit of accuracy needed to be lost at all, though. I am sure there is some alternative wording of the sentence that would sound better as well as staying in continuity by avoiding "hands" altogether.
It wasn't a typo, just a easily-made misunderstanding. He only lost his arm 6 years ago. He was making clocks for decades. He had washed the filings and oil off his hands long before he lost one hand.
Relevant parts:
Anyway, I liked all the stories so far. This Chronomaton one was not as well executed as the other two and was really reaching to incorporate some other cards (I had to reread to see how Wild Guess was connected), but it wasn't close to horrid or cringe-worthy, so I'll accept it. Looking forward to the next installment.
Geist does get exalted bonuses if you declare it as the only attacker. The token it puts into play was never declared as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step, and so the game stills sees only one creature has attacked (as opposed to "is attacking") that turn. Plus, geist's trigger triggers at the same time as exalted anyway so you can stack them.
Just something to think about.
I would like some citations please. As far as I can see, since the reopening of the Gutter, everything has been extremely calm. (Except, of course, during this current drama, since these are not regular circumstances and emotional responses are understandable.)
Also, you say "spills out" meaning...? Do you mean a few Gutter members are found trolling? Then the individuals are punished accordingly... right? What further actions must be taken then? Why should I be punished for their misbehaving?
A few Gutterites are found trolling =/= the entire Gutter community consists of trolls who have to contain their trolling in the Gutter. (The Gutter is not a place to troll behind other posters' backs.)
And "spills out" makes it sound like the Gutter itself is the reason these people are trolling. Show one instance where this is the case, please?
I guess I will give my lurker's perspective on the loaded question.
The Gutter is an extremely strong draw for many posters, seeing as it is defended time and time again. It encourages people to be a quality poster, even if the regular poster cannot see the encouragement. It gives users who discover the place and enjoy the atmosphere a place to call home.
Also, I could argue that the Rumor Mill does not promote the MTGS community in a positive light... nor the competitive forums and the elitists... But I am convinced we can solve the problems without having to kill a tight-knit community.
History is history. I know a lot of people have spotty history with members of the Gutter in the past. But could you consider that the Gutter may have changed? The Gutter has been behaving since its reopening. This is not the Gutter of old, and I cannot stress that enough. Has there been some great wrong that the Gutter has done since it reopened that is deserving of insta-banning? (Insta-banning meaning a banning that seems to have come out of nowhere) Is insta-banning anything ever a good thing? Should we not try to change it first and give it some time to foster the change, then decide on the appropriate action? I can understand if the collective Gutter pushed another big no-no button (like a dedicated assault against another user or something ridiculously heinous like that) but that is not the case, and I do not foresee anything like that coming from the current Gutter. And if it is a concern, could we not find some rules to prevent such an event? There has to be some compromise.
Well, 1) none of this site is necessary, and 2) do you really want that question to start being the "should we kill this subforum" test?
How can the existence of the Gutter provide a net decrease? If a poster willingly asks to be let into the Gutter, accepts, and does not like the atmosphere, they can simply walk away and never look into it again. It then does not affect their experience on MTGS. Perhaps you mean people who were hurt in past dramas? Not to say that their hurting is unwarranted, but it should not apply here since the Gutter now is not the Gutter then. (Broken record, sorry.)
tl;dr: Past Gutter =/= current Gutter, and drama that was resolved in the past should be left in the past. (Just stressing this point since I feel it is important.)
Tired. Sleep now.