I won't get into the whole prison vs discard aspect you guys are discussing, but I feel that something important hasn't been mentioned about discard decks: they dumb down the game.
When you are in top deck mode, you have almost 0 decisions to make.
"Do I hold onto this creature in case the other dude has a wrath?"
Nope, you just slam everything you draw since you are losing it anyways.
It also takes away some of the fun in that you can't hold back tricks. Some guy is coming after you? Blow them out with Sudden Spoiling! Reins of Power their ass!
I don't like that discard takes away the potential blowouts of Magic.
- Miaou
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Nov 6, 2013Miaou posted a message on The "Don'ts" of Multiplayer Deckbuilding EtiquettePosted in: Cz Blog
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Oct 30, 2013Miaou posted a message on The "Don'ts" of Multiplayer Deckbuilding EtiquetteI know that the question was directed to Indalecio, but I'll just chime in (in reference to my play group):Posted in: Cz Blog
- Discard is not very appreciated. People like playing their spells so when their hands are depleted, setting up their strategies is a lot more complex. While discard is by no means overpowered, it is just not enjoyed.
- Tax effects (even though that fills into prison strats). I don't mind Propaganda and company since the opponents are taxed only if they want to pick a fight with you. However Grand Arbiter, Aura of Silence and the rest I try to avoid since not playing spells sucks.
Individually they might be fine but they stack up to become super annoying.
And good point on the $$ restrictions. Didn't consider that :/ -
Oct 29, 2013Miaou posted a message on The "Don'ts" of Multiplayer Deckbuilding EtiquetteI actually really like this guide. It covers all the shady areas and I agree with your analysis (except for Sylvan Library and Grave Pact which I enjoy too much to not play).Posted in: Cz Blog
Also, I think that if people follow your guidelines (no T1-3 decks, no combo kills, mindful of artifacts&enchantments) then spicing it up with the Vintage banned and restricted list could be fun from time to time. Who doesn't love the occasional Balance or Demonic Tutor? -
Oct 24, 2013Miaou posted a message on Tips on Effectively Using Mass Removal in MultiplayerWe are pretty lenient with the rules...We want the games to go smoothly so we won't fault the guy with the one miracle in the cube to just draw and back up to play Terminus.Posted in: Cz Blog
Other than that you reinforced my like for Terminus. Guess I will be trying it out with the new gods to see how it works out. -
Oct 23, 2013Miaou posted a message on Tips on Effectively Using Mass Removal in MultiplayerThanks for the write up, good info!Posted in: Cz Blog
Just curious as to how you would rank Terminus?
Clearly 6 mana for a wrath is too much (hello Hallowed Burial for 1 less mana), but the miracle cost means you can wrath + play a threat.
I'm curious because I'm wondering if it's a decent cube wrath (meaning no real way to abuse miracle except for top decking it in most decks). -
Sep 7, 2013Miaou posted a message on Multiplayer Theros Review (249/249) - Part 1I do indeed run drain in my black section, I guess I am underestimating the times he will turn into a creature.Posted in: Cz Blog
I agree with your green review, except for the Bow. If the ability was just deathtouch then that would be great. But since it is only attacking creatures that benefit from it, I don't think it's that great. -
Sep 6, 2013Miaou posted a message on Multiplayer Theros Review (249/249) - Part 1Thanks for the cube ratingPosted in: Cz Blog
However, I don't quite agree with the black god being all that good in cube unless you actively support a drain theme.
In cube he is obviously harder to get online than in a monoB deck, so he loses value there too.
It's going to be tough to make cuts for this set. I might have to expand! -
Jul 9, 2013Miaou posted a message on Multiplayer Cube Primer Part 2: Getting StartedI was thinking, when you have 9-10 players for a cube draft, do you do one giant FFA battle or split into two 4-5 player games? Are there other alternatives that you use?Posted in: Cz Blog
And I can't believe that I haven't proxied a Rolling Earthquake yet! I can even make it black bordered
Thanks for the guide so far! -
Jul 1, 2013Miaou posted a message on Multiplayer Cube Primer Part 1: Introduction to the Hows and WhysSweet! Thank you Cz for taking the time to start the discussion. While you might talk about this later, I just want to get my thoughts out there...Posted in: Cz Blog
I'm in a weird spot right now with my cube:
I have it built and while fine tuning it requires actual testing, I'm pretty happy with what I have.
The problem is introducing it to my playgroup. Nobody other than me has ever drafted any set and I'm not sure about how to get them to play.
Do I do a mock draft with cards face up explaining picks?
Do I try a sealed deck experience first to get used to the cards?
I'm also in the same scenario as Indalecio where we have pretty short sessions. How long does the draft process and actual game take for you guys on average?
Once again thanks for this, can't wait to read the rest -
Jun 8, 2013Miaou posted a message on Banned from the casual forum for 2 weeks.I would like to second the idea that if you have the time and desire to, writing about MP cube would be great.Posted in: Cz Blog
I have tried my hand at it, but insight from someone with experience is always valuable. -
Mar 20, 2013Miaou posted a message on Fairness in MultiplayerMy meta is far from competitive, but the level is slowly getting better. We play 4 player FFA generally.Posted in: Cz Blog
Therefor the decks aren't unfair like you put it but we always have one guy playing some kind of "combo" deck. I say "combo" because it isn't a win on the spot but he can take out the table pretty quickly (compared to the rest of us) if he isn't kept in check.
That used to be a problem before I started running dedicated artifact/enchantment removal (which most of his combos used - like Sneak Attack + Eldrazis for example).
This allowed me to slow him down enough that my fair decks would have time to set up and eventually lock him out. I could handle the others given time so it was all I needed.
My favorite fair "unfair" deck is a Birthing Pod deck bursting with value and with Craterhoof Behemoth as a "surprise" finisher (as I said, not a competitive meta!).
I like them a lot more than combo decks since once your meta figures out that they should be packing that extra removal, they might give you a run for your money. Plus I find that fair vs fair is a lot more fun than combo vs combo. - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I also like cards like Chromatic Star as cantrips to complement your Baubles. I would remove the Jars that seem low impact. They would also help with your Red splash.
If you do add Strix + Stars in addition to the Baubles,Lurrus of the Dream-Den and Emry, Lurker of the Loch both become quite appealing as card advantage engines. That might be taking the deck in a different direction though.
Tyrant can be brutal if reanimated early and you can chain a few free spells together to bounce their lands. Horror hits harder, but can't target lands. It is strong at stalling them by turning all your spells into Venser, Shaper Savants (which you should have plenty of since you are a storm deck).
Maybe I am not understanding this correctly, but aren't Opt and others the perfect cards to help decks struggling with consistent mana? Using your mana in the early turns to set up future draws is exactly what you want to be doing. Also, they have late game value where you can send unwanted lands to the bottom and keep gas.
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Luxury Suite
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Swamp
2 Mountain
4 Sedgemoor Witch
4 Dark Ritual
4 Faithless Looting
3 Overmaster
4 Manamorphose
4 Burning Wish
1 Plumb the Forbidden
2 Cut // Riboons
3 Damnation
3 Professor Onyx
2 Bolas's Citadel
With the wish board being what I posted + a few more cards (Dreadbore, Overmaster, Reanimate, Zof Consumption as a land)
I got to go off with a Burning Wish for Past in Flames with a juicy GY, cast triple Dark Ritual to cast Onyx and then chain some cantrips for the win, while at one life.
Lot's of fun, but not super interactive deck. The combo turns is just you doing your thing while everybody watches.
I like Whelming Wave as a way to bounce everything for cheap (4 mana and price wise).
Comet Storm could be a nice win condition if you are able to generate a lot of mana.
To make that mana, Storm-Kiln Artist seems like it would be good for a spell based deck. Mana Geyser is also a solid ritual effect.
Then you play some cards that let you chain through your deck like Expressive Iteration, Curate and some more interaction like counter magic. A few big draw spells would probably be good too for the mid-late game.
I am really rusty with these types of decks so this might not be the best advice, but no one has responded yet so hopefully this is better than nothing!
Chain Lightning looks pretty bad, especially since you already have 4 bolts. I understand you need some 1 drops for Arcanist, but I'd rather see some more cantrips like Crash Through, Warlord's Fury or my favorite Overmaster. These are nice since you don't have to target anything and Overmaster can randomly protect your Wheels from counter magic.
With Birgi, these are effectively free and draw you towards your business spells. Speaking of Birgi, I would probably play 3 as it seems like a key card for your deck (maybe shaving a ritual effect or an Expertise).
Whatever direction you chose to go, the deck looks super fun!
It gets all the goodies:
I also want another cantrip and settled on Overmaster as a way to cycle through my deck and randomly protect my spells.
2 Bolas's Citadel
4 Dark Ritual
4 Faithless Looting
4 Manamorphose
4 Dockside Extortionist
4 Sedgemoor Witch
4 Damnation
3 Cut // Ribbons
23 Assorted lands
What I like about this build is that I have more early game filtering and ramp.
Dockside Extortionist is really good here since he ramps me easily to my 6 drops and can also fuel the sacrifice part of the Citadel.
Manamorphose is perfect to chain spells together and fix mana.
Faithless Looting helps me clear the top of the library for Citadel as well as count as 2 spells for Onyx.
Cut // Ribbons is cheap removal that plays well from the GY late game. Both Onyx and Looting dump things to the GY so having these lying around can be sweet.
I am cheating on lands, but I should be able to get there anyways between the filtering of Looting and Manamorphose and the ramp of Extortionist.
I am 5 slots away from 60 cards. I would love more cards like Manamorphose that let me chain spells. Any ides?
I want to try the new Magecraft cards and an old favorite of mine Bolas's Citadel. I realize that this isn't necessarily the optimal mono-black strategy, but I am not looking for that.
2 Innocent Blood
2 Cling to Dust
4 Foulmire Knight
2 Plumb the Forbidden
4 Sedgemoor Witch
2 Murderous Rider
4 Damnation
4 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3 Professor Onyx
2 Bolas's Citadel
2 Exsanguinate
3 Cabal Coffers
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
The goal is to "storm" everyone out with Onyx and either cheap spells or Bolas' Citadel. I really like the adventure creatures as both spells and board presence. Grey Merchant clearly isn't at it's best, but that card is just dumb and 8 life and a body for 5 mana is still decent.
I'm hoping that Plumb the Forbidden will help with a combo finish if Sedgemoor Witch did it's job of providing random bodies.
Cling to Dust is just a 1 mana cantrip that can be recurred late if I am out of gas. Bonus points for small GY hate.
I've been thinking of adding green for some ramp (stuff like Nature's Lore and Harrow that ETBs untapped meaning you can chain more spells).
Any feedback appreciated!
There is an article by Mike Flores talking about the Xerox theory ("UB trippin' ").
I feel you can already kind of get there in green decks with this, Gitaxian Probe, Chromatic Star, Mishra's Bauble and the like.
Sure you need these artifact cantrips, but they are good with Emry, Lurker of the Loch, Lurrus of the Dream-Den, Monastery Mentor, Saheeli, Sublime Artificer, Tangle Wire and more!
What are your thoughts on Wasteland and Strip Mine in a 3-4 player FFA cube?
I feel like they are too low impact with the increased player size. However, they do provide answers to cards like Volrath's Stronghold or Kessig Wolf Run and I run a fair number of Crucible of Worlds style effects.
Do you play those cards (or one and not the other) and how do they play out in a MP game?