The bouncelands and guildgates are great inclusions and I think provide enough color fixing for most decks. Desert and Terramorphic are pretty obvious includes. I don't include any functional reprints, otherwise Evolving Wilds would be in for sure. Rupture Spire is nice for people wanting to stretch colors, and I have considered Shimmering Grotto but just feel it is somewhat unnecessary. Quicksand and Fengraf are both unique land effects, and I find can make for some interesting situations, so I run them, plus having 25 lands keeps my cube math reasonably neat.
As for other land contenders, the panoramas feel slow for what they offer, the Zendikar cycle is way too inconsistent across colors, and cycling lands are fine but just not worth the space to me.
Not to derail the BNG discussions, but I picked up a beta Disintegrate recently and am thinking about what to cut for it from my red section, curious about others' thoughts:
I am largely indifferent to the new changes. The asymmetry of the top/bottom is what bugs me the most and I am not totally sold on the font change. But these are all pretty minor changes (especially compared with the old to modern card frame change), and I have a feeling I will get used to them fairly quickly.
This page will give you information on what cards are legal in a given format. Heroes vs. Monsters contains a number of cards that are legal in some, but not other formats (due to last printing of the card), but in general many of them are legal in Standard or Modern, which would be commonly played FNM formats.
After 2 days of prerelease sealed, my opinion about the most cards didn't changed, except for Gray Merchant of Asphodel. If it only has an additional devotion 2, it already is as good as Bleak Coven Vampire with Metalcraft and makes a difference of 8 life overall. I mean 8 life can be absolutly insane, especially because black is very BB-heavy. I think it's probably cubeable. Is it better than Rotting Legion and Pewter Golem?
I think it's probably better than either of them by a wide margin.
Of all the Theros cards that was the one I was most pleasantly surprised by. Cube is a different environment but I managed to win more than a couple games just by casting a Gray Merchant following combat.
Apostle's Blessing is strong because of its colorless potential. I run it. I've run Benevolent Bodyguard on and off, but I think it's definitely worth consideration. I am probably going to be pulling out Order of Leitbur shortly which will be replaced with either the Bodyguard or Carom.
Beyond that I am pretty unimpressed so far with the commons. I like Akroan Crusader but I think it's just not easy enough to enable to be worthwhile, though I will admit to thinking about some buyback cards (Seething Anger) as potential enablers.
If you want real Scotch, pick up a bottle of Laphroaig.
EDIT: Laphroaig is a bit more peaty/smoky of a taste, though, so it might be a bit particular. It is my very favorite so far, though. Ardbeg is a close second.
This. Laphroaig & Ardbeg are the two favorites that I've had.
Magic is a game with too many moving parts to suggest that one or the other is always the better option. Sure, Lightning Bolt always beats Shock but Searing Spear vs. Shock is an entirely different question.
The main pieces to consider with any given card are:
1. Efficiency, ie. mana/power level (precisely why Tarmogoyf is such a powerful card)
2. Card Advantage/Disadvantage (Electrolyze sees play for a reason)
3. Flexibility (Deathrite Shaman, Izzet Charm, etc.)
4. Synergy (Snapcaster Mage made a lot of marginal cards, like Gut Shot extraordinarily powerful)
Is conceding in multiplayer games really that big of a problem in your playgroup?
I've been playing Magic for ages (since 1995) and have played probably hundreds of multiplayer games during that time period and this has never been an issue. Sure people have conceded if a game has drawn-on for a crazy long amount of time, or if they have to take off, or even occasionally if they see no chance of winning, but generally the people I have played with will stick in the game until they lose or its over.
Multiplayer magic is not really a tournament concern, so as far as I'm concerned this isn't a Wizards problem, it's a playgroup issue. If you have a bunch of spiteful people conceding to try and get back at someone maybe it's time to reevaluate how your playgroup is interacting.
I understand your position, but for me personally I dont care. To me it makes no difference if I end up indirectly giving $5 to an anti-gay organization. What are they going to do? spend it on more advertisements? 8 or 9 months ago my state was voting on whether or not to ban gay marriage in the constitution and now next month gay weddings will be perfectly legal. That's less than a year turn around. Money isnt going to stop the momentum that has started. Money cannot directly buy votes it does so indirectly.
Orson Scott Card probably receives very little of the money from this film, and ultimately I agree that the tide has largely turned as to same-sex marriage so yeah, sure, $5 that may or may not indirectly end up in the hands of NOM is probably not all that meaningful.
To me it's more about making consumer choices that you are comfortable with. If you have no ethical qualms about potentially supporting NOM through Card, then that's fine with me. I do, so I won't go.
10 bouncelands
10 guildgates
Desert
Haunted Fengraf
Quicksand
Rupture Spire
Terramorphic Expanse
I do not run borderposts, FYI.
The bouncelands and guildgates are great inclusions and I think provide enough color fixing for most decks. Desert and Terramorphic are pretty obvious includes. I don't include any functional reprints, otherwise Evolving Wilds would be in for sure. Rupture Spire is nice for people wanting to stretch colors, and I have considered Shimmering Grotto but just feel it is somewhat unnecessary. Quicksand and Fengraf are both unique land effects, and I find can make for some interesting situations, so I run them, plus having 25 lands keeps my cube math reasonably neat.
As for other land contenders, the panoramas feel slow for what they offer, the Zendikar cycle is way too inconsistent across colors, and cycling lands are fine but just not worth the space to me.
Creatures: (39)
1x Goblin Patrol
1x Intimidator Initiate
1x Keldon Halberdier
1x Mogg Fanatic
1x Skitter of Lizards
2CMC: (13)
1x Ashmouth Hound
1x Fireslinger
1x Goblin Bushwhacker
1x Goblin Shortcutter
1x Gore-House Chainwalker
1x Keldon Marauders
1x Kiln Fiend
1x Kruin Striker
1x Mogg War Marshal
1x Plated Geopede
1x Sparksmith
1x Stingscourger
1x Torch Fiend
1x Blood Ogre
1x Crusher Zendikon
1x Fault Riders
1x Fervent Cathar
1x Ghitu Slinger
1x Hanweir Lancer
1x Manic Vandal
1x Ruinous Minotaur
1x Splatter Thug
1x Wall of Heat
1x Vithian Stinger
1x Vulshok Sorcerer
4CMC: (5)
1x Gorehorn Minotaurs
1x Ill-Tempered Cyclops
1x Rubblebelt Maaka
1x Rukh Egg
1x Slash Panther
1x Anarchist
1x Flowstone Crusher
6CMC: (2)
1x Chartooth Cougar
1x Tenament Crasher
Spells: (28)
1x Fireblast
1CMC: (10)
1x Brute Force
1x Burst Lightning
1x Chain Lightning
1x Faithless Looting
1x Firebolt
1x Flame Slash
1x Lava Dart
1x Lightning Bolt
1x Reckless Charge
1x Rift Bolt
1x Electrickery
1x Fire Whip
1x Incinerate
1x Nightbird's Clutches
1x Searing Blaze
1x Searing Spear
3CMC: (3)
1x Act of Treason
1x Arc Lightning
1x Brimstone Volley
1x Chandra's Outrage
1x Empty the Warrens
1x Magma Burst
5CMC: (1)
1x Pyrotechnics
XCMC: (4)
1x Fireball
1x Kaervek's Torch
1x Rock Slide
1x Rolling Thunder
I think it's probably better than either of them by a wide margin.
Of all the Theros cards that was the one I was most pleasantly surprised by. Cube is a different environment but I managed to win more than a couple games just by casting a Gray Merchant following combat.
Aqueous Form for Sigil of Sleep
Benthic Giant for Aven Fleetwing
Nimbus Naiad for Unstable Mutation
Boon of Erebos for Tormented Soul
Read the Bones for Order of the Ebon Hand
Ill-Tempered Cyclops for Dragon Hatchling
Nessian Asp for Tangle Hulk
Leafcrown Dryad for Burst of Strength
Fleetfeather Sandals for Traveler's Amulet
Also watching:
Observant Alseid
Wingsteed Rider
Breaching Hippocamp
Prescient Chimera
Cavern Lampad
Boulderfall
Deathbellow Raider
Minotaur Skullcleaver
Spearpoint Oread
Titan's Strength
Feral Invocation
As for Theros, right now I know I'm adding in:
Nimbus Naiad in place of Aven Fleetwing
Read the Bones in place of Order of the Ebon Hand
Leafcrown Dryad in place of Deadly Recluse or Werebear
Nessian Asp in place of Tangle Hulk
Maybe's:
Observant Alseid
Wingsteed Rider
Cavern Lampad
Spearpoint Oread
Beyond that I am pretty unimpressed so far with the commons. I like Akroan Crusader but I think it's just not easy enough to enable to be worthwhile, though I will admit to thinking about some buyback cards (Seething Anger) as potential enablers.
Nessian Asp I'm eh about, I like Sentinel Spider better and they seem to compete for the same spot.
Omenspeaker will be great in limited, but isn't cube-worthy.
This. Laphroaig & Ardbeg are the two favorites that I've had.
The main pieces to consider with any given card are:
1. Efficiency, ie. mana/power level (precisely why Tarmogoyf is such a powerful card)
2. Card Advantage/Disadvantage (Electrolyze sees play for a reason)
3. Flexibility (Deathrite Shaman, Izzet Charm, etc.)
4. Synergy (Snapcaster Mage made a lot of marginal cards, like Gut Shot extraordinarily powerful)
I've been playing Magic for ages (since 1995) and have played probably hundreds of multiplayer games during that time period and this has never been an issue. Sure people have conceded if a game has drawn-on for a crazy long amount of time, or if they have to take off, or even occasionally if they see no chance of winning, but generally the people I have played with will stick in the game until they lose or its over.
Multiplayer magic is not really a tournament concern, so as far as I'm concerned this isn't a Wizards problem, it's a playgroup issue. If you have a bunch of spiteful people conceding to try and get back at someone maybe it's time to reevaluate how your playgroup is interacting.
Orson Scott Card probably receives very little of the money from this film, and ultimately I agree that the tide has largely turned as to same-sex marriage so yeah, sure, $5 that may or may not indirectly end up in the hands of NOM is probably not all that meaningful.
To me it's more about making consumer choices that you are comfortable with. If you have no ethical qualms about potentially supporting NOM through Card, then that's fine with me. I do, so I won't go.