Pretty fickle pool with no real bombs or end-game finishers except for Lingering Souls, but I pulled a Snapcaster Mage so I couldn't really complain about whether I won or lost. Ended up going 2-0-3 (although really 3-0-2 in reality, but I let my friend win at the end when I realized he was 3-0-1 and I got paired up) playing GWB at first, then switched to UBw. Things I noticed:
-Lingering Souls is obviously amazing; either won me the game or helped me sufficiently stall.
-UW flying dudes is still one of the most powerful decks in the format, especially with the addition of Dungeon Geists; got steamrolled by that deck.
-Stromkirk Captain makes vampires so viable it's ridiculous; also got steamrolled by that deck.
Wow, I hate the cage. That is an incredulous hoser, and I think they could have done graveyard hate way better than a card that hinders creative deck-building in Standard. At least they could have made it cost 2 so it wouldn't be Trinket Mage-able, but they just had to slap players in the face one more time. There isn't even a lot of good recursion in Standard outside of Snapcaster Mage, Sun Titan, and the incoming Havengul Lich! I just, ugh, so annoyed by that card.
Ahh, budget; I apologize for excluding that crucial detail. My budget is maximum $1000, but that's definitely pushing it. Kyonu, those first two look good, but since I don't need a new one immediately I might go with Zoil's suggestion and wait for the new ultrabooks. :x If anyone has more input that'd be helpful; I'm just trying to get as much information as I can to make the best decision. :]
The slew of problems that are going on with my laptop are:
-Can't start up most of the time (it's not a problem with the power cord, and the battery is only responsible some of the time)
-The rare times it does start up, either the monitor doesn't work and then it can't turn off without unplugging the laptop OR it takes me to a screen that has a 50%+ chance of freezing
I've reformatted this laptop before, but I don't think the problem is with the hard drive this time, at least not all of the problem. :/
So my laptop just kinda pooped out on me--all sorts of terrible things going on with it--and now I need all of your help in recommending a PC laptop to me.
-I want the specs to at least meet the minimum requirements for FFXIV (http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/#/about/game_info)
-I'd highly prefer it to be relatively thin and lightweight
-A 12" or so screen would be sufficient
-Webcam and SD card reader are optional, but preferred
-The previous brand I used was Sager, so I'd rather buy a different brand :x
I have to say that is quite interesting; perhaps not competitive, but definitely interesting. This will make people think twice about tossing lands for fear of providing extra mana to you.
My runner-up: Pizza with ground elk. It was fine, a bit gamy perhaps, but not too different from ground beef.
Weirdest for me was Chinese... something. I honestly don't know what it was called, but it was like a rice tamale (steamed in a husk of some sort and everything) with little nuggets of pork fat and some kind of fish embedded in it more or less at random. It was weird, and not really to my taste, but it was certainly edible.
I believe you're referring to zongzi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zongzi. I don't know what you're talking about though; I think that stuff is pretty fantastic and gives a really comforting homey feeling. :]
As an Asian I've been subject to a lot of what would be deemed odd cuisine:
Chicken testes--It was...interesting to say the least; tasted like fleshy, juicy bags of chicken stock.
Sea cucumber--More about the texture than about the actual taste; sometimes it's cooked just right so it has an al dente texture.~
Bear--I can't even remember this one other than that it was in a soup and tasted like meat.
Wild boar--Pretty gamy, and the skin is pretty thick and chewy, but not bad.
Fish brains/eyes--Can be pretty slimy depending on the fish, but one of my favorites.~
Durian--I couldn't even stomach one bite; the stench was incredibly overpowering to me...
That's all that's coming to me off the top of my head, haha.
-Lingering Souls is obviously amazing; either won me the game or helped me sufficiently stall.
-UW flying dudes is still one of the most powerful decks in the format, especially with the addition of Dungeon Geists; got steamrolled by that deck.
-Stromkirk Captain makes vampires so viable it's ridiculous; also got steamrolled by that deck.
MVP: Lingering Souls
Biggest dud: Ravenous Demon--could not transform this guy even once. -_-
Play of the day:
Opponent swings with Boneyard Wurm equipped with Elbrus, the Binding Blade,
I block with Snapcaster Mage (already on the field), and cast Undying Evil on it,
Snapcaster comes back as a 3/2 and I flashback Tragic Slip to blow up his wurm.
-ChenMaestro
Edit: I think the flavor is that as soon as he hears/spots something suspicious he becomes alert and wary.
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
-Can't start up most of the time (it's not a problem with the power cord, and the battery is only responsible some of the time)
-The rare times it does start up, either the monitor doesn't work and then it can't turn off without unplugging the laptop OR it takes me to a screen that has a 50%+ chance of freezing
I've reformatted this laptop before, but I don't think the problem is with the hard drive this time, at least not all of the problem. :/
-ChenMaestro
-I want the specs to at least meet the minimum requirements for FFXIV (http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/#/about/game_info)
-I'd highly prefer it to be relatively thin and lightweight
-A 12" or so screen would be sufficient
-Webcam and SD card reader are optional, but preferred
-The previous brand I used was Sager, so I'd rather buy a different brand :x
Thank you all for your expertise and input!
-ChenMaestro
Moved to Geek's Corner. -Viricide
-Makes an extra body, check
-Gains you life, check
-Beats with trample, check
-Shocks an opponent and a creature, check
Auto-include in any aggro red-green deck; this creature is ridiculously efficient.
-ChenMaestro
-ChenMaestro
I believe you're referring to zongzi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zongzi. I don't know what you're talking about though; I think that stuff is pretty fantastic and gives a really comforting homey feeling. :]
As an Asian I've been subject to a lot of what would be deemed odd cuisine:
Chicken testes--It was...interesting to say the least; tasted like fleshy, juicy bags of chicken stock.
Sea cucumber--More about the texture than about the actual taste; sometimes it's cooked just right so it has an al dente texture.~
Bear--I can't even remember this one other than that it was in a soup and tasted like meat.
Wild boar--Pretty gamy, and the skin is pretty thick and chewy, but not bad.
Fish brains/eyes--Can be pretty slimy depending on the fish, but one of my favorites.~
Durian--I couldn't even stomach one bite; the stench was incredibly overpowering to me...
That's all that's coming to me off the top of my head, haha.
-ChenMaestro