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  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 7, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on If you had to redo Magic...
    Quote from Telekinesis
    Also, artifacts allow colors to shore up their weaknesses.


    QFT.

    This was the original design intention of artifacts. That is why many artifacts have higher casting or activation costs than their equivalent colored brethren. I have seen people complain how these artifacts were "lame," but if you wanted a particular effect and didn't want to splash another color, you would use an artifact. Brittle Effigy is a nice way for non-white to get an exile effect, but it costs 5 mana to cast and use in a single turn. Unfortunately, in competitive play, people want to win prizes/money/cards, so inefficient cards are undesirable, so a lot of these artifact cards go unused.

    Efficient card draw is still the exclusive realm of blue. Card draw does not in itself win games, but it give the player more options for any given situation. I can understand why competitive players splash or main blue. If you want card draw for any other colors, expect there to be inefficiency (Jayemdae Tome) or restrictions (Momentous Fall, Survival Cache).
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 7, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on Budget UW Control - Help!
    Decree of Justice and Eternal Dragon were staples of the Landstill deck type, so they probably don't fit in this deck.

    Gush and Frantic Search are banned in Legacy-sanctioned tournaments. If this deck is for casual play, then this does not apply.

    Swords to Plowshares will replace Codemn. Codemn is a situational card. Swords to Plowshares is not. There are a number of creatures that create board control without having to attack, so Codemn has no way of eliminating them.

    4 Mana Leaks is probably best.

    Silence should be changed for something else. Silence needs Isochron Scepter or some way to retrieve Silence from the graveyard to be potent. Otherwise, it's a stall card that doesn't always help.
    Posted in: Budget (Legacy)
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 7, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on G/W Aggro - Casual "Overextended" format
    Quote from Vengevine"s Erasure
    but standard usually has those chase mythics that go upwards of 40 dollars. Which is more than Tarmogoyf. Legacy is the cheapest format in the long run.


    Well, if my meta is rampant with Tarmogoyfs, I am going to put more creature removal in the main. Tarmogoyf is fast and efficient, but fortunately, it doesn't have any protection. I would just treat it as a potential fattie to get rid of.

    My deck is not intended to be a Tier 1 Legacy deck. I Just wanted a reasonably consistent deck in a hypothetical Overextended format. To make the deck a bit better for Legacy, I just changed Path to Exile for Swords to Plowshares.
    Posted in: Budget (Legacy)
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 6, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on The state of white
    Looking at the entire card pool, not just Standard, white seems to be doing fine in my opinion. White seems designed as a defensive color, so that is why it seems to be able to handle a lot of different situations.

    I do agree that lifegain needs to have a viable winning strategy, because gaining life doesn't really put any pressure on the opponent. It's only preventing my demise earlier than normal, and the opponent can still win in other ways. By giving lifegain a viable winning strategy, it also balances out Swords to Plowshares. People play Swords to Plowshares, because it is efficient removal where the opponent's lifegain can be overcome quickly.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 2, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on Dragons.
    Quote from nlky
    Was Bogardan Hellkite not a win condition?


    It was used in Dream Halls - Cruel Ultimatum decks as a possible win condition, but it is difficult to hard cast. While there are cards that help cheat creatures onto the battlefield, dragons are not usually among the top picks.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 2, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on Elves and Goblins... snore
    Elves and goblins are archetypal medieval fantasy races and easy recognized by many people. That is probably why they are featured in every set, from a marketing perspective. I would not mind seeing some new races, but they need a ton of card support, so viable decks can be created. A few cards of new races in each set doesn't work, especially if you play only Standard.

    Wizards might be better off creating supplemental decks that feature these other races if they don't want to hamper the primary expansion devlopment.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 1, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on Is Blightsteel Colossus the first One Hit Kill Creature?
    Quote from Chaosworm
    First turn: Ancient Tomb, Lotus Petal, Show and Tell. It takes a couple of seconds, maybe a little bit more if the opponent isn't familiar with the cards, but from the rules point of view, it's almost no time at all.


    Would we see decks that try to play this combo in Legacy/Vintage? I can imagine this would not work well against blue, since the blue player would probably have a Force of Will in his/her opening hand. There were some decks trying to use Emrakul, The Aeons Torn in a Show and Tell deck when that Emrakul first came out.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Feb 1, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on gaining control of an attacing creature in the middle of combat phase
    Quote from rogerbacon
    Also, tapped defenders still deal damage now right?


    This works. You only need untapped creatures to declare blockers. Once blockers are declared, unless something removes them from combat, they will deal damage.
    Posted in: Magic Rulings Archives
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 30, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on [Deck]Vial Knights
    I have used Brave the Elements in my white Knights deck variant, and they do work, but I always get the feeling that I could replace them with something else. Mother of Runes might be better than Brave the Elements, because it's a creature that confers protection, and it forces the opponent to deal with it.
    Posted in: Developing (Legacy)
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 30, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on [Answered] Sideboarding before the first game in tournament
    Thank you. Then, the items I was reading must have been referring to after the first game concludes.
    Posted in: Magic Rulings Archives
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 30, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on [Answered] Sideboarding before the first game in tournament
    Can players use the sideboard before the first game starts after play or draw has been chosen? Or can they only use the sideboard after the first game?

    I read somewhere in the forums about players sideboarding depending if they go first or not, so I'm wondering what the context of this is. Thanks.
    Posted in: Magic Rulings Archives
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 28, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on If you had to redo Magic...
    I would definitely prefer an approach where the resources are separated from the business spells, either WoW style or some other system.

    For me, the luck should be the luck of the draw for a business spell, not for a resource.

    For these types of dueling games, I consider the two sides are well-prepared, so they should not be lacking for resources on the outset. Business spells drawn during the game may disrupt the resources on one side or both, but starting out, the players have some resources to use.

    I'm basically looking for a card game that does not end in less than 4-6 turns. This precludes a quick card game, of course, but if I wanted that, I grab a deck of regular playing cards and play Blackjack.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 23, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on The New Sneak Attack
    StP is great for white. The other colors are in trouble.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 23, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on G/W Aggro - Casual "Overextended" format
    It's been a while since I updated.

    Here is the "Overextended" version thus far.

    DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
    Creatures: 24
    4 Noble Hierarch
    4 Qasali Pridemage
    4 Stoneforge Mystic
    4 Serra Avenger
    4 Ethersworn Canonist
    4 Knight of the Relinquary

    Instants: 5
    4 Path to Exile
    1 Krosan Grip

    Artifacts: 4
    4 Aether Vial

    		Equipment: 4
    1 Sword of Fire and Ice
    1 Sword of Light and Dark
    1 Umezawa's Jitte
    1 Basilisk Collar

    Planeswalker: 1
    1 Elspeth, Knight Errant

    Land: 22
    4 Windswept Heath
    4 Horizon Canopy
    2 Ghost Quarter
    6 Forest
    6 Plains


    Here is my lame Legacy version of it. I can't afford Tarmogoyf, but I might try out Mother of Runes or Sylvan Library, but I don't seem to have room for them.

    DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
    Creatures: 24
    4 Noble Hierarch
    4 Qasali Pridemage
    4 Stoneforge Mystic
    4 Serra Avenger
    4 Ethersworn Canonist
    4 Knight of the Relinquary

    Instants: 5
    4 Swords to Plowshares
    1 Path to Exile

    Artifacts: 4
    4 Aether Vial

    Equipment: 4
    1 Sword of Fire and Ice
    1 Sword of Light and Dark
    1 Umezawa's Jitte
    1 Basilisk Collar

    		Planeswalker: 1
    1 Elspeth, Knight Errant

    Land: 22
    4 Windswept Heath
    1 Sunpetal Grove
    1 Temple Garden
    4 Horizon Canopy
    2 Ghost Quarter
    5 Forest
    5 Plains

    		Sideboard
    4 Gaddock Teeg
    2 Jotun Grunt
    2 Thorn of Amethyst
    4 Phyrexian Revoker


    Here are some observations while goldfishing with this deck.

    • I must have an Aether Vial in my opening hand to make the deck move fast.
    • Without drawing a Windswept Heath in the first three turns (bad luck, I guess), I usually don't get more than one or two basic lands on the battlefield, so it limits Knight of the Relinquary's ability to search for land.
    • I obtained an Umezawa's Jitte. Its abilities are useful every time the equipped creature deals combat damage to either creature, player, or Planeswalker. The Swords' abilities only work if the creature deals damage to the player. Serra Avenger with Umezawa's Jitte is very effective.
    • Without Aether Vial, the deck is hosed against Chalice of the Void set at 2 or a CounterTop deck, but I'm ok with that. Should I have Krosan Grip in the sideboard?
    • I can't slow down or stop a cheated Emrakul, The Aeons Torn or Iona, Shield of Emeria without sideboarding a card specifically against it. This bothers me more than being hosed by Chalice of the Void or a CounterTop deck.
    Posted in: Budget (Legacy)
  • ShiroeTheEnchanter's avatar
    Jan 17, 2011
    ShiroeTheEnchanter posted a message on Copyrights
    Quote from Teia Rabishu

    Because generally speaking you can do basically anything you like in fanwork and not have to worry (unless you're in the Pern fandom or want a blaze of attention like the Crimson Echoes guys). Can they C&D you if you make a Magic-inspired map named Conflux? Sure. Will they? No.


    You are still playing with probability, however. You make it sound like Wizards will 100% never go after you, which is not good advice. As AllSunday and Jimz mentioned, Wizard can issue a cease and desist letter on anything that infringes their products or brands, whether or not it makes money. Companies have gone after "free" fan works, because the company felt the fan work damaged the brand or created consumer confusion.

    Also, past court cases about fair use had to be tested in court. Fair use does not give you automatic immunity. In other words, if you get a C&D, you cannot just respond "fair use." The other party (with all their lawyers) are not going to let you go that easily. You are going to have to go to court to have your case heard (you have to pay for your own lawyer and court costs).

    In the example you give, a person can make a Magic-inspired map named Conflux, but the probability of Wizards coming after you is small, but non-zero. They may not go after small-time infringers currently, but that policy could change at any time.
    Posted in: Magic General
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