i do know how to play combo elves but god it's so bad vs everything
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 18 December 2012 18:36 (eleven years ago) link
you should play aluren if you're playing bad non-fow decks
― f (Lamp), Tuesday, 18 December 2012 18:45 (eleven years ago) link
my plan is just to win the last chance mocs on the 22nd so im not gonna try fucking w/legacy tho so ymmv
aluren doesn't run fow? i'd play that
― ciderpress, Tuesday, 18 December 2012 19:12 (eleven years ago) link
last chance is for 2012 season, this is for the new 2013 season
yeah but if i win the last chance than i will have won a mocs and thus can only play in the ones that are actually fun and not all of them in order to have won a mocs
― f (Lamp), Tuesday, 18 December 2012 21:58 (eleven years ago) link
although realistically i will probably just play a bunch to qualify and then not play the actual event just like i did with every other non-limited mocs event in 2012
― f (Lamp), Tuesday, 18 December 2012 22:01 (eleven years ago) link
lol http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3377/21c6f0b063ec4d368630026.png
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 21:32 (eleven years ago) link
Sol Ring or Ancestral Recall there? Sheesh
Assuming this isn't fake I think it's interesting they're distributing the power in drafts this way, ensures that everyone gets two pieces (except one unlucky guy) rather than risk someone winding up with a deck capable of consistant turn 2 wins
― frogbs, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 21:40 (eleven years ago) link
no it's just a collation bug, they're pulling the drafts back down now to fix it
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 21:52 (eleven years ago) link
actual lol @ dzy's face in that screengrab
― f (Lamp), Wednesday, 19 December 2012 21:58 (eleven years ago) link
not sure if i'm actually gonna cube this time around, i'm really shitty at the format and i stopped playing it before because i just got frustrated and the payouts were worthless. power cube might be a whole different situation though, its more likely that my gimmick decks will work with all the fast mana.
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 22:00 (eleven years ago) link
I'm kind of wondering how skill-intensive cube actually is. When your 15th picks can still win you games it seems the only way to draft a bad deck is to totally crew over your mana curve/color base. On the MTGO cube I really haven't seen the same deck twice, there's a hundred ways to win *and* lose.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 22:08 (eleven years ago) link
how much is a cube draft?
― iatee, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 22:09 (eleven years ago) link
it's 8 tix or 2 tix and 10 Cube tix. if you do Swiss the payouts are in Cube tickets, 16/8/4. So if you go 2-1 in each one it'll be something like 3-4 tix per draft. Obviously there's no way you can make anything (I don't even think the Cube tickets are tradeable) but it's really a lot of fun. I'm doing the power cube now and it's nuts, they don't bring back just the power 9, there's Sol Ring and Mind Twist and pretty much every other banned/busted card in Magic's history.
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:19 (eleven years ago) link
I'm doing one right now! My deck has 5 Fatties, 4 Signets, 3 Wraths, 2 Monoliths, and a Tooth and Nail (in a pear tree). Lots of fun.
― Vinnie, Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:27 (eleven years ago) link
i'm goin Stompy with a red splash for burn with some mana dorks (including Rofellos) and Winter Orb
just getting to play with these cards again is really worth the 3-4$ you have to pay. Deranged Hermit + Gaea's Cradle, how I missed you :(
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 03:34 (eleven years ago) link
Just Tooth and Nailed with Entwine for Ulamog and Kozilek. My opponent Bone Shreddered one, Karakased the other and played Elspeth. I played Terastadon to kill Elspeth and the Karakas, he played Moat, I hardcast Ulamog a couple turns later for the win. God I love Cube.
― Vinnie, Thursday, 20 December 2012 04:04 (eleven years ago) link
you aren't Palpable are you? because that's what this guy just did to me
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 04:26 (eleven years ago) link
Ha, yes! Were you the dude I just described?
― Vinnie, Thursday, 20 December 2012 05:09 (eleven years ago) link
no, I was the guy you beat in the final round
I felt real cheap miracling the Bonfire off the Yavimaya Elder, that was really my old out. I screwed up in Game 2, I should have played Winter Orb to cap your mana because at that point all I wanted was for Tooth and Nail to not resolve. Unfortunately I forgot about Coalition Relic adding another mana. I thought it was that RTR artifact that made all your lands go for any color. Also forgot FTK was a "may" trigger
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 05:22 (eleven years ago) link
Ah yeah, Winter Orb would have been brutal against me. And I was amused by the Bonfire draw, I always find it funny when they get drawn on the opponent's turn. Those were good games!
― Vinnie, Thursday, 20 December 2012 05:35 (eleven years ago) link
they were, I was just kicking myself afterwards because I was thinking "well Tooth and Nail really screws me here but he can get at most 8 mana here so I'm in the clear"...whoops. it's pretty easy to misplay in Cube I'm finding. sadly I know Coalition Relic well, just spaced out there.
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 05:51 (eleven years ago) link
well I just pulled the ol' Mana Crypt/Mox/Metalworker into turn 2 Blightsteel Collosus (he Mana Leaked it, no fair)
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 December 2012 21:03 (eleven years ago) link
okay one more post - this is the most insane draft deck I've ever gotten
http://imgur.com/AX5oo
Dunno if I should splash white for Blessing...it hardly seems worth it at this point. Believe it or not those 3 duals were all passed to me, as was the Troll and a Golaith.
― frogbs, Friday, 21 December 2012 22:28 (eleven years ago) link
okay I mostly unilaterally decided on stronghold as our next set (next week's option is open...someone pick it)
http://imgur.com/a/7sJgRorder in reference to above page1. iatee 2. lamp 3. gravel 4. cider 5. frog 6. vinnie
I'll type them out later
― iatee, Saturday, 22 December 2012 16:00 (eleven years ago) link
about to play this ridiculous 11-round mocs event instead of finishing my christmas shopping
― ciderpress, Saturday, 22 December 2012 19:05 (eleven years ago) link
dead at 2-2, embarrassingly timed myself out thinking i was on a game 3 and could use the rest of my clock when it was actually game 2 and i decked myself with a minute left on timer
― ciderpress, Saturday, 22 December 2012 23:08 (eleven years ago) link
yo lamp, you are in toronto right? do you know which stores do weekday drafts? i'm at my parents' for the holidays; me and my old friend are reconnecting over our mutual rediscovery of magic. apparently 401 does sunday sealed but sealed is gross. i also kinda feel like a huge nerd playing magic in a city i don't live in... i'm telling myself that there are people out there who travel for tournaments.
― fennel cartwright, Monday, 24 December 2012 04:50 (eleven years ago) link
Ha! I was wondering the same thing about Indianapolis, where I'm staying for the week. Unfortunately got here a day too late to try my hand at GP Indy, but I'm sure there must be other stuff going on later on the week.
― Moodles, Monday, 24 December 2012 05:56 (eleven years ago) link
Sorry, haven't even built my deck yet, let alone played games against you all. Will try harder this week.
― Vinnie, Monday, 24 December 2012 14:04 (eleven years ago) link
do you know which stores do weekday drafts?
dueling grounds has a weekly swiss draft for $15($10 packs/$5 prize pool) on thursdays @ 6:30. its just west of dufferin station
401 games has a swiss draft for $13 ($10 packs/$3 prize) for fnm. starts around 6. they also have single elim drafts on sundays @ 4 for like $10 - prize structure of these has varied seemingly every time ive played one. oh they're on yonge st. just north of gerrard.
you can also try harry t north and/or heavy support - ive never been to either since theyre p far from where i live/work but i know they have weekly drafts and heavy support is supposed to have the best singles prices in the city
― f (Lamp), Monday, 24 December 2012 15:54 (eleven years ago) link
stronghold packs
iatee:MindwarperConstant MistsStronghold TaskmasterFanning the FlamesMob JusticeMogg FlunkiesCloud Spirit Brush with DeathCrossbow Ambush Spined WurmSpirit en-KorOvergrowthSpindrift DrakeShock Honor Guard
lamp:Jinxed RingFlame WaveScapegoatHibernation SliverRabid RatsYouthful KnightMind GamesFoul ImpMob Justice Venerable MonkSkyshroud ArcherCloud SpiritLowland Basilisk Brush with DeathEndangered Armodon
gravel:Pursuit of Knowledge Bullwhip Wall of EssenceRansackHonor Guard Morgue ThrullFlowstone BladeEndangered ArmodonLowland Basilisk Spike ColonyDungeon ShadeCraven GiantRabid RatsTidal WarriorMana Leak
cider:Grave PactMask of the Mimic Crystalline Sliver Mind PeelBrush with Death Crossbow AmbushLab RatsCloud Spirit Honor Guard MlchSkyshroud FalconTidal WarriorHammerhead SharkSamite BlessingChange of Heart
frog:Spitting HydraMind PeelCrystalline SliverCorrupting LicidLeapHammerhead SharkDungeon ShadeFling Morgue ThrullMob JusticeTortured ExistenceSkyshroud FalconCrossbow AmbushDream ProwlerSpike Colony
vinnie:Hidden Retreat Flame WaveBottomless PitTemperBandage ProvokeCrossbow Ambush Spike Worker Mind Games Youthful KnightCannabalizeContemptFlowstone ShamblerSpirit en-KorDuct Crawler
― iatee, Monday, 24 December 2012 16:12 (eleven years ago) link
Looks like the Simic mechanic is Evolve:
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
― Moodles, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:00 (eleven years ago) link
seems kinda underpowered tho I guess it depends on what they put that on
― iatee, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:03 (eleven years ago) link
seems quite strong to me especially if it's on any cheaper creatures. having your early plays grow over the course of the game is a huge deal.
― ciderpress, Monday, 24 December 2012 21:35 (eleven years ago) link
I guess it all depends on what they're putting it on. like a 2/2 for 3 wouldn't be that great. I guess a 1/1 for 1 is prob inevitable and I guess that's pretty playable on your first turn.
― iatee, Monday, 24 December 2012 21:39 (eleven years ago) link
even just a 1/1 for 1G with this ability seems like it'd be a high pick in limited
― ciderpress, Monday, 24 December 2012 21:39 (eleven years ago) link
1/1 for 1 mana would be champion of the parish territory, and champion is arguably the best 1-drop in standard right now
― ciderpress, Monday, 24 December 2012 21:40 (eleven years ago) link
yeah and if its g/u even higher
― iatee, Monday, 24 December 2012 21:40 (eleven years ago) link
Evolve mechanic seems like an awful lot of fun. The fact that it's power OR toughness is quite interesting. So something like Hover Barrier (a 0/6 wall) would trigger evolve. Meaning Simic decks in draft probably could use some walls. Also the two spoiled cards both do something with the +1/+1 counters. The challenge is going to be building a deck that balances Evolve with bigger creatures to evolve from as a deck that's full of 1/1 or 2/2 guys with Evolve is going to be useless.
Two other mechanics were spoiled though they don't look as interesting. Boros has a mechanic that triggers if you attack with three creatures. I would imagine this would be very susceptible to removal but getting a bunch of these creatures together is going to be massive. Gruul seems to be discard for a temporary p/t boost, kind of the opposite of Scavange. It's interesting but seems real frustrating to play against, knowing your opponent could be full of combat tricks like that.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 18:32 (eleven years ago) link
yeah i'm a bit disappointed that gruul got a pretty straightforward pump mechanic again, that spoiled borborygmos was giving me hope that there would be some sort of land subtheme this time around to give the guild more mechanical depth than 'big creatures smashing'. hopefully there still is.
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 18:34 (eleven years ago) link
I have the feeling it's not going to appear on a whole lot of cards for Limited reasons. RTR really had a divide there, some guilds were really based around their keyword like Populate and Unleash, while others like Overload and Detain tied into the guild's identity, but weren't real "build around" mechanics. I think the Gruul mechanic will be like that, while I would imagine a good portion of Simic's cards are based around making Evolve work.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
the boros card they showed today is a home run though i think, it's in that sweet spot of not super powerful but still cool.
orzhov tomorrow presumably, which was the weirdest/most unique guild mechanically in the old rav block so i'm hoping they came up with something interesting this time too
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
Here's where I brag that I may have created the Evolve mechanic. WotC had a contest a couple years back where they would hire the winner as a card designer. For the first round of the contest, one of the finalists needed mechanics that involved evolution, and I pitched a mechanic to him that he ended up heavily using for the rest of the contest. He won the whole thing and worked on Gatecrash, which suspiciously has that same mechanic, name and everything. Only difference is that the one I made (and the one used in the contest) only checked power, not toughness. Very possible that WotC came up with it independently, but I prefer to think of this as my 15 minutes of uh self-recognized fame.
Boros mechanic looks very fun, but the Gruul one seems annoying to play against. Whether it's a "build-around" mechanic or not doesn't change how often it will show up, right? As a guild mechanic, we should see at least 3-4 commons that have it.
Interested to see the last two because Orzhov and Dimir weren't straightforward strategies in original RAV.
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
yeah if you're talking about Ethan Fleischer, this is confirmed to intentionally be his GDS mechanic, tweaked. do you know him irl or was this just an internet thing? pretty neat either way
i suspect dimir will get the requisite instant/sorcery mechanic, but who knows
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:51 (eleven years ago) link
overload was lifted from the older GDS contest, as well. they're definitely not shy about using/reusing good ideas, which is good i think
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:53 (eleven years ago) link
ilx is magic famous
― iatee, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:57 (eleven years ago) link
Yep, Ethan. Don't know him personally, but helped out him and a couple of the other finalists via the Wizards site during the beginning of the contest.
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 20:02 (eleven years ago) link
Actually, come to think of it, the Boros mechanic showed up in the GDS as well. Totally forgot about that. Guess they are Amanda Palmering sets from now on.
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 20:05 (eleven years ago) link