• NMS#1 - Good ol' Infect   13 years 42 weeks ago

    Even if you're committed to the black splash (which, other than the Imp, doesn't really have enough power to justify destroying your mana base), Pestilent Souleater is essentially an upgrade over Scourge Servant in your deck, Necrogen Scudder straight does nothing, and Plague Stinger on turn 9 or whenever you draw your 3-of Swamp isn't nearly as impressive as t2.

    Your openers were VERY lucky, mana-wise. I don't think you're correct that the splashed cards are fine lategame - Contagious Nim loses a LOT of luster late-game, and etc.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    Thanks to Kumagoro for doing a good job summing up my view of this article. Let me add a couple more points though...

    Your cogent points were lost in the flood of non sequuntur (why do we care if something completely unrelated rhymes with "pork butt"?).

    Moreover, of your illustrated attempts at improvement (Nevermore, Headless Horseman, and "Man Eating Tree") two were unworkable given current restraints and the third is exactly the type of card that WotC has been moving away from for years (niche cards that invalidate certain strategies). Given that you don't address these issues I have to wonder what your credentials to put forth this design review are.

    Clearly laying out how you approach the game and your review (e.g.: highly subjective Vorthos review) at the top might help your audience find you, and let the rest of us move on.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    While I haven't read the "Castle of Otranto" itself, I have read the online cliff notes, which tell me that the book is considered to have originated the 'Gothic' movement -- it was the very first work of Gothic literature that is recognized as Gothic. In that sense is it proto-Gothic and invaluable if you attempting to understand how 'Gothic' originated. And if I was involved in an endeavor focusing on Gothic, I'd want to be familiar with it. I do my homework. But I'm not interested in reading a work of old literature just to say I've read it, nor will I lie about what I have and haven't read to make myself sound erudite.

    I never said Innistrad was *Literary* gothic, I said it was the gothic set, which includes gothic horror and literary gothic and even Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer (and Twilight) consumerist gothic. I make that distinction (apparently not clearly enough) in the article.

    They can make whatever sort of cards they want to make. Just because someone at wizards has said something in the past, doesn't make it gospel. Major changes like double sided cards and mythic rarity and even redoing major rules (legend rule in Kamigawa) are common if you look long term. So yes, if they felt it added to a set, they could quote real flavor text. I think it would have added to Innistrad. They could add famous works alongside their own stories; it isn't written on pewter tablets signed by Richard Garfield and stamped with the Hasbro logo that real world text is verbotten. And I get you love the set, but I found the flavor text you think is so brilliant to be uninspired dreck.

    Thank you for the comments. If I write one of these again, I will endeavor to be less smug and more coherent.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I'm sorry, sir, I stopped giving you ANY credit after 4 lines when you just admitted you never read The Castle of Otranto (which I did), still you apparently think the creative staff of Innistrad didn't and should have read it. How you know they don't, since you don't? How you know they should, while you don't know what you're talking about? If anything, the atmosphere of Innistrad is very reminescent of The Castle of Otranto, which isn't "gothic" in the way you think it is (it comes before Romanticism, and more than a century before the full bloom of gothic literature; it's more akin a fantastic tale).

    Also, as I see the comment above mine is pointing out as well, the fact that Innistrad was about literary gothic is just a fantasy of yours.

    And finally, no, they can't quote Edgar Allan Poe on cards anymore. Because Poe isn't a fictional character in the world of Innistrad, and they stopped referring real life places and authors, like, 15 years ago. It would be like if Tolkien, at some point, made Gandalf quote Dante Alighieri.
    The flavor text for Innistrad is brilliant because it tells a story of its own, if you just bother to read it in the right way instead of using it to fuel misplaced, smugness-filled criticism.
    Please stick to writing about what you know well, whatever it is.

  • Conqueror & Commander, Vol. LXII: Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I too echo the sentiments that you were missed. I pretty much only play Commander anymore, and I always loved reading your articles. As usual, this one did not disappoint - especially with the focus being on FUN as compared to cutthroat :-D

    Can't wait for the next article. Complete side note, what would you recommend for a fun, something-non-green commander? I have my Omnath, my Edric, and a few other blue-green decks but I wanna do something different and I think the only way to do it is to avoid green like the plague.

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    "PT Honolulu Online PTQ schedule up now. The format is Innistrad sealed, and they start October 16th. The cost is 30 TIX."

    hmmm... this means that the Innistrad online release should be no after the 14th - 15th?

    In that case online prerelease events should run 9th - 11st?

    btw, thanks for the weekly effort. Great work.

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    No, but I think there are lot of things we still don't know about the double sided cards and MTGO and the paper cards.

    But I don't know how it will work at the moment. I usually don't go to the rules unless they are going to ban something I am using.

    But thanks for the link. I should read up about that. But I do think it could lead to some interesting things. Like Cryptoclasm.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    My apologies if some of these criticisms are addressed later but I essentially stopped reading after your rant on the Invisible Man (which is undeserved first of all, it's not going to be that strong in limited).

    The biggest thing is that they never said it was a GOTHIC set, they said it was a HORROR set, it's just going to have a GOTHIC look, you seem to be misunderstanding their aim a lot (so it makes sense why you're disappointed). Secondly, I think the creative persons at Wizards have a better internal knowledge and research skills about what Gothic is than "let me google Gothic and read the first book that comes up" like you so generously offered.

    Secondly, they've stated before that only core sets can receive real-world flavor text, thus they wouldn't put a Poe quote, no matter how much you think it fits. It surprises me how you say that Wizards instead of having a "a Magic-orientated branding of gothic, or a celebration of real gothic works designed around a magic shell. Instead a ‘connect the tropes’ game was used to create an ultimately superficial mess, and random non-gothic elements crept in to dilute and undermine". And then you go ahead and make the Nevermore card a completely superficial 'connect the Gothic allusion' card that exists entirely in its own vacuum without any connection to the world of Innistrad (save the art).

    Sorry to be so critical, and I'm usually not (other posters who've been familiar with my posting can hopefully attest) but I think you're just so off-base here, I had to say something. Feel free to discuss, defend, criticize me.

  • Conqueror & Commander, Vol. LXII: Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder   13 years 42 weeks ago

    erayo did get banned on the 20th actually. at least for paper edh

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    So if I copy and paste Wotc's rules article to Pure, do I get 20 tix?

    http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/innistrad/dfcrules

    ;)

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    You should have made that it's own post on this site. I don't think most people know the rules yet. Hell I don't.

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I suppose I should respond to your post in an arrogant, aggressive tone since that seems to be your approach to my post. But alas, I won't fall into that trap.

    Yes, Modern was created due to the deadness of Ext, but I hardly see how that has anything to do with my hatred of the format and how it has lead to less online Legacy events. Why didn't they try to revitalize ext if that was truly the problem?

    As far as the resurgence of Legacy, I could be wrong, but pretty sure Legacy had the largest tournament ever and that tournament took place before SCG was running their weekend opens. SCG is a business and by running opens they obv were looking towards making profits, which I have no malice towards. No matter what their intentions, at least they did something to help the format, whereas Wizards has and will not.

    What gradual slow interest in Legacy are you talking about. The paper scene has been booming thanks to SCG and prior to Modern coming online, online Legacy events were firing at a constant pace. Misstep did not cause the recent dip in events, modern did, that's a fact.

    The restrictive prices are really a non-factor because eternal formats both online and for paper are and will continue to be expensive. With the creation of Modern, now eternal card prices are further scarred.

    Just take a look at Modern staples that are also Legacy staples, ie tarmo, Vendilion Clique, Dark Confidant, Engineered Explosives just to name a few.

    The creation of Modern drove some Legacy staples higher causing even a higher barrier of entry into an already expensive eternal format.

    You don't know me so let me make this very clear. I am usually not a Wizards basher. Go back, read all my articles, read all my comments and you will find that that is a fact.

    This isn't a conspiracy, but just another example of how Wizards caters to the collectors vs. the players. Screw the reserve list, reprint the duals already.

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago
    ?

    So the creation of Modern had nothing to do with Extended being a dead format?

    And the choice to make Modern begin from Mirrodin and not use the over-extended format was aimed at hurting Legacy?

    And the resurgence of Legacy had nothing to do with SCG events? And their intention was to build a healthy format and not cash in on the resulting boom in prices (a'la the wasteland buyout and price hike)?

    And the gradual slow in interest in Legacy had nothing to do with the inflated card prices that occurred before Modern? The restrictive prices that many writers commented on paralleling those of Vintage and therefore being problematic to the format's long term future.

    You've just fallen into the Wizard's conspiracy hole before attributing real, known facts to the problem.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    No problem. I don't want to sound like an ass either. I was a bit harsh. I can admit that. I just thought it would be a good idea to read from developer's point of view. For examples, the flip cards are definitely controversial and articles explained why they made it that way.( I personally don't like it for drafts. It's ridiculously complicated for new players and screams "we will never print morph cards "). The obvious rip off of The Invisible man was given a one line explanation.

    You do have some good point though and it is nice to read from a more Vorthos point of view. Just because most people are not Vorthos, it doesn't mean people don't want to read it. I do like artwork and flavour text but most of the time I just glance over them and not really 'read' it. The only I ever notice is "ohh cool art work!, hey that guy/girl drew that other card I liked too!". I think your article would be fantastic if it wasn't review but something else.

    I did like your comment about Innistrad having Buffy the Vampire slayer feel. It does. But I also understand why this is inevitable. Wotc has to appeal to a very large audience in age and culture and they have to sell. I'm getting bored with bloodsucking vampires, werewolves with six packs and zombies a little.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    Thank you for the specifics. I read the spoiler and looked at the visual spoiler, and that was really it. If I'm going to offer design criticism on a product, I don't like reading what other people have said about it, because then I might not be forming my own objective opinion. If I repeated what was said elsewhere, then maybe I got something right. If you believe forming my own opinion about something, based only the product itself, and not based on other people's opinions is arrogant, then I admit to arrogance.

    I tried to offer criticism from each of the the psychographics. Next time I'll be more blatant about this. Thanks.

    If I didn't think I could do better than wotc, at least in some sense, a design review would be pointless to write; I'd just be a cheerleader. But I did not intend an 'I'm better than you' vibe as strongly as you felt it.

    I do not plan to participate in the paper events due to other commitments, not because I'm a pretentious critic or looking down on wotc. For the online events I don't want to pay the extra tickets and can wait. Ever since they raised entry to 30tix I never do release events online.

    Avacyn really does remind me of an anti-inflammatory, and putting an in-Gothic priest next to non-Gothic Cathar still strikes me as not so smart. But yeah, the 'sorry' and 'what a waste' make it too whiny. I'd rather be perceived as arrogant than as apologetic.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    If you insist,

    " My inner Vorthos is crying." - This basically sums up my point. I really didn't feel like I was reading a fair review. It was more of a rant from a Vorthos player. This alienates 90% of the readers. While flavour and artwork is important, majority of the readers are here to play.

    " I could redesign 40% of the red cards to be ‘more Innistrad’."-I'm better than you 'feel'

    "If I had to design black in Innistrad, I feel like I could do better, maybe even a lot better. I’d want to scrap half the cards and only keep the good ones. "
    - another I'm better than the entire wotc staff

    "I do not think I’ll be participating in the paper release or the online pre-release for this set. Good luck to those of you who are."- This screams "I'm too good for this shit. I'm outta here." I really don't think this fits the tone of a review.

    "Sorry. Avacyn reminds me too much of a generic brand anti-inflammatory drug. Still (Avacynian Priest)s were also there with these dumb Cathars? What a waste. "

    Maybe you should read some of the Innistrad articles. Those improvement you mentioned were already addressed(see above about horsemen etc). You said you didn't read the articles online, but you reviewed the set. That's pure arrogance.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I reread it (I found it interesting enough and you have written some really quality pieces before) and I think it's mostly your tone that was "off". You can be critical while still being rational. This article had a tone of anger and unfocused irritation that my drunken forum posts do. I think that you could have taken a step back and touched this up a little for a really good critical piece. You have some valid points; you just don't make them well in this article.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    --the use of Poe's "Raven" as over-arching flavor text, much like the "Love Song of Night and Day" supported Mirage, perhaps even going so far as to rename "Avacyn" to "Lenore"
    --the use of "Priest" rather than "Cathar"
    --make the set's mythic angel a legendary human monster slayer instead
    --the use of plant monsters as a secondary unifying theme in green, visual example provided
    --mechanically, the use of shroud in blue, rather than hexproof
    --Balefire Dragon turning into a gothic devil
    --the use of creature type -- 'wolves' over 'hounds' in the 'werewolf' set
    --better use of succubus/incubus in templating red devils
    --less use of coin flipping randomness in exchange for 'opponent's choice'
    --switching of rarities between the mythic 'army of darkness' and the broken rare vampire lord who taps to make 2/2 flyers
    --making 'army of darkness' zombie tribal even if it was the only tribal spell in the set
    --redesign of black commons, laundry list provided, including many new designs
    --more that I missed in this quick summary...

    All of that was how I thought the set could be improved, and I didn't focus only on the bad... I repeatedly compliment the art and do mention I agree with design choices (artifacts, lands, gold).

    If you could be specific about the 'whiny' parts, I'll make sure to avoid those next time, otherwise you are leaving me an impression you didn't read the article.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I think you could use more constructive feedback on your article. No one wants to read that kid whine in the corner because he didn't get the cookie (Even if he deserved it). A good review should be about how you think they could improve the set not focusing on what's BAD.

    On the other hand, I do agree that cards like nevermore are very thoughtless.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    Rating

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I don't agree with everything you have to say but you nailed it with blue getting hexproof. Their reasoning for that was awful; blue should NOT get ways to do everything when it is already built around doing the best things (counter, draw, bounce that threat you missed earlier, steal a dude, etc).

  • State of the Program for September 23rd   13 years 42 weeks ago

    this is good stuff to know.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    I wasn't trying to totally lambaste your critique of the set. You do make some points that I agree with...

    Also, nice catch on Squall.

    However, I think you hit the nail as to why they got away with errating the mana cost of Squall. It is not widely played, so therefore it was low impact...

    Imagine if instead of banning Stoneforge Mystic, they just errata'd it's mana cost...madness would ensue from FNM all the way to PTQ level.

    That is all. The "balance" part of game design is the hardest one to strike.

    I think Gregory Marques writes decent design articles...
    Again, I apologize if I came across as harsh. Not my intent. I actually think this was a decent read, being somewhat of a purist myself. Wizards could have done more homework with the flavor design, I called it overgeneralized. I just think maybe the article itself should have been presented differently.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    Yeah, it just regenerated and had enough power to be relevant without equipment or auras, and despite that was unplayable.

  • Full Value 5 -- Innistrad Design Review   13 years 42 weeks ago

    But I wasn't trying to please you when I wrote this design critique article. No one ever writes good design critique articles. Perhaps not even me, but it really frustrates me when wizards has all the ingredients for a potentially awesome set, and they can't follow through.

    My qualifications have been cited in previous articles in the 'Full Value' series.

    As for errata regarding a spell's cost... Squall has printed at both 1G (starter) and 2G (masques). Not sure which is the 'real' cost, and I don't care because no one ever plays Squall (it does 2 damage to all flying creatures). If they really want to power-errata a useless common no one plays into a slightly better useless common no one would play, 'the legends version was a printing error' isn't a big stretch.