• What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    True enough - the point being made is not what the definition is, but that there is no shared understanding of the definition? I agree with this, that there is much confusion. IF there was a shared understanding... maybe there is less drama about it.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    yeah im totally convinced that torunaments for newbs will offend pros. because playing with -1600 rated people is exactly what fffreak and lsv want to do all day.

  • Magic Online General Roundup: In Moderation   14 years 38 weeks ago

    seriously dude...its a game made in america, by an american company, run by americans...what fucking language do you expect it to be in? Swahili? get a grip you stupid troll. Oh boo-hoo, you cant blabber on in public chat rooms in the language of your choice...well i wonder why, maybe because it cant be moderated. But no one is stopping you and your gibberish speaking friends that has such huge issues with english from going and starting your own chat in a private room. You have options so shut up.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Since when does everyone agree on anything?

  • Magic Online General Roundup: In Moderation   14 years 38 weeks ago

    This is not about controversey, and I am a little bemused that seeking to have a conversation about WOTC makes me a troll.

    The point I made on the WOTC boards, for which Ith has called me out is the same as I have made in this thread.

    The client is *culturally* language biased towards North American English - this is, by definition, difficult to explain (for me, so it is on me, not you - I am being vague because I lack sufficient words, not because I think you are stupid - it is your assumption on this, not mine.) I tender as evidence that numerous non-english-speaking players (most un-known to me before I posted on the wotc boards, pm'd me in client and said "I completely agree". (Irony being I am not certain I have articulated the situation clearly enough for people to agree or disagree... lol).

    It would be, I guess, easy to list some of the words that have different contextual meanings, but that would be trollish and a provocation b/c they are all offensive to someone somewhere.

    So far, the only accurate thing I have been accused of is being Vague - touche. I have been, but see above. HOWEVER, the series of assumptions that have followed about my motive and my character are completely unfair, and hyperbolic in their intensity. FURTHER that those assumptions have informed Ith's attitude towards me has been confessed to by him.

    This is about rational discourse? Excellent I love good thinking. But as has been pointed out on this forum in the last day, it is quite difficult to get good thinking on the mothership, as people become polarised very quickly... so they either get called trolls or fanbois and the conversation falls apart.

    For my part... I would love to see a discussion about the cultural bias in language on the client... seems that is unlikely to be able to occur - more is the pity, given the clever and capable members of this community, who should be able to engage with ideas in such a manner.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Wow that was a tad personal no? Do you know Pete? Has he done some kind of wrong to you specifically? If not where does this animus come from? Everyone is fallible but you make it sound like he ate your kittens.

  • Magic Online General Roundup: In Moderation   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Got this response from Ith.

    I'd say this confirms Ith wrote an article with bias towards me. Ith has resorted to name calling, and has made a series of assumptions.

    I was hoping for a different resolution to this, and am going to say no more about it now, other than it seems there is no expectation or process whereby writers on this site are prevented from carrying a bias towards a player into their writing. I would also suggest there does not seem to be any condition which prevents said writers from making a players character the subject of their writing. Given the angry and aggressive tone in this reply by Ith, that would concern me.

    Where is the objectivity?

    wow. /me is a little surprised.

    RE: Article
    From: Ith
    Received: Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 11:51am
    Reply
    Forward

    Who says I was trying to use the article to resolve anything? I feel that I have nothing to resolve with you. You're just another troll who's trying to get under the skin of people who know better. Like all the others you'll get bored when you stop getting any attention or when enough people finally call you on your shit. In thread after thread, you try to make big important sounding points without any facts - or even solidly formed opinions - to back them up.

    Your style is the same, over and over. You make vauge points and then refuse to clarify when people ask for clarification, claiming that you "already made your point" and that if anyone needs clarification that it's their problem. You've done this over and over, and I'm hardly the only person who has recognized the pattern.

    This article had exactly three sentences which refer to you, and not even in a bad light. I didn't insult you in any way and the only description of you that I gave whatsoever was that you were a newcomer to the boards. If you are not in fact new to the boards but merely using a new name, I'll make sure to issue a retraction on that measure just to appease your desire for controversy.

  • Getting Promoted: Basic Training Part 1   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I'm gonna guess Steel Hellkite, Necrotic Ooze, and Geth, Lord of the Vault.

  • One Double O #38 - Survivor's Guide to 100 Card Singleton   14 years 38 weeks ago

    some really fantastic stuff, glad to see interest in 100c is picking up

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    i think he is trying to say that while WotC says Casual=Unrated, obviously that isnt a good enough definition for some people. I mean I agree if Casual=Unrated was a good definition, you wouldnt be here responding to these posts because everyone would agree.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I agree with the definition as stated above. How is this a "no one will ever agree on what casual means" attitude?

    I believe everyone has their own interpretation of what is fun to them, in regard to MTGO, if that's what you are referring to.

    In that light, maybe you could tell us whose opinion is "more relevant, and more likely to be correct..." when it comes to the question of what is fun and what isn't?

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I have been testing a proliferate deck in Classic. It is a beast.

    Ajani Goldmane is a machine when his +1/+1 ability can be doubled (tripled if 2 contagions in play) every turn.

    Last game I played I had 9 soldier tokens which went from 1/1 to 6/6 by the time summoning sickness wore off.

    I also find it useful as it removes 1 x weener (or bigger with a couple of uses). It is actually a underrated card considering it's application. A card which can in essence potentially interact (to your control/benefit) with nearly every other card in play (with a well designed deck) - if unchecked by opponent. Serious potential and begs to be broken.

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Figuring Garruk and the Fetchlands will be the most expensive cards in the deck, so I really don't think it'll be bad at all.

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    if you're right about the price of this poison deck i may actually shuffle up some standard for the first time in a very long time.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    leagues were a decent solution, as they just took too long to be anywhere near profitable for a pro, but I could get in there and win some prizes if I got something good going.

    Sealed only, of course, but I guess you could do constructed this way. Obviously drafts would be broken.

  • Mass Polymorph   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Polymorph is fun to play (not often for your opponent staring down Progentitus, Emrakul etc).

    Things to note - Polymorph decks are often weakest to black (target player sacrifices a creature) effects.

    Also be aware that your opponent doesn't bribery you. I always design a polymorph deck (where possible) to be able to handle having itself used against itself. If your deck cannot handle Emrakul, then what is the solution for a 'if' the opponent gets that into play out of your deck.

    Just food for thought as I have had it happen a couple of times and from there promptly adjusted my deck so it wouldn't beat me as bad if such a thing reoccurred. (It's usually the 6 perms you lose that kills ya). Worthwhile considering and also be wary of extirpate or such.

    Good article however. And good to see a critter filled Mass Morph deck

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I am feeling that std is going to be pretty much the same as now...dominated by mythics. Especially planeswalker control decks.

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I'm so happy that two of the big cards in the deck are going to be $1 rares. Hand and Putrefax are in a precon XD

  • Tribal Apocalypse - The Dawn of a New Era   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Thanks AJ

  • Semi Pro - Scarring Implications of Scars On Standard Control   14 years 38 weeks ago

    This is exactly what I'm looking forward to: Infect and the return of U/B control. Or even U/B/w control, splashing white for Venser, whose -1 ability looks pretty nice coupled with a few infecting creatures.

    And I can't wait to get my grubby hands on Hand of the Praetors!

  • Out of the Blue - Is There a Draft in Here?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Interesting, but I don't think I'd personally change my pick order / strategy whichever queue I'm in.

    I think of Crystal ball as one of the few cards that can turn a loss into a win. At uncommon, I can think of only Mind Control and Fireball which can do likewise. In the two games I lost, Crystal Ball was the card I needed more than any other. As you saw, I drew Wall of Frost when I wanted it, but one creature is easily dealt with, in much the same way that one piece of removal is dealt with - the creature is simply replaced.

    But the ball helps you get what you want again and again. Kill my blocker? Here's another. Drop another fatty? Here's another Pacifism.

    I accept that it's slow, and wasn't optimal for my strategy, but I still rate it highly. Perhaps it isn't P1P1, but as with all picks, that depends what else is out there. Ball was certainly the pick both times it appeared in my draft.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    As I stated above, I do agree with that definition in some circumstances. You added a little bit more to it.

    Keep in mind we're discussing what a "Casual Game" on MTGO is, and not just the word "casual" in and of itself. Hence my premise: "Casual games are unrated matches."

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Can we stop using the term "noob"? It makes us sound like total "dweebs"

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    At some point everything but basic mathematics is subjective. Your "casual just means unrated games" stance may be technically correct in the same sense that 2+2=4 is inarguable, however it's adding nothing relevant to the discussion.
    Yes, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. But some opinions are more relevant, and more likely to be correct, are more likely to be helpful. Which is what these kind of discussions are for. Your dismissive "no one will ever agree on what casual means" attitude is not only not helping, it's a complete waste of pixels.

  • What's Wrong with Online Constructed, and What can Wizards Do about It?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I do believe those are the definitions of casual in the dictionary. I could be wrong... let me check google.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/casual

    this is what merriam-webster has to say about it:

    a (1) : feeling or showing little concern : nonchalant (2) : lacking a high degree of interest or devotion (3) : done without serious intent or commitment b (1) : informal, natural (2) : designed for informal use

    Check out b (1) in particular.

    RE: Prismatic Articles. Why not create a column for it then? Your clan is clearly interested in it and you have the know how. If I was more knowledgeable about it I might do that myself.

    Deck editor is fine for starters sure... that has been how I've built all my online decks in the past. (except for an occasional brainstorm in notepad++ while working on something else.