Yes, there’s no way of knowing if that’s the only LD card in their deck, which makes it important for them not to pop it on turn two if they want to keep playing. Like I said in the article, Land Removal is important in 100 Card Singleton and Commander since there are many recursion lands and manlands to abuse. So why would you waste it on a regular land? By doing so, even if it’s the only LD card in the deck, they’re using it as resource denial instead of as an answer to a threat. It’s in the spirit of LD, it’s fulfilling the same function as a dedicated LD deck’s first LD spell, and to the same effect. So what’s the point in saying “I’m not an LD deck but here’s some LD for you”?
As for the “it’s only a game” arguments, doesn’t this apply to the guy who gets conceded to as much as the conceder? If it’s “only a game”, why the name calling, whining and complaining when someone concedes to your turn two LD?
I think it would have been nice if you were a bit more detailed in your analysis about playing with or against the common strategies.
For instance,
Karakas is the 2nd most valuable land after Wasteland, because it can counter Emrakul and many of the other legends out there. It's one of the reasons I don't use the Loyal Retainer/Emrakul combo in my Survival deck.
The easiest way to fight Armageddon and Ravages of War is to not play out all of your land if you don't need it. Also Darksteel Citadel, Darksteel Ingot, and Flagstones help take some of the punch out of Armageddon strategies.
Having some kind of searchable disenchant effect is one of the best ways to deal with Oath, Survival, Moat, Propaganda, etc.
I also got a chuckle when you mentioned your time restrictions as the reason you can't go for MOCS and yet you have the time to play in two 6+ hour tournaments on a weekly basis. The reason I very rarely play in the weekend tournaments is because I don't have the free time to play in them.
I'm guessing that there will be some sort of control deck based around Venser, which will include cards like Wall of Omens, Spreading Seas, Sun Titan, Jace, Day of Judgment, etc.
Also, I'm thinking that Proliferate is going to play a bigger role than Poison. Since it boosts Planeswalkers to their ultimate ability faster, and planeswalkers have fewer cards to fear.
I'm terrible at guessing, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say standard is going to be all about Koth vs. team Jace AND Venser.
Even the very few picks where I would have taken a different card, you mention the card I would have taken in your comments. Thanks for the good article.
On Crystal Ball, are people really that high on it? I agree with rainin6 that it was probably the pick there over augury owl or anything else, but it's still a disappointing pick to me at pick 3. In my experience, that card can win games that drag out; but in games decided quickly, the fact that the crystal ball is not another creature can keep you from winning. In an aggro deck the Ball seems more likely to hurt you.
Thanks Phe0bus. I think that's partly why I felt slightly frustrated after the event. It was an 'easy mode' Swiss draft, I made broadly 'correct' picks, and only one proper play mistake and still only came second. Ah well, I was well beaten in round two so I shouldn't complain.
The flash player comes courtesy of Rare Draft, which you can find here (or just google 'Rare Draft'):
I agree with your Aether Adept pick. There were many blue cards in that pack. For one reason, if you ship them all, you are sending the, "blue is open," signal.
Oddly enough I missed the second crystal ball pick, too.
I know I undervalue the Squadron Hawk. I value the Owl greatly, so I made the same pick as you. Note, despite signals that white was open, no more S.Hawks came around. Of course, you had no idea at the time.
Question: Where or how do you get the draft into the flash player?
Always good to have more commander content as far as I am concerned. I am very much in you boat as a person who loves the format, but I try to keep my decks on the buget side. You really do just have to keep your eyes open for card that are similar to more expensive cards. Sure demonic and vampiric tutors are very pricey, but Grim tutor and Imperial seal can be had for a few tix. It all comes down to recognizing when to skimp and when to splurge (usualy format staples). I look forward to seeing more in the future.
And I am guessing Geth as you new favorite scars card. The guy is just a house and clearly designed with this format in mind. I will probably have to make a deck with him myself eventualy.
As I said previously, my problem is as much with the process followed, as with the final content. Which I also dispute.
In his/your position, I would never name a player without giving them a heads-up. Call me old fashioned,but I'd say that not doing so is lazy, and opens the door to discrepencies.
I refute Ith understood what I was saying on the WOTC boards, and his article demonstrates that. Having a calm discussion with me for the sake of rational discourse would have born that out. He didn't, thus my post here, and further my PM to him. Where he has the opportunity to engage in rational discourse with me or not.
Your use of capital letters in IS, and suggestion that my failure to be willing to discuss this here is tantamount to an admission of guilt is further evidence of us and them adverserial thinking. Why must we have a "I am right, you are wrong" attitude for there to be discussion?
I did not misunderstand your call for clarification, I simply chose to interpret as failing to provide me with a compelling reason to discuss it further here.
This is now completely OT, and as much as I enjoy the engagement with your good self, I am not sure what further learning can be gained. Restate your position? Mine will not change. I have a conversation to have with Ith is all.
I like Polymorph a lot, and featured it for an article a while back. I haven't tried the Mass version yet, but it's looking increasingly tempting. If only there was a way to control which creatures were at the top of your pile when you cast it....
On exactly that note, I think this sort of combo deck needs more filtering / card draw, at least that's what I found with my Polymorph deck. I'd be tempted by Preordain / Foresee / Crystal Ball. Partly to ensure you draw what you want, and partly to stack a couple of nice creatures at the top of the pile and send away that annoying Kozilek's Predator before you poly.
Personally I wouldn't go down the Broodwarden route since it competes with your other strategy (mana ramp to fatties or Mass Poly), and is too easily disrupted (remove Broodwarden, alpha strike over).
I'm also looking forward to seeing Infect's/Poison's potential unfold and see if it can actually be tier 1.
I was thinking that maybe a deck with Putrefax and Assault Strobe might be possible for a 1 turn kill. Maybe using Fauna Shaman and one of the following potential shells: black hand disruption, blue permission, white creature removal/sweepers . . . I don't know. Definitely at 6 mana (Putrefax+Assault Strobe) it's worth looking into, if only for casual. =)
@rainin6 - Great to get other opinions on picks and plays, that sort of thing really adds value to draft reports so thanks.
p1p2 - I think Aether Adept is too strong to pass personally. If I don't go blue (sort of unlikely even this early given the strength of the Adept and my own bias) at least I've denied someone else. But looking at it again, I still prefer Adept here, it's not like the alternatives were exceptional.
p1p3 - Again, I'd first pick Crytal Ball over most things at common or uncommon. The only cards at that rarity that I'd pick over it would be Fireball, Mind Control and Blinding Mage. It may be all about the tempo, but at least for me, the Ball is sufficiently good to justify the tempo loss.
(Interesting that I never actually got to play the first two cards worthy of discussion).
p1p4 - Well I do like Augury Owl, but maybe I undervalue Squadron Hawk, you're probably right here.
And I think you're absolutely right about the mulligan. I have an irrational fear of mulliganing unless it's really screamingly obvious, I just hate the idea of getting a similar / worse hand, but handing over card advantage at the same time. Probably one of the reasons my rating isn't higher.
@Shard - thanks for the support! Glad you like the more casual articles too, since I produce those far more frequently.
@MMogg - thanks. As I said, I only managed to find time because I sacrificed a couple of hours of sleep (for which I'm still paying). I've only managed a few quick casual games since then.
Congratulations on the new baby. Frankly, as the father of a one-and-a-half year old (well, just over), I don't know how so many fathers on here have time for MTGO. I can barely squeeze in some play time in the TP room let alone set aside 4 uninterrupted hours to draft. o.O
this was a great comment to a great article...up until this line "prefer your real articles as opposed to casual stuff =)"
Casual articles are just as real as draft reports and in my opinion his casual ones are more entertaining(if only because so many draft walk throughs are available.)
p1p2: too early to take aether adept and declare yourself to be in 2 colors - i would have gone safe/lackluster infantry veteran.
p1p3: crystal ball is right pick. but it's not necessarily "worthy of a first pick" - as you say, "it's all about tempo" - this card is anti-tempo.
p1p4: ugh, SQUADRON HAWK pls! - if you don't get another hawk, you don't miss out much.
given you committed to U/W so early, the picks seemed right from there out for the most part.
rd2g2: i dont like ur hand - as it stands, you have a turn 4 creature on the play and 2 "relatively" dead cards in inspired charge/armored ascension. i think mulligan is the right call there. if one of the aforementioned spells were a 2cc or 3cc creature, i'd prob keep. bc if you are a the UW "aggro" deck there's nothing "aggro" about playing first creature on t4.
rd2g3: unfortunate game there. i think correct play was not to pacifism the specter - unless you had some kind of read on duress (i.e. he played a t1 swamp and hesitated or something). ofc incorrect to attack with scroll thief without playing pacifism. i guess line of play using pacifism + scroll thief attack wouldn't be that bad but i'd rather save pacifism for a tougher to deal with threat... (yeah, duress, oh well)
good job, nice draft explanations, deckbuilding, recounting rounds, post-tourney analysis, etc. prefer your real articles as opposed to casual stuff =)
Hmmm that's a good point. I will certainly address that in more details in my next article.
The short answer: I want to win, but with an interesting(at least to myself) theme deck. this will become more apparent as you see more of my decks.
I think you could even have discussed your mission as a Commander player. I know that may sounds silly, but recently, because I a) didn't want to sink funds into Commander and b) wanted to play it, I had to remove winning as my goal. Instead, I built a deck I call "Annoyance" with things like Takklemaggot, Necrotic Plague and The Abyss. I also added in blue to snatch people's stuff. =) Then I splashed red for Grip of Chaos, Goblin Game, etc. I figured I'd go to my roots as a red mage and embrace the chaos rather than try to win, per se. Maybe people hate playing against me, but meh. If they want to control who or what they play against they can not join public tables. ;)
I built a thievery and punishment themed deck based on suggestions by AJ a while back. It did fairly well though I don't think it ever won out (well once, the first time I played it, I won with a kicked rites on someone's Kazuul Warlord.) People see the Grixis commanders and go for the throat. Perhaps Kaervek is the better choice there. :p
I've had some fun with Wild Evocation and Mass Polymorph and Warp World and Mass Polymorph. I even built an Eldrazi deck modeled after your own that has been fun occasionally to play with though I would not inflict it on anyone in casual without knowing their tolerances first. (It's jank but it can be insane and I'm not even running the legends.)
Evan Erwin will be amused I am sure by the various incarnations of his name here. Basically it is the writer's curse. You are guaranteed to miss something no matter how often you proof it, because you are proofing it yourself. Next time get someone else (a clan mate for instance??) to help you out.
My apologies if my remarks came off as adversarial or defensive because that was not my intent. I intended to show that you are claiming Ith as an adversary. However I believe it is you who chose to portray us (the writers in general) as your adversaries by grouping us together as you did. I did take a little umbrage at the integrity comments because they were directed at the site and it's writers in general rather than at the one you seem to have an issue with.
Overall I would rate puremtgo.com extremely high in the truthfulness and integrity department which is not the same thing as being unbiased. I don't think you can expect a lack of bias from an editorial site like this. I think most of us are fairly straight forward in expressing our views. That said, I try (though I sometimes fail) to maintain as objective a point of view as possible because I try and see the larger picture which is difficult when mired with subjectivity and emotion.
As for the clarification comment: I said something quite different than what you seem to have read. I said in paraphrase: 'it is not the content manager's job to censor the site's writers just because they might offend someone.' Given that, I am fairly certain Josh (or whomever fills in for him) does in fact check to make sure there is some semblance of truthfulness to the articles posted here (if only as an author's disclaimer). I have never read anything I would construe as libel here, except maybe in the responses. If you have facts that Ith misstated or misrepresented you should tell us what they are, so as to set the record straight.
I understand not wanting to get bogged down in yet another internet special prime-time event (aka argument) but there is a difference between adversarial debate (aka flame war) and a discussion for the sake of engaging in rational discourse. If you don't want to come forward with something that refutes what Ith said, we are forced to either take your word for it that there IS something wrong with what Ith wrote or to disbelieve your statements and your stated purpose here.
Yes, there’s no way of knowing if that’s the only LD card in their deck, which makes it important for them not to pop it on turn two if they want to keep playing. Like I said in the article, Land Removal is important in 100 Card Singleton and Commander since there are many recursion lands and manlands to abuse. So why would you waste it on a regular land? By doing so, even if it’s the only LD card in the deck, they’re using it as resource denial instead of as an answer to a threat. It’s in the spirit of LD, it’s fulfilling the same function as a dedicated LD deck’s first LD spell, and to the same effect. So what’s the point in saying “I’m not an LD deck but here’s some LD for you”?
As for the “it’s only a game” arguments, doesn’t this apply to the guy who gets conceded to as much as the conceder? If it’s “only a game”, why the name calling, whining and complaining when someone concedes to your turn two LD?
I think it would have been nice if you were a bit more detailed in your analysis about playing with or against the common strategies.
For instance,
Karakas is the 2nd most valuable land after Wasteland, because it can counter Emrakul and many of the other legends out there. It's one of the reasons I don't use the Loyal Retainer/Emrakul combo in my Survival deck.
The easiest way to fight Armageddon and Ravages of War is to not play out all of your land if you don't need it. Also Darksteel Citadel, Darksteel Ingot, and Flagstones help take some of the punch out of Armageddon strategies.
Having some kind of searchable disenchant effect is one of the best ways to deal with Oath, Survival, Moat, Propaganda, etc.
I also got a chuckle when you mentioned your time restrictions as the reason you can't go for MOCS and yet you have the time to play in two 6+ hour tournaments on a weekly basis. The reason I very rarely play in the weekend tournaments is because I don't have the free time to play in them.
I'm guessing that there will be some sort of control deck based around Venser, which will include cards like Wall of Omens, Spreading Seas, Sun Titan, Jace, Day of Judgment, etc.
Also, I'm thinking that Proliferate is going to play a bigger role than Poison. Since it boosts Planeswalkers to their ultimate ability faster, and planeswalkers have fewer cards to fear.
I'm terrible at guessing, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say standard is going to be all about Koth vs. team Jace AND Venser.
Even the very few picks where I would have taken a different card, you mention the card I would have taken in your comments. Thanks for the good article.
On Crystal Ball, are people really that high on it? I agree with rainin6 that it was probably the pick there over augury owl or anything else, but it's still a disappointing pick to me at pick 3. In my experience, that card can win games that drag out; but in games decided quickly, the fact that the crystal ball is not another creature can keep you from winning. In an aggro deck the Ball seems more likely to hurt you.
Thanks Phe0bus. I think that's partly why I felt slightly frustrated after the event. It was an 'easy mode' Swiss draft, I made broadly 'correct' picks, and only one proper play mistake and still only came second. Ah well, I was well beaten in round two so I shouldn't complain.
The flash player comes courtesy of Rare Draft, which you can find here (or just google 'Rare Draft'):
http://www.raredraft.com/welcome?ref=/
I agree with your Aether Adept pick. There were many blue cards in that pack. For one reason, if you ship them all, you are sending the, "blue is open," signal.
Oddly enough I missed the second crystal ball pick, too.
I know I undervalue the Squadron Hawk. I value the Owl greatly, so I made the same pick as you. Note, despite signals that white was open, no more S.Hawks came around. Of course, you had no idea at the time.
Question: Where or how do you get the draft into the flash player?
Exactly. If it was on-colour, and standard legal. Mmmm, used to love that card. Was great in kaleidoscope too.
You mean with something like congregation at dawn?
Always good to have more commander content as far as I am concerned. I am very much in you boat as a person who loves the format, but I try to keep my decks on the buget side. You really do just have to keep your eyes open for card that are similar to more expensive cards. Sure demonic and vampiric tutors are very pricey, but Grim tutor and Imperial seal can be had for a few tix. It all comes down to recognizing when to skimp and when to splurge (usualy format staples). I look forward to seeing more in the future.
And I am guessing Geth as you new favorite scars card. The guy is just a house and clearly designed with this format in mind. I will probably have to make a deck with him myself eventualy.
Cheers mate.
As I said previously, my problem is as much with the process followed, as with the final content. Which I also dispute.
In his/your position, I would never name a player without giving them a heads-up. Call me old fashioned,but I'd say that not doing so is lazy, and opens the door to discrepencies.
I refute Ith understood what I was saying on the WOTC boards, and his article demonstrates that. Having a calm discussion with me for the sake of rational discourse would have born that out. He didn't, thus my post here, and further my PM to him. Where he has the opportunity to engage in rational discourse with me or not.
Your use of capital letters in IS, and suggestion that my failure to be willing to discuss this here is tantamount to an admission of guilt is further evidence of us and them adverserial thinking. Why must we have a "I am right, you are wrong" attitude for there to be discussion?
I did not misunderstand your call for clarification, I simply chose to interpret as failing to provide me with a compelling reason to discuss it further here.
This is now completely OT, and as much as I enjoy the engagement with your good self, I am not sure what further learning can be gained. Restate your position? Mine will not change. I have a conversation to have with Ith is all.
I like Polymorph a lot, and featured it for an article a while back. I haven't tried the Mass version yet, but it's looking increasingly tempting. If only there was a way to control which creatures were at the top of your pile when you cast it....
On exactly that note, I think this sort of combo deck needs more filtering / card draw, at least that's what I found with my Polymorph deck. I'd be tempted by Preordain / Foresee / Crystal Ball. Partly to ensure you draw what you want, and partly to stack a couple of nice creatures at the top of the pile and send away that annoying Kozilek's Predator before you poly.
Personally I wouldn't go down the Broodwarden route since it competes with your other strategy (mana ramp to fatties or Mass Poly), and is too easily disrupted (remove Broodwarden, alpha strike over).
I'm also looking forward to seeing Infect's/Poison's potential unfold and see if it can actually be tier 1.
I was thinking that maybe a deck with Putrefax and Assault Strobe might be possible for a 1 turn kill. Maybe using Fauna Shaman and one of the following potential shells: black hand disruption, blue permission, white creature removal/sweepers . . . I don't know. Definitely at 6 mana (Putrefax+Assault Strobe) it's worth looking into, if only for casual. =)
Thanks for the comments guys.
@rainin6 - Great to get other opinions on picks and plays, that sort of thing really adds value to draft reports so thanks.
p1p2 - I think Aether Adept is too strong to pass personally. If I don't go blue (sort of unlikely even this early given the strength of the Adept and my own bias) at least I've denied someone else. But looking at it again, I still prefer Adept here, it's not like the alternatives were exceptional.
p1p3 - Again, I'd first pick Crytal Ball over most things at common or uncommon. The only cards at that rarity that I'd pick over it would be Fireball, Mind Control and Blinding Mage. It may be all about the tempo, but at least for me, the Ball is sufficiently good to justify the tempo loss.
(Interesting that I never actually got to play the first two cards worthy of discussion).
p1p4 - Well I do like Augury Owl, but maybe I undervalue Squadron Hawk, you're probably right here.
And I think you're absolutely right about the mulligan. I have an irrational fear of mulliganing unless it's really screamingly obvious, I just hate the idea of getting a similar / worse hand, but handing over card advantage at the same time. Probably one of the reasons my rating isn't higher.
@Shard - thanks for the support! Glad you like the more casual articles too, since I produce those far more frequently.
@MMogg - thanks. As I said, I only managed to find time because I sacrificed a couple of hours of sleep (for which I'm still paying). I've only managed a few quick casual games since then.
Congratulations on the new baby. Frankly, as the father of a one-and-a-half year old (well, just over), I don't know how so many fathers on here have time for MTGO. I can barely squeeze in some play time in the TP room let alone set aside 4 uninterrupted hours to draft. o.O
this was a great comment to a great article...up until this line "prefer your real articles as opposed to casual stuff =)"
Casual articles are just as real as draft reports and in my opinion his casual ones are more entertaining(if only because so many draft walk throughs are available.)
p1p2: too early to take aether adept and declare yourself to be in 2 colors - i would have gone safe/lackluster infantry veteran.
p1p3: crystal ball is right pick. but it's not necessarily "worthy of a first pick" - as you say, "it's all about tempo" - this card is anti-tempo.
p1p4: ugh, SQUADRON HAWK pls! - if you don't get another hawk, you don't miss out much.
given you committed to U/W so early, the picks seemed right from there out for the most part.
rd2g2: i dont like ur hand - as it stands, you have a turn 4 creature on the play and 2 "relatively" dead cards in inspired charge/armored ascension. i think mulligan is the right call there. if one of the aforementioned spells were a 2cc or 3cc creature, i'd prob keep. bc if you are a the UW "aggro" deck there's nothing "aggro" about playing first creature on t4.
rd2g3: unfortunate game there. i think correct play was not to pacifism the specter - unless you had some kind of read on duress (i.e. he played a t1 swamp and hesitated or something). ofc incorrect to attack with scroll thief without playing pacifism. i guess line of play using pacifism + scroll thief attack wouldn't be that bad but i'd rather save pacifism for a tougher to deal with threat... (yeah, duress, oh well)
good job, nice draft explanations, deckbuilding, recounting rounds, post-tourney analysis, etc. prefer your real articles as opposed to casual stuff =)
Hmmm that's a good point. I will certainly address that in more details in my next article.
The short answer: I want to win, but with an interesting(at least to myself) theme deck. this will become more apparent as you see more of my decks.
I think you could even have discussed your mission as a Commander player. I know that may sounds silly, but recently, because I a) didn't want to sink funds into Commander and b) wanted to play it, I had to remove winning as my goal. Instead, I built a deck I call "Annoyance" with things like Takklemaggot, Necrotic Plague and The Abyss. I also added in blue to snatch people's stuff. =) Then I splashed red for Grip of Chaos, Goblin Game, etc. I figured I'd go to my roots as a red mage and embrace the chaos rather than try to win, per se. Maybe people hate playing against me, but meh. If they want to control who or what they play against they can not join public tables. ;)
the elf...
It could be... Liege of the Tangle or Carnifex Demon, or also Skithyirix the infect dragon
I built a thievery and punishment themed deck based on suggestions by AJ a while back. It did fairly well though I don't think it ever won out (well once, the first time I played it, I won with a kicked rites on someone's Kazuul Warlord.) People see the Grixis commanders and go for the throat. Perhaps Kaervek is the better choice there. :p
I've had some fun with Wild Evocation and Mass Polymorph and Warp World and Mass Polymorph. I even built an Eldrazi deck modeled after your own that has been fun occasionally to play with though I would not inflict it on anyone in casual without knowing their tolerances first. (It's jank but it can be insane and I'm not even running the legends.)
Evan Erwin will be amused I am sure by the various incarnations of his name here. Basically it is the writer's curse. You are guaranteed to miss something no matter how often you proof it, because you are proofing it yourself. Next time get someone else (a clan mate for instance??) to help you out.
:)
Oh drat it. That is very sad indeed.
Extinction also got rebanned: It got missed because it wasn't on the on-site list. Once we pointed this out, they edited.
First of all, thanks for compliment on my post.
My apologies if my remarks came off as adversarial or defensive because that was not my intent. I intended to show that you are claiming Ith as an adversary. However I believe it is you who chose to portray us (the writers in general) as your adversaries by grouping us together as you did. I did take a little umbrage at the integrity comments because they were directed at the site and it's writers in general rather than at the one you seem to have an issue with.
Overall I would rate puremtgo.com extremely high in the truthfulness and integrity department which is not the same thing as being unbiased. I don't think you can expect a lack of bias from an editorial site like this. I think most of us are fairly straight forward in expressing our views. That said, I try (though I sometimes fail) to maintain as objective a point of view as possible because I try and see the larger picture which is difficult when mired with subjectivity and emotion.
As for the clarification comment: I said something quite different than what you seem to have read. I said in paraphrase: 'it is not the content manager's job to censor the site's writers just because they might offend someone.' Given that, I am fairly certain Josh (or whomever fills in for him) does in fact check to make sure there is some semblance of truthfulness to the articles posted here (if only as an author's disclaimer). I have never read anything I would construe as libel here, except maybe in the responses. If you have facts that Ith misstated or misrepresented you should tell us what they are, so as to set the record straight.
I understand not wanting to get bogged down in yet another internet special prime-time event (aka argument) but there is a difference between adversarial debate (aka flame war) and a discussion for the sake of engaging in rational discourse. If you don't want to come forward with something that refutes what Ith said, we are forced to either take your word for it that there IS something wrong with what Ith wrote or to disbelieve your statements and your stated purpose here.