I actually have a similar problem with Limited. There are a lot of pros or would-be pros who are grinding away on MTGO several times a day, all the friggin time. In the past, I was a decent Limited player locally, because we were all around the same skill level, but on MTGO, I'm intimidated by others. I have wanted to try M11 draft many times, but what will be the result of my one draft per month compared to those playing 4 drafts per day? At least with Constructed, there are options of cas/cas or the TP room, where you can still play outside of tournaments.
Anyway, more on topic, I think one solution is clans and PRE. I mean, to Peter, how did you get all those players to play Vintage or 2HG? You must have started some form of community building that involved that, no? You put the onus, it seems, on Wizards to come up with a solution, but at your local store, Wizards did nothing to implement your tournaments, you did. The same is true with online. It's up to community builders to keep formats going that they love.
Nissa stayed in Zendikar, because she left them loose. Yes, she is so stupid that she believed if she releases them they will leave Zendikar even though Sorin told him not do so. Worst and most stupid Planeswalker by far. that is what she is
Cool article. I was into Prismatic for a while around Rav block era, and had a bunch of fun. The most daunting part was actually deck building. I liked how you broke it down, but would have enjoyed more discussion about the non-creature spells. Of course, that probably would have made the article exceedingly long, and you already had an impressive word count going.
For me, I found it easier to build decks based on restrictions. Tribal, creatures with CMC 4 or less, no sorceries, stuff like that. Otherwise I would be overwhelmed with the possibilities.
Don't listen to these noobs. Your picks were pretty spot on imho. Your play was pretty tight too. Better than those TSG vids over on ChannelFireball. lol
P.S. Nice puns... "Someone has to guard the palace" rofl
This is an expensive game and anyone who wants to compete competitively can most often expect to shell out a lot of money if they want to play a top deck in any format. The exception of course, is pauper. Some of those cards can hit a few dollars each because they've long been out of circulation but comparatively they're inexpensive. Any time there is a prize involved, especially one that can be essentially converted to new cards, tickets or even real money, you will have a high level of competition. Players want to go infinite in constructed queues, with some players even earning a small 'income' from the game.
A possible way to get 'casual' only players into certain queues is alter the prize structure. Maybe have certain 1v1 queues that cost only 1 ticket to enter but offer a diminished prize as well. Incorporating the ranking system is another answer.
As for playing against pros, this is not good for new players when they start playing. No one wants to get beat by a 600 dollar deck when they have a 10 dollar deck. At some point, a person has to recognize that they can't compete with certain decks or cards. However, as a new player gains experience, playing against pros and better players only helps them improve their game by seeing the decisions the greater player makes.
I think the worst part of the TNM is that they gave a qualifier point to anyone who goes 3-0. This makes many people want to compete if they're trying to rack up points or to qualify or even earn byes for the MOCS.
It is and people should remember that. Don't let a certain strategy you don't agree with hang you up and ruin your day. I know easier said then done. But if we can make the effort to remember it's just a game, then maybe those unbearable strategies we all hate in our own way won't be so unbearable.
Come on, you know you looked at the game play pics even if you didn't read the whole article ;)
Seriously though I know Warp World isn't for everyone. This is pretty close to a solid Kresh List though. If you want to switch to Kresh here are my proposed changes.
Out
Xira
Warp World
Liliana
Ob Nixilis
Lotus Cobra
In
Kresh
Insurrection
Mad Sarkhan
Damnation
Decree of Pain
Scroll Thief from P1P2 is great, and UB is deck of choice for most pros in M11 draft. Assassinate pick 4 over Acidic Slime is dodgy as well. If you're going green, that card is nuts as a deterrent and a punishment for keeping shifty opening hands.
And not splashing black for double removal with three mana fixers is nuts. Canyon Minotaur and Combust and a Mountain > Doom Blade, Assassinate and a Swamp?
Edit: Last tidbit: telegraphing Giant Growth and keeping a green open in the first game is much smoother than telegraphing Condemn on a 2/2 body.
Since when is giant growth not playable?! And Infantry Veteran is crazy awesome, probably the best 1-drop in the format, it allows you to force damage through, or trade with bigger creatures.
And Garruk's companion is really good, it will often swing in for 6-9 damage before trading with a much bigger creature. And you consider a rotting legion, a rubbish creature in your SPLASH colour over it?!
Cradle is great and has always done well for me. It is usually the target or land destruction pretty early on.
I have a love/hate relationship with Temple. Many times it feels like it pushes me over the hump, but I hate seeing it in my opening hand. I can totally see taking it out though.
Thanks for your additional insights and glad you liked the write up!
Oh yeah if you can get Act on pick 5 or 6, you are in good shape. In fact if another one gets opened, it will also probably make it to you at that table. And I agree it is the most powerful outside that archetype.
"half as poisonous as rattlesnake venom"! Bwahaha. I have to remember that one.
@ erman. the guy in indiana jones was east asian. mongolian or chinese maybe. when it comes to turkish ninjas, what about cuneyt arkin in dunyayi kurtaran adam? :)
actually i saw lsv playing against a new player in a std daily event. lsv was playign with mythic and the opponent had some red deck with clearly alot of suboptimal cards. obvioulsy lsv won easily but he is also a gentleman as he tried to explain to the new player why his choises are sub optimal.
In a green pauper deck, if you're not playing Metalcraft or Affinity, I think Krosan Tusker is just strictly superior to Horizon Spellbomb. It does the same job for 1 less mana, or late-game it has the "play me as a fattie" option, which the Spellbomb does not.
TNM was supposed to be for more casual players and people who dont do tourneys regularly...but its filled with sharks and pros. If there was segregated ratings, there is definitely people who would get new accounts to take advantage of that.
Maybe run tribal with extinction and see if it starts to warp the format. You can't just ban something because you "think" it's going to be an issue. Play test it a few weeks and see where it goes.
It's really not much more different then Tsabo's Decree.
Planeswalkers were too strong with oring around. They already dominate tournements, and every format except classic and legacy. It is absolutely ridiculous that there is going to be even less ways of killing them.
I agree with Lord Erman. How often would a pro use a lower rating account just to school some noobs. I would think they have better things to do like perfect thier deck for the nect Pro Tour.
I still believe they can do a ranking system. In my version, everyones score would still be anonymous. Lets say a player wants to play a standard 8 player. He would be put into a queue. When there are 8 people ready, that player is automatically drawn to that queue, and that person is paird with like ratings. The system will automatically place people based on ratings. So people with say a score of 1600-1650 will all be placed in a same queue. As a player you would not know what que you are being placed in.
This options is simular to the battlegrounds that World of Warcraft uses. When players want to do team Player Vs Player events, they go and queue up and wait. When thier event starts, it summons them to the battleground with like players of simular ratings.
Oh speaking of pauper - next week's Thursday Night Magic format is Pauper. How awesome is that!?
I actually have a similar problem with Limited. There are a lot of pros or would-be pros who are grinding away on MTGO several times a day, all the friggin time. In the past, I was a decent Limited player locally, because we were all around the same skill level, but on MTGO, I'm intimidated by others. I have wanted to try M11 draft many times, but what will be the result of my one draft per month compared to those playing 4 drafts per day? At least with Constructed, there are options of cas/cas or the TP room, where you can still play outside of tournaments.
Anyway, more on topic, I think one solution is clans and PRE. I mean, to Peter, how did you get all those players to play Vintage or 2HG? You must have started some form of community building that involved that, no? You put the onus, it seems, on Wizards to come up with a solution, but at your local store, Wizards did nothing to implement your tournaments, you did. The same is true with online. It's up to community builders to keep formats going that they love.
There were several...All only online. I don't recall their names offhand but I don't believe any are still in existence.
Nissa stayed in Zendikar, because she left them loose. Yes, she is so stupid that she believed if she releases them they will leave Zendikar even though Sorin told him not do so. Worst and most stupid Planeswalker by far. that is what she is
Cool article. I was into Prismatic for a while around Rav block era, and had a bunch of fun. The most daunting part was actually deck building. I liked how you broke it down, but would have enjoyed more discussion about the non-creature spells. Of course, that probably would have made the article exceedingly long, and you already had an impressive word count going.
For me, I found it easier to build decks based on restrictions. Tribal, creatures with CMC 4 or less, no sorceries, stuff like that. Otherwise I would be overwhelmed with the possibilities.
Don't listen to these noobs. Your picks were pretty spot on imho. Your play was pretty tight too. Better than those TSG vids over on ChannelFireball. lol
P.S. Nice puns... "Someone has to guard the palace" rofl
Yeah not even considering giant growth is lame...
Pete, hijacking the article for a moment. My apologies in advance.
@Drybenwayy: It was Stargate TCG.
@setdanee: I can't believe you watched that movie! Well okay, correction: There are no Turkish ninjas except one.
Now let us please talk about the article.
LE
This is an expensive game and anyone who wants to compete competitively can most often expect to shell out a lot of money if they want to play a top deck in any format. The exception of course, is pauper. Some of those cards can hit a few dollars each because they've long been out of circulation but comparatively they're inexpensive. Any time there is a prize involved, especially one that can be essentially converted to new cards, tickets or even real money, you will have a high level of competition. Players want to go infinite in constructed queues, with some players even earning a small 'income' from the game.
A possible way to get 'casual' only players into certain queues is alter the prize structure. Maybe have certain 1v1 queues that cost only 1 ticket to enter but offer a diminished prize as well. Incorporating the ranking system is another answer.
As for playing against pros, this is not good for new players when they start playing. No one wants to get beat by a 600 dollar deck when they have a 10 dollar deck. At some point, a person has to recognize that they can't compete with certain decks or cards. However, as a new player gains experience, playing against pros and better players only helps them improve their game by seeing the decisions the greater player makes.
I think the worst part of the TNM is that they gave a qualifier point to anyone who goes 3-0. This makes many people want to compete if they're trying to rack up points or to qualify or even earn byes for the MOCS.
Just curious but what other TCG has an online component?
Felorin said it right in his last comment.
"It's still a game, right"
It is and people should remember that. Don't let a certain strategy you don't agree with hang you up and ruin your day. I know easier said then done. But if we can make the effort to remember it's just a game, then maybe those unbearable strategies we all hate in our own way won't be so unbearable.
As I always close with my articles,
Until next time, Be kind to your fellow players.
Come on, you know you looked at the game play pics even if you didn't read the whole article ;)
Seriously though I know Warp World isn't for everyone. This is pretty close to a solid Kresh List though. If you want to switch to Kresh here are my proposed changes.
Out
Xira
Warp World
Liliana
Ob Nixilis
Lotus Cobra
In
Kresh
Insurrection
Mad Sarkhan
Damnation
Decree of Pain
Viola! Kresh deck!
Edit. Oh yeah take out Anarchist for Genesis
Scroll Thief from P1P2 is great, and UB is deck of choice for most pros in M11 draft. Assassinate pick 4 over Acidic Slime is dodgy as well. If you're going green, that card is nuts as a deterrent and a punishment for keeping shifty opening hands.
And not splashing black for double removal with three mana fixers is nuts. Canyon Minotaur and Combust and a Mountain > Doom Blade, Assassinate and a Swamp?
Edit: Last tidbit: telegraphing Giant Growth and keeping a green open in the first game is much smoother than telegraphing Condemn on a 2/2 body.
Wow. Just wow.
Since when is giant growth not playable?! And Infantry Veteran is crazy awesome, probably the best 1-drop in the format, it allows you to force damage through, or trade with bigger creatures.
And Garruk's companion is really good, it will often swing in for 6-9 damage before trading with a much bigger creature. And you consider a rotting legion, a rubbish creature in your SPLASH colour over it?!
Cradle is great and has always done well for me. It is usually the target or land destruction pretty early on.
I have a love/hate relationship with Temple. Many times it feels like it pushes me over the hump, but I hate seeing it in my opening hand. I can totally see taking it out though.
Thanks for your additional insights and glad you liked the write up!
Oh yeah if you can get Act on pick 5 or 6, you are in good shape. In fact if another one gets opened, it will also probably make it to you at that table. And I agree it is the most powerful outside that archetype.
"half as poisonous as rattlesnake venom"! Bwahaha. I have to remember that one.
@ erman. the guy in indiana jones was east asian. mongolian or chinese maybe. when it comes to turkish ninjas, what about cuneyt arkin in dunyayi kurtaran adam? :)
actually i saw lsv playing against a new player in a std daily event. lsv was playign with mythic and the opponent had some red deck with clearly alot of suboptimal cards. obvioulsy lsv won easily but he is also a gentleman as he tried to explain to the new player why his choises are sub optimal.
Tsabo's Decree is more odious by far being a mass discard card in tribal. Which defeats the idea of holding back to avoid a wrath.
In a green pauper deck, if you're not playing Metalcraft or Affinity, I think Krosan Tusker is just strictly superior to Horizon Spellbomb. It does the same job for 1 less mana, or late-game it has the "play me as a fattie" option, which the Spellbomb does not.
TNM was supposed to be for more casual players and people who dont do tourneys regularly...but its filled with sharks and pros. If there was segregated ratings, there is definitely people who would get new accounts to take advantage of that.
Maybe run tribal with extinction and see if it starts to warp the format. You can't just ban something because you "think" it's going to be an issue. Play test it a few weeks and see where it goes.
It's really not much more different then Tsabo's Decree.
Planeswalkers were too strong with oring around. They already dominate tournements, and every format except classic and legacy. It is absolutely ridiculous that there is going to be even less ways of killing them.
I agree with Lord Erman. How often would a pro use a lower rating account just to school some noobs. I would think they have better things to do like perfect thier deck for the nect Pro Tour.
I still believe they can do a ranking system. In my version, everyones score would still be anonymous. Lets say a player wants to play a standard 8 player. He would be put into a queue. When there are 8 people ready, that player is automatically drawn to that queue, and that person is paird with like ratings. The system will automatically place people based on ratings. So people with say a score of 1600-1650 will all be placed in a same queue. As a player you would not know what que you are being placed in.
This options is simular to the battlegrounds that World of Warcraft uses. When players want to do team Player Vs Player events, they go and queue up and wait. When thier event starts, it summons them to the battleground with like players of simular ratings.