The problem I have here is that the correct level of interaction is always going to be different for each individual. It's like the definition of 'casual', it means something different depending on your personal outlook.
I'm quite an easy going person until I'm upset and I personally play the game with limited interaction via the keyboard. I always start with "Hello and good luck" or if my opponent get's that in first I'll respond with something typed rather than the automatic greeting. Having done that I need all my concentration to play the game. I'm not being disrespectful to my opponent but I am being silent. I will comment if something unusual happens (my draft opponent playing his third volcanic fallout) or if my opponent makes a good play that I didn't see coming or when the game is won/lost and I no longer need to concentrate on my plays. I know that I have sometimes missed an opponents comments because of my focus on the game. It happens.
If my opponent wants to take that lack of social interaction during a game and attribute all sorts of unfounded reasons to it then so be it. In reality I'm just trying to play the best game I can, which is, lets be honest, the reason I have for logging onto MTG:O in the first place.
I guess the only real life comparison I can draw is when I'm kickboxing. During the rounds or the intervals between rounds (playing and sideboarding) I'm concentrating on the fight. Afterwards I'll chat with the guy and talk about which combinations I had trouble answering or any other aspect of what just happened.
I appreciate that this is 'my' way of playing but to be honest I don't have a single person on my 'banned' list. I don't really see the need for a banned list at all. If someone is breaking the terms of service with profanity or threatening behaviour then I'll screenshot and report it (not that I've ever had to do that) as it will help remove them from the game so that others do not have to suffer it. If they just have a different outlook to what is required socially or because of some unwritten rules of the format I'm trying to play then I'll just agree to disagree move on.
When playing online you are not able to see those face-to-face signs that let you know your opponent is invested in the game. There is no 'nod of the head' or smile to acknowledge an in game event. Just because you can't see them don't just assume you opponent is being disrespectful.
(Typed this quickly at work so apologies to all for rambling and all the spelling mistakes that just have to be in there!)
As I have said before, I have to respect the speed of this deck. When I faced it in an mpdc final I lost due to a second turn 7/7 flyer! You can't have a shock in hand every game.
On a side note I'd like to ask the sealed players out there a question. What options are currently available for sealed play on MTG:O? I'm not being lazy I really did try and look it up on that mess WotC call an internet site but as usual I simply can never find anything on it.
If anyone could give me a quick idea of what's out there, what format it takes, if it's scheduled or fires when enough players join up and how popular it is I'd be grateful. Sadly, being a UK based player, a lot of things that are technically available online never fire so might as well not be there.
I loved Leagues when they were about but I'm resigned to them never coming back and whilst I'm trying to learn to draft it's not someting I'm naturally gifted at! lol
A recent comment from some chatterbox in the casual room made me laugh. His opponent conceded their game before a single card was played, because he typed "hello and good luck". Priceless.
Interesting article. My block list is longer than my buddy list unfortunately.
I think if someone doesn't want to talk for any reason, that's ok. Usually I prefer at least some chat, and most of the time you at least get a 'hi' and a 'gg' at the end.
I think you're point about 'teaching them to be like me' is possibly dangerous thinking! None of us is responsible for the behaviour of others, and behavourial change is something that can take years of face-to-face converation / demonstration. MTGO, whilst a social game, isn't a group therapy session (I know you know that, just making my point!)
Finally I enjoyed the honesty in the article. I consider myself to be compassionate and chatty most of the time, but yes, I've also had my shameful moments of bad sportsmanship. I think most players are in the same boat, I can't imagine there are many who are uniformly anti-social in every game.
This article has made me want to delete my block list and try again with a fresh slate.
Ah, swimming. So many people underestimate it, but being a competitive swimmer, I know that if you can't swim with proper form, you're not going to make it very long. This is why I bet my brother (a runner) I could finish a marathon before he could finish the swimming leg of a triathlon (2.5 miles). I can swim ahalf mile in 10 minutes, 5K in 1 hr 20 min, but there's no way he could swim even a 4th as fast.
Oh, yeah, the article... good job. Always like the information.
I love Manabarbs! It seems like it should go in the "you're a jerk" category along with Stasis and Chains of Mephistopheles. But for some reason it's popular?
I just made a slightly different version that was mostly Naya and that does use two of Naya's obelisks. My two exceptions are Ponder and Rhox War Monk (lifelink!) because with all these borderposts my mana is fixed. I may be a turn behind my opponent, but my mana is most definitely fixed.
I made two interesting additions. One is Bloodbraid Elf and Boggart Ram-Gang. Just because I can also play them easily and the Bloodbraid Elf turns up either borderposts (ok) or one of my 8 3-drop creatures (cool). The other neat thing I added was 8 Lightning Bolts instead of PtE. Because, Shard Volley, I don't need my lands anyway! However, I have 28 mana sources: 9 basics, 2 Birds, and 61 cards in the deck. And for once I really need Birds, not Nobles.
0-1 so far. But I was dead on turn 9 to four Bloodbraid Elves! :'O
I'm pretty sure he's right... even the article mentions this! But, as the article ALSO mentions, there isn't a whole lot of removal being played right now, so the deck is successful in the current meta.
Of course, the article is likely going to change the meta by letting the cat out of the proverbial bag, so the deck might not be good anymore...
That's actually an interesting point. Slow typists do have a handicap dealing with any kind of online chat situation where they also have to click. I don't particularly mind slow players if they are a little chatty or at least acknowledge they are slow. Lag does play a part in the game online. But I think most people can manage "hi" or ":)" or what have you without slowing down much.
Now a long response does take time but assuming you are actually giving thought to a reply your opponent probably won't mind. On the other hand prolonged conversations can get in the way of a good game, the trick is to find a mix that works. Sometimes that means not talking much. The key point is to treat your fellow player as a human being and not some automaton placed there for your sole amusement.
As far as the troll with the interesting psychological interjection goes, well it was amusing if reflective of his own personality.
An interesting contradiction in terms don't you think? I can be a loner at times, shunning company for my own thoughts or merely a good book but generally speaking I would say I am not a loner as at times I do crave a mixture of using my time wisely and social reparté with like-minded folk. Whereas a true loner would be likely to not wish anything to do with the loathsome creatures that are their fellows.
But seriously don't YOU have better things to do than respond to a longwinded article with a one-liner weak flame? Isn't it beneath you to troll? Well if not thanks for the amusement.
As for letting shy folk be? Sure I am not a tyrant or a demagogue. I merely want people to act some what civil in a game that requires some thought and yet is still essentially about enjoyment. If someone can't be bothered to chat even to say hello I do let them be. I simply block them to avoid dealing with them in future games.
This is the best comment ever - if he means to say that some of the people on Paul's banned list are people like us. People who maybe can't type and play the game without slowing down. What annoys you more: a slow opponent, or the stuff that your opponent was typing instead of playing? In paper everyone can tap and talk at the same time. Online, it's debatable.
Which deck are you talking about? There are 3 to choose from. :) sorry I thought there were 3 decks, for some reason I confused this article with another. :/
Anyway I disagree. The deck is very fast so unless you draw enough removal to take out the curve completely it will get you into threat range very quickly. Now I am not a pauper player but I think this deck has merit in a casual environment. Not sure how tweaked it is for tourney but that's a different issue.
was some good. One of the must picks if you see it in a pack in draft. I wish Id run across one or two while drafting that block recently. Sadly I am not the only one to know of their bomb goodness.
I like a little philosophy in my Magic articles. This was a different and intriguing break from the norm and I really enjoyed it. I was impressed with the honesty and realism in your writing voice, its nice to see in a writer. I can't say I agree with every point you made in the article, but I relate to most of them, and you made your case with a very down-to-earth elegance that saves your article from sounding lecturing or preachy. Well done, I'm interested in seeing what you have to say in the future.
I've been playing around with a mono-black orzhov deck build as long as I can remember, and it's extremely similar to this one except even more aggressively oriented. You also just killed my next article, since that deck was what I was writing on xD.
Anyways, I disagree with you on some points, most notably Unmake. Unmake is an excellent card in today's meta, as it isn't prohibitively expensive, and most importantly, it gives you an easy answer to Guardian of the Guildpact, an aggravating card that is popping up more and more lately.
Second, You seem to underrate the power of Beckon apparition in this deck. It is excellent main deck hate for recursion strategies (Especially my pet card Grim Harvest), as well as being the card that will more often then not allow me to win the long game against control by randomly spawning a flying dude and giving it an edge late game.
I'll give you my list if you contact me online sometime. I think it warrant's testing. S/N is Thatic, but that should be obvious :p
anything with removal obliterates this deck. its quite a joke. no doubt it can get lucky if it draws well and the other deck draws poor but it just turns into a very bad aggro deck against anything besides all creature decks.
@Paul - I'm glad you found the intro humorous. I'm not that good at writing, deck building or even playing magic, but it's nice to know I can at least get a few laughs :-) I had originally planned to include some commentary on matchups, but it seems my writing endurance, not unlike my physical endurance, is not what I wish it was. (We Dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances..)
@Anonymous - I'm glad you enjoyed the article. My sideboard as of the time of this writing was:
3 Wretched Banquet (Great in the Sliver matchup and most other aggro as my creatures are almost always larger and it is cheap, cheap, cheap!)
3 Relic of Progenitus (Against any graveyard strategies)
3 Rotting Rats (Good against midrange or control strategies...also good against aggro as they rip cards and chump block, only to come back for another card...these might actually be maindeckable!)
3 Gleeful Sabotage (Affinty and Esper type strategies)
3 Golgari Brownscale (Burn or fast aggro)
@Nick - Black/Green is my favorite color pair due solely to graveyard recursion. I've always loved it and roughly half my decks on MTGO try to abuse it. I bought 4 copies of Tortured Existence as soon as MTGOTraders had them available and didn't buy a single card for 2 weeks. I didn't even want to try building with another card until I had broken that particular enchantment. Recursion is definitely another way to cheat the fundamental rules...dead should be dead, right? I completely approve of the suggestions you offer above (and actually have a deck that was card for card minus the witherings...great minds!) as long as Relic isn't ubiquitous in the meta.
I was trying to be thoughtful about how I think about deeper concepts and applying them to building decks that aren't the same thing I always play. For example, I agree that Distress is totally better than Duress and Ostracize in most decks, but the double black cost prevents me from casting the creatures I want on turn two most times. One turn can mean a big deal against any deck in this environment, and I really just want the information of what is in my opponent's hand. I rarely whiff with either of these spells and I'm always happy that I saw the cards, even if I see my impending doom. At least I know what my outs are and can change my play to limit the chances of total blowout. The information was a concept I often overlooked, and changing the way I valued it helped me make the decision to run them over Distress or more removal. It isn't the best realization in the history of Magic, but I've won several games I wouldn't have before by reflecting on the concept. I'm sure JMS got a few looks when he started flinging Ironclaw Orcs in Sligh, but it was his realization of the curve and "Sligh" mentality that allowed him to win. I'm no JMS. This is not Sligh. But, the next big deck could be something you design by thinking of cards a little differently. (And I hope it is as innovation is always good!)
I've started dabbling in video, so if I get a chance to write again soon, I'll try to add some video of the deck in action and discuss matchups and sideboard options. I am admittedly terrible at sideboarding so any tips from you guys would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the kind words and for reading!
The problem I have here is that the correct level of interaction is always going to be different for each individual. It's like the definition of 'casual', it means something different depending on your personal outlook.
I'm quite an easy going person until I'm upset and I personally play the game with limited interaction via the keyboard. I always start with "Hello and good luck" or if my opponent get's that in first I'll respond with something typed rather than the automatic greeting. Having done that I need all my concentration to play the game. I'm not being disrespectful to my opponent but I am being silent. I will comment if something unusual happens (my draft opponent playing his third volcanic fallout) or if my opponent makes a good play that I didn't see coming or when the game is won/lost and I no longer need to concentrate on my plays. I know that I have sometimes missed an opponents comments because of my focus on the game. It happens.
If my opponent wants to take that lack of social interaction during a game and attribute all sorts of unfounded reasons to it then so be it. In reality I'm just trying to play the best game I can, which is, lets be honest, the reason I have for logging onto MTG:O in the first place.
I guess the only real life comparison I can draw is when I'm kickboxing. During the rounds or the intervals between rounds (playing and sideboarding) I'm concentrating on the fight. Afterwards I'll chat with the guy and talk about which combinations I had trouble answering or any other aspect of what just happened.
I appreciate that this is 'my' way of playing but to be honest I don't have a single person on my 'banned' list. I don't really see the need for a banned list at all. If someone is breaking the terms of service with profanity or threatening behaviour then I'll screenshot and report it (not that I've ever had to do that) as it will help remove them from the game so that others do not have to suffer it. If they just have a different outlook to what is required socially or because of some unwritten rules of the format I'm trying to play then I'll just agree to disagree move on.
When playing online you are not able to see those face-to-face signs that let you know your opponent is invested in the game. There is no 'nod of the head' or smile to acknowledge an in game event. Just because you can't see them don't just assume you opponent is being disrespectful.
(Typed this quickly at work so apologies to all for rambling and all the spelling mistakes that just have to be in there!)
As I have said before, I have to respect the speed of this deck. When I faced it in an mpdc final I lost due to a second turn 7/7 flyer! You can't have a shock in hand every game.
Nice article and a good read.
On a side note I'd like to ask the sealed players out there a question. What options are currently available for sealed play on MTG:O? I'm not being lazy I really did try and look it up on that mess WotC call an internet site but as usual I simply can never find anything on it.
If anyone could give me a quick idea of what's out there, what format it takes, if it's scheduled or fires when enough players join up and how popular it is I'd be grateful. Sadly, being a UK based player, a lot of things that are technically available online never fire so might as well not be there.
I loved Leagues when they were about but I'm resigned to them never coming back and whilst I'm trying to learn to draft it's not someting I'm naturally gifted at! lol
A recent comment from some chatterbox in the casual room made me laugh. His opponent conceded their game before a single card was played, because he typed "hello and good luck". Priceless.
Always look forward to my Friday read of the 'Program'.
Grats on the triathlon finish. Well done.
Interesting article. My block list is longer than my buddy list unfortunately.
I think if someone doesn't want to talk for any reason, that's ok. Usually I prefer at least some chat, and most of the time you at least get a 'hi' and a 'gg' at the end.
I think you're point about 'teaching them to be like me' is possibly dangerous thinking! None of us is responsible for the behaviour of others, and behavourial change is something that can take years of face-to-face converation / demonstration. MTGO, whilst a social game, isn't a group therapy session (I know you know that, just making my point!)
Finally I enjoyed the honesty in the article. I consider myself to be compassionate and chatty most of the time, but yes, I've also had my shameful moments of bad sportsmanship. I think most players are in the same boat, I can't imagine there are many who are uniformly anti-social in every game.
This article has made me want to delete my block list and try again with a fresh slate.
Ah, swimming. So many people underestimate it, but being a competitive swimmer, I know that if you can't swim with proper form, you're not going to make it very long. This is why I bet my brother (a runner) I could finish a marathon before he could finish the swimming leg of a triathlon (2.5 miles). I can swim ahalf mile in 10 minutes, 5K in 1 hr 20 min, but there's no way he could swim even a 4th as fast.
Oh, yeah, the article... good job. Always like the information.
I love Manabarbs! It seems like it should go in the "you're a jerk" category along with Stasis and Chains of Mephistopheles. But for some reason it's popular?
I just made a slightly different version that was mostly Naya and that does use two of Naya's obelisks. My two exceptions are Ponder and Rhox War Monk (lifelink!) because with all these borderposts my mana is fixed. I may be a turn behind my opponent, but my mana is most definitely fixed.
I made two interesting additions. One is Bloodbraid Elf and Boggart Ram-Gang. Just because I can also play them easily and the Bloodbraid Elf turns up either borderposts (ok) or one of my 8 3-drop creatures (cool). The other neat thing I added was 8 Lightning Bolts instead of PtE. Because, Shard Volley, I don't need my lands anyway! However, I have 28 mana sources: 9 basics, 2 Birds, and 61 cards in the deck. And for once I really need Birds, not Nobles.
0-1 so far. But I was dead on turn 9 to four Bloodbraid Elves! :'O
I'm pretty sure he's right... even the article mentions this! But, as the article ALSO mentions, there isn't a whole lot of removal being played right now, so the deck is successful in the current meta.
Of course, the article is likely going to change the meta by letting the cat out of the proverbial bag, so the deck might not be good anymore...
That's actually an interesting point. Slow typists do have a handicap dealing with any kind of online chat situation where they also have to click. I don't particularly mind slow players if they are a little chatty or at least acknowledge they are slow. Lag does play a part in the game online. But I think most people can manage "hi" or ":)" or what have you without slowing down much.
Now a long response does take time but assuming you are actually giving thought to a reply your opponent probably won't mind. On the other hand prolonged conversations can get in the way of a good game, the trick is to find a mix that works. Sometimes that means not talking much. The key point is to treat your fellow player as a human being and not some automaton placed there for your sole amusement.
As far as the troll with the interesting psychological interjection goes, well it was amusing if reflective of his own personality.
An interesting contradiction in terms don't you think? I can be a loner at times, shunning company for my own thoughts or merely a good book but generally speaking I would say I am not a loner as at times I do crave a mixture of using my time wisely and social reparté with like-minded folk. Whereas a true loner would be likely to not wish anything to do with the loathsome creatures that are their fellows.
But seriously don't YOU have better things to do than respond to a longwinded article with a one-liner weak flame? Isn't it beneath you to troll? Well if not thanks for the amusement.
As for letting shy folk be? Sure I am not a tyrant or a demagogue. I merely want people to act some what civil in a game that requires some thought and yet is still essentially about enjoyment. If someone can't be bothered to chat even to say hello I do let them be. I simply block them to avoid dealing with them in future games.
Thanks again for your response.
This is the best comment ever - if he means to say that some of the people on Paul's banned list are people like us. People who maybe can't type and play the game without slowing down. What annoys you more: a slow opponent, or the stuff that your opponent was typing instead of playing? In paper everyone can tap and talk at the same time. Online, it's debatable.
Unless I'm giving the clown too much credit.
No food for you!
Haha I just read the other guys comment now! What a nice juxtaposition!
Stop being a loner loser 44 year old that checks this site throughout the day. Ifpeople aren't chatty let them be
Which deck are you talking about? There are 3 to choose from. :)sorry I thought there were 3 decks, for some reason I confused this article with another. :/Anyway I disagree. The deck is very fast so unless you draw enough removal to take out the curve completely it will get you into threat range very quickly. Now I am not a pauper player but I think this deck has merit in a casual environment. Not sure how tweaked it is for tourney but that's a different issue.
was some good. One of the must picks if you see it in a pack in draft. I wish Id run across one or two while drafting that block recently. Sadly I am not the only one to know of their bomb goodness.
That was probably the most eloquent compliment I've ever received on any forum. Thank you very much.
I like a little philosophy in my Magic articles. This was a different and intriguing break from the norm and I really enjoyed it. I was impressed with the honesty and realism in your writing voice, its nice to see in a writer. I can't say I agree with every point you made in the article, but I relate to most of them, and you made your case with a very down-to-earth elegance that saves your article from sounding lecturing or preachy. Well done, I'm interested in seeing what you have to say in the future.
sorry, wasn't logged in for some reason on that one xD
I've been playing around with a mono-black orzhov deck build as long as I can remember, and it's extremely similar to this one except even more aggressively oriented. You also just killed my next article, since that deck was what I was writing on xD.
Anyways, I disagree with you on some points, most notably Unmake. Unmake is an excellent card in today's meta, as it isn't prohibitively expensive, and most importantly, it gives you an easy answer to Guardian of the Guildpact, an aggravating card that is popping up more and more lately.
Second, You seem to underrate the power of Beckon apparition in this deck. It is excellent main deck hate for recursion strategies (Especially my pet card Grim Harvest), as well as being the card that will more often then not allow me to win the long game against control by randomly spawning a flying dude and giving it an edge late game.
I'll give you my list if you contact me online sometime. I think it warrant's testing. S/N is Thatic, but that should be obvious :p
anything with removal obliterates this deck. its quite a joke. no doubt it can get lucky if it draws well and the other deck draws poor but it just turns into a very bad aggro deck against anything besides all creature decks.
Thanks! :D
Happy birthday, btw!
Hey All,
Thanks for the feedback!
@Paul - I'm glad you found the intro humorous. I'm not that good at writing, deck building or even playing magic, but it's nice to know I can at least get a few laughs :-) I had originally planned to include some commentary on matchups, but it seems my writing endurance, not unlike my physical endurance, is not what I wish it was. (We Dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances..)
@Anonymous - I'm glad you enjoyed the article. My sideboard as of the time of this writing was:
3 Wretched Banquet (Great in the Sliver matchup and most other aggro as my creatures are almost always larger and it is cheap, cheap, cheap!)
3 Relic of Progenitus (Against any graveyard strategies)
3 Rotting Rats (Good against midrange or control strategies...also good against aggro as they rip cards and chump block, only to come back for another card...these might actually be maindeckable!)
3 Gleeful Sabotage (Affinty and Esper type strategies)
3 Golgari Brownscale (Burn or fast aggro)
@Nick - Black/Green is my favorite color pair due solely to graveyard recursion. I've always loved it and roughly half my decks on MTGO try to abuse it. I bought 4 copies of Tortured Existence as soon as MTGOTraders had them available and didn't buy a single card for 2 weeks. I didn't even want to try building with another card until I had broken that particular enchantment. Recursion is definitely another way to cheat the fundamental rules...dead should be dead, right? I completely approve of the suggestions you offer above (and actually have a deck that was card for card minus the witherings...great minds!) as long as Relic isn't ubiquitous in the meta.
I was trying to be thoughtful about how I think about deeper concepts and applying them to building decks that aren't the same thing I always play. For example, I agree that Distress is totally better than Duress and Ostracize in most decks, but the double black cost prevents me from casting the creatures I want on turn two most times. One turn can mean a big deal against any deck in this environment, and I really just want the information of what is in my opponent's hand. I rarely whiff with either of these spells and I'm always happy that I saw the cards, even if I see my impending doom. At least I know what my outs are and can change my play to limit the chances of total blowout. The information was a concept I often overlooked, and changing the way I valued it helped me make the decision to run them over Distress or more removal. It isn't the best realization in the history of Magic, but I've won several games I wouldn't have before by reflecting on the concept. I'm sure JMS got a few looks when he started flinging Ironclaw Orcs in Sligh, but it was his realization of the curve and "Sligh" mentality that allowed him to win. I'm no JMS. This is not Sligh. But, the next big deck could be something you design by thinking of cards a little differently. (And I hope it is as innovation is always good!)
I've started dabbling in video, so if I get a chance to write again soon, I'll try to add some video of the deck in action and discuss matchups and sideboard options. I am admittedly terrible at sideboarding so any tips from you guys would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the kind words and for reading!