• The Standard Issue: Green Red Is A Threat   9 years 52 weeks ago

    As far as your question, you are right it is difficult. I think the thing that really sets GR above GW is Dragonlord Atarka and having access to Seismic Rupture or maybe even Anger of the gods if needed. GW can still be good but I think Brad mainly chose to play it in Standard super league because of the small sampling of decks he though he would face there. There may be a reason why it really hasn't done much recently. Glad to see you adding to the discussion once again Michelle!

  • Cracking the Code: The Conclusion   9 years 52 weeks ago

    That snow-covered plains loss must've been rough. I guess that's an upside to playing Online. The client won't let you accidentally miss triggers or unknowingly break the rules. Glad you had fun, anyways!

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   9 years 52 weeks ago

    Thanks for reading.

    Right now I am writing an article that features some low to moderately priced vintage decks that have cashed a daily event. The idea is to inspire some people to try the format for the first time.

    I'm hoping that this gets some new blood in the queues. I might even try to play one of the decks, and they seem sweet!

  • Cracking the Code: The Conclusion   9 years 52 weeks ago

    My Cat died in 2013 from renal failure. It was rough. I totally get why you dropped. Hope your little one makes it as long as possible.

    I agree with your assessment about playing paper MTG. Play often and play with as high a rel as you can stand even if the tourney you are in is totally casual. Your opps may snicker at you for sticking so close to the rules (but I bet not after you beat them) but it is essential practice. On the other hand don't get too uptight about it. As you said, at the end of the day it IS a game.

    Also liked what you said about life not giving out replays. That's the clause that is killer for me. Anyway better luck next time!

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   9 years 52 weeks ago

    On the Dailies not firing: I hadn't seen one not firing in a long time but I saw I think 3 in a row that I tried to play not fire. They were the second DE of Sunday, the Wednesday and Thursday ones. I was told that sometimes the Wednesday one doesn't fire so I was probably lucky that it fired every time I tried to play it.

    Things like Modern Masters, other events and the lack of the Vintage Super League right now probably help with some people wanting to play less Vintage right now. Vintage Super League has influenced the online meta is several ways: it increased Delver's popularity and it put some ideas out there.

    Even though I have most Vintage only cards, I wouldn't mind if they dropped the price a bit if it meant having more people. Not only I want more people playing, I also want enough people playing that they can actually increase the number of DEs so that there is at least one every day. A great way to have that would be making a Vintage MOCS season with one of the Mox as promo and maybe having a couple of weeks of Vintage Masters draftable again.

    As for what could get restricted, in my opinion, I don't think there's anything that really needs to be done. Cruise really needed to be restricted but Dig not so much. However, if Dig and something out of Shops were restricted, we'd probably have a better meta. And I think Thirst for Knowledge could probably be unrestricted.

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   9 years 52 weeks ago

    You might need a new phone! Thanks for your support, I'm glad you liked the article.

    I would suggest Vintage and MTGO to any Magic player for a variety of reasons. The simple fact is that if you love this game, then supporting its official digital client is important.

    Nowhere else can you play in the same tournament as a Magic Hall of Fame member or Pro Tour winner on a regular basis, all from the comfort of your own home.

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   10 years 3 hours ago

    Glitched, ignore.

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   10 years 7 hours ago

    Agreed, the Vintage metagame right now sort of reminds me of Modern after Khans of Tarkir, where Delver and Pod were the two best decks. I think to fix this problem, the obvious choice would be to restrict Dig Through Time and possibly Chalice of the Void as well.

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 12 hours ago

    Thanks!

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 12 hours ago

    In today's hyper-correct politically correct social justice warrior society, people can make an honest mistake and think, "Oh, no! Someone might think I'm racist!" Intent is the key but appearances are everything when dealing with people who are perpetually outraged by everything.

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   10 years 15 hours ago

    highly insightful and dedicated article as usual - tx for for support of the format; for what it is worth, I think the decline in vintage is due limited variability right now; you run always in oath, pyro/mentor or shops with occasional relatively unexciting dredge/belcher: on top: shop is clearly the deck to beat but the games are pretty unexciting on both sides of the table: you are either locked or not-very rarely, playing outs are possible if not for nasty mistakes (or my stupid touchpad..); I really see no problems in T1 wins

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 17 hours ago

    I has actually read an Rosenberg article earlier and skipped straight over it. It has been fixed.

  • The Eternal Spotlight: Changster's Paradise!   10 years 21 hours ago

    You're welcome. I think it's important. Thanks for reading!

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 1 day ago

    Not like super racist, but reaching for a stereotypical Jewish name like "Rosenberg" is not a great thing to do.

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 1 day ago

    I think it's a fair mistake to make. They have articles on the mothership by someone by the name of Mike Rosenberg, and I'm *constantly* clicking them thinking it's an article by Mark Rosewater.

    Nothing racist about it, just has to do with how our brains shorthand the recognition of words, sometimes it trips us up a bit when they are similar enough.

  • Pauper Observed 10: Pauper Spoilers and the Esper Menace   10 years 1 day ago

    Apologies for the super-dumb (and kinda racist) Rosewater/Rosenberg typo/thinko.

    Also forgot to mention what the two featured decks did to get to 3-0. Cruentum_Dei beat RW Tokens 2-1, UB Control 2-0, and Burn 2-1, and Asilwen beat Delver 2-0, Burn 2-1, and MBC 2-0.

  • Cracking the Code: Countdown to Providence   10 years 1 day ago

    You need to give me times that you might be on then I can get ya them damn tickets! lol

    All good advice. I have most of that listed but the presenting and counting etc I haven't strictly followed. It is good advice but I was so nervous I forgot to count between games.

    Thanks as always. Next article is going up soon.

  • Diaries of the Apocalypse: Tribal Week 232   10 years 1 day ago

    First thanks to the people who made this event possible,
    I had great time playing my first tribal event, I look forward to joining others soon! friendly people, lot of fun!

  • Freed from the Real 325: Twisters, Origins & Unreleased cards   10 years 2 days ago

    SAVAGE TWISTA FTW!

  • Freed from the Real 325: Twisters, Origins & Unreleased cards   10 years 2 days ago

    Well it's certainly true my old dell box (2009ish) is out of date. But the program works fine (except for the stupid trade scene and sometimes the editor) for the most part. I have 4gb ram with Windows Vista 32 capping it at that so sadly won't be upgrading this machine anytime soon. And can't afford a rebuild or actual new pc.

  • Diaries of the Apocalypse: Tribal Week 232   10 years 3 days ago

    I've certainly been enjoying all the very complimentary write-ups I've been getting. I do, however, feel I should warn people that that deck is the least fun I've ever had playing Magic. All the incessant clicking you have to do on MTGO is profoundly tedious and while it's fun to Opposition-lock the opponent out of the game the first couple of times, the subsequent several minutes of repeatedly tapping down all of their permanents and attacking for a few points of damage without making any interesting decisions quickly drains the experience of any enjoyment.

  • Freed from the Real 325: Twisters, Origins & Unreleased cards   10 years 3 days ago

    Yea Paul, it might be that your computer just can't handle their abysmal code. I rebuilt mine this spring (i5 4670k CPU, GTX970 GPU, 16 GB RAM) and I don't have any problems with foils bogging it down. My old build (FX-4300 CPU, R7850 GPU, same 16 GB RAM) could handle a few, but struggled with 10ish or more.

  • State of the Program for June 19th 2015   10 years 3 days ago

    It sounds like you pretty much agree with WotC on Protection. It's not getting the axe, simply being scaled way back in how much it shows up, kind of like hybrid mana.

  • Freed from the Real 325: Twisters, Origins & Unreleased cards   10 years 3 days ago

    Oh that's interesting. Maybe changing the bit rate would help? It could also be that I am some what attuned to the echo sound so I hear it more readily.

  • Freed from the Real 325: Twisters, Origins & Unreleased cards   10 years 3 days ago

    Huh my experience with foils is that if they are underpriced it is because they are sold out and never to be found. I probably would replace more expensive copies (assuming a great margin) with cheaper ones even if they had to be foiled because value. Though as I mentioned the foiling process does muck up long games for me even with the animations off. It could also be that my pos pc needs to be tossed...I haven't even tried to run MTGO4 on my laptop but I suspect I'd have a similar problem.