I think with some decks, the way they play out, people damage each other with creatures and whatnot, so the games seem closer. If you won 50% of your matches, and every game had the winning player down to a low life total, then the assumption would be that both decks were working.
With Oath (your build), you're either going to resolve Oath/Griselbrand or Key/Vault or lose. The chances of winning with a Jace alone are slim.
So, a close game is one where you almost resolved Oath but were one Flusterstorm short. Or perhaps you did resolve Oath, but they Abrupt Decay'ed it and when you Misdirected it that got countered or something. You may lose a match with your opponent at a high life total, but that doesn't mean the game wasn't "close".
The first Vintage Daily I played in, I was undefeated until round three. I played against BUG Fish, and I lost game one, won game two with a very strong hand. Game three, I don't remember everything I may have done wrong, but I do remember I played a Mana Crypt way too early and ended up losing the majority of my life lost to that crypt. So, little tricks like that add up. I've seen a ton of people lose to their own Mana Crypt because they played it way too soon. It's a dangerous card if you don't have a very clear path to victory when you play it.
One more thing, Misdirection is worth it. Greg Fenton even made a list for people to use that had two of them in it! Why? Abrupt Decay. If you manage to get one or two (one is ok for now), don't waste it either. Redirecting Abrupt Decay or a removal spell targeting Oath is too important to waste it greedily by stealing an Ancestral Recall (like I've done).
I just love the enthusiasm you put into your writing. Every time I finish reading one of your articles I want to try out the deck you showcase. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the games last night. Seriously, I'm feeling more comfortable with Oath now that I've chatted with you during our matches. Thank you!
For what it's worth, you've had numerous chances to turn those phantom points in to packs already, when the cube has been up in the past, one of the queues takes phantom points and pays out in packs for the current flashback draft.
I still have the free phantom points I was given. Unless I get super bored, or I'm able to use them for a tournament that pays out in packs, I won't be using them.
I wonder how only phantom flashbacks draft with fair. I can see people playing a few for nostalgia but not as many without the the chance of getting to keep a highly sought after card. All draft understandingly have negative EV because WotC needs to make money. Opening that money card that lets you play your next one or few drafts free help offset some of that feeling of a money drain. I think this can be off set if players can earn some of these new play points in other ways. If the flashback phantom events become a slower bleed I can see them working.
I think it is good that flashback events are not always phantom. I would hate to see the price of modern cards that are only in older sets without getting some more supply.
I've always imagined what kind of cool things and rewards wotc could give with its own daily quest system.
I mean yeah it's cool that you can pay for an arena run with gold in Hearthstone, but the important part is people are actually logging in and playing your game, even if the engagement is for a short time.
A daily quest feature could get more people in and playing Magic.
Am I the only one who thinks Eidolon of the Great Revel being over 15 tickets is way too expensive? I know it's due to mono-red being extremely cheap otherwise, but it's still only a rare in a set still in print.
as always, great job man. Reading your articles help lift the veil of vintage for me every week. It's a cutthroat, insane and fairly expensive format, so to try to break into it without any knowledge of it is nigh impossible, but your articles highlight decks while still discussing all the other relevant decks in vintage due to your featured-deck's matchups. After consistently reading these articles for a couple month, the picture of what vintage is is ever more clearer. Though I have not popped my tournament-level vintage cherry on MTGO, I feel like your articles are preparing me for that eventual day in a way that I don't feel like I'm being talked over, or down to, but simply at.
It's a little bit of a hassle, but you can do it. Might be the same trick from v3, but I didn't find it until v4.
Once you are done deck building, before you submit, save your deck. Go to your collection screen, and find that saved deck under freeform decks. Change out the basic lands for those you prefer, and close the deck. Go back to your deckbuilding page, and load the saved deck, you should now see your chosen basics.
Submit the deck, and you are good to go. You will see your chosen lands, and your opponent will also see them.
From his article "[Phantom Point] strongly implies they are limited to Phantom Events. As we plan for the future, we want to grow the use of a single point type rather than have different point types for different events."
I think this is an important part of this update ... They might finally be looking at alternative entry fees besides the usual tics and/or product. I think that is a good thing. Also, having some way to earn Play Points without necessarily spending $$$ would be nice, such as with Hearthstone or Pokemon TCG. I have actually been playing a nice amount of the online Pokemon TCG lately because I like their prize structure/payout and they also have "daily quests" of doing "X amount of damage with X card type" to get more points.
thank you, you are certainly correct. This is a very relevant nitpick, as pilots should be aware of just how much their clock is increasing in a given line.
I don't think there is a Legacy season, at least nothing that noticeably impacts the prices of cards in that format.
When does Legacy season start? Big tournaments, whatever that will significantly move prices of Legacy staples.
No problem.
I think with some decks, the way they play out, people damage each other with creatures and whatnot, so the games seem closer. If you won 50% of your matches, and every game had the winning player down to a low life total, then the assumption would be that both decks were working.
With Oath (your build), you're either going to resolve Oath/Griselbrand or Key/Vault or lose. The chances of winning with a Jace alone are slim.
So, a close game is one where you almost resolved Oath but were one Flusterstorm short. Or perhaps you did resolve Oath, but they Abrupt Decay'ed it and when you Misdirected it that got countered or something. You may lose a match with your opponent at a high life total, but that doesn't mean the game wasn't "close".
The first Vintage Daily I played in, I was undefeated until round three. I played against BUG Fish, and I lost game one, won game two with a very strong hand. Game three, I don't remember everything I may have done wrong, but I do remember I played a Mana Crypt way too early and ended up losing the majority of my life lost to that crypt. So, little tricks like that add up. I've seen a ton of people lose to their own Mana Crypt because they played it way too soon. It's a dangerous card if you don't have a very clear path to victory when you play it.
One more thing, Misdirection is worth it. Greg Fenton even made a list for people to use that had two of them in it! Why? Abrupt Decay. If you manage to get one or two (one is ok for now), don't waste it either. Redirecting Abrupt Decay or a removal spell targeting Oath is too important to waste it greedily by stealing an Ancestral Recall (like I've done).
Thanks for reading man, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I just love the enthusiasm you put into your writing. Every time I finish reading one of your articles I want to try out the deck you showcase. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the games last night. Seriously, I'm feeling more comfortable with Oath now that I've chatted with you during our matches. Thank you!
I personally don't cube unless it's with my friends in real life.
Phantom events just don't appeal to me, and I have no use for phantom or play points on my account. :/
For what it's worth, you've had numerous chances to turn those phantom points in to packs already, when the cube has been up in the past, one of the queues takes phantom points and pays out in packs for the current flashback draft.
I still have the free phantom points I was given. Unless I get super bored, or I'm able to use them for a tournament that pays out in packs, I won't be using them.
Yes they did say this. That is why I said its good that flashback drafts are not always Phantom.
WOTC has already said that not all flashback drafts will be phantom going forward, just some.
In September there may be a slight dip in its price. Rotation being what it is. But be watchful because it is a staple in some modern/legacy decks.
Moar opinion section where you hammer wotc plx.
I would love to see you start playing vintage. At some point, i'm going to do an article on some cheaper decks for aspiring vintage players.
And I recommend building an established deck, learning it, and then tuning it or brewing. That way you know what ia going on.
I wonder how only phantom flashbacks draft with fair. I can see people playing a few for nostalgia but not as many without the the chance of getting to keep a highly sought after card. All draft understandingly have negative EV because WotC needs to make money. Opening that money card that lets you play your next one or few drafts free help offset some of that feeling of a money drain. I think this can be off set if players can earn some of these new play points in other ways. If the flashback phantom events become a slower bleed I can see them working.
I think it is good that flashback events are not always phantom. I would hate to see the price of modern cards that are only in older sets without getting some more supply.
Great cast guys! Really enjoyed the interview Adam. Tony DiTerlizzi seems like a really cool guy and it was a very interesting interview.
It's a rare in a set that hasn't been drafted in a long time, and because of prizes I think that set was opened up less overall.
I've always imagined what kind of cool things and rewards wotc could give with its own daily quest system.
I mean yeah it's cool that you can pay for an arena run with gold in Hearthstone, but the important part is people are actually logging in and playing your game, even if the engagement is for a short time.
A daily quest feature could get more people in and playing Magic.
How about having Wizards use the Good Stuff list to decide what MOCS promos should be? That way we don't get more Birds of Paradise.
Am I the only one who thinks Eidolon of the Great Revel being over 15 tickets is way too expensive? I know it's due to mono-red being extremely cheap otherwise, but it's still only a rare in a set still in print.
Thank you very much. I certainly hope that I don't ever seem like I talk down to anyone! I'm certainly no better than anyone else.
as always, great job man. Reading your articles help lift the veil of vintage for me every week. It's a cutthroat, insane and fairly expensive format, so to try to break into it without any knowledge of it is nigh impossible, but your articles highlight decks while still discussing all the other relevant decks in vintage due to your featured-deck's matchups. After consistently reading these articles for a couple month, the picture of what vintage is is ever more clearer. Though I have not popped my tournament-level vintage cherry on MTGO, I feel like your articles are preparing me for that eventual day in a way that I don't feel like I'm being talked over, or down to, but simply at.
It's a little bit of a hassle, but you can do it. Might be the same trick from v3, but I didn't find it until v4.
Once you are done deck building, before you submit, save your deck. Go to your collection screen, and find that saved deck under freeform decks. Change out the basic lands for those you prefer, and close the deck. Go back to your deckbuilding page, and load the saved deck, you should now see your chosen basics.
Submit the deck, and you are good to go. You will see your chosen lands, and your opponent will also see them.
Voat.co can't get those serves up and running fast enough.
From his article "[Phantom Point] strongly implies they are limited to Phantom Events. As we plan for the future, we want to grow the use of a single point type rather than have different point types for different events."
I think this is an important part of this update ... They might finally be looking at alternative entry fees besides the usual tics and/or product. I think that is a good thing. Also, having some way to earn Play Points without necessarily spending $$$ would be nice, such as with Hearthstone or Pokemon TCG. I have actually been playing a nice amount of the online Pokemon TCG lately because I like their prize structure/payout and they also have "daily quests" of doing "X amount of damage with X card type" to get more points.
Sorry it's absent from the article, but if you are interested in some DiTerlizzi miniatures, go here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/823962857/dark-sword-miniatures-new...
thank you, you are certainly correct. This is a very relevant nitpick, as pilots should be aware of just how much their clock is increasing in a given line.