I dunno about that man. I played both formats with all 3 blocks and it was never that exciting. The problem that is always with block is that there is never enough answers to everything. The format always get dominated by one thing and has maybe a few rouge decks that if they can lucky they do well since the card pool is just so small. You even see it at the PT too since the top 8 decks are usually 50%-80% of whatever the best card is of that format and then the 20% that might get lucky to spike a win or get bounced round 1 of the top 8. PT DGM was 6/8 Esper, PT, while PT JOU was 4 Elspeth Decks, 3 BUG decks and a heroic deck. The format by nature just cant really get too interesting since its only 500-700 cards that are available and probably only 25-40% of those are actually competitive.
I doubt Tiny Leaders will be a real thing in general, but anything that would be interesting sides whatever is currently available would be cool. They should just make a 60 singleton format with something similar to Legacy ban list or have cube dailies or something. It would be cool for you if block could stay around but it seems like the chances of it sticking seem slim.
It sounds like you played single-set THS and RTR block formats. Both of those formats were indeed dominated by the cards you mentioned, but by the time the format was fleshed out with additional sets became quite diverse. RTR featured seven competitive decks by the end (GW populate, GB midrange, Rx aggro, Esper control, RG midrange, Grixis control, Bant/UWR control), the most popular of which was Rx agro while in THS, Elspeth virtually disappeared from the format by the end and while things like BUG control, junk constellation, bladk aggro and heroic decks came to the fore.
As I mention in the article, it's not clear that the format was intended to continue in the new 2-set block format, but it definitely could imo and it's the best format around to complement standard.
I very, very much doubt that WoTC will adopt a commander-esque format like tinyleaders as a sanctioned, competitive format. Could be wrong tho!
That seems like a cool deck. I know that your mana base is already stretched at four colors, but a gifts ungiven/unburial rites package would be sweet. it's a gifts alone can grab you four creatures, with two in the graveyard to reanimate. Of course, the combo of grabbing only a rites plus reanimate target to cheat out a fatty seems strong.
I was thinking of a similar deck. Why has nobody built an esper control deck with gifts, unburial rites, liliana, damnation, and like four griselbrand as win conditions? You could always discard GB to liliana's +1 if you drew it. Sounds good to me though.
I looked back at the list, do you think that some sort of mana acceleration is called for? Just a thought. I like the idea a lot.
Have they said that they are they taking Block away? I figure due to the new block structure that block would be obsolete.
I never loved block since it always felt like a pretty degenerate format. I played 2 Blocks and both were pretty boring since they usually revolve around a single card. RTR was about the UW Azorius package while THS was Elspeth + 56 other cards. With block going off the Pro Tour, Im not sure what interest there really will be for the format.
I would not mind there being more options for a variety of formats, but Block is probably the one I felt that I personally wouldnt miss. If they are going to get rid of Block, they should find a new MTGO exclusive format to replace it with. Tiny Leaders would be an interesting welcomed edition as a competitive format since it would feel in between Modern/Legacy and could create a lot of diversity.
Thanks for the feedback. I actually feel strongly enough about this that I created a twitter account and have been spamming some accounts with links to this article. If anyone else cares about the format, do the same!
I agree wholeheartedly. I am an example of a player who would play Block Constructed but not Standard. Why? It is just easier to get on top of, and less intimidating. And as you say, it's a stepping stone to Standard. Perhaps if I fall in love my Block deck, then when the new Block comes along, if my deck is still largely viable (being able to keep say 60% of the cards in the deck), then I would strongly consider joining standard.
I'm sure everyone hopes that Wasteland is rare (assuming they aren't delusional enough to think it will be uncommon), it's just that Wizards knows that too--then again, they didn't put Force of Will at mythic in Vintage Masters, so maybe they're treating online sets and paper sets differently?
Really, Warmth and friends aren't accessible? They are uncommon and are either fringe cards or playable in Modern (thus able to be reprinted--I don't know if Wizards would want to put Choke in a Modern Masters set, but they certainly could). The only reason Wasteland skyrocketed is because many top-tier Legacy decks wanted it as a 4-of, and it isn't replaceable--that's different from a couple decks wanting 1 or 2 copies as a sideboard option.
how did that whole lawsuit with Hex turn out anyway? I watched a stream of that game, and it is nice looking, but it looked EXACTLY like MTG, specifically, Duels of the Planeswalkers. It was alarmingly close.
I will take a look at it, and you can check the workflow for any notes that may spring up. You can also email me at Puremtgoeditor@gmail.com if you want to open up a dialogue there.
You mentioned paying out in tix. Another solution is the reverse of this - pay in with boosters. Imagine a 2 man queue that pays two KTK and costs 1 KTK per player. That will ALWAYS be a fair deal. Or a Daily that offers the options of either 6 tix or 2 packs of any Standard legal boosters. This would not be difficult to implement since we already use boosters for some entry fees. And they would not have to calculate a fair option for every single event; just giving this option for dailies and two mans is enough to help eat packs and foster steady, rewarding competition without being overly generous.
I dunno about that man. I played both formats with all 3 blocks and it was never that exciting. The problem that is always with block is that there is never enough answers to everything. The format always get dominated by one thing and has maybe a few rouge decks that if they can lucky they do well since the card pool is just so small. You even see it at the PT too since the top 8 decks are usually 50%-80% of whatever the best card is of that format and then the 20% that might get lucky to spike a win or get bounced round 1 of the top 8. PT DGM was 6/8 Esper, PT, while PT JOU was 4 Elspeth Decks, 3 BUG decks and a heroic deck. The format by nature just cant really get too interesting since its only 500-700 cards that are available and probably only 25-40% of those are actually competitive.
I doubt Tiny Leaders will be a real thing in general, but anything that would be interesting sides whatever is currently available would be cool. They should just make a 60 singleton format with something similar to Legacy ban list or have cube dailies or something. It would be cool for you if block could stay around but it seems like the chances of it sticking seem slim.
It sounds like you played single-set THS and RTR block formats. Both of those formats were indeed dominated by the cards you mentioned, but by the time the format was fleshed out with additional sets became quite diverse. RTR featured seven competitive decks by the end (GW populate, GB midrange, Rx aggro, Esper control, RG midrange, Grixis control, Bant/UWR control), the most popular of which was Rx agro while in THS, Elspeth virtually disappeared from the format by the end and while things like BUG control, junk constellation, bladk aggro and heroic decks came to the fore.
As I mention in the article, it's not clear that the format was intended to continue in the new 2-set block format, but it definitely could imo and it's the best format around to complement standard.
I very, very much doubt that WoTC will adopt a commander-esque format like tinyleaders as a sanctioned, competitive format. Could be wrong tho!
That seems like a cool deck. I know that your mana base is already stretched at four colors, but a gifts ungiven/unburial rites package would be sweet. it's a gifts alone can grab you four creatures, with two in the graveyard to reanimate. Of course, the combo of grabbing only a rites plus reanimate target to cheat out a fatty seems strong.
I was thinking of a similar deck. Why has nobody built an esper control deck with gifts, unburial rites, liliana, damnation, and like four griselbrand as win conditions? You could always discard GB to liliana's +1 if you drew it. Sounds good to me though.
I looked back at the list, do you think that some sort of mana acceleration is called for? Just a thought. I like the idea a lot.
Have they said that they are they taking Block away? I figure due to the new block structure that block would be obsolete.
I never loved block since it always felt like a pretty degenerate format. I played 2 Blocks and both were pretty boring since they usually revolve around a single card. RTR was about the UW Azorius package while THS was Elspeth + 56 other cards. With block going off the Pro Tour, Im not sure what interest there really will be for the format.
I would not mind there being more options for a variety of formats, but Block is probably the one I felt that I personally wouldnt miss. If they are going to get rid of Block, they should find a new MTGO exclusive format to replace it with. Tiny Leaders would be an interesting welcomed edition as a competitive format since it would feel in between Modern/Legacy and could create a lot of diversity.
Thanks for the feedback. I actually feel strongly enough about this that I created a twitter account and have been spamming some accounts with links to this article. If anyone else cares about the format, do the same!
https://twitter.com/Psychobabble_au/with_replies
I agree wholeheartedly. I am an example of a player who would play Block Constructed but not Standard. Why? It is just easier to get on top of, and less intimidating. And as you say, it's a stepping stone to Standard. Perhaps if I fall in love my Block deck, then when the new Block comes along, if my deck is still largely viable (being able to keep say 60% of the cards in the deck), then I would strongly consider joining standard.
sup ozzy, lol
I got the volrtaths cards confused. As I get older I find my memory slipping. I apologize, and it has been corrected in the article.
Talk to Joshua Claytor our illustrious and esteemed legendary editor.
Yes, that is a typo--obviously I meant the Stronghold. The Lab is in the set, but it's at rare (and mainly exists to help the Slivers theme).
Of course, now the question is how do I get this fixed?
Volrath lab is an artifact, and features under "land" so this must be a typo. And lab is worth $0.02, hardly mythic.
Volrath's Lab is really awful (fun as a reject rare, but awful) do you mean Volrath's Stronghold?
I'm sure everyone hopes that Wasteland is rare (assuming they aren't delusional enough to think it will be uncommon), it's just that Wizards knows that too--then again, they didn't put Force of Will at mythic in Vintage Masters, so maybe they're treating online sets and paper sets differently?
Really, Warmth and friends aren't accessible? They are uncommon and are either fringe cards or playable in Modern (thus able to be reprinted--I don't know if Wizards would want to put Choke in a Modern Masters set, but they certainly could). The only reason Wasteland skyrocketed is because many top-tier Legacy decks wanted it as a 4-of, and it isn't replaceable--that's different from a couple decks wanting 1 or 2 copies as a sideboard option.
cool. thanks. Not cool as in "I like to see people sued", cool as in thanksfor letting me know :)
Trial date is set for April 25, 2016 and will last for 12 days. You can see all the other dates in the below link with some additional comments.
http://www.reddit.com/r/hextcg/comments/2sfmdw/lawsuit_update_trial_date/
how did that whole lawsuit with Hex turn out anyway? I watched a stream of that game, and it is nice looking, but it looked EXACTLY like MTG, specifically, Duels of the Planeswalkers. It was alarmingly close.
:) if you can call 70 twitter followers famous, then yeah, I'm the magic the gathering Ozzy Osbourne I suppose. Thanks man!
Man Joe, your famous now! Yeah, I would love to write about my brews. We should talk more!
I will take a look at it, and you can check the workflow for any notes that may spring up. You can also email me at Puremtgoeditor@gmail.com if you want to open up a dialogue there.
Interesting idea, I like it too.
Well, I wrote an article and submitted it--hopefully it's good :)
You mentioned paying out in tix. Another solution is the reverse of this - pay in with boosters. Imagine a 2 man queue that pays two KTK and costs 1 KTK per player. That will ALWAYS be a fair deal. Or a Daily that offers the options of either 6 tix or 2 packs of any Standard legal boosters. This would not be difficult to implement since we already use boosters for some entry fees. And they would not have to calculate a fair option for every single event; just giving this option for dailies and two mans is enough to help eat packs and foster steady, rewarding competition without being overly generous.
I'll have to look closer at Courser. Could have sworn all Centaurs were male.
You should write about your decks. Click on the write for puremtgo link and check it out.
We're in the same facebook group. Modern meta masters. I've played against you twice. Plus you're in my buddy list on mtgo.