Also - I feel it is worth mentioning - your large grill of teeth smiling at me with a name like "IyankemDDS" makes me think you are a very vicious dentist :D
They used to say "please Hammer don't hurt em'" - but I say "please DDS don't Yank 'em!"
Thanks! I have been thinking about going through all picks, even the ones that I feel are less relevant. I'll try that next time. If the screenshots are awkward/not adding much I can certainly stop doing them, or maybe try to improve the formatting.
I love cube articles Tyler - and I dig opening Jace. Literally the ONLY card I will windmill slam no matter if I am mono RED or black and white. Doesn't matter - jace is better.
Only big thing I see is picking the manland pick 2, I would definitely grab the miscalculation -> blue fetch -> mana leak. No matter the queue you are in removing BLUE signals after taking the best blue card ever is what I would try to accomplish.
Love the deck - I would also really try hard to fit in spreading seas / misty rainforest. REALLY solid tempo card.
Good article - I must say the screenshots are a bit strange on the pixelation/formatting front.
Also - not sure about others, but I love dissecting complete drafts. Would dig seeing the rest of your picks so I can properly diagnose what I would have done in your scenario.
I was teasing you a little Josh because it seems like your mic was a tad hot. It was good to hear you do the cast so don't get me wrong but that was a lot of mysterious foley types of sounds. :p
I suppose you could use "Lovecraftian" then if Cthonic doesn't cut it. That at least fits better than "Dark Old Ones from beyond the Pale who want to eat your soul and have tentacles and such"
I'm pretty sure I am the reason that is sounded like I was recording from a highway with a lively puppy and a keyboard.
I was actually inside though :D I have three dogs, and I type all the time on the cast because I like doing research and looking stuff up while talking.
Cthonic isn't quite the word, etymologically linked as it is. There are specific Mythos creatures referred to as Cthonians, but generally the word is used as an adjective like 'eldritch' or 'squamous', a general descriptor rather than a classification, in the context of the mythos as a whole.
Good cast today guys though I kept wondering why AJ was casting from the middle of a highway, surrounded by a lively puppy playing with its iphone, whilst typing on a keyboard. :p
The word you want to describe something as belong to or of Cthulhu is Cthonic. I realize that it doesn't seem like a similar word but it is in fact the word that Cthulhu derives from and describes the primordial gods of Crete and Ancient Greece, pre-Titans. (Firefox did not know the word so don't feel bad if you also don't.)
I am not abandoning ship in terms of selling off (though I have serious doubts as to the worth of the cards I will own in 3-4 months.) I have thought about it because I would hate to see those values plummet and never recover but I also know that MTGO will survive this shipwreck.
And make no mistake if WOTC refuses to change course it WILL be a shipwreck. Survivable but not pleasant. But eventually v4 must become better than it is. If not then the people at the head of WOTC are more foolish and less interested in their jobs than I believe.
Now I could be totally wrong. WOTC has infamously stuck to its guns in the face of horrible responses. D&D 4th Ed for example was a total shit storm. And while they did irreparable damage to the community and their reputation as a top notch game provider by publishing that morass of video game rpg rules it does them credit that they did sell it. (To a bunch of players who didn't want a RPG as much as they wanted a way to play a Wargame casually but they count as a market for sure.)
I suspect the same will happen here. We (old timers) will stop playing for a while (or in some cases forever) only to be replaced by the endless hordes who are willign to throw their money at anyone for anything at any time.
The opposition inspired deck sounds spectacularly boring for your opponent but great fun to play. I can't believe I didn't come up with it.
Great draft! I feel like the Theors pack really sealed your table's fate. I have been on the Loyal Pegasus/Swordwise Centaur situation before. I think I usually lean toward the Centaur, but I can see how powerful the Pegasus plan can be.
I used to go back and do my replays too. :) Now I just do the ones that are saved to my Games folder.
I think G/W is okay, I actually prefer G/U in the format though. I know my last two drafts online have been G/W. I went back and looked through the draft, and I think I probably would have went G/W anyway, although maybe G/B when the Eater of Hope made it to me in the Born pack. I do prefer to be locked in before then, but sometimes it's tough. I try not to write off any combination, even though sometimes it is probably correct, but I have heard some people say that G/W is not where they want to be in this particular format.
Wow, that's lots of screenshots you have to take. :) It's easy to notice your preference for green but how do you feel about GW? Would you opt to play Selesnya without Brimaz? I see other people saying GW is bad and it looks disappointing most of the time for me.
a very appreciated come back, great read
Point 3 was a success key to me, I realized very lately how replays helps to play better.
The example you provide is spot on : to hesitate to "waste" a mass removal on 2 little creatures and eventualy end to die facing them. It happened to me hundred times before I became honest with myself, watched the replay and just realized I "offered" victories to opponents just because I didnt well identify what was wrong with my plays (luck/unluck were definitly not the main reasons of defeats). It isnt totaly fixed at the moment, but definitly to be a spectator of my own games was probably one the best way I found to learn how to play better.
waiting for the next article :)
That's a great point, and very true. What might even make more sense is to set a goal - however minor - and try to reach it. If 1600 is your 'Mendoza line', consider trying to make it 1620.
What I think is more important in the context of self improvement is setting a realistic goal for yourself; call is a "personal Mendoza line" if you will. For someone like the author, who drafts a lot and is good at it, 1750 is perfectly reasonable. For someone who plays Limited as infrequently as myself (maybe 2 dozen events a year when I was playing a lot) or is just starting to get into it, 1600 is a better number.
True - and after proof reading the heck out of this that was the impetus for my line at the end where I mentioned I hope I didn't come across as too pompous.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, really appreciate it!
Also - I feel it is worth mentioning - your large grill of teeth smiling at me with a name like "IyankemDDS" makes me think you are a very vicious dentist :D
They used to say "please Hammer don't hurt em'" - but I say "please DDS don't Yank 'em!"
Thanks! I have been thinking about going through all picks, even the ones that I feel are less relevant. I'll try that next time. If the screenshots are awkward/not adding much I can certainly stop doing them, or maybe try to improve the formatting.
Thanks again for taking a look!
I love cube articles Tyler - and I dig opening Jace. Literally the ONLY card I will windmill slam no matter if I am mono RED or black and white. Doesn't matter - jace is better.
Only big thing I see is picking the manland pick 2, I would definitely grab the miscalculation -> blue fetch -> mana leak. No matter the queue you are in removing BLUE signals after taking the best blue card ever is what I would try to accomplish.
Love the deck - I would also really try hard to fit in spreading seas / misty rainforest. REALLY solid tempo card.
KEEP IT UP TYLER - digging it.
Zach
Good article - I must say the screenshots are a bit strange on the pixelation/formatting front.
Also - not sure about others, but I love dissecting complete drafts. Would dig seeing the rest of your picks so I can properly diagnose what I would have done in your scenario.
Keep the drafts coming - and grats on Brimaz!
Z
Liked the article - let's see the deck! Put in some vids
Zach
I was teasing you a little Josh because it seems like your mic was a tad hot. It was good to hear you do the cast so don't get me wrong but that was a lot of mysterious foley types of sounds. :p
I suppose you could use "Lovecraftian" then if Cthonic doesn't cut it. That at least fits better than "Dark Old Ones from beyond the Pale who want to eat your soul and have tentacles and such"
http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2279
The link is up for the Magic Online Community Cup! Go nominate!!
I'm pretty sure I am the reason that is sounded like I was recording from a highway with a lively puppy and a keyboard.
I was actually inside though :D I have three dogs, and I type all the time on the cast because I like doing research and looking stuff up while talking.
Cthonic isn't quite the word, etymologically linked as it is. There are specific Mythos creatures referred to as Cthonians, but generally the word is used as an adjective like 'eldritch' or 'squamous', a general descriptor rather than a classification, in the context of the mythos as a whole.
Monoblue fatties. I love it. And I want in on some multiplayer if there's room!
Good cast today guys though I kept wondering why AJ was casting from the middle of a highway, surrounded by a lively puppy playing with its iphone, whilst typing on a keyboard. :p
The word you want to describe something as belong to or of Cthulhu is Cthonic. I realize that it doesn't seem like a similar word but it is in fact the word that Cthulhu derives from and describes the primordial gods of Crete and Ancient Greece, pre-Titans. (Firefox did not know the word so don't feel bad if you also don't.)
I am not abandoning ship in terms of selling off (though I have serious doubts as to the worth of the cards I will own in 3-4 months.) I have thought about it because I would hate to see those values plummet and never recover but I also know that MTGO will survive this shipwreck.
And make no mistake if WOTC refuses to change course it WILL be a shipwreck. Survivable but not pleasant. But eventually v4 must become better than it is. If not then the people at the head of WOTC are more foolish and less interested in their jobs than I believe.
Now I could be totally wrong. WOTC has infamously stuck to its guns in the face of horrible responses. D&D 4th Ed for example was a total shit storm. And while they did irreparable damage to the community and their reputation as a top notch game provider by publishing that morass of video game rpg rules it does them credit that they did sell it. (To a bunch of players who didn't want a RPG as much as they wanted a way to play a Wargame casually but they count as a market for sure.)
I suspect the same will happen here. We (old timers) will stop playing for a while (or in some cases forever) only to be replaced by the endless hordes who are willign to throw their money at anyone for anything at any time.
The opposition inspired deck sounds spectacularly boring for your opponent but great fun to play. I can't believe I didn't come up with it.
Thanks so much for the feedback Lours! It has been a long time my friend, I hope all is well.
I'll try to get another article out for next week!
Maybe with some actual drafts :D
Great draft! I feel like the Theors pack really sealed your table's fate. I have been on the Loyal Pegasus/Swordwise Centaur situation before. I think I usually lean toward the Centaur, but I can see how powerful the Pegasus plan can be.
You might not open anything good for a while. :)
I used to go back and do my replays too. :) Now I just do the ones that are saved to my Games folder.
I think G/W is okay, I actually prefer G/U in the format though. I know my last two drafts online have been G/W. I went back and looked through the draft, and I think I probably would have went G/W anyway, although maybe G/B when the Eater of Hope made it to me in the Born pack. I do prefer to be locked in before then, but sometimes it's tough. I try not to write off any combination, even though sometimes it is probably correct, but I have heard some people say that G/W is not where they want to be in this particular format.
Thanks for reading!
Wow, that's lots of screenshots you have to take. :) It's easy to notice your preference for green but how do you feel about GW? Would you opt to play Selesnya without Brimaz? I see other people saying GW is bad and it looks disappointing most of the time for me.
a very appreciated come back, great read
Point 3 was a success key to me, I realized very lately how replays helps to play better.
The example you provide is spot on : to hesitate to "waste" a mass removal on 2 little creatures and eventualy end to die facing them. It happened to me hundred times before I became honest with myself, watched the replay and just realized I "offered" victories to opponents just because I didnt well identify what was wrong with my plays (luck/unluck were definitly not the main reasons of defeats). It isnt totaly fixed at the moment, but definitly to be a spectator of my own games was probably one the best way I found to learn how to play better.
waiting for the next article :)
That's a great point, and very true. What might even make more sense is to set a goal - however minor - and try to reach it. If 1600 is your 'Mendoza line', consider trying to make it 1620.
Thanks for the comment
What I think is more important in the context of self improvement is setting a realistic goal for yourself; call is a "personal Mendoza line" if you will. For someone like the author, who drafts a lot and is good at it, 1750 is perfectly reasonable. For someone who plays Limited as infrequently as myself (maybe 2 dozen events a year when I was playing a lot) or is just starting to get into it, 1600 is a better number.
True - and after proof reading the heck out of this that was the impetus for my line at the end where I mentioned I hope I didn't come across as too pompous.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, really appreciate it!
I hope so Josh! Thanks for having me
Thanks Tyler - means a lot man. It's the *only* thing I've written in years but I appreciate the sentiment my friend.
This was quite good! I'd say it is a good way to get better at Magic in general, not just limited. I struggle with some of these things even now.
The only thing I disagree with, I think the Mendoza line would be more like 1600. :)
I'm really happy to see your work again, and I hope it's a for an extended stay!
Best thing you've written in years.