Disclaimer: I've changed my mind, and decided to keep writing articles while on vacation. Some of this article was written prior to leaving. Most of it was written at various cybercafes.
Shocklands Are Back, Baby!
One of the biggest barriers to entry in Modern, especially in paper, has always been the price of shocklands. Over the past few months, there has been much speculation as to whether or not these lands would be in Return To Ravnica.
Shocklands, for those of you who aren't familiar with the term, are non-basic lands from the original Ravnica set that have two basic land types, and come into play tapped unless you pay two life. This is the equivalent of shocking yourself. Hence the term "shockland". Since these lands have the basic land types, they can be searched for with cards that say "search your library for a (land type)..." in the text box. (These cards are known as "Fetches") This makes them highly desirable for decks with multicolor manabases.
WotC has promised reprints of older cards specifically to help out the Modern format, and...
...WotC delivers! Woo hoo! I can only imagine the jubilation of Modern players everywhere as WotC confirmed at the PAX Party that shocklands would indeed be in the forthcoming Return To Ravnica set! Paper players were surely dancing and carousing in the streets, much to the consternation of "normal" folk who don't play MTG, and don't realize the significance. "George, why is that young man running through the streets shouting 'Go, go, Ravnica'?" "It's the full moon, Margaret."
Jace 4.0 Jace, Architect of Thought
Return To Ravnica also brings us another version of Jace. This will be his fourth incarnation. While at first glance Jace 4.0 appears to be meh, I'm sure with the right build he can be a powerhouse. I don't see him being used in Modern much, but I have been wrong before. More than once.
The biggest problem I have with the new Jace: now I have to find new art for all Jaces! When I'm searching for planeswalker alt art, I like to use the same model for all iterations of a planeswalker. For example, the different Ajani's are all the same cosplay cat-girl in various poses, Sorins are all the same goth girl, Chandras are all the same redhead, and so forth. Sooo... Now I have to find another photoshoot featuring a blue haired girl and do it all again.
On a side note, if you are interested in using alt art on your own client (alt art is only visible in your own client), you can find out more by reading my MTGO alt art primer here.
Monster Garage
As sometimes happens in these hard economic times, I had to liquidate my collection for a cash influx. After collecting quotes and cashing out, this left me with my PRM Guru Basic Lands. Period. However, since I'm such a dedicated pimp , I do have a continual weekly budget* that I can rebuild with. So I'm going to chronicle my rebuilding somewhat, along with prices, just to see how expensive it is to get into Modern in a vacuum.
* As you may or may not know, hosts running sponsored events receive bot credit on the sponsor's bot for running the events. I also "get coin" for writing these articles, the amount thereof varying depending on various arcane feng shue. All of this is scattered over a few bots, so it's not like I can pull up to a bot with 50 tix in pocket. It's some here, a little more there, more somewhere else.
Before leaving on vacation, I was watching the Player of the Year events, and saw Yasooka's Eternal Command deck. Needless to say, I fell in love with it, and want to build this deck:
I'm obviously not alone in this, and figured the price of Snapcaster Mage and Aether Vial would jump. Especially after 6 appearances since the last time I checked results. Yay for cybercafes! Yay for online bookmarks!
In anticipation of this price jump, before I left, I hurried up and used the credits from my last article, Overdrive! #61, and WAFTT #22 to buy a playset of each, at 7.58 & 4.05 each, respectively. Snappys are now 9.28, and Vials 4.86, so I got in on time! Woo hoo! These are "staples", so it's not like I'm never going to use them even if I don't build this deck. I picked up playset of Spell Snare and Mana Leak*, as well. Spread out over three bots, that ate up all my credit again. The biggest obstacles to this deck are going to be the Cliques and Goyfs. Especially the Goyfs. If anyone wants to donate a Goyf or two to the cause, I won't say no!
In the meantime, Eternal Witness has also jumped up almost 2 tickets. I suppose Recollect, or something similar, could be used in a pinch.
* I got "regular" Leaks; the PRM versions will have to hold off until I'm better situated, deckwise.
So now I have to wait until I get back before I rebuild further. (Obviously!) I will most likely concentrate on fetches, shocks, and cheap staples like O-ring with the change. Manabases are important!
*doing a bad Donna Summers impression* He works hard for the money... So hard for it, honey...
Oh, Canada!
Having a wonderful time, glad you're not here! Here are some reflections from the first few days...
September 1
I'm jonsing to play a game
Which is why I went away
Hopefully in a while
I can abstain from play with a smile
Stars dancing slowly
The monkey sleeps inside me
Horses on my bed
|
September 2
I awake on the ground, sun in my eyes
I roll in the dew and look to the skies
My ancient joints creak as I slowly stand
My bleary eyes peer at the waking land
Birdsong slowly makes it's way to my ears
As my eyes focus the source becomes clear
Naked in the meadow, I whistle back
Stretching and yawning, my back gives a crack
Aromas of nature waft through my nose
Honeysuckle, canola, and wild rose
I gather my clothes, reluctantly dress
Where I'll go today, I can't even guess
But surely I'll find something to impress
Beauty in Canada's great wilderness
|
September 3
The world's largest teepee
The tunnels of Al Capone
Are cool things to see
Even alone
Maybe I'll stay
And act bourgeois
Spend a few days
In the town of Moose Jaw
|
Overdrive! #62
Overdrive! #62 will take place on Monday, September 17 at 8:30PM Eastern.
Eurodrive! #44
Eurodrive! #44 will take place on Saturday, September 22 at 1200 GMT.
Where Angels Fear To Tread #23
Where Angels Fear To Tread #23 will take place on Sunday, September 16 at 1800 GMT.
4 Comments
I feel like I've made the "big time" if I'm worth spamming! :)
I know, right? Especially year old articles! XD
Oh, and we know, JXClaytor. :P At least someone does actually moderate the spam here. I know plenty of places that wouldn't give a crap.
They are very good at it, I appreciate the ones that attempt to make it sound like they went over the article.
I try to take care of them as soon as possible, but I do sleep:(