Errr. anyone else with Zendikar experience? Sounds like every game ends on turn 4. Two ways to improve you article: cut out each and every time you say "this is a fast format" and improve your card layout with some formatting (tabbing, bolding, anything).
Players sitting next to each other are in separate drafts. So two people next to each other aren't in the same draft, but they are each in a pool with the people behind the dividers. Pretty neat setup, and lots of people were watching the draft. Quite a draw!
Didn't realize the weather was that bad up there. We had some snow here (St. Paul) but I was oblivious to the rest. Kind of silly how things work out.
I was reading your post and immediately knew you'd be packing up the car for the long drive! :-) Hope you're having a blast in HOU! Safe travels on your way home. =)
Some of these players are probably playing on a much bigger screen than they normally do! Those computer setups look sweet - must be 24" monitors?
Wondering why half of the table is blocked from the other half, but not the two players on either side. How are they keeping these players from taking a little look?
I am going to take a risk here and say that Hexmage Dark Depths is NOT combo elves. Combo decks are some of my favorites and extended is my favorite format. This deck has none of the qualities that make combo decks wit tournaments in the format.
1 Resistance to counterspells
2 Draw that lets you see lots of your deck./tutor
3 Instant win
Furthermore even if you do combo your win con is easily taken care of by path and the like. Repeal was a good mention my dangerlinto although I am pretty sure that trickbind only delays it by a turn.(which should do nothing unless the counters were removed on the opponents turn)
I combo deck may be able to operate without one of these but almost certainly cannot be missing them all. I suppose some of these elements can be improved with the many other slots in the deck. Item 2 would probably be the easiest to solve and 1 would be the hardest.
To give the combo some credit it is a 2 card combo and would be an excellent alternate win con in a stand-alone deck. The problem is that no good deck exists that naturally wants to play either of these cards and I doubt that one will be made that will. To the forums!
Are you posting pics on some of these entries? If so, how do we see them? Viewing the entry on PureMTGO doesn't seem to link it? ie: http://puremtgo.com/coverage/entries/2302
Thanks for the report, as someone not into the tourney scene, first mention of cards with a full name and link would help alot if someone is not familar with the card. Thanks!
Worth has said (a few times now) that the article you referenced was incorrect in that statistic; either he was misquoted or he misspoke.
At that time Magic Online comprised 30-40% of all North American business. Not all total business.
Otherwise a good article, as usual.
I didn't even think of poker, but I must say I immediately reacted positive to the "Hero/Villain" thing. Masking the actual players in conversation draws focus on the fact that we're analyzing a situation, not just making calls or rooting for someone.
I think of it like calling the sides "White" and "Black" in chess, even when I'm rooting for someone. I'll even do this when I'm playing.
There's multiple types of combo decks in a rather new format, there are going to be some that slip through the cracks.
For instance, Hypergenesis and Dredge are known entities and both need separate types of hate. Adding a third, non-related combo can create quite a stir, especially if people hadn't prepared for that.
It's not about being unprepared, it's about keeping up with a changing animal when you've only seen the tail of the animal. Turns out there are three other tails, four heads and three.five stomachs. ;)
Really? There are about a bajillion answers to Dark Depths, and the token it creates, and many of them are so ubiquitous. Echoing Truth much? Repeal, Trickbind, Sac effects, Bitterblossom Tokens... the list is endless.
If nobody is prepared for that, Extended is a joke.
This year we had a series of "Live" events at certain shows, like PT Austin, where you played MTGO live at the event. The events are a series of draft pods, where the winner of each advances to a final round to compete for their share of $5000. Here is the link to the details: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/other/040...
Quick comment, Relentless Rats DO work in singleton, or at least they did. I had a 60 card singleton deck with Relentless Rats and Blood Bond March, and cranial extraction, and extirpate, yada yada, I KEELZ YOU WITH BEACON OF DESTRUCTION. The best play with rats, in my opinion, since you have to go slower in singleton (only one dark ritual, for shame) is to use one of the cranial extraction effects on yourself and play with a tiny deck that is full of burn. I just run all Red/Black lands. 100 Singleton might be a LOT harder to get this deck to work.
------------------------------------
Edit. My 60 card deck runs 25 Relentless Rats.
Although casting Giant Spider is the most efficient way to develop your board and preserve your life total, the problem with this play is that you can't even block if he attacks with Swordsmith. You'd need to respect Giant Growth, Glorious Charge, and Harm's Way. Divine Verdict would be no picnic either, since you've already committed 3 mana toward Whispersilk Cloak and would like to blank that card if possible.
If I were your opponent here, I'd strongly consider attacking with the Swordsmith even without a combat trick. Perhaps not. What I would know for sure is that you don't want me to attack.
Then there's the other problem of Pacifism... or Excommunicate, or another Swordsmith, or Honor of the Pure (savage!) or anything else from a third land type. Considering you already have your land drop for next turn (to enable Spider + tap), it seems much better to just cast Pacifism and activate Blinding Mage here.
Turn 5:
I agree with your friend's play. You know the opponent doesn't have a pump spell (since he would have attacked with the Swordsmith the previous turn), therefore it is safe to get the Troll out there now. Then you tap the Pikemaster, and he can't profitably attack. Since won't be attacking (or blocking), why deploy the Pacifism now when its cheapness could come in handly later?
Turn 6:
There's no picture, but I believe this is the turn where the game was almost lost. Opponent has Swordsmith, Pikemaster, Courser, Mastodon, and Pegasus. You have Blinding Mage, Giant Spider, Troll, Cloak, and 6 mana. In hand you have Pacifism, Palace Guard, and Armored Ascension. You are behind 13 to 20.
Armoring the Troll here and attacking is just bad math. The opponent is certainly going to take this opportunity to chump, knowing that the Cloak in play implies 8 unstoppable damage per turn. You still need to hit him 3 times though, and your defenses are not impenetrable, especially after investing so much in the Troll.
The safer play is to equip the Troll with Cloak and start taking 4-point chunks away. This plan requires 5 hits, but realistically, the Ascension in your hand will provide one of those hits (when slapped onto another guy). So in exchange for granting your opponent 1 additional draw step, you get to play the Palace Guard this turn. That is guaranteed to save you 3 life next turn, and provide you with an attractive target for Armored Ascension.
This would have easily won the game without need for topdecking. Opponent casts his own Blinding Mage, to which you respond by Armoring AND equipping the Palace Guard (after attacking with the Troll). Opponent has no way to fight through that, and will eventually succumb to you tapping his Blinding Mage end-of-turn, untapping, then passing the Cloak back and forth between the Troll and the Guard so as to get 4 damage in 3 more times.
Errr. anyone else with Zendikar experience? Sounds like every game ends on turn 4. Two ways to improve you article: cut out each and every time you say "this is a fast format" and improve your card layout with some formatting (tabbing, bolding, anything).
Good Luck - I am still shocked that JXClaytor has not been invited to the Party but there ya go!
The benefit of playing online ruined by playing online at a live event, lol.
RagMan
Ah the ole spilled starbucks excuse #1356 on why you should get a refund. :p
Players sitting next to each other are in separate drafts. So two people next to each other aren't in the same draft, but they are each in a pool with the people behind the dividers. Pretty neat setup, and lots of people were watching the draft. Quite a draw!
Didn't realize the weather was that bad up there. We had some snow here (St. Paul) but I was oblivious to the rest. Kind of silly how things work out.
I was reading your post and immediately knew you'd be packing up the car for the long drive! :-) Hope you're having a blast in HOU! Safe travels on your way home. =)
hm I see the pic now. :-)
Thank you so much for going Hammy! I was really looking forward to your coverage and I would have been very sad to have missed it.
Thank you for your dedication to the community. 3 cheers for Hammy!
Nice analysis, thanks for your thoughtful replies!
I am going to take a risk here and say that Hexmage Dark Depths is NOT combo elves. Combo decks are some of my favorites and extended is my favorite format. This deck has none of the qualities that make combo decks wit tournaments in the format.
1 Resistance to counterspells
2 Draw that lets you see lots of your deck./tutor
3 Instant win
Furthermore even if you do combo your win con is easily taken care of by path and the like. Repeal was a good mention my dangerlinto although I am pretty sure that trickbind only delays it by a turn.(which should do nothing unless the counters were removed on the opponents turn)
I combo deck may be able to operate without one of these but almost certainly cannot be missing them all. I suppose some of these elements can be improved with the many other slots in the deck. Item 2 would probably be the easiest to solve and 1 would be the hardest.
To give the combo some credit it is a 2 card combo and would be an excellent alternate win con in a stand-alone deck. The problem is that no good deck exists that naturally wants to play either of these cards and I doubt that one will be made that will. To the forums!
Are you posting pics on some of these entries? If so, how do we see them? Viewing the entry on PureMTGO doesn't seem to link it? ie: http://puremtgo.com/coverage/entries/2302
Thanks for the report, as someone not into the tourney scene, first mention of cards with a full name and link would help alot if someone is not familar with the card. Thanks!
Worth has said (a few times now) that the article you referenced was incorrect in that statistic; either he was misquoted or he misspoke.
At that time Magic Online comprised 30-40% of all North American business. Not all total business.
Otherwise a good article, as usual.
I didn't even think of poker, but I must say I immediately reacted positive to the "Hero/Villain" thing. Masking the actual players in conversation draws focus on the fact that we're analyzing a situation, not just making calls or rooting for someone.
I think of it like calling the sides "White" and "Black" in chess, even when I'm rooting for someone. I'll even do this when I'm playing.
I say stick with it.
There's multiple types of combo decks in a rather new format, there are going to be some that slip through the cracks.
For instance, Hypergenesis and Dredge are known entities and both need separate types of hate. Adding a third, non-related combo can create quite a stir, especially if people hadn't prepared for that.
It's not about being unprepared, it's about keeping up with a changing animal when you've only seen the tail of the animal. Turns out there are three other tails, four heads and three.five stomachs. ;)
Really? There are about a bajillion answers to Dark Depths, and the token it creates, and many of them are so ubiquitous. Echoing Truth much? Repeal, Trickbind, Sac effects, Bitterblossom Tokens... the list is endless.
If nobody is prepared for that, Extended is a joke.
Bah, Hammy! Too quick.
Heya Giraffe,
This year we had a series of "Live" events at certain shows, like PT Austin, where you played MTGO live at the event. The events are a series of draft pods, where the winner of each advances to a final round to compete for their share of $5000. Here is the link to the details: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/other/040...
Hope that helps.
Details on the MTGO Live Series can be found here:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/other/040...
Quick comment, Relentless Rats DO work in singleton, or at least they did. I had a 60 card singleton deck with Relentless Rats and Blood Bond March, and cranial extraction, and extirpate, yada yada, I KEELZ YOU WITH BEACON OF DESTRUCTION. The best play with rats, in my opinion, since you have to go slower in singleton (only one dark ritual, for shame) is to use one of the cranial extraction effects on yourself and play with a tiny deck that is full of burn. I just run all Red/Black lands. 100 Singleton might be a LOT harder to get this deck to work.
------------------------------------
Edit. My 60 card deck runs 25 Relentless Rats.
Very funny! :) I should point Steve to this just to read that :p
R3G1
Turn 4:
Although casting Giant Spider is the most efficient way to develop your board and preserve your life total, the problem with this play is that you can't even block if he attacks with Swordsmith. You'd need to respect Giant Growth, Glorious Charge, and Harm's Way. Divine Verdict would be no picnic either, since you've already committed 3 mana toward Whispersilk Cloak and would like to blank that card if possible.
If I were your opponent here, I'd strongly consider attacking with the Swordsmith even without a combat trick. Perhaps not. What I would know for sure is that you don't want me to attack.
Then there's the other problem of Pacifism... or Excommunicate, or another Swordsmith, or Honor of the Pure (savage!) or anything else from a third land type. Considering you already have your land drop for next turn (to enable Spider + tap), it seems much better to just cast Pacifism and activate Blinding Mage here.
Turn 5:
I agree with your friend's play. You know the opponent doesn't have a pump spell (since he would have attacked with the Swordsmith the previous turn), therefore it is safe to get the Troll out there now. Then you tap the Pikemaster, and he can't profitably attack. Since won't be attacking (or blocking), why deploy the Pacifism now when its cheapness could come in handly later?
Turn 6:
There's no picture, but I believe this is the turn where the game was almost lost. Opponent has Swordsmith, Pikemaster, Courser, Mastodon, and Pegasus. You have Blinding Mage, Giant Spider, Troll, Cloak, and 6 mana. In hand you have Pacifism, Palace Guard, and Armored Ascension. You are behind 13 to 20.
Armoring the Troll here and attacking is just bad math. The opponent is certainly going to take this opportunity to chump, knowing that the Cloak in play implies 8 unstoppable damage per turn. You still need to hit him 3 times though, and your defenses are not impenetrable, especially after investing so much in the Troll.
The safer play is to equip the Troll with Cloak and start taking 4-point chunks away. This plan requires 5 hits, but realistically, the Ascension in your hand will provide one of those hits (when slapped onto another guy). So in exchange for granting your opponent 1 additional draw step, you get to play the Palace Guard this turn. That is guaranteed to save you 3 life next turn, and provide you with an attractive target for Armored Ascension.
This would have easily won the game without need for topdecking. Opponent casts his own Blinding Mage, to which you respond by Armoring AND equipping the Palace Guard (after attacking with the Troll). Opponent has no way to fight through that, and will eventually succumb to you tapping his Blinding Mage end-of-turn, untapping, then passing the Cloak back and forth between the Troll and the Guard so as to get 4 damage in 3 more times.
What is this "MTGO Live Draft" about? Is there a place to read more info on it? Thanks Ham - I look forward to the event coverage. :-)