Thanks for the correction, Marcos. I wasn't sure about that and I wanted to say something nice about Vandalblast since I'm not a fan of the card in the first place, but I was wrong.
I've wanted to bust out my white weenie and play with it for a long time, but since shock lands rotated it seemed like the deck wouldn't be able to keep up with the better decks
Maybe it's time for white weenies to rise up again! Death, taxes, and white weenies for life!
I enjoyed this pod cast a lot and wanted to let you guys know. I wish I was more directly involved in it but it is certainly serving its purpose. As much as I like Adam's new banner for example I miss my old one. :D (Adam's is certainly better and more functionally accurate.)
I have a lot to say on the Meghan Wolff article and the responses. But I am going to try and get them into article form, so I will keep it short and sweet here. Just because people are not interested in hearing complaints from people who they feel are "acting like victims" does not mean those people have no valid complaint. Opinions being what they are, there will be disagreements. However, there is definitely a disconnect between those who suffer and those who do not. I recommend to those who don't, to not dismiss the complaint of those who do. And if you feel as if you do and are being condemned because you are perceived as having privilege when you think you do not, I am sorry you feel that way. That still does not negate the suffering and complaints of others.
On the "Outrage" complaint. Yes there is a trend in the US of recent times to be vocal about every thing that is wrong. Or everything we think is wrong. Or Everything. Yes, it is annoying. Sadly in order to fix things, wheels need to be squeaky. Quiet wheels get no grease to badly paraphrase the old adage.
On to Origins, there are certainly some sweet looking cards though without seeing the whole set is hard for me to get enthusiastic about specific ones. I do like the doom enchantment. Seems like there could be a Vintage deck abusing that with Donate as suggested or perhaps just blink it as needed with things that blink/bounce permanents in a more casual format. The two stand outs for vintage are the darkritualtutor and the fairtwister of course, as Joe's article this week discusses.
Yes, if only the "something extra" increases, obviously limited players lose out but what I'm saying is that comparing to $5 redemption times, the lower pack prizes do not benefit limited players.
While funny because sometimes he'll beat someone who is ghosting him, coming from him shows his usual level of arrogance. Now he rarely streams, but I've seen him stream a PTQ somewhat recently and he actually put 10 minutes delay there to prevent ghosting, so when it matter, he does care about it.
Ghosting might do nothing but those were the games you'd never win, but it can also be devastating, especially in older formats or when you're playing something like Twin.
"Ghosting only levels the playing field" - Michael Jacob. I always found him saying that funny because he'll get ghosted and still beat whoever he's playing. Ghosting only helps if you can use that information correctly.
Nice article. How do you feel about Bounding Krasis from Magic Origins for RUG Twin? I'm not sure whether it's better than Pestermite or Exarch though it is a far better beater than Exarch.
You can't Snapcaster Mage Vandalblast and pay the overload cost. The overload cost is an alternate casting cost for the card, and Snapcaster Mage only allows you to cast a card for its original mana cost.
I just snagged an invitation to the Modern Festival Finals with this deck. It took me to a 4-1 victory. Not saying Grixis Twin isn't as good, but after the daily I showcased in my article and now this, I'm sticking with RUG!
I didn't mean to imply that you were saying it was cheating. I was just stating my opinion on this matter and responded to you because I think it makes more sense than creating a new comment.
Perhaps I should have been more clear. I was just saying that I won't do it. I don't really blame anyone, but I'd feel bad if I did it is all. But when you broadcast your game to anyone who wants to watch, aren't you kind of inviting that sort of thing?
You're right in that the idea of playing against a hive mind instead of a single opponent is an unfair advantage as well.
I'm not saying it is good but if ghosting is cheating, so is playing together with someone else. If that type of stuff can't really be avoided online, the best thing to do is removing those restrictions.
What if someone playing LSV loses a very close game. A week later that person goes to channelfireball and watches the video of that match. During that match LSV is just about to make a play but someone else tells him to do something else and he wins because of that. The player might feel cheated as this would clearly be cheating irl.
The best way to avoid things like this is to not consider this cheating because there is no way to control it and many people will do it. Considering it cheating only stops streaming or fun videos from being made.
And if this is not considered cheating, ghosting should also not be considered cheating. It should not be encouraged but it's no different than having a friend help you.
And actually, ghosting can be avoided, especially for important events with blocked hands or delay or even not streaming. I can't stop anyone from playing with 1 or 2 friends helping them.
I think Dark Petition might be playable in a modern pyromancer ascension deck due to it being broken with an active ascension. As far as Day's undoing, I'm shocked that card was made. Great with Notion theif as you noted, also should be great in robots in modern, maybe even burn decks will splash it like Viking's Funeral did with TC.
I always mean to check up on my opponent's name, but I forget it every time.
I also have played against someone who I knew was a streamer, and I considered ghosting (although I didn't know that there was an official term for it). I decided not to watch the persons stream, because I'm against cheating. And even if it isn't technically cheating, it sure feels like it to me. I just can't do it. I'm no angel, but cheating in any way has always been something that I couldn't bring myself to do. Even if I had a 1900 rating, a million qp's, and qualified for the pro tour, if I cheated even once to get there it wouldn't mean anything to me. I have always been honest in Magic, even when I knew I wouldn't get caught.
I think it's great that people love streaming, and that WotC seems to be all about supporting it. I feel like a dinosaur sometimes, with my text-based articles and zero videos/streaming. Unless I'm able to get a computer that will handle streaming, that's the way things will stay unfortunately.
I also beat a really good player in a Daily who was likely streaming the match (although I didn't know who he was, or that he streamed at the time). I'd really like to find the video of that and see how well I really played. Perhaps he just drew terribly, I don't know.
That's just my two cents. I won't cheat, but others just don't care about it (especially if they can't get in trouble). So if you're going to stream, you have to expect that some opponents are going to see your hand.
I don't think it should be encouraged but there shouldn't be anything about it in the rules (as well as anything like outside assistance). There is no way to prevent things like this online, so it's better to take them out of the rules.
I know most viewer comments are bad and even when it's good advice it's often lost in the middle of the bad or only seen after the play is made. But it's still a possibility. There's also something that is a clear advantage like some videos for channelfireball where there are at least 2 pros thinking about the plays. If they did this and published a video that is proof of outside assistance and everything was fine, those rules should simply be removed (just to make myself clear, I don't think there should be any penalty for those players).
We have to face the fact that stuff like this can't be stopped. Those streaming know the risks. At least for the bigger streamers, with all the donations and sponsors, the matches they may lose because of ghosting are just a drop in the ocean. If you stream, you just have to accept the risk.
We still shouldn't encourage stuff like this but I also don't think the majority of players ghost.
There are also many more things we can do while playing MTGO that we can't do IRL. I can search my opp's name to check what decks he has played in the past. That can help a lot especially mulligan decisions but also on how much damage you take from your lands and playing around specific cards. MTGO and real life Magic are very different and we need to adapt to those differences.
How important is it to raise this discussion in the first place ?
And how important is it to get public statements from wotc on this area, streaming/ghosting/assisting ?
Is the absence of comments from wotc a harm for mtg/mtgo ?
Thanks for the correction, Marcos. I wasn't sure about that and I wanted to say something nice about Vandalblast since I'm not a fan of the card in the first place, but I was wrong.
I've wanted to bust out my white weenie and play with it for a long time, but since shock lands rotated it seemed like the deck wouldn't be able to keep up with the better decks
Maybe it's time for white weenies to rise up again! Death, taxes, and white weenies for life!
I enjoyed this pod cast a lot and wanted to let you guys know. I wish I was more directly involved in it but it is certainly serving its purpose. As much as I like Adam's new banner for example I miss my old one. :D (Adam's is certainly better and more functionally accurate.)
I have a lot to say on the Meghan Wolff article and the responses. But I am going to try and get them into article form, so I will keep it short and sweet here. Just because people are not interested in hearing complaints from people who they feel are "acting like victims" does not mean those people have no valid complaint. Opinions being what they are, there will be disagreements. However, there is definitely a disconnect between those who suffer and those who do not. I recommend to those who don't, to not dismiss the complaint of those who do. And if you feel as if you do and are being condemned because you are perceived as having privilege when you think you do not, I am sorry you feel that way. That still does not negate the suffering and complaints of others.
On the "Outrage" complaint. Yes there is a trend in the US of recent times to be vocal about every thing that is wrong. Or everything we think is wrong. Or Everything. Yes, it is annoying. Sadly in order to fix things, wheels need to be squeaky. Quiet wheels get no grease to badly paraphrase the old adage.
On to Origins, there are certainly some sweet looking cards though without seeing the whole set is hard for me to get enthusiastic about specific ones. I do like the doom enchantment. Seems like there could be a Vintage deck abusing that with Donate as suggested or perhaps just blink it as needed with things that blink/bounce permanents in a more casual format. The two stand outs for vintage are the darkritualtutor and the fairtwister of course, as Joe's article this week discusses.
Anyway thanks as always.
Yes, if only the "something extra" increases, obviously limited players lose out but what I'm saying is that comparing to $5 redemption times, the lower pack prizes do not benefit limited players.
While funny because sometimes he'll beat someone who is ghosting him, coming from him shows his usual level of arrogance. Now he rarely streams, but I've seen him stream a PTQ somewhat recently and he actually put 10 minutes delay there to prevent ghosting, so when it matter, he does care about it.
Ghosting might do nothing but those were the games you'd never win, but it can also be devastating, especially in older formats or when you're playing something like Twin.
One thing is at least for sure; that outside assistance in no way should be illegal in online magic.
"Ghosting only levels the playing field" - Michael Jacob. I always found him saying that funny because he'll get ghosted and still beat whoever he's playing. Ghosting only helps if you can use that information correctly.
Nice article. How do you feel about Bounding Krasis from Magic Origins for RUG Twin? I'm not sure whether it's better than Pestermite or Exarch though it is a far better beater than Exarch.
You can't Snapcaster Mage Vandalblast and pay the overload cost. The overload cost is an alternate casting cost for the card, and Snapcaster Mage only allows you to cast a card for its original mana cost.
I just snagged an invitation to the Modern Festival Finals with this deck. It took me to a 4-1 victory. Not saying Grixis Twin isn't as good, but after the daily I showcased in my article and now this, I'm sticking with RUG!
I didn't mean to imply that you were saying it was cheating. I was just stating my opinion on this matter and responded to you because I think it makes more sense than creating a new comment.
From what I've seen Year End for WotC is Mar. 31 making Q2 ending Sept. 30.
correct.
TBH I thought he meant to stop the Notion Thief ability with Stifle, but that also does not work!
Perhaps I should have been more clear. I was just saying that I won't do it. I don't really blame anyone, but I'd feel bad if I did it is all. But when you broadcast your game to anyone who wants to watch, aren't you kind of inviting that sort of thing?
You're right in that the idea of playing against a hive mind instead of a single opponent is an unfair advantage as well.
Pretty sure that doesn't work since,as I understand it, ending the turn happens as part of the resolution of the spell and not as a triggered ability.
I'm not saying it is good but if ghosting is cheating, so is playing together with someone else. If that type of stuff can't really be avoided online, the best thing to do is removing those restrictions.
What if someone playing LSV loses a very close game. A week later that person goes to channelfireball and watches the video of that match. During that match LSV is just about to make a play but someone else tells him to do something else and he wins because of that. The player might feel cheated as this would clearly be cheating irl.
The best way to avoid things like this is to not consider this cheating because there is no way to control it and many people will do it. Considering it cheating only stops streaming or fun videos from being made.
And if this is not considered cheating, ghosting should also not be considered cheating. It should not be encouraged but it's no different than having a friend help you.
And actually, ghosting can be avoided, especially for important events with blocked hands or delay or even not streaming. I can't stop anyone from playing with 1 or 2 friends helping them.
Looks like Stifle or Trickbind might be useful.
Yeah, burn probably won't mind seven new cards!
Notion thief is modern legal too...
For everyone of these I see, I can find one rebuking the rebuke.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/14/on-equal-pay-day-everyth...
You believe what you want. The inequality is still there.
I think Dark Petition might be playable in a modern pyromancer ascension deck due to it being broken with an active ascension. As far as Day's undoing, I'm shocked that card was made. Great with Notion theif as you noted, also should be great in robots in modern, maybe even burn decks will splash it like Viking's Funeral did with TC.
I always mean to check up on my opponent's name, but I forget it every time.
I also have played against someone who I knew was a streamer, and I considered ghosting (although I didn't know that there was an official term for it). I decided not to watch the persons stream, because I'm against cheating. And even if it isn't technically cheating, it sure feels like it to me. I just can't do it. I'm no angel, but cheating in any way has always been something that I couldn't bring myself to do. Even if I had a 1900 rating, a million qp's, and qualified for the pro tour, if I cheated even once to get there it wouldn't mean anything to me. I have always been honest in Magic, even when I knew I wouldn't get caught.
I think it's great that people love streaming, and that WotC seems to be all about supporting it. I feel like a dinosaur sometimes, with my text-based articles and zero videos/streaming. Unless I'm able to get a computer that will handle streaming, that's the way things will stay unfortunately.
I also beat a really good player in a Daily who was likely streaming the match (although I didn't know who he was, or that he streamed at the time). I'd really like to find the video of that and see how well I really played. Perhaps he just drew terribly, I don't know.
That's just my two cents. I won't cheat, but others just don't care about it (especially if they can't get in trouble). So if you're going to stream, you have to expect that some opponents are going to see your hand.
I don't think it should be encouraged but there shouldn't be anything about it in the rules (as well as anything like outside assistance). There is no way to prevent things like this online, so it's better to take them out of the rules.
I know most viewer comments are bad and even when it's good advice it's often lost in the middle of the bad or only seen after the play is made. But it's still a possibility. There's also something that is a clear advantage like some videos for channelfireball where there are at least 2 pros thinking about the plays. If they did this and published a video that is proof of outside assistance and everything was fine, those rules should simply be removed (just to make myself clear, I don't think there should be any penalty for those players).
We have to face the fact that stuff like this can't be stopped. Those streaming know the risks. At least for the bigger streamers, with all the donations and sponsors, the matches they may lose because of ghosting are just a drop in the ocean. If you stream, you just have to accept the risk.
We still shouldn't encourage stuff like this but I also don't think the majority of players ghost.
There are also many more things we can do while playing MTGO that we can't do IRL. I can search my opp's name to check what decks he has played in the past. That can help a lot especially mulligan decisions but also on how much damage you take from your lands and playing around specific cards. MTGO and real life Magic are very different and we need to adapt to those differences.
How important is it to raise this discussion in the first place ?
And how important is it to get public statements from wotc on this area, streaming/ghosting/assisting ?
Is the absence of comments from wotc a harm for mtg/mtgo ?
Some myths just don't die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwogDPh-Sow
They are two species that someone got mixed up.