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[Merino]

I wouldn't say it is totally useless, but......

Equip for 0 is a nice bonus, but it won't make you win games. Stoneforge Mystic allowed you to go fetch overpowered equipments (Sword of Feast and Famine) to equip them to freaking powerhouses that also happened to be equipments (Batterskull) or simply to some Squadron Hawks, that you were almost assured to have 4x in your hand and the battlefield. Plus, the Mystic allowed you to play Batterskull 2 turns earlier. And it's a vigilance lifelink 4/4 with bounce to protect it........

In all actuality, it's not Stoneforge Mystic that was broken per se (well....with Splinter Twins). It's really the apparition of Batterskull that shot the deck from "great" to "omfg this is broken". But things are as they are, and so it's the Mystic that is banned.

However, if you want a tournament-esque level deck to work with, I'd strongly recommand the "Into the Breach" monored deck that was in Mirrodin Besieged. I happened to draw 2 Hero of Oxid Ridge from boosters and simply threw them into the deck and my god it wrecks face. It is the only Event deck, imho, worthy of the title. It really is a competitive deck from the get-go, as opposed to some better-than-theme-deck.

Ha funny that I read somewhere that the New Phyrexia decks where much better designed than the MB ones. Prove again that you shouldn't believe what you read on the webz unless it's from someone with first hand experience.

Would the Into the Breach be fun in a match-up with the War of Attrition deck (both out of the boxes) because that would just make it easy to setup a somewhat equal-challenge match for casual play at home. It seems to me that the Rot from Within deck should be fun to play with it as they where designed together but possibly that's not true at all either.

Maybe I should just concentrate on buying a deck myself once I get more cards though I'm really struggling to understand the meta-game.

I still really don't understand why the Mystics are so necessary in the unchanged War of Attrition deck. It's not like you have a Batterskull, Sword of Feast and Famine or even Squadron Hawks to work with. There's actually only 4 equipment cards in the deck with a 3 or higher mana cost. It seems the whole Mystic combination is relying on a mere 4 cards (2 Mystics, Bonehoard, Skinwing) to make it work properly. Couple that with only 1 Mirran Crusader and 1 Puresteel Paladin and that's 6 cards out of 60.
So how would the unchanged deck be better than throwing out the Mystics, adding some Crusaders and Paladin's and Batterskulls. Sure the Batterskulls are much less powerfull without the Mystics but no one can use the Mystics anyway right?

Just trying to understand it because I have a hard time understanding it all.

 

[The Technomancer]

So at the NPH prerelease apparently my friend went up to the counter to ask for his DCI number since he had forgotten. Turns out he's registered three times, and the lady scrawled them on the back of a Magic card in marker, saying "pick one"

 

[Chojin]

So at the NPH prerelease apparently my friend went up to the counter to ask for his DCI number since he had forgotten. Turns out he's registered three times, and the lady scrawled them on the back of a Magic card in marker, saying "pick one"

That's happened to me. I lost track of the very first one I signed up for during Tempest. And then got another one when I came back after college with Odyssey. And then again I got another one during Lorwyn block. Lets just say the last one is the best one ;p

 

[kirblar]

Ha funny that I read somewhere that the New Phyrexia decks where much better designed than the MB ones. Prove again that you shouldn't believe what you read on the webz unless it's from someone with first hand experience.

Would the Into the Breach be fun in a match-up with the War of Attrition deck (both out of the boxes) because that would just make it easy to setup a somewhat equal-challenge match for casual play at home. It seems to me that the Rot from Within deck should be fun to play with it as they where designed together but possibly that's not true at all either.

Maybe I should just concentrate on buying a deck myself once I get more cards though I'm really struggling to understand the meta-game.

I still really don't understand why the Mystics are so necessary in the unchanged War of Attrition deck. It's not like you have a Batterskull, Sword of Feast and Famine or even Squadron Hawks to work with. There's actually only 4 equipment cards in the deck with a 3 or higher mana cost. It seems the whole Mystic combination is relying on a mere 4 cards (2 Mystics, Bonehoard, Skinwing) to make it work properly. Couple that with only 1 Mirran Crusader and 1 Puresteel Paladin and that's 6 cards out of 60.
So how would the unchanged deck be better than throwing out the Mystics, adding some Crusaders and Paladin's and Batterskulls. Sure the Batterskulls are much less powerfull without the Mystics but no one can use the Mystics anyway right?

Just trying to understand it because I have a hard time understanding it all.

Mystic was put in because it's a really, really good card. Before Scars block, though, the most "broken" thing it could do was to let you shave a point of mana off a Sword or Behemoth Sledge and get it into play at instant speed.

Problem was, the living weapon Mechanic and the absurdity of Sword of F/F pointed out that the card was completely bonkers once the equipment got good enough. Because it's both a tutor AND a "cheat" card, it's a very problematic card, and should have never been printed with its activated ability as-is.

 

[Chojin]

Mystic was put in because it's a really, really good card. Before Scars block, though, the most "broken" thing it could do was to let you shave a point of mana off a Sword or Behemoth Sledge and get it into play at instant speed.

Problem was, the living weapon Mechanic and the absurdity of Sword of F/F pointed out that the card was completely bonkers once the equipment got good enough. Because it's both a tutor AND a "cheat" card, it's a very problematic card, and should have never been printed with its activated ability as-is.

She was so severely undercosted it wasn't even funny. When you compare her to other creatures that tutored for equipment such as Taj-Nar Swordsmith, Stonehewer Giant, Steelshaper Apprentice,Godo, Bandit Warlord it becomes doubly apparent. Its her casting cost. Plain and simple. Cheap tutors are bad news, WoTC knows this, to basically make her a tutor and an aether vial at the same time was such a "duh" moment that it would get out of hand.

With that said, they gambled with their little experiment, and they reaped what they sowed. At least we can get back to some normalcy. Well until they realize that the whole Titans cycle wipes pretty much any design space out of 6 CMC creatures as well :\ Don't get me wrong, I love the titans, but honestly I think they're just TOO good and other cards can't really compete. It's going to be an interesting year until m13 And by interesting I mean same decks with Titans as finishers.

 

[Merino]

Just got home from buying a mixed-matched booster box (12 scars, 15 besieged, 9 phyrexia). It was either that or a full box of scars (for the same price) as they where almost out of everything with M12 coming up. Looking forward to cracking the boosters in a bit. Benefit of having no collection yet is that I'll at least be happy with pretty much every single card.

And apparently the base War of Attrition deck isn't even that bad for tournaments post ban:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=335883

 

[Guesong]

And apparently the base War of Attrition deck isn't even that bad for tournaments post ban:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=335883

Also notice how all the posters in the thread say that it must be a fluke lol

 

[Merino]

So I'm reasonably happy with the pulls from my box. Wasn't the greatest ever but did get a foil Inkmoth Nexus (next to a regular one). Put the foil one up for sale as I don't care about foil at all and hope someone else does. Will probably just buy two Inkmoth's for the money I'll get.

For the rest I pulled alot of cards that matched a b/g infect deck. Actually I pulled like 3/4 of the Rot From Within deck plus 2 Hand of the Praetors and a Vatmother. Seems like it's clear what I'll be building from here on.

Mythic wise it was certainly the most dissapointing. I pulled only 3 out of the box and none where super valuables (Sheoldred, Hero of Oxid Ridge, Massacre Wurm).
Was rather happy with the Wurm as I'm hoping to someday have a monoblack deck. Though the knowledge that I'd prolly have to forge out the money for 4 Phyrexian Obliterator's is holding me back.

I did went ahead and bought a New Phyrexian booster box but with that and the fairly pricy pre-release event I think it's about time to put a stop on the spending. I'll buy some single's to fill out my decks and will try to see if I can find people to trade with. Would also really like to do a common trade as there's many cards I have 4+ from already. I actually pulled 8 Priests of Norn out of 15 boosters

 

[red13th]

She was so severely undercosted it wasn't even funny. When you compare her to other creatures that tutored for equipment such as Taj-Nar Swordsmith, Stonehewer Giant, Steelshaper Apprentice,Godo, Bandit Warlord it becomes doubly apparent. Its her casting cost. Plain and simple. Cheap tutors are bad news, WoTC knows this, to basically make her a tutor and an aether vial at the same time was such a "duh" moment that it would get out of hand.

With that said, they gambled with their little experiment, and they reaped what they sowed. At least we can get back to some normalcy. Well until they realize that the whole Titans cycle wipes pretty much any design space out of 6 CMC creatures as well :\ Don't get me wrong, I love the titans, but honestly I think they're just TOO good and other cards can't really compete. It's going to be an interesting year until m13 And by interesting I mean same decks with Titans as finishers.

I think creatures on recent sets are way too strong.
Those Titans are pretty ridiculous. Heck, back in Ravnica stuff like Burning Tree Shaman and Loxodon Hierarch were useful.

 

[Chojin]

I think creatures on recent sets are way too strong.
Those Titans are pretty ridiculous. Heck, back in Ravnica stuff like Burning Tree Shaman and Loxodon Hierarch were useful.

Honestly I think there's going to be a period of powering back down much like after Mirrodin. I wouldn't say Scars is overpowered, but Alara and Zendikar were very overpowered. M12 reprinting Shock and Incinerate goes to show that we're going back down to 3 toughness instead of cheap ass 4 toughness creatures that have been the norm as of late.

 

[The Technomancer]

Honestly I think there's going to be a period of powering back down much like after Mirrodin. I wouldn't say Scars is overpowered, but Alara and Zendikar were very overpowered. M12 reprinting Shock and Incinerate goes to show that we're going back down to 3 toughness instead of cheap ass 4 toughness creatures that have been the norm as of late.

Yeah, Scars was actually fairly weak. Part of the reason Zendikar seems so strong is because the format was so fucking fast, and then the Eldrazi came and were just like "10/10 bodies? Annihilator 3? Sure"

 

[Chojin]

Yeah, Scars was actually fairly weak. Part of the reason Zendikar seems so strong is because the format was so fucking fast, and then the Eldrazi came and were just like "10/10 bodies? Annihilator 3? Sure"

On top of that you had a ton of cheap, mana efficient creatures backed up by further efficient fatties from m12 like Titans.

I'm kinda sad that Allies weren't really ever a deck. But I guess it could never really be.

 

[The Technomancer]

On top of that you had a ton of cheap, mana efficient creatures backed up by further efficient fatties from m12 like Titans.

I'm kinda sad that Allies weren't really ever a deck. But I guess it could never really be.

Yeah, I don't think current creatures are too powerful, but they're nearing the top of the comfort curve. Scars was a bit of a slide back down, and hopefully Innistraad will be similar.

 

[OnPoint]

So can you equip and unequip an equipment as many times as you want a turn, so long as you pay the cost? Or is there a limit per turn? Also, I'd imagine it counts as a sorcery and not an instant to do so, right?

 

[The Technomancer]

So can you equip and unequip an equipment as many times as you want a turn, so long as you pay the cost? Or is there a limit per turn? Also, I'd imagine it counts as a sorcery and not an instant to do so, right?

Yes to every point, no limit on the number of times per turn.

 

[alternade]

I'm testing this deck out now for FNM this week and could use some advice
Creatures
4x Acidic Slime
4x Overgrown Battlement
4x Wall of Omens
2x Terastodon
1x Baneslayer
2x Wurmcoil Engine

Enchantments
4x Luminarch Ascension

Instant/Sorcery
3x Beast Within
3x Dimember - might remove for 4 Fogs
3x Surgical Extraction
4x Journey to Nowhere

Land
4x Greypelt Refuge
4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Plains
7x Forest

 

[OnPoint]

Yes to every point, no limit on the number of times per turn.

Thanks man

 

[suffah]

Just got owned by a guy who drafted Tezz + Phyrexian Crusader. Guess what color my deck was?

Damn, I hate getting eliminated in the first round.

 

[Chojin]

I'm testing this deck out now for FNM this week and could use some advice
Creatures
4x Acidic Slime
4x Overgrown Battlement
4x Wall of Omens
2x Terastodon
1x Baneslayer
2x Wurmcoil Engine

Enchantments
4x Luminarch Ascension

Instant/Sorcery
3x Beast Within
3x Dimember - might remove for 4 Fogs
3x Surgical Extraction
4x Journey to Nowhere

Land
4x Greypelt Refuge
4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Plains
7x Forest

Never use fogs unless you really have a reason to like in combo.

I'm assuming you're using Luminarchs as a win condition along with Wurmcoil and maybe Terastodon.


You kinda have a control shell without anything to keep control. This won't serve you well. Don't get me wrong I play four battlements and four omens too, but thats for a control deck.

Luminarch is a good sideboard card against control but is weak to aggro, I would not put them in main, they'll be a dead card in your hand against aggro.

The thickets aren't really a good idea as well, what are you going to be doing turn 1? You have nothing to cast.

The Extraction is a bit dubious as well. I'm wondering what exactly are you going to extract. The only card you have that can really put things on the board into the graveyard is the acidic slimes.

I would do this. Board out the Extracts and Ascensions. But in something more mana efficient. I'd go with Blade Splicer and maybe something mana efficient at 3 or less and use green.

I'd cut the terastodon to 1 and put in sun titans. Titans can bring back anything CMC of 3 or less back into play from the yard. They make Blade Splicers even better.

 

[alternade]

Never use fogs unless you really have a reason to like in combo.

I'm assuming you're using Luminarchs as a win condition along with Wurmcoil and maybe Terastodon.


You kinda have a control shell without anything to keep control. This won't serve you well. Don't get me wrong I play four battlements and four omens too, but thats for a control deck.

Luminarch is a good sideboard card against control but is weak to aggro, I would not put them in main, they'll be a dead card in your hand against aggro.

The thickets aren't really a good idea as well, what are you going to be doing turn 1? You have nothing to cast.

The Extraction is a bit dubious as well. I'm wondering what exactly are you going to extract. The only card you have that can really put things on the board into the graveyard is the acidic slimes.

I would do this. Board out the Extracts and Ascensions. But in something more mana efficient. I'd go with Blade Splicer and maybe something mana efficient at 3 or less and use green.

I'd cut the terastodon to 1 and put in sun titans. Titans can bring back anything CMC of 3 or less back into play from the yard. They make Blade Splicers even better.

What if I play the fogs with safe passage? Shouldn't that plus my wall be enough to get luminarch online?

 

[Chojin]

What if I play the fogs with safe passage? Shouldn't that plus my wall be enough to get luminarch online?

The problem with all of that that is you're relying on cards to make cards good. It's circular logic. For casual play of course this is fine and dandy, but if you're attempting to compete in an FNM don't set yourself up for failure.

Look at it this way. Would you rather be casting efficient creatures that can win you the game rather than casting walls, fogs, safe passages to delay the game in hopes you'll eventually get yet another card online to eventually maybe win the game?

To put it into perspective, you're giving your opponent more and more opportunities to overwhelm you with advantage and winning each turn you give him. This is because he's drawing a card every turn. Sure you are as well, but you're drawing cards that don't win you the game. You're drawing cards that will slow down your losing instead of speeding up your winning. I know those two sound similar, but in reality they're not.

It's way better to play cards that do something. This is why playing cards that gain you life and only life are inherently bad. It's also why many people don't play with Auras. The cards themselves do NOTHING at all, they rely on other cards to make them "good". Why do that when you can skip the middleman and play good cards that do something on their own.

The walls are good not because they slow down aggro. They're good because they do something as WELL as slow down aggro.

I know how much the ascension seems awesome. But it really isn't unless its against certain match-types. Against aggro they're just going to throw burn at your face. Against white weenie they're going to overwhelm you with more creatures than your walls can handle and you're praying that you draw that ascension. Against vampires they're going to fly over your walls or kill them with go for the throat. Ascension is really only good against other control decks that don't do anything and are reactive. But even then they can just Into the Roil your ascension before it ever gets to 4 counters.

Honestly, your deck is a bit on the slow side. Thats fine, I play slow and controlling decks myself. What you really need instead of a fog effect is Day of Judgement. Why prevent one attack when you can blow up their creatures permanently?

I apologize if I sound harsh, its just, there's a lot of problems with what you're running mainboard. Adding more fogs doesn't make fog any better. Adding fogs to make another card maybe work isn't any better. Fogs are used for only two things: 1) Combat tricking the opponent into an alpha strike so you can return the salvo on your next attack phase (which itself really isn't that great) and 2) Purposely delaying a loss for combo decks that can win in one turn provided the combo is apparent. And even then it really only used fogs like Moment's Peace because it could be reused a second time without relying on drawing a second fog effect.

 

[alternade]

The problem with all of that that is you're relying on cards to make cards good. It's circular logic. For casual play of course this is fine and dandy, but if you're attempting to compete in an FNM don't set yourself up for failure.

Look at it this way. Would you rather be casting efficient creatures that can win you the game rather than casting walls, fogs, safe passages to delay the game in hopes you'll eventually get yet another card online to eventually maybe win the game?

To put it into perspective, you're giving your opponent more and more opportunities to overwhelm you with advantage and winning each turn you give him. This is because he's drawing a card every turn. Sure you are as well, but you're drawing cards that don't win you the game. You're drawing cards that will slow down your losing instead of speeding up your winning. I know those two sound similar, but in reality they're not.

It's way better to play cards that do something. This is why playing cards that gain you life and only life are inherently bad. It's also why many people don't play with Auras. The cards themselves do NOTHING at all, they rely on other cards to make them "good". Why do that when you can skip the middleman and play good cards that do something on their own.

The walls are good not because they slow down aggro. They're good because they do something as WELL as slow down aggro.

I know how much the ascension seems awesome. But it really isn't unless its against certain match-types. Against aggro they're just going to throw burn at your face. Against white weenie they're going to overwhelm you with more creatures than your walls can handle and you're praying that you draw that ascension. Against vampires they're going to fly over your walls or kill them with go for the throat. Ascension is really only good against other control decks that don't do anything and are reactive. But even then they can just Into the Roil your ascension before it ever gets to 4 counters.

Honestly, your deck is a bit on the slow side. Thats fine, I play slow and controlling decks myself. What you really need instead of a fog effect is Day of Judgement. Why prevent one attack when you can blow up their creatures permanently?

I apologize if I sound harsh, its just, there's a lot of problems with what you're running mainboard. Adding more fogs doesn't make fog any better. Adding fogs to make another card maybe work isn't any better. Fogs are used for only two things: 1) Combat tricking the opponent into an alpha strike so you can return the salvo on your next attack phase (which itself really isn't that great) and 2) Purposely delaying a loss for combo decks that can win in one turn provided the combo is apparent. And even then it really only used fogs like Moment's Peace because it could be reused a second time without relying on drawing a second fog effect.

Hmmmmm. That's a lot to process but I think I get it.

Ok so then how about -4 luminarch, -1 terastodon, -3 surgical extraction, -1 dismeber, +1 mold shambler, +2 day of judgement, +1 sun titan, +4 leatherback baloth, +1 baneslayer angel,

 

[styl3s]

Haven't read all the post but do people here play MTGO? just recently got back into magic with it.

 

[Chojin]

Hmmmmm. That's a lot to process but I think I get it.

Ok so then how about -4 luminarch, -1 terastodon, -3 surgical extraction, -1 dismeber, +1 mold shambler, +2 day of judgement, +1 sun titan, +4 leatherback baloth, +1 baneslayer angel,

There you go

Notice how each of those cards provide more than what the cards do. Shambler is a 2 for 1 in that it can blow up non creature permanents, DoJ is a 2 for 1 cause it can get rid of two or more creatures, Titan can recur cards from the graveyard, Baloth can get you out of burn range and has a mana efficient body and the angel, well, she just rocks.

Haven't read all the post but do people here play MTGO? just recently got back into magic with it.

A few of us do. I do. Its a great way to play.

 

[siddx]

July 9th just snuck up on me, pre-release this saturday wooo! I love drafting the "editions", I can't wait.

 

[alternade]

There you go

Notice how each of those cards provide more than what the cards do. Shambler is a 2 for 1 in that it can blow up non creature permanents, DoJ is a 2 for 1 cause it can get rid of two or more creatures, Titan can recur cards from the graveyard, Baloth can get you out of burn range and has a mana efficient body and the angel, well, she just rocks.

Thanks for the advice! Ive been trying to "innovate" as that's mt favorite part of this game. After playing with netdecks it gets kinda boring playing someone else creation.

 

[Vanillalite]

Yup the video game version is great. It gives you a fantastic grounding for the rules since it wont allow you to make the wrong move so if you do ever transition into playing for real you will be good to go for the most part.

Really looking forward to M12 now since i see all this green and white love which are my favorite colors!

Yes, DotP 2009 or 2012 are decent start "gateway drugs" into Magic. But don't expect them to be perfect, as there is NO DECK EDITOR (*RAGE*) in them.

Thanks for the info. I heard there are some sacrifices, but that's fine with me. As long as I can learn the basic rule set and have some fun I'm down. I guess when I get unbroke here in the next couple of weeks I'll buy the new version on steam.

 

[Takuan]

So, Sundial of the Infinite... can this really be used to keep cards like Putrefax in play? Would I have to continue ending my turn prematurely to keep these cards in play? What about combat tricks like Giant Growth? It's such a quirky card, and I can't quite wrap my head around it.

 

[V_Arnold]

So, Sundial of the Infinite... can this really be used to keep cards like Putrefax in play? Would I have to continue ending my turn prematurely to keep these cards in play? What about combat tricks like Giant Growth? It's such a quirky card, and I can't quite wrap my head around it.

I think that to the contrary, when you bring your turn to end, you just hasten the time when Putrefax has to leave the battlefield - at the end of your turn. Which occurs when you end the turn, imho. Or not

 

[The Technomancer]

I think that to the contrary, when you bring your turn to end, you just hasten the time when Putrefax has to leave the battlefield - at the end of your turn. Which occurs when you end the turn, imho. Or not

I'm not sure. "At the end of turn" effects trigger at the "end of turn" step. I think the Sundial bypasses that, but I don't know for sure.

 

[dschalter]

it will die during your opponent's end step.

 

[Takuan]

it will die during your opponent's end step.

Ah. Same goes for Giant Growth and its many iterations, I suppose. What an interesting card.

 

[manipulate]

Just a question for all the people playing MTGO. Are the card prices for singles on MTGO lower than in reality?

PS, I <3 this thread

 

[Chojin]

Just a question for all the people playing MTGO. Are the card prices for singles on MTGO lower than in reality?

PS, I <3 this thread

It really depends on the cards themsevles.

The economy on MTGO and Paper aren't exactly lined up. On one hand you'll have cards like Juzam Jinn being worth less than a dollar on MTGO but are 150 in real life. Same goes for dual lands. While Underground sea can fetch anywhere from 100 to 1000 dollars in real life, on MTGO they go for 26 dollars.

Prices are dictated by two things in both cases: Playability and Availability.

Good ol Jinn is a dime a dozen online, hence why the once iconic creature is now less than a dollar. Jinn in paper magic is more of a collectors item than a playable creature in classic formats. When Masters Edition was first released, I snapped picked all Diamond valleys in draft cause I remember how expensive the damn thing was in real life. They're about 2.25 on magic online opposed to it being 120 dollars in real life.

Prices can be skewed the other way around however. Force of Will was a rare card from an underdrafted set on MTGO. Its 120 dollars compared to 80 in real life. Orim's chant and Pernicious Deed once went over 70 dollars in MTGO due to Apocalypse having a short print run online not to mention not as many people playing MTGO to crack open packs. Neither of those cards. Daze sells for 12 bucks online due to it only being in Jace vs Chandra right now, even though its a common card as well as Gush.

Even formats can drive prices on cards. Common card Cloud of Faeries is almost at 2 bucks online and its a common. Lotus petal is 5 bucks online to paper being worth about 4 bucks.

About two or three years ago, legacy cards were a fraction of the price they were in real life, but when Classic formats started to hit big thanks to Starcitygames tournaments, they started to pick up online as well, driving up prices very quickly.

When Masters Edition came out, I drafted a force of will, which I thought was pretty damn cool. It was selling for about 20 bucks then and I held on to it. Then about 8 months ago it jumped to 75 bucks, and I was excited, so dumped it then. I wish I could turn back time. Damn thing's value skyrocketed due to Classic being a played format now.

With that said, playability is really king. In real life, many dealers have to keep a profit margin going, because they generally do not sell in bulk like how a lot of bots can. Rare cards generally don't go lower than a dollar in paper magic regardless if its played or not in tournaments. On MTGO, tournament playablity is king. So you'll see things like Archmage ascension being 8 cents online opposed to 50 cents in real life. It makes for being able to build a lot of really fun, casual decks. I also think it opens up design space on rogue deckbuilding, due to card availability at such a low price.

 

[Rokam]

I have a question about Phyrexian Hydra (instead of taking damage you prevent it and put -1/-1 counters on Hydra for each damage prevented). This happens whenever a creature blocks him as well correct?

 

[Chojin]

I have a question about Phyrexian Hydra (instead of taking damage you prevent it and put -1/-1 counters on Hydra for each damage prevented). This happens whenever a creature blocks him as well correct?

Yes, if the creature had power of 1 or more that blocked the hydra. Any and all damage will cause the hydra to get a -1/-1 counter per amount of damage. The only thing that would stop him from getting the -1/-1 is Melira, Sylvok Outcast or the damage was prevented by something like Healing Salve. Imagine if he took damage as if every source had infect or wither be it from a creature, artifact or an instant like lightning bolt.

 

[manipulate]

Yeah, it's any damage, regardless of the source.

Hm, thanks Chojin... what's your opinion on playing MTGO exclusively? I'd like to get back into magic but the nearest place that does FNMs is a little inconvenient to get to, which is making me think that I should just hermit it up and play online. On the other hand, while I always did just play competitively basically, I wonder if I'll miss that thrill of pulling boosters and the like =/

 

[noquarter]

I know I'm not Chojin, but for me, MTGO just doesn't have the same pull as paper magic. Part of it is because I'm a collector and love having the physical card, as I have for ever, also I like the social part of Magic. I have a pretty regular playgroup and we like to sit around BS and play, always fun to see what deck someone is trying this week and have I'm not as personable online as I am in real life.

Now, since you like to play competitively you will probably like online more. The one thing I was thinking about doing was trying my decks online to play test (the Meta is bigger and more dynamic than my current meta) and then building the decks in real life. The cards, like Chojin said, are usually cheaper online than IRL, and you only ever need 4 and never have to worry about resleeving and moving from deck to deck. Also there is always someone online to play, even if you just want to build a shitty deck and play you can find someone.

Once you get the gui down and spend sometime in game, it really does become the best substitute for playing in real life. If you don't have the same desire to have physical cards like me, MTGO will probably be just fine for you.

 

[Chojin]

Yeah, it's any damage, regardless of the source.

Hm, thanks Chojin... what's your opinion on playing MTGO exclusively? I'd like to get back into magic but the nearest place that does FNMs is a little inconvenient to get to, which is making me think that I should just hermit it up and play online. On the other hand, while I always did just play competitively basically, I wonder if I'll miss that thrill of pulling boosters and the like =/

I swear by MTGO. I pretty much only go to FNM's for pre-releases, special events and stuff like that. Being 31 now and engaged to be married I don't have a lot of time for paper magic. Besides, the gas I would spend on travelling to a dedicated card shop (I live in the middle of Atlanta, nearest shop that has any decent FNM support is in Roswell) could be easily used playing nightly drafts whenever I feel like it. Plus I can play without pants. That's a plus

I dunno though, its different for everyone. I've been playing paper since 95 and online since 2002, but I didn't play pretty much exclusively online until around 05.

Me, I just want to play the game. I'm not interested in "hanging out" at the card shop. I haven't had a group of paper players since I was in high school, and the last time that was when Stronghold was just released Honestly, sometimes when going to these prereleases (go go m12! My roomate loves promo foilies) I always end up playing with the weirdest aspie people you've ever met. Kinda makes me feel like "what if me and my friends were like that back then?"

Not to disparage anyone who's into that stuff, I'm sure there's a great FNM scene where everyone gets along, there's no drama, and its all rosy. But I'm just old I guess. I do like getting excited though for newbies. Its fun watching them get all excited when they pull a Phyrexian Obliterator, and try their damndest to get it to work in a three color sealed deck Its fun because its great to see that excitement, not that their deck sucks.

Online its a bit more cold I suppose, there's a lot more vocal bitching because of anonymity, but there's a great group of people to play with that are pretty warm and friendly. Every sunday there's a ton of Player Run Events, which are free to enter, use innovative and fun formats, and you can win lots of prizes. Plus people are there to have fun.

So really it all boils down on what you want out of the game.

Me, I like getting cards cheap, never having to own more than four of each card, being able to draft at 2am with no pants on, getting free stuff just for logging into the game (there's a players rewards system that earns you free cards) being able to keep track of all 30,000 of my cards at a moments notice. Not having shoeboxes of filler pile up. Not having to bore the girlfriend. Not worrying that my binder will get stolen when going to an event. Not having to yell "Judge!" because some kid can't read the card properly. Not having to be bored for 3 minutes at a time every time someone cracks a fetch land and has to reshuffle. Not having to wait 10 minutes just for a game to start because we're mulling to 5 and reshuffling. Not having to argue with the opponent because he couldn't keep track of his life total properly. Not having to listen to "That Guy". You know, that guy who has all foil decks, name drops Pro Players like crazy, won't shut the hell up when you're playing a deck you like about how "it could be sooooo much better if...", uses words phrases like Card Advantage and Tempo without actually knowing what it means.

I trade that to play against faceless foes who call you a "fucking topdecker" when you kick their ass with a well tuned control deck. Its a fair trade. In real life you can't easily ignore asshats like you can on MTGO. Its an awesome feature

And it really has to do with time. If I play an at FNM every week, it takes about 20 minutes just to drive to the store, 15 to 30 just to start a match, and I'll play maybe 3 matches that night. Might not get to draft. Nobody wants to trade. Thats my whole friday night when I could play 3 games in less than 30 minutes online. Thats something that's invaluable to me.

 

[Takuan]

I swear by MTGO. I pretty much only go to FNM's for pre-releases, special events and stuff like that. Being 31 now and engaged to be married I don't have a lot of time for paper magic. Besides, the gas I would spend on travelling to a dedicated card shop (I live in the middle of Atlanta, nearest shop that has any decent FNM support is in Roswell) could be easily used playing nightly drafts whenever I feel like it. Plus I can play without pants. That's a plus

I dunno though, its different for everyone. I've been playing paper since 95 and online since 2002, but I didn't play pretty much exclusively online until around 05.

Me, I just want to play the game. I'm not interested in "hanging out" at the card shop. I haven't had a group of paper players since I was in high school, and the last time that was when Stronghold was just released Honestly, sometimes when going to these prereleases (go go m12! My roomate loves promo foilies) I always end up playing with the weirdest aspie people you've ever met. Kinda makes me feel like "what if me and my friends were like that back then?"

Not to disparage anyone who's into that stuff, I'm sure there's a great FNM scene where everyone gets along, there's no drama, and its all rosy. But I'm just old I guess. I do like getting excited though for newbies. Its fun watching them get all excited when they pull a Phyrexian Obliterator, and try their damndest to get it to work in a three color sealed deck Its fun because its great to see that excitement, not that their deck sucks.

Online its a bit more cold I suppose, there's a lot more vocal bitching because of anonymity, but there's a great group of people to play with that are pretty warm and friendly. Every sunday there's a ton of Player Run Events, which are free to enter, use innovative and fun formats, and you can win lots of prizes. Plus people are there to have fun.

So really it all boils down on what you want out of the game.

Me, I like getting cards cheap, never having to own more than four of each card, being able to draft at 2am with no pants on, getting free stuff just for logging into the game (there's a players rewards system that earns you free cards) being able to keep track of all 30,000 of my cards at a moments notice. Not having shoeboxes of filler pile up. Not having to bore the girlfriend. Not worrying that my binder will get stolen when going to an event. Not having to yell "Judge!" because some kid can't read the card properly. Not having to be bored for 3 minutes at a time every time someone cracks a fetch land and has to reshuffle. Not having to wait 10 minutes just for a game to start because we're mulling to 5 and reshuffling. Not having to argue with the opponent because he couldn't keep track of his life total properly. Not having to listen to "That Guy". You know, that guy who has all foil decks, name drops Pro Players like crazy, won't shut the hell up when you're playing a deck you like about how "it could be sooooo much better if...", uses words phrases like Card Advantage and Tempo without actually knowing what it means.

I trade that to play against faceless foes who call you a "fucking topdecker" when you kick their ass with a well tuned control deck. Its a fair trade. In real life you can't easily ignore asshats like you can on MTGO. Its an awesome feature

And it really has to do with time. If I play an at FNM every week, it takes about 20 minutes just to drive to the store, 15 to 30 just to start a match, and I'll play maybe 3 matches that night. Might not get to draft. Nobody wants to trade. Thats my whole friday night when I could play 3 games in less than 30 minutes online. Thats something that's invaluable to me.

If Wizards gave MTGO a DOTP-style facelift, I would totally jump on just to try it out. Even the way it is now, I sort of want to try it, but the temptation to draft at work would be too great since I like to do other things when I'm home.

 

[WanderingWind]

I would jump into MTGO if the cost was significantly cheaper than physical cards, it was updated sometime this decade, had skill brackets and a way to import cards you own into the game.

Basically, I don't think I'll ever get around to it.

 

[Takuan]

I would jump into MTGO if the cost was significantly cheaper than physical cards, it was updated sometime this decade, had skill brackets and a way to import cards you own into the game.

Basically, I don't think I'll ever get around to it.

Yeah, it's kind of hard to wrap your mind around paying a premium for digital cards. I love sifting through physical collections, but Chojin brought up a good point about the space they take up. I've given away more than a thousand commons/uncommons now and still have 4 fat-packs and several booster boxes full of cards. There's also the convenience factor of not having to leave the house. I'm just lucky to have a great LGS less than 10 minutes away from my place; MTGO would be the perfect alternative for those with a crappy LGS or no LGS nearby.

I drafted twice at a friend's house this past Friday and had a great time. Pulled Batterskull, Inkmoth Nexus, Spellskite, Mimic Vat, and I think a Putrefax for good measure. One of my buddies pulled Koth and Tezzeret, the lucky bastard (he's been on a 2-month streak of GREAT pulls).

I don't think I'll ever get over the thrill of pulling a chase card, and that booster-fresh aroma. :lol

I can't wait for this Saturday. Hoping to crack some great stuff, and trade for Grand Abolishers. I don't care what people say, new Chandra and Garruk are the hotness. And when that mythic hydra drops to $2-$3, I'll pick up a playset.

Still waiting for Obliterators to drop... they've actually gone UP.

 

[V_Arnold]

How much does Koth worth right now?
I decided it was about time to get a Koth pulled out of a SINGLE booster, went into the store a few weeks ago, bought exactly one SoM booster, and got a Koth out of it.

 

[Takuan]

How much does Koth worth right now?
I decided it was about time to get a Koth pulled out of a SINGLE booster, went into the store a few weeks ago, bought exactly one SoM booster, and got a Koth out of it.

Awesome. Koth is about $15-$20, I think.

 

[V_Arnold]

Awesome. Koth is about $15-$20, I think.

Thanks! Wont sell then, maybe he will go up with the new block. Or not.

 

[Orayn]

Looks like we're exactly one card away from having the full spoiler of M12. Once we have that last card, would anyone be interested in me generating some boosters for us to practice Sealed Deck, as a community? It's one of my favorite ways to get ready for the prerelease, but if you guys prefer a little more mystery that's fine too.

 

[styl3s]

Thinking about doing a sealed/draft today on MTGO, i do like the physical aspect more but there is only 1 store who does real drafts and its usually only on fridays and people are fucking assholes there who will force you be all technical when playing, i just prefer the auto stuff so i dont have to sit there and say draw, upkeep, main, attack phase blah blah.

i miss the old days where you didnt have to say all that, the players knew what part it was and just played

 

[traveler]

Looks like we're exactly one card away from having the full spoiler of M12. Once we have that last card, would anyone be interested in me generating some boosters for us to practice Sealed Deck, as a community? It's one of my favorite ways to get ready for the prerelease, but if you guys prefer a little more mystery that's fine too.

Sure. This set is pretty unexciting to me as a whole, so I might not even attend the prerelease, but I'm always up for some sealed practice.

 

[Cyrillus]

Thinking about doing a sealed/draft today on MTGO, i do like the physical aspect more but there is only 1 store who does real drafts and its usually only on fridays and people are fucking assholes there who will force you be all technical when playing, i just prefer the auto stuff so i dont have to sit there and say draw, upkeep, main, attack phase blah blah.

i miss the old days where you didnt have to say all that, the players knew what part it was and just played

I've had the opposite happen, where people just play spells without tapping mana, and when I call them on it they just say, "dude, I have enough mana, you shouldn't worry about being so technical."

I understand it can get annoying, but for control players especially, calling out phases is important to their gameplay, especially calling out that you're entering the declare attackers step before actually turning your dudes sideways. In some cases this is beneficial for you too.

 

[Orayn]

I've had the opposite happen, where people just play spells without tapping mana, and when I call them on it they just say, "dude, I have enough mana, you shouldn't worry about being so technical."

I understand it can get annoying, but for control players especially, calling out phases is important to their gameplay, especially calling out that you're entering the declare attackers step before actually turning your dudes sideways. In some cases this is beneficial for you too.

Same. At the prerelease, I know I'll be asking people to call the end of their first main phase so I can rain on their parade with Gideon's Lawkeeper, Crown of Empires, and Frost Breath.