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Magic: The Gathering |OT3| Enchantment Under the Siege
- Thread starter The Technomancer
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http://blogs.magicjudges.org/blog/2014/07/28/exemplar-program/
Basically if some Level 2+ judge thinks another judge is doing a great job at any level (local, a GP, etc etc) they can put their name in and that gets them foils sent out. The stated idea was to make it so judges that don't work GPs can still get some of that cheddah.
I imagine the fact that judges were basically getting paid to work GPs tax free with foils was also part of the reason.
That was how I read that. Then I read it as "Hey, Level 1 Judge, I'm a Level 3, good call back there. Here's a treat."
I still don't get it lol
Edit: Oh, so it IS the second one lol
I really need to take my test and get L1. I know way too much about the rules and policy for not being certified. I just like listening to Judgecast, okay.
"God's Beard!"
Member
I talked with one of the L2s here about the process and stuff and I was into it for a bit, but watching judges at events just makes it seem like their job sucks ass. If I'm gonna show up to a shop for 8 hours to get store credit, I'd rather play.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
For some insane reason the Head judge at the prerelease couldn't figure out whether Flamerush Rider tokens trigger "when attacks" triggers. I had to tell him, which was weird.
They appear to have been at risk of running into labor law issues with the previous system. Now that judges don't get foils, though, it's caused staffing costs at events to jump enormously for TOs.
And yeah, the new system is....awkward.
phazedplasma
Member
You guys think atarka's command will drop? or is 5$ fair. Its been getting a lot of modern hype already.
Skullcrack is only a little over a dollar...
Skullcrack is only a little over a dollar...
"God's Beard!"
Member
That mana base is exactly the same as last season's esper control except I have Flooded Strands instead of Hallowed Fountains, and I don't need both double blue and white early enough for the distinction to matter. Looking at it again, though, I should swap a Flooded Strand and a Plains for a Polluted Delta and a Swamp. That would give me 17 blue, 14 White and 12 Black, which is pretty close to optimal. Ideally I'd like 19/15/13, but I wasn't able to achieve that last season either and anticipate will help close the gap for that last few percentage points.
The more important consideration is whether or not playing three colors makes the deck better, which I'm not convinced of.
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";157094746]I talked with one of the L2s here about the process and stuff and I was into it for a bit, but watching judges at events just makes it seem like their job sucks ass. If I'm gonna show up to a shop for 8 hours to get store credit, I'd rather play.[/QUOTE]
If I got certified I'd probably just help out at local events like FNMs and Game Days that the judge can also play in. If I'm going to go to an SCG or GP I'd probably just play in it.
If I got certified I'd probably just help out at local events like FNMs and Game Days that the judge can also play in. If I'm going to go to an SCG or GP I'd probably just play in it.
It's on a lot of people's radars as a Modern playable option, so it may dip but probably not much. and the fact that it's skullcrack without the damage prevent + 3 other possible effects for the same CMC makes it worth it to me at least.
"God's Beard!"
Member
Its a bold strategy Cotton. Lets see if it pays off for him.
My roommate is a judge actually. I forgot what lvl though. He says the tests for the higher levels are really difficult. I don't know how generous most lgs pays out, but he's been compensated with a box or Free entree to the prereleases all day like this past weekend. He enjoys it for the most part.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
It's simple. Remove the reserved list, sell the duals in a special set, pay judges for the next 15 years and make several yachts out of the stacks of hundreds with the leftovers. The yachts would run on unicorn blood.
So... how long until Esper wins a major standard event?
"God's Beard!"
Member
How did I miss this card? I've been digging through the modern card pool forever.
I could be wrong, but I think this is the only 1-mana card in the format that counters abrupt decay targeting an enchantment. I guess Ricochet Trap if they snapcast it lol
Shaving the mana almost definitely isn't worth losing Boros Charm, but man is this card appealing.
I could be wrong, but I think this is the only 1-mana card in the format that counters abrupt decay targeting an enchantment. I guess Ricochet Trap if they snapcast it lol
Shaving the mana almost definitely isn't worth losing Boros Charm, but man is this card appealing.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Whenever there's better land.
No seriously, almost literally every spell you want to go Esper for is double colored mana.
Who needs coloured mana when you have Ugin, Pernicious Not-Dragon Karn Who?
"God's Beard!"
Member
I probably am, but I was curious because I realized that I never searched for protection and target permanent before.
Murderous Cut, Ashiok, Silumgar, Ultimate Price, Thoughtseize/Duress? I didn't play Hero's Downfall in my esper control deck last season either.
Where are you finding THAT price?
European seller. Euro is tanking at the moment so it's more like $15.30, which isn't half-bad to be honest. I'm looking at the price of Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker and it's only worth 6 now, so I'm a bit hesitant to snap up Unbroken for 14.
Throwing in a Kolaghan's Command in my Mardu Aggro deck. Getting back Soulfire will be nice and being able to recycle it and getting rid of their card draw late game will be funny. Replaced Hordeling Outburst with Dragon Fodder. Threw in a Sidsi, Undead Vizier. Think I'll run 3-4 Duress in the sideboard. It can rip apart Jeskai, Abzan control, and U/B control which is probably my worst matchup.
Foil Anticipate is $8 on scg lol.
Foil Anticipate is $8 on scg lol.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
....isn't that just Ned Stark in front of a heart tree?
Serious question: what is in white that control decks want so badly? Presumably End Hostilities, but is dealing with losing a shitload of games to color screw good enough to justify running that over Crux of Fate, which is effective against everything that sees serious play other than Stormbreath Dragon?
I have this alternate theory people just want to justify playing Narset because they can't figure out how else to effectively use her ability.
Serious question: what is in white that control decks want so badly? Presumably End Hostilities, but is dealing with losing a shitload of games to color screw good enough to justify running that over Crux of Fate, which is effective against everything that sees serious play other than Stormbreath Dragon?
I have this alternate theory people just want to justify playing Narset because they can't figure out how else to effectively use her ability.
"God's Beard!"
Member
Elspeth, Narset and Surge of Righteousness. Also, black is the splash color, not white.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I would be extremely surprised if white control gets more than scattered top 8 performances. White removal is just kind of a problem.
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";157119418]Elspeth, Narset and Surge of Righteousness. Also, black is the splash color, not white.[/QUOTE]
I just don't get it. Narset only has one ability that's even useful for control, and its just card draw that works ~60% of the time.
Yes, you can rebound End Hostilities, but that's just cute combo shit, not to mention, its combo shit they see coming so they just don't cast anything.
"God's Beard!"
Member
That's... kind of the point.
End Hostilities, Ojutai's Command and Utter End to battle Mastery of the Unseen.
Narset is kind of sweet if you rebound End Hostilities. It doesn't particularly care about Whisperwood Elemental.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Rebounding Ojutai's Command is a lot worse than you are imagining it to be and rebounding Utter End requires, again, you to be in Esper running 4 mana double-color removal spells.
You now have untapped mana, get the first crack to do something after a wrath, and a potential planeswalker drawing you more gas. That's a pretty nice place for a control deck to be.
"God's Beard!"
Member
The whole drawback of wraths is that your opponent gets to rebuild while you're tapped out. That gets a lot harder with rebound. The best is to rebound Dig through time, though. The fact that her plus draws cards at an above-domri rate and enters the board at 7 loyalty makes her hard for creature decks to kill, so you untap and rebound a wrath and you've just stabilized. Late game she doubles your card draw spells. I was really down on the card when it was spoiled, but I've slowly been coming around to how good she is.
If you curve Ashiok into Narset a lot of midrange decks are just going to fold.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Its a 2 card combo in that her second ability will very rarely have a viable target that's not End Hostilities itself. Can you do it with Dig Through Time or Treasure Cruise? Sure, but the benefit of Dig is that you don't have to do it on your turn, and Narset is a permanent that costs 4 to cast in the first place.
The only way she really wins the game for you is ultimating. On her own, she's not disruptive to your opponent nor is she even guaranteed to do something that helps you when she sits there untouched.
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";157122406]The whole drawback of wraths is that your opponent gets to rebuild while you're tapped out. That gets a lot harder with rebound. The best is to rebound Dig through time, though. The fact that her plus draws cards at an above-domri rate and enters the board at 7 loyalty makes her hard for creature decks to kill, so you untap and rebound a wrath and you've just stabilized. Late game she doubles your card draw spells. I was really down on the card when it was spoiled, but I've slowly been coming around to how good she is.
If you curve Ashiok into Narset a lot of midrange decks are just going to fold.[/QUOTE]Yeah, too bad you can't rebound Dig Through Time since your only good removal spell now is Murderous Cut and Delve is a totally parasitic mechanic. Just put her in a Myth Realized deck where she belongs.
If you don't understand that "I'm gonna curve Ashiok into Narset into End Hostilities into Elspeth" is magic christmas land shit, I don't know what to tell you, friend.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Narset and Ashiok would be super, super powerful if Downfall wasn't in the meta. Ashiok still remains fringe playable, but I'm not wholly sold on Narset just yet. I just feel that right now, in standard a PW has to give you something substantial. Ashiok is there because it's a cheap card that can sometimes remove top deck threats, but I really need to mess with Narset to see if there is an angle on her I'm missing. If she drops low, I'll pick up a set for post Theros rotation though, because I see her being great when your opponent can't just tap 3 and kill your 4 mana investment at instant speed.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Its like splashing a third, weaker color for Jace, Architect of Thought, except Narset is worse than Jace.
"God's Beard!"
Member
Ashiok is insane right now, I don't know if I'd call it fringe playable. It's one of the stronger cards in the UBx control decks.
Ashiok is card that always seems worse than it is. I love the fact that it previews threats for your opponent to make them want to kill it. Ashiok and Narset are in kind of the Jace Architect of Thought slot right now, in that they're really annoying for creature decks if they live because they're hard to race and will take over the game if they do, but if all they do is eat a downfall, then they made your Elspeth/Ugin more likely to stick.
I think if you're a planeswalker control deck you really need these mid-level cheaper threats to help you stabilize and drain your opponent's downfalls.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";157124248]Ashiok is insane right now, I don't know if I'd call it fringe playable. It's one of the stronger cards in the UBx control decks.
Ashiok is card that always seems worse than it is. I love the fact that it previews threats for your opponent to make them want to kill it. Ashiok and Narset are in kind of the Jace Architect of Thought slot right now, in that they're really annoying for creature decks if they live because they're hard to race and will take over the game if they do, but if all they do is eat a downfall, then they made your Elspeth/Ugin more likely to stick.
I think if you're a planeswalker control deck you really need these mid-level cheaper threats to help you stabilize and drain your opponent's downfalls.[/QUOTE]They're also just worse for control decks than Jace, AOT is.
I just need to hear a cogent argument why its better than either U/B or B/U/G. I'm not gonna tell you I'm super in love with playing Kiora in that shell at the same cost, but I don't think its worth changing the entire deck to convert a B- card into a B+ card.
Ashiok is card that always seems worse than it is. I love the fact that it previews threats for your opponent to make them want to kill it. Ashiok and Narset are in kind of the Jace Architect of Thought slot right now, in that they're really annoying for creature decks if they live because they're hard to race and will take over the game if they do, but if all they do is eat a downfall, then they made your Elspeth/Ugin more likely to stick.
I think if you're a planeswalker control deck you really need these mid-level cheaper threats to help you stabilize and drain your opponent's downfalls.[/QUOTE]They're also just worse for control decks than Jace, AOT is.
I just need to hear a cogent argument why its better than either U/B or B/U/G. I'm not gonna tell you I'm super in love with playing Kiora in that shell at the same cost, but I don't think its worth changing the entire deck to convert a B- card into a B+ card.
Bant Control
4 Satyr Wayfinder
2 Narset Transcendant
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
4 Anticipate
3 Last Breath
4 Dig Through Time
4 Dissolve
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Ojutai's Command
3 End Hostilities
2 Treasure Cruise
4 Temple of Enlightment
3 Temple of Mystery
2 Temple of Plenty
4 Flooded Strand
3 Windswept Heath
2 Yavimaya Coast
3 Island
3 Plains
1 Forest
dat value
4 Satyr Wayfinder
2 Narset Transcendant
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
4 Anticipate
3 Last Breath
4 Dig Through Time
4 Dissolve
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Ojutai's Command
3 End Hostilities
2 Treasure Cruise
4 Temple of Enlightment
3 Temple of Mystery
2 Temple of Plenty
4 Flooded Strand
3 Windswept Heath
2 Yavimaya Coast
3 Island
3 Plains
1 Forest
dat value
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I assume by value you mean the price of the cards in the deck
Apeopleman
Member
Did you create this off the top of your head?
I like the concept! Simply mill with Satyr Wayfinder, use him as a chump block, and help fuel your big blue draw spells. Slam Ugin/Elspeth as the win condition.
Dude
t2/3 Satyr Wayfinder
t4 Ojutai's Command, rebuy Satyr Wayfinder
t5 Narset, rebound Treasure Cruise
t6 ???
phazedplasma
Member
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
That's another problem for me with U/W. You don't have all that much in the way of dealing with resolved permanents other than "well I'll end hostilities." And hope that he's not playing Mastery of the Unseen or Whisperwood Elemental.
Basically what I'm saying is Sultai Control is dabess
I intended to add one Ojutai and Dromoka'a Command, but then I realized the command is basically irrelevant when you don't have creatures in your deck. I also had one Banishing Light, but I left it out in the end as it clashes with Ugin.
The opponent can only have four Downfalls. At some point you're going to be drowning in card advantage, so much that you can safely play a win condition or several without the Downfalls being very relevant. I mean, the point of the deck is to rebound Dig Through Time at some point. Whisperwood Elemental is annoying if it resolves, but that's why the counterspells are there. I actually want to find room for more counters. Probably Negate.
The opponent can only have four Downfalls. At some point you're going to be drowning in card advantage, so much that you can safely play a win condition or several without the Downfalls being very relevant. I mean, the point of the deck is to rebound Dig Through Time at some point. Whisperwood Elemental is annoying if it resolves, but that's why the counterspells are there. I actually want to find room for more counters. Probably Negate.
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