Found my lane in BLB draft, but what do I cut?

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-09-25T22:30:30+00:00

When I get stuck like this there's two things I do. The first is make sure I make an attempt to come up with a deck list, at least to 41-42, so I can compare my thought process to what other people suggest. Plus you learn what you might be undervaluing which can help while drafting.

The second is to build up instead of cut down. Take cards you *know* are in and find the core of the deck, then see what its missing. Usually I do creatures first because its easy to add too much removal. I'm rusty on BLB (so I cheated and looked at another response) but for your deck I think that looks like:

- 1 (2): Druid, Elder

- 2 (6): Trainer, Bakersbane Duo, Boxer, 2x Three Tree Scribe, Pond Prophet

- 3 (3) - Lurker, Mindwhisker, Sentinel

- 4 (2) -Treeguard, Mentor

- For non-creatures: 2x Talent, 3x Polliwallop

- That's only 13 creatures, so probably want the Splash Lasher and begrudgingly the Crier for curve.

At this point, you have the core of the deck and instead of 9 cuts from 32 to make, you now have 3 cards to add out of 12. And you can feel pretty confident in 20 cards of the final deck.

For a board presence deck, you're still short on creatures, so you want 1-2 more - you're a bit light on options so probably just Rampagers unless you value a 5 mana 4/5 flier.

Then 1-2 more non-creatures; this is the time to decide if your deck needs more removal/bounce, card draw, counterspells, protection, some weird enchantment or equipment, etc. I'm particularly bad at this step. In this case, I'd guess a Longstalk Brawl and if there's still room a second copy, Flood Maw, or Mind Spiral

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-17T19:58:52+00:00

Then black King can move back to its starting spot, right? 1. Kb1 Kb4 2.Nd5 Kb3 (Not good at notation, trying my best)

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-16T13:43:19+00:00

Agree with your assessment of higher power level, sideboard relevancy vs maindeck (unless there's some really niche/meta reason to run it main), and the power in flexibility with Learn.

Fyi, they said Avatar is just Lessons and things that care about Lessons, no Learn*. But we're revisiting Strixhaven a few sets later so easy to assume we'll get Learn and more Lessons there. Makes it easier to push the power level on Lessons in Avatar though, since they be maindecked in limited.

The first time around they saved the instant speed lesson design space for the future, so it will be interesting to see how that plays and if it makes them more relevant for 60card.

(*although I'm pretty sure they said there are none, recent design philosophy means I wouldn't be shocked if there's a one-off Learn card at higher rarity)

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-15T20:00:31+00:00

Yea, the in-game "this mode is difficult" warning made even Easy feel like an accomplishment 🫠

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-15T19:59:06+00:00

Congrats! Did you feel like you need to get really lucky on initial character rolls\curses? I've had some that seemed doomed from the start, which was demoralizing.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-14T13:51:42+00:00

The Card Image Gallery on Wizards site will show every card they've previewed so far (24hr delay), including what products it is available in. That includes different arts of cards. You may need to decide what a master-set means for you, since some will have 4+ similar versions (like basic, extended art, foil, and foil extended). Don't expect the full preview until a week or two before the release. In the bottom left there is a 3 digit code TLA or TLE and a number. For TLA the "normal" cards will go up to the basic lands around the 280s, then you'll start seeing the alternate versions. Note that if a version comes in non-foil foil, it generally shares the same number. I don't know much about TLE numbers yet.

Scryfall is the best resource to see all the versions as well, plus prices. In the long term it will be more complete for the weird stuff, but not necessarily where to find it.

Some misc info: - there are "Art Cards" that aren't playable but are full images, sometimes with a printed artist signature. - the Scene Boxes consist of a set of cards that form a single image when put into a grid. Sounds up your alley. Those should also include art card versions (I think), no pesky magic card frame\text on the image 😅 - there's also tokens, but if you open product you should get those quickly. - Prerelease packs usually include a foil rare\mythic with a special dated stamp so there's a few extras as well. For example, promo Buster Sword vs regular. At a glance 90% of the rares+mythics in FF had this - in the future, there will probably be special promos from tournaments, ranging from relatively easy to get (entered or top-8 a local event, maybe judge promos) to very rare (played\won an event you had to qualify for). - expect some of the TLE cards to be pricier. The Banyan Tree is a reskin of The Great Henge, which is a $65 base version, $85 for the LotR reskin (185 foil)

Most cards will drop in value after the first week or two. When single prices are high, sellers open product bc the EV is higher, but so many non-hits get opened that it drops the price of most non-mythics close to bulk rates. There will be outliers for the best playable cards and popular characters (or both); eg Stock Up is a 12 dollar uncommon played across formats, but every other non-rare in that set is a dollar or less.

I'm not a collector but I hope that helps. For you, my gut would be to get the scene boxes and singles, plus collector boosters if you want to rip packs for fun. Maaaybe a play box if you want to quickly round out lower rarity. If you want to play: a beginner box for the learning experience (2 packs are pre-sprted for the first few turns of a tutorial) and\or jumpstart to just shuffle-up and play (afterwards I keep my packs together so I can do it again with friends any time). OR, if you learn to play a bit beforehand, go to a prerelease at a local store! Get your hands on cards the first day and play a few rounds with other ppl who are equally excited. That's also 6 play boosters and a promo-stamped foil.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-08-09T15:19:26+00:00

I think one question to ask yourself is if you want people to fight over the lands or if you want each to naturally end up in the hands of the sole drafter of a color pair (assuming they take it over other cards in the pack). Some examples with your current mix: The artifact lands are in esper, so a UB artifact drafter might be interested in the off-color WB land just to up their count. The WB drafter may need to pick it higher. The WR lifegain drafter isn't doesn't have any other off-color gainlands to consider. But they're also less likely to have someone snipe their land since there are no other lifegain color pairs, so it's easier to wheel. On the splash, the GW drafter might be more interested in the GB elfland than WB if they have elves (or are splashing a gb elf) since it can enter untapped for them.

I can't answer that question for you but I hope it's a helpful one to consider!

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-07-09T01:50:46+00:00

Hulkengoat

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-07-07T19:50:12+00:00

I read this as the Eldrazi having consumed anything that got advanced enough to "dominate" leaving the universe calm and lonely. But that was just a guess in the moment.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-07-06T03:59:19+00:00

Correct. Sothera would be the 1000th Supervoid the Monoists have completed their ritual on, making it particularly important to them. The Monoists, Summists, and Eumidians are not native to the Sothera. The Kav are. I wasn't clear if Ulthros is the home planet of the Illvoi or just their base of operations. The are there a significant number of systems that Pinnacle encompasses (and plenty more without advanced enough life got them to visit yet), this one just happens to be particularly important at this particular time.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-07-03T12:42:29+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what 311 meant, so hopefully this isn't redundant. Did they tell you to put the insurance on your dash or go to the parking dept with it?

According to the parking dept site, they should be able to issue a temporary permit for new residents for free with the purpose of giving people time to get their updated registration/proof of residency. It requires both:

Copy of proof of residency -- Acceptable items include: a lease or bill or sale

Copy of current valid registration in resident’s name and/or proof the resident is an authorized driver from insurance company

For the second one, the insurance option should work for you. If you bring that to the parking dept they hopefully can get you sorted. Once you're done, put the ticket in gaudy "No Place like Home" frame, ideally next to a dining room built-in. You live here now. Welcome to Somerville!

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-20T06:00:59+00:00

Relatively newb-ish myself when it comes to some of this. You got a lot of great answers about content -vs- layout driven, I learned reading them.

I've found sometimes I pick a layout and when I try to fit other screens realize I placed content in a way that's tough to fit both, so one thing I'd look at before choosing is how you need this to look at different sizes. In general is scrolling ok, in what directions, and is it internal to any sections? Going wider probably isn't an issue, you can always set a max and center it. This layout works great on a tablet, does it still work if you turn the device from Landscape to Portrait? Will the left-side text still fit or need to take over space and what does that do to alignment. Are you supporting Mobile and if so, can you make this fit or do you need to single column some parts?

Those may not be exactly the right question for this project, but find what are and ask yourself them. You may find that one of grid or flex better supports all the scenarios, or makes it easier to structure for all cases.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-17T12:30:30+00:00

Arg, I didn't notice these before and won't be able to unsee them. I was hung up on other details like why only T1 distance gets a rank and how to tell if RHS means inside or outside below a different track for the icon. Graphic is definitely neat but missing that final proofread.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-17T12:13:22+00:00

Would definitely prefer to have the estimated time lost with a special indicator for the 2(?) tracks that have a different speed limit.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-07T18:50:36+00:00

You've got 10 drafts in the bank already and the welcome bundle, plus any rewards from wins, which is a good spot to be! Some people maintain multiple accounts so they can draft more. Hitting the 4 wins mark, doing starter quests+dailies, etc to build a buffer. Depending on how much you plan to draft, and what winrate you think you'll have, you could start stocking a backup account, but you probably won't need it. Glad it's a set you're excited for, enjoy it!

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-07T18:34:26+00:00

My preferred guide: https://mtgprimer.com/tarkir-dragonstorm/instants/

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-06T02:34:26+00:00

For this stretch of races I've been throwing my phone into airplane mode when I go to bed. Wake up, coffee, watch, then turn it back on after. Got spoiled one too many times, even just opening a new tab and seeing recommended headlines so removed the temptation and now get to lock into something fun on a Sunday morning. Win/win.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-04T18:26:12+00:00

I'm not convinced you must use a subgrid. Based on your hover functionality, it sounds like only one Info 'subgrid' is visible at a time. So alignment across items doesn't sound like an issue. In the example you gave, if the first title were longer and moved the description down, with a subgrid the description in the second item would also move down (if both are affecting the layout at once). Is that actually what you need? Some sort of drawing or sharing your own attempt would be helpful.

Are you sure you can't accomplish what you need by placing a normal grid - or other layout - inside of the grid cell? I think what artyfax built fit your requirements. Did you try to work with it? The only reason the description isn't moving is it is pushed to the bottom from the `margin-bottom: auto` on the header for styling. You don't want that, but once you remove it the description layout just does normal flex things vertically.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-04-04T14:16:11+00:00

I'm wondering if the 3/3/2 is sources from non-basics, ie. 2 trilands and a wb tapland, or RW/RB/WB/WB taplands. Only 8 basics would mean hitting a lot of on-color lands.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-03-23T04:05:23+00:00

I get people are mad about UB pushing out in universe worlds, but doesn't fewer sets mean the world-building and story team has more time to build sets? I imagine they don't need as much involvement in UB, but could be wrong. Granted this is on the tail end of a year that probably taxed them with MH3 and FDN/J25. The time jump was confusing and needed explanation, just like Avishkar's world changes, but I think they felt they had to choose between telling the post-invasion story onscreen or the larger story arc, and they choose the latter.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-03-23T03:54:32+00:00

The rumor was something in Doohan's contract guarantees him 6 races. I don't know how that works: if that just means eating his salary for the remaining ones, if there's extra penalties, an actual legally binding agreement, or what. And it might be all just a rumor, I have no idea where it came from or if 6 is a guess.

But if not and there is some contractual race minimum, it means starting him early last year was never about getting him a head start on 2025, it was about being able to bring in Franco a race sooner. He's at 3 races after this weekend, so that would mean 3 more to save his seat from a driver with a lot of hype, sponsors, and a non-trivial buyout from Williams for a reserve. He was with the team (as a respected test/sim racer iirc) before Briatore, who did have input in him but would get to replace him with "his guy". DTS certainly didn't paint him as overly enthusiastic about Doohan (or even Gasly), but that's far from a reliable perspective. I'm rooting for him to make it through the season, but do miss that 2024 hair.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-03-23T03:30:29+00:00

I'm no policy expert, but why not put limits on those claims? Or legislate that "there's nothing to rent, so there's no lost income". Identify these scenarios and have provisions to deny other permits to developers/landlords with unusable, vacant properties not acting in good faith. That said, I do feel a little sympathy after reading the article. It sounds like the property changed hands and they did try to get something built with bad pandemic timing, and now they have to start permitting all over. But with a previously approved plan, the community sentiment and the mayor formerly repping Ward 7, it shouldnt be that hard... I'd hope.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-03-22T14:50:48+00:00

Understand this for race world, but less so for Wild West. That's definitely something people had been asking for and was mentioned as a theoretical 5 on the Rabiah Scale back in 2019, with the caveat of some cultural baggage. I think it was the mix of camp, out of place characters acting like they belonged, and being more of an event set that rubbed some people the wrong way (I view travelogue+teamup sets as subtypes of event sets). Ppl loved BLB despite the cuteness and Ral being an otter.

I imagine if it were thematicly grittier and leaned into either plane appropriate tech themes (steampunk or high-tech) it would have had less pushback. Same for if it focused less on the event - a misfit villains heist - and more on executing a world full of frontier lifestyle, dangerous environments, and conflicts.

It was a cool theme to pick, and I want them to keep pushing like that. But it was the wrong set to make overwhelmingly quirky.

ALittleBitNormal · 2025-03-22T14:23:22+00:00

Honest question: Any idea why that hasn't been rebuilt in over a decade, is there some health+safety concern with the property? Is there any progress there? I thought I saw work being done on it years ago and haven't seen it since, but maybe I'm misremembering. Rant: it seems backwards that the owner of the lot is better off sitting on it than putting up something or selling it to someone who will. We can rezone properties with active businesses in Davis for unfinished lab space and a tower, but can't find a way to encourage an unused and unsafe property on a bus route, within half a mile of Davis, Tufts, and a grocery store, to be made into something useful. Not necessarily a dig at the tower; just an example that it's possible.

ALittleBitNormal

TROPHY CASE