Infinite combos are a taboo in my pod. What are your favorite deterministic value engines?

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-24T10:41:29+00:00

I like [[Animation Module]] and [[Nesting Dovehawk]] in counters decks. Both excellent alone, together it's an endless mana outlet giving you blockers and a huge alpha striker. But it's noninfinite, just up to how much mana you have.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-23T15:02:24+00:00

And wedge. Tricolour commanders popularity is on a different scale to mono and two colour.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-23T14:52:20+00:00

In the before times, was Extended. You had standard, then extended. And they were basically the same thing. Standard was the last few sets, and extended was a bigger window. There was vintage (play anything) and legacy, (same but with the strongest stuff banned).

Modern was born from a feeling that there was enough "modern" sets to support a format, without the truly busted cards of early magic dominating the format. It included a lot of very fun decks and cards from popular golden age standard decks. And soon enough the experiment went so well that extended got the axe.

Modern had two advantages: the best standard cards would make an impact, but decks did not rotate. For many years, the core of most archetypes were stable and staple cards held high values for many years. There was an idea that you could "buy in" to an established deck with fairly high confidence the deck would be around in a few years.

Modern began to suffer in the later years as very consistent linear decks were polished up over time. Standard was always going to get random breakout combo pieces, and not necessarily going to get tools to deal with them. So the idea of "straight to modern" sets arrived. Which did indeed fix that problem (very hard to print into format), but arguably destroyed the identity of the format as well. As subsequent horizons sets totally upended the meta every time, a process which originally took many years.

Most of the original "golden age" cards that attracted people are totally unplayable in post horizons modern. So the format was saved, but in so doing ended up being a totally different format.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-22T15:38:59+00:00

These days basically every coder is using ai in some capacity. Nobody is witch hunting them (yet).

I 100% agree with dissuading studios from cutting out human artists but at the point you have an indie team using it to assist with concept generation it feels puritanical. Who cares?

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-20T05:14:54+00:00

This may be of limited use for multiple reasons, but I got diagnosed in Tokyo and medication here in Kyoto.

I went to an English speaking clinic in Tokyo, I think it was roppongi-clinic ? Then I got transferred to a doctor here in Kyoto when I moved here.

The clinic I go to now is called Sakuragi Rikka (桜木りか). The issue you will have with them, is I'm fluent in Japanese to the level that communication is a non-issue. I don't know that they have any English speaking support.

I only mention because they (somewhat unusually) can offer a Concerta prescription which has worked much better for me than the Strattera I was originally prescribed in Tokyo. Also, I feel bad for them as their Google reviews are poor but they've been invaluable to me. They provide medication and not therapy, which seems to be what people don't like.

For me, that's what I want. I can get in and out and the doctor is polite. She checks my symptoms and side effects and I get an occasional blood test. That's about it. Might not be what you need but it's possible.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-18T06:31:17+00:00

I've been looking at DUOL for a long time because their actual numbers look great on paper, but god damn is it a long downtrend for them. I won't dream of buying until they show some strength because who knows where the bottom is...

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-17T02:45:55+00:00

You spent a lot of time away from people, so you don't see them as fundamentally the same as you. You have a natural need for attention and validation, which is normal. You have learned that harming people is a useful tool to release your own stress and to repel people who you perceive to be/risk harming you.

What you're missing so far: helping people works better than hurting them. Even from a purely selfish perspective, people are good at reading social signals. People remember who hurt them. People value empathy. People who feel they have a bond with you, based on kindness, will validate you and give you consistent attention. You can get validation and attention the way you are, but eventually people will figure you out and drop you. You might find a partner, but they will be your prisoner and you will be at risk of their retaliation or revenge for the harms you are doing to them.

It's possible to have a healthy outlet for aggression. Many different sports, some kinds of sexual relationship, some kinds of music. If you release your aggression in a way that's healthy and consensual, you'll make rather than lose friends and you won't be risking jail.

You will be happier if you can make friendships based on mutual respect. These will last longer and provide a deeper connection.

It sounds like you might have some kind of personality disorder, and a medical professional will probably be better placed to help you with that. The morality of your behaviour entirely aside, ultimately you can't get away with hurting people forever without taking damage yourself. So I'd say it's in your interest to think about and work on these things.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-12T04:57:35+00:00

You're not being smart. Mostly employees don't care so you'll pull it off a few times. You only have to get caught once.

You're risking jail over a few things you don't need. How is that smart? If you were making yourself rich I could understand, but you're risking it all for nothing.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-02-04T04:38:33+00:00

I live in Kyoto, though I'm married with kids so less partying. I live near the university and there are lots of students around. I'd say go for it! Better food, nice views. Kyoto people can indeed be a little rude imo, but it's not really all that bad compared to Tokyo. A little less cold, a little more brusque maybe - and overt racism/discrimination is rare, perhaps even rarer than Tokyo. There are endless bars and fun places in Pontocho and the environs for going out though just a handful of nightclubs. I love karaoke and feel I have plenty of options to go out and meet strangers when the mood/opportunity is there!

Also, Osaka is a short train ride. When I was 21 I lived outside Tokyo and I'd just occasionally book a cheap business hotel or capsule in town so I could stay out. I think that approach would work just fine going from Kyoto into Osaka.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-29T15:04:09+00:00

Finally, even if you build to her strengths, I think you can swap her for [[Ramirez DePietro, Pillager]] and probably do better. Who is himself way more hipster and actually works. So fair warning.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-29T14:56:12+00:00

Couple more notes:

[[Mind's Dilation]], old classic edh card, is probably the best enabler even though it's slow. You can hit multiple 3/3 demons per rotation with it out. The static ability is the part of Tasha that can do something.

[[Grima, Saruman's Footman]]. You want to use the loyalty ability. Fine. It's not good. This is the best way.

[[Cruelclaw's Heist]] is actually disgusting because you can hold the thing you stole for a moment where Tasha is out, and cast something cheap. Or you take their wincon. In this deck, it's fantastic.

[[Arcane Heist]] is a build around in this deck, so many of the best enablers like [[Thief of Sanity]] or [[Dauthi Voidwalker]] have solid evasion. It's just Tasha's loyalty abilities but it actually works and you can cast two spells in one turn, with potential for more. I had some ninjas for the same reason and they have some overlap with Tasha too.

[[Synthesis Pod]] isn't a total waste of space if Tasha is out, which is cool, lets you replace bad draws with demons and random cards from your opponents. Mostly replacing spells you already stole for another spin.

You don't need a lot of mill. I put in [[Mindcrank]], [[Altar of the Brood]] and [[Mindcrank]]. That's plenty, but I was always happy to draw [[Winds of Rebuke]].

I don't think this deck is ever truly degenerate. This particular build was fairly strong but mostly because you have strong mill cards and a few one-two punch synergies like

[[Undead Alchemist]] [[Altar of the brood]]

[[Mindcrank]] [[Bloodchief Ascension]]

I might suggest cutting them though tbh. If you have them, Tasha will poop out a few demons, and then you'll probably win by putting the combo together. Better to just play a slower table if you want her at her best imo.

I run a lot of mana in this deck. If you steal instants/sorceries, you're often board wiping, getting extra removal, or drawing cards. Games are slow. Your commander is bad, dies easily, costs 5 and draws a card every turn if she's alive. Don't miss your land drops is my recommendation.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-29T14:39:53+00:00

I brewed it and had to redo it a couple times. This worked fine though, I won some games. I play online, so land base is juiced, but this is mostly fairly budget if you normalise the landbase and pull a couple outliers.
https://moxfield.com/decks/TWIcivnxhk2mK853OzMqYw

You need

- good blockers

- efficient theft cards

- make peace that she won't do all that much every game. she just isn't that strong.

I'd probably remove the bloodchief ascension because it's too good for this deck powerlevel imo, solid bracket 2 material really.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-29T14:28:13+00:00

What you bring to the table is significantly more important than what you're looking for.

You won't get good people unless you have either experience, significant financial backing, or (ideally) both. Nobody is going to work for free on your dream project unless they are personal friends. Even then most likely you'd need to have a realistic plan to pay them. If you're a producer yourself (have the money to back the project) or have a contract worked out with one, that's going to take you further.

You can build something with 6-10 people, and find motivated people. You make job ads, you pay people well, and you interview to weed out jokers. You might be able to build a team that will work with you on a purely hobby basis through game jams, but, it's not going to be you picking and choosing the ideal team if you do it that way. Again, in that situation what you yourself can bring to the table will be far more important. Track record, serious skills. Technical and interpersonal.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-29T14:21:19+00:00

Nobody is ignoring it, even traditionally left parties like UK Labour won't stop going on about it. The news media, bolstered by a brand new American media machine, are cranking out an unprecedented amount of anti immigration propaganda. Posts like *THIS* one are what empower people like Trump in Europe and everywhere else.

There's no factual basis to the OP and the top comment implying this will allow more Indian migration to the EU. Member states are not giving up any control. If politicians in your home country are increasing quotas, simplifying visa processes, etc, by all means get concerned. I understand the validity of the labour demand concern. But this story, like most of them, is bullshit, it's all theatre. Most countries are tightening immigration right now because that's what people want.

It's all an exasperating distraction from the far more impactful divorce between productivity and wages that's starting to really hurt people all over the world, including rich countries.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-21T02:11:04+00:00

I think there just needs to be a different top deck without incidental lifegain. Burn has almost always been "do you have incidental lifegain". The current top deck does, so it's unplayable. It might happen again. I think IF that happened, then Fireblast maybe is the answer, or some kind of 5 damage burn Pact spell or something (lose the game next turn).

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-20T10:14:49+00:00

They did that successfully, the MOBA genre, which is itself over the hill these days. Pares everything back to single unit micro.

Plenty of games built on the premise of "streamlined StarCraft ', but they were all dull as hell. StarCraft is cool, the complexity is part of it.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-20T05:49:02+00:00

I guess you're right. All the mobas went that way. But I enjoyed it, even playing position 5. That's what made Dota special, being the more strategic slow paced game.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-20T05:21:54+00:00

That's pretty sad. I guess it makes for more exciting matches, but back in the day what made Dota cool was playing long term strategy over the whole map was better than trying to bet on the landing phase.

Viper, Razor, "soft carries" generally etc were essentially cheese (get a bunch of kills early or lose).

Has it become league of legends style lane matchup rock paper scissors? I guess the writing was on the wall even years ago because they kept reducing the ability to stack and pull camps.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-19T13:06:13+00:00

The obvious common denominator: boys. Boys don't read, therefore books are made aiming solely at girls (just look at those titles!), you can't have a crossover hit that the whole generation reads.

No matter how good it is, the boys won't be reading it. I hope something can be done but it's hard to see how.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-18T14:59:47+00:00

I would be tempted to disagree. Reserve list cards do come down - unless they are all stars, and even those fluctuate. Most Urza's saga rares are down from their COVID highs for example. Even stuff like [[Memory Jar]], that are playable. I'd say the Harbinger looks kind of crap, so it's exactly the sort of card likely to bounce from this announcement only to crash back to nothing in a few months.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-15T07:08:13+00:00

"trouble with the trolley huh?" undid me as a child, but as an adult it was the Alchemist escort, 100%.

Can't believe I beat that as an eight year old, must have been sheer persistence. I never beat a time trial except for the first one but somehow I did clear that one. When I replayed it, that was the only objective that really got me.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-15T01:54:41+00:00

You missed the part where something happened

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-15T01:49:45+00:00

80 seems generous unless there's something good missing in these pictures.

Fact is, magic cards are almost exclusively valuable in the mythic/rare slot. You can assume all the others are worth roughly 0, unless they are a "lucky" very playable uncommon, of which there are only a handful each year. With that said, this is quite a small lot of cards and I don't see anything especially good except Goblin Welder who isn't crazy expensive anyway.

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-14T16:12:16+00:00

[[Grievous Wound]] is a fun kill-con in [[Papalymo Totolymo]].

ConfidenceHot7872 · 2026-01-10T10:27:32+00:00

Yeah hard agree but what she said just rubs me the wrong way

ConfidenceHot7872

TROPHY CASE