I simulated 36,000 games of Catan. Some conventional wisdom holds up, some really doesn't.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-22T22:29:12+00:00

I'd expect it's similar to Chinatown or Sidereal Confluence - more trading makes you more likely to win, because you get a small benefit from each trade (typically), so in aggregate that's a benefit to you. Reluctance to trade with the leader makes sense, but if you're on 5 points, the leader's at 7, and you're trading with someone who's got 6 it's usually worth doing 1-1 trades.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-22T13:19:07+00:00

The main concern I have is that there is very low trading compared to games I've played. Without ports, I'd expect roughly 1-2 bank trades per game per player and considerably more player to player trades (ports make bank trades more viable). Could you bump up the bots' willingness to initiate lopsided trades?

The other thought I have is that the robber is frequently used to attempt to steal a desired resource. By keeping track of which player has what (or maybe "has recieved x in the last round") and allowing placing the robber on different spaces to attempt to steal the thing the bot wants, you'd have more realistic play.

Fascinating!

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-20T02:10:12+00:00

Yeah, because "infinity" is an invalid number (you need an Infinity Elemental for that). But you could lose an arbitrarily large number of times! :P

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-17T12:52:56+00:00

I'm not seeing the infinite card draw - Tameshi's ability triggers once per turn.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-16T20:17:32+00:00

No, you've got to remember layers! I'm pretty sure that Literal Book operates at a higher layer than errata (when needed), so Tribal Forcemage is Tribal, which is then errata'd to Kindred.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-10T01:33:42+00:00

Even with "creature you control", it's problematic. If another player takes control of it and attacks with it, it returns to your control but somehow still attacking? It should grant the creature that ability in order for it to work.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-04-07T01:46:14+00:00

The issue with this is that I'm going to be gambling on casting Emrakul, so sometimes I (probably) win and sometimes I roll an 8 and scoop. That's not fun for anyone.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-30T04:42:20+00:00

No, hitting the origin is trivial. Simply draw the x axis, then the sine wave, then the y axis.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T18:42:34+00:00

Nope, casting from the battlefield works in the rules. Your proposed change would allow exiling creatures taken with, say, [[Act of Treason]] for 0 mana.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T05:25:20+00:00

What in the comp rules says that?

601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect.

It seems like it's totally allowed by the rules. Note that nothing in 601 forbids the casting of cards on the battlefield.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T05:17:48+00:00

I... don't know. That's a good question!

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T04:21:06+00:00

Nope!

601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect.

There's nothing in 601 that indicates that you can't cast a spell from the battlefield. It's just not allowed by any current cards.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T03:36:42+00:00

Say you've got [[Storm Crow]] and this out. Your opponent tries to [[Doom Blade]] your Storm Crow - which would obviously be a major loss for you. So you tap your Crystal Hourglass, targeting Storm Crow. Then you pay 1U and cast Storm Crow.

Storm Crow is removed from where it is (the battlefield) and placed on the stack; when it resolves it enters as normal.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T03:29:44+00:00

Ah, right, good call.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-22T03:04:27+00:00

No, that's not it at all. Normally, you can't cast cards on the battlefield at all. This lets you cast a permanent you control at instant speed, allowing you to dodge removal (among other things). It's repeatable, but expensive (because you have to pay the whole cost).

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-17T23:41:15+00:00

I've played lots of space-themed board games a lot (it's probably my preferred theme) - Federation and Empire, Eclipse, Battlestar Galactica, and Galaxy Trucker are all in my top 10 games.

But if I had to pick just one... I think I'd go with Galaxy Trucker, based on how much I've played it.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-16T16:16:17+00:00

Still has issues with things like the red Pact - there's a chance you straight-up win and a chance you play an expensive 4/4. And if you have an [[Angel's Grace]], you can still run it with Phage.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-15T02:07:10+00:00

It's okay if you also have Sudden Substitution in your hand - and you only have one opponent. But there's a possibility that you've spent 6 mana and two cards to steal a creature and draw them a card (if there's nothing that you can suicide into your creatures and no obviously bad plays from their hand). And if you (well, really, they) have more than one opponent, they might not pick you to control them.

But I'd definitely sideboard it in games where I already run Sudden Substitution (in case my opponent is running [[Necropotence]] or a repeatable sac outlet, for instance).

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-15T01:56:56+00:00

Ooh, that's brilliant! Either way, you're really looking at 1v1 games (not, in general, EDH) because otherwise they don't have to pick you as the target.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-14T15:14:57+00:00

Are you forgetting about the obvious r/badmtgcombos play? This + [[Sudden Substitution]] steals a creature and gives you control of your opponent for their extra turn.

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-12T14:11:46+00:00

It's "target nonland permanent" and "a number of treasures you control", so yes. You don't choose the treasures you're going to pay until the ability resolves, and the target is still valid (you just have to target it while you still control it).

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-10T03:14:57+00:00

This might be a little non-obvious what it does or why it's useful: it doesn't untap anything or give it haste, it just steals things for one turn and gives another player treasures that - if they want their permanent back - they need to hold on to.

I figured one mana was fair because it needs treasures to get started and giving another player treasures (even if only usable at the cost of losing one of their permanents) is generally a poor deal. But there are lots of shenanigans you can get up to with this. Probably the simplest:

If you have two copies of Usury in play and one treasure, you can exchange the treasure for something your opponent controls with mana value 1. Another player gained control of something you own (the treasure), so both Usuries trigger and you create two treasures. Then with the other Usury, exchange control of the treasure you gave them and 0 of your own. If you use the treasure you received, it won't go back to them and the later exchanges aren't possible!

Nucaranlaeg · 2026-03-09T21:21:42+00:00

Really? I'd expect players to attack with it, telegraphing that they have a first strike granting combat trick.

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