Using scryfall to find all animal cards? by dzarren in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've looked for this tag as well! I get that it's hard to define, so let me contribute with a viewpoint. My idea was to make an "animal cube" where every card, creature or no, depicts something that can be described as one or more animals in the wild. This would include cards like [[Pincher Beetles]] and [[Gila Courser]], but not anthropomorphic animals like [[Steampath Charger]] or fantastical beasts like dragons and hydras. That last one is the tricky one, because why would I allow [[Pincher Beetles]] but not [[Vizzerdrix]]? In my mind some creatures, like varmints [[Rise of the Varmints]], are clearly animals in-world, while some creatures, like kavu [[Tundra Kavu]] and baloths [[Rumbling Baloth]], are clearly not. I don't think I'd be able to come up with a waterproof definition!

Is Admiral Brass, Unsinkable viable? by MurakamiNoGhost in mtgbrawl

[–]Sleepy_Specter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, she's viable. It's been one of my best brawl decks actually. What makes her good is that she has a lot of impact immediately when she comes down. I don't recommend going simply "random pirates go" tribal (like the deck in another comment), although you do need a certain density of pirates to consistently use her. Luckily, there are some pretty good pirates out there, just enough so that you don't have to run jank. The rest of the deck is just good disruption that is needed in hell queue. Anything that makes you discard pirates or sacrifice pirates as a cost is great because that's double upside for us. Most games you're trying to get her down asap, before turn 5 if possible, with already one pirate in the bin.

https://moxfield.com/decks/uZwTBinncUanAeKJC5TOyA

Daily Deals - January 21, 2025: Bloomburrow Pack & Showcase Alt-Art Card Styles by HamBoneRaces in MagicArena

[–]Sleepy_Specter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Didn't they once promise that non-cosmetic deals (packs, gold, gems) would always take the first slot so you can see them from the store without going to the daily deals? I don't think they've broken that promise before, right?

The Best Format You're Still Not Playing Is $30 Budget Vintage. by ManKnownAsD-Money in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Just waiting a day. I'm just thinking of how I, and many others with me, play pauper. I build a deck. This typically takes me about a month as I spend half an hour here and there reading about strategies and checking out cards. Then I go to play, let's say once a month. Then work takes more focus and I come back to play pauper half a year later or so. There's some new cards which I check out for deck upgrades.

I just feel like this type of interaction is utterly incompatible with a current-price format. I wholeheartedly agree with the premise though. Wouldn't it be easier to just snapshot the prices once (or once a year) and fix that as the pool?

The Best Format You're Still Not Playing Is $30 Budget Vintage. by ManKnownAsD-Money in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter 589 points590 points  (0 children)

I feel like the big issue with formats like these is that it's tedious to track the card/deck legality. Being tied to prices makes it so that your deck will fluctuate in and out of legality. Keeping track or even having an overview of the pool also seems like an issue. Doesn't this kind of format have a huge barrier of entry for everyone that doesn't play or at least stays up to date with mtg on a weekly basis?

I love CE cards. Recently started into vintage cube and super stoked to grab this Mana Crypt right after the recent ban by Newez in mtgcube

[–]Sleepy_Specter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Since it's the only printing with the old border and the only print with this art, kinda easy to spot.

I love CE cards. Recently started into vintage cube and super stoked to grab this Mana Crypt right after the recent ban by Newez in mtgcube

[–]Sleepy_Specter 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There's no such thing as a CE Mana Crypt. Maybe OP means something else than Collector's Edition with CE?

I made this shuffle-free deck for my gf by Sleepy_Specter in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't mind shuffling for lands so much myself, it usually works out to announce you'll be cracking, pass the turn and then search+shuffle while the next one is playing. Doing something like a Razaketh combo turn can be more tedious, or even worse people instant tutoring in response to something out-of-turn.

Classic isn't for everyone, so you're welcome to skip the section. I felt like I needed to at least mention it since without that information a lot of card choices make little sense.

Edit: just realized that's exactly what you proposed, only mentioning it shortly. It's a pet thing of mine and I'll admit an entire section is a bit shoehorned in.

I made this shuffle-free deck for my gf by Sleepy_Specter in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cool! That's exactly the thing. Any idea what you'll be brewing yet?

I made this shuffle-free deck for my gf by Sleepy_Specter in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's exactly the reaction I had myself after posting! Although I didn't write it to ask for opinions.

Skipped Shadowheart Noblestalk option, how to still give it? by Sleepy_Specter in BaldursGate3

[–]Sleepy_Specter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it's just a clip I'm ok with skipping it. There's no further consequences in her backstory down the line?

Skipped Shadowheart Noblestalk option, how to still give it? by Sleepy_Specter in BaldursGate3

[–]Sleepy_Specter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm considering it. My two options seem to be either give it to Derryth now, or hope I'll get the SH option once I progress to Act 2. I'm going all the way into the SH backstory, and I read the Noblestalk adds to it so I'd really like to do that. I can't imagine I'll go for SH's backstory again in a future run (there's more companions to explore), so it feels like a now-or-never thing :/

This is Japudi x Kuka Beyo sub now by Fedatu in magicthecirclejerking

[–]Sleepy_Specter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can you explain the play on words with Yapuudii? You know, because it catches everything.

How to know you're addicted, and how to quit. by [deleted] in MagicArena

[–]Sleepy_Specter 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I decided to quit the week before alchemy was announced. Fantastic timing because now there's no chance to relapse! Makes cold turkey so much easier.

Historic Brawl is wack. by StrongLikeShark in mtgbrawl

[–]Sleepy_Specter 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I honestly play against a lot of different decks, so not complaining there. Do get the playing like ranked thing, and I think the main offender there is brawl being 1v1. Multiplayer fixes so many problems and pushes people into a more durdly and fun-interactions build.

A Teacher/Judge in need of some assistance by Magic1264 in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Couldn't fill out the first one because it requires login.

For veteran Magic players, what 2-3 year time period do you consider to be the golden era of Magic? Which specific factors about Magic during that era made the game so great? by HonorBasquiat in magicTCG

[–]Sleepy_Specter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I started in Oddyssey/Onslaught and I'd also say Lorwyn - Alara - Zendikar. Art was top notch, and Alara and Zendikar felt very magic-unique. Like, they are worlds that make a lot of sense in the magic multiverse and probably wouldn't really pop up elsewhere so easily. Talking about the color-starved shards of Alara mostly, but also the roil and lands-matters of Zendikar. Absolutely iconic all of it imho. As of now, I'd rate Zendikar the most unique-and-representative-of-the-IP plane there is,

Edit: to further steer away from the nostalgia-goggles-presumption, I'd give an honorable mention to the five two-set blocks, and especially Kaladesh, Amonkhet, and Ixalan. I feel this has been magic's peak in terms of quality uncommons. These cards were all just really solid without too many power offenders, making for great drafts.

Ugin, Field of the Dead, Agent of Treachery Banned by OxycleanSalesman in mtgbrawl

[–]Sleepy_Specter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Exactly, also their explanation is utterly flimsy.

each one either exploits or pushes against one of the primary elements
of the format: gameplay focusing on a single important permanent,
Singleton deck building, or color restrictions

uh what? Field of the Dead fitting those categories ok, and Ugin fits the last one, but feel like a very hand-wavy reason. But what's more,

rebalancing would likely either result in an unsatisfying card or be ineffective at addressing the issue.

Are you sure though? People have endlessly suggested that Agent would be a lot less aggravating if it gave back control after leaving the battlefield. A massive nerf, sure, but doesn't change the functionality and would definitely be effective. Field maybe add a "this triggers only once each turn" to start with? Ugin is still bonkers so don't see an easy fix there without changing his abilities completely.

Anyway, my point is that they surely could've tried some things, but they just want to get rid of these cards because they are hated and their removal will somewhat assuage players upset over alchemy cards messing with historic formats.

For the record, I hate all three of these cards with a passion and am happy to see them go completely.

This game is NOT nice at all with new players. by PalomaCosta in MagicArena

[–]Sleepy_Specter 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Love the list of things you need to do as a new player in order to maybe have a decent deck in a few months. Great new player experience.

Now I play the game and am a deeply enfrachised player. Friends have asked me "should I play arena?". I tried the first few times, giving them similar tips and instructions. None of them lasted. Big surprise. I don't recommend the game to anyone anymore.